Last minute beach holiday this August - is it doable or am I mad? Or camping in the UK instead?

[Bubblyb00b]

Hi, my work schedule threw me a curveball and I just found out I can take a week off at the end of August - was told before it was not possible. Which is great as it means I can do something with my DS before he starts school.

Ideally, I would really, really want to get some sea and sunshine, but I have no idea what to do. I don't have a huge budget, but I'm not really fussy - something decent with sea access would be great. The problem is, all the usual places I look at either too expensive/ too hot in August/ require a car to get there (I don't drive). I was recommended a place near Alicante (can book it but have to get a train to get there); Valencia - too hot; Greece, Sicily and Sardinia - too expensive, fires, too hot... I look at Lastminute/ Booking site - they seem to be the cheapest.

I normally prefer to stay in apartments (not Airbnb, don't use that) but this time would be happy to consider any options as really want DS to have a splash around and get some vitamin D. I would really like to find some small-ish place, where I can get to by train or bus from the airport and where I can go to a free beach.

Could anyone recommend anything, if its doable? Alternatively, I was looking at going camping in the UK, though it seems August is pretty much booked. Gosh, I'm so frustrated and angry at my boss... But really want to make it work for my kid. Thanks in advance for any help!!

@crackofdoom well it looks like we are very different, I would not consider a holiday (apart from city breaks) where I cant swim! Being able to get into the sea is something that I really crave. I don't mind heat, either as long as I'm in some nice charming place with not too many people and as long as I can get into the cool blue water.

I also dislike places with a lot of people/ places designed for holidays, though I did go to big resorts in Mexico a few times in the past. I went on driving holidays round France, Belgium and Switzerland with my ex, but I dislike driving and all the hassle of having a car (where to park, petrol, etc) and I don't like being in a car. I do prefer trains!

So my ideal holiday would be going to a small seaside town in Italy (like in Luka) - beach all day, out eating nice food at night. I am quite a simple creature. Lately, all my holidays were to Amalfi Coast, I just cant get enough of it.

I don't know what I could manage this time though, I'm still planning. I never had a holiday where I did not book it at least 6 month in advance after huge amount of research)))))

Jet2 have a holiday to Greece for under £1000

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Italy half board

@Bubblyb00b and @justaweeone Kefalonia is lovely - and Katelios is partiularly lovely. Very quiet, just a string of great little restaurants along the beach. Easily reached by easyJet flights.

Flights under £500 to Málaga. Use booking.com and the map view and find accommodation for your budget, near a beach and somewhere in the Trainline. There's a lot of coastline to choose from along there. At the moment on there, there is a hotel in Málaga near the beach with hugely reduced prices down to £587 per week. I imagine there will be more reductions available as you get nearer to the end of August.

Can attest that Valencia is too hot - I am here currently and we were on 42 degrees the other day. Struggling with this especially as staying with my DP’s parents in a townhouse with ac only in one room. I am absolutely struggling to a degree I didn’t expect. So far have had indigestion for several days, blinding headaches which I never get at home, heatstroke preceded by a blinding headache (the worst) and for some time after I didn’t know where I was or that we were in Spain. I started to worry that my kids wouldn’t know where I was once my (very patient and on the face of it, calm, ) DP explained where we were and told me stories about our journey down so that I could begin to piece it together, (my kids are 19 and 23 don’t worry!) It’s really alarming as I’m never ill usually. Sorry to go off one one, just warning about staying away from the extreme heat we are facing this year, and to avoid with young children. I have slept a couple of nights in the livingroom which has the air conditioner but his parents are grumbling at the cost - and yes I have asked him to offer for me to pay but am told they will refuse. (My Spanish not good and they have zero English).