Help finding a last minute break

[PopcornAndGummyBears]

disclaimer - DH and I are not lazy, but some difficult circumstances over the last year mean our heads are fried and we (me in particular) can’t think straight about anything other than the essentials like jobs/DC etc. (I had a breakdown 9mths ago and am still recovering and still struggle with adjustment disorder and anxiety) We’ve always researched and booked holidays ourselves before (only used a travel agent once for our honeymoon 23 years ago) but this year we just can’t seem to figure out what to do.

Holiday criteria

• Good weather (we’re open to staying in the U.K. if south of England, but would much rather go abroad for the chance of sunshine)
• Good quality accommodation - min 4*
• Accessible from Ireland by plane (north or south - if south then preferably Dublin)
• Hotel or Villa or Apartment - we’re happy with any, but outside space to relax is a MUST - a pool would be amazing, but not essential.
• Quiet - we are not interested in a busy resort with tons of people and holiday reps etc
• Aim of the trip is to fully relax, but we do also like to walk and explore so a city break is ok if other criteria are met
• Max budget £1500 for flights and accommodation
• Can do outward travel on 12/13/14/15 July or 9/10/11/12 Aug - going for 5-7 nights
• Just 2 adults - no DC coming on this trip

It’s really accommodation we’re struggling to find so any recommendations would be very gratefully received. I’m more than happy to search dates and flights myself if people could even point me in the right direction of suitable accommodation. We’ve spent hours on VRBO and lastminute.com and got nowhere.

Is that budget per person or total?

www.jet2holidays.com/beach/turkey/dalaman-area/olu-deniz/ramada-by-wyndham-fethiye-formerly-sertil-deluxe-hotel?duration=7&airport=4&date=15-07-2024&occupancy=r2c&board=1&oflight=1064214&iflight=1064217&rooms=43513&gtmsearchtype=Smart%20Search&smartsearchid=3746a632-c427-4d7f-88b0-ebacae4bc4ee

Sorry - I should have clarified - price is total. Thanks for the suggestion - I’ll be honest and say that I’m not keen on Turkey or Egypt but would probably consider anywhere else.

TUI Holidays | Live Happy | tui.co.uk

First option that is not Turkey in your budget

What about this one https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=025669&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&duration=5&flexibleDays=3&airports%255B%255D=BFS&flexibility=false&noOfSeniors=0&when=09-08-2024&pkg=4502441871/3/586/5&tra_o=Efbca427c4570a3216fa4169693d33e86&tra_i=E7ca3b515888f55166bbe8cf33fb17a43&units%255B%255D=&packageId=025669ESMJ059317231616000001723248000000EZY725817235936000001723593600000EZY7257DD014502441871/3/586/5&index=5&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&bb=HB&room=1%7C2%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&isVilla=false&searchType=search&durationCode=5115&rmpc=1%7C2%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&rmtp=DD01&rmbb=HB&fc=n&greatDealDiscount=0&bb=HB&price=pp

it's a bit more but it's half board so you'd not have to worry about food and has adults only areas which sounds like you would appreciate

Good quality accommodation - min 4 star

Bear in mind that star ratings are a measure of facilities not 'quality' so you'll find lower star places that are quality/nice so shouldn't be written off because they don't have some feature that you might not notice or care about such as a business centre or 24 hour reception. Conversely, not all 4 star places are nice/quality according to individual's subjective opinions.

Your budget is quite limited for those dates and shortish notice unfortunately. Could you spend more if you went HB/All Inclusive so didn't have to pay for food and drink? Perhaps put your criteria in the late deals section of jet2holidays if you can go from Belfast? Adults only and not in a 'party' area should mean it's quiet/relaxing.

But if it was me, I'd start by looking on skyscanner to see where the cheaper flights go for the right date/airport combination then look on booking.com for accommodation in the right area. Also worth googling any accommodation you find to see if it's cheaper elsewhere/direct.

