More Readers' Holiday Reviews |
Here's what some of Holidays with Kids' readers are saying about their holidays. If you have a review of any location, you can send it to Holidays with Kids through this form.
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I decided that we needed a holiday for the Christmas Holidays in 2004, so I got online, read heaps of stories and reviews, checked out all the kid friendly resort websites and decided on the Mercure Resort in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. What an excellent choice. I secured a great deal online and was able to pay the holiday off through out the year. We drove down from our home in Central Highlands in Queensland with our four children Brianna 8, Makayla 6, Allanah 2 and Melissa 2 ½ weeks. (I booked in January and discovered I was pregnant in February.) My older two girls loved the kids club, the activities were really cool and excellent, or so I’m told. The Day Care Centre was so convenient and the staff seemed really lovely. The pool and playground were terrific. We organized and booked a trip to Sea world through the Discovery Desk and traveled there and back on the Corelia bus. Our bus driver was quick witted and courteous and promptly on time. All staff at the resort were excellent, nothing was too much trouble. Dining was awesome. We had a different menu each night and a selection for even the fussiest of eaters. The girls all stayed played and ate free. Our rooms very tidy and well maintained. The resort was full of other families from all over the world, and my girls made plenty of friends. The day activities were great fun. Friday Night’s BBQ by the pool and entertainment was fabulous, really, really great. The beach is only a short stroll away and there is a bus stop right outside the resort that will get you almost everywhere you want to go. I wouldn’t call this a relaxing holiday as there was just so much to do, but it was certainly a refreshing and fun family break. We are going back in 2006 and I can’t wait. I highly recommend it to active families. I can’t say enough great things about it. We loved it, my husband was very impressed with the holiday I organized, but probably mostly due to the fact there were so many top quality Golf Courses close by (lol).
Dee King
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Our family recently had a wonderful and relaxing holiday experience which we would recommend to everyone, particularly families. We spent 5 nights at Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland. We wish we had booked 7 nights when it was time to leave, as there was so much to do and experience. Or you could just sit back and relax or be pampered whilst the children were enjoying activities in the kids' club. The food was beautiful and children were definitely catered for and made to feel welcome in each dining venue. We can't wait to go back!
Julie Magee
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| Our family had one of the best holidays ever when we flew Jetstar direct to Hamilton Island and stayed in a very roomy and luxurious self-contained apartment with a balcony overlooking the glorious Whitsundays. The island has so much to do including snorkelling, sailing, bushwalking and windsurfing for free, as well as golf buggies, reef trips, shopping, shooting, go-karts and plenty of other activities that were reasonably priced. Kids ate for free at many of the great restaurants on the island and we had a beautiful family portrait professionally taken and printed to bring home as a lasting reminder.
Kathy Reed
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When visiting Adelaide, we stayed at Bayview Apartments in Glenelg. The apartment had 2 huge bedrooms which included bedding and towels, all kitchen appliances and even a video player for the kids. It had a balcony and the kitchen/dining room overlooked a huge park which included a kids' playground (was one of the best I've seen) and the marina. It was only a short walk to the main beach, Magic Mountain, the famous Glenelg Tram, heaps of restaurants, many of which catered for three kids under five and lots of specialty shops (I found some great bargains!). Overall, it was one of the best places we stayed at and the price was even better. We fully recommend it to families staying in Glenelg with kids.
Brunessa McMurray
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In April, 2004, my husband and I and our 3 children (10, 8, & 6yoa) stayed at Mansfield Country Club, on Lake Eildon, Victoria. The 2 bedroom self-contained units were fabulous, as was the children's playground, outdoor and indoor games facilities, giant slide, spa, pool, gym, etc.. What we really loved was the kookaburras and other birdlife perched on our veranda rails - we could almost touch them! Fantastic bushwalks, picnics and mountain bike rides at endless locations of history and beauty. Lovely cafes and cute shops made my time really special. We're looking forward to a winter visit to take in the snowfields next time!
