Holiday ideas July/August 2024

[MiMouse]

We've not been on an international holiday since before DD was born, and we'd very much like to go next year, but have no idea where to go and I'd like to start daydreaming / planning.

Anyway, DD will be 5, and she's an only, so we'd like to go somewhere that's family friendly and where she can easily meet other kids.

DH hates camping. He likes bungalows / cottages and might consider a hotel or apartment. He's not been abroad often; he thinks he might like Scandinavia. I'm really happy to try anything so that DD has a fun holiday.

Both of us hate driving abroad, so not anywhere where we'd need to rent a car to get around.

I have no idea where to even start looking. Any suggestions?

Lalandia Billund & Legoland - if you can get flights to Billund it’s all very close together

CentreParcs in the Netherlands by train

Are you open to hot weather?

I'm okay with hot weather. DH is not a fan, but we went on holiday to Croatia once when it was 30+ degrees the whole time, and he still says that was his favourite holiday ever. Admittedly, we were exceptionally lazy then, and that is a bit harder with a 5 year old. ;-)

Actually think DD will love Legoland! Definitely putting that on the list.

Any other ideas? I've been leaning towards the Mediterranean myself. I love Italy, but always felt it's impossible to get around without a car unless you're doing a city trip.

The Netherlands or Belgium are both good options. Public transport us excellent, great countryside and you can hire bikes easily to get about.

Or an agriturismo in Italy. It's a farm stay, usually with a pool, restaurant and playground. Some are difficult to get to without a car though.

Our kids loved Sweden and Norway but they're pricey so you have to factor that into the budget or it'll make you miserable once you're there.

I definitely wouldn't do an agriturismo in Italy without a car - they're all up a hill in the middle of nowhere. If you're happy to just stay there for a week or two I guess you could get a taxi or perhaps the owner would collect you from the local station? But if you want to do Italy without a car I'd say somewhere like Lake Garda or one of the other lakes would work. Hot, but shouldn't be 40 degrees. There are trains, buses and lake ferries to get around.

But if you want to do Italy without a car I'd say somewhere like Lake Garda or one of the other lakes would work.

We had a holiday by Lake Como once, based in a town called Menaggio. There were frequent boat services from there to various places around the lake so we did explore it quite thoroughly without using the car.

I have to admit though having a car does give more options. Which countries have put you off driving abroad? Because I can't think of many places we have been that could be worse than some of our motorways at the busiest times. I am not the most confident driver, but I usually find most of France easier than most of UK

Unfortunately driving really isn't an option. We got into a (serious) car accident on holiday once. It was France, actually. It was our fault, because we got confused and drove on the wrong side of the road. Anyway, my husband spent a week in the hospital, as did the driver of the other car, and it was an extremely traumatic experience for both of us. We just wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy. Even the thought of driving abroad makes my stomach turn. Well, unless it's a country where they drive on the left, but that doesn't leave us a lot of options in Europe. ;-)