To have no clue where to go on holiday

[PookieDo]

It’s a big birthday for me next year and in the same year (3months apart ) my eldest child turns 18.

My friends and family will not do anything on my behalf for this birthday, I don’t expect them to anyway. I have considered throwing my own party (eldest would be happy to do a joint party) but on reflection why do I want to organise something for everyone else’s benefit when they aren’t really bothered anyway which is a whole other thread in itself
I threw my own 30th and organised it all and am not doing it again. IME it made me feel rubbish

So I think I will go on a holiday!
I haven’t been abroad on a holiday for nearly 20 years, I don’t like flying and am a single parent who didn’t want holiday debt.

• DC1 will be almost 18 and likes hot places
• DC2 will be 16 and does not like hot places - Neither DC really like cultural cities all that much ie old building, museum type places

Where on actual planet. do we go then? 😂
I am so stumped for ideas but I want to start paying something off soon
I would be willing to spend £2k at the very max

Ideas please anyone? Or AIBU to think this is going to work for all 3 of us and I should go on a singles coach holiday

Versailles and Disney are opposite sides of Paris. Might be better of getting a hotel in Parks then there ll be less travelling.

In Paris

Your Paris idea sounds great we did what you are proposing in two separate trips, 4 years ago Disney (end feb and was not cold) and last Oct (warm and no rain) Paris sights including versailles. Combining them all would be good.

How about Croatia? Beautiful country, shortish flight, lots to do sports wise, and if they are into GOT you can go to Dubrovnik and do the Walk of Shame.

I don't know if it's the sort of thing your after but the new Centre Parcs at Disney might fit your bill. You get two days in the park included, lots of active things for DC 2 and a really easy train ride into central Paris for sightseeing

There's also Parc Astérix if the kids want a more thrilling theme park near Paris.

Germany is another option. Phantasialand or Europa Parc for theme park followed by a few days in a city, possibly lakes or forest depending on which theme park you choose.

Final suggestion is Spain. Barcelona for city break, then an hour (ish) down the coast to Salou. Lots of coastline, great theme park (Portaventura) and water parks. Salou is family friendly rather 18-30s. Tarragona also close by and worth a look.

If you go after GCSE's and before the schools break up ... late June/early July you should be able to get a cheap week away in quite a few places on your budget. £700 per person would be £2100. Maybe google package holidays in resorts where there is water skiing ext for the active one and also whatever the other one likes. I'm with you in preferring a holiday to a party. You get a week's chilling and making memories with kids who are fast growing up instead of one night at a party. Might take a bit of research but definitely doable. Good luck op and happy birthday in advance to you and your `18 year old

Eurostar tickets aren’t even out for anything past April so it’s really awkward also really expensive and hassle to even get to the terminals in the UK IME!

I am not too fussy about accommodation. I see Versailles is 1 hour away from Disney on a train so perhaps I could stay somewhere more central but 1 hour is not too bad?

The problem with a beach holiday is that both are body conscious of wearing swimsuits in public, they would end up on their phones under an umbrella round the pool while I got pissed by myself and then we would all argue 😂 they wouldn’t join in with ‘club’ activities I don’t think.

The only thing that puts me off Barcelona is the heat

I love Amsterdam but I wonder if they would be bored - it’s very laid back

Where did you get 1 hr from? Ratp (rer and metros) put it as 90 minutes. Was it an sncf train?