Finding the right holiday for family with 10yo and 8yo

[Shinksy]

Just returned from another 'not quite right' holiday that cost a fortune in the summer holidays and am at a loss as to how to find the right family break that suits us all for next yr.

What does anyone else do?

We have just done aparthotel / half board - too noisy and busy

Last year did self catering - too lonely for kids (and hard work for me!)

Have previously used fantastic cottage clusters as found on babyfriendly bolt holes or tots to travel but as no longer have 'baby' or 'tot' these dont quite work. Are there a similar websites for the next age group up? Seems the only options are eurocamp or AI.

Advice from those who have figured it out gratefully received.

It depends where you like going. We're not really into hot countries with lots of sunbathing by the pool. Instead we prefer more active holidays with lots of day trips and sight seeing. We typically stay in a wooden lodge/cabin at holiday parks similar to Center Parcs where you can hire bikes, do archery etc... We like Pierre et Vacances villages in France and Landal parks.

If you find a good website for clusters of cottages for older kids let me know! I just search HomeAway and gites de France looking out for multiple rentals from the same owner, then for features like a games room, trampoline or bikes to borrow, but it's very labourious. The best we've stayed in was Les Hiboux near Crezieres in Poitou-Charente. It's got a really good games room as well as pool, trampoline and bikes and the layout of the garden makes for easy socialising for kids but not feeling on top of the other gites. Highly recommended except that it's a bit in the middle of nowhere -most major attractions are a hour's drive away. There are more minor things locally though and my kids never wanted to leave the premises anyway.

Op anything with a pool surely and other dc any campsite or self-catering in town or beach

OP said the aparthotel was too noisy and busy, so I'm guessing campsites will be too. And my kids aren't kept happy for more than a couple of hours by a pool.

So you don't want to self cater (too hard work for you). Your kids want the opportunity to meet other kids. You want something that's not too busy or noisy.

What about an activity type holiday - something like Centre Parcs, Forest Holidays, Neilson, Club Med, etc? Those are all different price points, depending on where you go and when (CP has European ones as well as in the UK), and you'd have the option of eating in the restaurants on site if you don't want to cook.

I've got two kids similar age to yours and the older they get the better active breaks are. TBH, they aren't that bothered about other kids really. DS2 tends to play with other kids in the pool, DS1 loves to go away with a friend or two, but otherwise isn't bothered, but biking, hiking, swimming, watersports - all good - and this year (aged 10 and 7), doing active holidays has suddenly become a great solution for us.

Oysterhaven activity centre - Kinsale Ireland

Thanks to all for thoughts. Will look at suggestions - great to know what others do, agree with the suggestion that other kids aren't always that important if there is plenty to do.

As 'just another m u' suggests, was trying to avoid campsites for the same reason as the aparthotel - busy and noisy July/August and the ideal would be to find age friendly cluster cottages ... with restaurants nearby (the impossible dream!).

btw - havent found it abroad yet, but West Charleton Grange in Kingsbridge, Devon definitely offered the cluster cottage experience in the UK for younger and older kids.

the search continues...

Depends on your budget but we looked recently for an activity guided holiday in Canada. It looked amazing, camping with other families, doing outdoor things and experiencing a different country.

DD unfortunately is not keen on changing locations each day and I found the idea of camping for 10 days too much. So we are back to AI. It see the hotel as a base, booking lots of trips or organising it ourselves with a rental car while DD has the safety of a fixed location and the pool to calm down.