Best EU holiday destination with older kids?

[Mendi]

Where's a good place to go with pre-teen kids for sun, swimming, and a bit of stuff to see and do?

In previous years we've had happy holidays in a place near Marbella where we can rent an apartment relatively cheaply in a development with 3 or 4 communal pools. Kids like it as there are other kids to play with. But we've "done" that area enough times.

Last year we had an apartment in Tuscany with private pool. We all loved the holiday but I felt the kids would have liked a few more people around as it was quite isolated being just us.

This year we're moving house instead of having a holiday, but I really want to plan early for next year to get a good deal.

With older kids I think what would work best for us is a place with shared pool. Self catering. Ideally near a town/city with stuff to do, as we don't like just pool/beach. Needs to be somewhere we can get flights to for less than £200 each and accommodation not more than £700 a week (for all 3 of us). We'd love Italy but open to Spain or Portugal, or Greece.

Any suggestions? I was looking at packages in the Canaries this morning at a hotel someone told me was a bargain, and the package for a week in May half term was going to be £3k for the 3 of us!

When I started reading your post I was going to suggest Tuscany, but I see you've done that. We also like a mixture of pools and sights, perhaps with some adventure style activities.

How about the area round Dubrovnik ( I have heard Cavtat recommended) or somewhere within travel distance of Barcelona. Alternatively we have friends staying on a lake in the Munich direction and there's quite a lot to do round there (castles, culture, alps etc).

I planned out a trip to the Lake Garda area a few years ago from which Verona and possibly Venice are doable, but we had to cancel due to work.

I think the more airports there are the cheaper the flights, hence greek & spanish islands can be dearer than Italy where there are tons of flight possibilities.

this isnt great for you, having done Malaga, but while other people are scanning this thread my top tip would be Padre Aviles in southern spain.
www.padre-aviles.com/

Thanks both. Padre Aviles does look good, if a bit over budget in school summer holidays.

Suttonmum, I've always wanted to visit the lakes area in Italy. What sort of places were you looking at staying in when you planned your trip?

What about Yelloh! Campsites? Anyone been to one?

What about Yelloh! Campsites? Anyone been to one?

Ok so I know this isn't exactly what you asked for but thought it worth sharing that we have 2 teens and one nearly teen. they loved going to Rome. Loads to do, they enjoyed the night life and a few day trips out to the sea. we stayed in an appartment right in the centre but on a quiet square. Their best holiday ever was Florida keys. never gets over 100 degrees, loads of outdoors stuff to do and near to Miami that you can drive down. did an exciting trip into the everglades and we found it a great holiday too.

We were going to do Eurocamp style mobile, but that was couple of years ago, as we enjoyed the Norcenni Girasole campsite in Tuscany.

There was interesting article in Guardian travel this am on Italian Lakes on a budget which is on front page of their online travel section which made me think about it again for next year.

We have also used Frommers "with your family" guidebooks in Italy and Croatia and found them v. useful, as there's a lack of info re kids in most guibooks. Search for Frommer Italy Family on Amazon.

I'll let you know when we get back - we're off to Italy with 3 dc aged 9, 11 and 13 in the morning. It was their idea.

We're staying in a villa (with its own pool) just outside Sorrento for a week, which will allow us to visit Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius, Naples, Herculaneum, and have a boat trip (dh and I dive, dc snorkel). Then we go to Rome for 5 days.

We don't really feel the need for other families/children about, though if we're lucky ds will find some boys to kick a ball around with! I think as there's three of them, they knock along quite happily together.

We have never done a package, just don't fancy it. Our flights were c.£1100 for the five of us, villa is £800 for the week, Rome b&b is £750 for 5 days, so (before food - and I'm fairly happy to self cater some of he time, I like trying out local stuff and wine), car hire is £400 for the week, the total upfront cost is just slightly over £3k for five of us for nearly 2 weeks.

Lots of museums, ancient sites etc are free to all EU children, and we picnic for lunches. Our flights would also be more expensive as we're flying from Glasgow, and the pool pushed the price up a bit. We've not been abroad for 3 years (realise how lucky we are to go at all!!) and it's very exciting!!

I also thought Barcelona (up the coast near Sitges is nice, although there are beaches right in the city) or Sorrento. Would love to take them to Herculaneum/Pompeii etc

We had an amazing holiday to Barcelona with our three last year, best family holiday we've had. Brilliant mix of things to do which appealed to all of us!

This year we are going to the Dordogne. First time we've done non-beachy but there is lots to do (Lascaux caves, chateaux, canoeing on the river etc) and we have a pool at our gite. I'm excited!