Holiday with 2 under 3's

sweet sensation

sweet sensation

Active Member
Hi, I have a dilema this year as me and my husband really want to do our annual ibiza holiday but last year we didnt get to do much as we were out in the sticks a bit and my babies were too small. we always book flights then get seperate accomodation but this year im thinking maybe an all inclusive hotel might be the best way forward?

so basically I want to know what peoples opinions / experiences are of a private apt/villa v an all inclusive family friendly hotel when it is just you and 2 under 3's? also if anyone can recommend any baby friendly hotels in playa d'en bossa/ibiza town?

thanks :)
 
Villa's are tricky with under 3's. Pools are ungaurded and you have to keep your eyes on them all the time. Most Villas are open plan so not many gates or doors to confine them into one space. Also you will have to keep them entertained all by yourself.

My partner and I tried an A/I hotel last year for the first time after trying the private villa option with our 3yold. We were pleasantly surprised by the freedom A/I and Family hotel provide.

There are kids clubs (normally over 4) but the mini clubs look after the under 4's so make sure hotel has a mini club for kids. They will take your ankle biters off you for an hour or two allowing you some peace. Theres also a full entertainment programme to keep them occoupied and busy with painting, playgrounds, dancing and other games.

The A/I food was fine, nothing exciting but better than we expected. My partner found that the ease of just walking 5 mins to the restaurant without having to go into "full going out mode" (which normally takes her 2 hours minimum) was a big plus and allowed her to relax and enjoy the holiday more. Also no cleaning up in the rooms was another advantage. We did venture out for a few nights to our favourite restaurants and it worked out great.

Most A/I family hotels are expert at handling young kids and families. They are doing it all season long and understand the logistics then parents require. Staff are qualified with Kids and are an extra pair of eyes on them. We felt safe leaving our 3yold with them and there was always 2 or 3 staff to about 8 kids.Also consider hiring a professional Babysitter for a night so that you can go out and enjoy a late one.
 
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Thank you so much :) I know what you mean about villas and their pools! It took me weeks of looking last year for a suitable villa and we ended up getting a small one without a pool, but it wasnt gated so my son used to run out quite a bit! We didnt really get much chance to relax!

So how exactly does an A/I work? Do they supply ALL food at whatever time of the day? Also regarding alcohol is there restrictions on what you can and cant have? What are the rooms like? Cos my son would deffo need his own room otherwise he would be up half the night! Do they have adjoining rooms? Where did you stay?

I will check out that bahamas place, any others maybe in Ibiza town or Talamanca?

Lol dont worry I have already booked my babysitter for the Space opening! :lol:
 
I stayed at the Barcelo Pueblo in Port De Torrent near San An. A/I works well for families. The restaurant is open for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can pick and choose whatever food, drinks, water etc including kids menus for those meal times.

When the restaurant is closed there are ice creams, teas, coffees ,snacks and a full bar available. In the better A/I hotels there are no restrictions really, once you dont take advantage. Alcohol is normally local brands and the all inclusive bar closes at 11pm.

9pm- 11pm there are soft drinks, coffee teas and water available. We stayed at a rate of €60 per night all inclusive room rate in June and there was 3 of us. Kids go free. I think we easily drank €60 on coffee teas, soft drinks, water and alcoholic drinks alone per day between 3 of us. House wine is not good, so give that a miss. Heirbas was good though :-)

We found it just saved so much hassle not having to move about to find restaurants for 3 meals a day...and kids can be fussy eaters. Just sit back and saunter down to the Hotel Restaurant when you feel like it. Its open for about 3 hours each mealtime.

You will have to book an interconnecting room (if available) or 2 bed apartment if you want a separate room for the kids and that will take a few inquiries direct to the hotel. That said, we found that our daughter was bushwacked by 11pm and slept soundly through the night, as she made many friends her age and the entertainment programmers had her involved in games and mini discos.

It was strange doing the whole family A/I option holiday in Ibiza for the first time after years of clubbing holidays, but we enjoyed it as a family.
 
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you would need a family room for a bedroom.but its not cheap.a/i means just that.breakfast/lunch/dinner. and snacks from bar. drinks are from 10am till midnight in most a/i hotels.

thats local beer/wine/water/coffee/tea etc.

Adjoining rooms available (on request)

LONDGING & MEAL PLANS
All our main meal are served in the main "Buffet Restaurant & Trattoria"

  • Bed &Breakfast : In the buffet restaurant
  • Half Board: In the buffet restaurant, drinks and meals not included
  • All inclusive: The 3 meals including snacks and all kind of beverages at the bars, Restaurant and the Trattoria.
  • The Beach Restaurant "La Sal Rossa Bahamas Beach Bar & Restaurant"; is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in front of the beach (this restaurant is not included in any of the meal plans)
Schedule
Breakfast: from 08:00 - 10:30 hrs.
Lunch: from 12:30 - 15:30 hrs.
Dinner: from 18:00 - 21:30 hrs.
Snacks: from 10:00 - 18:00 hrs. at the bar
All drinks included from 10 am until midnight
in any bar

*If you booked Half Board but will like to enjoy
the All Inclusive Service, please contact
Reception to ask for the All Inclusive offers


http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/azuline/clubbahamas/
web page to have a look at.i re veiwed this hotel when it had a refit.nice hotel even better than when it was owned by fiesta befor they sold it to a private company.
 
