HELP!! I am thinking of taking my boys abroad for the first time - somewhere hot and sunny hopefully!  Their requirements are calm blue, crystal clear water (that they can see fishes swimming in) and a white (or whitish) sandy beach.  My requirements are that it doesn't cost too much - not sure whether it would be cheaper in the long run to go for half board or self catering (might then cost more to eat out each night as I don't want to be cooking :0).  Any country considered as long as it has the above requirements.   Anyone got any suggestions please???

Fiona

We went to Salou the year before last. . Stayed half board for a decent price ( offer) but never eat in hotels ( just the way i am - hate everyone touching the food/self serve etc) :rolleyes:  Stayed in Dorada Palace which was spotless. there were Decent beaches which the kids loved - loads of water parks and funfairs . Loads of places to go as well  from quiet and Spanish to live and loud :)

Many years ago (before I was born!) Cyprus was just like that according to my family who lived there. Northern Cyprus (the Turkish bit) shouldn't have changed because it isn't as easy to get to.

If you are not too bothered with arcades and loud discos,but want safe beaches and clear blue water with fishes,good fresh cooked food,from toasted sarnies to wholesome salad or chicken and fish then the place to go is Kefalonia!! Lassi has the best beach ever for kids! self catering is reasonable cost or even take a hotel package! there are trips from Argostoli,the main town,to see fish in a glass bottomed boat,bbq and island tours.

It's not a long flight either!

We have been a few times now and love every minute of the greek islands and the greek people's wonderful hospitality.

If you do want entertainment,then the place to go is Disney Florida! not cheap though! Hubby and I went minus the boys!! they had grown up and left home by then and we had a wonderful time.We only did it because it came up as a ridiculousy cheap last minute offer £780 for 2weeks b&b,car,flights,tickets to Seaworld included!! too good to miss.The first thing I said was 'I'll hate America!and I don't want to go to disney at all.'
The first place we went was disney!!Animal Kingdom and I loved it,we went to Seaworld 4 times that holiday.

Since our first visit we have visited America again and again.

California and San Diego is also a must,the zoo,the wildlife park,(not so keen on Disney California) Seaworld,the gardens,the museums.

ROLL ON SUMMER!

We are holidaying at home this year with Spice,I can't bear to leave her in kennels whilst she is still a baby!hubby thinks I'm soft,but maybe next year after she has had a weekend or two settling into our local kennels,we shall venture abroad again :D
Jacqueline

All you lucky people going on holiday, with four dogs and a cat it gets abit expensive to kennel and theres no-way we are taking 4 dogs on holiday with us!!! :)  So insted we will stay in the Rainny UK at home :) LOL

Rox

Thanks for those suggestions.  I have done a lot of looking, but unless you have personal recommendations, its hard to tell from photos what a beach is like and so on. Our main consideration is a lovely beach, as the boys have not really ever had a proper 'beach' holiday.  Disney is an option for another time I think (they have been to Euro Disney already). Now I have some places I can look into further, and I can't wait to get to wherever it is!

Thanks again

Fiona

Paphos in Cyprus is lovely, I went there when I was younger with my family and had a great time.  We stayed at the Paphian Bay ( I think).
Another suggestion is Rhodes, not Faliraki obviously! or Kefalonia, I loved both of these.
Spain will be cheaper so I think Puerto Pollensa in Majorca is a nice family resort (I did go 15 years ago so it might have changed a bit) :)  Also had a great time in Cala n Blanes, stayed in some lovely self catering apartments, which were really reasonably priced and a 1 min walk from a lovely sandy beach.  Think they were called Cala n Blanes Beach Apartments.  Your close to a larger resort Cala n Forcat so there's plenty to do.
Hope this gives you some ideas :)

Just a word of warning. If you go to Greece and the kids intend to swim in the sea, take some flip flops for them.
They have sea urchins (little prickly things) that live in the rocks in the shallow end, and if you stand on one, boy you'll know about it. :)

Tell me about it - I stood on one, oh my God the pain!! :O

Personally, I'm more of a 'Spainy' person than a 'Greecy' person, but to get the crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, Greece would probably be my suggestion (ie one of the Greek Islands).  I haven't been to Greece for many years now because I get a bit picky and typically British and fed up with all the insects, wasps sharing your food, excessive heat (I've never once had to complain about bad weather in Greece - it seems to be permanently over 30 degrees! :-)), solar powered water systems (ie never any hot water), toilet paper going in the bin etc etc, but if this doesn't bother you, then the Greek islands would certainly be a good option for you because the beaches are lovely and the sea beautiful.  I haven't been, but lots of people recommend Rhodes and Crete.  You can go when its cheaper (ie May) and still get really good weather and you usually get really good late deals.  I expect Southern Cyprus (which is the flavour of the month destination for a lot of people) is also similar, and I'd like to go myself (if I hadn't just bought a dog!)

