Why is finding a summer holiday so hard with an 18 and a 15 year old?

[DairyM1ilk]

After no holidays for the past two years, we want something special, but I am finding the difficulty that by August, DS will be 18 so he'll be classed an adult, so 'teen activities' won't apply. DD will be 15.

An added difficulty is that we all find the heat a bit difficult, so if we're going to be somewhere hot, we don't want to have to lift a finger in terms of our food, but also finding entertainment.

At the same time, we don't want to end up in a family resort surrounded by young children (no offence to anyone with young kids out there, we've been there, we're passed that stage now).

Ideally, we would like a lovely resort with a pool near a beach that offers a lot of activities, like water sports, yoga, gym, excursions...

Half board would be our preference but will consider AI.

I'd be really grateful for recommendations of specific hotels. TIA!

I would also say Correlejo in Fuerteventura. I went with 15 yo DS and it was great. With a healthy budget you can do loads of excursions (we did keep safaris, trike tours, boat trips, day in Lanzaote etc).
We stayed at the Barcelo Sands which had a gorgeous spa and also a separate kids pool so that little kids were out of the way. Once a week they have a huge inflatable slide that gets a bit raucous (only a couple of hours) but DS loves it - adults and kids went on it.

Loads to do locally, markets, descent shops, beach, great restaurants, the dunes nearby for perfect isolation from the crowds. We had a superior room that had an outside jacuzzi bath and it's own terrace for total peace and quiet.

California would be good. We also did the Smokys/Dollywood and Nashville at a similar age but that part of the USA is very warm in August.

We also love our holidays staying at the Portaventura theme park. Kids can come and go all day if they want.

My 20 year is planning on coming with us this year, nothing wrong with that.

Look at Austria (lakes and mountain holidays), cooler, prettier and lots of activities. Can still sunbathe, swim etc in lovely hotels pools and lovely lakes.

Might not be fancy enough for you but weve had good watersports holidays in the Landes region of Franne (inland lagoons just off atlantic coast). Weve camped doing it but there are probably some resort options. Proximity to coast means that surfing us also an option. You will need a car.

Safari?

@Swayingpalmtrees

I am having this trouble as well. I agree your dc will have much more fun with their friends, and so probably need to move on to a different kind of holiday without you - but I am with you on going as a family for as long as possible, and keeping that deep connection with your children. I will be inviting my dc for as long as they wish to come. Dh is counting down the days to reduce the cost and effort

We have a great time in the Maldives with teens, it ticks all of your boxes and is deeply deeply relaxing. Amazing stuff to do. If you pick a LUX hotel there are teen meet ups etc and a young vibe. You can probably stretch to it in August with a package holiday. It is by far the best holiday we have with our dc, young and old. Instagram heaven, stunning on every level.

Maldives is where we are going this year, with our 19 year old. Since our family holidays since he was 17 were cancelled we moved what was to be our original holiday in Mexico 2020 and then 2021 to this new destination for this year. He's in first year of uni and still just as excited for our family holidays as he ever was. Sun, beach, sea, relaxation, all inc, fabulous. We are all really excited.

Robinsons chain is great, full board. activities from 7.30 am till 9pmwww.robinson.com/en/en/resort-holiday/portugal/quinta-da-ria/club-details/

Hillside beach club in Turkey?
And of the ikos group?

Temperature might be and issue though.

How about the French Alps? Cooler than the coast in summer and so many activities to do. Beautiful scenery.

Norway. You won’t find AI resorts with ‘entertainment’ but there’s hiking, water sports, stunning mountain and fjord scenery to explore and beautiful beaches. Definitely not too hot!

Corralejo in Fuerteventura is a good shout though from previous pps, if you are set on the resort thing.

I've had a re-think
What about a Switzerland cycling holiday?

Sardinia. Beautiful beaches and a chilled vibe. Or somewhere like Sorrento, Italy.

I think Switzerland or Austria could work though not sure what temp will be - we went to Austria in May and it was around 30C on the ground but much cooler in the mountains. Cycling depends if your kids like it, neither of mine do, but some people love cycling, just ask them.

The place we went in Austria, Hintertux, only a small place, but it has snow all year and an ice palace and in summer you can do whitewater rafting as well as the cable car up the mountains and the cafe. Very beautiful, all of the mountains are and should be possible to get the temp cooler if you are staying in the mountains. We stayed at the Hintertux Kinder Hotel which was great, lovely food, half board I think but they do have small children there as the name suggests. I like small children but not the place if you are avoiding them, I was on the trampoline with the small children and had one try to adopt me. I am not that keen though. I think there are some places in Switzerland with glaciers as well. My kids loved it was snowy on the mountains and you could ski all year (it is medium to advanced skiing) for DD and DS could get snowballs and hot chocolate. And for the person who thinks people are being smug, I have a year's cancer treatment and chemo at the moment so our lives are definitely not perfect and its a thread about nice holidays. Don't think there's anything wrong with an 18 year old not wanting to come and go on their own though it is true that the higher the budget the easier it is to get the 18 year old to come. My DD put in bluntly I will come if you are going to Borneo, Costa Rica, Australia, Greenland etc but not to UK or France then she backtracked on France. DS is ASD, they both have preferred own room since 15 ish and that works for us and both prefer AI which gets looked down on on here but works for us. But never found it compatible with peace but that's partly why my kids prefer it.

