Which holiday would you pick, and why?

[FuckingHateRats]

As a family, we've not done an abroad holiday since our 2020 trip was cancelled due to Covid. We've been holidaying in the UK but, now, are ready to plan another trip away for next summer.

We have two options that we've come up with, and we keep debating the merits of both. Interested in others' perspectives to help us decide.

Option 1 - Croatia, Slovenia, Italy

We'd fly to Croatia and then hire a big car, splitting about sixteen days between the three countries, probably doing Eurocamp for the most part. Do the big hitters - Split, Zadar, Krka park, Plitvice, Ljubljana, Lake Bled and then spend some time in Bologna. It would be a hot holiday- lots of swimming pools, beach visits, ice creams etc. We have been to all three countries before, although the kids' memories of Croatia and Slovenia are fuzzy.

Option 2 - Denmark, Norway, Sweden

Probably fly/train between countries. Lots of outdoor activities and seeing capital cities. Water sports and visiting lakes. We've only been to Copenhagen before, and this would feel like a bigger adventure, but perhaps not as 'summer holiday'. Probably hit Legoland in Billund

Our kids will be 17, 15, 13.

Any thoughts or opinions most welcome!

2

I prefer the likely cooler weather
I love travelling by train
You can swim and eat ice cream there too

Option 2 I think.

Norway was very expensive when we went about 15 years ago.

2 sounds more interesting. 3 sounds more suitable for younger children.

Hi @FuckingHateRats i would go with option 2
Have an amazing holiday! x

option 2

Option 2 would be my choice, because I prefer cooler weather and I think travelling by train will be more comfortable than spending hours in a hot car. and. Also I absolutely loved Norway, Sweden and Finland when I visited. Lots of beautiful lakes, water sports, forests and mountains sounds perfect.

I would go for 2.

The places in 2 will generally be less busy, especially if you go latter half of August when most of the Scandi schools are back I believe.

Option 1.
Weather and beach would make it feel more like a holiday for me personally and it sounds a little more relaxed.
I like the road trip sound of it.
Sounds more relaxing than navigating airports and trains and all the logistics involved.
(Although both options are a little adventurous for my tastes)

To be honest, three countries in sixteen days sounds a lot - too much travelling for me.

Option 1 for me

I would go option 1 as those are three of my favourite countries. But it’s very much personal taste. Not sure I would chose Bologna for the Italian end resort though

if you want less driving, start in Slovenia, then do istria in northern Croatia, get ferry to Venice and then perhaps end up at the Italian lakes. That would be my idea of heaven.

Option 1.they are all beautiful destinations and something for all the ages to enjoy

Option 1 and I also came on to suggest Istria region.

It’s too much for me. I’ve done different places in one country and even that seems a lot. If I had to choose, I’d go with 1 because I love Italy.

We've done almost that exact holiday before! Spent some time in Palma, then drove to Slovenia. Through to Istra for six days, then back to Lake Garda. It was fab!

We always do road trips and multiple countries. It's just how we're used to holidaying. 4-6 nights in one place, then bundle it all up in the car and hit the road to the next neighbouring country to do the same thing again. We tend to plan it in loops so we can pick up and drop off the car at the same airport.

One year we did Netherlands - Belgium - Luxembourg - Germany (via a France day trip) - Netherlands over a similar timeframe.

The trip we had to cancel for COVID was Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and then Budapest. It's just how we've grown to plan our hols.

Both sound great. When? July? Won't it be very very hot in 1 then?

Scandinavia is very expensive. For that reason I’d do 1 ~ with 5 of you even self catering will be costly. £12 for an open sandwich for lunch plus soft drinks at about £4 pp ~ you’re looking at £80 for a sandwich lunch. I speak from experience.

Also be aware that the weather can be worse than the UK in the summer ~ at the moment it’s been drizzly and dull for a while. Don’t get me wrong ~ I love it hence why I’ve visited so often. But for me, it’s a long weekend here and there, not a summer holiday as such.

Both sound like they involve an awful lot of dull time in a car. Why not pick one place?

Option 2 will be more expensive for sure. Very different vibe as well. For that option, though if you want to add more countries, you can easily do Finland/ Estonia. There's an overnight cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki, and then fast ferries between Helsinki & Tallinn (2hours or so).

Yes, option 2 will be more expensive. We should definitely factor that in, don't want to be scrimping and watching our money if we go

Weather also a consideration. It would most likely be last week in June, first in July. But still got if we go option 1. But equally, a drizzly option 2 doesn't sound that appealing!

And so I go round and round in circles...

Is there another option you could explore OP? Have you done Iceland for example?

Definitely option two if you have to limit the choice to those options, because we are in El Nino weather which is expected to last a few years. Only an idiot would book a summer holiday to Southern Europe for next year. I am in South Europe at the moment and we are literally spending most of the time hiding indoors with the air con on until 5pm when it’s cool enough to go out.

I’d suggest flying to Venice, driving to Jesolo, do Caribe Bag waterpark and beach, drive to Venice island and spend a night there, then drive to the Dolomite mountains (maybe via Lake Garda?) and go up cable cars like Mount Lagazuoi for some easy mountaintop walks. This is a heatwave-proof holiday because you have the water / its not too hot up mountains.

Or do option one holiday but in Spring or autumn, not summer.