4K summer holiday for 5 people for 2 weeks - please give me some ideas!

[sybilvimes]

As the title says really. Dh and I have decided to splash out on a fab holiday abroad this year. We have 3 kids under 12 but over 2 and would like something hot but not scorching and preferably with other stuff to do than just beach/pool. I am willing to consider anywhere (except OZ - poisonous spiders are a no no!)

Many thanks!

Would you consider a cruise as loads to do on the ship plus you get to explore new places?

Hmmm, I had never thought of a cruise...

I would be a bit concerned about the lack of running around space for the dc though. The boys are, how can I put this nicely, like hyped up energizer bunnies full of beans, and need space to charge around. Would that really work on a cruise? They would be in the brig for knocking over grannies within hours probably.

It's a cool idea though, is there anywhere in particular you would recommend?

I went on a Disney Med cruise last year and am trying a Royal Caribbean one this year but if you are after something not quite as hot you could look into the Norwegian Fjords.
Some of my relatives visited the Black Forest in Germany last summer and said that was fab. Loads to do, warm but not boiling and not ridiculously expensive.

I can definately recommend a Club Med holiday, something for everyone... Loads of sports including some you may have never done before like trapeze!, lovely food and drinks, adult time and lots of fun for the kids... We have been to one in Turkey and one in Tunisia and are trying a different one in Turkey this year.

I think your kids would love a cruise! There is loads to do on board: swimming pools, play areas, activities, cinemas, ice rinks, climbing walls - absolutely tonnes!

The last cruise ship I went on and 15 floors and was bigger than any hotel resort compound i've been to so I highly doubt your kids would feel confined.

We did Eurocamp near Venice a few years ago, that was a fab holiday for kid as the site was directly on a beach, loads of pools and activities, near a town, near Venice - fab!

Last year we, in our madness, drove to Serbia and camped in Germany near the Black Forest amongst other places, again, the kids absolutely loved it. Germany was lovely, fab weather but I would not say it was cheap what with the Pound against the Euro.

If you want all-inclusive or half board so you get more of a break then i would suggest Turkey or Bulgaria (I know when I was looking for 2 week hols in August with 3 kids I could not get anything under £4.5K which is why we went to Eurocamp and that cost £1200 for two weeks including flights, plus food).

PS. You might find it hard to book one room for all of you having three kids. And, when I looked into cruises, some ships cannot accomodate 5 in a room but if I remember correctly the Independence of the Seas did.