Ideas for weekend away for teen

[jessiefletch89]

Ds will be turning 14 in the Easter holidays. Rather than spending loads of money on gifts he doesn’t need, I thought about booking a little mini break either over the weekend or Monday-Friday. Center parcs or similar would be good but it’s so expensive. We go to the coast a lot anyway so that wouldn’t really feel special. Wondering about a city break but not sure what to do or where to go. We are midlands based.

If you have any inspiration I’d love to hear it! Younger sibling will be coming too.

How old is the younger sibling?
Seems a bit unfair to label it as a birthday present and then have to make everything work for the younger one too.

How much do you want to spend? I’ve just done 4 days in Alicante with mine. Flights cost £140 total. Accommodation was £300. Food and activities what you make of it. We did a lot of markets and supermarket picnics (food shopping that we’d buy at home) and beach or walking (free). Accommodation could have been cheaper but I booked it with about 48 hours notice and didn’t shop around.

That said, not much of a birthday treat if annoying sibling has to come along. I took mine away individually and Dh stays with whoever is at home.

What are the birthday boy’s interests? It should be chosen for him.

I took DD to Edinburgh when she was the same age and we had a brilliant time. There’s things like Arthur’s Seat to climb, the castle, walking tours (we did a HarryPotter one), ghost bus tours, underground caverns tour, camera obscura.

Newcastle - Amstersam mini cruise
Two over night there/back crossings and a whole day in Amstersam 👍

If he's quite outdoorsy and adventurous, have a look at zip world in Wales! My 15 year old loves it there. There are plenty of options for accommodation around there as well.
You can also hire a Canadian canoe at lots of different places, all jump in and have a day paddling. There are usually pubs along the way that you can tie to and hop off for some lunch

Does sibling have to come? I agree it seems unfair.

What are DC interests? Organise around that.

Ds has been asked and has said he’d like it to be the whole family. He is outdoorsy, enjoys the beach and walking/exercising. He loves the pool at centre parcs which is why I mentioned there. Also a big football fan so I’ve tried looking to see if there are any good fixtures in places we could maybe make a weekend of it. Currently struggling for the days we have available.

If he's a football fan stadium tours can be really good

Eryri (Snowdonia). So many amazing things to do for outdoors people - loads of mountain biking, hill walking, climbing and beaches. You can make it pricey with Zip World/AdventureParc activities but there are so many free adventures to be had if you have your own outdoor kit. You can hire paddleboards and surfboards in loads of places but I’d recommend a lesson if he’s never done it before.

Blist Hill Victorian village

Alton Towers

Zoo or Wildlife park

Would Bluestone in Pembrokeshire be cheaper than CP?

Liverpool or Manchester with stadium tours?

Another for zip world. There is the slate mine and the bounce below for the family and the zip lines and carts for the birthday boy. We stayed in their own hotel and the family room was excellent

Probably the reference to Alicante from another poster but a cheap overnight break to Barcelona would be good if you can go on random not weekend dates.

Agree with the younger sibling benefiting too.

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/tickets/camp-nou-experience

I wouldn't give a child a family holiday instead of presents for a birthday. A family holiday is for all of you. It would be different if he got tickets to go watch a football match or a concert, but not a family holiday that is also catered towards his younger sibling's wants. If there isn't anything he needs or wants, give him money and just some smaller things.

Look at High Adventures in Yorkshire.
They are similar to PGL and offer family outdoor activity style holidays which might suit his interests / your budget.
No swimming pool but rafting/canoeing.
High Adventures

Took my 14 year old to York for her birthday. Her birthday is october though and she is a big Halloween fan so did lots of spooky things. Was great.

Liverpool. So much to see and do.

A family holiday isn't a gift for your teen, however you spin it.

Ok thank you for the helpful feedback. Ds wants us all to go. And it isn’t a ‘gift’ per se just something we can do to celebrate his birthday. He will still get gifts and will of course be able to do whatever activities he wants if we go away.

It might be a bit ambitious for a birthday, but can recommend Billund in Denmark for 2-3 days. I had high expectations of the Lego House (and restaurant there, don't miss it out) - it exceeded every one of them and is perhaps the best multi-age place I have ever been to. DD was 15 and we thought maybe a bit too old, but she is fixated on going back.
Lalandia is not where we stayed, but has an incredible waterpark as the greater part of the resort - lots of quite off-the-wall pool related features. If you stayed elsewhere, you can go as a day visitor with no trouble. Vejle is also nearby for the outdoor and walking aspects if there is time.

You could stay at Alton towers and do the waterpark and the theme park.

How could he possibly enjoy spending time with family hey when he could be being bought some ‘stuff’