Can somebody please explain how to *do* holidays?

[TreacherousPissFlap]

I've managed to become a fully fledged adult and don't seem to have mastered this most crucial of skills.

When DS was younger we always did EuroCamp type places, a combination of flying or driving depending on location. These inevitably ended up as somewhat like being at home, just with better weather and more water slides.

Now DS is 15 and our priorities seem to have changed, yet I have no idea how to adapt

In a fit of uncharacteristic organisation I've managed to book leave for all of October half term so have triumphantly announced we are "going away". The thing is, how does one go away with a 15 year old and a DH who is definitely enjoying a slower pace of life? We've never done AI or indeed even a hotel and I wouldn't know where to begin!

Budget?And what do you like doing, the three of you?

We used to go all inclusive when kids were younger. The last few times we have gone to a villa so you have cooking and washing facilities and plenty of rooms for everyone. We book through James Villas and flights, etc are included as it would be with a hotel

Depends what you all enjoy. Holidays for me are all about relaxing but having an 11 year old I have to concede to some activity. This year I've booked a private rental in a complex with pools, tennis courts and bike hire (not a fan of hotels) 5 minute walk from a waterpark/beach/restaurants. Also booked us some surf lessons. If you have different requirements maybe a 2 centre holiday would work, few days in a city followed by a week by the beach?

Hard to say really (see I told you I was rubbish!)

It's almost like DH and I have lost sight of ourselves, as with DS being an only child the onus has always been on us entertaining him. Holidays as I've already said seemed to be much like home, just in different surroundings.

I think we may be edging towards an AI break, just so we can properly recharge, ideally with something on site for DS (I've seen a hotel that teaches scuba diving, a bit like using a kids club I guess but for big kids!)

I just fear that after two days sat by the pool I may go mad and murder someone out of sheer boredom.

Holidays in October with one 15 year old?

I'd go with whatever he fancies doing. Happy child = good holiday.

If you want warm then obviously it's the canaries or farther afield in October. All inclusive at half term would mean there might be other kids to make friends with, although normally at that time of year it is normally older folk chasing the sun.
Or choose somewhere like a European center parcs if you want lots of activities. Duinrell in Holland is also a fab option. Close to Amsterdam, the beach, and living in the middle of a theme park with a fab water park thrown in too.

I just fear that after two days sat by the pool I may go mad and murder someone out of sheer boredom.

That sounds perfectly reasonable, but if it was just you, what would you want to do? What about a city?

Daughter the same age, we now prefer city breaks, neither of us have ever been sit by the pool types, I could not go to a country without exploring. What are yours, his interests?

So take a pack of cards and games with you. The canaries sounds like the place to go. Take a book, get some sun. I'd go b&b though and eat out at night

You don't need to sit by the pool we don't maybe slob about in tge morning or a day but a week by the pool would drive us nuts. We usually go half board so breakfast and dinner you have all day to go out and explore go near acity/town so you are not stranded and there will be bus routes , i loved costa dorada it is only 2 ish hours flight from the uk has beaches and taragonia is nearby so a city and Barcelona is an hour and a bit away.

DH likes nature and will cheerfully wander round aimlessly clutching his binoculars.

I need to be doing something but can find interest in outdoor activities, ruins, galleries, whatever is available. As a default we used to spend a lot of time in the bar which I'm keen to change.

I'm also working on breaking the perception that we need to do everything as a family. It's pointless to drag DS to a bird reserve where DH will happily spend all day, when he could go alone and I could take DS to a climbing wall for example.

I'd go to Berlin. It's fascinating city, has a million cool things to do with teenagers, is unexpectedly good for birding, and has a lot of nature right on the doorstep accessible via public transport.

Would you do New York? Lots for everyone to see and do

You could have a look at the Neilson beachclub holidays. Lots of activity if you want to do it....or lazing around if you don't. Disclaimer...I haven't booked on yet but am sorely tempted for next year. A friend has been with her teenage son and it was a great success.

