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!

Teens tend to like glamorous city breaks well ours do maybe tag on a rural bit too? Ours both enjoyed Berlin and Madrid both combine outdoor pools with sightseeing

Long haul or short haul? 5 star, 3 or backpacking? Rough budget? Is ds sporty?

You lot are amazing!
So to answer a few questions:

• October half term so a week, though DS has inset days at either end.
• Hot ideally, though when I considered this further, I think when we say hot we actually mean warm! T-shirt weather I suppose I'd call it.
• DS is not sporty per se, but is a have a go type. His only big no-no is rollercoasters He's like me and can find interests in most things. We can always park DH in a bar or cafe and come back later for him if necessary!
• Budget, hadn't really considered as we've never been away in October. Circumstances mean we have a little more money than we had previously and if we spend more now, we spend less in the summer IYSWIM?

A cruise could be worth a consideration? Plenty of opportunities to get away from each other or spend time together, pools, somewhere new to visit everyday. Some of the lines are doing family cabins now, so no need for your DS to have a flip down tin tray bed!

Or I second PP suggestion for Marrakesh - have had some brilliant holidays there

We've always said a cruise would be our idea of hell but, rather like the AI type holidays, it's funny how these things suddenly appeal

I've always fancied Marrakesh and a shorter break in October might be a good way to tempt DH out of his safety blanket

Far East? Pool/beach, amazing food, temples, jungle, wildlife,..?

You need a neilson holiday!

Go somewhere like Iceland or a Baltic state?

@BestIsWest
I would recommend Cascais on the coast near Lisbon. You have loads to see and do in Lisbon plus Cascais itself has a few little galleries and museums and Sintra is near by. You’re on the coast so your DH could birdwatch plus there are plenty of water sports such as paddle boarding that your DS might like. We took our DC when they were about that age and they really liked it.

^ I’m going to second this suggestion. I was about to come here to write Lisbon with day trips to Cascais or Sintra. Portugal is full of history/nature and that can scratch the itch for both you and your partner. Good sitting around and looking at the horizon or sun setting but you can also do water stuff or hiking. That can scratch the activity itch for your son too. Plus, it has lots of great contemporary art and design to view.

He's like me and can find interests in most things

It doesn't sound that you have much of a problem then, or need any help. Just book what you like and he will fit in with it.

Anywhere round the Med or the Canaries should be warm/hot near the end of October, but it can be a bit hit and miss and the further south you go (so Canaries, Costa del Sol, Algarve, Cyprus, Malta) is your best bet.

You can also learn to scuba dive in all those places, which takes 3-4 days as an absolute beginner. Most places have dive shops that run the courses - some of these are just in the coastal towns, others in 'shops' in hotels, you don't need to go on a dedicated 'Neilson' type activity holiday to do it. Just google scuba dive place name and you'll find a few websites. Is diving something that interests you as well as DS?

I learned when I was 40 and it is truely truely amazing and in the few years since, I've dived Malta and Gozo, the Canaries, Mallorca, Costa del Sol , Red Sea as well as in the UK.

Gozo would be somewhere that's good, great diving, good walking, some interesting cultural stuff, small island very easy to get around by car or public transport, great food and good value. No AI hotels though and very quiet, but it sounds like you wouldn't mind that. You can rent a converted farmhouse with a pool if you like relaxation and peace and quiet.

I would try Cyprus or Malta
I would go AI Obviously quality depends on budget
Easy to hire a car , cheap and easy 1st time driving abroad , ( same side as us )
Lots of nature

History
Ruins
Catacombs etc
Easy friendly but not in your face
You can cover most of each island in a week on day trips or days off in between to laze by pool

We did self catering until DD was 7 and asked for a resort holiday. It is DH’s and my idea of hell but we are not the only one going on holiday.

So we searched for a location and resort which held interest and was a bit more than just the stereotype AI crowd.

It went well, so we mix the types of holidays since then.

This year we do SC as a family and then DD will go on her own for 6 days to a riding camp, best of both worlds. In October we go to ?Cyprus, AI, but only because the costs were similar to B&B and eating out, and going to do lots of sightseeing, not a pool day if it can be avoided.

DD is 12 and last year we already had the case that a typical AI Kids Club was too young and The idea for teens were video games and the gym. You need to search carefully and find one with activities to please a teen.

I would go to Jordan, coast then Petra...bit of diving, bit of desert (camels and wildlife) bit of culture, bit of flop by a pool ....Done

@hettie can you do that anymore? It’s fairly volatile in that region.

A third vote for Portugal (and not just because I live there!). It's still t-shirt hot during the day in October away from the coast and there is LOADS to see and do outside the Algarve. Car hire, food and accommodation are all very cheap and the lakes and river beaches are gorgeous for swimming and watching nature.

I tend to agree that I find it hard to have a holiday that we all enjoy, also have an only DS. Neilson has worked well for the last two years. DH & DS love skiing holidays which I have tolerated for many years but now said I am happier staying home alone. City breaks are good, but you do need a decent hotel or apartment, I don’t want to stay anywhere not comfortable. Have done lots of camping holidays in the past, good fun (at the time, not keen any more ).

Must admit my best holiday is going away with a girl friend to a lovely beach resort .

What do you like doing? Do you like sitting by a pool and drinking, doing sports, hiking, sightseeing??? That's your starting point. I like road trips staying in each place 2-3 nights.

Can I suggest Sicily which has ruins, a volcano, nature and warmth late in the season being so far south. Though in October the canaries are warmer of course

We went to Sorrento and Rome with pre teen DS on October break 2 years ago. Both nicely warm and loads to see and do. In Sorrento we stayed in the Rota Suites and had access to a posh hotels swimming pool and access to the sea.

Loved Porto - stay in Foz, a lovely beachy suburb, with a fantastic pub right on the beach. Loads of day trips available. Interesting things to do and pretty warm. Loved Lisbon too!

I want to go to the Azores. Check it out. Countryside, weird birds, pools, beaches. Marrakesh is good suggestion, too.

Is there anywhere a bit random. that you or your son has always been interested in that is connected with a favourite book or film or tv show? If I ever win the lottory I will be off to De Smet South Dakota because I am a massive fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Totally random and totally wouldn't be of interest to most people. Does your son have a certain favourite thing that could be turned into a holiday?

I don't do sit by the pool holidays, we do city breaks, loads to see and do or just sit in city squares/ports/ etc and watch the world go buyZ
Have you asked your son?

Neilsons suited us at that stage. October half term in Sivota was lovely and met everyone’s needs.
Husband could run/cycle in the morning if he wanted as it was cool enough. Then he just pickled himself in the sun by the pool or on the beach and generally moaned in his sleep. The children could do activities like water sports with or without tuition, or join in with other youngsters their own ages doing various things. They all loved it.
There was also a spa.....
Mainly catered but with a couple of meals out in town to ring the changes.