[Frankly my Dear]

I am a little stuck for ideas...

If you were planning a week/10day holiday for 2 adults and a 4 year old where would you like to travel too?

We want to stay in more of a resort type place, basically somewhere we don't have to leave the entire time (unless we wish too). Must be kid friendly but still nice, with good food and entertainment/stuff to do.

Overseas or Australia (not gold coast/sunshine coast - been there heaps!)

Thanks for ideas!!!

[Holidayromp]

I would rather stick forks in my eyes than to go on an Island/resort holidays. They are tourist traps with densely populated resorts and fights for the pool chairs.

My advice if you go this way is to try and go up in the star ratings for the accomodation. I find the higher the stars the less populated the resort is and the better the service and no fighting for the pool and pool chairs. If you book early enough and do your homework you can often find these top quality resorts at a similar price to the cheaper ones.

Avoid the ones that state family friendly and really focus on the kids having a good time as opposed to the adults. You will find that the rooms are set up purely for the kids and allow for little adult downtime with everyone pretty much in the same room. You will also find these resorts very popular and come away feeling more exhausted than you were when you arrived but at least the kids have had a ball

Try and go off peak. You can get excellent savings and you lose the crowds.

[premmie_29weeks]

My vote is Fiji, we stayed at the Hilton on the mainland. It had self contained apartment style rooms, either studios or 2 bedrooms. There is a kids club and babysitting is very cheap, approx $5 aus an hour. Pools are beautiful and there are lots of options for dining in the resort or in the other resorts on the island or at the nearby boat marina.

Rooms have small kitchens, full size fridge and washing machine, it was nice to not have to come home with a suitcase of dirty clothes!. It's pricey, there are cheaper options in the area, but this suited our needs perfectly and was a really easy holiday which we needed. The flights are cheap, and daytime, plus the place has on site western doctors, which with little kids I feel is important.

[qak]

I would pick either Fiji (for a relaxing, do nothing holiday) or Hawaii (for lots of activities and shopping)!

[Frankly my Dear]

Thanks!

Should also have mentioned, that I've been to Fiji and Hawaii LOL. Both lovely, but would prefer somewhere different.

My advice if you go this way is to try and go up in the star ratings for the accomodation. I find the higher the stars the less populated the resort is and the better the service and no fighting for the pool and pool chairs. If you book early enough and do your homework you can often find these top quality resorts at a similar price to the cheaper ones.

Avoid the ones that state family friendly and really focus on the kids having a good time as opposed to the adults. You will find that the rooms are set up purely for the kids and allow for little adult downtime with everyone pretty much in the same room. You will also find these resorts very popular and come away feeling more exhausted than you were when you arrived but at least the kids have had a ball

I'm not really into going to a specific "kiddy" resort. Just a lovely place that does also cater to kids, like babysitting/kids club.

My vote is Fiji, we stayed at the Hilton on the mainland. It had self contained apartment style rooms, either studios or 2 bedrooms. There is a kids club and babysitting is very cheap, approx $5 aus an hour. Pools are beautiful and there are lots of options for dining in the resort or in the other resorts on the island or at the nearby boat marina.

I didn't stay at the Hilton when I did Fiji, but if I went back, I think that would be where I'd staying!!

[*LucyE*]

I would rather stick forks in my eyes than to go on an Island/resort holidays. They are tourist traps with densely populated resorts and fights for the pool chairs.

Not sure why you felt the need to reply then?

What about Singapore?

Good value 5 star accommodation, everything is close, there is shopping galore, great food, theme parks, warm weather, and a direct flight. Their tourism site is a good one for ideas.

In Phuket, I liked the JW Marriott but would still choose Singapore though.

Our personal fav is Fiji but we go to the high end resorts. Not sure what your budget is. I'm not so keen on the places that are regularly recommended but I'm a snob

[Frankly my Dear]

Our personal fav is Fiji but we go to the high end resorts. Not sure what your budget is. I'm not so keen on the places that are regularly recommended but I'm a snob

I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts like $1000's of dollars a night, but yeah, more higher end type resorts.

[elmo_mum]

try a cruise!!!
pretty much same amount of $$ and you dont have to go anywhere - if u dont want!

[Joey11]

Vanuatu, around Port Vila.

There's a selection of resorts with various accommodation options with pools, water activities, bars etc. There's enough easy day or 1/2 day activities nearby to keep you amused if you want to get out - such as very short boat trips to islands that have wonderful snorkelling, waterfalls you can swim in, local villages (although it can be a good idea to time these so there's not a cruise ship in town, as that changes the dynamics and prices of all those options!) Tropical fruits, decent restaurants (mainly french & seafood). And it's friendly and beautiful.

Edited to make a little more sense. And to add: Iririki Island Resort is pretty swish, loads of facilities and very close to Port Vila.

This post has been edited by Joey11: 12/11/2012, 09:13 AM

[*LucyE*]

I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts like $1000's of dollars a night, but yeah, more higher end type resorts.

I haven't been to either, but what about Vomo or Jean Michel Cousteau resort in Fiji?

For cruises, I'm looking at the Cunnard and Royal Carribbean lines but still not quite convinced.

In Singapore, I was looking at a pool villa at the Capella. It's near Sentosa (walking distance), so you have the beach and water play areas nearby. Universal Studios is there too. Grab a taxi and the zoo or bird park are not too far away. Across the boarder in Malaysia is the new Legoland. No kids club but labour is cheap so I would just hire a regular nanny to help out and watch your child during naps, feed her dinner in room so you can go out etc.

At the Phuket JW Marriott, I would stay in a pool villa as well. It's on the beach and no issues with 'bags-ing' deck chairs. They have a great kids pool with waterslide and attendants to hand out fresh dry towels and water bottles so no signing out towels or handing over deposits. They have a kids club and little playground. They used to do circus schools during school holidays too.