Come and tell me what holiday I need? Please.

[O2BNormal]

I have a headache. We're thinking it's about time DCs went "abroad". We were never big travellers and haven't been overseas since DS1 was born (now 11). There are a number of reasons for that: financial, having had some lovely holidays in UK and nervousness too I suppose.

We generally like a holiday to be relaxing but active - wouldn't want to spend days on end laying on the beach, but playing on the beach/in the pool for a while lovely, provided there are other things to do too.

Before DC our holidays would have been somewhere quiet in the med where we could do a (little) bit of sightseeing, walk a bit, swim in the sea and have long boozy relaxing meals in the evening.

AI doesn't appeal, if I'm going abroad, I'd like to see some of the country and at least use the local shops and restaurants, but I am a coward and have no language skills so a package, rather than independent holiday does have some appeal.

Is there (still) such a thing as a quietish, not over developed resort, where there are things to occupy a family including boys of 9 & 11? Some of the places we went to before would be good, but have they all been taken over by AI and holiday villages? (which is the impression the brochures give)

Am I mad to be considering Centerparcs? Have been a couple of times in UK and not over-impressed, always return feeling ripped off, but much cheaper on the continent and if they're used by the "natives" could be less British than a Spanish AI IYSWIM?

Anyone?

Booking your own hotel and flights won't make a lot of difference to the language barrier as it's all done online. The only difference is giving your hotel name (or showing them the printout of the booking) to the taxi driver at the airport!
We had a lovely time in Majorca. Palma is very cool and expensive looking - miles from the Magaluf crowds. We stayed at the Augustine apartments that had a fab pool area and was up the road from the capital. We took a bus to the massive waterpark but there are loads of places to go.Cheap flights and cheap hotels a plenty.
Centerparcs might be full of the locals but if you are worried about the language barrier it may feel worse surrounded by only the chattering of Europeans, as you can't really go anywhere else.

www.ownersdirect.co.uk/balearic-islands-menorca.htm

No foreign language skills required.

Resorts that sound like they'd suit: Son Bou, Punta Prima, Arenal D'en Castell, Cala Galdana, Santo Tomas maybe Cala n Bosch / Cala 'n Porter

Choose a villa or apartment with a British owner. Not an AI in site

Book flights (I use Thomas Cook's website)

Hey presto!

Have a look at Croatia.

You don't need to speak a foreign language to book an independant holiday, we do it all the time. Most hotels/apartments have someone who speaks English anyway wherever you go.

We love Turkey and there are some lovely resort just like you describe, somewhere like Bitez, near Bodrum for example. If you think Turkey appeals to you let me know and I give you some further help