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Forums Other Destination advice October half term – all inclusive in Europe

  • rams 281 posts

    We want a week’s holiday with wider family in October half term. Is Ikos the only high quality all inclusive option with kids aged 2-13 in Europe – any other recommendations? Apparently weather in the Greek Ikos locations may be early 20s so not suitable for beach holiday?

    Welcome any thoughts.

    NorthernLass 10,508 posts

    In October you’re only really guaranteed decent weather at the latitudes of the Canaries (similar flight times to Greece) and further south. Some of the Iberostar AI resorts look very nice, I think they have properties in Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

    Hyatt also have some AI properties – at least one family one in Lanzarote. If beaches are your thing, Lanzarote has some of the best in Europe (this is coming from a beach connoisseur!)

    The Canaries get bad press, but there are some quite up-market areas and resorts and there’s a growing push-back against mass tourism and high awareness of environmental issues.

    Playa del Duque in Tenerife is also a stunning beach, with some very swanky hotels abutting it – not sure if any are AI though.

    rams 281 posts

    Thanks @northernlass. Will give the Canaries a look. Quick google did show Tenerife has better weather

    desh36000 40 posts

    Cant beat the Canaries for variety of options.

    If a quieter spot is desired – I looked into Malta for October, probably more suited to an adult party. Plenty there to do and smaller than the Canaries. There is a Radisson at the top end of the main island which looks great. Nothing is very far apart.

    I would also rate Fuerteventura for a quieter destination within the Canaries themselves.

    aseftel 329 posts

    I’m not aware of any all-inclusive resorts in the Canaries operating at the level of Ikos. Certainly the best option for weather though, so definitely worth a look if you’re willing to compromise a bit. Bahia del Duque is good but not all-inclusive.

    Crete will be one of the best Greek options but there isn’t an Ikos there (yet). Take a look at Daios Cove perhaps.

    NorthernLass 10,508 posts

    https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/dreams/spain/lanzarote-playa-dorada-resort-spa/

    This is the Hyatt resort I was thinking of. There are different levels of packages you can book with options of access to exclusive facilities like separate pools and restaurants.

    We went to Crete one October and had thunderstorms for several days. The staff at our hotel said that was normal for the time of year and seemed puzzled that we would want to swim and sunbathe!

    aseftel 329 posts

    That’s a fair comment. I should have been clearer that Canarian weather will be on another level.

    Half term will be the last week of the season for many Greek resorts and one might reasonably surmise that they wouldn’t have stayed open so long if not for the spoke in demand. You’d expect to have some fine weather during the trip but a solid seven days is unrealistic. Still, most likely better weather in Crete than Corfu or Halkidiki where most Ikos resorts are.

    Still it’s all relative. If your kids would be happy splashing about on the English seaside (on an unremarkable day, not mid-heatwave) then they’ll cope just fine with an iffy Greek day, storms notwithstanding.

    Grant 133 posts

    We are trying Turkey this year, albeit in May half term rather than Ocotber, for our first foray in to AI. There seemed to be no end of options to choose from for a range of budgets. Temps should still be mid 20s in October.

    FH2 114 posts

    We want a week’s holiday with wider family in October half term. Is Ikos the only high quality all inclusive option with kids aged 2-13 in Europe – any other recommendations? Apparently weather in the Greek Ikos locations may be early 20s so not suitable for beach holiday?

    Welcome any thoughts.

    We went to Ikos Dassia in Corfu for Oct half term a few years ago and the weather was variable. We had one full day of rain and in the evenings it was too cold to sit outside without a jacket. I wouldn’t go back at that time of year. The resort is lovely though.
    If you want guaranteed sunshine and are willing to travel a little further, maybe consider one of the Red Sea resorts in Egypt.

    rams 281 posts

    Thanks all for the replies.

    Turkey is out as some of us will be there in Easter.

    Sounds like Canaries may win. From what I can see Iberostar or Gran Melia Palacio de Isora seem best. Anyone been to either?

    aseftel 329 posts

    GM PdI is solid, but not at the level of Ikos. I would go back if the price was right. They have retooled the Redlevel offering since I stayed (originally it was adults-only, then they added a Redlevel for families alongside, now the programmes seem to have merged somewhat). It’s located away from the main resort areas so you avoid the feeling of wall-to-wall hotels. I stayed B&B. I tried the on-property restaurants a couple of times but found them unremarkable (especially at the price) and had a much better time dining out in the adjacent village of Alcala. Plenty of swimming pools, but set your expectations low for beach.

    For Iberostars in Tenerife, the better ones are El Mirador, Salome, Mencey and Anthelia. Unfortunately, the first two are adults-only and Mencey is more of an urban resort, so Anthelia is the main one to consider. I haven’t stayed there. Salome and Anthelia are in the same complex, so you could perhaps split across the two if you had a large/multigenerational group. If it’s a consideration, note that El Mirador and Mencey do not participate in IHG Rewards.

    ed_fly 387 posts

    We had nine nights at palacio de isora last year. Had a good time, my kids 5 & 9 loved it. Red level for families was nice, worked well for us on HB. Not sure what the AI offering is like, so hard to say what additional value the lounge would provide. Though two things spring to mind red level breakfast in a separate restaurant, much nicer experience. And enhanced restaurant reservation ability for red level guests.

    SamG 1,896 posts

    Agree to dismiss Greece, I have been in Thessaloniki for work last 2 years around that time and the weather last year was particularly poor – 18c and rain multiple days in a row. I winced at how much people had spent to go to the Ikos hotels in Halkidiki to enjoy that!!

    No hotel reccomendations but I’d consider Cyprus as it’s that bit further south, also Morocco but may not have the type of resort you’re after

    Michael C 885 posts

    Saïdia will have a few options and should be around 25º at that time.
    The Be Live is slightly swisher and has a teen club, the Radisson perhaps less so but often VFM! And there is an Iberostar.

    phantomchickenz 574 posts

    Cant beat the Canaries for variety of options.

    If a quieter spot is desired – I looked into Malta for October, probably more suited to an adult party. Plenty there to do and smaller than the Canaries. There is a Radisson at the top end of the main island which looks great. Nothing is very far apart.

    I would also rate Fuerteventura for a quieter destination within the Canaries themselves.

    Radisson Golden Sands. I was there 18 months ago with the kids, and would happily go back, especially with the newly minted VIP status!

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