Finding a family holiday has become a stupidly epic mission of nightly Internet research

[Indecisivelurcher]

We've not even narrowed it down!

One evening we're looking at ferry and drive to Brittany to do a eurocamp type hol, of which there are many. Pros - cheaper, more natural beaches, nice towns to explore, great pools for kids, kids can play, we can sit out in the evening. Cons - apparently France is expensive and can be difficult to eat out with kids, weather unpredictable, don't know if the campsites are crammed in or spacious, trip adviser reviews all seem to be dire, i would have to do all the driving...

So next evening we're like, oh how about Eurocamp in Spain then - cheaper to eat out, sunny, but lots of cabarat shows which scare dh, need to fly, they all seem to be 2hr+ from the airport so need to hire a car...

So then, oh if we're flying anyway, what about jet2 or tui so they sort your transfer, but they look to be more than we can afford, high rise hotels, can't sit out while the kids play, less local experience.

Now somehow I've been looking at Croatia, which wasn't even on my list, no idea about anything.

I used to love looking all this up, and even thought about doing it as a job, in another life. But this just seems really impossible to sort and a bit stressful!

Wonder if it's too much pressure as we've not been abroad for quite a few years. The kids are see slide, want slide. Dh shudders at entertainment. I want space. Maybe it can't be done.

Yes and we have been to one near Beziers airprort in France. Yelloh Village Serignan Plage. Was nice.

@Lookatmytoes what's RCN? Does it stands for something?

And look at eurocamps near Venice. Direct beach access we went to marina Venezia and loved it. We drove down through the alps which was amazing.

We met brits there who just flew and got a taxi over. The camp had golf buggies to get you and luggage to the caravan.

Our camp had about 5 restaurants, 6 pools, playground and 2 supermarkets - we didn't need our car once we got there

Sorry meant to add that we find Italy reasonable for eating out. Pizzas were about 12 euros in the restaurants and loads of children .

We have been put off France by cost of eating out, formality and men have to wear tight swimwear in the pools!

I'm no help - only done Eurocamp type holiday once in the Dordogne - we flew & hired a car.
But I absolutely get what you're saying about trying to find/book the right holiday - and there's only the 2 of us to consider now! Last year, having not been abroad since pre covid, we set about looking for a holiday. Nothing seemed to tick our boxes and the prices seemed extortionate even though we were looking at term time. We gave up in the end and booked a UK city break!
How I miss those days when I was in my late teens/early 20's when a friend and I would go into a travel agent on a Saturday and ask "what have you got leaving next Saturday for a week?" We would come out knowing which resort we were going to but not which accommodation. In fact sometimes we didn't know where we were staying until the coach stopped outside and the rep called our names out. We always had a great holiday. Oh to be young again and not care!

Whereabouts in the UK are you? If anywhere near Harwich, I've heard good things about the Dutch equivalent of Center parcs - much cheaper than uk CP, good pools and lakes for boating and paddle boarding - worth a look?

OMG the Hook of Holland ferry is a vomit rocket - I wouldn't do this with DCs.

the harwich-hoek ferry was dead calm for us this summer. kids loved the overnight boat.

I still dither and mine are adults who don't come with us.

France is similar priced to the U.K. in the most part, obviously variable depending on what you want but restaurants are all fine with kids, I took mine from age 5&7 most years (yes they are expected to sit at the table but my kids were always expected to sit at the table!)

The only main downside to france for some men is they have to wear trunks in the pool, swim shorts aren't allowed!

What's your budget?
What do you want to do?
What sort of weather do you all enjoy?

We always go to France as prefer to drive. Brittany is lovely but the weather can be unpredictable. I've never had a holiday there ruined by weather but there can be rain. Personally my DC don't like weather that's too hot.

Search up campsites and book direct - the accommodation is often cheaper and better than Eurocamp.

I can empathise, we are totally like this! We want to have a special holiday next year, changed the idea many times, at least you are agreed on the continent 😂 unlike us. Still haven’t booked.

I really really struggled this year to find something that everyone was happy with. We hadn't been abroad since before covid and I hadn't factored in rising prices/ stagnant wages and so was looking for the impossible on a budget that was never going to fund it. As soon as I added a few grand (thanks to an unexpected windfall) we suddenly found the holiday we were after.

When our kids were that age we did a lot of eurocamp/ canvas holidays. Southern Brittany was great as was Il de Re.

We flew London to Pula, Croatia. Only 2 hour flight into small airport. Hired a car. Driving was really easy. Got a fantastic mobile home with pool on campsite Valkanela via Allcamps. Our kids are a bit older but have loved this sort of holiday for years. Everything at your own pace. Take away pizza on site. A brilliant bakery also on site. No sandy beach (which is a win for us) but loads for the kids to do. Although mine happily spend all day in water.

