Holiday novice - 2 x 60 year olds + 1 x 19 year old ,cheap ,not too hot

[gingeroots]

Anyone fancy a challenge ?

I have no experience of taking holiays abroad ( we usually camp in England ) apart from an American trip about 4 years ago .

Thinking not too hot ( we're redheaded ),beaches + history ,something to wander round .
Also ....really not keen on having to drive .
Self catering would be fine - and want something cheap ( so not long haul ) .
Could even camp - one where tents provided .
DS is not a typical teenager ,quiet ,doesn't drink etc .Does like on line games ( wish he didn't ) so will probably need some access to internet .

We could go in June before schools break up or last week Aug ,first Sept ?

So far my investigations have thrown up Barceloneta .

Anyone any other ideas ?

Barcelona is a good idea, but you do need to be really streetwise. If you want to go out of this country and don't want really hot weather or a long journey have you considered Ireland - Dublin is good both for sight seeing (and night time IF required) and you can get around by public transport, inclding visiting the coast from the city

Thanks mollymole - streetwise shouldn't be a problem considering where we live in London .
Though I think B. is famous for a different sort of crime -pickpockets ,opportunistic crimes rather than the low level poverty/drug driven crime round here - so I would still be v.careful .

Not sure about Dublin - not warm enough ,unhappy past experience when young and single .

Any others .....pretty please .

I have found that you can't rely anymore on what temperature it should be in a country based on historical evidence, the world's weather is unpredictable now. However, Greek islands, Canary islands, Majorca/Menorca, will probably meet your needs.

We are going to Rhodes this May/June, we've been before and stayed in Pefkos. Good beach and restaurants, lots of self catering places as well as hotels. You can get a taxi to Lindos just around the bay quite cheaply and walk up to the ancient acropolis through the town, it is in shade virtually all the way if you go in the morning. Browse the shops and have a cold drink or lunch, bound to be an internet cafe somewhere. Even in Pefkos there are internet facilities. If you wanted to go on a trip to the island of Symi, you could sit in shade on the ferry on the lower decks. Rhodes town has lots of mediaeval architecture too, famous for the Knights Templar.

ooh that sounds nice girlywhirly - good thinking ,what would be ideal is sun and shade.
off to google .

Palma in Mallorca/Majorca would be good for all I think. It is a very smart city with lots to see quirky and traditional. We stayed at the Augusta apartments which have a lovely pool and poolside area. It's a hotel but the rooms have a kitchen area at one end two double beds divided by a low partition. Cheap too if I remember.

Barcelona would also be good although Barceloneta is the strip right on the beach and the city proper is over the road and along a bit! Looking at a 20 min walk to get to the Ramblas for example although it's easy to get taxi/tourist bus.
Barcelona is also very expensive- there is always E10 meal deals or E1 wine but they appear randomly I think!. Hotels are lovely because most are new or newly renovated.

Thanks for that nothingoldcanstay ( where do these fascinating names come from ? ) ....one thing I've been wondering which maybe you could help me with
I've read that it's cheaper to fly out and return midweek ,or not at weekends ,but wouldn't most self catering rentals book from a Saturday ? And hotels ?

Off to google Palma ..

If you don't want it too hot how about northern Europe? Places like Amsterdam can be nice and there are some lovely beaches and interesting towns around that are great for wandering around.

Germany has got some nice beaches - places like lubeck / Rostock / warnemunde - which are near/on the coast and have beautiful old small cities to explore. I've only been for a brief visit but it was in the summer and very pleasantly warm.

Denmark is supposed to be fab for camping or staying in little chalets on their south coast or around lakes although probably not particularly cheap. Helsinki and tallinn are also gorgeous - and closeenough that if you go to one the other is a ferry ride away - less than hour I think but memory is a bit hazy!

All have the advantage of being nice and warm in the summer but sun not as strong as in southern Europe.

Alternatively if you can risk booking late (and have a separate plan b lined up just in case!) there are often good last minute deals on cruises, I've never paid more than half the advertised price by booking late. They are great for being able to relax and watch the world go by, then having somewhere different and interesting to explore during the day. The Baltic is great during late June apparently as there are very few hours of darkness, st Petersburg has a White nights festival. Even if you go down to the Med if you want to be outside but not in the direct sun you can find a nice spot in the shade and watch the coast gliding past as you read your book (can you tell I have happy memories of this!)

I know the recent tragedy was horrendous and might put some people off but I suspect it will make this a very safe summer as it will be fresh in the memory. There are air accidents on a regular basis and yet people still fly so hopefully this won't make everybody stop cruising. And if you can find the slightly smaller ships that have a max of 2000 people on board that are British or American you should be minimising any risks.

Hope you find somewhere!

The Greek Islands will be very, very hot. I love Pefkos too girly, we had a fab holiday there and are thinking about going back this year after a few years away.

I concur with zipzap that a cruise would be a good idea.It is totally possible to keep everyone happy on one. Check out travel zoo who send you the top deals every week. We nearly did the Canary Island cruise next week with NCL -11 days with all your food/entertainment including 2 nights in a lovely hotel in Barcelona as well as flights there and back for £479 each. That's a steal .

To answer your question flights are certainly cheaper mid week because less people fly. Hotels will book you in any time as will apartments but some apartments have a week minimum booking. In that case they will usually run from Sat to Sat. Spain has TONS of accommodation so you will have lots of choice. Have a look at Booking.com which is an excellent easy to use site. Find a few places and then ask on a TripAdvisor which they suggest. You often get lots of help if you do a bit of the work yourself first.

Thanks nothingoldcanstay .
I did loads of research on tripadvisor when we went to America some years back ,I suppose this just feels more unknown and I wasn't sure even what country to think of .
But lots of good advice .