Summer sun 2015 for less than 3k - possible?

[hallamoo]

Just that really. Have 4DC, have never taken them abroad, we really want to go somewhere hot next summer, but I don't know where to start looking!

Ideally we'd like a self catering apartment to sleep 6, with a pool (or on a complex of apartments with a pool), nearish to a beach, but doesn't have to be on our doorstep, would ideally like to be close to restaurants etc, but would also consider somewhere more rural.

So, is all that possible for under 3k in Aug 2015?

I found the algarve to be the cheapest when I was looking for this summer.
Look for flights to Faro with a budget airline.
There is lots of sc property available.
The beaches are really lovely and the people love kids.

Easily doable!

Jet 2 flights are already released for next summer so I would recommend a look at these. Our already booked school summer holiday 2015 flights to Barcelona were just over £100 each return. Our apartment rental for a week is £850 for a 4 bedroom and we had a very good choice as booking a year in advance.

Barcelona probably not the ideal destination for you as we have no pool and are seeing it primarily as a city/culture break, but I think you should be able to find similar priced breaks across Europe.

Last year I booked easy jet flights to Corsica on the day they came out (in October, had alerting service set up ready) for something obscene like £300 return for five of us. Again Corsica might not be exactly what you are looking for and maybe a difficult place to stay if your French is limited, but it's somewhere I love and did come in under £3k for the week for us all even including car hire - again booked this in October as there tend to be restricted numbers of mpvs available.

I can pm you the details for a very spacious gîte in the south of France which I know is lovely (and very reasonable) if you like.

Hi, love this thread, am also on the hunt. Mysteryfairy, where did you fly to and stay in Corsica? Have heard it is mountainous, hard to drive round? Want an easy life with 2 toddlers. Thanks

We flew from Manchester to Bastia but stayed on the west coast just north of Calvi. Driving is fine, a lot of routes hug the coast so are longer than as the crow flies, but it's a small island so you can get see a lot for relatively short drives. We used the train a couple of times too which I think was pretty inexpensive. We did that as an experience rather than a necessity though.

We're going to the Algarve next week for the last week of the summer holidays. I booked it last week, flights £175 each return with Jet2, a 3 bed villa on a complex with pools, tennis courts etc £450 and the car hire was £150. So around £1200 for the 5 of us for a week. Can't wait!

Do you mind asking who you rented your car through busyboys -that seems really reasonable compared to quotes we got for a car big enough to fit the 5 of us in !

Sorry just seen this. We booked through europcar and made sure that it was a car you could bring back full of petrol. Having said that we've not gone for a massive car as I'm flying out with my mum on Monday and the kids then dh is coming Thursday and also getting a car so we got 2 smaller 5 door cars.

If you want a fab car hire place from faro try Zitauto

Pay in cash- no waiting around, great cars,great prices and fully comp insurance.

You enquire online, they give you a price you say yes and that's it- fill in a fast track form after that and you just turn up with the cash. No credit card taken- petrol is return at the same level you took it.

I go to the Algarve regularly( have a house there) would never use anyone else! ( and no I don't work for them!)