Ideas please for a UK Holiday end of Aug with three 17 yr olds!

[triplets]

Hi, my son will be coming home on leave from the Army mid Aug and he will be in need of some R&R!! Mind you I am too! Kids would like to go abroad but we just don't have the money, priced up flights today to Palma and they came out at £1,700!! Then there is accommodation, transfers,food etc. So I am thinking that for the price of the flights I could get a very nice holiday here, and hopefully some good weather! Any ideas, need to have lots of easy access for them to go off by themselves, would like to be in a resort with lots to do but not too tacky!! Center Parcs is too expensive, would love somewhere with our own hot tub as we all love them, somewhere we could possibly get to by train as my husband has been recently diagnosed with Parkinsons and long drives get difficult but we will drive if necessary. We live in Kent, would travel as far as Somerset, Yorkshire, we love Norfolk........don`t want to be too remote, like to be able to go to pubs/cafes/cinema etc. Something abit diff/quirky would be nice! Looking forward to your suggestions! Thank you.

Hi Triplets, how's things? We've chatted before (my DM had Parkinson's, so I know how difficult travel can be!)
My DCs are 15 & 17 and I looked at some lodges with hot tubs around Derbyshire (Darwin Country Park) and just outside York (Griffon Forest). Neither were too remote but I don't know how close to train stations they are.
The only place I can recommend is Ribby Hall (I live down the road!)
It's between Preston & Blackpool (but far enough away not to be involved!) Quite rural, but good bus and train links into town; loads to do for teens on site, nice lodges, good bars/restaurants etc, swimming and sports. All fairly flat and accessible too! Don't know what prices are like - have a google!

Hi 3cats! Hows you? Thanks for the suggestions will go and have a google!

Newcastle.

You can go to Bamburgh by train, Alnwick gardens are FAB, the sea's bracing but lovely at Tynemouth - easy travel on the Metro, huge shopping centre, massive nightlife for the bairns while you and DH enjoy the arts, cinema, theatre, opera, Jesmond Dene ...

If you took the car you could also go to Durham (beautiful) and York - the minster is fab, and also the Jorvik museum is terrific even for army lads.

I really like Bournemouth. It's quite cool these days. We had a large flat there.

Whitby?

www.westwoodlodge.co.uk

Tenby . Went as a kid, a teen a now as an adult i take DS. Loads to do, lively bars and restaurants, great beaches ...
Try FBM holidays for a cottage.
Chester is good - access to Liverpool Manchester Chester Zoo Alton Towers ...

Have you tried European Centre Parcs? We are going to one of the Parcs in Belgium for a week at the end of August, and it's less than half the price of the UK Centre Parcs for the same week. We have also used Tesco Clubcard vouchers towards Eurotunnel Crossing which bought the travel cost down to less than £100.

Hi and thank you all for your replies. We have been up to Durham several times as my brother lives there, done quite a lot in that area. We have been to CP in Holland about 5 years ago and agree its much cheaper than here and was very good. I will look at it again as a possibility. I keep being drawn to the Norfolk area, the idea of only a 4 hour journey appeals and there is such a lot of Norfolk I haven`t seen, really only been on the Broads a few times which is something we have all enjoyed. Another annoying problem I have atm is I have foot pain which so far is undiagnosed! In need of a rest!

I would see if you can find a place with an inside pool as well as a hot tub. Maybe call the local tourist board office in some of the areas of Norfolk you are interested in?

I still think you should look at Cheshire! Chester itself is reason enough to visit, without taking in to account Manchester, Liverpool etc

How about edinburgh? If you time it right, the fringe will be on. Loads for teens to see and do. You could hire a house at North Berwick or somewhere else by the beach and get the train up. Or stay in glasgow and train it over.

Hi I think because of my dh we had better not drive more than 3/4 hours, he isn`t too good atm. :( We see the consultant in 2 weeks and are hoping to change his medication. So think we will still concentrate on Norfolk/Suffolk. Thank you for our help. x

Have you looked at jet2 holidays? I've just done a quick search for four adults, 24th August, one week Majorca all inclusive and the four of you come in at under 2k. If all inclusive you won't spend much at all- we only take about £100! Thers no way I'd pay £1000 for a UK holiday as we have always managed to get all inclusive one week abroad for under £1800 even in school Holidays. Majorca is great for older teenagers too.

Could you drive over to France - Northern France can be pleasant weather wise , either Eurocamp, Centreparcs or P and V , perhaps near Boulogne or Le Touquet.

If you live in Kent get the eurostar (from Ashford or ebbsfleet if you're it driving) or go through the tunnel at folkestone. There are eurocamp places very close to Calais so the driving will be minimal.

*not driving

Buttercups there are 5 of us, we have 17yr old triplets and that the problem as we need three bedrooms, we have g/b/b! Travel insurance is a nightmare as my dh has 2 serious illness`s. He is currently in remission for cancer. We desperately need a break. It just seems less stressful and easier to fly somewhere, I have been offered an apartment in Majorca for £900 for 10 nights which for Aug is pretty good, but the flights are horrendous if you want decent flying times which we do. Must be something! Thank you all for looking. x

Just looked at jet2, do they only fly from the north?