Help! Holiday cancelled - any suggestions for something I could book at short notice?

[Tiggertum]

Hi all

I was meant to be flying out on holiday today but have had to cancel due to illness of one of my DC. Am properly gutted as was big holiday I’d planned and saved for for a long time.

Anyway nothing can be done. I’d like to try and book something now for mid august as replacement. Am a single parent with two DC, 10 and 8. Eldest sporty and very into football. Youngest the opposite - chilled and loves drama.

Like both active holidays ( so had a recent great holiday in Swiss alps) but also hotel and pools type holiday.

i don’t drive and will be on my own so somewhere not too daunting.

wont get all my money back so realistically max budget is 2000 ish ( could prob go a bit higher but would prefer not to). Looking for 5 nights to 7.

sorry I know this is how long is a piece of string but does anyone have any suggestions? Feels beyond me at this point….

Tui website is quite good as you can search for multiple departure airports, any destination and flexible dates. Jet2 holidays are also good for being able to search on multiple departure and destinations. There's definitely things out there around £700-800pp.

What were you going to do?

Depends. DH and I are going to London for, 3 nights, train to get there, LSE halls of residence as the "Hotel" so nice and central, and I've booked tickets to a show and the Harry Potter studio tour. We'll probably do Buckingham Palace as he gets in free (serving military) and I'm waiting to hear whether we can have a tour of the Houses of Parliament (apply via the website for short notice trips). Maybe the Imperial War Museum.

We'll have some nice meals that we can't readily access in Cornwall (there's a Sri Lankan restaurant I like, a Korean one and we'll probably do decent dim sum somewhere), and bimble around the city.

Tickets, trains and hotel so far comes to £550.

Thanks all - should have said based in London.

i was going to Iceland

I will look at Tui thanks

It's not hugely adventurous but the Woburn Center parcs often has last minute deals that might fit your budget and it's easily accessible by train.

Thanks user - I’m fine with not adventurous tbh! And it would have activities and swimming so defo worth a look

Also check Centre parcs in Europe as their schools go back before the UK so the end of August can be cheaper even once you factor in flights.

Thanks all - might look at lanzarote as been there before and seems availability

For what it's worth I did Center Parcs with kids that age as a single parent at it was a dream. There's a brilliant one just outside Paris which also allows you to spend a day at Euro Disney and see Paris itself. Again, easy on the train.

Duinrell in Holland.

If you are looking at Lanzarote I can recommend the Iberostar hotel in Playa Blanca. Right by a safe, lovely beach, pools are nice and there is a football/ basketball court and tennis court. Mine are too old but the kids club looked really fun and the staff were lovely.

@TwigTheWonderKid - I e actually been to
iberostar and loved it but it’s a sadly booked up!

looking at dreams, princess yaiza or rubicon H10
atm

Will also take a look at centre parks as never been - have to admit in my mind I always associated with needing a car!

TUI holiday villages. They do lots for kids.

Agree with this. First Choice Holiday Villages - loads of activities for kids and also the opportunity to just chill by the pool.

Thanks everyone - can spend tomorrow looking and hopefully get something booked

I agree with Tui, but go for a TUI blue hotel instead if you can get the right price. They are much nicer with local food.

I’ve been to a holiday village in peak season and it was hell on earth. One out of season before that which was better but still attracted the “all day pints, chips and fags by the pool” brigade. The type who complain if they don’t get “a full English” for throat breakfast on holiday.

*their

Go to the Edinburgh Festival. It’s generally very expensive for a staycation holiday but with your budget you can put flight money towards hotel and it will work out.

You will have an amazing time. So much to do. Ok, the weather won’t be great but you can go to a pool if you need to.

You definitely don't need a car for Center parcs. The place I took the kids was called village nature just outside Paris. You can get the Eurostar. It's great. Good pool with flumes, bowling, escape rooms, great playgrounds, high ropes. And it has Paris and Disney right on the doorstep. It's honestly the easiest holiday I have done on my own with the kids.

good to know re centreparks - even if not this time it’s another to add to my list!

I know two families whose holidays were cancelled recently at almost no notice and both went and had a good time at Center parcs.

Barcelona?

The centre parcs near Thetford would be easy by train, it’s about 10min from the station with a sainsburys on the way so not far in a taxi.