Budget maybe £3k for everything. Get uncomfortable going significantly higher.

Ideally would like sunny weather, I like hot hot, kids haven't experienced hot before, dh prefers mid twenties.

Would like to do a mix of days on site with pools and days out. Would really love a pretty town with outside cafes and traditional architecture. Also able to see some nature, like a natural beach or a wood or a river.

Don't want to sunbathe. Also don't want super sporty activities. Although might like to cycle or canoe.

Not keen to do loads of driving.

Start with where you actually want to go and make it work.

I’m of the view you can do any country on any budget, you just have to compromise (on accommodation, length of holiday, eating out vs supermarket food, public transport vs car hire etc.)

So next evening we're like, oh how about Eurocamp in Spain then - cheaper to eat out, sunny, but lots of cabarat shows which scare dh, need to fly, they all seem to be 2hr+ from the airport so need to hire a car

You don't need to go to the cabaret shows, you could just sit outside your tent and chill after a BBQ dinner. Or walk in to the local town etc.

So then, oh if we're flying anyway, what about jet2 or tui so they sort your transfer, but they look to be more than we can afford, high rise hotels, can't sit out while the kids play, less local experience

Jet2 and Tui do plenty of options that aren't 'high rise hotels'

Self catering apartment or bungalow with a terrace on a complex in walking distance of a town is what you're looking for. They even do camping holidays so you can do that and have the transfer sorted for you (or some include car hire, but I'd be wary about that as I'm fussy about which car hire firm I use).

https://www.jet2holidays.com/family-holidays/camping-holidays

How about a Eurocamp type of holiday in Dordogne, you could drive or fly?

I do this op, I argue myself down and down. One year we ended up spending a week ina market town near Swindon when I started out looking at south of France ...

I had this year after year. We took the DC abroad once or twice a year for 20 years. You would think that meant I knew exactly what suited us/
Each time I would analyse what went well last year, what they didn't like, what they were keen to try next time. Eventually finding something that ticked every box we usually found the fact that they were a year older meant their tastes had changed a bit.
I made this note to myself after one holiday
"Next time. Don't ask want they want. Don't bother whether there is a salt pool, or activities. Just get a big apartment or bungalow in a complex with big pools in a good location.

@BarbaraofSeville is spot on. Jet2 don't just do "high rise" there is something to suit all tastes from 5* luxury to cheap and child friendly.

I’m going to go off the wall a little just to see whether any of these seem like possible options - @BarbaraofSeville mentioned that apartment complexes with outside space, pools but walking distance of nice towns would fit a lot of what you want. So I’ve focussed on that in a range of different places.

Cordial Mogan Valle Apartments in Puerto Mogan, Gran Canaria - lots of kids facilities, great pools, apartments have good kitchens and lots of space, nice terraces and balconies. Puerto Mogan is a beautiful pretty authentic fishing village, lovely restaurants, gorgeous and safe beach, possibilities to do lots of boat trips. Water park in the next town along the coast. Self-catering for 7 days with Jet2 in August could be done for £2400 incl. flights, luggage and transfers.

Vitor’s Village in Ferragudo, Algarve - village style aparthotel with lots of green spaces, choice of pools, good sized apartments with balconies. Ferragudo is a gorgeous fishing village, very traditionally Portuguese, lovely cafes and restaurants. Same deal as Jet2 above for £2400.

Waterman Beach Village in Supetar, Brac, Croatia - camp / cabin site on the beach, super clean and modern cabins, good amount of space, lovely pool, gorgeous setting. About a 15 min walk into Supetar where there are restaurants, cafes and shops. Great cycling too. Same deal as Jet2 above for £3000.

@cherryassam wow, I love you?

Seriously, I can't even find the camping part of their page without your link @BarbaraofSeville thank you

I'd say do eurocamp, and pick somewhere that has lots going on if the weather is mixed. The loire valley is a great choice, lots of lovely towns and chateaux to visit, hire bikes etc, if the weather isn't always pool weather. Not too long to drive to either.
I totally get the paralysis too! I was the same and just bit the bullet and booked something!

There are lots of options out there that might fit your bill - not to make the decision any harder for you @Indecisivelurcher.

I think deciding on a country to go to would be a good first start. I think your desire not to drive too far and for more guaranteed and settled weather would push me towards looking at the further afield apartment complexes / campsites / holiday parks which you would fly to and potentially not even have to hire a car.