Useless at booking holidays

[Threepotato4]

We are not very good at booking holidays and so most years just do a couple of UK breaks. I hate the planning and pressure to choose the right destination so that everyone will be happy and it feels like so much pressure to get it right and not to waste £££s. We are determined to go abroad this year. Does enjoy the planning process and can find me a holiday or have any personal recommendations please?

We are me, DH and DC aged 12. DC aged 17 may or may not come depending on if she likes the look of where we've booked! We want a European holiday (not camping) in August. Drawn to Italy or Croatia after initial research but open to anywhere really. Budget £5000 but could increase slightly if needed. We don't like loud, brash places that cater to Brits abroad but equally we want to be somewhere with activities for DC either in a club or as a family. We like good food and scenery. Needs to be either a swimming pool or lake to swim in and clean accommodation.

I love holidays but not all the admin that comes with them. Can't stand calling airlines, trawling websites for the best deals etc. So I use a travel counsellor and she's brilliant - knows what we like, keeps our details and reminds us when to renew passports etc. I'd recommend them wholeheartedly.

Why dont you go into a travel agents and they will do it all for you

Have you thought about Tavira on the Algarve? It’s a lovely town with amazing places to eat, you get the boat to the beach and this place has an amazing pool. www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-s1-g285715-d7621640-Reviews-Convento_das_Bernardas_Residence-Tavira_Faro_District_Algarve.html
I’d suggest trying to get a room
facing the salt pans.
Flights to faro or Lisbon, hire car and you’re sorted!!!

or Selena beach is fab too www.salemabeachvillage.com/en/

good luck!!!

Have a look at Neilsons or mark Warner holidays but your budget might be stretched in august.

Check out Love holidays, put your requirements in the search and see what comes up. I like their website as you can play around we days and dates so if a hotel/apartment you like is coming up too expensive you can trim a day off or fly in a different day to make it more affordable. Both of the countries you mention meet your brief very well.
Then look up the accommodation on trip advisor but don’t over research it as even the best place will attract some moaners and you’ll end up not booking anything.

DH and I love the planning!

Look back to holidays past and make a list of what worked and what didn't work. This helps define where you want to go, what you want to do, what sort of places you want to stay.

For example we realised we like small quirky independent hotels, don't want to pay for a hotel breakfast if there is a much nicer cafe round the corner, DH had to admit he needed to pay for a taxi from the airport as lugging cases was causing arguments. Amongst many other things.

This has saved us from a lot of arguments and wasted money.

Agree with looking at reviews but identifying the professional moaners. We once looked at hotels in Bruges, all in v historic buildings and had to ignore the reviewers complaining about low ceilings and no air conditioning - what did they expect, it was built in 1400!

I looked on TUI for Tavira in August, not sure where you’d be flying from
but out in london airports, 3 hols came up all within your budget, have a look and see what you think www.tui.co.uk/destinations/packages?airports%5B%5D=LCY%7CLGW%7CLHR%7CLTN%7CSEN%7CSTN&units%5B%5D=000522%3ARESORT&when=10-08-2023&until=&flexibility=true&monthSearch=false&flexibleDays=3&flexibleMonths=&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=1&childrenAge=12&duration=1415&searchRequestType=ins&searchType=search&sp=true&multiSelect=true&room=&isVilla=false&reqType=&sortBy=&nearByAirports=true

I can recommend Slovenia - clean, safe, friendly, outdoorsy and absolutely bursting at the seams with activities for all ages - really perfect for a 12 and 17 year old. Lovely lakes to swim in, paragliding, hiking, cycling, zip lining, white water rafting, horse riding - you name it. Food is good too. Bled is a good place to stay / centre for activities and is a pleasant town with a beautiful lake and lovely holiday feel.