Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

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

Original poster

Where do you go with older teens?

82 replies

timetochangethename · 12/07/2023 15:36

Looking for ideas for older teens but not yet adult.

Currently on a European AI but so many younger families that teens seem a bit out of place.

Thinking about trying a villa next year, never done one as thought they'd be bored when younger plus the idea of cooking puts me off but maybe it's time.

We always do city breaks at Easter which we all enjoy but like to have a bit of a chance to chill out in the summer.

OP posts:
Chocbuttonsandredwine · 12/07/2023 15:38

We taking our (11,15,16&16) to Turkey soon. It’s costing a fortune but we are going 5* ultra inclusive with tons for them to do.. sports etc. hoping it will be a success.

Tarahumara · 12/07/2023 15:44

We like to do 5 days of something busy and/or active followed by 5 days to relax on the beach. In the past few years we've been to Kenya (safari), Turkey (Istanbul) and the Pyrenees (canyoning), followed by the beach all three times (hotel or villa).

Jobalob · 12/07/2023 15:50

This year we are doing a cruise, not sure how much I'll like it but it will mean we get a mix of exploring and chilling and lots of things to see and do

cheezncrackers · 12/07/2023 15:53

This may sound silly, but have you asked them what they'd like to do? As older teens, I suspect they'll have some opinions, as I know my 15-year-old is finally starting to talk about where he'd like to go/go back to.

So what are your teens into? Would they enjoy adrenaline activities like dune buggies, zip-lining, or white water rafting? Or are they more into chilling out, swimming, shopping and reading? What kind of food do they like? Do they enjoy trying new foods? Are they interested in wildlife or would they enjoy a resort with organised activities like football, sailing, and paddle boarding?

Lavenderu · 12/07/2023 15:59

Trouble is that their idea of holiday perfection this year will have changed by next year.
What worked well for us, much to my surprise, was a cruise. Lots going on on board, day trips to fabulous places (Barce, Sorrento, Herculaneum, Dubrovnik etc), and then a week ashore in a hotel.

Coronationstation · 12/07/2023 16:06

Neilsons, Mark Warner or Club la Santa for activity breaks.
City breaks for museums and sightseeing.
A cruise if you fancy a taste of a lot of different places.
Skiing in the winter instead of a summer holiday.
Interailing
European ski resorts in the summer for hiking, mountain biking etc.
or leave them at home ;)

reluctantbrit · 12/07/2023 17:37

We do a mix of city and beach/relaxing this year.
4 days Boston, 5 days Rhode Island, 5 days New York.

We did AI in Greece last year but it definitely doesn't fit the bill anymore, at least not for the full two weeks we do. We did one week over Easter as we sat on a twice rebooked holiday and that wasn't too bad but for Summer we want a longer trip.

I assume next year we do a mix as well.

Cruise is a definitely no-go for us for a variety of reasons, incl. DH getting sea sick on anything bigger than a rowing boat.

wondabar · 12/07/2023 17:40

We did Thailand last year and are doing Vietnam this year. Our older teens love it as there is so much to do and such beautiful
Cultures to experience. Trailfinders are great for suggesting good packages.

CharlotteSometimes1 · 12/07/2023 17:40

We didn’t. After a very very expensive villa holiday where they just stayed in their rooms at about 14/16 we stopped going abroad and just did UK weekends, mini breaks. They preferred it and so did we. Now we go away without them.

orangelotus · 12/07/2023 17:45

CharlotteSometimes1 · 12/07/2023 17:40

We didn’t. After a very very expensive villa holiday where they just stayed in their rooms at about 14/16 we stopped going abroad and just did UK weekends, mini breaks. They preferred it and so did we. Now we go away without them.

this !! we did several years ( why???) of villas with them bringing friends. we were really the staff and have knocked it on the head completely.
if you can afford it somewhere like costa rica has loads for everyone to enjoy

dementedpixie · 12/07/2023 17:47

We've gone to a villa the last few years.

You arent tied to mealtimes like in a hotel and can buy your own cereals/breads, meal supplies etc.
You can eat in or out and we have also had a bbq available to us and used that a few times too.

This year we were in fuerteventura and were near a beach so ds often went off for a walk along the beach or to one of the wee local shops just for a wander.

