4k for a holiday

[ItisallPooh]

We have just been left some money and have to not be sensible with all of it. We have about £4000 budget for a family of 4 (two teen girls) for a holiday. We want to go abroad after several years of travelling round UK. We want at least a week and we need to be flying from Scotland really. Dh isn't much of a fan of lying on a beach doing very little. He likes being out and about discovering places, doing stuff.
Where would you go?

What do you and the girls like to do?
I agree with Lake Garda as there are lots of trips possible - to pretty towns by boat on the lake, to Verona, to Venice, but there is also beach and chilling. It would be pretty hot in the summer - May half term may be better and cheaper.
Barcelona as pp suggested, and Valencia are also good options for beach plus city/sightseeing. And I think you can totally DIY those for your budget in the summer. We tend to look for apartments on booking.com as their cancellation policies tend to be much better than Airbnb.
Or, if you are all outdoorsy, how about the mountains in summer? Could also combine with some time in a city (eg Munich, Salzburg).
We loved Jordan but it will be too hot in the summer for sure and I think it may well be out of your budget with post Covid price hikes.

Lots of great ideas thanks! We are thinking Italy. We have taken the girls to Rome before but we are thinking Sorrento or Venice or Lake Garda.
We have done lots of big cities with them. Loved Denmark and Netherlands.
Had never even considered Jordan before but we are going to have a look at that too. The girls and I just want some sunshine. We were really lucky in Devon last year but the year before it poured the whole time we were in the Lake District. It was still beautiful but I want somewhere that I don't have to pack my waterproof jacket, just in case!

Jordan and the Amalfi coast are both wonderful. I'd also recommend Sicily - Palermo/Agrigento/Taormina is a great trip. We're going to Verona (with a day trip to Venice) combined with the Dolomites this summer. Italy is just wonderful.

We went to Cancun for a week in October, it was amazing. Plenty of beach and pool opportunities for your girls, we did snorkeling with turtles in a cenote, xel-ha, a trip to tulum, some friends did some of the historical sites like Chichen Itza...if you look at deals on tui you could use either their excursions, or book them via get your guide.

In terms of Italy, It really depends what time of year you want to go, imo.

If you're going mid summer, it's HOT in southern Italy (personally I love it). It can be busy, but again I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the towns.
Venice in the summer can be extraordinarily busy. You only need a couple of days there really - there isn't a lot to do in terms of relaxing - it's more of a city break, ideally taken in spring or autumn. The lakes are amazing also, and have a bit more to offer in terms of last days and excursions.

To please teenagers, I'd be tempted to stay in the south. From personal experience, my teens preferred the south for food and experiences. The boat trips and pizza were another level to anywhere else we've been in Italy.

4k is a very healthy budget. I'm not sure why people are saying "you can only go X with that budget" or that you'd need to go anywhere out of season 😂

A cruise might work. The girls have a bit of pool time, DH gets actives and things to do and see on port days plus excellent food, drinks, entertainment, outdoor cinemas etc.

Sadly, it’s not a huge budget for travel these days. A week in Spain or Turkeyetc can easily be £1k each.

Lake Garda is lovely I would say that does tick your boxes and you can swim in the lake like the sea

"4k is a very healthy budget. I'm not sure why people are saying "you can only go X with that budget" or that you'd need to go anywhere out of season 😂"

Someone who clearly hasn't been on many holidays recently 🤣

Amalfi Coast!!!!!

Italian Lakes - Garda has more for teenagers. But all stunningly gorgeous, boat trips, lots of places to visit. Nice food.

😂😂 actually someone who's just booked our summer holiday for 2 adults, 1 teen, 1 child.

We've booked a trip to Egypt at the end of July which cost under £3k. (4 hotel, all inclusive so hardly a shte deal)

I just found it baffling that someone was implying they'd need more than £4000 to go to bloody Barcelona in "peak season" 🤣 you can go in August for a week for less than half that amount

Well Egypt, yeah that's cheaper and you've got a child in the mix. She wouldn't get much change out of 4K for even Barcelona in august though. It's not "very healthy"

Egypt has always been cheap. It’s a good option for people because they it offers “luxury” on a budget. Not everyone wants to go there though.
I agree with pps; 4K for a nice European holiday in the school summer holidays isn't “very healthy”

Another vote for Jordan. Petra. Wadi Rum. Amman. Dead Sea: must be a nice resort hotel. Morocco is also very interesting. Really depends on what you want to do and time of the year. For outdoors/hiking: Iceland is a paradise, and Switzerland, though both options won't be cheap, but if you have a car it is cheaper. Croatia is very nice.

Italy is a good choice for culture/sightseeing, lake Garda is beautiful. Sicily is awesome but super hot in the summer. Cinque Terre. Bari/Brindisi/Matera are nice. The Dolomites are great in the summer too.

Defo Greece, Santorini is fantastic xx

Sicily, Roman ruins, a volcano, amazing food, really friendly and beaches if you want them. Fly to catania

Iceland and do a bit of a tour of the golden circle, or the Italian lakes