To just want to book a holiday - take my money!

[ItsCalledAConversation]

Whyyy is it so hard to find a fucking holiday?!

Made harder by the fact DH can't/won't decide or make up his mind about anything. He 'wants something to look forward to' (as do I) but what this is seems to change every five minutes. Meanwhile summer is creeping closer, prices are going up, availability is going down and our budget is shrinking.

We want a relaxing beach holiday, to be looked after, but to have freedom to explore and stuff to do.
Two kids 7 and 10.
Dislike typically 'all inclusive' type places, but don't have the budget for Ikos/ Sani etc.
Don't want to camp or even self-cater - need a proper break.
DH won't use a travel agent as thinks they're all out to steal his money.

So far we've had a look at:
Northern Spain - no resorts, shit weather
South of France - all too built up/urban, and too £££
Portugal - don't play golf and it seems to be all golf
Devon/Cornwall - been there done that
Scotland - unpredictable weather
Thailand - too expensive

I am slowly losing my mind. Please can someone just tell us where to go on holiday, down to the location, the hotel/villa, what to do while there, etc. I simply cannot waste any more of my life googling or on Airbnb or booking.com. Help!!?!

Croatia. Hire a car for exploring too.

Should have said, budget is max £5k, and we want 2 weeks in early August.

YABU - that's loads of money and booking holidays is fun/a breeze what are you complaining about
YANBU - looking for holidays is shit, here, go to this great place I have just been to and would totally recommend [insert link]

Thank you wise MN!

Right! Where exactly in Croatia.

Majorca? Stay in a resort but take the bus to palma city and see the sites/history etc

Greece or Turkey (Kalkan, Dalyan or Kas rather than Marmaris etc)? Both full of historical sites and excursions with nice hotels to rest in?

we never use a travel agent anymore.

In a similar position. Not been off this Island since 2019...been looking at Balerics and 10 days is coming in around 3.5k. That's with 8 and 2 yo, so we need to be quite kid orientated.
No booked yet but planning to go late June so need to get skates on!!!

Lake District?

Try Icelolly.com booked through there few times or easyJet holidays put in any destination so it'll bring u up all diff places and prices weather u want beach or city how long for the dates what board u want self catering all inclusive and u can even filter it down to exactly what u want in a hotel eg pool hot tub spa gym etc and it'll show u all diff ones turkey atm is really good priced

Another vote for Majorca - Pollensa / Puerto Pollensa. I’d self cater and eat out most nights.

Greek island.

Croatia, Italy or Greece? There are loads of countries that you haven't mentioned

Go to the travel agents to get some ideas and then go from there. they would be able to refine what you might be looking for. You can always get some quotes (you don't have to use them) and price them up yourself to see if you can get them cheaper.

Theres a couple of 10 day P&O cruises early August within budget around Europe - all inc but better than a standard hotel, sightseeing if you want it pool days if you don't.

There's a 9 night royal Caribbean from Southampton for about £5k

https://www.iglucruise.com/search?hitsPerPage=15&sortBy=cruises

£5k for 2 weeks might be ambitious but Playa Blanca in lanzarote is lovely. We did our first all inclusive ever last year and dc loved it and it was stress free. I’d do it again… although this year we’re off to America.

Yes there are many countries I haven't mentioned (!) - partly the problem, I'm just blinded by too much choice and ambivalence about where - it's the experience I want, that I can't seem to find...

I actually don't really care what country we go to as long as it's warm and lovely. But not Dubai.

I'm after really specific recommendations, where have you stayed that you loved? I probably want a 'naice' hotel with a kids club and a spa, and a fun pool, and lush gardens, on a beach, but secluded, and not really expensive. Do that for 7 days and then maybe a villa and hire car in a different part of the same country/place (if that makes sense).

Am I just wanting something that doesn't exist?

Never thought of a cruise! (Tries not to imagine Jack holding onto Rose's icy hands while simultaneously dying of norovirus)...

With two kids it might be cheaper to go all inclusive and eat out on some nights if they eat a lot. With all inclusive you get unlimited snacks, drinks and ice creams during the day - if you had to pay for this how much would it cost? On a hot day my whole family can drink a lot of fizzy drinks, slushies, beer etc.

You could go half board, lots of hotels let you have your meal at lunchtime allowing you to eat out in the evenings. Your drinks aren't included in HB though.

Some foreign hotel accommodation has a kitchenette in the room, you could do B&B, make lunches in your room and have dinner out or go room only - do breakfast and lunch yourself then eat out.

Others have suggested some great places but for two weeks AI for a family of four in August you could be looking at more than £5000.00.....

Dubai isn't a country.

Rovinj.

Try the Gran Castillo Tagoro in Lanzarote. We went there. Spa, adults only area, 4D cinema for the kids, splash pool, on site restaurants

Split or Dubrovnik.

That's nice, no wonder people are going out of business😪

Tenerife - Adeje or los christianos.

Cheap enough to eat out every night so saves having to go all inclusive.

Very child friendly. Water parks, zoo type places.

Lots to do but also more sightseeing stuff if you want to do that too

Have a look at Turkey

It was on TV the other day that some packages are far cheaper than doing everything yourself individually.

Portugal is gorgeous and not ‘all golf’ at all. I’d go there. All the best.

Kefalonia! Small island and you can drive all around it. Great beaches. Beautiful weather and lovely people ☀️