Summer sun with not too much travel

[2littleboys]

I managed to get on a plane last year for the first time in 19 years and even managed to fly back again . It was from London to Edinburgh and was hopefully the start of some great holidays. Sick of the British weather - need to go somewhere within a couple of hours travel time for my first time abroad in a long time. Have three children, all aged 6/7 and probably go with our friends who have 1 dd. (6). I want to show my kids what a beach holiday is actually really like! Happy to go self catering or family friendly hotel, thinking of France. Like life's luxuries, it'll be the only holiday this year so happy to spend a bit of money on it!..... anyone got any ideas?

Corsica as a destination if I were chosing.

Depending on how much you are willing to spend (in the Med in general) look at Mark Warner, Neilson, Sunsail etc.

Algarve, Portugal

gorgeous beaches, you can find some on the west coast where you will be the only people on the beach, very child friendly, cheaper than France, if don't go in August it's not crowded.

Faro airport 2.4 hrs from Gatwick

Italy, child friendly, lots of lovely beaches, fantastic food and wine, friendly lovely people and lots of sun. Cheap flights from ryanair as little as 1cent/1pence and then book a hotel/agroturismo in the area you want to stay, hire a car. Not expensive and lots of freedom to do as you want.

Sardinia.
Great beaches and some spectacular scenery, not a long flight, plenty of low cost flight operators, undeveloped in lots of places. We got easyjet flights and found a house and car hire on the net - and loved it.

Message withdrawn

Thanks guys, I'll look into Portugal. I thought it would take too long to get to.... which was why I was thinking of southern france...