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Thank you again :D That Bahamas place looks nice, so basically the rooms are just that, 1 room with a bed and sofa bed and a seperate bathroom? We have stayed in hotels before where you get a 'living room' and a seperate bedroom, does this not happen with A/I hotels?
 
Bez said:
Alcohol is normally local brands and the all inclusive bar closes at 11pm.

9pm- 11pm there are soft drinks, coffee teas and water available. We stayed at a rate of €60 per night all inclusive room rate in June and there was 3 of us. Kids go free. I think we easily drank €60 on coffee teas, soft drinks, water and alcoholic drinks alone per day between 3 of us. House wine is not good, so give that a miss. Heirbas was good though :-)

We found it just saved so much hassle not having to move about to find restaurants for 3 meals a day...and kids can be fussy eaters. Just sit back and saunter down to the Hotel Restaurant when you feel like it. Its open for about 3 hours each mealtime.

You will have to book an interconnecting room (if available) or 2 bed apartment if you want a separate room for the kids and that will take a few inquiries direct to the hotel. That said, we found that our daughter was bushwacked by 11pm and slept soundly through the night, as she made many friends her age and the entertainment programmers had her involved in games and mini discos.

It was strange doing the whole family A/I option holiday in Ibiza for the first time after years of clubbing holidays, but we enjoyed it as a family.
Click to expand...

Thank you, so the alcohol is restricted to beers and **** wine lol!? Can you get mojitos or bloody marys instead? Also do you have to drink your alcohol in the restaurants and bars or are you able to take it to your room? Im trying to work out the logistics of bedtimes and us not being confined to our room especially if thats all it is is 1 room!

My babies will be 2 3/4's and nearly 15months and are normally asleep by 7.30/8pm! Do you just keep them up late on holiday?! Do you not just have grumpy babies lol? My daughter is a right grumpy guts if shes not in bed by 8pm!!
 
sweet sensation said:
Thank you, so the alcohol is restricted to beers and **** wine lol!? Can you get mojitos or bloody marys instead? Also do you have to drink your alcohol in the restaurants and bars or are you able to take it to your room? Im trying to work out the logistics of bedtimes and us not being confined to our room especially if thats all it is is 1 room!

My babies will be 2 3/4's and nearly 15months and are normally asleep by 7.30/8pm! Do you just keep them up late on holiday?! Do you not just have grumpy babies lol? My daughter is a right grumpy guts if shes not in bed by 8pm!!
Click to expand...

There is a wide selection of alcohol options available. Mojitos would be considered premium brands and while they are available, not included in most of the All Inclusive options. Bloddy marys yes, liquors, spirits sangria's etc but made from local brands. Yes you can bring drinks and food to your room.

Kids on holidays normal routines usually go out the window! At 15 months our daughter went to bed around 11pm. We had her in a buggy with a recliner, so that she could sleep with a blanket over her while we had dinner, drinks etc. At 3 she stayed up until near midnight playing with the other kids. She slept like a log to 9am next morning plus she had a nap around 2pm each day after lunch.

You wont be in your room often just for bedtimes..........
 
do what ever you want with the drinks.they do cocktails as well.i am not listing all the drinks you can have.yes rooms are what you see on picture.they will sleep like logs.if you make sure they get a kip in the afternoon,under shade round pool.thats what most do.has you will miss the shows at night if you put them to bed at 8pm.

a.i hotels are no different to any other hotels.just means you get your meals and drinks.you can op just for the drinks package if you wish.the way this complex is built you don;t get a living room.before the refit it was basic but now its top notch.

low floor with a terrace would be best for you.walk righ out of room into pool area.


  • Air conditioning
  • Double bed,
  • Sofa bed (for the 3º or 4º person),
  • Flat Screen Sat-TV,
  • Mini refrigerator
  • Terrace or balcony.
  • A complete separate bathroom with bathtub / shower, hairdryer, mirror & amenities.

    Occupation & Capacities:

  • 4 adults (3rd y 4th adults sleep in sofa bed)
  • 2 Adults + 2 children
  • Cot available (on request and only 1 child + 1 cot)
like said all you need a room for is to sleep/rest/and wash up in.too much to do in hotel and resort.
 
sweet sensation said:
Thank you, so the alcohol is restricted to beers and **** wine lol!? Can you get mojitos or bloody marys instead? Also do you have to drink your alcohol in the restaurants and bars or are you able to take it to your room? Im trying to work out the logistics of bedtimes and us not being confined to our room especially if thats all it is is 1 room!

My babies will be 2 3/4's and nearly 15months and are normally asleep by 7.30/8pm! Do you just keep them up late on holiday?! Do you not just have grumpy babies lol? My daughter is a right grumpy guts if shes not in bed by 8pm!!
Click to expand...

