Special holiday family August 2024

[Onelastholiday]

Name changed for privacy. Have posted on Chat too but not getting any responses so far.

I want to book a really special family holiday for next August 2024.
There will be two children 9&10 years.

We want to go somewhere hot with swimming pools, brilliant children’s club and good food - half board or all inclusive, with nice walks, beach and shopping - like a resort style hotel.

We’d consider self catering but need the hotel facing kids club and pools.
We normally do H10/Iberostar/Lopesean type hotels.

We have around 4k to spend on this.
We want 14 days but would drop down a day or two if needs be.

With the circumstances we are facing we want something really wonderful and maybe somewhere different than we’d normally consider.
I don’t have a lot of time to explore options stm and would so appreciate any recommendations - has anyone been anywhere they’d recommend for this sort of thing?

It’s probably a stretch for that budget but thought it’s worth asking

• been looking at usual places, TUI, EasyJet, Jet2 - Is there any place to look for a good deal?

If I got ideas I could look them up rather than just starting to look at reviews etc and it would save me time.

I was looking at cruises but 7 days not long enough and 14 days too expensive.
Also Gran Canaria/Tenerife/Sweden/am open to anywhere.
Even Dubai as a wow factor or somewhere far away like that, somewhere we’d never imagine going to.

Where do people look for such kinds of holidays?
All help is so appreciated

Any ideas at all
what was your best family holiday?

you would boil alive in dubai in august. Its close to 50 degrees.

have you considerd flight times/ jet lag?
how far is too far?
just Europe or further away?

I'm sorry to say that I think 2 weeks in August is going to be a real stretch on that budget. I'd either re-think the resort style half board/inclusive that you want and go for a villa rental OR consider a 4* somewhere like Turkey or Egypt or Cape Verde for a shorter duration.

You could try asking an independent travel agent for ideas. I have used a lovely lady from Travel Counsellors, they don’t charge anything as they get commission from the hotels and have loads of knowledge about good options.

I've just got back from a cruise that cost £4.2k for 12 days. Only 2 of us went but we had a large balcony room. We could have had a smaller room with no balcony for £3600. I think some cruises only charge £20 a day for additional DC. Look up the Norwegian cruise line. They have offers on ATM but prices always drop closer to sailing dates.

You could look at lakeside hotels in Central Europe, somewhere like Slovenia or Bulgaria might be cheaper than the obvious Mediterranean resorts.

Something to consider, on our cruise all good including 3 speciality dinners was included and inclusive drinks package plus as much whippy ice cream as you can eat all after lunch and evening. So you spend very little spending money. And the prices instated included all tips/charges.

That budget seems low for the requirements. Have a look at jet2holidays, tui or easyjet online and use the filters to see what you that sort of holiday would cost you. Next year we're going 3* in Majorca and that's over £4k for the two weeks (for two adults and two children).

Puerto pollensa in Majorca might suit you, or puerto mogan in Gran Canaria (I haven't been there though). I've heard good things about Neilsons holidays in terms of things to do for the children.

Thank you.
Yes it seems Dubai in August mightn’t be best idea, maybe why it’s affordable!
Will look up Neilson holidays, I’ve not heard of them.
Where would i look up the lakeside hotels in Slovenia/Bulgaria, are they on tui/jet2 etc?
We’ll consider going anywhere.
Are there any hotels you’d recommend?
I will look up the cruise line suggested.
I have approached independent travel agents but find it hard to get responses

Hello.
how about the Algarve? Food is amazing, beaches gorgeous and it’s quite reasonable. We’ve not stayed anywhere with kids clubs but there are plenty of places. Have a look at Martinhal in Sagres although I don’t know what the cost would be in Aug. I’d second travel counsellors, they would do all the work for you and make sure you have the really fabulous holiday you’re looking for. I really hope you find something and that you have an amazing time.

Try Helen Walker, she organised a brilliant holiday for us this October. https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/helen.walker/

I can’t say about hotels in Central Europe sorry but I know two people who go to lakeside hotels every year and love it, I think one goes to Hungary and one to Austria. They both say it’s gorgeous and laid back without the crowds you get in the med.

I think your budget is unrealistic - sorry.

We did 11 nights type of holiday you are looking for this year and it costs £5.5k. Its a lot more in Aug 24.

It might be worth looking for cheap flights though. We had a lovely holiday just before Covid and our flights were just over £200 for our family of 4. We then booked direct with an aparthotel for B&b.

Yes. It will be a stretch on that budget I’m afraid. However I was recently also looking at Bulgaria (beach not lakes) and was amazed how cheap it was.

Yep, budget is the main issue. Europe is ridiculously expensive in August.

If you have some wiggle room on budget then I would recommend Mauritius. It is their winter but temperatures around 27 degrees still BUT you need to stick to hotels on the West coast as it gets very windy on the East. We went a couple of years ago and had a fabulous time.

Best At Travel is showing 7 nights all inclusive for about £1.5k per person and half board at £1.3k.