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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

holiday ideas for families with teens

28 replies

bemorelemmy · 25/03/2023 22:20

Would love a successful holiday!

Daughter: 14, into hair, clothes, shopping etc but will be up for activities that involve jumping, climbing, swimming, roller-skating etc.
Boy: 16, likes skateboarding and would be up for most active activities and possibly a bit of history (might be pushing it).
both would want sun and daily pool access. Ideally wouldnt want to share pool though would enjoy visit to waterpark/fancy pool type thing. A daily pool that only had a few users might be acceptable.
In all honesty, their ideal holiday would be to stay at home, see friends and go on screens!!
That's not happening- want us to have a good time away- but where?
I'd like sun, good coffee/food and history/culture as would partner, but might be difficult to accommodate all our disparate wants. very broadly, if the kids are happy, we would be (that might be a bold statement!)
They get on fine with one another if they have to.
they like bowling, arcade games and playing pool (prob like every other teenager)
Thanks for any ideas.

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 25/03/2023 22:24

Need a budget. We went on a West Coast US road trip last year with our teens. Best holiday ever for them (and us!). But it wasn't cheap. It's a luxury holiday budget that's for sure.

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 25/03/2023 22:44

thanks @CurlyhairedAssassin- didnt think of budget! I guess I was thinking a typical low-mid range european holiday- would that be around £3000 upwards for everything? it's been a while so i'm a bit vague.
But....I absolutely LOVE the idea of a West Coast road trip and I could see that appealing even to my fussy kids.
Would you mind indulging me? In some ways I'd be ok forgoing holidays for one or two (or ten!) years for an amazing trip like that. How long did you go for? How much was it? where did you go etc etc? I will enjoy a flight of fancy at the very least :)

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HolidayHappy123 · 25/03/2023 23:21

West coast of Canada is also amazing. Vancouver, Whistle and Vancouver Island make an amazing trip.

BillyNoM8s · 26/03/2023 05:59

Italy has food, weather, coffee and history. In two weeks I would do Venice, Lake Garda, Florence and Rome, but I move at pace.

Lake Garda should be good for activities - biking, hiking, water sports, paragliding.

You'd probably have to look for smaller guest houses to stay in budget. Could probably camp at Lake Garda.

I really don't enjoy the USA.

Wavinggoodbyetoo · 26/03/2023 09:59

Have a look at the holidays offered by Stunborn Mule Travel or Families Worldwide

You don’t need to book them, but the ideas are great. Our DC have enjoyed

Runnerduck34 · 26/03/2023 10:32

The main criteria for any holiday for my teens is good wifi/4G!
Going anyway off grid/ poor signal ( rural areas, busy hotel with poor or overused wifi) would be a no no.
Otherwise they like somewhere they can go and do something independently if they want to and access to a pool or beach.

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 26/03/2023 11:39

Thank you very much, ladies.
I'm going through each and every response and doing some digging- of course, they all sound fabulous! This is what I needed: a handful of ideas as a springboard
I'm going to have a fun day researching/dreaming :)

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Original poster
bemorelemmy · 26/03/2023 11:39

oh and yes to wifi as essential!

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ilovewispas · 26/03/2023 11:51

I think you might struggle with the budget. 2 adults, a 10 and 8 year old going for a week AI in Spain in June is costing us 4k.

How about ferry to France. Camping on a site and few days in Amsterdam at the end?

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 26/03/2023 12:00

thanks @ilovewispas really helpful to know that 4k is a more realistic budget- we might be able to stretch to that (syphon off money from never-ending house repairs)- so should be able to do it.
I love amsterdam! went in my 20s- that's a great idea.
I'd be happy staying in safari tent type thing but kids are bloody fussy. so yeah, we'll maybe have to squeeze out more money!

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Luckydip1 · 26/03/2023 12:09

I would good all inclusive with good Wi-Fi and on a beach in souther Europe, they will have that degree of independence to do their own thing if they choose.

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 26/03/2023 12:19

thanks @Luckydip1 I think the kids would be very hppy with all inclusive and if we were near to a bit of culture/town then we'd be happy too.

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Luckydip1 · 26/03/2023 12:27

Have a look on the Tui website and select one child place free, there are normally some good options there!

2pence · 26/03/2023 12:37

If you can stretch, Florida. Universal's theme parks are brilliant for teens and perhaps the only place they'll put their f'ing phones down.

You can get a similar experience for a little cheaper in Los Angeles but it's not as good.

gogohmm · 26/03/2023 12:52

At that age Spain would work well, villa with a pool and good wifi where you can drive to places with culture, and they can have a day out at a water park?

Alternatively an ai with multiple pools, the hotel I stayed in had a 14+ pool which was more sedate plus 5 other pools and right on beach

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 26/03/2023 13:49

thanks all- so many ideas- really helpful :)

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Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 26/03/2023 20:21

Slovenia - lake Bled / lake bohinj - swimming and kayaking in the lake, river rafting, para gliding, cycling, day trip to Lbujlana for sightseeing for you.

Echobelly · 26/03/2023 21:33

We did Split and nearby islands in Croatia last year will 11 and 14YO and that was a great success. Nice mixture of culture, beaches and you can be quite active, do boat trips. We stayed in 3 place quite near one another, including an island, and I recommend it for kids in their teens.

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 31/03/2023 13:58

yes @Tinkeytonkoldfruit and @Echobelly , liking the eastern europe ideas- thank you - I will investigate all that's been suggested :)

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Longwhiskers · 31/03/2023 14:10

We’re going to Corfu for ten days. We’ve booked an apartment in a block of six which share a nice looking pool. We’re going to do mainly pool/beach exploration and will walk around Corfu old town. My sister went last year with three teens (boys) and they had a blast - lots of jumping off cliffs, renting boats and they went into the hills a couple of times to see something historical (can’t remember what). There is also a big water park called Aqualand. Self caring apartment was about £1800 ish and flights maybe a grand (for four). I found the price of accom has really gone up since our last hot holiday in 2019.

Lordofmyflies · 31/03/2023 14:10

You'll struggle going out of Europe for less than £4,000 in summer holidays, especially with teens as they are often classed as adults. I'd look for an apartment with flights holiday to Croatia, perhaps Split region which you could get for £3,000 and then spend remaining money on adventure sports like rafting, canyoning, sailing etc. With a rest day in between to pad things out.

midsomermurderess · 31/03/2023 14:47

The south of France could be good. A day in Marseilles (it has a great skate park, by all accounts) exploring the nearby calanques, taking the train along the coast to places like St Tropez for a gander at the rich and beautiful, up to Aix-en-Provence (home of Cezanne, and don’t they know it). If you found a decent camp site it shouldn’t be terribly expensive.

Verite1 · 31/03/2023 14:56

Another vote for Lake Garda. The southern bit has access to water parks and theme parks, northern part is more beautiful and great for watersports. We did a split stay last year. Loved it so much that we are going again this year

Original poster
bemorelemmy · 31/03/2023 21:28

so many exciting ideas- thank you, ladies

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