Thoughts on these countries?

[BarbieKew]

I’m trying to find a Mediterranean type beach holiday for August, but I really fancy trying a new country, so have ruled out (for now) Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus.

Not got a massive budget, and want some opinions on the places that are coming

up reasonably priced. Last year we struck lucky and paid 3.5k per family for a fortnight s/c in a 4 star in Crete. Huge pools and plenty to do. Happy kids = happy parents. Not so lucky this year.

MALTA - I like the historical vibe of it, but am struggling to find big hotels with big pools and stuff to do nearby (got 4 teenagers to keep happy)

BULGARIA - cheap and cheerful or just cheap and a bit shit? Sunny Beach coming up a lot but it doesn’t sound right for us.

CROATIA - really fancy this but it seems so expensive, with a lack of big family sized hotels. Defo don’t want a villa. Which are the best resorts for restaurants, shops etc.

MOROCCO - not the Med but seeing some nice hotels come up in my searches. However, I think I’d rather go for a few days in Marrakesh than two weeks in Agadir.

Anyone got opinions on these places?
Anywhere else obvious that I’m missing?

Thanks!

Haven't been to all and we don't tend to stay in resorts so may not be that much help to you. But I've been to both Malta and Croatia and really liked both, Malta is very small and had good bus services (or you can hire a car) and pretty much anything on the island can class as 'nearby' - Gozo is even smaller and just a short ferry ride from Malta and is really nice for a daytrip. What kind of things do your teens like to do? There aren't many if any theme parks or water parks IIRC but there are plenty of watersports available as well as swimming/snorkelling.

Croatia is absolutely gorgeous IMO, Dubrovnik is a great city and your teens would probably enjoy all the game of thrones stuff but no sandy beach and it's probably more city break than resort holiday - for that maybe you'd want an island, Hvar is the biggest and most popular and is quite touristy/party spot with a lot going on, there are also smaller/quieter outying islands but I don't know if they'd have large resorts, would you consider doing a few days in Dubrovnik then maybe ferry across to an island or is that a bit too much hassle?

Thanks @maxelly this is helpful. Up until Covid hit we didn’t do resorts either, dragged the kids all over the place on mini travels. But then, because we had no package protection, we lost a lot of money on our cancelled 2020 holiday, and decided to do a package in 2022, by which time the kids were early teens and they loved the freedom that a big hotel complex gave them. As did we! As we won’t have many family holidays with all of them left, we wanted similar for this year. Just drawing a blank!

Malta was an amazing family holiday for us so that has my vote from your list.

What did you like about it? I hear mixed reports, and think the adults would love it but concerned there’s not enough going on for the teens. They’re pretty basic, it’s not like they need nightclubs, but last time they just wandered about the resort, mooched in the shops, went down to the beach together etc, tolerated the evening entertainment without parents around. It was a game changer for all of us, but I can’t wait to get back to our old style of holidays!

Happy kids = happy parents.
I so agree. With that in mind why not go with a safe bet in the med. Choose a different Greek Island or Spanish resort but you now know the recipe for happy teens. Plenty of time for being more adventourous when they are gone rather than risking it now.
Malta a bit of an adult choice I think. Bulgaria - not been but it has a dire reputation. Croatia beautiful, my teens loved Split and Dubrovnic.

You don't mention the Canaries - Costa Adeje is great for young teens.

It’s not the Mediterranean but you might find what you’re looking for otherwise in Mexico (Riviera Maya region). Absolutely amazing hotels and loads to do for teens.

I would say Mexico too, we did 2 weeks at 5 star hotel for than very average Spanish all inclusive for same dates - but would need to check weather for august and which coast

Albania? Really beautiful beaches and good value for money still

Albania would definitely be interesting to look into, it’s getting more and more geared up for tourism

Montenegro is an obvious one - continuation of the Croatian coastline - Dubrovnik is closer to Montenegro than to most of Croatia

Hmm just read your later posts. If you want a big all singing resort with entertainment for teens, and aren’t going to go s/c or travel about much, then just go wherever has the right resort - it doesn’t hugely matter what country it’s in surely?

If you want the same holiday formula as before, with a big resort so the kids can have the freedom to do whatever, then does it matter where you are?! It sounds like you won't spend loads of time outside the resort anyway, so just go for a resort you like the look of.

We did Bulgaria for the first time last summer. I was very anxious about it and by the time we arrived worried sick at why on earth I chose there. In the end, it was lovely. We had a beautiful beach front hotel. Plenty going on for the kids. Decent all inclusive options. Nice day out to nessebar and the water park. Beach was lovely. Walked into sunny beach in the evening a few times and that was also fine. Some lovely beach bars to the end of the resort. Came in about half the price of the resort we went to in Greece the previous year. Wasn't quite as nice but was definitely fantastic value for money

Croatia?

Happy kids + happy parents = Turkey.

Thats the place if you want the big resort hotels that many kids and teens love. Plus excursions are reasonably priced.

I know you’ve been but you could try another area and do different day trips.

By Cyprus, I assume you mean the Greek part.
Take a look at the Turkish north.

Iberostar Bellevue Budva Montenegro- busy old town and a new town. Beaches and watersports

From the FCO page: The authorities in the north of Cyprus do not share information with the British High Commission regarding the location, wellbeing or treatment of British nationals. This means you may be more vulnerable and at greater risk.

I heard about this when a friend’s friend went missing up there, the communication between countries was dire. Not that I’d be expecting to need help, but it does put me off with 4 kids to consider.

Yes it does matter! We don’t stick to the hotel at all, we like to get out and explore on foot and by car/boat/bus. It’s just when we’re back at base it’s more relaxing if everyone has the freedom to go off and do stuff safely, rather than the kids hanging around restless… or worse, stuck with their parents!

The Adriatic coast (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania) are definitely on the up, tourism wise. But as it stands right now there are few large hotel resorts and the ones they have seem expensive. Yet to spot one in budget.

I never thought we’d be looking at big hotel holidays, but here we are. Teenagers en masse are challenging! The things we did with them as children were totally different and I’m looking forward to the days of off-beat off-track holidays again. Right now they’re not interested in day trips to see ruins or climb hills for the view, but they’re not quite old or responsible enough to be left in a hotel alone. The adults have accepted that for a couple more years we have to compromise.

Cruise seems the obvious answer.

Agree @TizerorFizz , I was going to say the same

Croatia look further north up by Porec. The Valamar resorts are fantastic. It's beautiful, clean, great food. I personally wouldn't consider Bulgaria or Morocco at all.
Sicily seems to be coming up quite reasonable for some reason this year but I have no experience of it.

Morocco would be horribly hot. Sicily ditto and it’s not a large resort sort of place.

Northern Croatia coast, Porec, Rovinj. Some lovely hotels, great food, not too pricey. Can get flights to Pula, but often cheaper to fly to Venice and drive round (don't forget a motorway permit for Slovenia though)

Funnily enough I was looking at this earlier. Something like flying into Venice or Verona and out of Split, taking in Trieste and Slovenia along the way. That’s the kind of thing that excites me!