Good holiday for older teenagers

[Carusa123]

I'm looking to book a family holiday for a week next July. It's a celebration of sorts and also I feel like it might be our last holiday all together as oldest DC is turning 19 soon.
Options we are looking at include a cruise in the Med, a week in an Ikos type hotel (not sure which one) or maybe a trip to New York. Or something else that I havent thought of yet!! We haven't done any of these before.
Wish list is nice accommodation, good food, lots of activities for 3 teenagers, some form of nightlife, nothing wild but would like to go out a few nights.
Budget 10,000 euro max, would prefer less if possible.
Would love any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks all!

I’d go for the cruise.
as much as we loved NYC as a family, DH has been in July and said it’s not a good time of year to go.

Disagree - we went to NYC last year in early July with teens and it was fabulous. Weather was great so could comfortably do the High Line, NYC ferry (which felt like we were on a boat on the Med!), Little Island, Central Park, Mich about Brooklyn etc.

This sounds obvious - but have you asked your teens if there is somewhere they'd really love to go? That can be a good starting point, if not.

NYC can be stinking hot and humid in July and the drinking age there is 21 so if your teens are of drinking age here they may find that annoying - and the Americans are VERY strict about it - they will NOT be allowed to drink in any bar or restaurant and they will be carded to check their age. Worth knowing, if you didn't already. Otherwise, it's a super-cool destination and most teens love it.

Med cruise, or cruise and stay would be a great option, do choose a ship that allows drinking from 18 if your 19 year old drinks (American companies can be restrictive and tend to be pricier for drinks). For land based, Tenerife is a good option as plenty of adrenaline fuelled activities at relatively reasonable prices (we did quads, paragliding and sailing), good buses and very laid back at our ai hotel - help yourself to drinks including spirits.

Cruises are great.

We have also done a two centre hol in NY and Orlando which our older teens enjoyed.

Do they like outdoors/wildlife? Safaris are fabulous.

Thanks for the feedback...I have asked them and they are open to all of my suggestions. We usually do a fairly simple SC campsite/beach combo so they are excited to do something a bit more fancy 😀
@gotomomo can I ask what hotel you stayed at in Tenerife and if you would recommend. Thank you.
I think I'm leaning towards the cruise or an AI. If we do NY I fear I will be chief organiser of days out/restaurant picking/general entertainment and I quite fancy taking a break from ops planning this time around!

@snottymcsnotface a safari would be fabulous but I dont think our budget would stretch to it. If you think it might I'd love to hear more 😍 thank you.

What is your budget?

My suggestions would be Japan,or inter-railing across Europe,

Hi we stayed at the Princess inspire in Costa adeje which is 16 plus and also does all inclusive but is right in the centre so easy for nightlife. My 17 year old loved it and we’ll definately be going back!

My teens loved going on a cruise. As much as they liked NY, no holiday has beaten a cruise, just for the sheer variety. I'd suggest picking a larger ship with plenty to do - some have ropes courses, laser tag etc. One of my teens spent hours playing on the sport court. And they all loved shuffleboard! Plus the excitement of a new port most days.

I agree with checking the drinking age - some only allow drinking from age 21, some allow from 18, some allow wine and beer only between 18-21. Most do allow over 18s to drink in the Med, but do check just in case.

"... nice accommodation, good food, lots of activities for 3 teenagers"

Something completely different to the previous suggestions but which fits the bill would be a week in the Alps - Austria, France or Italy. Cheap to get to using the usual budget airlines - or more interestingly by rail or Nightjet train.

My experience is out of date as it was ten years plus ago but I've heard South African safaris can be cheaper, maybe have a look into it? Definitely the most memorable holiday we have ever had.

Villa with own pool close enough to walk to resort then budget for lots of eating out.

We did a villa holiday with early 20s DCs (and respective partners) last year. They loved having their own pool. The villa was big enough to mean we weren't cramped at all.

South of France so we drove down with one DC & partner. Other DC & partner flew down.

Self catering because that is what we find relaxing - croissants for breakfast, deli lunch, ate out in the evenings separately or together as tge mood took us.

Probably my best holiday.

Thanks all for the additional suggestions. I've been looking more closely at a cruise now and have been quoted just over 10k for a week AI on Marella Voyager out of Majorca. That includes our flights and tips. If anyone has any experience of this company/ship/route I'd love to hear it 😊

Stella Palace. Greece has some nice hotels. I've never done a cruise... I would ask your teens though I suspect they might fancy that! Where would they like to go OP?

Marella cruise thats TUI if I am not wrong - My only experience ( being on the recieving end of Cruises when they dock in my city ) is that Marella has a very mature age group on board or young families.

I’d go bigger than Marella. Their cruise ships are nice but they are older, small and don’t have much to offer 19 year olds.

I’d pick Royal Caribbean 7 days Oasis Class from Barcelona.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the suggestions and am busy researching lots of them. I have priced a RC cruise also...but it's almost same price as Marella (Tui) WITHOUT meals & drinks and that makes me nervous of overall cost! Maybe a week in a lovely hotel in Greece or Turkey be better...I'm currently looking at 4/5 stars in Crete and Kos. Bloody hell holiday research is a time consuming activity 🙄

Have you had a look at NCL cruises in the Med for July? You can get a couple of inside cabins on some of their larger ships (Escape, Epic etc) for around £5000. This includes drinks package, a bit of wi-fi, a speciality meal etc. You would need to add daily service gratuities (optional, but seems mean to remove them), but after this, there's no need to spend a single other penny on board unless you want to.

My teens loved NCL. We're just back from a cruise with my 18 year old daughter. There's probably not as much on board as some of the Royal ships, but there was plenty to do. Game shows, comedians, music shows such as duelling pianos, great broadway style shows (we watched Million Dollar Quartet, which my DD loved as she is very into Elvis, Johnny Cash etc). In the day there was water slides, a sports court, a ropes course, table tennis, giant chess, a video arcade (payable) etc. Some of their ships have laser tag, go karts etc (although these cost extra)

I'd recommend NCL to any family with teens, although I do think Royal are probably better for family with younger children.

We did 2 cruises when DS was 17 and then 19, was brilliant and would recommend. Also did a driving trip around part of the USA but it was a month. I like at least 2 weeks for America.

Neilson is good with teens.

I personally would go for Greece and Turkey and book watersports - windsurfing, wake boarding, paragliding.

Turkey is really reasonable for excursions.

That sounds ideal!! Will research immediately 😁

That reply was meant to quote the NCL cruise post!

@dotdotdotdash Do you have any specific resorts/hotels you would recommend in Greece/Turkey? I feel fried from looking at options on various travel sites and would love a good personal recommendation. Thank you!