We had good WiFi, a private pool and a hire car to get about

PandaPacer · 12/07/2023 19:57

We did a cycling trip last year at lake Garda. Lots of activity then food and swim in the evening. They loved it! But my kids really love travelling so might not be for everyone.

Funf · 13/07/2023 06:54

Cruise they love them

Parky04 · 13/07/2023 07:00

No where. After 2 bad holidays, we never took them away again. It was bliss just the two of us!

finewelshcheese · 13/07/2023 07:05

Cruises, safari, Florida, New York

EversoDetermined · 13/07/2023 07:13

We're doing a cruise this year, having found an itinerary of places they both want to go to. We last did one about 5 years ago and really enjoyed it.

Apart from cruises we have always self-catered, we've never had a hotel holiday with them. Never had a full, chilled beach/pool holiday as they just don't like them (they both dislike beaches and get bored). Last year we went to Lake Annecy in France as there was lots to do in the area, swimming, water sports, ski lifts, bike hire. We stayed in an apartment in walking distance to the town so they could go off by themselves. If we stay in the UK now we always stay in a town now not rurally for that reason.

Beautifulsunflowers · 13/07/2023 07:16

We’ve just got back from Tenerife with older teens/young adults.
stayed in an apartment complex self catering. This way each day you’re not eating at the same place. We would either go out for breakfast, or get pastries from the local shop to eat on the balcony. Lunch would depend on where we were and then dinner was a different restaurant each night - we let them choose some nights.
We did a mix of pool days/beach/activities. So a water park, boat trip etc. We played pool/table tennis and crazy golf. It was enough to please everyone but I have said it’s the last family holiday I think we will go on!

aramox1 · 13/07/2023 07:28

Self catering with pool near beach and walkable town. If it had bikes too that would be nirvana!

MissAmbrosia · 13/07/2023 10:38

The most successful trip we did was interrailing around Eastern Europe - Prague/Budapest/Vienna/Bratislava etc - and let dd do research into what she wanted to see. Also city break to Rome. She was got bored of beach/pool after the age of 14. She did quite enjoy Lake Garda - and liked our hotel at Lake Maggiore as it had a cool sky bar and she realised she could charge a cocktail to her own room 😁 - she was happy to sit there with her book for ages.

Wildehorses · 13/07/2023 10:50

California last year with sons aged 16 and 17 was a huge hit, esp LA, but crazy expensive so definitely a one-off. Having said that, it was our third time holidaying in the US with them (Florida and New York previously) and they LOVE America, but I can’t see us going there again as a family without a lottery win 😣

Festoonedflurryfairy · 13/07/2023 10:53

Greek islands on a boat. Sail from one island to another. There are holidays available where you start the week with tuition and end up sailing on your own. Good fun with older teens! Swimming, sight seeing, picnics on the beach etc.

redskytwonight · 13/07/2023 11:03

We go self catering (we don't self cater every night but do sometimes) with access to a pool and/or beach. That way we all have our own space. We normally have an "activity" planned in the day that might be sightseeing, or going or a walk or a boat trip or something more active. The rest of the time we tend just to relax. We also regularly split into smaller groups (e.g. each adult takes one teen) as it's hard to find something that everyone wants to do.

Before we go I ask for their must see/do activity and any other things that are of interest and we try to work round everyone's preferences, accepting that we will sometimes have to do other people's favourites.

familyissues12345 · 13/07/2023 11:05

We're doing Center Parcs this summer with 14 and 16 year old boys. They wanted to go somewhere where they don't have to always be with us Grin

It's definitely getting harder to holiday now, at that awkward "don't want to be with parents 24/7" age but not ready to be at home alone.

Fairyliz · 13/07/2023 12:30

Royal Caribbean cruise. Went one year with my teens and they begged to go every year after.
Lots of other teens to mix with on sea days and in the evenings, then excursions to do different things with us on port days.

MissyB1 · 13/07/2023 12:35

We are going to a Mark Warner Greek resort next week, mainly picked for 14 year old ds. He’s an only so he needs activities, and to be around other teens (he got lonely on last years holiday). Never done MW before, hope it’s worth it as it was £££ 😬😳