What holiday would you plan for our family?

[PandaOrLion]

I love planning holidays but I’m a bit stumped with DHs family and so are they. Can be UK or abroad, but no more than a 3hr flight from England and looking at school holidays 2023.

Grandparents, four adult children and their partners, 1x17yr old, 2x15yr olds, 1x10yr old, 2x6yr olds and 1 baby. Kids and most adults very in to sport.

All enjoy holidaying together either in one property or a few small places. They’ve don’t everything from large villa (teens didn’t like as they felt isolated) to holiday parks in the Uk (grandparents didn’t like it as too many people)

Needs a pool and lots of outdoor space, or organised outdoor activities, self catering and would prefer a beach nearby.

Any ideas? No specific budget.

If you have plenty of budget and a beach isn’t required, I would fly to Innsbruck or Munich (< 2 hour flight) then hire some vehicles and drive to the Tyrol. I would stay in central Mayrhofen. Hotel Manni is good - rooftop pool and hot tub with a good view; restaurant which is good for watching the world go by. Obviously there are bars in town - you would be right near Mo’s which the teens might like.

In terms of sport, the area has everything except a beach. Obviously there is hiking and mountain biking, but also climbing, canyoning, paddle boarding, via Ferrara, paragliding.

Nearby Hintertux glacier has year-round skiing and the ice palace, where the teens could have a go at ice swimming while everyone (except the toddler) can tour the ice caves by boat. In the other direction at Gerlos there is a high adrenalin zip wire. The play arena at Tux is great for the younger kids too.

For the younger kids you can do loads at the sport area at the top of the Penken gondola. In the area there are lots of places to swim. There is a summer toboggan run and the Spruce Tree Castle play area at Zell im Zillertal, with water play, sand and lake.

It wouldn’t be cheap but there’s something for everyone.

Duinrell in Holland was my first thought. Lots of different companies offer holidays there. There’s a pool complex and theme park adjacent to it, which are free to enter.

Nearby is a lovely sandy beach, and Amsterdam isn’t too far away

That sounds brilliant - definitely a bit different to what’s been done before but would really suit everyone.

if we can find something that works then it’s worth paying more for!

I’d really like Duinrell but FIL feels it might be too busy - he’s fearful or anything that is a bit close to centre parks or a holiday park in the Uk where people are on top of themselves?!

Duinrell isn't really like deter parcs... it is more like a real place and easy to walk to town or cycle to the beach...
the pools are busy but anywhere with lots of waterslides etc. has that vibe
It's more chilled than anything similar in the uk

Neilsons beachclub

Have you looked into north wales? If you don't mind a bit of driving between activities then there's a plethora of things to do, and some of the best beaches in the country! The water was so warm in Llanbedrog this summer it was like bath water, and just down the road in Abersoch there was paddle boarding, boating etc all for hire.

I agree Neilson beachclubs. Not self-catering but a range of different accommodation depending on which club you choose.

Also…..who wants to go on holiday and cook for 17(?) people?? At least somewhere like Neilsons you can do as much or little as you want and people can do their own thing without having to organise a big group all the time.

Cascade in Lagos, Portugal would fit your needs. They have a hotel, apartments and villas on site, lots of sports and a variety of pools to suit all ages and preferences. Five minute taxi into Lagos for nightlife if required.