I prefer Spain myself, because they have good plumbing and water supply etc lol, less insects, cooler weather (ie it may be just as hot, but you usually get odd cloudy days which are usually very welcomed), the water is safer (ie in Greece you should use bottled water even to clean your teeth).  However its generally not as picturesque as Greece, and the locals aren't as friendly.  That's not to say that the Spanish aren't friendly and they certainly do love children, but I've usually found the Greeks are really, really welcoming to the Brits, much more than the Spanish.

The water isn't as clear in Spain, although don't be put off, as there are an extremely large number of award-winning Blue Flag beaches.  For example, the beaches in Benidorm are cleaned twice a day (although I'm not for one minute recommending you should go there!  Just that you wouldn't expect it!).  I prefer Southern Spain ie Costa Del Sol, particularly Benalmadena as my favourite package holiday resort (been twice).  Costa Brava (ie Lloret, Tossa) is much cooler but is very 'Brits Abroad'.  I found Majorca to be far to expensive but it is a beautiful island and one resort I would recommend is Alcudia - before I went I had been told about the beach there and it really was lovely and the sea was really clear (lots of fishes) and its very much a family destination.

Just some ideas for you to be working on!

Regarding going HB or self-catering - whenever I've been to Greece I've been self-catering.  The food and drink is sooooo cheap there that its always been more worthwhile going self-catering and eating out 3 times a day.  Really good value.

However, I have always been HB to Spain - Spain is a little more expensive for eating out and the drinks prices are going up all the time - the men paid around £2 per pint in Majorca, and whilst we are from the London area, we were getting a bargain, the Northerners were extremely put out by this!  (not all parts of Spain charge as much for beer as Majorca!)

We usually pay around £300-£350 per adult for a fortnight half board in a good hotel each time in Spain by booking a late deal, which isn't too bad - the last time I went for a week we paid £149 for half board in Ibiza.  That way, you know that you've got 2 meals a day waiting for you if you want them, but if you want to eat out occasionally you can.  I often find myself missing breakfast (because I'm too lazy to get up) and eating out and then having the hotel dinner where you can have as much as you want and stuff your face on 3-5 courses!  Generally at lunchtime, because its so hot and you've been in the sun all day, you only want a bag of crisps or portion of chips on the beach.

So my recommendation would be Greece, Cyprus, Turkey - go self-catering. Spain/Portugal - go half-board!

Me again!  Once I start talking holidays I can't stop!  How old are your boys?  I'm just wondering because twice, by total fluke of being allocated on arrival, we have stayed at the Taurus Park hotel in Pineda, Costa Brava.  Its a 3* plus, Thomson Superfamily hotel.  Now we don't have kids, but we still enjoyed it both times (I was secretly hoping we would be allocated that one again last year and we were!).  If you've got kids and you want to get them out of your hair then this is the place.  They have 3 kids clubs and a creche run by Thomsons, and the hotel runs it own activity club for children and adults, so during the day you get water polo, football, archery, darts, giant connect 4, giant jenga, giant skittles, table tennis competitions (and they do let the tiny ones join in, its all about getting involved, not winning), swimming pool games, cocktail games round the pool for adults during the day...it just goes on and on with something happening seemingly on the hour, every hour!  They have 2 huge outdoor pools, one indoor pool, one jacuzzi, a children's zoo, arcade games, a burger/snack bar, football and tennis courts, bike hire, roller skating hire, crazy golf course - the resort is fairly quiet and it seems an odd place to stick a hotel, but with all that going on, most people don't leave the hotel, and if you do, the minitrain takes you down to the livelier resort (and shopping mecca lol) of Calella.

The beach is narrow and steep, but very quiet and clean, and the sea is quite clear, but quite choppy due to the windy Costa Brava - however most kids like this as they are bobbing all over the place.  However, you generally only find the Spanish on the beach - the British are all back at the hotel playing Connect 4 all day!

