What would you do with 4 weeks in summer?

[GotMooMilk]

Next summer DH has to take 4 weeks accumulated leave as a paid sabbatical (was meant to be for something else that never happened…long story!). I’m hoping to also take 4 weeks off (mix of paid and unpaid leave). So we will have 4 weeks in august next year with our 5 and 7 year olds…. We won’t ever have this again. What do we do?!

Budget probably about 5k for booking things (flights, accommodation, car hire) spends on top of that obviously. Initially thought we would ‘do Europe’ before we are realising we are stupid and Europe’s huge.

Options are mainly 4 weeks travelling around a set country (maybe Greece or Italy). 4 weeks doing Netherlands/Belgium/Germany/France (obviously more driving but also more variety?)

Or do we splurge budget on flights and go somewhere cheaper to stay and eat etc? What would you do?

Fully acknowledge we are v v v lucky but we will be saving so hard for it and won’t get the opportunity again so want to get it right.

Thanks!

If it is an once in a life time opprtunity, then I would really think about where I really want o go, and spend time. You can do shorter holidays in the future, going to all the places you want to go. But spending 4 weeks in the places you really want to stay? that's very rare. So I would stick to one place, and explore.

@noctiscaelum yeah that’s very true. Our plan was to have a base each week and explore from there- some weeks more trips etc some more chilled and pool based etc.

I would find a great holiday park in Europe with chalet style accommodation and a water park in an area where there is lots to explore.

Or pick a region of France near the beach, maybe Normandy or Brittany, and take a gites for the whole time and just explore and absorb culture.

I would go to Mull... Had 4 trips there last year... From 3 nights to 15 nights.. Still wasn't enough..
Prob nearly 5 weeks all in..
<sighs wistfully >

I think I'd try to stick to one side of Europe and enjoy it reasonably leisurely.

For example, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal.

Or Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy.

Maybe get a Eurail pass, or Interail. Your kids don't need prams or nappies and all that stuff, so with careful planning and decent luggage it could work. But I get it that having a car is so useful. Maybe hire one here and there.

So get your packing cubes out! Sounds like a dream of an opportunity, enjoy.

I would take our caravan probably r

I agree @couiza part of me thinks the drive from UK down to Portugal could take more than 4 weeks if stopping plenty! We love Italy and are considering two weeks eurocamp type thing then some travelling and maybe a stay in an apartment or something. Slovenia could be nice though and probably cheaper!

I would road trip somewhere, spend a few days in different places,

Sorry posted early. Maybe round France and potentially elsewhere. I'd spend a few days in some great campsites before moving onto the next. I'd probably try and get down to the Alps, then maybe you could do Paris / Disney on the way back,

We're in this lucky position although our dcs are teenagers. DH is a teacher and I got asked to go from 3 days a week to full time at work this year. I said 'yes if I could work term time only'. I don't work in education but in an adjacent sector that is quieter during school holidays and my boss said 'Yes'!

This year we're driving from Northern France to Southern Spain and back via a different route. Lots of stops / exploring both ways and 7 nights with a pool and beach in the middle to relax.

If it goes well we're planning to do the same next year to Croatia. Through Germany, Czechia, Slovenia on way down and back via North Italy, Switzerland, Belgium.

I loved America. We did route 66 but depends how dc are travelling

In August I'd avoid Southern Europe with dc that age. Northern Europe or Scandinavia would be nice (but Scandinavia probably out of budget).

I had lovely inter-railing trips with my dcs as a youngster so I'd want to do something like that. But it's quite hard work so it depends jn how much you want to relax. I'm not keen on long driving holidays as I find it nicer to travel by rail with dcs.

August will be boiling in most of Europe. This year is forecast to be hotter than last because of the El Niño effect.
I can't find the English link in the mobile site but this is worth a look. Incredible locations and hotels at a reasonable price for a fly drive and you could do a bunch of places in northern Spain, hop over to Portugal and find some beaches along the way. It gives a discount for multiple bookings

paradores.es/es/febrero-romantico-en-paradores