Bugger... All the holidays have sold!

[Indecisivelurcher]

First experience of school hols so I don't know if this is normal or because covid... Have been pottering online trying to find a self catering stay near a beach in August, and they're all gone

Ok, what would be your maximum budget?

Avoid sykes still awaiting return my deposit from last year

Gosh, will avoid! Hope you get that sorted.
Budget £1k ish, £1500 would upset me.

I’ve got a holiday let in Brixham that I haven’t listed yet (I was going to do just friends and family this year but could do with the money) and I know there are quite a few others in this area with spaces still available. Keep looking, you’ll find something. Phone the local agencies too - they often have owners holding weeks for friends/ family that can often fall through.

There might be some smaller places that haven't opened up for bookings yet.

How do you feel about camping? You can usually book a campsite fairly last minute.

I think a lot of people will lose at lot of money again this year.

We have picked up north this year thinking that devon/Cornwall & Dorset will be rammed. Try Northumberland and around whitby. Also Scottish schools go back on 16 august so should be some availability up there....presuming we are allowed to go of course.

Depending on your school term dates try the week commencing the bank holiday weekend. Frustratingly our school is back Friday 3rd but if yours isn’t back until the Monday I’m seeing much more availability that week than any other.

@Beaniecats
I had a bad experience with Sykes a few years ago, they were very unhelpful. Which I apologise is not helpful to you. But I understand your frustration.

OP @Indecisivelurcher
Also in Dorset is Corfe Castle area and not too far from Weymouth, or other sandy beaches.

Dorset with the exception of Bournemouth which gets very busy, in my experience is much quieter.

If they like dinosaurs then there is also Isle if Wight.

@RoseMartha I don't know Dorset so any suggestions appreciated!

@Daisyflower12345 is Whitby nice?

Agreed re Sykes. We were in a cottage which had a problem that never got resolved.
Customer service non-existent even though they are really expensive.

It may be a long way but Northumberland really is so beautiful and is much quieter than Devon and Cornwall. I imagine you could get something up there, particularly the end of August when the Scottish schools are back. Whitby is also nice but I would choose Robin Hoods Bay as being more relaxed with a day trip to Whitby

Park dean have self catering holidays going on their site.

Places to stay

www.cottagesdirect.co.uk/248719/alice-cottage-dorset.aspx

dhcottages.co.uk/holiday-cottages-corfe-castle/

Places like durdle door would be busy.

Try Hoseasons, they should have something.

There's still plenty of holidays at haven sites, quite cheap too for august. Being keeping my eye on one as if we can't go abroad in august going to book it.

Look at Filey, not as far north as Whitby, fab beach (just voted in top 25 beaches in Europe) lots of s/catering right on sea front.
I'm stayinghere.
Some lovely apts at www.fileyholidayaccommodation.co.uk/

I stayed in Hoseasons Axminster last year which is a 10 minute drive to Lyme Regis.
And if you don't mind a caravan, Carlton Meres in Suffolk is nice - near Aldeburgh and Southwold

OP if you send me a pm with details of dates and people I may be able to help as we look after several air bnb properties actually in one of the places you mentioned in your original post, Im pretty sure we have availability in some of them and would be happy to check for you with the owners if that's any help?! Xx

I took the DC to Whitby last summer for the first time. I'd never been to the Yorkshire coast before and didn't really know what to expect. We had a great time. The beach was beautiful and on the other side of the harbour there was rockpooling and fossil hunting (got loads). We saw hundreds of seals at Ravenscar too.

@Indecisivelurcher we loved Dorset last year and are going again. Kimmeridge Bay was a big hit with our kids - loads of fossils and less busy than some other beaches.

North Norfolk was rammed last summer so I dread to think what it'll be like this year. And it's normally busy anyway.

Exh has booked a week in a self catering place in Aug. £1800 for a week?!! Self catering?! I'm not going to bother I don't think...

Sounds like Lyme Regis area and Whitby area are good options 👍

@Indecisivelurcher yes it’s beautiful. We are actually staying about 20 mins out of Whitby as we’ve got a large cottage as we are going with another family. The only thing with Whitby itself is the centre does get very busy. However there are loads of beaches in the area to explore. I highly recommend Sandsend & Staithes. Robin Hoods bay is nice too. Crabbing on Whitby pier is fun. There’s loads to do in the area just pack for all weathers! We are going the very last week of aug into sept as our kids aren’t back in until 6th.

@wanderlove any tips on nice places to explore in Northumberland? We are going in June but we’ve not been before.