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!!?!

Turkey.

Side in Antalya, or Olu Deniz.

Malta. DB Seabank

Hilton Dalaman, Turkey. all inclusive but big and not too annoying (i'm not a fan of AI but i liked it here) Fair bit to see in the surrounding countryside so hire a car to get out of the resort

Book a cruise. There's loads to do for kids now on them. Norwegian cruise line usually have good deals

Years ago we did a 2 week break in Menorca. First week was a villa holiday with our own pool, second week was in a small complex with its own private beach, but within swimming distance of the main beach which had plenty of water sports. Sorry but I cannot remember the name of the resort.

Another vote for Hilton Dalaman. All inclusive but nice. Get a swim up bungalow if your budget allows.

I love Puglia in southern Italy. Fly into Bari, car hire is pretty cheap and you can get a villa with a pool for around 1500eur for a week. If you don’t want self catering though and you want a kids club, I think you’re looking at some kind of AI place though.

Majorca!

Radisson Blu Mogan in Gran Canaria
Lovely hotel, lots of activities and great breakfasts.
Eat out in Puerto de Mogan - lots of choice, lovely pretty place
Things to do- boat trips, beaches, water park, sand dunes etc
Around £5k with jet2 holidays

H10 rubicon palace Lanzarote is lovely

P&O cruise - something on the Iona - all food is included plus entertainment and kids clubs and great ports to visit - I’m sure you can find something to suit - they have lots of deals on their website

We are doing a cruise to the Norwegian fjords, one week from Southampton for £3.2k, two cabins next to each other, all inclusive bar trips out. Kids are 7 and 11. Big P&O ship with lots for kids to do. You could do similar but upgrade cabins etc or use a more ‘exclusive’ cruise company?

Rhodes
Malta
Split/Dubrovnik
Lake Garda
Naxos/Paros
Menorca
Comporta
Madeira
Matera
Montenegro kotor
Cyprus - wasn't my fave

Basically get a nice hotel with breakfast included. Little lunch/snack and go out for a nice meal every night :)

Just been to Cyprus. I did live there, so know it well. I would recommend a villa in Aphrodite Hills. It is a golf resort, but hear me out! None of us have any interest in golf. For me, you have the best of both worlds. We stayed in a beautiful villa. There about 5/6 fantastic restaurants, coffee shops and deli on site with loads of different activities on the resort. I actually enjoy a relaxed (basic, help yourself) breakfast at the villa with kids rather than the crazy hotel buffets. The resort managers are excellent nothing is too much trouble f you need advice or want to plan a trip. You are a 10/15 drive from the airport. You are right by aphrodites rock with some lovely local beaches and tavernas. Its about 25 mins from Paphos, lovely harbour and restaurants. You can work your way around the coastline visiting places for days out. In the height of summer, it's lovely to go up into the mountains and you can visit some crystal clear waterfalls. You need a car and a recommend a 4x4 if you want to access some of the best beaches.

No, I don’t think it’s a good idea to split a fortnight into half hotel, half villa with a non committal husband and two kids - it will add infinite stress to the holiday and what if you loved the first place and not the second.

you need to pick a team - hotel or villa? And then go from there. The canaries are warmer and have more child focussed stuff imo, whereas the Balearics are a lot more beautiful and diverse.

Iberostar club cala barca majorca (AI)
Princess Maspalomas Gran Canaria
TUI BLUE Playa Feliz Gran Canaria
Tagoro family and fun Tenerife
Atlantica caldera palace Crete
Tui blue tarida beach Ibiza

This type of thing any good for you? One of my favourite islands for a low-key break. Beaches aren’t fantastic but the sea swimming is and there are a couple of beaches that are ok.

https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotel-san-lawrenz

Travel agents are not going to go out of business as there are enough people booking with them. I use a travel agent when looking for something different as they have some great suggestions. This year we looked at Grenada but travel agent couldn't get the flight date we needed so booked online with BA as it was their flight. I do compare prices to save money as would prefer to use this money on holiday to support the local economy of the country I am visiting. If the travel agent is the best price I go with them.

Ibiza tui blue port des torrents
Kos blue lagoon
I think you will struggle 5k for 14 nights though. We are going to Es Cana in Ibiza this year and it's 6k in august. Also limited availability now

Croatia, EasyJet flight to either Split or Dubrovnik.

if split take a catamaran to Hvar or vis or brac.

if Dubrovnik go to Cavtat or lapad

airbnb for accommodation

we go every year it’s an amazing place :)

Majorca - few days in Palma and then Port de Soller or Port de Pollenca. Have a look on Airbnb or booking.com for where to stay.

Malta

Fly into Valletta
Hilton St Julian’s 7 nights

Ferry to Gozo

Dukes hotel Gozo 4 nights

Trips to

Beaches
Comino
Blue lagoon
Historic towns
Museums

No need for a car. Can walk places or Bolt cheaply.

Have fun! 😊

Mild, pleasant weather with cooling breezes

If your budget stretches to https://www.clublasanta.co.uk I throughly recommend it. You will not run out of activities. Grisly world class.

Riu Cape Verde

Rovinj is incredible but you cannot spend 14 days there. Good to base yourselves fairly near though and hit the water parks with the kids and maybe drive down to Pula and even up to Ljubljana in Slovenia.