We went on a summer hiking and cycling holiday in Switzerland and it was really fantastic. Some days we would cycle other days sit by the pool in the sunshine. The temperatures were between 22c and 25c. It never felt 'hot' but comfortably warm. We came home fit, tanned and revitalised in a way I have not experienced in hotter parts of Europe.
We stayed here and I can highly recommend, views to die for - spa ditto.

Your dc can hike by themselves as you can walk out of the hotel turn left and immediately onto a fantastic trail into the mountains with spectacular view and alpine flowers . We mixed it up with a few days at Monte Blanc and the lakes and it was effortlessly enjoyable, massive boost of well being, no one once felt bored and it is ultra safe for everyone and so so clean! Spotless everywhere and so beautiful.

So many hotel options and combinations, this is just one of many

villa-honegg.ch/en/

Some have already mentioned Club la Santa which whilst great for activities I wouldn't say is "on point" for food (IMHO). Much better food at Las Playitas in Fuerteventura - and very very similar for the sports vibe.

Not a recommendation for a specific place OP but if you look at the Small Luxury Hotels chain you might find accommodation which suits you. Especially if you have a push the boat out budget.

One of the lakes in southern Germany/Switzerland/Austria.
Good weather but not roasting. Loads of watersports, cycling, thermal baths. Excellent public transport so teens could go off & do stuff on their own.

[quote Swayingpalmtrees]We went on a summer hiking and cycling holiday in Switzerland and it was really fantastic. Some days we would cycle other days sit by the pool in the sunshine. The temperatures were between 22c and 25c. It never felt 'hot' but comfortably warm. We came home fit, tanned and revitalised in a way I have not experienced in hotter parts of Europe.
We stayed here and I can highly recommend, views to die for - spa ditto.

Your dc can hike by themselves as you can walk out of the hotel turn left and immediately onto a fantastic trail into the mountains with spectacular view and alpine flowers . We mixed it up with a few days at Monte Blanc and the lakes and it was effortlessly enjoyable, massive boost of well being, no one once felt bored and it is ultra safe for everyone and so so clean! Spotless everywhere and so beautiful.

So many hotel options and combinations, this is just one of many

villa-honegg.ch/en/[/quote]
This is very appealing but how do I go about booking it if we want it to be half board? Do we need to hire bikes ourselves or is here a package that includes flights, transfers, accommodation and bike hire?

We were in Salou in June. Not too hot. There are a lot of half board hotels. If you book with eg TUI, they should steer you away from somewhere with kids clubs. You can go to Barcelona for a day. There is an outlet shopping centre where you can go as a day trip, not to mention theme parks.

St Lucia

I used to spend weeks researching holidays every year looking for the perfect combination to suit DC. My theory was and remains if DC are happy then parents are happy. Ours came with us well past 18. In fact 24 year old is coming away for us for a week this year.

15/17 is tricky. What we did with them that age was a cruise. You don't fancy it, neither did I but it was a spectacular success. They got all the freedom and activities on board and city / cultural trips each day in small doses. It's never too hot.

If you went to the Canaries it might suit weather wise as it rarely gets unbearably hot. We took DC and a girl friend to Costa Adeje. There is a fab water park there which they loved. Chose a big hotel with plenty of facilities and sports. Booked half board but ate lunch instead of dinner and ate out at night.
As well as Costa Adeje Correlejo in Fuertaventura is lovely.

Also the Algarve. It's on the Atlantic so again, not as hot as greece or Spain.

Canaries - the place i stayed at had activities for adults and kids so no issues for your 18 year old. Ai. Can book snorkelling etc as extras too. Wasn't that expensive so you'll get change (obviously more in august) I went with TUI

Ps there were very few children but I went in term time. Unfortunately your 2( year old is too young for the adults only section (it's over 16's)

At the Honegg we booked independently (hotels and flights) and they offer BB rates only. It worked out well, as we enjoyed visiting other local restaurants which were very atmospheric, as well as the restaurant at the hotel with the most incredible views. Honestly it is breathtaking sitting outside in the summer.

If you email the hotel with a list of everything you like to do, they will arrange it all for you. The hotel were very helpful and will organise everything. I would recommend pre booking the spa and any dinner reservations, as it is very popular. So much to do, or nothing at all and relaxing in the pool overlooking the lake to the sound of the cow bells twinkling was really quite magical. Good luck with your plans.