Family holiday Europe with teens

[Daddylonglegs1965]

Suggestions in Europe for a family holiday with teens (ages 15 and 16 one male one female) approx 10-12 nights budget 2 - 4K in summer July/Aug school hols please. We don’t want to sleep on a double sofa bed and obviously no good Inappropriate for the teens.

Thinking about somewhere in Europe with a decent sized accommodation with the correct bed set up, nice restaurants and bars nearby.

Can anyone recommend anywhere resort accommodation that might work for our family hols.

Was also wondering about a weeks cruise but it’s difficult to price it up when you have never done one before and thought we may need to cabins as my son is over 6ft.

We stayed in a Centre Parcs in the Netherlands last year. De Eemhof. It's quite close to Amsterdam itself, and also Utrecht (lovely Uni city) and the Zyder Zee inner causeway (we drove over that to get there from Medemblik where we had been for an event). (DH also wanted to explore Almere, as a city that was designed from bare fields in the 1970s' - the excitement - but it was also a big sporting city so DD had a great time buying lots of sports gear there). We rented a car in AMS on arrival, spent a day in Utrecht, a day in AMS city itself (and could have easily done at least 1 more day) and also relaxed in CP itself. There were boats to rent there, and bicycles (DH enjoyed both walking and cycling from De Eemhof along the dyke beside the sea that is now a lake). Netherlands was a very relaxed country too.

DD was 13 while we were there, so younger than yours, but we felt we could give her great freedom there. CP itself is a little tired and dated compared to Sherwood or Longleat (the ones we've been to in the UK) but accommodation was fine and we had a nice cabin right over a lake with lots of interesting wildlife to watch from the deck.

But it was also the first time we'd left the CP site when we stayed there - there are the usual activities (some paid, swimming is free) but as we had done a lot of those before, we got out and explored the country instead. But there were still activities to do on site and that we could let DD head off to herself too.

We had liked the look of some of the other CP sites, but picked DE because of its proximity to other cities. And we had been up north for our 1st week.

Driving in Neth was really easy - I normally leave the continental driving to DH and just do one journey to be able to if there's an emergency but I did loads on this trip. We flew in and rented a car because it worked well for us, but there is also a ferry if you wanted to bring your own car and lots from the UK had done that for the event.

Food was good, both eating out and supermarkets. Beer was good. Lots of low and no alcohol beers available in pubs. We ate in a Michelin Bib restaurant 1 night in Medemblik, which was divine, and cost us the same as a very ordinary meal back home (€50 for a 6 course tasting menu including the wines!!). We BBQed in CP a lot as that suits us but there was plenty of places to eat that looked fine there, and we had also eaten out when on our city visits.

Amsterdam is lovely - there is so much history. The canal boat trips are great to do for 90 minutes or so to get your bearings but not so long that teens should be completely bored. Book the Anne Frank house in advance - we didn't get there this time (we'd been before but had hoped to bring DD this trip as she hadn't been). There are art galleries, sports grounds, Heinekin factory tour....all sorts. And some interesting shopping too, which might keep teens interested.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think i am going slowly mad this year. I think I may have narrowed it down to s/c in Lagos but can’t decide on an apartment and worried the DC might be hard work if no activities on offer and if they don’t meet other kids similar ages. A hotel or apartment in Menorca (but Can’t decide where and worried Menorca might be aimed more specifically aimed at much younger kids? Or Greece but can’t decide Exactly where? Or where we went last year which would suit DH down to the ground.
DH wants to go back to an apart hotel in the Algarve that we have stayed at twice already. It worked well for us all the activities are mixed aged (children to adults) and our two are both kind and good natured but last year the reps were a getting a bit awkward and wasn’t sure if our DC could do this due to insurance and asking if we were definitely sure they were both under 16 which they were last year.

Anyone

Look are Pierre et Vacances which has sites throughout Europe, cheaper if you can avoid early August, many with activities on site or close by or Adagio aparthotels.

We’re going to camping Roma this year. Went about 10 years ago when kids were little.
We are flying easy jet. Get train and bus to site.
Time by the pool and days out sightseeing in Rome.
We are coming home with young son and granddaughter and leaving the older ones to go exploring around Italy.

Sightseeing in Rome would be lovely but end of April is more than hot enough for me for this. Have been to Rome 3 times want something more relaxing.

My sister in law was looking for summer and everywhere is so expensive this year.
I had a look and found cheap flights to Malta.
I’ve been 3 times and really enjoyed it. Sightseeing and relaxing.

Thanks I have been to Malta before end of June and Sept but again couldn’t face the heat in July/August.

Sorry Daddy for jumping on your thread - as we discussed previously we have similar requirements despite different ages children. I wanted to ask those who recommended Holland CP @CalleighDoodle and @BiddyPop if you've been in August and what the weather is like? I'm aware I can google to find the average but it's no substitute for experience imo

We were there in the european heat wave last July so when they closed Schipol airport as the jet fuel was evaporating at 38 degrees, it was closer to 40 where we were. But the CP was much cooler when we got there - mid 20s.

Thinking between Menorca, Greece or Algarve again but can’t decide on a resort or accommodation?

Where are you flying from @Daddylonglegs1965 ? Have you tried the website On The Beach? I find it good for searching multiple destinations, you can set the parameters and there is lots of info to hand - I am
Fussy about flight times and some websites make you wade thru loads of pages to find the flight times!

It would be either Edinburgh Glasgow Newcastle or Manchester.

We are the opposite end - ideally Luton or Heathrow; Gatwick or Birmingham at a push.

I'm strongly tempted by Bordeaux, but finding the Costa Del Sol (Malaga or similar) to be incredibly good value in August.

Hi Daddylonglegs

We are thinking about the Algarve. Where is the aparthotel you stayed in and would you recommend?

We are looking for something like that.

Thanks

If you look on Jet2 for either the Falesia Mar or Falesia Garden both use the same facilities (pool, reception, bar, breakfast area). Access down to some steps to a lovely public beach (it is a steep walk back though but they have benches to rest). They have low key, informal mixed age activities football, yoga, water polo, darts, archery on throughout the day but no pressure to join in. Yes I would recommend and It is likely that we will end up back there again lol. The resort is Olhos D Agua which isn’t quite as nice as Carvoeiro, Alvor or Lagos but this hotel more than makes up for it, fabulous views from the pool area, lovely breakfast lots of choices, rooms spacious. The Garden rooms have been refurbed the Mar rooms are dated and haven’t been refurbed but the views from the Mar are nicer. The rooms are one bedroomed with children’s beds on the L shaped sofa which was fine for our tall 15 year old last year.

Thought you might be interested in this one in Faro. rimondigrandresort.gr their 'family rooms' feature two separate bedrooms. A week AI (flying from London) with BA direct is £2300 for the 4 of us!

This is so hard to find as I've been looking for this too! A few suggestions I found: Aqua Paradise in Bulgaria has 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartments with a massive waterpark next door. Or somewhere like Marriott Marbella which do lovely large apartments with communal pools and near to the town/beach. A lot of hotels in Turkey do two bedroom rooms too - Royal Alhambra Palace is one.