I should have gone into Tourism as a career, I love helping people find holidays!  Anyway, my final tip is visit www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk where you can read real reviews on almost every single package holiday resort and hotel under the sun - written by ordinary people who have been there, so you will always get an honest opinion. :-D

I shall go and get dressed now and dream of the days when I used to have summer holidays abroad every year :-(

We enjoyed Feurteventura (Canary Island) especialy Correlejo (pronounced Coralecho) stayed with Thomsons at Dunas Caleta aptmts.  Fairly near centre of small, lively town (although not night-clubby), plently to do, white sand although it can be windy. good for water sports, etc, car hire cheap, visited the market, etc, other towns.  Full entertainment program - if that's important to you. 4 hour flight!  we have taken children as young as 4 and as old as 14, all found plenty to do. Def go self catering - you can always buy into the half board/full board scheme when you get there, if you like the look of it.

We also like Tenerife, Lanzarote, Majorca, Minorca, etc.

But for the best water it has to be Barbados, not as expensive as you might think - we got married there.

Steph

Hi fiona how about corfu that's where we went with my nan when we were younger.It's nice there.
(no.1 niece) Kirsty

Thanks for the info everyone!  Wow Jess, you really are a mine of information and you've really helped give me something to work on (as have you all).  My boys are 5, 7 and 10 and would be happy to join in any kids clubs.  I really want a lovely beach and clear sea for them as they have never been in 'warm' seawater.

I have considered places like Barbados and the Dominican Republic, but unfortunately my boys are VERY picky eaters and I think I will save a holiday like that for when they are a bit older and would appreciate it more. (Do you have to have Jabs for those places anyway?)

We have been considering Corfu, or another Greek island, also Spain (but thought that might be expensive), so very useful to know its better to go SC in Greece and HB in Spain.  I didn't know you could 'buy into HB' when you were actually there, so thats very useful to know.  Another thing is, I wanted to go in June, but due to other commitments it will probably have to be later, so I don't know if it would be better to wait for a late bargain (probably miss everything then though!)  Oh Boy its hard work for me choosing a holiday and taking the children into consideration also!

By the way Kirsty, I know you liked Corfu and we like the look of the beaches too, so we may end up there - got to go visit some websites now! (fav aunty :))

Thanks again everyone

Fiona

I've been to Corfu twice too, and although we went to Club 18-30's land (Kavos) each time, its still a beautiful island and I would love to go back and see the 'nicer resorts' sometimes.  It was really cheap and beautifully hot, and the sea lovely and clear - they have champagning diving boat trips out to Paxos and Antipaxos where the sea is transparent.  I think Corfu would be a good bet.

And you can get plenty of 'burger and chip' type food in all the restaurants - I know that puts some people off, but I am a picky eater like your boys (i just haven't grown out of it yet!) and I like to know I will be able to get lots of chicken and chips, burger and chips etc etc type meals on holiday in case I don't like the hotel food!

Jess a 'picky eater' and you eat burgers,do you know the kind of tripe those things can contain? :D

Hi

Last year I went to the Costa De la Luz (spain) and it is gorgeous! lovely beaches..you can go whale watching at some of them..would say it is one of the nicest places I have been in spain (my dad is spanish & we have been to quite a few places!) Have a looky in the Magic of Spain brochure, you can hire Villas which look really nice (usually per villa rather than per person so it cuts £! - you would need a car though as lots are out of the way)..we had a car and did a bit of exploring and went to Jerez..all the sherry and brandy makers are based down there too!!

Kellie

ooooh Kellie you are wicked - it sounds lovely - I haven't 'done' La Luz yet and would love to :-(

Has anyone ever driven their dog(s) to Spain before?

No don't tell me or I'll have to eat cornflakes three times a day for the rest of my life!

Ah, its ok, I don't just eat rubbish meat like burgers, I also eat mince and sausages too! ;-)

oh it is lovely down there..I would go back like a shot..well sort of..we went last time on our honeymoon..well from barca to seville then to la luz..where we decided that it was the right time to get a pup!!..I cant face the thought of 2 weeks (or any time!) away from little Tally now tho! it really is gorgeous..we stayed in a former monastry which was beautiful and theres so much to see and do too..plus I got a FAB tan!..if I could take my pup it would be perfect! she loves the sunshine and the feel of sand between her toes!