Family holidays with 3 kids

We're also blessed with 3 sproglydites and have faced the same battle. 

We normally just go for 2 rooms and put up with it, but as ours are getting older we're nearly at the point we could dump the kids in one room and take the other one ourselves...

What I'd suggest is going to a TUI store or travel agent and having a chat. The stores can price match online even including blue light discount. That way they can see what's available and may have direct recommendations.

We've been twice to TUI Magiclife Calabria. Cracking holiday, lots of activities. It's probably a lot of people's idea of hell, but it worked for us with our three being decent swimmers and in the pool 12/7. Big site, own beach, decent enough buffet, MTB/road riding from the door, some watersports included, etc 

Reason for mentioning it is that from the UK site, you can basically only get double/twin rooms. But the euro website shows interconnected doubles, also family maisonettes and suites. And the hotel did tell us they had better solutions... that we couldn't access.

I think Mark Warner may have some options as they book hotels exclusively, but we've never been able to afford a trip.

Nothing useful to add, never really got the hang of this either! I will say, that now the oldest is 19 and mostly doing their own thing, it's a lot simpler going on holiday with only 4 of us.

My goodness, everything becomes simpler. 

And to think I really wanted 4 kids... 

Not what you asked for, but have you looked at villa holidays instead? We've done one with villa plus and last year with tui, both were excellent 👌

Or book a gite / cottage with a garden and pool, then you can relax in the garden after the kids are in bed.

Always gone self-catering - but holidays seem to cater for 2 adults and 2 children…

My first thought is to look at villa and AirBnB's. You'll have to cater for yourselves but it'll give you the space you want.

even with 2 kids its tough.

a lot of the more family-oriented hotels have rooms with slidey doors dividing the kids section away from the adults section of the room - so you can close everything off and have a bit of space/piece of your own (but you do still have to walk through the kids bit to get to the hallway). 

you can get some luck by looking through the hotels on a large agency, finding the ones you want then booking direct with the hotel. eg :

https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/packages?airports%5B%5D=LCY%7CLGW%7CLHR%7CLTN%7CSEN%7CSTN&units%5B%5D=&when=09-08-2025&until=&flexibility=true&monthSearch=false&flexibleDays=7&flexibleMonths=&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=3&childrenAge=3%2C6%2C8&duration=7115&searchRequestType=ins&searchType=search&sp=true&multiSelect=true&room=&isVilla=false&reqType=&sortBy=&nearByAirports=true

search that page for the phrase "2 bedroom" and you'll find hotels with the right layout.

You'll save a tonne of cache eurocamping it though - lots of that kinda place have 3 bedroom options relatively cheap, nice to sit out, restaraunt on site but not really the all-inc style

Thanks all, we did a eurocamp a few years ago and were somewhat unimpressed with the accomodation, though the overall site was really nice.   We flew as driving all teh way across the continent didnt really feel like a particluarly relaxing start to a holiday! 

I think we went with Villaplus several years ago but didn't have the best experience - teh pre paisd "transfer" was whatever taxi turned up and wasnt really big enough for (as it was then) 2 kids in child seats, buggy and all the accoutriments that go with toddlers.    

will go see if TUI have anysuitable villas!

Ta

Keith

@keithb we did cala n Bosch in menorca last year in a TUI villa. It was decent, nice quiet place, but with a few decent bars/restaurants in the marina centre, a water park round the corner which was cheap and even in middle of school holidays wasn't that busy, included a hire car instead of transfers and the driving around was really very easy

Ah yeah, I think I fogot to mention teh Wife's requirement to be walking distance from a nice beach....  

The TUI website is truly awful though, as it keeps defaulting to "2 adults only" in the search, and has really poor information on the accomodation. 

Thanks all.

Keith

I would rent a villa with a hotel/spa within walking distance.  You then get your own privacy but have a decent hotel nearby where anyone can walk to and use the pool/bar/spa.  Read the reviews of the hotel before committing or you may be disappointed.

Just looked on Jet2 and their website lets you pick 2 bedroom suites or interconnecting room. Depends on the location/hotel etc.

N.B. I've used Jet2 just for flights a few times and it's fine. A friend used them for a family holiday last year and said it was all good. They got a much cheaper price booking through the local Hayes travel than could be found online.

Eg. https://www.jet2holidays.com/croatia/pula-and-istrian-coast/rabac/valamar-collection-girandella-maro-suites#tab-rooms

I have no idea what the place is like but sounds like it might fit your criteria.