Holiday recommendation for October half term??

Bluebutterfly · Postby **Bluebutterfly** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:44 pm

Please could someone recommend a good holiday destination for end-of-October half term? We had planned to go to Devon but we can't face the prospect of a week of cold and rain, with toddlers who aren't easy to take out in wet weather and long days of being up at 6am with not much to do! We would really like to find somewhere with guaranteed sunshine (I am ruling out Europe at that time of year), an excellent creche/kids club that we can make use of for a couple hours a day and a high standard of accommodation (ideally where we could have interconnecting rooms). I'm still trying to work out if long-haul flights are a bad idea, or whether if we did them overnight they might be easier than a shorter daytime flight? If anyone has any advice/suggestions that would be great! Thank you!!

MGMidget · Postby **MGMidget** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:35 pm

As destinations I would suggest Morocco, Cyprus or the Canary Islands.

Princess Yaiza in Lanzarote is very nice.

NYE31 · Postby **NYE31** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:58 pm

Hotel San Blas in Tenerife, v.baby & child friendly, I would book soon as half term will get booked up.

Enjoy

JoanneF · Postby **JoanneF** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:14 am

Try Agadir in Morocco. You'll get nice weather and there's some decent hotels and a nice beach.

Andnaia · Postby **Andnaia** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:21 pm

Look at www.maisonvetivert.com
Great children's indoor barn, heated saline pool, close to Carcassonne medieval city and other attractions....
Weather generally blue skies as far enough down in southern France!
Reviews on trip advisor very good.....
Catering and massage also available

luxlittleones · Postby **luxlittleones** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:15 am

Hi

I would be happy to help you find somewhere. I am a mum of two little ones and in January set up www.luxuryandlittleones.com as it was the type of website I was I need of when looking for my family holidays.

If you want to fly long haul then personally I find might flights easier as it is less exhausting than entertaining them on day flights.

Princesa Yaiza is lovely and the Canaries should still have sun in October. The Bahia del Duque is also good but the child care starts at 4 so it will depend on the age of your children. However we do also have fab hotels further afield in Dubai, Maldives, Mauritius etc.

It might be worth considering the UK too though. I appreciate the weather is an issue but we have some lovely hotels with crèches and children's entertainment so you can indulge in a spa and have some couple time and which are totally geared up for families.

Do let me know if I can help further. Please feel free to email me kathryn@luxuryandlittleones.com or ring 07973619927.

Kathryn

Amyfordo · Postby **Amyfordo** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:06 am

Oman is another excellent holiday destination if you want sun and not a huge, long flight. We went in Novemeber last year and stayed at Al Bandar at the Shangri La which was great as 3 hotels share the facilities. Depending on the ages of your children I would stay at Al Baldar or Al Waha which is more child friendly but not quite as luxurious.
http://www.shangri-la.com/muscat/barral ... dar-hotel/
We loved it and are considering going back when we usually love going to new places x

Bluebutterfly · Postby **Bluebutterfly** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:46 pm

Thank you so much everyone for your replies, I will definitely look into all of your suggestions - very helpful!

Amyfordo, coincidentally I was just looking at the Shangri-La in Oman, as a friend has just recommended it. My children will be aged 6 and 22 months - which hotel do you think would be best? Did you use the kids club at all? Thanks for the suggestion!

BB

Amyfordo · Postby **Amyfordo** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:43 pm

The great thing about the Shangri La is that the hotels are linked so you can stay at Al Bandar and still walk up and sit by the pool at Al Waha which is the most child friendly of the 3 hotels. Al Husn is the only hotel that doesn't allow children but you can always go for meals there as there is baby sitting and a crèche based at Al Waha. We stayed at Al Bandar but our little boy was only 4 months old when we went so we weren't at the stage of him needing poolside playmates! We also took him to restaurants in the evening (asleep in the buggy) and everyone was very relaxed around us so we didn't feel like we had to always use babysitters which was great!

martinhal · Postby **martinhal** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:16 pm

In order to avoid long-haul destinations we suggest Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel. The elegant family beach resort located close to the historic town of Sagres on the unspoiled Western Algarve (Portugal) is the perfect holiday destination for families of all ages to relax and unwind in a stunning beach front setting all year round at only 2 and half flight hours away! The region enjoys many sunny days, 12 beaches in a few minutes’ drive from the resort and a wide range of sports and leisure facilities for the whole family: golf, surf, walking, hiking, biking abound. We look after families like no other resort - with 5 different kids clubs for the different age groups all the way to teenagers, with a zen-spa where both parents and children alike can completely relax with massages/ manicures and pedicures; and all our restaurants are children-friendly with kids corners and facilities to keep them busy while parents enjoy a good meal and exquisite wine, with excellent spacious designer villas to accommodate the discerning family. Please check our great value extended summer offer valid for Halloween and October half-term break. http://www.martinhal.com/offers/sites/e ... er-en.html.

Annabel (admin) · Postby **Annabel (admin)** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:49 pm

Hi,

Big thumbs up from me for The Martinhal! Had a fab week there last October half term.

Children had a ball, they loved their surfing lessons and they had a go at tennis too.

We stayed in a garden villa and it was gorgeous: contemporary but totally comfortable. A villa gave us the option to eat in or out but I have to confess that the dining options were too tempting

Sagres itself is very 'real' there's a rustic feel to it that I thought was lovely - maybe I was influenced by the surfer eye candy

Quick flight, One and a half hour transfer...perfect!

Will absolutely go back,

Annabel

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/the-martinhal-a-review/

jimmyjjohn · Postby **jimmyjjohn** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:12 am

Apartments in Croatia
I have been reading many of your blogs for the past 6 months. My husband and I are coming to Cuenca on Dec 21st to visit, hoping that it will be the place we would like to live.
I have been in touch with Cuenca Real Estate about a rental, but now that we are getting close to December I am concerned because I cannot reach the agent by phone and no emails have been answered. Just wrote to another agency - Ecuadorcentral. Was wondering if anyone in Cuenca would be interested in renting an apt fom Dec 21 to Jan 7th? Or perhaps can pass on the name of a person to contact? I am in Prague so it is a little hard to call, but my husband is in Denver which is closer to your time zone. I haven't given up hope completely of hearing from the real estate folks, but sure would like to know we have a place to stay. We have really enjoyed your blogs - - looking forward to crossing your paths in Cuenca!