Where are you going on holiday this year? Inspiration needed.

[Yellowleadbetter]

Seems just wrong talking about holidays doesn’t it with the horrendous things ongoing at the moment.
But I’m sure that people are trying to get life back to some normality and need something to look forward to.

We were going to go to Florida but reading reviews it seems not great and super expensive.

So if you have got somewhere booked or planned (with older kids) where are you off to if you don’t mind sharing.

Currently a toss up between the Vendee and Crete. DH wants heat so is voting for the latter.

@irregularegular

The Azores! Booked flights a while ago and have now finally sorted accommodation. Seemed like a good compromise between something new/different - but still Europe and a country that values UK tourism so feels fairly "safe". Excited!

Apart from that volcano that's rumbling away. :-D

I just hope Italy pulls its finger out and follows the rest of EU with regards to vaccinations.

What are the current EU rules? I thought they were 6 months too?

My DD's have never flown so we are off to Spain. we have done drive to France holidays in the past. This year we are doing a build your own holiday we have Madrid,Valencia and Toledo then home. They are both more sightseeing than beach but I wanted beach so we have 5 nights in Valencia near the beach.
So excited and also for them to see something new.

Anyone going to Italy on road trip, small advice: go into small villages instead of bigger towns or cities for accomodation. On the north eastern side - instead of Bolzano Meltina or Auna di Sopra, instead of Udine go to Palmanova. Instead of Venice go to Aquileia or Chiogga,...
Stresa at Lake Maggiore is beautiful and less tourist-y.
This is only good if you like secluded, beautiful places where they rarely speak english. But they are much cheaper and most of the time the scenery is well worth the car trip up a very narrow mountain road.
And I hate driving on mountain roads. Especially in Italy and Spain.

We have done at least 10 long-ish roadtrips in Italy in the past 20 years.

4 years ago went around Europe with my son for bit more than 2 months. Only planned the first 2 nights, booked everything on the fly based on where we fancied next. Husband flew in for last 2 weeks. Best trip ever!

Another one who is off to the Amalfi Coast. We went in 2019 and fell in love with the area. We immediately booked to go back to the same hotel in 2020. After having the holiday postponed for 2 years we are now feeling optimistic that we will finally get there in August. The thought of sitting on my sun bed whilst gazing across at Mount Vesuvius whilst sipping a glass of lovely fizz is keeping me going!

Also got a weekend booked with our best friends to a lovely hotel on the Suffolk/Essex border where we can spend some time in Dedham and Flatford where I lived as a young child and which still holds a bit of my heart.

Yosemite, San Francisco, Seattle and the west coast of Canada.

@BigWoollyJumpers

Sardinia, our happy place. Back again after a two year break.

I just hope Italy pulls its finger out and follows the rest of EU with regards to vaccinations. They are still in the "within 6 months of last vax" territory, and as we all had ours in December...... we will by then have run out of time.

So long as you've had a booster it's now indefinite. Not sure about children though.

@thesunisstillshining oh absolutely! We try and mix it up so we stay in some bigger places and some really off the beaten track and absolutely always take the mountain roads not the tunnels. When we can take a longer trip like this year we like to do a week of travelling, a week in a villa in a set location then another week of travelling. Sometimes we will do two night breaks mid route, so we've got two nights in a small village on the banks of lake Como on the way down this year and two nights in Turin on the way back.
Always pay what you can for hotels is my tip for road trips, make them part of the holiday! They don't have to be luxurious but they need good reviews and to offer something special. We rarely stay in chain hotels apart from in Turin where we are staying in the DT Hilton because of it being such an iconic building. Otherwise we look far more for family run b&bs, masseria and guest houses. Each one is an adventure that way!

@Chelsea26 do you mind telling me who you've booked the Amalfi walking holiday with We want to go to Amalfi cost but are concerned it will be super busy. I feel a walking holiday might literally take us off the beaten tracks! We're planning to travel there by train too so it would make it feel super eco! x

@intwrferingma - we’re doing it ourselves (well DP has done it - he loves a map!)

But I did look at a few and I liked the look of Explores itinerary best. They also move your bags for you etc so you don’t have to carry all your stuff…

Currently in Pollenca, Mallorca in a villa (booked since 2019!)

In summer going to a snail festival in mid-France with my parents

In July possibly camping in Norfolk with friends

In August going to Peak District camping with friends & to Alton Towers

In October doing Eurocamp near Paris

Possibly an overnight stay in Norwich in May

DH whisking me somewhere secret when all DSes on Cub/Scout camps

All breaks 1 week or less, most 2-3 nights.