Where to holiday in Northern Europe?

[peachcake]

Hi,

I am looking for some advice as to where to holiday this summer in Northern Europe?

We would really like to go further South but cannot afford the cost of flights for our family of 6 (4 of which would be classed as adults) so it needs to be a ferry across to France then driving the rest of the way.

The problem is we don't know where to start with choosing a destination, we could go to France, Belgium, Holland or Germany! We aren't too fussy on accommodation types either.

The question is can anyone recommend a destination that is quite lively for the older kids, that is coastal with somewhere nice to take a stroll in the evening for a touch of shopping, eating out and watching the world go by! Kind of like the atmosphere you get in Spain, Italy and Greece I suppose! We want to feel like we are abroad. We have been to northern France before but other than Paris it somehow felt a bit too rural and quiet.

Any advice would be most welcome.

The coastal towns of Western Brittany are a bit more lively. St Malo springs to mind on the northern coast too. I cannot see how this will be cheaper than Easy Jet to Spain though. France is not cheap! The ferry costs are quite high too but you could camp in Brittany, eg Carnac area, or have a static caravan. Quimper is a lovely town as is Vannes. There are larger towns further South.

I love Texel (pronounced 'Tessel') which is an island about an hour north of Amsterdam. As in the UK, the weather can be a bit hit and miss, but it's a great place for a holiday. It's easy to take the car over on the ferry from Den Helder on the mainland.