Poor and inexperienced, please help us choose a holiday?

[grimblesmother]

DP and myself, 3 DCs aged 5, 11 and 12.

We haven't had a family holiday for 3 years, and prior to that just cottage hire or camping in Cornwall.

We reckon we can muster £1000 and the children are begging to go abroad (dd is the only child in her class who hasn't been abroad, apparently)

Any ideas?

The site www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk/ might give you some ideas of places, although you can save money by shopping around.

What means of transport would you prefer to use? Depending on where you start, ferries to Ireland or Holland might be worth looking at, or deals with Eurostar. Do you want to visit a city (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Toulouse) during the holiday, or be outside (seaside, mountains, forests, Mediterranean)?

When I was a student many years ago, Crete was a great sunny cheap option. I don't know how it is now but it might be worth looking at package deals for self-catering there. Does the £1000 include all food and treats?

Some more tips linked here - I would second the advice to get your travel money in advance in the UK rather than from cash points abroad.

If you do go abroad remember to cost in pssports if you haven't already got them. Look at lastminute .com and then the tour operator sites for offers and just ignore the extras they ply you with

Have a look at Travelzoo online. They find the cheapest deals from lots of different companies although dates may be an issue.

If it's summer hols then either book now (especially if you are doing the flights and hotel yourself )or wait till the last minute if you want to do an operator holiday.

Europe is bloody expensive at the moment TBH. Even though it kills me to say it All Inclusive may be best for you because taking 3 out to eat all the time will cost. Either that or do apartment/tent etc and self cater but you need to get on it ASAP because they go quickly. Our best holidays have been beach ones near to a nice interesting city. That way you do beach and still feel you've actually been somewhere. Lido de Jesolo is a bus ride from Venice or in Mallorca we stayed near to Palma. Turkey is cheap as it outside the Euro. I haven't been but it sounds good as long as you pick the right resort...

An apartment in the Algarve could be doable if you stick to midweek flights. I often use Travel Republic as you can choose any amount of days you want , then you choose the flight and accommodation. If you go somewhere warm with a pool and/ or near a beach less money is needed for expensive activities.