To ask more experienced holiday takers to help me find and book my first ever holiday abroad?

[Hollyboba]

I probably am. But it's not laziness. It's sheer confusion and inexperience!

If anyone can help me I would be super grateful.

So I want a sunshine holiday between 20th July and end of August.
2 adults. 4 kids. Twins 15. A 12 year old and 10 year old.

Any where sunny that has a nice pool.
Preferably a beach within walking distance or short bus ride.

All inclusive.

7 to 10 nights.

Budget is 5k.

I'll go anywhere in spain/greece/balerics etc but has to be family friendly NOT a stag do type place.

And I don't want to go to Turkey.

Would massively appreciate any help!

We are only a family of four (and have never done AI), but that seems a huge amount to spend to me. I would get a house or Eurocamp-type place instead and save £2k. Look at flights first to decide where is reasonable to fly to in your dates (a site like Kayak searches all the airlines for you). For houses, try Airbnb or the traditional sites are often cheaper, like holidaylettings.co.uk

it takes 4-5 days to get over the jet lag and more when you get back

Slight exaggeration. A couple of days, max. With the first day being the worse.

*worst

What airport would you be flying from OP?

Hi OP,
I know you were clear about what you wanted but a few questions:

Would you be willing to self cater in exchange for getting a nice villa with own pool?

Would you be happy to rent a car (can get far cheaper and nicer villas if you can drive to them)?

Which UK airport do you need to fly from?

Does it have to be all inclusive? If you get good self-catering accommodation you could eat out a few times with the savings and have a BBQ of one kind or another the other nights. We do Eurocamp-style holidays (just not with Eurocamp, we use Al Fresco) in a chalet on sites with loads to do included in the price. We are going to a resort in the south of France this year. We are a family of 4, and will be getting there by ferry/driving, but it will cost £2600 for accommodation, ferry, petrol, and tolls. We'll spend another £100 on food at the nearest supermarket, and then whatever spending money. It wouldn't be a whole load more to scale up to a 3 bed chalet, add 2 to the ferry etc.

I forgot to add, the £2600 is for 11 nights.

@skankingpiglet my sister does this...one year she got one with a hot.tub, mobile home type affair, apparently cheaper end of August when all French and Spanish kids go back to school

@Hollyboba
I might have missed it, but flying from where?

Yes, the last week of August is usually cheapest, and this year our holidays go on until something like 7 September, so some other countries are bound to be back at school

We do Eurocamp-style holidays (just not with Eurocamp, we use Al Fresco) in a chalet on sites with loads to do included in the price

I got married in Italy and some of the guests stayed in chalets in a similar type camp near to the venue. They said it was fantastic. There were a number of swimming pools and lots to do, especially for children. They were really surprised with how good it was.

Depends on your u.k airport. Just over £2500,

Have a look on Jet2

I can find you a great deal.

I got a month in Spain last year (3 diff destinations)

for €1500 total

Another one to second eurocamp. I have 4DC and we take a 3 bedroomed caravan, it's brilliant.

Hi OP, first holiday abroad, how exciting!

I would really query the value of booking AI with kids. As far as I know, the main point of AI is the “free” booze, and prices reflect the expectation that customers will be drinking their body weight daily. Therefore, they are not good value for money when travelling with children/teens.

Cheap AIs tend to have the same buffet day after day, and the standards of hygiene aren’t great. There are some luxurious AIs but I’m not sure you will find one on your budget.

Personally I would look to rent a spacious apartment on the French Riviera or Spain, close to beaches but with the option of having some meals at home instead. Much less stressful, and much less expensive, than eating out with kids who only want to play on their phones anyway. And this would give you a better feel for the local life and culture, than being cooped up in a resort all week.

Cruises are another option, if you’re not scared of coronavirus they are dirt cheap at the moment.

Use on the beach.co.uk I've used them a few times. I've searched your criteria and for a week all inclusive I've found these

Personally I think £5k is a huge budget. I go on holiday a lot and never spend anywhere near that

@whyhaveidonethis, I would not want to take my teenage DD to Cyprus after the horrific ordeal suffered by the British young woman who was gang raped and convicted of misdemeanour for wasting police time.

@RevolutionofourTime awful things have happened in lots of places though, we just don't always hear about them. I mean, would you go to Spain? www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50257922

Go to Trailfinders Travel Agency. I don't know if the do AI though

@Whyhaveidonethis, yes that’s dreadful too, but there is a major difference- at least the men were convicted. Not the victim, as in the Cyprus case.

@Littlebluetruck are you kidding? July is one of the cooler months in Mexico? It’s the hottest month in Mexico. It’s in the northern hemisphere, not the southern.

We don't drive. So no car hire.

I want AI because I cook every day and I would love to just not have to on holiday. Plus with 6 people I think it's just less hassle than sorting out food budgets every day and with the kids constantly wanting drinks and ice creams etc

Flight has to be from Manchester

I definitely don't want to go to Mexico. Its the kids first flight. I want to be closer to home. Just your big standard holiday.

Sorry am just reading through everything!

I'm scared to death of cruise ships so that's out of the question. I have a real phobia of them 🙈