Package holiday for people that usually stay on campsites in France

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We normally drive to France for our summer holidays and tend to stay in gites on smaller campsites (Mathevies etc). Next summer for various reasons we can only go away for a week and I’m thinking of booking a package holiday for convenience, and am totally overwhelmed.

We know we don’t want big boozy resorts, or to be stuck in an all inclusive resort in the middle of nowhere. When I look at places like Portugal and Greek Islands I can just see massive overwhelming concrete jungles in the middle of more concrete jungles.

We want somewhere that we could stay in a hotel but also maybe walk to a beach and some nice historic old towns etc. Budget for the week £2500 but might spend a bit more if all inclusive.

Why does it have to be a package? You could book flights and hotel separately and would then stand more chance of getting the type if holiday you want.

This year I found it cheaper to book a package holiday during the summer holidays than to book all the elements separately. We went to Majorca with Jet2, our third holiday with them. I really rate them as a tour operator. Last year we had a brilliant holiday in Sicily in a small family run hotel in a very Italian resort. The old town was pretty and full of character with loads of brilliant restaurants. This was a Tui package.

I know that seasoned travellers sneer at package holidays, but tour operators have upped their game a lot IMO.

Deadbod- I just thought of a package for convenience. I don’t want to hire a car and thought transfers etc would be easier.

Having transfers included is one of the reasons we often do package holidays. We had a 2 hour transfer in Sicily. A taxi would have cost £££££, and there was no way we wanted to hire a car.

LoniceraJaponica- where in Sicily did you go? What was the hotel?

Cefalu, on the north coast. We stayed here
The hotel looks a bit like a modern box, but the rooms were spacious, the aircon and Wi-Fi worked properly and breakfast was included. The owners were lovely - friendly and helpful. The old town is at one end of the beach, and the hotels are along the beach. We were only a 5 minute walk from the old town. It faced West so we enjoyed glorious sunsets while eating our evening meal.

The only negative was that the swimming pool is tiny. Other hotels have larger pools, and if we went back we might stay somewhere with a bigger pool as I am not really a fan of sandy beaches. Although the sea swimming was the best ever. As we were just across the road from the beach we used to leave our stuff by the pool, nip over for a swim, then go back to our sunbeds by the pool.

It is very Italian, and not at all "Brits abroad". I just adore Italy and just love being able to go out in the evening, enjoy a glass or two of wine/Aperol spritz then have a delicious meal. That holiday ticked all the right boxes for us.

Have a look at Ozadi Tavira Hotel in Portugal

Or Sissi in Crete, or anywhere on Lake Garda.

It takes just 35 minutes from Farro airport and we booked transfers with Sunline.
www.sunlinetransfers.com/ozadi-tavira-hotel
Ozadi offers its guests free transport to Cabanas beach throughout the day, including the boat to the island. And you can book beach huts and sunbeds in advance at the hotel reception.

Lonicera that sounds lovely, I'll be having a look at Jet2.

Just for the record I am capable of booking travel arrangements piecemeal. So far this year I have booked cheap flights, transfers and accommodation to Lanzarote, cheap flights and accommodation to Paris and a package to Majorca (because it was cheaper and easier to do it this way).

Deadbod the Cefalu holiday was with Tui (Thomsons). We have stayed in some pretty upmarket hotels with both Jet2 and Thomsons/Tui in lovely locations.

We know what we like, and avoid the pile it high, sell 'em cheap, all inclusive, kids go free type of holiday. Now that DD has left school we can even avoid high season.

Ibiza, the quiet side of the island around Ibiza town. Lovely.

Jet2 are fantastic. Much better than the others and usually good value

Thank you for the recommendations.