Holiday ideas in August ?

[Pinkpeanut27]

We are a family of 5 kids 8,15,15.
Kids all like totally different things .
I have a budget of 5k and need some ideas.
Main thing is no camping or road trips,also need at least 2 rooms interconnected with a bed each ( kids will not share !) or self catering is fine .
I know we have left it late but dh will not get involved.
I thought Rome and Sorrento would be good or Rome and Lake Gada but availability is poor as they are so popular .

Any suggestions would be great

Try the apartments at Hotel Poiano in Garda. book direct for much cheaper price, about 1900 euros for a three room apartment for ten nights

Flights to Verona with EasyJet and hire a car, or ask hotel to book transfers for you

Can get train into Verona, hotel has shuttle bus to get you into central Garda where you can do boat trips etc also trip on cable car up to Monte Baldo worth doing

Summer in the Alps is lovely and not unbearably hot or crowded like southern France, Spain or Italy.

Look at operators like alpine elements, peak retreats or eurocamp (they have chalets!) for ideas but we've always booked independently and saved ourselves money.

We have decided to do Rome one Easter .
I would love Barcelona but am a bit worried about safety there . Dd was due to go on a school trip there in July but the school were advised to avoid so now they are going to Madrid .
They love city breaks .
We love 2 centre holidays but I’m finding them too expensive.
Nice and Pisa would be lovely . I’m
Nervous about sorting the train though , how do you find details ? Just google?
I also don’t speak French or Italian . Kids speak Spanish so maybe Spain is a good idea . Brilliant ideas as ever

Taffeta sounds perfect off to look

Sporty fool will go and google sounds great as well

Peasandharmoney also a good idea dh and ds1 love the Alps

Just wish kids were entertained so I could sort this all out now ! Getting excited

Trains are really good in Italy.
Barcelona is fab but personally I would avoid in high summer. Last year we went in July and the heat was absolutely stifling too much so for sightseeing.
I would try somewhere with a cooling sea breeze; Algarve - Lagos, Alvor, Carvoeiro. maybe. Or look at a lodge apartment on a campsite?

We have done New York , Miami Beach ,Orlando and Washington in August ,temps were in mid 30’s but there was so much air con everywhere it was actually ok . I’m guessing Europe isn’t as well air conditioned ?

If your DC like tennis or football then Hotel Poiano is ace

Take your own tennis racquets to save on hire charges

Multiple nationalities playing footy every night on floodlit pitch

Taffeta have you stayed st the hotel ? I looked up the reviews and the first page were dreadful ! Also said it’s miles from anywhere so car needed to get down to the lake ? Is this the case . Looks perfect though I was so gutted when I saw the reviews .

Currently I’m thinking
Milan for a few days then the Lakes then ending up for a few nights in Venice
Does that sound mad ? And do you think we cold do it without a car ?

Have you thought about the Italian lakes / Italian Swiss border ? Como / Lugano

I have stayed there yes. Had our best family holiday ever there. Stayed in a hotel room rather than apartment though, DC were 8 & 10.

We had a car and used it a lot - to go to Garda in the evenings, and day trips to Verona, Sirmione, Monte Baldo etc. Also did boat trips on the lake to Salo etc.

Hotel was lovely - we had breakfast only I don’t think supper would be much cup there but we like eating out. We’d typically go out to Garda for an early supper and then be back for 9ish so DS could play footy.

Thanks that’s very helpful

No but it sounds good . Last time we drove to Switzerland from the lakes we had to call it off as it rained so much !!

We're doing the Italian lakes . Have done the same east coast route as you and the dc weren't phased by the weather either.
We're landing in Milan and then staying in como. A few day trips planned to Lugano and a night In Lauterbrunnen to see the Swiss alps. Am not planning to take the dc around Milan. Any particular reason you aren't hiring a car?

I think my kids would love Milan they are very much city kids !
Just don’t like the stress of driving on holiday

You know what mine love the city too! I sort of regret not putting a few nights in . Fair enough re the driving - anything is possible I guess !