Family holiday in central europe not working out

[Mitsouko67]

And I'm getting all the blame. We're in Moravia in the Czech Republic, me, DH and 2 DS 11 and 16.We're here for 3 weeks and all they want to do is go swimming. It's a landlocked country obviously so just finding swimming pools.

I have been sightseeing on my own visiting castles and palaces every second or third day.It's a bit lonely and DH is sulking.

Discover Vienna today.Interested in the Hapsburgs.DH disapproves.

Help!!

Let DH sulk on his own.

Speak to the hotel staff for recommendations on where to go with DSs and then just go. It is your holiday too.

Well it does seem a slightly bizarre choice for three weeks for kids who just want to swim...
Not on for them to be sulking though- get them trawling trip advisor for places they would like to go.

They tend to turn all lakes into beaches. Ask your hotel, they will have loads of places-land locked won’t matter.

Is it not how you expected it to be, or did you know it was something they wouldn't like?

I know. DH and the boys just want to swim and play tennis locally.

OP are you in Vienna now? I can suggest some outdoor pools for you family and you can go explore the city.

three weeks sightseeing castles, palaces and researching long dead royalty!
what every teenage boy wants to do, and you must be having double the fun with two of them. not

now I 'm not saying that you shouldn't all do something you want, but surely there is some compromise you could find to do as a family?

Did you plan the holiday together? If so YANBU but if not then I think you could have foreseen that this might not be the best holiday with two active teenagers.

www.czechtourism.com/n/where-enjoy-water/

Surely there'll be lakes? Lake swimming is a v central European thing. (Check water quality info).

It does seem a somewhat strange choice if the ohers aren't into history/walking/castles. How did it come about?

The sort of thing I did to my kids! But I did always book hotels with pools. (Dd1 is studying history and dd2 is off to visit castles with hr boyfriend so they did obviously enjoy it)

Yes the arrangements were made very last minute. I was excited about visiting castles etc but hoped there would be nature areas to visit as well.

I think there are/must be but haven't found them yet.

I was excited about the history and romance of it all but family not on board.

OK I admit it, yes a bizarre choice.

Sounds like the trip was planned for you in the hope everyone else would find something to like. Strange way to do a family holiday

It must be a beautiful country Mitsouko, lots of history. What part are you in? What about a river cruise or a visit to a vineyard? Has your DH tried the Slivovice (sp?) yet? That might cheer him up!

Thanks for the link. I spent the day in Vienna today and hope to return with the family so info re pools would be appreciated. Thank you!

Yes a river cruise might be just the thing.

You've managed to find ways to enjoy the holiday & it's up to your DH & DSs to do the same. Tell them to get off their arses & find out for themselves what there is in the area that would appeal to them, then carry on having a wonderful time doing your own thing

Guilty as charged.

I did hope it would work out for all of us.

Will research river cruise that's a great idea.

I wish you luck OP; my DH, teenage DS & I can barely agree on a holiday for 7 days .... 3 weeks sounds challenging. Obviously too late now but what was their input into the holiday choice?

Have a look at boat trips on the Punkva River, it's subterranean so caves and grottoes, something different!
For more traditional river trips look on Trip Advisor for things near by>

Europeans love a lake or river beach and it’s so much nicer than swimming in a chlorinated pool. I’m sure if you ask at the hotel they can help you.

My lot can be normally placated by 50 50 sightseeing vs swimming or sporting activity. And they can always be swayed by a nice holiday meal out.

This sounds like my idea of a wonderful holiday!
I can‘t advise on Moravia but lots to do in Vienna in summer if into swimming and water:
See this link for swimming in an arm of the River Danube: www.wien.gv.at/english/environment/waterbodies/old-danube/
Vienna has excellent public swimming pools: www.wien.gv.at/english/leisure/bath/bathlist.
Another excellent place for water sport is the ‚Danube Island‘: www.wien.info/en/vienna-for/families/outdoor/danube-island

If you go to Vienna you can go swimming at the Alte Donau. Really easy underground journey from the city centre.
www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/gewaesser/alte-donau/erholung.html

Tell the boys they can swim every OTHER day. And do some gentle sightseeing with them. Go on some day trips by coach, so the guide has to do the hard work.

Maybe learn from this to at least consider what everyone likes when picking a holiday destination. We choose ours with a requirements list: a pool, a not-extortionate hotel bar, wifi and Something Else Interesting that is accessible by local transport as we are a car-free family.