Big holiday end of May, please help, tearing my hair out... With teenager

[Kvec1507]

I've posted so many times and I'm sorry but am doing again in case anyone has a new idea.
I'm 40 in June and we have saved up a nice little budget for a holiday.
We can only go 30th May for a week.
We were just about to book Abu Dhabi but it just doesn't sit right with me and the price has gone up so much since I first looked.
I need activities for the kids, watersports, adventure, something different. We have a beach holiday booked for August so I don't want to just sit by a pool.
My kids however aren't the best at sightseeing, they are OK as long as doing an activity at a sight, eg a boat trip with snorkeling at the end or a theme park lol
Our budget is £5k and I want to do something cool but I don't know where.
I've looked at Italy, America, Austria, Iceland, Croatia, and I just want someone to plan it for me.
It would have been good to do Mexico but I don't want to risk rainy season.
Trail finders haven't been overly helpful.
Where have you been where your tweens and teens have loved it? Mine are 14 and 11 year old boys.

My friend with similar aged kids loved lake Garda.

Do you know which part they stayed at? We really want to go but not sure which bit. Also what the kids can do during the day.

They stayed in pescheira del Garda in a log cabin type place. There are 2 theme parks, water sports, water park, lots of swimming in the lake. They visited Verona.

Does that budget include activities and were you thinking of hiring a car?

Slovenia, Lake Commo, Switzerland, Lake Constance in Germany.

Not sure if 5k will be enough for long haul; you are a bit late to book anything and will be paying a premium now.

DC loved Greece: Corfu, Kefalonia,Zakyntos but you said you are already doing a summer holiday. We also loved Peru and Machupichu, Australia

We did Venice and Verona in one trip and Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, Sienna in another one. But you said your children are not great at sightseeing.

Dordogne. Caves, dinosaur parcs, go ape type places, canoeing on the river.

We went to Mexico for 2 weeks same time last year, it rained the first 2 days but that was bad luck as due to very usual weather circumstances that don’t tend to happen then, after that weather was glorious - but sargassum seaweed is likely those dates, I didn’t find it too bad though it very much depends on the resort you pick and it’s an issue for months

Was within your budget, but young DC rather than teenagers - but would think a week instead of 2 would offset that.

I wouldn’t hesitate to go May/June same time of year again if price was right

No, activities on top. Not really keen on hiring a car.

I might have to go back and look at lake Garda. Hubby really wants to do Italy I just found it very confusing as the best place to go to.

We stayed at lake Garda and went on boat trips ,Venice ,Dolomites and went up in cable car . They were about your children’s age . You would need a car though .

Mine loved Iceland. The quad biking on black beach, walk into a glacier, iceberg lake zodiac trip, loads of giant waterfalls, lava tubes, geysers, blue lagoon. We did a self drive and I booked apartments on Booking.com

We have gone further afield but your budget might restrict you a bit as long haul flights cost a bomb right now.

Look for inspiration on places like Stubborn Mule, Families Worldwide, or Intrepid.

Activity holiday in Sweden. Horse riding, canoeing, orienteering, archery, trekking through the forest along with collecting wood and stoking the sauna from scratch and swimming in the lake. Fabulous!

I’d also look at the Azores

South Brittany, towards Quiberon? nice weather, scuba, lovely beaches and sand yachting? Some really good live-interactive museums and pre-history at Carnac? The stretch between Lorient and Carnac is not beautiful, but full of interest.

I would also suggest lake Garda. We have stayed in both north and south. I liked north best but theme parks, water parks etc are in south. You don’t need a car. Public transport (ferries and buses) is actually really good, especially in south area (peschiera, Bardolino, garda etc).

My friends didn’t hire a car either as public transport was great for the things they wanted to do.

Vegas, it's not all about gambling.

You can do pretty much anything you want there. It's a like an American Dubai (or rather Dubai is an Arab vegas). I'd only stay for 5/7 nights as it will wear you out, but you won't be short of things to do.

Grand Canyon
Hoover dam
Skywalk
Helicopter flights
Dune buggies
Shows
Gondolas
Madame Tussauds
Valley of fire
Eiffel Tower
Shopping
Museums

Lake Garda is gorgeous. They'll love it! Go there for me 😂

{Trots off to look for holidays in Garda}

I am paralysed by indecision. Is Lake Garda in late august crazy?

Activity and wellness holiday

If your budget will stretch up to it, go for https://www.clublasanta.co.uk

Go to Lake Garda.

Fly into Verona. Stay at a campground (euro parks type) at Peschiera or Lazise. You don't need a car at all, the buses to the theme parks are free and you can walk there.

Boat hire on the lake
Gardaland
Canevaland
Movieland
Train to Verona is 10 minutes

I just want someone to plan it for me

This is a really radical idea, but have you considered consulting a travel agent? You know, one of those people whose job it is to plan people's holidays for them.

Have you looked at cruises? I haven't actually been on one yet but am shopping, and seems like the best of both worlds in terms of all inclusive holiday on a ship, loads of activities for teenagers, but the added benefit to sight seeing.

(I've also been pretty impressed with the prices)