What's your ideal temp for lazing around the pool...

[gingergingerginger]

And where and when do you go to find it, please?

Greece in July/aug can be very hot - high 30’s into the 40’s at times. We went every year at this time when DS was at school and it varied but was invariably really hot but not humid.
Rhodes and Kos were the hottest though I’ve been to Kefalonia in June and it hit 40 - though that was a Europe wide heatwave even the UK was roasting that year (2004)

I think this is why May half term flights are now crazy prices, from my local airport at least. We've found that week perfect for the southern Med. In the summer holidays we've been to Tuscany in the last week of August. That was lovely, we were in the pool a lot, but did have a few showers. I think if you can only do July/August then the last week of August tends to be a little cooler, although nothing's guaranteed, obviously.

I think it's because DS was so, so happy floating around in the pool last year in his own little world that we really want to give that to him again. He asks for nothing and he has such a hard time with his SEND/ASD/bullying etc. So in an ideal world we'd just fly and flop to some big resort, maybe AI, where he could just be in water all the time. Northern Europe isn't set up for that, I guess?

He didn't even have a holiday until last year (aged 12) so we feel like we want to make it up to him a bit now we have some money/time and don't have to bring his older brothers (who are now in 20s).

You could look at Portugal, Canaries or the Atlantic coast of Spain. They may be slightly better as you have the breeze.

We went near Cadiz in the last two weeks of summer holiday, up to the 3rd September, and it was ok for staying next to the pool.

If you don't mind no beaches Madeira might be good weather wise then. Something like the Rui would be good if you want the all inclusive.

Whale watching season should be in full swing too and there's some great boat trips if he'd like those?

30 - 31

I went to Crete in September last year. It was very hot. But on the north, also very windy. Red flag, beaches shut windy. Sounds great for cooling down, but it increases the risk of burning, as you can't feel it. In your shoes, I'd do as a PP suggested, and go to the Alps - the ski resorts have pools etc.. and are beautiful.

That's really interesting. I didn't realise that it was as windy as that.

Something like Bulgaria/Croatia might suit - definitely set up for a traditional summer hol

20-25 for me, any hotter and I can't lie around in it. Sometimes it's too hot in the UK summer for me and I hunt for shade.

We avoid going abroad anywhere hot in the summer holidays because I know that I won't handle it. We usually go abroad in the May or October half terms and use the summer hols for UK holidays like camping.

Around 30-34, but in the shade not full sun. Lovely and hot when you’re in the pool. We go to Turkey in the summer hols and love the heat.

Like @DanceMumTaxi i like it so hot you can lie in the shade. We are a family who like hot weather- Crete in July was perfect for us with highs of 35c.

I went to the Côte d’Azure last summer and it was around 25 the whole time the first two weeks of August. It felt hotter tbh, but was never uncomfortably hot. Same climate on the neighbouring Italian Riviera.

If you’re looking for a private pool villa, I wonder if the hills behind the Costa del Sol might suit. I know Southern Spain is hot, but once you get in the hills, it’s a couple of degrees cooler and stuff is more affordable. You could search for a place with a shady pool to suit your son. I would start looking around Cómpeta and expand from there to see if it’s something you’d consider.

Last summer was an anomaly, but there is nothing to say that future summers in the Med won't be similar, and it was in the 40s for weeks in some areas, including Greece.

If you want 28-33°C then I would avoid the Med in August. Personally, I'd recommend Portugal, Madeira and the Canaries - all of which are cooled by their proximity to the Atlantic ocean. When it was 40+ in Greece last summer, it was low 30s in Tenerife and in the north of the island it was cooler still. Fuerteventura is known to be cooler, due to a constant wind, but there is less to do there. If you just want to lounge by a pool though it would be fine.

This year we've only got the last two weeks of August to play with and it feels like we're not going to get a pool holiday without tolerating it being even hotter.
I would suggest the Canaries. We tend to go there in winter as they are all year round but in summer they are never as boiling hot as the Med and almost always windy so that takes the edge off. Lots of good family resorts like Costa Adeje in Tenerife or Playa Blanca in Lanzarote.
Also consider the Algarve as it's on the Atlantic. It means the sea and pools are cooler but it's less hot than the Med.

I did Crete Aug 2020 and it was gorgeous, 32-33 degrees but low humidity. I think the humidity is the bigger issue, did Majorca Aug22 and it was not comfortable, got so sweaty and sticky as soon as you left the room, i think i'm going to be saving the Balearics for May in future

Madeira! Hot enough for pools/lazing, but not too humid or uncomfortably hot. There are some nice hotels in Funchal and options for fun day trips to the rest of the beautiful island.
The Alps/Dolomites might also be ok and do have pools in the towns/villages as well as hotels, but we found the heat could be quite stifling if you weren’t actually UP the mountain. Some of the towns are in valleys which seem to trap the heat somewhat if there’s a heatwave (like last summer).

You could also try Northern France - Normandy or Brittany etc. I've always managed to locate a house with a pool (not sure re hotels) but it's usually that chunk better than the UK but not boiling like the south of France.

72-75 …… yep, Fahrenheit - shock horror.

Madeira! Hot enough for pools/lazing, but not too humid or uncomfortably hot.
I was coming on to say the very same thing.

Sorry off topic but @Notimeforaname and @squareofthehypotepotenuse any recommendations for Madeira? I've been looking at it because I hear it's green and the gardens are lovely. However the hotels I've looked at don't inspire and don't get good reviews for food. Just me and DH and he prefers half board.

30-33 because I never sit/lie in the direct sun because i’m very fair and burn quickly and easily so I like it to be hot enough that it’s still hot in the shade!

23C to 28C - perfect.

nowhere, I get bored too easily.
Maybe if I fall asleep after a long session that was exercise, and then not too hot, 23-28 might be good

Majorca in October half term is usually lovely. Pool and beach weather (25 to 28) but you might need a jacket on the evening. I love a bit of sun before winter sets in.