Help! 14 and 9 year old - where to go?

[mrsoverall2]

I'm looking at holidays to suit us all and I'm all at sea
I'd like a villa with pool but don't want to cook all week, which is what would happen
DH wants AI hotel where he doesn't have to drive but at the same time doesn't like too British- heavy a place - he hated Benidorm and Majorca (can't remember resort but a big and English heavy one - pre kids he hated this )
Kids want busy and lively but this could be activities and sports and days out rather than stuff in hotel.
Our last holiday was Italy lakes- half board but room was way too small and kids wanted more action than our small hotel had. Although DS1 did get a football match going which was cool.
Any cool ideas for about £3k max? I'm aware this is a very first world problem but hope that being on the holidays area, I'll hear from those with amazing holidays to share!
Back up option is Airbnb here and save for a bigger holiday next year with more money ! Thanks all 🙏

[Funf]

Cruise but avoid P&O

[FawnFrenchieMum]

We like AI on the Greek Islands as we don’t like all English resorts. We tend to try and find an AI that has several pools and a couple of restaurants. Means the kids can use the ‘fun/entertainment’ pool but we can also use the smaller / quoted pools.
Villas are lovely but my kids wanted to find friends and I hated having to think about what we were eating every day, even just having to make sure we had enough bread, milk, butter etc. Didn’t feel like as much of a holiday.
Blue Lagoon resort in Kos ticked all our boxes. We’ve just booked for Stella Villages / Palace for this year but obviously haven’t been yet.

[mrsoverall2]

Greece sounds great but I couldn't handle the summer temperatures I don't think.
Cruise could be an idea but I'd not get one for our budget I don't think
I'm mid argument about holidays being pointless with kids with DH now (d for dick) anyway so feel like I'll be better off going alone somewhere at this very minute

[mrsoverall2]

Sorry. What a misery post. I'm just so angry that we've gone from looking at places to "what's the point" in 10 minutes

[Baxdream]

What about center Parcs or a ski holiday instead?
I think the difference in ages makes it difficult to please everyone. I understand where your husband is coming from and I can't see a 14 year old being entertained at an AI resort

[Funf]

Just keep an eye on cruise cots as some bargains about but while P&O can be cheap I feel its a better on the other ships

[gogohm]

Look at TUI magic life. Sports etc included in ai, we spent nothing at the hotel really was ai. I paid £550 a person but this wasn't in school holidays

[mrsoverall2]

Thanks all. It's so helpful to know this stuff as we've got no clue. Did CP in Germany that was good but variable weather. I'd like some sun but I'm very much too hot very easily (peri menopause!)

[Sausagis]

Is your 14 year old double vax'd? I'm struggling as over 12 most countries require it, or France want them to test daily.

(I'm triple vax, just not got kids done yet)

[CJay81]

You'll struggle to find an AI at that price in the Sunmer holidays. We are staying at a very basic one in Greece(Tui Suneo) and even that is a just over 3k in the Summer hols. Would one of the Euro camp sites be better, you'd have to eat out if you don't want to cook but there is plenty of activities for the kids.

[emmathedilemma]

Mark Warner or Neilsons Beachclub might keep everyone happy but unless you've got unusual school holiday dates you're looking at more like £1500 per person but all activities are included and if you're lucky you'll hardly see the kids! ;)

[mrsoverall2]

@Sausagis yes he is vaxxed already thankfully
@CJay81 - budget may be an issue yes I see too
I'm tempted to not bother at all and just do couple weekends but for the 14 year old saying he wants a week away
I've found an apartment on the sea in Portugal plus flights for £2300 but that means them £700 has to do food and I'd like at least some meals out
I'm horribly aware this is a bit awful to even discuss with the shit going on elsewhere too
Is there any sense in waiting for something last minute i wonder ? DH and I had some great bargains years ago. Sigh. Those days seem gone!

[captainflash]

Have you looked on EasyJet holidays?
I have found AI for our family of 5 in August for around £3k. That’s including transfers and bags.
There’s a bit of choice

[jocktamsonsbairn]

What about a lovely villa in a resort? We go to Roda in Corfu abd this villa is amazing. It's set back off a quiet street off the Main Street to the beach so quiet and private but 2 mins walk to bars and restaurants as well as the Sandy beach. Lots going on for families but without 'in your face' activities abd a nice mix of nationalities. There is the odd British bar but lots of others catering fir all tastes. Lovely restaurants on the beach and the owners have one of the best restaurants in the village. You wouldn't need to cook but maybe just provide breakfast by the pool! Lots for kids as well and good bus service minutes from the villa.

roda-park-villa.business.site

[MySaladDaysAreGone]

F

[2catsand2kids]

You could absolutely do a cruise with that budget if you fancied it. We haven’t done one before but we’ve just booked one for next year around the Greek islands as it was better value than other holiday options. We’re going with royal Caribbean as that was recommended with children. If you look on their website you can see all the options out you could contact a cruise travel agent to talk through the options (such as cruise 118 or Iglu cruise). I just had a quick look and you could do Northern Europe and Scandinavia for around 2k but you’d have to add flights to that.

[rookiemere]

I'd go French or Austrian Alps, Morzine is good. Lots of outdoor sports, free access to the outdoor pool, lifts and buses and discounts on water inflatable course and other things.

You should be able to get reasonably priced flights to Geneva and I was looking myself and found quite a few two bedroomed apartments for under £1000. You could either get transfers - popular resort so if you come at the weekend there may be cheap scheduled ones, or hire a car - if doing that the sooner you book it the better price wise.

As you have the apartment you can self cater most meals, but eating in the centre shouldn't be too expensive.

Temperature wise it's not likely to be scorchio.