Is our family impossible to find a holiday for??

[WeeMadArthur1]

• DS1 (15) (autistic) doesn't like it if it's too hot, doesn't like sitting on beach, enjoys walking and sightseeing. Not keen on trying new foods.
• DS2 (12) likes the sun, enjoys a hotel with a pool/sea to play in, not keen on going for walks but is ok if there is something to see/do along the way.
• DH fairly laid back, likes to relax. Is vegetarian and has coeliac disease so needs restaurants that will cater for him.
• I quite like doing all of the above. Prefer sun, like to relax but prefer something to do as well. Would be happy doing most things as long as the kids are happy. Nobody likes it when it's too busy, and we're not keen on organised entertainment/kids clubs.

Last year we went to the Lake District which DS1 loved, but DS2 didn't. The rainy weather didn't help! We'd like to go abroad, but have no idea where to start or even what kind of budget to be considering. Any ideas?

Tenerife or Gran Canaria? Weather is mild, plenty of nature walks, hotels mostly with pools, food is not very “foreign”.

European centerparcs, there's a huge range and some have hotel.accommodatiom too. They are so much cheaper than the UK ones, and feel a lot more 'holiday's you are abroad.

I think you need a 2 centre holiday. Half the trip on the coast, and the second half further inland, up some mountains, for some cooler temperatures and more activities.

We are a family with an autistic and coeliac young teen, a vegetarian husband, and a pair of neurotypical and also very typical pre-teens. We are definitely more pool than beach, and lean more towards doing stuff than lying around.
For us we love a Eurocamp style holiday so we will drive to a site and have the car for day trips. We self cater and the kids eat the same things as we do at home. Lake Garda in Italy was fab, we've had lots of France trips too, and this year we're trying the Netherlands. We usually stay on inland sites with lake beaches and pools, and it works for us all.

The south of France is beautiful for walking and sightseeing as well as seaside, if ds1 can cope with a bit of heat. although doesn’t have the all inclusive type resort if that is what ds2 is after.

We have some similar overlaps to you, albeit younger children (but older one is probably autistic and has a similar dislike of sun and sea). I feel your pain trying to please everyone!

We’re looking at Duinrell in the Netherlands, which is a theme park and water park where you can stay on site - our budget means Eurocamp but they also have their own accommodation, some of which gets free entry to the water park (Eurocamp gets discounted entry, look carefully at this if it matters to you - theme park entry is free if staying at Duinrell). It’s within easy reach of lots of interesting Dutch towns and cities such as Delft and Amsterdam, and also walkable to the beach and a small town.

The Netherlands generally seems well worth a look for lots to see and lots of variety within a small area, much of which is accessible on public transport.

I’d also consider somewhere like Stockholm, or Finland/Sweden more broadly, where you could combine water activities (if the weather worked out) with sightseeing.

I'd go for a two centre holiday, somewhere warm and sunny then Copenhagen for the rest (or the other way round)

Do you have to go in summer hols, or would October half term work? If so how about island hopping in Greece? Shouldn't be too hot, plenty to see, and beaches for relaxing.

What about Lake Bled in Slovenia ? There are beaches and swimming areas on the lake, walking and hiking activities nearby and lots of hotels and scenic things to do. You could fly into Ljubljana and have a few days there then travel up to the lake as apparently the public transport is good.

Would somewhere like a lake in the Austrian Alps fit the bill? We stay at Achensee - gorgeous lake, lots of accommodation options incl self-catering, the lake is gorgeous, good mountain walks, Innsbruck and Salzburg are easy to get to by car or train.

Thank you for all the ideas so far, that's given us a few things to look into.

I probably didn't describe DS2's preferences quite right, he likes a pool/beach but doesn't like crowds and would want me with him, so we'd prefer a quieter place rather than water park. I think both DCs would probably like somewhere a little bit remote to be honest but I doubt that would cater for food needs very well!

Lake bled https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g274863-d296735-Reviews-Lake_Bled-Bled_Upper_Carniola_Region.html

A cruise could work really well for your family - p and o and Tui marella have reasonable priced ones -

For your DS15, there will be new places almost every day to walk round, plenty of shade on the ship and always things to do indoors if he doesn't like the sun - always other teens on board if fancied making friends, playing games etc but equally as easy to do things on his own, like cinemas etc

For your DS12 there are pools, kids activities and loads of things to keep him amused - out last one had an arcade and escape room on board

For your husband, it is really east to manage dietary requirements on the ship, the chef speaks to you every night about the next days menu to check its suitable

For you, theres so many ways to relax on board, spas, quiet spots to read, nice bars and cafes, and the entertainment is so varied throughout the day

For varied families it can be ideal, and its so safe as the cant go anywhere so can have the freedom of the ship.

Alpine lakes type thing, or if you go out of summer time, somewhere like Crete? It’s pretty quiet outside main season, loads of interesting things to do but beaches good too.

Or, Dorset or Devon?

We have had successful holidays in the Netherlands. Easy to get gluten free and my ASD child likes that it is orderly and not loud! We’ve done Duinrell twice. You’ve got beach, lovely towns including Amsterdam, amusement park and huge pool on site.

Garda was surprisingly successful as well. Again, gluten free was easy including eating out. Kids happy with pizza and pasta every day, lovely towns and cities to visit, throwing themselves off wooden piers into the lake. My two usually dislike the heat but didn’t moan about it once at Garda.

We always drive and either Eurocamp style thing or own tent. Kids love having their own belongings and familiar food.

I was going to suggest Euro Centerparcs but not sure if restaurants would suit vegetarian, but ok for self catering. A tip lsst week of August is outside Dutch school holidays so a lot cheaper than UK.

Any cruise in the school holidays on a ship that caters for kids (esp P&O) will be very busy and probably thr OPs family's idea of hell if their ideal holiday would be remote and far away from other people !

What about a cruise? You and ds1 could get off the boat and do all the excursions while dh and dc2 hang round the pools. Lots of options for shows for those that want to, or quieter activities.

OP, here's where we stay in Austria. Self-catering and super comfortable but there are lots of good restaurants around with decent allergy labelling and some good basics (I have picky kids and I found people really accommodating.) We mainly did a shop at MPreis and topped up from the local shop for eg fruit and veg.

The lake in summer is swimmable but never totally warm - the swimming pool across the lake is great.

Montenegro. Mountains and sea side by side!

This is really helpful, thanks all. It's given us lots of ideas to start looking into. Austria and the Netherlands are places we'd not thought about but could be good possibilities.

My first thought had been Barcelona (or nearby) as there's loads of sightseeing but also the beach, but I think it might be too hot and busy in the summer holidays.

Just to add - we found Austria has loads of outdoor municipal swimming pools, some with semi natural lakes as well as a rectangular pool. So lots of swimming opportunities as well as walking.

Left field but Chicago? City exploring, safe beige food aplenty because America, along with really good foodie and veggie options too, the summers are hot and it has 24 lake beaches to choose from.

Croatia might fit the bill. Or the Italian lakes?

We are going to Pompei! Staying in a hotel there with a pool. Obviously lots to do, plus being able to lie by the pool, or go to Naples or sorrento. Best of both worlds.