Idiot ex just let kids down big time- last minute holiday ideas please

[mynamechangemyrules]

My ex husband was supposed to be taking my children on holiday at half term. He just told them he’s already gone by himself 😳😆 so they’ve been prepared for a beach holiday which they won’t now have.

I would like to take them somewhere but it’s going to smash my budget.

I started searching for heat and fun any dates between 17-26 Oct (poss later as well), 4-7 nights, but I’m bewildered and not sure it can be done for the money I’m prepared to spend.

cyprus? Turkey? Morocco? Egypt?

Need it to come in under £2000. Would obv love it to be with breakfast or any food inclusive.

ideas and links if anyone believes it’s possible?!!

How old are the kids?

How many kids and how old?

What is your total budget including spending on food?

How about Spain, Minorca, France?

I'd try easyJet holidays and the Canaries, first day of holiday being on the Monday 20th. Some 4 nights coming in about £700 pp but that is only bed and breakfast.

Which airports are you able to fly from?

Too cold! It's raining and stormy in Menorca at the moment.

Check 10 day forecast for wherever you are considering and compare with alternatives- we went to Romania thinking it would be nice and cool but turns out it was a record breaking heatwave and for the same money we could have gone to New York where it would have been colder.
My point being somewhere you might not consider to be warm might be having better weather than a beach destination- and countries like Switzerland have a lot of man made “beaches” by their lakes.

That's a shame! Forget that one then!

Spain is always reasonable as are the Canaries.

It won’t matter where you go. These kids won an amazing mum.

Get Interrail passes- under 12s get a free pass with an adult. Depending on where you live in the UK, you can get to the South of France in a day, and it's way nicer than flying. I did just this last autumn half term, and we went to Marseille. Marseille has got beaches (and is right next to the Calanques National Park, which is stunning), and we were swimming under a cloudless sky on 1st November. (Obviously weather that good isn't guaranteed!). You might prefer a smaller, more chilled town with kids- depends what they like. We also had a one night stopover in Paris.

Oh god I’m getting excited and don’t know if it’s doable..
ages 15/13/10
i have a credit card I’ve just finished paying off (😬😩) so I have wriggle room but I’d love to spend as little as humanly possible when their fucking dad doesn’t even pay maintenance and then pulls this on them.

All London ones really

What airport?

I love researching holidays let me see what I can find!! With a kids place free or a single adult place might be able to do it

Alicante is known for its almost year round sun - have a look on easyjet holidays or jet2 they do great package deals

Found this

£1424 5 nights Morocco bed and breakfast leaving some room in budget for dinner spending xx

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/greece/rhodes/faliraki/venezia-resort-hotel?ibf=true&to=22-10-2025&from=18-10-2025&dst=ALL&sAccId=&geog=ALL&flex=0&org=BFS,LGW,LTN&aa=1&rooms=1_3:15|13|10&outId=E3de25306a8842acd3c562db79608c521&inId=E826b0dd7407102828f78e1cdde9b2f15&accId=GRRH0112&packId=2294430801/2/2847/4&boardType=AI&offerRooms=1_3:15|13|10/FM01&transfer=GEMT55066KSS&dtransfer=GEMT55066KSS&isExt=0&lateRoomCheckout=0&theme=beach&__ejhsort=hotels_list|2|cYuKv8Jq

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/morocco/marrakech/marrakech-city/riad-karmela?ibf=true&to=22-10-2026&from=17-10-2026&dst=ALL&sAccId=&geog=ALL&flex=2&org=SEN,STN,LGW,LTN&aa=0&rooms=1_3:10%7C13%7C15&outId=2290624726/1407339&inId=2290635461/1408252&accId=X9068239&packId=2326252251/2/3211/5&boardType=BB&offerRooms=1_3:15%7C13%7C10/JSU.ST!NOR.FIT&transfer=&dtransfer=&isExt=1&lateRoomCheckout=0&theme=city&__ejhsort=hotels_list%7C1%7C7Rt5pIyE

Tenerife?

Thats all inclusive Rhondes for 4 nights

Does it really need to be away or could it be 3 epic days out in UK? Like Legoland, skiing in Milton Keynes, and a big water sport complex somewhere or like a go Ape Interspersed with film days at home with amazing snacks / treats / takeaway? Come up with some proposals for the kids but ultimately give them ‘yes’ days where they’re in charge

Malta is supposed to be good.