To want a family Summer holiday for under £2k

[Jageri]

We want to take DC abroad for the first time and PFB is now at school so restricted to the school holidays. Two adults, a six year old and a four year.

Looking around for holidays for next year's Summer holidays and I can't believe the prices!

Budget of £2000 - flying from the NorthWest to somewhere in Europe - ideally Italy but Spain or really anywhere within a couple of hours flying time would do. For a week. I literally can't find anything for under £3500. Is that just how much it costs???

We never use an agent or tour company, mainly the cost but also I dont want to be in a large hotel with loads of other people. We always book flights ourselves (as soon as they go on sale) and then villas through ownersdirect, tripadvisor, villarenters etc. Never pay more than £2k for 3 weeks for 4 of us in villa with shared pool. I've found mainland Italy difficult but Sicily, Sardinia, Turkey, India, France, Cyprus...