Family friendly and good childcare?

[jacobsmummy]

My husband and I are hoping to go on our first family holiday this year, we were thinking around easter although during term time i believe is cheaper and as our eldest son is only 3 it shouldnt be a problem. What I'd like to know is where is best to go? We want somewhere that is family friendly preferably a resort and has to have good childcare facilities available as we'd really like to be able to spend one or two afternoons while were away being grownups but need to know our sons are safe at the resort. Also we'd like it to be close to some sort of water park if possible so that we can take the boys there and have some fun all together. All that plus of course we'd love it to be as cheap as possible. I'm sure there is plenty to choose from but as I say it's our first time and I dont know where to start looking! We'd rather avoid places like benidorm although I'm sure thats the sort of place that would cater well to what I'm looking for - my elderly father would also like to join us and, to put it mildly, he's a bit of a snob so the last thing I want is him moaning the whole time! My husband has only ever been abroad once in his life and I have travelled but that was the backpacker trail around asia rather than relatively local europe! So can anyone reccomend places or websites? i have looked on first choice but it didnt help at all and has only confused me more!
Any help would be so gratefully recieved guys!
Many thanks in advance
Chloe

[Ethel]

Any of the Costas in Spain, Menorja, Majorca, the larger resorts in Portugal will provide what you are looking for. Turkey is very good for young families and is fairly cheap.

Go to your local travel agents and get a load of brochures.

[VHG]

I think the perfect resort for you is Port Aventura.

This is a sort of "mini" Disney, with a theme park, water park, and three hotels on the complex.

It is in a resort called Salou in Southern Spain, about an hours drive from Barcelona.

Although Salou is not that great the Port Aventura resort is on the edge of the town and with all that there is in Port Aventura there is no need to even go in the town.

The nearest airport is Reus, and it is about 20 minute drive to and from Port Aventura. Flying time from UK is only a few hours.

There are 3 hotels, the "top" one is Port Aventura hotel and is right next to the part, the second best one is El Paso which is about a 10 minute walk to the park, the 3rd is the Caribe which is about 15 minutes walk from the park.

more..........

[VHG]

continued.....

If your father is a bit of a snob he will feel at home in either of the "top" two hotels. The Caribe is a cheaper hotel so does attract the more "lively" people if you know what I mean.

Staying at any of the hotels gives you FREE access to the theme park for each day you are there, plus usually at least one FREE day into the water park (and reduced entry for the other days).

The theme park is amazing, with lots of rides, but also lots of shows that will appeal to all the family. I have been to the theme parks in Florida and this is just as good.

The water park is also excellent.

Here is a picture of the El Paso hotel, which surrounds a large pool

http://media.thomson.co.uk/asset/lpp/v00/634/3 85.jpg

Here is the top Port Aventura hotel

http://team-tour.com/admin/imghoteis/PortAvent ura.jpg

Here is a plan of the whole site

http://www.themeparktravel.co.uk/pa.gif

[VHG]

continued...

I forgot, here is the web site for the park

http://www.portaventura.co.uk/

Most of the tour operators go there, like First Choice, Thompson and so on.

And here is an aerial shot

http://www.umwebsite.com/6images/aereas-um-01. jpg

The bottom left is the water park, the white buildings in the bottom right is the "top" Port Aventura hotel, and the large lake and the rest of the picture is the theme park.

You can see the huge Dragon Khan roller coaster in the background.

Here is Dragon Khan closer up

http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Desert/2106/Khan 1.jpg

But there are plenty of rides for kids, with one aera dedicated to young children, and as I said, plenty of shows as well.

[VHG]

One final thing, Port Aventura used to called Universal Mediterranea so you may see that on some web sites.

Here are some reviews (using the old name)

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/Universal_Medit erranea-Holiday-Reviews-245.html

[tigwig]

Yes I agree, we stayed at the Caribe hotel a few years ago and it was great. It wasn't full of 'lively' people either VHG just families like us.
It had a fabulous huge pool with a lovely man made 'beach' and 2 further pools. The tiny kids pool was brilliant for young children and the kids club was directly opposite although a 3yr old couldn't be left unattended.
Something else to consider is the First Choice holiday villages. The one in Costa del Sol looks fab too and I'm sure that any of the Thomson family range resorts are good too and they do have proper children's clubs.

[mifta]

Hi

We went to a first choice holiday village (Sun Tropical in Lanzarote) in October last year. We had a great time, very family friendly, however, you will not be able to leave the accomodation whilst your child is in the kids clubs or creche as they need to know where you will be. All hotels and self catering accomodation we have stayed in have operated in the same way.

Reviews of hotels are useful, try

www.tripadvisor.com

[VHG]

>It wasn't full of 'lively' people either VHG just families like us.

I am only going by what people told me who were staying there.

I am not saying everyone who goes to the Caribe is a chav or a yob or is going to get drunk. I am sure there are many nice families who stay there.

But there is no doubt that staying in the slightly more expensive hotels on the complex does filter out certain people who may spoil your holiday.

I saw an article in the paper the other day about a expensive cruise where tickets had been thousands of pounds.

Because of the credit crunch they had sell off the last blocks of tickets at half price. Of course this attracted all sorts of people who may not normally go on a cruise, and there were big problems between the people who had paid 2 or 3 thoudands for the cruise, and those that had picked up tickets for �500 or so.

Stories of fights, people geting drunk and so on.

Not saying everyone who got their ticket at half price caused problems, but you only have to have a couple of bad familes and it can ruin your holiday.

But when it comes down to it, if her father is a bit of a snob he would feel more at home in the El Paso or Port Aventura than the Caribe.

[jacobsmummy]

Wow thanks guys, this is great info, and looks fab! what sort of price is it though? I assume somewhere like this would be all inclusive? or is it self catering?

[tigwig]

When we stayed at the Caribe it wasn't cheaper than the other hotels but this was a few years back. VHG you have made me feel like a chav now!!! (Well I suppose I do like to get drunk on holiday, but honestly it was lovely and full of nice people)
Its quite funny you should mention that cruise VHG because my parents have just been on it over Christmas. They do a similar thing every year and paid thousands for the privilege. They couldn't believe the people who were on board and they saw fighting! They came back and my dad actually said people must have got cheap tickets because there is never trouble on the cruises they go on. They have since found out what you say and have written to complain.

[mrsann]

What about a cruise for your holiday? MSC have a policy where "kids cruise free" We were on MSC Melody last autumn and there were several children on board all having a great time kids club excellent swimming pools etc and extremely attentive waiters on hand Your father in law would probably thoroughly enjoy it and maybe even help with your costs!

[jacobsmummy]

All these ideas are great but could u please give me an idea of how much u paid for them or I don't know if there even worth persuing if there way over budget!

[Jim64]

Try Corallejo on Fuerteventura. Have stayed at Dunas Caleta reasonably priced, water park 10 min walk, nice harbour area 15 min walk, good accom for kids also kids clubs let's you go out for meal.