Musicman Are you wanting to avoid the south coast completely and after a change . Norfolk maybe ?? north norfolk is especially nice . And is this for a weekend or a week. The thing you need to bare in mind with a hotel is that with the possibility of 5 you probably will need 2 rooms which is going to double the cost anyway. Also You will feel that you need to be out for most of the time so maybe not ideal it you want to chill out in your accomodation from time to time.

how about a cottage with a pool etc . some nice ones here http://www.premiercottages.co.uk then the kids can still have a bit of freedom at times when your not out and about visiting all the different beaches. or would you like to be based in a coastal resort. Hoseasons have a good selection of caravans ,lodges etc.

lyn

I was going to suggest Norfolk too!
When holidaying with kids and grandparents we always found a rented cottage to be a good bet- comfort and flexibility.
North Devon was really nice too, around Croyde or Woolacombe. If you are set on a hotel Woolacombe Bay hotel is very family friendly.
Or how about South Wales- lots of lovely beaches and something for everyone. We went there a few times, staying in different villages around the Tenby area. Never had very good weather though!

When the kids were small we took them many times to Saundersfoot, near Tenby. If you stay in 'The Strand' there you are straight out of the property on to a fantastic beach, with no roads to cross. Don't think there's hotels on The Strand but we had a lovely cottage and there are apartments.
There's castles etc to visit in the area and shops in nearby Tenby. We took the in-laws with us and they loved it too.
The best part was on the beach in the early evening sunshine, straight out of the garden gate, everyone had gone home and we almost had the beach to ourselves. The town is a five minute walk away. Absolutely great!!

Here's an example of an apartment there
http://www.powells.co.uk/property/584.php
and another
http://www.powells.co.uk/property/399.php

Thanks everyone. Certainly lots to think about.

MM

Buckets and Spades? Donkeys? How about Weston-Super-Mare? Great beach and pier for the kids, and not too far from Cheddar for the Gorge and caves.

Yes, we know WSM. Great place (even if you have to pay the rate for parking on the beach).

Well.... discussion over. Major change of plan. We are going over the water to Chateau des Ormes in Britanny with car. Poole to St Malo ferry.

Booked via a site recommended in another thread at HT. we were going to book via Hoseasons but, after reading what was said here, booked directly with French Freedom Holidays. Quite a bit cheaper.

Now .... got to brush up of the ol' French (again). Went to Paris centre this time last year and got away with speaking the lingo so I can't be that bad at it.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

MM

worth staying in St Malo for a night too-it's very pretty round there.

In fact if I lived on the south coast-I'd be in France at every opportunity-love it-haven't been for 3 years now.

Certainly wouldn't hoof all the way up to Scarborough.