City break then a closeby 'resort' stay (with teens)

[slingthegin]

Looking for holiday ideas with teen DC (15/16) for next May HT or Summer.

Thinking of a city break, then a few days relaxing at a nice hotel/villa with beach or pool complex afterwards which we could easily transfer to. All inclusive would be a bonus (for me, as we are usually campers).

Does such a thing exist?

Barcelona for your city break then down to Salou?
You can get the train down to Salou for a pretty reasonable price (about €20 if memory serves me right) and takes about an hour.

Salou has a huge theme park - portaventura, a lovely beach etc. It’s nice.

Thank you maternity. DH and I went to Barcelona a few years back and think it would be a good city to take teens too. I'll check out Salou.

Sun Gardens Dubrovnik’s excellent for teens. There are sports academies with summer camps for ages 7-15 years in football, swimming, tennis, basketball and water polo – or a mixture of all. There's also a sports complex, plus watersports on the private pebble beach. Teens have their own ‘hangout’ area and organised age appropriate activities. www.dubrovniksungardens.com/en/resort-experience/experience/marco-polo-kids-club/list/commanders-hideaway-club

Cape Sounio is another good option. It’s only a few miles out of Athens and has a teens club for 13-17yos and activities including tennis, cycling, volleyball, mini soccer etc.

Valencia and then fly over to Menorca or Majorca for the beaches? Did this for our honeymoon, it was great!

I was going to suggest Barcelona and Salou too. In theory, Salou would be ideal for your dcs ages as there's a few theme parks and waterparks plus AI galore

I also came to suggest Barcelona and Salou.

We're going in May and staying at Sanguli Salou, but there's heaps of accommodation to choose from.

Barcelona is a fab place as is Rome but I would go May half term as the temperature in July/Aug for sight seeing can be extremely uncomfortable and oppressive.

Palma is a great city, few days there then you have the pick of Mallorcan resorts.

I was going to suggest Palma but a pp beat me to it!

Theres beautiful cities and resorts in Croatia too, I'd choose dubrovnik or split as the city breaks (been to both, I think I personally preferred Split) and you can then go on boat trips to other islands or areas for a more chilled holiday :)

Thanks for all the suggestions. Having had a quick look, Salou with Barcelona looks a definite contender but we have been to the city before (though without DC). Going to check out Palma and the Croatia cities mentioned too. May well be that Barcelona has best city options for our teens.

Granada, Seville or Malaga and then somewhere on the Costa del Sol would also be an option.

Plenty of choice in hotels with everything from bargain basement to the Ikos Andalusia which opens in May 2020.

Valencia is lovely then along to one of the beach resorts on that coast, Javea, Calpe, Denia, Moraira are all about an hour away.

Malaga is a very much underrated city, I love it there

Nice and then a country villa nearby?

We are going to Milan for 2 nights then down to Lake Como & Garda

Won't your 15/16 yr old be mid GCSE's at May HT?

sansou no, I've got one in year 10, one in yr 12. May HT 2021 will be the half-term full of revision sessions.

Thanks for all the additional ideas. Milan with Como is a definite contender (went to Garda last year and loved in) or Croatia.

What about Stockholm, then the Stockholm archipelago?
Or if you don't mind the heat, Athens and Santorini.
I had a little Croatian Island plan (never done it) - fly into Dubrovnik, couple of days, drive to Korcula Island for a week, then ferry to Split, couple of days and fly out of there, you could make it longer by adding another island after Korcula like Hvar or Brac.

@slingthegin
Envy you! Y11 is taking over our usual holiday plans.

Athens then down to Kalamata, 2.5 hours easy drive or you can get the bus. Huge beach front with lots to do. Or go further south to Stoupa.

Lisbon and then Cascais or Estoril. Or lots of other places on Atlantic coast.

Barcelona and then La Pineda, it's not far from Salou. We've stayed AI in Estival Park there quite a few times, you can also get unlimited access to the Aquopolis water park which is a 5 minute walk away. Lovely spa, day and night activities, tennis courts, and very close to the lovely beach. Also very reasonably priced.

Also Gran Palas Hotel is beautiful but the last time we went they didn't offer AI. It may have changed - this was 2 years ago.

Really love La Pineda, it's beautiful. Very popular with the Spanish too - I always think that's a good sign.