For those with younger teens -where do you holiday?

[Afternooninthepark]

Ds is 14 and dd almost 12. For the last 6 years we have been holidaying in the U.K. with our touring caravan.
However, for various reasons we feel that touring is no longer as enjoyable as it used to be and we are considering selling the caravan.
I’m just sat here online looking at different holidays both abroad and in the U.K and wondering where everyone usually goes? Places where two young teens wouldn’t get bored (and drive me insane!!)

We recently came back from a week in Vienna, DD (14) loved it BUT she is an art & history geek so enjoys museums. We usually do summer holidays somewhere that we can do a mix of city & beach (Barcelona, Seville for a few day then coast - that kind of thing)

We go to France in our touring caravan. The weather is generally better and most sites have a pool. Our kids are 19 and 20 now and still came with us this summer. I think it might be the last time though.

We also have a skiing holiday with them.

Neilson beach activity holidays have worked well in the past too.

Mine is 14. As long as there is a pool and the weather to enjoy it, most places are winners. Looking at stuff for hours with the promise of an ice cream at the end doesn't cut it anymore, so I try to do a balance of pool days and sightseeing with the odd 'big' thing thrown in, such as a water park or an adventure type activity. I am intolerant of crappy weather on holiday, so I always go abroad for the sun. We are considering Croatia for next year after rave reviews from friends. We went to the south of France this year, which was lovely.

We went to Salou when they were 14. It was a wonderful holiday with the theme park.

Tween dc like most holidays but loved Costa Rica, animals, zip wires, volcanoes and beaches.
Pool is the only essential though.

Britain a mix of surfing and shopping they still enjoy a zoo and a theme oark

Abroad. They loved Sking. Florida. Maldives
But a week in a villa with a pool and day trips is ok too. We did enjoy a cruise and a week in Santorini

We did campsites in Spain and Italy, dc loved them as they had freedom to roam within campsite.

We went to bulgaria earlier this year with a 10 and 15yo. Great hotel and pools plus ancient Roman town with lots of history for the 15yo history buff.

Eurocamp or similar on a large site with lots going on or an AI Balearics worked for us when they were that age or splurge on Florida

The Alps or city breaks.

Portaventura my two love it there.

USA on a road trip, they love exploring different towns, theme parks, shopping malls.

Just depends what your teens are into.

Went to Turkey this past summer in an all inclusive hotel with attached water park and specialised teen activity schedule.

We hardly saw DSS17, DSD13 or DD9 they all made like minded friends and were off enjoying themselves....managed to get through 3 books

Another vote for Salou and Portaventura from me. My 2 x dd loved the theme park and the water park was good enough too, although a lot of people say that Aquopolis a short bus ride away is better.

I think Mallorca is a good option as there is a lot to do and a lot of different scenery in a small space. I was wary the first time we went as I envisaged everywhere being full of people on the stereotypical drunken Club18-30 type holiday, but it isn't like that at all. Well obviously that part of the island does exist but it is only a few resorts and there are other parts that are absolutely beautiful. It is one of very few places we have been back to more than once and I think we could go several times more and still not be bored. There is probably something to suit everyone on the island - from waterparks and beaches to caves, mountains, art galleries and historic sites etc so I think it is a good place for a family with varied interests. Plus the flights are short and there is a big choice of different styles and prices of accommodation.

The Costa del Sol has a lot to offer too. Like Mallorca it does have a reputation that can be a bit off putting but there are so many different resorts with different characters and you don't have to go very far inland to find "real" Spain. The authorities seem to be working quite hard to get rid of the worst of the concrete jungles that were built when it took off as a tourist area and improve the whole region. For example, Estepona towards the western end of the coast is smaller and quieter than some of the resorts nearer to the airport and has a much more Spanish feel about it. Inland, both Ronda and Granada are do- able day trips and are beautiful cities. Marbella and Puerto Banus are very chic with some incredible (and
incredibly expensive) restaurants and shops. But if you do fancy a day at a theme park and some fish and chips you have that option too.

As you have been used to touring, and presumably therefore having lots of variety in your holidays, I would think you need to look for somewhere with a lot of different things within easy travelling distance. I imagine you would all get bored of sitting by a hotel pool quite quickly if you are used to being on the go. Other places I have been where there is a lot of variety in a relatively small area include northern Italy and, believe it or not, Flanders in Belgium. Obviously you aren't likely to get the same weather in Belgium as in the Mediterranean but there is a great deal to see and do, especially if you have any history buffs in the family. Closer to home, the Isle of Man is beautiful and has plenty of places of interest. Or if you want the variety that your touring caravan offered you but without the workload, how about a cruise?

A family friendly holiday resort in Spain or Portugal would be good for your children, they'd have organised things to do without you, freeing you up a bit.

Over here, I had a Haven holiday (I think it was Haven), with my husband, son and his friend and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We used to rent a holiday cottage in the north of Norfolk and had some wonderful holidays there, my forty year old son still loves Norfolk. If you do that, make sure it's close to somewhere a bit more lively than where you rent your cottage. It's lovely to have peace in a pretty area on holiday but youngsters like a bit of entertainment.

I'm sure you'll find something suitable. Good luck, hope you and the family enjoy yourseles wherever you go and whatever you do.

france.in one of those house tents.like canvas eurocamp or keycamp.le catels campsites have always been amaing.and often if you go onto the canvas site and find a nice park they will have their own website where they do there own mobile homes or safari type tents etc for much nicer and cheaper.
the loire valley has lots of lovely ones.and the campsites have big lakes.the kids go off on their own,sit in the cafes or swim in the pool/lake.or just take the bikes out all day.they always have things to do nearby aswell thats why the parks are situated there.so kayaking and days out and mostly near the places you want to be for tourist places.
the italian lakes.
interlaken for us too in switerland.for mountain stuff.
best one we did was tarting in france and driving through stopping on the way through germany and italy and switerland in the campsites all the way.was brilliant and the teens loved it.

We travelled around Europe with our 12 year old and 14 year old this year. We had such a good time. I'd suggest city breaks or a travelling holiday. My kids get bored with just poolside now.

We did a Mediterranean cruise with DS (14) this summer. Went on one of the huge Royal Caribbean ships which he loved, also really enjoyed the excursions in a different port every day.

Anywhere with free wi-fi

We used my inheritance for a California trip when DC were that age. They loved it.

Rome was great (DC are free in govt places) and friends had a wonderful week in the Italian lakes.

At that age usually AI hotels in Turkey and Greece.
Kids could have some freedoms within the hotel grounds, could order their own food and drink, and would always find other children their age to hang out with, play pool, other activities. Gave us adults some down time. Lots of day trips , eatimg out too, but if we wanted to spend lazy days reading by the pool, kids were not bored. They also loved the degree of freedom they had.

We also did a week in the Loire Valley around then (we drove).

Cycle paths, canoeing on the river, French markets and Chateaux.

A campsite with massive waterpark in Slovenia went down well with ours. Weekend trips are better than long holidays during which they get bored, bicker a bit and miss out on things with their friends though. I'd ideally do several 3-4 day breaks rather than one ling holiday.

They are the perfect ages for a US road trip- mine love that kind of holiday. Mexico was a bit hit too.

Thank you everyone, all great ideas.