I don't know how to go on holiday

I would suggest you book an AI package (takes a lot of the stress out of the travel logistics, what to eat, budget etc) in an interesting location where there are easily accessible things to do and see. I have had a good experience doing this in Malta.

Definitely travel agent. Walk into a high street one, have a chat. I’m doing this at the moment. Planning a different sort of holiday to the ones we’ve been doing as a family, long haul, expensive, high stakes. The travel agent is brilliant- planning it all for us, international and domestic flights, a couple of brilliant overnight stays and lots of fab hotel choice, all at prices that are just as good or better than I could have got myself. I’m a total convert.

I have been looking at some of the all inclhsive mountain resorts in europe, loads of included activities, all food and drink included, no beach.
I think a holiday is a chance to enjoy yourself, so think of what you enjoy and go and do it.is it shopping, mountain biking, history, do you like cities, nature, beach, what weather do you like the most.
Just think of if you could spend a week doing something what would you like to do most, then google search it

I think this might be a rip the plaster off situation but I'd avoid the classical holiday that probably won't suit you. I'd have a look for a 3-5day trip maybe in the UK or short haul flight - France - Germany sort of distance. We have had some lovely varied holidays in that region - long weekend in Germany, a week walking in the french Alps, a week on a canal holiday through France, 10 days in rural France and another 10 day trip in south France near the coast. We had a 3 yo at this time and it was a nice balance an hour or so on the beach in the morning for her and then the afternoon in the countryside or onsite pool. We have booked air BnB type accommodation each time so no other tourists around.

What sort of thing do you like doing?

We don't like heat, nor pools/beaches, so we go on holiday in low season and usually travel rather than do a package (iyswim). So if we go to Spain in winter then we book a flight into one place, get on trains to a couple of other places, flight back from a different place.

We spend the summers here at home while it's warm and do some day trips/eat out at places we wouldn't normally go to, maybe a weekend away in a nice hotel.

Once we got over the idea of a summer holiday tied to school terms, it really opened things up and has been a lot of fun.

This is why we just drive to France or UK and do self catering! With either pool or coast or both.

A city break might work for you. What are your interests? Do you like sightseeing, museums, visiting historical landmarks, fine dining, wineries? Start with what you want to do and work from there. Somewhere like Paris berlin, Warsaw might be good choices!

How about a cruise, either ocean or river?

I'm another advocate of the High St Travel Agent. We have used ours several times and they have tailor-made trips for us.

18 months ago I realised I had a 2 week half term holiday in October. DH was owed lots of time off and the DC were at uni so it was just the 2 of us. I went in to the TA entirely on spec and said "I have a 12 day gap from work and I want to go somewhere nice". We chatted for a couple of minutes and as I was gazing at the map on the wall, I asked her about Seattle. She did some searching, we then looked at Vancouver and she put together a great trip where we flew to Seattle, did some independent sightseeing and things that we both enjoy, then Amtrak to Vancouver (I really recommend that) and a few more days of exploring before flying back. The hotels were excellent and we used public transport all the time to get about. DH had a sea-plane lesson, we took a trip in one, we went into the snow, we visited the Boeing factory, it was amazing. The TA sorted the flights, hotels and trains.

What about Scotland or Wales? Both stunning countries with beautiful scenery and castles? Sorry for those in Ireland and NI I have never visited so no experience. I've not been to the Lake District either but believe that is gorgeous,

If there's something one of you really wants to see, plan a trip around that? Or get the kids to plan it and surprise you. If you don't like sun/pool/beach then all inclusive wouldn't be worth it.

Well perhaps given your DC ages now you'd like to have a holiday just you and your DH? Why not discuss with him if there's any places he'd like to see, decide on a destination (or a few) first and then go to a travel agent. You'll pay more but they'll do all the work for you. Maybe once you've holidayed again you'll feel more able to organise it yourself next time. My colleague is heading off to Sicily tomorrow with her DH, they are flying into Palermo and staying a few nights there and then going to 3 other places over the next 2 weeks, travelling by train so neither of them have to worry about driving etc. all hotels booked are walking distance to the train stations and they fly home from an airport near the last town they're staying in. They plan to just mooch around the various places, enjoy the scenery and food/drink etc and do plenty of walking. It sounds wonderful! Not all holidays have to be AI in a resort. I hope you can book something that excites you and have a great time - I'd be miserable if I didn't have a holiday booked to look forward to!

Why is it all on you though, does your husband not have an opinion,

Another one recommending going to a travel agent.

I've booked loads of holidays abroad online myself in the past but haven't done it for about 8 years. I dabbled with it after xmas for this summer but was a bit overwhelmed.

So - a couple of months ago i walked into our nearest travel agent and said ''I want somewhere hot and cheap for 4 of us. Two rooms. A pool. Some food. Not loud and clubby. Between this week and that week. Don't really care where. Flying out of X airport or Y''.

And the lady clicked away on her keyboard and found us a week in Rhodes at a price we liked within about 2 minutes flat.

Think a little bit about what you want. Just roughly. Sight seeing or laying by the pool or a mixture. How many of you. When you want to go. Your budget per person. Where you want to fly from. Go to a travel agent and see what pops up

(make sure your passports are in date!)

Have you considered a tour. I did one of Amsterdam and Bruges booked via our local newspaper. The pick up point was our local high street and everything was included and arranged for us. Also very good value and a nice hotel

Try a cruise ? Then all in one place and you don’t even have to leave ship in port if you’re feeling overwhelmed

Another vote for a cruise. Not sure when you want to go? Med obviously hot later in the summer. Royal Caribbean is good, their website lists destinations so that might be a starting point for a conversation with the family.

Why are you forcing yourself to travel in the summer when you don't have any specific desire to? Just enjoy a summer at home. Fill your day with local activities, meet friends...whatever you want.

Another vote for ChatGPT. Feed in some basic criteria e.g, abroad or not abroad , which month, the kind of activities you'd like to do and not do and see what it spurts out, then refine it by asking more questions or changing your suggestions.

A cruise round trip from the UK sounds like it would offer what you want.

What sort of budget do you have?

Go to a travel agent! And explain all that and ask their advice! They’ll love it and find you a great holiday

We were like this a few years ago and then randomly, DH suggested we go to Holland. Packed up the car, took the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry, stayed on some really good Eurocamp sites. Park the car up for the holiday and cycle everywhere. A very different kind of holiday if you aren't beach and pool people like us.
We've been most years since 2015 and love it

Go through a travel counsellor.

Can you ask chat gpt to help? Tell it what you like about a holiday and climate etc and ask for recommendations? Or here? What's your budget?

There's deifnitely an adjustment when the children become adults. My eldest is in his final year of school, and I can't wait for a holidays to no longer be restricted to school holiday times. If it's just the 2 of you, prices will seem so much cheaper than when paying for 4 (but if you're like us, you're still paying for 4 as adult children also want a free holiday lol!).

I tend to orgnaise 'complex' holidays, where we stay in different places and I book everything independently, but I can definitely see the appeal of a package, and there are definitely the right kind of holiday companies out there to cater to whatever your holiday needs are (I'm just tight, so do it myself to save money).

Might be worth picking up a few travel brochures to narrow down some ideas. Sign up to somehting like Travelzoo to get ideas popping into your inbox regularly.