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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Anyone else get anxious about booking the family hols as it's SO important??

34 replies

Erebus · 17/01/2014 11:43

What I mean is, there's so much invested in Getting It Right, so much money, such valuable annual leave that you get all worried about committing to a holiday? For us as a family, we get about 2 weeks a year off together; otherwise we're tag-teaming it to cover school holidays.

Until about 3 years ago, we used to camp with another family, but a) the other family got less committed (DH could somehow never find the time...) and b), the Biggie- the weather, oh, the weather! We finally gave up 3 'summers' ago after a week in north Devon where it rained feet. SO since then, we've gone abroad to a villa.

On the first trip, we arrived at Palma, late, and drove through the night to Pollensa, found the villa, air-con on, slept. The following morning we opened the shutters- to be greeted by wall to wall bright sunshine and our glittering pool. Didn't see a cloud all week, temperatures up in the high 20s to mid 30s, interesting things to see relatively nearby, boys in the pool constantly- it was fabulous. And yes, cost £2800 all up. Last year it was a similar villa in the Algarve- very nice but I'd say the boys (12 & 14) didn't spend quite as much time in the pool as the price might have warranted! The weather was good but not truly amazing and sometimes the breeze was a bit chill. Again, £3000 ish.

So, this year, what to do that'll be fab, amazing, meet everyone's requirements but won't break the bank??! Don't ask for much, do I??

I am becoming anxious trying to decide, and I don't know enough stuff. I talk to people who say (And I'm making the names up!) 'Ah, Naxos, you need to avoid the Playa Del Pino end and head beyond the Frexit lighthouse bit", and "I wouldn't go there in July!" and I go - How do you know that sort of thing?? What if I book the wrong end?

You'd probably need to know that we're 'special'. My family don't 'do' other people Grin. They're hopeless, so resort hotels with nightly entertainment? No. Actually talking to other people? No. And hence why the ££ private villas! Admittedly, we have a low tolerance of other people's inconsideration, the karaoke, shouting and shrieking half the night and rolling hangovers of the next day don't do it for us. We 'do' kulcha as in there's always a castle/museum/Old Town/gallery visit, usually a decent length hike, but we like to have a pool to lounge around quietly, pinot in hand, at the end of it; so what fits that bill?! I'd like a pool and would happily 'share' a pool among a few other villas or apartments, but DH has come up with.... hiking in Switzerland! This idea 'has legs' as it were, though I think the hol he's come up with would be full of the sort of late middle aged couples we'll be 10 years hence, and I doubt there'll be any teenagers along (not that mine would talk to them if there were!). Personally I'd love that, too, but I don't think teenagers 'do' scenery!

Wish I knew! I need someone to say 'Here, here's the holiday for you! The sun will shine, the poolwater will be clear and warm, the scenery will be fab, the culture accessible, it'll all cost £1500 and you'll all be so Happeeee!'

Whine over.

OP posts:
3catsandcounting · 25/01/2014 12:41

ssd Thing is, my DD16 and DS14 are pretty quiet, would hate teen clubs also, but like to be entertained/amused. I don't really know what they want, that's half the problem!! Last year we went to Nerja; it was actually 30 mins walk into town, lovely villa and pool but a bit out of the way. We went to the Caves (good!) and DS and DH played tennis at the club down the road in the evening, avoided the packed beach and found some cute coves to snorkel. We had a car and went to some nice lakes etc but on the whole, it was a bit quiet for them. We booked our villa through Gill Johnson, brilliant value and service. There was a small holiday village down the road called El Capistrano which looked lovely; apartments spread over a wide area with shop, bar, restaurant and pool; it all seemed pretty independent and anonymous (just how we like it!) Nit really done any other Spanish resorts. How you get the balance of plenty to do but not having to be in a busy resort, I don't know!!
Barcelona is something we looked at too; maybe based at small coastal resort and travel in for a day or so?
Lake Garda is looking hopeful for us this year; watersports galore; just need to find somewhere to stay where the kids can go off and play tennis/table tennis/pool etc on-site (and I can be left alone with my kindle and wine for a bit!!)

3catsandcounting · 25/01/2014 12:43

ssd. Your comment made me laugh - our families would get on fine - not say a bloody word to each other all holiday!! :)

LovelyMarchHare · 25/01/2014 13:02

Malaga is a real nice city. Lovely vibe. Often overlooked as people fly in and then go to a resort but I loved it.

3catsandcounting · 25/01/2014 13:51

lovely We had a day in Malaga at the end of our Nerja hol - loved it! It was a Sunday and really quiet, even in August. DD wanted to go to the Picasso museum which we all enjoyed (apart from DS14 who lost the will to live in 10 mins - "it's all rubbish, even I could do better than that". In an audible voice Blush I tried to explain concept and form but to no avail - "it's still rubbish". Malaga is a beautiful city and we'll worth a visit.

Waswondering · 25/01/2014 14:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ssd · 25/01/2014 21:37

my trouble is my 2 are very very competitive and the oldest one doesn't have much time for the youngest one, its hard going, we've been to holidays with tennis, sports and honestly its a nightmare, they are both sporty but it always ends in a fight here....

am surprised Malaga is lovely, have heard horror stories of there but I guess it all depends where you go..

can anyone recommend any nice beachy resorts near Barcelona, I seen some nice places but amn't sure...

3catsandcounting · 26/01/2014 11:06

ssd I'd start a new 'Barcelona ' thread. I've never been but would love to; and remember googling all the nearby resorts last year, so difficult! BTW my eldest has little time for her younger brother; apparently he's a weirdo.

Creamycoolerwithcream · 26/01/2014 11:06

Coma Ruga which is about a 50 minute drive from Barcelona is nice. It's very Spanish, there is a promenade for people watching in the evening and lots of Spanish people stayed there.

ssd · 26/01/2014 12:26

thanks x

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