Please help us with our potential holiday decisions!

[BelindaLouisa]

Post Covid, we have gone long haul and all out other than the summer of '24 which was the longest most boooooooring summer ever. This seems a bit extravagant for this year so, so far, I have three potential options that have both good and bad points. I am also open to suggestions!

It is me, DH and 14 year old DS. DS really needs stuff to do, and there isn't really a friend we could take away (either long haul, short haul or even the UK.) Last year, as an example, we went to Thailand and had a great time but didn't mix with any other kids of his age. I suspect this will also be trickier as he gets older.

Option 1: Thailand or somewhere else long haul (long haul but cheap when we get there, which is part of the appeal) and spend more time in the north than the islands. We could go for over 2 weeks. The downside of this is that DS will probably mainly be hanging out with his parents rather than potentially meeting kids his own age. This is also the VERY top of our budget.

Option 2: Go for a nice all inclusive with the chance to hang out with other kids of a similar age such as this or this. Compared to Thailand, on the value for money stakes, it's not great but is it worth it...? It's unchartered territory to me so I don't know! We don't want somewhere that's purely about sunbathing, and has a 6am race to the sunbeds (sorry if that's snobby).

Option 3: A nice cottage somewhere like Cornwall, and we can also take our dog. We had a lovely time at half term there, but it's a lot quieter (and colder!). The place we stayed in is also three times the price in August, which is also jarring with my value for money antennae. DH and DS will do loads together and probably have a great time, but I will likely be doing most of the dog stuff. I don't mind this to an extent but I also work with dogs for a living so a canine free break appeals! (I know we can leave him at home but I am not fussed about learning to surf or the things DS and DH would be doing anyway.)

If you can inspire me with other options or ideas, I'm all ears! We have a maximum budget of between £6000/75000 (I know that's a big margin, but if it's the right fit it's worth the extra squeeze to get the money together.)

Lastly, and obviously, we cannot take DS out of school early or send him back late!

Thank you!

What is DS into would be my first question.

Is he the type who likes to explore a destination and learn about the culture/history etc by going on excursions?
Or is he the type who’d rather play volleyball in the pool at a resort?

how about a spa hotel in Cornwall so there’s something for everyone, and if the weathers rainy

Southern Spain, although the heat might be a bit much.
Pros being ability to drive and take your dog

@WhatIsTheCharge Excellent question and, erm, not one I can instantly answer!
He does boxing which he loved (he had Thai boxing lessons last year and couldn't get enough) and he likes messing about in the sea (he's a reasonable swimmer.) He can be quite quiet and reserved, and this seems to be becoming more of a thing as he gets older. He isn't particularly sporty, but possibly trying stuff in a group with other kids would be a different outcome to doing it with his parents! He feins an interest in history to a point, but isn't one for many museums or, alas, much culture. He liked the absurdity of some of what we saw in Cambodia, for example, but would find, say, Barcelona 'too busy.'

@Mydogisagentleman Why do you suggest that...? And whereabouts? Anywhere in particular and why?
Sorry to fire questions at you! I was initially looking at Portugal but started to go off the idea as we could be potentially dragging a complaining child around Lisbon! It was that that started me looking at the package angle instead, if it was just DH and I we wouldn't be.

Honestly?
I’d probably do the long haul, just because you can 🤷🏻‍♀️
If you’ve got the budget available, then what an experience for DS. Going to a country he otherwise might not get the chance to go to? Winner.

This is what DH is leaning towards. The issue I have (calling it an 'issue' sounds worse than it is) is that I couldn't help but think DS seemed a bit lonely. Perhaps I need to see if there is somewhere that caters for the teens specifically like the package holidays I linked up to (which don't cost a bomb!)

This probably sounds a bit nuts, but DS has been to Asia numerous times but only France and Italy in Europe. Hence wondering why we are flying 12+ hours when we have plenty of places on our comparative doorstep!

We have a place between seville and jerez. We drove our dog over at easter and spent 3 months there.
Plenty of walking, great beaches and delightful people and sherry.

Have you ever been camping/glamping? Similar set up - only child but he likes a mix of time with us and finding friends - and works for us. We do big holidays at other times of year - out of season to get best value but summer is always drive to south of France, make a trip of it and stop off two nights each way and then choose a campsite with big pool, sports and near a beach/town. He makes mates and they tend to just play football/volleyball/cricket on an evening (always loads of Dutch who speak great English too) and in the day we do some little trips, swim, eat/drink. Very chilled and good mix of everything.

@Springtimebear this sounds good - have you got links? I think the glamping angle would be better (less stuff to pack basically).

@Mydogisagentleman That sounds wonderful for the grown ups, but I am not sure it'd work as well for DS.

Camping is a holiday where kids tend to meet other kids. But may not appeal if you prefer SE Asia and hotels. We like the alps. Lots to do, activity wise, or you can read a book and have the odd dip in the lake. Your budget would get a good s/c Appartment or air b&b. Our kids have never been bored and usually meet others. I cannot imagine either being tempted by the teen club. Suspect they’d think it was a bit cringe!

Are you sure he was lonely or are you just assuming he was? We have a Ds the same age and mixing with other kids on holiday would be his idea of hell. He just enjoys chilling out, having good wifi to watch stuff online and chat to friends back home and somewhere new to explore. I think at that sort of age they actually need a good balance of down time and doing things. School etc and socialising at home can be very full on.

@Pepperedpickles I think I am assuming. He occasionally appeared to be honing in on other kids on the beach but it never quite worked. A lot of kids seem to be with their siblings too, which probably makes it trickier (as does getting older and more aware.)

@Radiatorvalves do you have links? I think DS wouldn't find it cringe at the moment as he's a very young 13 but that's got me thinking about if that changes over the next 9 months!

https://www.sandaya.co.uk

We take our own tent but they have a variety of options at different sites. This summer we went to Douce Quietude - beach is 5km down hill with a bus back frequently. We loved a really early morning run/walk down, swim, hang out, lunch and then back to campsite to swim, chill and always a big game of football. Nice day drive options too.

Best one is we’ve found is near Beziers and we even did a day trip to Spain from there. You can fly to this one too - airport literally over the road!

It’s a few years ago but I think we stayed here…. Castellane camping in the Gorges de Verdon…

https://www.booking.com/Share-QLslzHx

Or further north…I know this area really well because we have a house in the area.

A magical weekend in a houseboat on a French Alpine lake

www.thetimes.com/article/ef5b8c5c-5429-4c29-83cd-3f44848dc3ec?shareToken=1bb85a4d42904c558c2d043457c2f43e