Okay, I give up - where can we go holiday?

[WhatsWrongWithYou]

Five of us inc 3 DCs aged 16, 13 and 10.

DH loves sailing and wants to rent a 'fab' cottage in Cornwall and take a boat. Or do a flotilla/yacht charter.

I fucking hate am not keen on sailing and Cornwall and would be happy (I think) with a nice villa near a beach and small village, with a few watery activities the DCs (and DH) could do, or an all-inclusive with watersports etc.

Trouble is, my options cost an arm and a leg, and, as DH rightly points out, DS1 doesn't want to be with us anyway and will spend all day on his itouch, and it'll be him (DH) who has to entertain the other two as I don't do playing with kids and they won't go off with any other kids.

Am I making sense?

I think we've given Cornwall and sailing a good go, and he should by rights be grateful that we've suffered enjoyed several weeks at sea for his sake and now it's time to consider me everyone else.

Can anyone suggest a happy medium that he might get excited about and won't cost the earth?

Have looked at your Port Elounda-stylees and don't want to pay more than about £6k so they're out.

Sorry this is long - I've spent most of the day on this and have segs on my eyes. Would very much appreciate any suggestions.

Will have to go to bed soon (as no doubt will everyone else, but will check in tomorrow - just wanted to get that off my chest. TIA.

Forgot to say, I've looked in to Bitez (Turkey), Javea (Spain), Nidri (Lafkas), Corfu - mainly because I could fine watersports availability on the beaches there, but villa-only was at least £5k, and when you add in flights plus costs of eating out, it gets closer to £9-10k.

When do you want to go? Summer hols?

Oh yes sorry - August (first two weeks) .

how about looking at the Pelion region of mainland Greece? We had a fab holiday there, we don't sail but you could chill and sightsee a bit while those that want to could do some sailing.

Would you consider an all-inclusive in the Caribbean?
Ours last year cost about £3k for four of us and some watersports were included in the package, along with all food, drink etc. North coast of the Dominican Republic in August.

I'd like to avoid jet-lag if I possibly can, but will bear that in mind, thanks, Lyra.

Judy, who did you book with at Pelion?

You've reminded me, I did come across it and it looked nice, but put it to the back of my mind because the sailing kit looked crap and the guy I spoke to sounded indifferent and wasn't particularly helpful on the phone.

But I've just noticed there's horse-riding, which would go down well with DD.

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Channel Islands: Jersey has just about every watersport you can think of (really good surfing at St Ouan). Plenty of other things to do too - including some good stables.

It's non-EU, so you get duty-frees, but it's British, so you don't even need to change money (you do need health insurance tho' it's non-NHS).

Sounds worth a look; do you stay in a house or hotel, onimo? And is it warm there?

It's the warmest part of the British Isle, but it can be a bit of a toss up!

We've stayed in hotels, but there's all sorts of accommodation available.

Have a look here and here for more info. The Jersey Surf School in St Ouan is very good - and does camps (if you want to offload a child all day, every day, for a whole week). We ride at Le Claire stables, Route Militare, in St John.

It's a tiny island, so you can easily do everything. as the speed limit is only 30 mph across the island, you can let children out alone far more than you'd dream of in other places, and cycling is far less scary if you fancy getting round that way!

Not been on one but how about a Mark Warner or Neilson holiday as there are watersports and sailing. Meals are half board to all inclusive. Not sure if they'd be interested but there are kids/teenage clubs included.

We pushed the boat out and did Neilson last year, mum2 - like Sunsail and Mark Warner, they easily get into double figures cost-wise.

Not something we'd do again in a hurry - our kids don't really mix, which kind of negates the whole point of kids' clubs!

Have a look at Short Haul review - we stayed at Dar Tamazerte a privately owned villa outside Marrakech - large villa sleeps upto 8, has cook & housekeeper so no chores! has its own large pool and shared tennis court. It should be within your budget. It has a websitewww.marrakechholidayvilla.com

Good luck!

