Suggest a European country/ destination please!

[Howmanysleepsnow]

We always end up in France. Different areas, but still France! I love it (and speak the language vaguely passably, which is one of the reasons we end up here) but fancy a change.
Our criteria are: inexpensive (to compensate for the fact we’ll need 6 airfares rather than our usual channel tunnel ticket); warm (but not much above mid 30s or DH and 1 DS will melt!); friendly people; beautiful/dramatic scenery (ie not just flat arable land); things to do (active/ nature-y rather than formal museums); some history.
Other things that would be bonuses include wildlife, beaches and places to explore.
Can anyone suggest somewhere to look as a starting point please?
We’ve visited Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Venice, Cyprus, Portugal and Holland before… not at all keen on Germany and the bit of Portugal we saw was a bit too tourist-centric. Loved Holland for the people and Cyprus for beaches/ water sports and turtles. Venice was good but as a one off only.

What time of year are you going?

Slovenia!!!! You can city break, go to the beach, see the lakes and the mountains all in one trip. Driving distances are short and very easy. I had one of my best European holidays there. It really blew my mind.

Plitvice Holiday Resort in Croatia

If you can cope without sun/warmth go to Ireland. The scenery ranges from lovely to breathtaking, the people are great, the lack of heat is compensated by everything else.

Jersey is also fab in the summer, very pretty. You need to hire a car to explore - or cycle some days if you are all fit (very hilly). Beaches and cliff paths are gorgeous, the Gerald Durrell zoo is good, lots of nature to explore, you can get a boat to another of the Channel Islands and make it a two-centre holiday.

I’d love to go to Slovenia as pp suggested, looks amazing. Croatia is always mentioned as a good value destination but can get hot in summer.

I also absolutely loved Tenerife… I thought it was a built up tourist hell hole (which in places it is), but if you get a hire car and see the National park it s unexpectedly beautiful. I probably would not fork out to fly six people there but my point is, places can surprise you.

Slovenia was also my first thought. Beautiful, very outdoorsy, friendly.

Costa Brava? We used to drive there every year so you could do without the cost of the flights. Its got gorgeous coastal scenery and is never too hot. You could also visit Girona for the day so you get in your history, it’s a lovely city for wandering.

Slovenia was my though too. Food is great, there’s walking, mountain biking, ski lifts, horse riding etc etc lake bled and bohinj are beautiful.

Northern Spain - Bilbao, San Sebastián, A Coruña, Santiago. Fabulous scenery, lovely beaches, amazing food, historic cities. You can get cheap flights into Biarritz and drive across or into A Coruña.

Croatia definitely. Beautiful scenery, lakes, waterfalls, island hopping. Not overly expensive compared to more Western Europe. Plenty of modern history in Dubrovnik and other big cities. No hotter than anywhere else in Southern Europe. I absolutely loved it there.

Jersey has an excellent bus service - we managed a week exploring the island without a car. A family travelcard was very reasonable.

If OP liked the Netherlands, have a look at Belgium. DD and I begrudgingly accompanied DH to the Spa GP and ended up having a great time exploring Dinan and Bokrijk (which has a lovely open air museum and a massive free children's playground next door). Getting around by train was cheap and a doddle.

We combined this with some interesting rural Airbnbs and a centreparcs (lake beach, rather than the sea).

Jersey, Croatia, Kefalonia.

Croatia and Italian Lakes

Sorry that you weren't keen on Germany, where did you go? I am from Germany and I find that you can get a bit of everything but it really depends where you go to.

We go to Croatia (a specific island) every summer. Wouldn't even consider anywhere else for my main summer holiday. It is wonderful. We are going to be building g a holiday house there.

Slovenia is stunning
I agree with Jersey
Italy could work but is hot.

Italian Lakes. Takes no longer to drive than to the South of France. Como, Maggiore and Garda are all beautiful. Garda has more family friendly activities than the other 2.

I'd be inclined to say Italy but I have to ask, why aren't you keen on Germany? I once did a camper van trip around the Black Forest region and it was truly spectacular. It's a huge country with a lot of variation.

Sweden! An amazing place to go on holiday - lakes, countryside, lots to do and see.

Jersey would also be good for what you want definitely.

Maybe we just got unlucky with Germany. We’ve been to Saxony and the Black Forest (and driven through en route to Austria / Italy too). The people we met were generally quite unfriendly and abrupt, and it just felt very unwelcoming (not saying this is representative, but after 2 holidays we’re reluctant to try a third!) There also seemed to be a lot of litter. And wasps. Those three things were my overriding impressions unfortunately.

I am sure Slovenia is great but we like sea/boating/watersport holidays so Croatia for us every time.

If you want somewhere that is absolutely beautiful but not hot, the west of Ireland. (More expensive that Croatia though).

@Howmanysleepsnow

Maybe we just got unlucky with Germany. We’ve been to Saxony and the Black Forest (and driven through en route to Austria / Italy too). The people we met were generally quite unfriendly and abrupt, and it just felt very unwelcoming (not saying this is representative, but after 2 holidays we’re reluctant to try a third!) There also seemed to be a lot of litter. And wasps. Those three things were my overriding impressions unfortunately.

We regularly go to Germany and love it, especially Bavaria I don’t think people are unfriendly as such but they are quite formal and not afraid to administer a bollocking if they feel you aren’t doing things correctly. We are going in July and I am prepared to endure the Tellings off from complete strangers to enjoy the food, scenery and free outdoor amenities

Montenegro - drop dead gorgeous. Interesting old towns, the most beautiful bay around Kotor, and also beaches on the coast. In the north there are mountains and lakes. It's a tiny country but packs so much into its space - and cheaper than Croatia.

I would say Spain, the variety of places to go is huge, cheap flights, you could look at Stitges, Barcelona and Valencia.

Following this thread with interest!

We have pretty much the same criteria as you OP (except 5 of us rather than 6). The last few years we have done France or Spain, both of which I really like but I’d like a change, especially as the kids are getting older and more adventurous. We like swimming, but they get a bit bored on beach-only holidays.

Slovenia sounds great - anyone have any tips on particular towns to stay in?

Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast - dramatic coastlines, pebble beaches, great food, history (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples), boat trips to Capri, get the bus down the coast, if you have the legs for it you can walk up/down to Ravello.

Lanzarote - we got a villa with a pool, hired a car & explorer the island - volcanic tubes, castles, volcanic landscapes, a theme & water park, beaches, water sports.

Both are about 2-3 hrs flight & weather should be good.

Second Slovenia. We had a wonderful holiday touring around there with young/mid teens a few years ago. Lots to do, particularly active/outdoors activities, but also general sight seeing. Beautiful, friendly, easy, uncrowded, and cheap for Europe. It doesn't have much in the way of coast and beaches, though we stayed a few days near Piran and enjoyed a little time on a small beach near there. It's one of our favourite countries, and our favourite European holiday.