to want to book a big holiday this year...

[ssd]

would love to take the dc;s away we cant afford it
have taken them abroad once in 16 yrs

would so love to do a good holiday, florida or something

being working poor is crap

I'm there with ya.

Could you afford a package or something somewhere cheaper like Spain? At least you get a bit of sun then.

nah

and we've done this country to death, caravans/butlins/haven etc etc

I just want something good for once

I was planning on booking a big holiday too, then DH lost his bloody job!

I know if you are broke then it wouldn't matter where I suggest. . But if for any reason you are able to get some cash then port aventura in Spain is pretty good. Owned by universal studios I believe

have heard of that home

oh god have just googled port aventura it looks fab

can anyone work out the cost of one week for 2 adults 2 kids aged 15 there flying from Scotland?

What about centerparcs in Holland. We have had some lovely holidays there. Its much cheaper than uk specially last week of august. There is a lovely theme park called De Eftling.
There is also a holiday park called Duinrell. It has a theme park on site which is free for those staying in the chalets. You camp there as well. Also a swimming pool with lots of big slides and space bowls.

You have the internet. You have passports. Do you have a car? If you don't have a car, use a continental train pass.

My colleague, who does have a car, does 3 weeks with 6 people (him, wife, MIL, plus 3 teenagers) travelling Europe. Minimum 4 countries. Usually France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany. Off the beaten track, youth hostels.

Six adults, all ferry fees, petrol, money, meals, hostel fees never comes to more than £2.5K all in.

Not difficult with the internet, if you can be bothered.

can anyone work out the cost of one week for 2 adults 2 kids aged 15 there flying from Scotland?

Any particular week? any particular airline? any particular Scots airport? It really isnt difficult to pump information into a website with your own details

Duinrell is great. Do you have passports though OP?

second week in july, from glasgow or edinburgh, any airline at all and yes we have a car

have heard duinrell is great mainly for younger kids...

No its fine for older kids as well. The swimming pool is all ages and there are some big rides in the park itself. There is also high ropes etc in the woods but that cost extra.

Salou (where port adventure is ) is a very cheap and cheerful resort

Went a few times when the children were little

BohemianGirl - you really have got being unpleasant down to a fine art haven't you?

Not sure if any good to you but we did a Sun holiday to South of France 2 years ago, 2nd week in July. Stayed 7 days in a chalet at Eurocamp park, then hired a gite for another 3 nights on the way back. For 2 adults and 2 children the accommodation was around £500, plus petrol and spending money (we didn't really eat out though). Was a bloody long drive but would definitely do it again.

Main question - what's the budget OP?

We drove to Salou (2 day drive from Dover/Calais crossing) and stayed on a campsite there which was fab - beach over the road, great site with pools and Portaventura 5 min drive away.

Matthews Holidays do good deals for France Camping and some of their sites are right on the beach too. We were going to go in a Eurocamp tent one year and discovered Mathews Caravans were cheaper.

Hope you find something. I'm sure whatever you manage the kids will be happy.

(We finamlly managed our "big" holiday on our silver anniversary).

You can use Tesco's points for the Eurotunnel - Scotland is a long way from there though. Look at Skyscanner.net to see where the cheapest flights are. Owners Direct and Homeaway.co.uk to find accommodation. I don't think the mobile home sites are particularly cheap without the early booking discount.

Salou and port aventura is fab. Remember to factor in the cost of psrk tickets if youre not in one of the park hotels. We've been twice at the same time as you 2 adults 2 kids but we've not flown from scotland. We saved anout £700 flying from newcastle or manchester. A decent family hotel half board for 10/11 days cost us about £2500 if that gives you an idea

thanks everyone

budget stretching it is 2k

maybe not enough

I will have a look ssd.

thanks so much, I appreciate that

ssd Would you consider going in the October week instead? We are also in Scotland and my kids have never been abroad. So this evening I was looking at Eurocamp mobile homes in France and Spain. They were under two hundred and fifty quid for a family of 5. I think Spain would be ok in Oct in a mobile home. I think the prices are always cheaper cos we never have the same week as English half term.

Also I have looked at getting an overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam in the Oct week. Prices really varied but I think it could be ok if you booked in advance.

Hope you find something.

Not been for years but I liked Salou and visited Port Adventura and it was great! Stay in a hotel in Salou itself will be cheaper than one of the on site hotels.

I dont fancy all of us in a mobile home, there would be no room to hide from each other!! also ds2 is terrified of ferries