God I'm hopeless - should have said no Africa as DH got a dreadful lurgy there last year.

we booked with this Greek agency. we stayed in papa nero. it was beautiful.

Thanks - looks lovely but we've remembered the plumbing situation in Greece so now googling France!

I have spent several holidays in Bitez in Turkey and it is really lovely. You can keep the cost down by booking flights and accomodation separately and there are some very good self catering apartments there for relatively cheap. I have stayed in Basri apartments and they are quite big, I think there are also some two bedroomed apartments but I can't remember the name of them. Also have a look at Holiday lettings as they do villas around that area. I reckon you could do SC apartments for less than £2k or £2½ - £3k for a villa with a pool.

The beach is great and there are plenty of watersports, sailing, windsurfing etc. you an also hire a gulet for either a day or a few days if your DH wants to get out to sea.

I would definitely say a Mark Warner or similar holiday. Many of the watersports facilities are included in the price (some things, like tuition, you pay extra for.) There will be loads of other teenagers there as well, so the kids won't get bored. DH can sail to his heart's content but there is no pressure for you to do any activities if you don't to.

Failing that (or if it's a bit pricey) find a good Eurocamp type site in Biarritz/Vendee, or any resort with good watersports rentals. Loads of lake/sea based watersports, mobile homes very good value for money, weather will be better than Cornwall and there will be tons of other teenagers and loads for them to do. My kids have LOVED both these types of holidays and they are roughly the same ages/spacing as yours.

Thanks, Fellatio, I think France is the way we're looking atm.

Not too familiar with good sailing areas, though - I get the impression it's mainly lake-based, at least on the west coast.

Would you be able to suggest anywhere? I did find somewhere last night whose name escapes me - the same place Rockley Watersports is based at - but we'd like a roof over our heads, plus DH can tow a boat there so no need for hire or tuition.

We did Neilson last year but it's a rare event for us as it's so costly and the DCs don't really make the most of the clubs (which we found pretty desultory anyway tbh.)

I like Bitez, Nefret, but DH has gone completely wimpy cautious since his bad post-Kenya health last year, so the memory will have to be left to fade for a bit longer I think!

We went here a couple of years ago. It was lovely and because it was one resort the family can split up and do their own thing quite safely. It is big, though, so lots of neighbours- but the food was excellent, as were the pools, waterslides etc for the children.

How about Southern Brittany

We've been to LykiaWorld twice and it was fabulous (was a good few years ago now though) but it is not cheap, especially if you've got teenagers who want to run up a bar bill!

WWWY, I don't the name of a specific site but my sister always goes to somewhere near Biarritz, which is near the beach and sand dunes, but has a huge lake and loads of great places for cycling. They take a caravan, but I'm sure there are mobile homes there. (if you are in a self contained villa you have to drive everywhere so can't drink, and the kids can't make friends or go off safely for the evening on-site, so I think mobile homes on campsites are the way to go.)

I think that may be where the Rockley centre is - I think she may have mentioned it, but I might be wrong. Anyway, they have teenagers and they swear by that place.

I agree about the £££ aspect of Lykiaworld - but as I said DH is pretty adamant we ain't going anywhere 'exotic' for some time to come anyway!

Was it Lake Biscarosse you were thinking of? That's where I was looking last night and it looked like a possibility. I think you could get villas on the lake as well as staying at the campsites; I get you about the kids running off aspect, but we've got through 15 years of family hols without them ever making friends to speak of, apart from the odd half hour in a playground.

And I'm allergic to mobile homes/camping - want to put all that in the past!

Will get on and look around coastal France; it's difficult when you don't already know the best spots- feels like a needle in a haystack scenario.

Yes! That's it - Biscarosse. Is that near Biarritz or am I just getting the two confused?

It's between Bordeaux and Biarritz, in Aquitaine I believe. Nice to know someone's been and enjoyed it.
I do like the sound of the lake and the beach as well.