DH would rather eat his binoculars than go to New York, and I'm not sufficiently fascinated to take up that fight

Interesting about Berlin, DS is interested in history and the nature would appeal to DH. Don't imagine it would be particularly tropical in October though

Are you sporty?
Neilson and Mark Warner are great for activities.

You didn't say you wanted to go somewhere hot, though?

I didn't actually did I baskerville

When mine were 15 city breaks really worked for us - Berlin was a particular favourite.

A cruise?

Safari?

With a 15 year old there needs to be 'activity'. If you know he's not going to enjoy just sitting by the pool and reading a book then don't book that kind of holiday.

In a few years he won't want to join anyway so then you can choose a slow paced Dolce Far Niente kind of holiday.

Narrow down to a few factors a go from there

Weather : do you want it hot for the pool, or just average to sightsee?
Accommodation: apartment or hotel
Food: will you want all inclusive, just eat out at restaurnts locally or self cater
Activities: what do you all like?

You sound like you would like it fairly warm, not a just sit down at pool holiday, with general local stuff to do and see.
Depending on budget, i would be looking at a nice apartment or hotel, not all inclusive, where you can eat say breakfast at home, but eat out most evenings locally in restaurants depending on where you are. Hire a car to get around. You can book things like scuba diving, trips unrelated to hotel.

I suggest Cyprus maybe as a good starting point. Its warm still, not too long flight, history and places to sightsee, activities like windsufing, sailing, diving, boattrips can be easily booked, and good reasonably priced food in most local restaurants.

It's not Obligatory to sit around a pool if you stay in a hotel, even AI(!).

Cyprus or Crete may be a good option for you. Lot's of sightseeing available on your doorstep and walks you can do (hiking around Troodos mountains is good and not too strenuous) plus lots of hotels with waterpark etc for ds.

I think city breaks are really good especially if you get a hotel with a pool so teen ds can swim etc

We have a teenager and we do a lot of city breaks and I have learnt to plan really well in advance to maximise enjoyable things for all of us - so a mix of things like galleries, museums, old buildings of note, cool restaurants, old bars, walking tours, best ice-cream places, chocolate making workshops, horse riding where possible, swimming, parks, beaches / rivers, shopping - I do a lot of googling before we get there and then make an adaptable plan for each day that hits two or three of the things on the list. Also minimising the travel between these activities.

Works well for us.

DD particularly loved Majorca when we went there - we did 3 nights in Palma in a cool hotel with jazz bands in the bar in the evening, rightin the city centre, it had a roof top pool too. Days were spent exploring the city & swimming in the afternoon, cocktails and nice restaurants in the evenings and a city stroll around the harbour etc

Then we picked up a rental car and headed north to a small fishing village resort place where we stayed in a hotel that was literally across the tiny road from the beach. The hotel had a pool too, so mornings were spent swimming and alternating between the pool and the beach.

Afternoons we headed off in the car and explored a lot of the island which is stunningly beautiful. We visited tiny mountain villages, head a chopin piano recital, walked in the mountain forests, found deserted beaches and had impromptu swims etc

Evenings were spent having dinner al fresco in the village and then a stroll and a drink sitting outside a bar etc

It was very relaxed and we all found things of interest.

We had a similar experience in Madrid - but without the car. city center Hotel had a roof top pool with amazing views across the city so I sat reading / drinking coffee/ wine while dd swam perhaps twice each day - morning and late afternoon. Then out exploring for the day
dd and dh got a train to a mountain village and went horse riding there which they loved. I mooched around galleries and shops. win win

Budget helps too! How much do you want to spend?

We had a lovely holiday in south east Cyprus, staying at the Grecian Park hotel. We just did b&b but they may do AI. Very relaxing.

My 16 year old ds did his PADI beginners scuba diving. Did his theory in UK and the practical over there. Went through caves and loved the experience. Takea up a few days.

Lots to see and do and weather was great.

So you want good weather, outdoor stuff and a bit of culture?