Holiday Recommendations for family of 5 including 3 teens please

[LazyDoll77]

Hi,
We have spent the last few years holidaying in the South of France camping/safari tent and static tent with Canvas holidays.
We have all loved these breaks and the mix of pool time, canoeing, kayaking and activities and also the kids love meeting and making new friends on the sites.
However we have had enough of the 23 hour drive and are looking for something different for next summer.
Due to 2 of the kids finishing exams we can go outside of school holiday time so early July next year.
Requisites are:

• sun
• other families with teens around
• pool
• close to sea
• Not too fussed about sightseeing as really ready for a relaxing holiday

We’ve never been all inclusive or even to a hotel as a family (usually caravan, camp or Airbnb) and don’t really know where to start!
Budget £3-4K
any advice/experience or recommendations welcome please!

Lagos in Portugal has a surfing, boho vibe. It is on a ‘backpacking route’ so lots of young people around.

I like the relaxed vibe.

Sea kayaking, caves, walking as well as huge sandy beaches.

I would book a villa or apartment, within walking distance of the centre. The marina would be a good choice.
Lagos has an indoor food market and a range of restaurants. (and a train line to Faro amongst other places).

That sounds amazing and very fitting thank you. I’ll get researching!!

We’ve just been to Duinrell in the Netherlands, staying in a luxury lodge (Premium Duingalow)
Theres a theme park on site that you have unlimited access to, plus 2 water parks - outdoor and indoor - plus go karting, pádel tennis, volley ball, an arcade etc
Absolutely loads for teens to do.
The long sandy beach is about a 40 min easy walk (but could also hire bikes for a quicker journey).

The town of Wassenaar is literally 5-10 walk, with some great restaurants.
Amsterdam about 30 min drive if you wanted to do a day trip.

We paid about £2500 for a week (went last week) for the Duingalow.

This was our 3 bedroom lodge - one double room / 1 with 2 single beds / 1 with 2 bunk beds.

Thanks Tigerbear. I’m guessing you drove from the U.K.?

Have a look at Tui Magic Life holidays. They’re great for teens, we stayed in the one in Fuerteventura

That is a tight budget for 5. I would consider the Vendee in France which is significantly closer, we take the overnight ferry to Caen or Le Havre.

There's a few options on TUI in budget flying around the first week of July AI but they won't be luxury options.

I do recommend Magic Life though I doubt it's in budget

Highly recommened Duinrell also ! We have been so many times and I think it will always be one of our favourite trips .

@LazyDoll77 we got the Eurostar there, and flight back, to London City. In total, travel was £170 each. Only reason we didn’t get Eurostar back, us because there’s works going on at Amsterdam station, and they don’t have space to process UK passports atm, but I think it should be complete by next year.

We ended up having a very cheap holiday once accommodation paid for, as there’s so much to do on site. We had two 13 year olds with us, and felt very safe to let them go off and explore the theme park alone (the accommodation is within the theme park). Things like pádel tennis were extra, but only 5 euros per court for an hour. Mini golf was 2 euros each.

All inclusive with waterpark

Somewhere like this? We have used Tui regularly. Filter to for your wants, needs and budget and then you can see the prices for the whole of July. This one has a free child places too.

Fab thanks will get checking out those options. We like to have a break away several times a year and one main summer holiday and don’t think we’d be prepared to lose any of those breaks to bump the budget although that is something to consider. Don’t think I could go 6 months without a holiday tho 😂

Hmm the boys will almost 14, 16 and almost 18 so I’m not sure if they’ll have grown out of the type of thing Durinell has on offer. Our French Euro camp type holidays did tick a lot of our boxes including budget so I’m finding it hard to find a good non bank breaking alternative!