Panicking about this August

[Monket]

We have not yet booked a break for the summer, despite having taken the AL. Due to some ill health and then a family bereavement it’s been a low priority, but I’m now panicking and hoping for some help please!

Looking to go for 2 weeks mid-Aug, from London to… anywhere. Me, DH, 3 DC (7, 5, 1yo), so preferably flying maximum 3.5hs. Don’t want to fly and flop - we can handle up to a week of a resort but need variety to keep the kids occupied. Not picky eaters. Will not entertain any sort of camping or glamping. Enjoy walking holidays, new food, adventure activities (but tricky for 1yo). I want to be warm (DH has otherwise suggested Scottish Highlands) but we don’t want to roast in eg, Egypt etc.

In the past we’ve done a hugely successful road trip followed by a week in a 5* resort - doing this in for example Portugal on these dates is coming out at £20k for the fortnight… Budget is ideally half that, which is still a hell of a lot of money, obviously!

Any ideas gratefully received because I’m overwhelmed…

The Alps might suit you well - there is loads to do, it’s warmer than UK but not as boiling as the Med, and doesn’t get as booked up or cost as much as beach areas.

Some of the activities would be tricky for a 1yo but there’s quite a lot she/he could come along for - walks, flatter bike rides, lakes, mini golf. You and DH might need to take turns if your older ones want to do the more adventurous stuff (eg toboggan or Wibit). Or if you stayed at a Kinderhotel there would be childcare available, but that does bump the cost up.

If it helps I haven’t booked anything either 😬

Check out jet2 for holidays. They usually have offers on, like right now in the jet2 app they have £400 off. They also don’t charge for infants until 2 years old.
i like the app because you can look at places you like and change the dates around to find cheaper flights etc.

Sounds like you've had a lot on- but don't panic! I'm planning May half term holiday and I feel like I'm cutting that fine too!

Do you want to stay in one spot for the whole fortnight? We had a lovely week in Brittany when my kids where the same ages as yours. Beautiful beaches like cornwall but not as busy at all. It felt very chilled with quality family time, hot but not unbearable like southern Europe. We got an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo I think, which the kids thought was fun.

Then you could drive down to Puy du Fou theme park (3/4 hours), which I haven't been to but everyone I know who has been have raved about it - theme park based on history but I feel like that's underselling it. The kids would love it, it's meant to be spectacular. Then I'd finish it off with a night or two in Paris and return home via Calais ferry. Or that trip vice versa if you want culture/fun first and then chilled beach second.

I've been using https://www.hundredrooms.co.uk/ to find accommodation in France for May and lots of nice looking places - less sifting through places like airbnb.

They may be booked up but Kinderhotel in Austria may be an idea or at least give you an idea for a location and you can then search further.

Lake Garda?

Frankonia Switzerland in Germany? Hilly but not the alps, plenty of cycling, hiking, a Playmobil fun park near Nürnberg.

Thanks all, I looked at the options you suggested and in the end we've gone for a Kinderhotel in Austria. We remembered a terrible resort-based holiday we had a few years ago when our eldest was the same age that our youngest will be on this trip, and having to constantly hold the baby in the pool is so tiring - we didn't get a break at all, and that was only with one DC! So I hope this will be a much better experience, hopefully not too hot as well... Thanks for the suggestions!