Holidays

[NotedObserver]

Thinking of the Canaries end of Jan/first half of February for 5-7 days. Two adults, a 4 year old and a 1 year old. Any recommendations? Best island, best hotel? Am happy to pay for something quite nice but needs to have a LOT to keep the 4 year old happy.

Did you get sorted? I've been to Lanzarote and Gran Canaria previously without children but now for 4 and 2 year old and looking for somewhere to go

[LC]

Folks going to be booking the summer hols this week hopefully, we have 4 kids (2 primary and 2 secondary school) , missus has narrowed it down to the following camps / resorts:

- Union Lido, Italy
- La Rive, France
- Park Albotros, Italy
- Sanguli (Was in Cambrils last year so fairly familiar with the general area)
- Bella Italia, Italy
- Le Clarys Plage, France
- Altominico, Lake Garda

Would welcome any feedback from anyone who has been to any of these places.

Many Thanks

[An Watcher]

If you're looking at Union Lido you may as well try Marina di Venezia.  Forget about the others over that direction.  Those 2 are the best.  Very handy to Venice.  Actually preferred Marina to Cambrils and I think it suits older kids as well because mine are primary. 
Only drawback in my opinion is that there isn't much right outside the park.  In saying that wasn't dying about the area outside Cambrils. 
Horses for courses i suppose

[Rois]

Bella Italia is great if you want to do day trips. Handy access to train in the walkable town of Peschira that takes you directly to Verona and Venice. The town itself has lots of nice touristy restaurants and cafes, perfect for evening strolls.
Bus or boat access to other lakeside towns.
We didn't go, but Gardaland theme park is very handy. 
The site itself is fairly big and you have option of apartments - advice seems to be to book directly.
Loads of Irish, even in September.

[gerrykeegan]

We were in union Lido last year. How old are the kids. It has its own water park. It has four or five decent slides. Loads of restaurants. We left the resort once! Lots of people don't leave at all. There is a big proper water park about a 20 minute bus ride from the resort. But the mobile homes are small.
We got an Airbnb in Pescheira,the town is fabulous and as Rois says you can get the train to Garda Land which is brilliant but busy. There's also a water park that is extremely good and quieter because everyone is going to Garda Land. If your kids are young (5-10) I'd say UL but if a bit older then I'd say Bella Italia

[LC]

We were in union Lido last year. How old are the kids. It has its own water park. It has four or five decent slides. Loads of restaurants. We left the resort once! Lots of people don't leave at all. There is a big proper water park about a 20 minute bus ride from the resort. But the mobile homes are small.
We got an Airbnb in Pescheira,the town is fabulous and as Rois says you can get the train to Garda Land which is brilliant but busy. There's also a water park that is extremely good and quieter because everyone is going to Garda Land. If your kids are young (5-10) I'd say UL but if a bit older then I'd say Bella Italia

By next summer they will be 16, 14, 10 & 8.

Point noted re the small mobile homes, might be a bit of a squeeze with 6 of us in total.

[BigGreenField]

As a park Union Lido is pick of the bunch - you wouldn't need to leave unless maybe a day trip to Venice (go as early as you can and it's an experience even for the youngest).

I think they do a 6 berth cabin not big but grand on the basis everyone coups in the evening.

Been a couple of years since the rest, Bella Italia more of a base for going round the lake as it has limited enough facilities, if your youngest can manage 10 miles in a bike then perfect for that as you can cover quite a bit on rentals and then hop on boats up the lake.

I did always like pra delle torri although experience is you will want a car to get out and about if there for 2 weeks.

[Onthe40]

Did Pra delle torri last year..great resort, my kids similar ages
resort is excellent, on the beach, plenty of life, even a teens disco bar at night, pools/slides excellent
bus at the resort straight to local towns and to Venice..all v accessible
cheaper than union too
defo recommend it

[seanaglis]

Folks going to be booking the summer hols this week hopefully, we have 4 kids (2 primary and 2 secondary school) , missus has narrowed it down to the following camps / resorts:

- Union Lido, Italy
- La Rive, France
- Park Albotros, Italy
- Sanguli (Was in Cambrils last year so fairly familiar with the general area)
- Bella Italia, Italy
- Le Clarys Plage, France
- Altominico, Lake Garda

Would welcome any feedback from anyone who has been to any of these places.

Many Thanks

I have been to Sanguli and Bella Italia on that list, and I have la rive booked for July.

Sanguli v nice and modern, kids were young when we went and we never left the camp. Pools etc were great. Not stuck on the surrounding town though (salou).

Bella Italia the opposite. Pescharia a beautiful town, but the campsite itself is a bit run down.

Looking forward to la rive this summer. We were in a la litterol and pins parasol in vendee this past 2 years, and the French campsites are a level above the others imo. Spotlessly clean, and the bread and other fresh produce you get adds to the experience too.

[seanaglis]

Folks going to be booking the summer hols this week hopefully, we have 4 kids (2 primary and 2 secondary school) , missus has narrowed it down to the following camps / resorts:

- Union Lido, Italy
- La Rive, France
- Park Albotros, Italy
- Sanguli (Was in Cambrils last year so fairly familiar with the general area)
- Bella Italia, Italy
- Le Clarys Plage, France
- Altominico, Lake Garda

Would welcome any feedback from anyone who has been to any of these places.

