Help me with a destination

[thatneverhappened]

This is going to sound stupid. I'm almost 40- two kids aged 12 and 3 and I've only been on one foreign holiday as an adult to Rome when older child was 8.

I'm not really one for sitting on the beach or around the pool although I recognise kids like to do this for some of the day. I'd like to get out on local trips to see kid friendly things. My favourite childhood holiday was Sorrento because it offered a fascinating town and lots in close distance to do plus a hotel with a pool but it's outside of my budget this year. Can anyone recommend a resort/hotel near an interesting town where there's stuff to see and do or am I looking for something impossible?

I think a hidden gem is Tarragona in Spain, it has the most fantastic coliseum I’ve ever been too along with other fabulous ruins (that aren’t really ruins) we stayed in LaPineda about a 20min bus journey away, it’s a smallish town very quiet but has a water park and a ten min drive from PortAventura theme park. An hour train ride from Barcelona, which had lots of architecture!

Thanks! Great tip @Favouritefruits

I like Begur and those surrounding towns. Lovely beaches etc too

Definitely Spain as it's budget-friendly and children are generally given a good welcome. For example, in a small town there will be a playground. Lots & lots of choice of great beaches too.

@cheapskatemum any particular towns you’d recommend? I lived in Spain but only really know the South

My dc loved the holidays we had in Salou. We stayed in the H10 Salauris, which was nice with a big family room. It was walkable to the prom for nice evening strolls as well as being easily walkable to the theme park and the water park.

We also went by bus to Taragonna and it was an interesting town.

Kaprun in Austrian alps. Find accommodation that provides the local summer card and some cable cars are free and free entry into some things. You would need an indoor pool on rainy days BUT sunny days can be hot. Flights to salzburg in summer are not expensive. The card gives free travel also . Had a great holiday in 2023.

side in turkey- great resort hotels, beach and historical town

Chania in Crete

@thatneverhappened Nerja has lots to do for kids and the resort La Herradura is nearby. I haven't been since Covid/Brexit though, so don't know how expensive or otherwise it is.

We also like Menorca (Cala'n Bosch) Majorca (Puerta Pollença) and Sotogrande in Spain when DCs were younger, but again, not sure of cost.