Where to go on holiday?

[MyCatIsPlotting]

I am going round in circles trying to work out what we do this summer with the kids. We’ve previously been on Eurocamp mobile home holidays and U.K. static caravan holidays. Budget is not massive! Maybe £2.5-£3k max. Less would be good. We’re bound by school holidays but could take them out a day or two early.

DC1 (8) is probably neurodivergent and has very firm views. He wants to stay anywhere other than a static caravan. Dislikes heat and beaches but likes pools and public transport.

DC2 (4) likes everything!

DH struggles in heat (anything above low twenties) and also dislikes beaches.

I would ideally like something that didn’t involve full self catering for almost every meal but realise that’s probably unattainable on our budget. I would also prefer not to have to drive every day to get anywhere, which has happened on previous U.K. breaks, but like to explore.

I’ve considered Eurocamp in Northern France or perhaps the Netherlands, a static caravan or cottage in the U.K. (maybe Northumberland, Lake District, Dorset), and possibly somewhere more Mediterranean but outside July/August. I’ve also considered a two-city break but think DC2 would struggle with the walking.

Any thoughts? Is there an obvious “type”’of holiday I’m missing? Or particular areas of the U.K./campsites/properties that might work for us? It feels like whatever works for one or two of us doesn’t work for the rest of us!

from what you describe a two city break or even a one city break would be a bad idea!

apart hotel might be good

How about Amsterdam? We went when DC were 6 and 9. If you avoid the obvious area it's very family friendly. We stayed on a houseboat and DC loved feeding the ducks from the window. But it was of course self catering which you don't want... Other than staying on a boat the highlights of Amsterdam for DC were the science museum, the trams and the zoo.

@nutster , DC1 loves cities and would really enjoy a city break, I think - favourite thing to do is a day out in London. But I think DC2 is a bit too young and would get arsey at the amount of walking involved. I was thinking of somewhere like Stockholm/Copenhagen. Apart hotel is a good idea!

@Philandbill , that’s an interesting suggestion and not a place I would have thought of! Being frank, what I want is way down the list and if everyone is happy with the other aspects, fully self-catering is the way we’d have to go with the odd meal out. DH may have to pick up more of the self-catering this time round 😬.

We had a week in a caravan in the U.K. last year and five days in an AirBnB outside the U.K. visiting family, and it was the sheer relentlessness of having to make every meal that got to me in the end.

stockholm and copenhagen are veeeerrry expensive. As in… eye wateringly so

i love aparthotels

last one had a full kitchen but then also breakfast included (and it was a sensational buffet) which all saw us through until dinner, which i either cooked or we went out. Also great to have the kitchen for mid afternoon snacks for hungry children

Check out the European center Parcs. Much cheaper than UK/Ireland. Own cottage for space, pool warm in all weathers, lots of activities,more northern ones will have milder weather.

I know, I’ve been pre-kids….might not be one for this year!

Edited - that’s in relation to Scandinavia costs.

See, this sounds ideal. Even being able to load up on a breakfast buffet would be fab.

Though that’s simply if my own views get a look-in and I’m fully expecting us to end up in a static caravan or cottage.

I’m fully expecting us to end up in a static caravan or cottage.

why? 😐

How old is DC2? Can you take a pram?

How about somewhere in the Alps? Warm but not hot, lakes and pools for swimming, peaceful.

The Alps are wonderful but tend to be pretty pricey, the Dolomites are stunning too but expensive. I haven't actually been but what about a city break in Krakow combined with either Zakopane in the Tatras mountains or Wroclaw. It shouldn't be too hot, especially if you go up in the mountains and is probably a lot cheaper than the alps. You can probably eat out very cheaply too.

@itsmyp4rty thank you - that’s something I hadn’t thought of. I have been to Krakow but years ago.

Hadn’t thought of the Alps either, though I had been wondering about Slovenia.

Any other thoughts?

We regularly go to the Netherlands and have a holiday booked for this year. We are going for a fortnight and have two different sites booked. https://www.delftsehout.co.uk/ and https://www.koningshofholland.com/. We have been to Koningshof many times. They have safari tents and wooden cabins if you don't fancy a static. They also have a restaurant and snack bar on site so you wouldn't have to cook every night. They also have a swimming pool (which is currently being refurbished), a play area and games room. Plus a bar for Mum and Dad! Its around 30 minutes by bike to the sea - bikes can be hired on the site if you don't take your own.

Definitely do Slovenia, it's brilliant, beautiful and cheaper than most of Europe

I agree to take a look at holiday parks in northern France, Belgium and Holland. Not too hot, SC, but usually have a restaurant or two on site and a town or two nearby so you can go out to eat. We stayed in one in De Haan (Belgium), which is now owned by Centre Parcs (https://www.centerparcs.eu/in-en/belgium/fp_HA_holiday-park-park-de-haan) and it was great with little kids. Nice indoor pool, etc. There are other chains too, such as Sun Parks.

I would avoid the summer holidays and go to Greece/Spain/Canaries at Easter - so much cheaper. Also Cornwall at that time is great value - even the sea front premier inns are 1/4 of summer prices :)

Also, take a look at Forest Holidays, if you would prefer something in the UK:

My niece went to Albania last year teacher so stuck in the school holidays.
She said it was fantastic really scenic and lovely food cheap to eat out.
There are direct flights now from the UK
I could find out where she stayed if you were interested?

I also thought of Slovenia but people do tend to drive around I think - that’s not to say you have to though.

I wonder if there are farm stays or agriturismo type places in Austrian Alps or maybe France (not south of France, too hot) - if so these might suit. There’d probably be a pool and possibly food available.

How about a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads? Or would that be too caravan-like?

Do have a look at the North Sea coast of Belgium, an easy and short journey from the UK, but still excitingly foreign, and it probably won't get too hot!

You could stay around the Bredene or De Haan area where there is a wide range of holiday accommodation available. While the Belgian beaches are spectacular, there are plenty of other things to do... ancient cities to explore, huge nature reserves such as Het Zwin, bustling Ostend packed with fish restaurants, cheerful Blankenberge with its Art Deco pier....

There will be a good choice of restaurants, and you'll probably find a traiteur (look in the butcher shops) nearby selling ready made meals to heat up at home.

All the coastal towns are linked by the longest tramway in the world, ideal for the public transport fan, and great for day trips.

You really don't have to drive, there are regular and cheap coaches/buses that go from Ljubljana to most of the bigger tourist spots. Id suggest doing a couple of nights there, then out to Bled for a few and then maybe a day or two in Piran.

It's a small country so no mammoth journeys involved.

We go to a UK holiday park called Searles in Norfolk. It has both indoor and outdoor pools, daytime and evening entertainment, is right by the beach (not the best, it's the north sea!) and has an on-site fish and chip shop and snack bar for when you don't feel like cooking. Our kids love it. We have a 12 year old son (ASD) and a 9 year old daughter. They have a wide range of accomodation options from basic statics to luxury lodges, or you can take your own caravan which is what we do now, or tent. It also has a restaurant that serves a great buffet breakfast. There's a big Tesco just across the road, so we often go for a late buffet breakfast and then a couple of pizzas (or other easy meals) from Tesco in the evening.