Help - all out of ideas for a holiday without the kids

[HarrietBond]

My in-laws are having the children for three nights in mid-April so we can get away. And I just can't work out where to go - I'm out of ideas. Please bombard me.

Things I need/want:

1. Travel from north of England - unless we have to I'd love to avoid having to go somewhere via London
2. Not very expensive travel - ideally under £500 and I'd love to avoid Ryanair but will take it if it seems the best or only option (and travel does not have to be flying, and we don't even have to leave the UK)
3. Not a long journey in total if possible
4. Nice food
5. Reasonably priced accommodation available but massive bonus if we can get somewhere that feels like a treat
6. Either pleasantly warm for lying around with books OR a city with lots to do
7. Somewhere I won't feel guilty going without my children as I'll be thinking how much they'd enjoy it

Hoping MN travel wisdom descends to help me

I go to Jet2.com and easyJet, search for 3 night breaks from Manchester

My suggestions would be Dubrovnik or Rekjyavik if you can find something affordable for the right dates

As a Uk alternative, we went to Bath and went to the thermae spa and pottered around shopping and having nice food. Also v lovely!

Definitely Malaga or another Spanish city - depends what flights are available for your dates. Use Skyscanner and look at Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, but also look at city break packages with Jet2 and Easyjet, sometimes work out cheaper than booking separately.

Don't discount Ryanair, they're fine, honestly.

If you go to Malaga, as well as the city itself, and the aforementioned visit to Granada, you could also go to Cordoba or get the train down the coast to somewhere like Benalmadena.

Loads to do in the area, great value, food great.

I'd start by looking at the flights available with easyJet from your preferred airport(s) and go from there!

Amsterdam - flight from Newcastle or Teesside is under 1 hour, its a fabulous city for just a couple of nights break.

Thanks, all, for all the suggestions. We can't afford a Jet2 break, and the vast majority are to places I'd feel awful going to without my kids. Easyjet holidays. Easyjet has some more affordable options but the same applies really. We can't afford a proper family summer holiday so I would be miserable in a resort during the school holidays surrounded by children - and we can't afford to take us all or I would! I need to go somewhere they'd be bored basically.

I'm researching Malaga, and also considering the South of France.

I really dislike using Ryanair but accept it's often the only way to get somewhere without spending money I don't have.

Malaga gets my vote for a short break. Has everything, beach, harbour, history, great food, art, retail.
Easy transfers, lots of flights. Places to visit by bus, car and train…