Many Thanks

I have been to Sanguli and Bella Italia on that list, and I have la rive booked for July.

Sanguli v nice and modern, kids were young when we went and we never left the camp. Pools etc were great. Not stuck on the surrounding town though (salou).

Bella Italia the opposite. Pescharia a beautiful town, but the campsite itself is a bit run down.

Looking forward to la rive this summer. We were in a la litterol and pins parasol in vendee this past 2 years, and the French campsites are a level above the others imo. Spotlessly clean, and the bread and other fresh produce you get adds to the experience too.

The other thing i would say is that I find booking direct with the camp gets you a better quality accommodation than booking with Eurocamp. The Eurocamps are always packed tightly together, and look more dated than the campsites own accommodation generally

[Write boys]

Hi there  best recommendations for family holiday Europe 2 kids 6 and 3  2 grandparents young at heart and 2 beleaguered parents  plus 2 other young people possible. No beach holiday

[AustinPowers]

Has anyone been to  any of the islands  off the west  coast? .... the likes of Inishbofin, Clare island, Tory etc?

Stayed on   Inisheer and Inishmore a couple of times , and absolutely loved it there. 

Fancied  sampling another one or two islands this year.

Any information welcome

[RedHand88]

Has anyone been to  any of the islands  off the west  coast? .... the likes of Inishbofin, Clare island, Tory etc?

Stayed on   Inisheer and Inishmore a couple of times , and absolutely loved it there. 

Fancied  sampling another one or two islands this year.

Any information welcome

Tory nice for a daytrip. Didn't stay over but I cant imagine there being much going on unless you wanted alot of quiet.

[Substandard]

Hi there  best recommendations for family holiday Europe 2 kids 6 and 3  2 grandparents young at heart and 2 beleaguered parents  plus 2 other young people possible. No beach holiday

Not a thread I've ever looked at before a as I'm not a holiday person, but I'm just back from a school tour to Cologne in Germany, having been to Berlin and Munich before- I'd highly recommend any of them. 
Lots to see and do around Munich: Olympic Tower, Marienplatz, Galaxy Erding waterpark- the only possible snag would be whether you are driving or not, because we were bussed everywhere,  which makes things easy.  Neushwanstein castle is what the Disney castle was based on, and there's a class toboggan run not far from there.  There's the Saltmines tour on the way to Salzburg which is excellent,  and the Trick fountains in Salzburg are great craic, and then you could do the cable car up the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in the German Alps.
If you went to Cologne, Phantasialand makes Disney look like the circus that sets up across from the local mart or Aldi.
There's loads around Berlin too, and Berlin was unreal value when it came to food.
We stayed in Meininger hotels, basic but very nice and wouldn't break the bank, with a nice continental breakfast mornings.
There's loads to check out, and I remember being blown away at the scenery the first time I went- Germany likely wouldn't appear in the Top 10 holiday destinations for many on this forum,  I'd imagine,  but if I was ever to get around to a holiday myself,  I'd go back in a heartbeat.
I know you're probably sorted by now given the datevyou posted, but with the age mix you mentioned,  I guarantee ye'd all enjoy it, so maybe an idea for next year!!

[Tony Baloney]

Hi there  best recommendations for family holiday Europe 2 kids 6 and 3  2 grandparents young at heart and 2 beleaguered parents  plus 2 other young people possible. No beach holiday

Not a thread I've ever looked at before a as I'm not a holiday person, but I'm just back from a school tour to Cologne in Germany, having been to Berlin and Munich before- I'd highly recommend any of them. 
Lots to see and do around Munich: Olympic Tower, Marienplatz, Galaxy Erding waterpark- the only possible snag would be whether you are driving or not, because we were bussed everywhere,  which makes things easy.  Neushwanstein castle is what the Disney castle was based on, and there's a class toboggan run not far from there.  There's the Saltmines tour on the way to Salzburg which is excellent,  and the Trick fountains in Salzburg are great craic, and then you could do the cable car up the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in the German Alps.
If you went to Cologne, Phantasialand makes Disney look like the circus that sets up across from the local mart or Aldi.
There's loads around Berlin too, and Berlin was unreal value when it came to food.
We stayed in Meininger hotels, basic but very nice and wouldn't break the bank, with a nice continental breakfast mornings.
There's loads to check out, and I remember being blown away at the scenery the first time I went- Germany likely wouldn't appear in the Top 10 holiday destinations for many on this forum,  I'd imagine,  but if I was ever to get around to a holiday myself,  I'd go back in a heartbeat.
I know you're probably sorted by now given the datevyou posted, but with the age mix you mentioned,  I guarantee ye'd all enjoy it, so maybe an idea for next year!!

We went to Berlin for our 40th and promised we'd go back. Nearly 10 years later we haven't! Have always fancied a trip around Munich and Bavaria too. Maybe talk her into it for the 50th!