After the thread about children not going abroad...

[WineyAunt]

My children aged 13,12, and 7 have never been abroad as there dad refuses to fly

After reading the other thread I have decided that I will take them away for a week on my own so at least they have been abroad

That is where I am now stuck!!!
Not got a big budget and don't know where is good to take them, they are all sporty sociable and will eat most things!!
Can anyone help?

spain is always cheap, good beaches, lots of activities and, if your away from the resorts, lots of cultural stuff too.

we fly to girona and drive up the coast and then stay in a chalet in a campsite with pools etc.... 5 minute walk from the beach. the campsite is in a fishing village with lots of lovely costal walks.

before ds me and dh would always camp in europe and would enviously eye up the chalets. i find it much easier to do self catering than hotel with ds (although to be fair he's only 21 months!). He can have his own room and we can sit outside our chalet in the evenings eating and drinking lovely things. As your dc are older you might actually get to go out
Spanish cities are lovely if you want a bit of a cultural holiday. I LOVE barcelona! you can get good deals on apartments at hosteleorld.com

I assume you have thought of this, but it is possible to go abroad without flying. Le Touquet in France is lovely and I have heard good things about European Centre Parcs - both are driving distance, though this may depend on where in the UK you are.

Exactly what pettyprudence said. We're also flying to Girona then staying in a mobile home on the coast. The Costa Brava is great, short flight, lovely climate, plenty to do. I find campsites better than hotels for kids as they can have a lot of freedom in a safe environment. At night they go to bed and you can sit outside with a bottle of wine. If its you and dc's then I think its the best option as there'll be lots of families around the accomodation so you can socialise rather than be in a hotel room alone when they go to bed.

Thanks got replies I have been looking at camping and I think that that is possibly what I will research more.
I know we don't need to fly but I feel that they should at least experience a short flight as dh try's to scare them with horror stories!!
Would like to fly from Norwich if it's possible?
Do I need to book via a travel agent?
We only ever holiday in north Norfolk so this is seeming quite difficult
Thanks for your ideas

You can book through an agent but its easy online. I use Canvas Holidays (biased as I used to work for them) but there's a few operators to choose from. You can book direct with the campsites but if its your first time then it might be worth going through a company like Canvas. Where are you thinking of going? How old are your kids? I know quite a few of the sites so might be able to recommend some for you? :)

Just saw the ages sorry!

Okay - here are the chartered flights available from Norwich, where they go to and which holiday companies you can book through - Majorca might be a good bet as a family friendly destination.

www.norwichairport.co.uk/holidays-direct-from-Norwich.asp

These are the scheduled flights - you might like Jersey or Guernsey (or Newquay?)

www.norwichairport.co.uk/scheduled-flights.asp

If you want a direct flight (not via Amsterdam) from Norwich then this list has your options and the tour companies listed. Schedule flights from Norwich are to or Channel Island destinations only.

Sorry, second link should be UK or Channel Islands

Wow thank you I really don't know where to go!! I would like the sun and children have said football and water sports is something they would like included. Thanks for the help it is very much appreciated

What's your budget and roughly when do you want to go? Do you want self catering. b&B or Half Board or All Inclusive? I'm bored looking for my own holiday so don't mind looking for a few options for you.

Maybe something like this?:

it's all-inclusive so just a little spending money needed for extra water sports or souvenirs:

www.thomson.co.uk/thomson/page/byo/accomdetails/accomdetails.page?packageNumber=0419451375085400000137510700000064613756788000001375686600000645&locationName=Turkey%20-%20Dalaman&tuiCtryCode=TUR&tuiDestCode=000442&tuiResortCode=&tuiAccomCode=&numAdults=1&numChildren=3&childInfantAges=13-12-7&searchPageName=HomeSch&searchFlag=FHPISearch&maxPartySize=9&moreDestinations=false&moreResorts=false&holiday_type=&timestamp=1358624698956&day=1&monthYear=8%2F2013&displayDay=01&displayMonth=Aug&displayYear=13&departureDate=2013-8-01&departureMargin=4&duration=10&dayTripSearch=false&checkOutDay=11&checkOutMonthYear=8%2F2013&checkOutDisplayDay=11&checkOutDisplayMonth=Aug&checkOutDisplayYear=13&departureAirportCode=NWI&countryDestCode=210%7C941&resortAccomCode=&countryCode=210&destinationCode=941&resortCode=&accommodationCode=&departure=&accommFeaturesBitValue=2&accommodationType=0&rating=0&numberOfRooms=1&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.adult=1&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.children=3&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B0%5D=13&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B1%5D=12&roomConfigurationFormBean.room%5B0%5D.childAge%5B2%5D=7&numRemSearch=8

remember to factor in the cost of passports which are very expensive - especially if you are only going to use them once.

We fly ryanair to girona (they seem to dominate girona airport), hire a car from goldcar (v v v cheap) and stay here. We book it all direct with each company but you can also book through canvas holidays.

Thank you

Siesta is a lovely campsite, I agree. I'm finding Ryanair is looking expensive for June so I'm thinking of flying Jet2 to Barcelona instead, it's a bit cheaper and better baggage allowance for the dates I need.

DH talks flying horror stories, but is happy to drive?