Is anyone up for a challenge? European summer trip with 2 DC £1-1.5k

[Roadlesstravelledmaybe]

I’ve been searching and need ideas. I do believe it can be done.

It can be city break but preferably not a big modern city. eg Prague considered but I can’t find cheap flights at a good time from Gatwick. Also would need to be somewhere not too expensive for eating out - city breaks previously with them cost a lot spending wise.

A five night trip would be great and travel would need to be fairly simple so the travel time isn’t disproportionate to trip.

We live close to Gatwick so that is the preference re airport.

City break, beach break, anything considered.

Have a look at Budapest and Lake Balaton. Or Ljubljana and Lake Bled/maybe coastal Slovenia? No idea whether the budget would stretch that far but worth a try if you could get cheap flights.

Rough dates? Ages of children?

Is flying a non-negotiable? I know it cuts travel time but a short ferry/car trip could work.

You could get a ferry to Brittany or Normandy (or even Netherlands) and go from there: plenty of cities to choose from and lots of Eurocamp static caravan options. 5 nights in August would set you back around £1000.

School hols dates.

DC like trying different food, cafes, atmosphere, don’t like theme parks, do like swimming. 11 and young teen.

They will happily do museums etc but I think food is a part of other countries for them too.

On south coast so considered ferry but pretty sure I can’t drive abroad so that’s out. Eurostar was handy when we lived in London but it’s actually a bit of a trek now, airport prob easier.

I believe you can, definitely.
Porto or Lisbon?

I'd suggest Mallorca. Loads of flights with easyjet. Palma is fantastic, stay a couple of nights in the historic centre in an airbnb, eat pies from the amazing Forn des Theatre and find places that do tapas or pinchos. Then get a bus to Port de Pollenca and spend a few nights there by the beach.

How about La Rochelle in France. EasyJet flights from Gatwick 9-14 August just under £600 and a 2 bed apartment £700 on booking.com.

It's definitely doable.

😊

Lisbon is a possible but might be something I save for myself. I have wanted to go a while and have a very specific idea of drinking coffee and reading poetry by myself. There’s a risk of it being ruined by two bickering kids!!

Going to look at Mallorca and La Rochelle

thanks

Mallorca is normally pretty expensive for both flights and accommodation .

I would start off by looking at where you can get the cheapest flights .

Dubrovnik?

It can definitely be done! Are you super restricted on exact dates in August? I’d go:
Budapest
Krakow
Ljubljana
Sofia
Tirana
Vilnius
Riga

Fly with cheap airline eg EasyJet or WizzAir and stay in an Airbnb

I'm not actually sure it is possible if you want to fly. Driving and camping is probably your best bet for that kind of price. However, get on Skyscanner and look for flights within budget and go from there.

Last time I went to lake ballaton in August no accommodation was available - Hungarian holidays so I’d book and ensure accommodation. LacRochelle is lovely. What about Euro camps.

My daughter spent a couple of days in Tirana this week. The whole trip - including flights, hostel, meals and activities cost 112 euros. She wanted to go to the coast but didn't have enough time. 2 pizzas cost 11 euros. I'm quite tempted to go now.

Flixbus from London Victoria to Bruges or Brussels - about 150 euros return for 1 adult and 2 DC in August. Look for an apartment on Booking.com or AirBNB. From Bruges you can get the train to the coast - Blankenberg has all sorts of attractions for kids and a fabulous beach.

Tirana is a great idea but I think maybe your daughter prob flew Ryanair from stansted @MissAmbrosia. I’d be quite taken at the idea otherwise.

La Rochelle looks lovely and short connection at other end.

I think a coach journey from London to Europe would be too much for a weeks trip especially how short a drive it is to Bruges. Have been to northern France Belgium and Netherlands but I wasn’t doing the driving. Been having a look and I could possibly take slower non motorway routes. I think I’d be stressed nearer the time.

Eurocamps possible but not so much fun for me. Also those trips really need a car I think.

Im back to La Rochelle. Really good Air bnb places coming up. Also fresh bread cheese and fruit in France is almost better than eating out!

im working down your list first @Thisvehicle . Not restricted dates, just within school hols.

Cool - you can def do Krakow. Just checked eg EasyJet 6-11 Aug and booking . com. Flights without luggage (you may want to add some carry on) about £350 for 3 and apartment or hotel about £400 for 5 nights. That was a v quick browse you could prob get accom cheaper.

Its not expensive once you’re there - regularly comes up as one of the best value European cities.

The last week of the summer holidays is always cheapest. Have a look at eurocamps near cities you are interested in

Gdansk. Lovely (rebuilt) old town, fascinating, if gory, WW2 museum, catch the train for a daytrip to Sopot on the coast which is a resort all set up for sea bathing. Poland, so cheap as chips (and masses of food on the plates!)

Sofia. Lots to see and do (I never knew there was so much history in the city). Swimming might be tricky but you can go hiking in the mountains easily from the city. Cheap!

Split. Diocletians palace, daytrip to the islands, another daytrip to Plitvice national park. Probably the priciest of these options but much cheaper than Dubrovnik.

My sister has stayed at Eurocamp type places in Rome/Florence/Venice which were cheap but a quick bus ride from the city. They had pools for relaxation and supermarkets nearby which her kids loved as they enjoyed trying different foods.

humancompany.com/en/landing/florence-paddle-games-2019

Not sure the link works - you can search for Human Company, Italy.

Flights to Milan are usually pretty cheap as there are multiple airports. Could do a night or 2 in the city and then train to one of the lakes. Trains in Italy fab and not expensive - you could fly back from a different city if you can find good flights.

£1144 for a week in Malaga. Great food, cracking indoor food market, city, beach, short transfer from the airport etc.

I'd second Budapest - we went last year for the world athletics championships (last week in August) stayed in an Airbnb 5 nights including flights for your budget. It's a stunning beautiful city, fairly cheap, lots of museums, architecture, spa baths, nice food, easy public transport. I loved it so much we went back in December for the Christmas markets!

Antibes. Not the Cap which is silly prices, but the old town. We've done a week for five there for £1000-£1500 twice. Book an Airbnb so you can cook. There's a fantastic Provençal market and a cheap grocer. A gorgeous little swimming beach. Cheap flights to Nice, then a transfer. You don't need a rental car. We'll return there again and again.