Seeking Holiday Destination Suggestions For Easter

For a variety of reasons (disorganisation amongst them, but not the prime reason) we're trying to tie down a destination for a 7 day break @ Easter 2007 (yes, this year).

Can any kind soul out there recommend, from personal experience, somewhere with the following qualities:

1. Sun
2. An unhurried atmosphere
3. 4 hours or so flight time
4. Low on the ankle biter count (though we love our two 16+ teenage offspring dearly, and are taking them with us, the other half spends her working life with 200+ under 11's and is minded to avoid them come holidays)

Cost is not particularly an issue.

We may well be too late to take advantage of any suggestions, but we are lacking focus at the moment and need help with a place to start. Our experience of short (under 2 week) breaks has been limited to cottages in the UK or city breaks in Europe.

Any help gratefully received.

Thx

Paul

[Neil]

Might I suggest Egypt? or more specifically Sharm el Sheikh? It covers all of your major requirements, Hours and hours of Sun, 4 hr flight, very laid back, never got bit once, and you can get some very good hotels at a very good price. We did 7 days there 3 years ago and it was just about right, flight was short enough to not ruin the amount of time you have there and I have to say it ranks in my top 5 holidays. I know it has grown since we were there but from what I have heard it is still excellent, and the Sea/Diving (at whatever level) is just superb.

Neil

Neil you pipped me to the post!

That was what i was going to suggest and also Tunisia - a fab country, really relaxing & Morocco which seems to getting good reports as well.

[Scrooge]

Well I am going to offer up a place that on the face of it may seem a little silly, but after spending a week there I found lots of little hide away places away from the crowds, some great resturants and a fabulous hotel.

The place is Marbella, I know, I was thinking drunk idiots as well, but the hotel I stayed at link was able to offer up some great places to go to get away from the crowds, the hotel itself is [y][y][y], even according to tripadviser and there are some great restaurants with in walking distance.

Please feel free to pm if you have any questions.

I'd second the Costa Del Sol early on in the year -it's not all Brits Abroad and some fab places to see.Old town Marbella is lovely and the surrounding small villages such as Benahavis are beautiful with some very good restaurants.Ronda is a shortish journey too.Grenada and the Palace of Alhambra is an easy drive and spectacular if you'ver never seen it.San Pedro and Estepona are just down the road and most of the hoarding masses and their delightful offspring never make it past the big Marbella arch that straddles the road just outside Puerto Banus. Tarifa (past Gib) is also specacular and can be pretty wild and windy (but still sunny and warm).
Julie

Thanks all. Family negotiations under way. Parents view: small characterful hotel, fine wines and dining, strolls through interesting towns during day, quiet evenings. Offspring view: large hotel with pool, buckets of beer, poolside during day, wild evenings in bars where you have to shout to make yourself heard. Which will prevail ? Let's see, who's paying for this ?

Paul

How about the Algarve- I have for the last three years gone over late March and the weather has been in the 25's, very quiet beaches/pools and some real bargains. I booked in Feb last year and got LHR-FAO on TP for £85 return!

Originally posted by willd
How about the Algarve- I have for the last three years gone over late March and the weather has been in the 25's, very quiet beaches/pools and some real bargains. I booked in Feb last year and got LHR-FAO on TP for £85 return!

Seconded!

I was going to suggest Lagos in the Algarve. We've been there twice in the summer and even then it was still relaxed. MY parents are booked to go there in 6 weeks time so I will have no hesitation in recommending this as a perfect Easter break pjh.

..and the winner is...Old Town Marbella. Accommodation (a direct VF recommendation [y]) and flights sorted - though I am kicking myself for not being more careful about the latter. It turns out ThomsonFly would have been a bit cheaper than Easyjet, though the latter has the advantage being from Stansted (40 mins drive) rather than Luton (70 - 80 mins)

For some reason the Algarve had slipped our minds. We had an excellent couple of weeks a few years back in Tavira. Has anyone else visited the Chapel of Bones in Faro - very strange....

Thanks again to all.

Paul

Originally posted by pjh
..and the winner is...Old Town Marbella. Accommodation (a direct VF recommendation [y]) and flights sorted - though I am kicking myself for not being more careful about the latter. It turns out ThomsonFly would have been a bit cheaper than Easyjet, though the latter has the advantage being from Stansted (40 mins drive) rather than Luton (70 - 80 mins)

For some reason the Algarve had slipped our minds. We had an excellent couple of weeks a few years back in Tavira. Has anyone else visited the Chapel of Bones in Faro - very strange....

Thanks again to all.

Paul

Ah well, just remember Lagos, Portugal for next time mate.

Enjoy Marbella [y]

(I'm staying in that area in a few days time so I'll see if we cna slip out there for a while [:w])

Originally posted by pjh
..and the winner is...Old Town Marbella. Accommodation (a direct VF recommendation [y]) and flights sorted - though I am kicking myself for not being more careful about the latter. It turns out ThomsonFly would have been a bit cheaper than Easyjet, though the latter has the advantage being from Stansted (40 mins drive) rather than Luton (70 - 80 mins)

For some reason the Algarve had slipped our minds. We had an excellent couple of weeks a few years back in Tavira. Has anyone else visited the Chapel of Bones in Faro - very strange....



Thanks again to all.

Paul

Hope you have a great time:D - I'm sure the "young uns" will find the clubs and bars of Puerto Banus/ Nuevo Andalucia lively enough. I forgot to mention that David Marshall ( Scottish sculptor) has a great gallery in Benahavis (and also has a more touristy shop in Mijas) -worth having a look if you go up to the village to eat. I've bought some great stuff and had it shipped back to the UK with no problems.If you're looking to hire a car, carjet.com usually give me the best all inclusive prices for mainland Spain and use all the operators at Malaga (acting as a broker to get the best possible deal). If you want any info on the restaurants in Benahavis please feel free to PM me.
Julie