Neville & Joanne Shande
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Pandanus Court, Kings Beach, Caloundra. Absolute, absolute, absolute beachfront. Touch the waves from the front patio. Spend a quiet evening with a glass of wine in hand, watching the passage of liners and boats up the Pumice Stone Passage. Spend sunny days watching the whales and dolphins heading north. Go to sleep to the sound of breaking surf. Views clear to Bribie Island and Moreton Island on clear days. Play and explore in rock pools, paddle on patrolled beaches, swim in the heated pool. Watch your children paddle from the café on the beach. Perfect winter beach getaway.
Jo Purssey
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My 12 year old son and I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, Sydney. It was the cleanest, most central, friendliest place we have stayed in for years. The staff couldn't do any more to help us and the hotel was so user friendly. The food was fantastic and the whole Sydney experience was right outside the front door. We packed 2 weeks into 4 days and had the best time ever. Bravo Holiday Inn.
Lorene Ratcliff
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We stayed at Diamond Beach Resort on the Gold Coast. It was great. We have 3 kids and a newborn. The units are spacious, clean and comfortable. The heated pool and spas were a delight. My children are real climbers and we really liked the fact that Diamond Beach is not high rise so the risk of a fall was minimal. It's location was great too! Just across from the beach and a short walk to shops and the fabulous Kurrawa Surf Club for a great family feed. We visited theme parks, the Carrara Markets, Pacific Fair and had a ball.
Celina Basalo
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As soon as you walk into The Chifley on Little Bourke Street in Melbourne you feel comfortable, which may have something to do with it being designed with Feng Shui principles. The rooms were extremely comfortable (and a good size for 2 kids) and provided cooking facilities, which is always a way to save money with a family. The heated pool is always a bonus with the kids too!! The Chifley is situated right in China Town and within easy walking distance of restaurants and the free tram, providing easy access to many of the tourist attractions Melbourne has to offer - all without the stress of getting lost or spending a fortune getting there. The kids thought is was a great adventure.
Sharon Fritz
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Mountain View Motor Inn & Holiday Lodges is one of many places we have stayed at that was really nice. The location was in a quiet setting and being early spring when we were there, it offered a warm, cosy and comfortable room. A special delight for the children was the time spent in the beautifully warmed spa. Being close to the Grampians was excellent because it had so much to offer in the way of scenic beauty and activity which we, as a family, could all join in.
Jeanette Mann
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The Palms Resort at Avoca was the best holiday I have had since our children were born. Because it was an enclosed resort, the children could ride or walk around without danger. Having 2 pools and a spa certainly helped their enjoyment! It was reasonably priced and, with a kitchen, we could choose to eat in, eat out, or get takeaway. The best thing was the location - being only 1.5 hours from Sydney, we didn’t have to embark on a tiring road trip, or pay for expensive airfares!
Michaela James
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The Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort - You know you've found the right place when your young children say "Can we go back there?" This place is great, with everything from tent sites to 3 bedroom condominiums to suit all budgets. The pool and slippery dip are excellent, and all park activities are free. A pancake breakfast and big screen movie night are just some activities on offer. A park shuttle to and from Cairns Central eliminates the need for rental cars. We're certainly looking forward to our next holiday to this oasis in Far North Queensland.
David Crotty
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Milson’s Island Sport and Recreation Camp is the ideal family getaway! It's located on the beautiful Hawkesbury River, 1 hour up the coast from Sydney. I went to a 3 day family camp with my kids. We caught a ferry from Brooklyn as there are no cars on Island. The cabins were simple but cosy. All meals were provided in the dining room and were very tasty. The relaxing beauty of the well kept gardens, grounds and water views was spectacular! There was plenty of outdoor activities which are professionally run and supervised by friendly staff. Great value and lots of fun!
Sharon Russell
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I would have to say that our currently family favourite holiday destination is Queensland. We have stayed in Sea Wold Nara Resort with family package deals including unlimited pass to Sea World theme park. The resort itself is a wonderful place to stay for the family. The atmosphere is just so relaxing, once you enter the resort, you feel like you are in different country. I like the pool and its exciting exotic look of the surrounding areas, especially at night time. As parents of two teenage girls (aged 12 and 13), we can really enjoy the quiet holidays while our girls can go by themselves to Sea World. We feel confident that they are safe because of the friendly and helpful approach of all the resort's staff. I put my thumbs up to all staff of Sea World Nara Resort and keep up the good work.
Tess Dziwulski
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