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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Summer Holiday - where the hell can we go that isn't going to be unbearably hot

40 replies

TerriblyStill · 25/03/2022 19:04

Absolutely desperate for a summer holiday. It will be dh and I and teen ds - 17yrs (poss teen dd too but not necc as she may be travelling with a Uni friend). I'm menopausal and really sensitive to the heat so can't manage somewhere like Greece/Portugal as I think it will be too much. Would like something where there's a few bits for ds to do (he may have a friend with him). Just no idea what to do which will suit everyone's needs. Don't mind where we go. Instead of being something to look forward to it's just becoming a massive headache.
Realise this is a hugely #firstworldproblem but if anyone has any ideas that would be great. Thanks

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 26/03/2022 00:21

Sweden. Norway, Iceland, North East Canada or South Africa.

TerriblyStill · 26/03/2022 02:33

Brilliant! Thanks so much for all the suggestions, going to have a look around now Smile

OP posts:
Anoooshka · 26/03/2022 02:40

@PiratePetespajamas

Finland! Get a house by a lake (TONS of them). It’ll probably have a sauna, you can swim in the lake. Fishing for the boys? On a similar note, Copenhagen also lovely and lots to do - but Finland would be more restful!
The lake district (?) in Finland is gorgeous.

And what about Stockholm? That's not too hot in the summer. Iceland too.

Silkierabbit · 26/03/2022 04:23

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, can all work well though in Scandinavia its best to check where activities are in advance and book accommodation after that as things can be far apart. Norway esp round fjords is stunningly beautiful though very pricey. Finland and Sweden we found cheaper - preferred Finland to Sweden. When we did Finland in summer we did brown bears in the wild staying at Arola Bears where also get to canoe (previously could go to Russia too but maybe skip that one Grin), you stay in a cabin with sauna by river, also did whitewater rafting, beach at Oulu, summer toboggan. Bears are seasonal so need to get right dates.

Sweden Stockholm is nice and plenty to do. Copenhagen also good though maybe more for few days than whole holiday but easy to move between places if hire car etc. Norway we did around Alesund / fjords and Flam, all very scenic and enough activities for teens but prices can be sky high for food and hotels. Weather can be mixed in Scandinavia but you avoid the strong highs and mostly it was sunny and low 20s on our trips though earlier in school holidays we got better weather than when we went mid to late August. Also their schools are different holidays so some things were closing at different times but not a huge issue.

Austria in the mountains would be cooler though on the ground temps can get high. We did Hintertux which has snow all year on their glacier, an ice palace, all year snow and ski lifts, good for few days in combination with something else, whitewater rafting in summer.

Otherwise I do water based holidays so ones with swimming pools, waterparks, accessible sea anywhere can live in the water as I am heat intolerant too so is my DS.

Outside Europe Costa Rica was amazing for teens and not too bad temp wise in August as its rainy season so about 27C but rain in rainforest after about 4pm each day but that is fun. Great for teens with high ziplines, wildlife, whitewater rafting, sea, watersports, volanoes and rainforest.

A580Hojas · 26/03/2022 04:39

We had one of our best European summer holidays with our teens in the Bavarian alps, close to the border with Austria. Lovely lakes to swim in, cycling, mountains, stunning scenery. We also spent 3 days in Munich, such an interesting city.

PiratePetespajamas · 26/03/2022 08:20

@etulosba

Finland! Get a house by a lake (TONS of them).

What about mosquitos?

I went in August. Don’t remember mosquitoes being an issue at all.
etulosba · 26/03/2022 14:52

I went in August. Don’t remember mosquitoes being an issue at all.

I was wondering based on a summer in Sweden in a similar trees and lakes environment. The mosquitoes were horrendous.

Silverclocks · 26/03/2022 15:00

We had a brilliant activity holiday with teens in Finland, just south of the Artic Circle in August. A beautiful 20-25 degrees, although I think that was unusually warm. You do need the bug spray though!!

MargosKaftan · 26/03/2022 16:28

Wherever you go, do not accept accommodation without aircon. In fact, the med would be fine, if you have air con and can retreat to your room when its too hot. Spend lots of time in the water. Pool with a swim up bar?

MsMartini · 26/03/2022 16:38

We are not heat-lovers either and have had great summer holidays in Berlin and Barcelona. Lots of air-conditioned museums and galleries for the hot afternoons. Parks, green spaces and in Barcelona the beach for early mornings and evenings, plenty for teens to do if they want to go off alone, great outdoor eating and fun in the evenings. Berlin may not even be hot in the day. Can get trains from both to other nice places.

Also the Alps/mluntains (France and Slovenia) - walking, swimming in lakes and pools, high ropes, mountain biking. Some place they turn the ski lifts over to hikers and cyclists in summer, really good fun, gorgeous scenery, not too hot.

MsMartini · 26/03/2022 16:39

(In Barcelona, we got a good deal on a city centre hotel with aircon and rooftop pool, as we went in August. My then teen dc thought they'd gone to heaven Smile.)

Hairbrush123 · 26/03/2022 20:15

Faroe Islands

Delatron · 27/03/2022 20:04

My coldest European holidays in August have been : France, The Dordogne (had to go buy warm clothes), Austrian Alps (rainy and 14 degrees), France again, middle part. Too cold to go in the pool.

Scandinavia would be cooler but very expensive.

Northern France would be the best bet.

MissAmbrosia · 28/03/2022 22:23

Netherlands. Much talk about Duinrell recently - there's the theme park and pool complex but also a tree climbing complex just outside. Plus beach. Great for cycling and for teens to go off and do their own thing. Daytrips to Amsterdam but also Leiden and Rotterdam. There's a space centre near Leiden. The beaches are fab and there's a whole beach culture thing at Schevingen with beach bars etc that would rival anything in the Med. I would imagine there are plenty of watersports on offer.

MissAmbrosia · 28/03/2022 22:25

If you wanted alternative accommodation also look at roompot.com

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