We've been to Playa Blanca Lanzarote a couple of times, the small villa we stayed in is over budget for your dates at 2000 euro (we paid about £500 for a week in December!) but there's a bungalow complex we also stayed in that's more like 1000 euro from 15 July, which leaves money for flights etc, and ticks all your boxes, although I suppose 'quality' is subjective. The reviews are good, but the furnishing is a bit old fashioned (but most places in Spain use orange pine or dark wood so it's just 'different').

You get a little bungalow with your own private terrace on a complex that has a pool. Locally there's restaurants and a supermarket and it's about 30 mins walk along the seafront to the main resort centre/marina and restaurants etc.

https://booking.livvohotels.com/en/bookcore/availability/rooms/colormar/?partner=7694&utm_source=GoogleHA&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=GHADirect&device=d&country=GB&adults=2&roi_currency=GBP&campaign_id=20361363553&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVBm4g6G_8RObyYCUJyUY0gVWrptvUJ0fe7Nsr5enIWIr98CYr2WWRhoCAm4QAvD_BwE

Bulgaria? Watching with interest. We're looking for similar dates, with similar prices with no Turkey, Egypt or Tunisia! Bulgaria seems to be coming out on top so far, but I've never been and feel a little apprehensive and I'm not sure why? If anyone has any feedback I'd appreciate it x

I suppose you need to find the Bulgarian equivalent of Puerto Pollensa, Costa Adeje or other MN approved locations as opposed to Benidorm or Magaluf. The latter is Sunny Beach, the former, I have no idea, but I'm sure it exists.

Well due to a work commitment for DH, that just came up yesterday, our July date options are now out, so we’re on to August. Looking preferably at leaving on 9th/10th/11th as really need to be back by 18th at the latest. I guess we could leave on 12th and just go for 5 nights though.

I found a lovely apartment with huge balcony and a shared pool in Malaga on VRBO last night. With flights though it would be around £1600 which is really pushing it, esp as it’s about 45km from the airport so we’d probably need a car too. Frustratingly it was a 2 bed apartment and we only need a 1 bed, but all the 1 beds we found have no outside space.

That's really limited budget for August. If you were going outside of summer hols you might find something ideal, but for £1500 in August I think you'll really struggle.

www.booking.com/Share-AQTLXX

Skyscanner have flights leaving on 9/8 for £215

Not much over budget

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/spain/costa-blanca/benidorm/flash-hotel?ibf=true&to=16-08-2024&from=09-08-2024&dst=ALL&sAccId=&geog=ALL&flex=2&org=BFS&aa=1&rooms=2&outId=E13065218254ce6dc6fc6bdd3b824f0fd&inId=E9aaefe0a1735019ff34075c7eb0b6b8e&accId=ESCB0002&packId=2151505459/2/2411/7&boardType=HB&offerRooms=2/TW04&transfer=W2MS007751SS&dtransfer=W2MS007751SS&isExt=0&lateRoomCheckout=0&theme=beach&altAccIds=Z0048724&altPackIds=2234812127/2/2410/7&__ejhsort=hotels_list%7C1%7Cco1nsz6Q

what about this ? Benidorm, 4.5 on TA and 4.1 google so very good for the extremely limited budget you have. And it's half board for the max price you said for flights and accomodation so even if the dinner is not worth having you've still got breakfast included .

Mind you looking at the pictures it looks like the clientele are extras from the Tv show Benidorm with the top question about where can you hire a scooter 😂

Can you possibly go in September? We usually do med sun type holidays then and the weather is much better (too hot in August for me!) and it’s better value too.

Have a look at these, @PopcornAndGummyBears. Packages from Belfast, you could even get all-inclusive within your budget. (prices per person)
https://www.firstchoice.co.uk/results/?sg=51745874136&offset=0&sort=recommended.asc,price.asc&beach=true

Thanks all for your suggestions. The apartment we found on VRBO dropped its price and we managed to find cheaper flights with Ryanair (awful I know, but they were £150 cheaper than Jet2 and £250 cheaper than EasyJet) so including car hire we are paying £1540. Absolutely delighted. Thank you all for your help. (And for anyone else looking - there are deals out there - even in August!)