I have stayed in the fiesta hotels in PDB they have kids club and all inclusive options.
http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/azuline/clubbahamas/

I have stayed at the hotel many times, you and family will enjoy it.
 
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sweet sensation said:
Thank you, so the alcohol is restricted to beers and **** wine lol!? Can you get mojitos or bloody marys instead? Also do you have to drink your alcohol in the restaurants and bars or are you able to take it to your room? Im trying to work out the logistics of bedtimes and us not being confined to our room especially if thats all it is is 1 room!

My babies will be 2 3/4's and nearly 15months and are normally asleep by 7.30/8pm! Do you just keep them up late on holiday?! Do you not just have grumpy babies lol? My daughter is a right grumpy guts if shes not in bed by 8pm!!
Click to expand...

It will include spirits but they tend to be "local" which will be fine with mixers. Dont expect malt whiskeys !They do cocktails as well.

If you want something a bit more than 3 star then the Paladium Palace just a bit further up the beach gets good reviews.

If you want really good value for money the Club Bahamas is the one. Lots of mixed families, a few well behaved clubbers, international guests and no chavs. The entertainment is excellent and the location is good for a famliy trip to Bora Bora.

You will have no problem getting drinks to your room when the children are tired. It is not frowned upon. There is a fridge in the room at CB.

As for bedtimes, my two girls, when they were younger, tended to stay up later as the week went on. They just lie in more in the morning hopefully.
 
woodruffe said:
do what ever you want with the drinks.
Click to expand...

can you bathe in them? :lol: j/k



they do cocktails as well.i am not listing all the drinks you can have.yes rooms are what you see on picture.they will sleep like logs.if you make sure they get a kip in the afternoon,under shade round pool.thats what most do.has you will miss the shows at night if you put them to bed at 8pm.

a.i hotels are no different to any other hotels.just means you get your meals and drinks.you can op just for the drinks package if you wish.the way this complex is built you don;t get a living room.before the refit it was basic but now its top notch.

low floor with a terrace would be best for you.walk righ out of room into pool area.


  • Air conditioning
  • Double bed,
  • Sofa bed (for the 3º or 4º person),
  • Flat Screen Sat-TV,
  • Mini refrigerator
  • Terrace or balcony.
  • A complete separate bathroom with bathtub / shower, hairdryer, mirror & amenities.

    Occupation & Capacities:
  • 4 adults (3rd y 4th adults sleep in sofa bed)
  • 2 Adults + 2 children
  • Cot available (on request and only 1 child + 1 cot)
like said all you need a room for is to sleep/rest/and wash up in.too much to do in hotel and resort.
Click to expand...

thank you for your help :D
 
Paladium Palace is nice but not really good for the younger ones.and further to walk to resort as well.plus its not cheap.well i have seen it before where a group filled a inflatble full of beer.and played some sort of game.
 
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Bez said:
There is a wide selection of alcohol options available. Mojitos would be considered premium brands and while they are available, not included in most of the All Inclusive options. Bloddy marys yes, liquors, spirits sangria's etc but made from local brands. Yes you can bring drinks and food to your room.

Kids on holidays normal routines usually go out the window! At 15 months our daughter went to bed around 11pm. We had her in a buggy with a recliner, so that she could sleep with a blanket over her while we had dinner, drinks etc. At 3 she stayed up until near midnight playing with the other kids. She slept like a log to 9am next morning plus she had a nap around 2pm each day after lunch.

You wont be in your room often just for bedtimes..........
Click to expand...

thank you. see we tried this with my son when he was 9 months old and he just wouldnt sleep in the buggy, so eating out was a nightmare cos he was just so grumpy! thats why we have always booked a self catering holiday and just stayed in at night! but last year we felt like we lived in ibiza (no bad thing!) rather than having a holiday there so we thought we would try something different this year.
 
Thats good that they do cocktails too. The only thing that concerns me really is the 1 room issue. My son would stay up all night if there was enough distractions and my daughter is quite a light sleeper, plus and im sure he'll kill me for telling you but my husband snores so 4 of us in 1 room would probably mean that noone would sleep!

haha my babies lie in!!! im lucky to get them to sleep till 8am no matter what time they go to sleep!!! :lol:


deepseadiver said:
It will include spirits but they tend to be "local" which will be fine with mixers. Dont expect malt whiskeys !They do cocktails as well.

If you want something a bit more than 3 star then the Paladium Palace just a bit further up the beach gets good reviews.

If you want really good value for money the Club Bahamas is the one. Lots of mixed families, a few well behaved clubbers, international guests and no chavs. The entertainment is excellent and the location is good for a famliy trip to Bora Bora.

You will have no problem getting drinks to your room when the children are tired. It is not frowned upon. There is a fridge in the room at CB.

As for bedtimes, my two girls, when they were younger, tended to stay up later as the week went on. They just lie in more in the morning hopefully.
Click to expand...
 
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