Child-free for a week - where should we go??

[PrayForMyBum]

Next summer both DCs are heading off for 9 days on an overseas Scout trip. It means we have a window to potentially have a holiday just the two of us, for the first time in a loooooong time.

So - where should we go?

Criteria are that it must be walkable to fun places - bars, beaches, old towns, culture etc - and while I don't mind if it's a hotel or self catering, we generally can't do all-inclusive as we're vegetarian and there is never enough choice or decent quality.
Have thought about Ibiza (we've never been despite being ardent ravers in our youth), Sri Lanka, Croatia and poss the Caribbean/Central America. But I'm open to options!

It'd be end July, so annoyingly can't avoid school holidays.

WWYD? And have you been anywhere totally amazing?

I'd start by looking at adult only hotels and if you can in the luxury ranges

Following OP as we have the same, wonder if it’s the same scout trip?
Two years ago we went to Iceland which was amazing so excited to do something different this time

For 9 days, I wouldn't go too far - you'd likely spend 2 days travelling.
From your list, I think Croatia is good. I recently spent 6 days in Dubrovnik.
It fits your bill, but with hindsight I'd have gone on to somewhere else for a few days. Maybe Split ?

Take a look at Madeira. Some great hotels, good food.

We're omnivores, but I think veggies are well catered for.

Albania is one of my recent favourites
Agadir ticks boxes.
So does Portugal, Porto and Lisbon and surrounding areas are great.
Germany has nice beaches, culture food and easy to get to, particularly Syit
I also like Santander.

Zadar is beautiful and would pretty much tick all your boxes. Might be a little hot in July though.

Also a fan of Porto, Santander and Santiago de Compostela.

Ibiza would be good. You could stay in Santa Eulalia for grown up luxury and spend a night out in San Antonio or Ibiza Town reliving your youth.

Look at Santorini… beautiful. Stay in Fira. Walkable to bars etc. Some fab restaurants so go B&B

Would recommend TRS Ibiza! Absolutely amazing food, service and drinks.

DH and I are flying to Dubrovnik tomorrow. Fron the research I’ve done, it seems to tick all of your boxes. The only thing I’m not sure about is what the vegetarian food is like.

I'd go to Lake Garda or Lake Como

So many places!
I would stick with Europe as you don’t want any delays to impact on you getting back for the DCs.

Most places will be hot at that time of year so it depends on your capacity to enjoy high temperatures.

A Porto/Lisbon combo could be good - fly in to one and out from the other - it’s only a 3 hr train journey in between, we loved Porto particularly.

Croatia is good, but Durbrovnik was very expensive when we went.

Absolutely loved Madeira, more than we thought. We stayed in an amazing apart hotel in the actual centre rather than all the plush hotels about a mile out, so we could walk to all the restaurants and get buses to the attractions, lots of great walking trips if that’s your thing, and always seemed to be some festival at the harbour.

Or try a couple of spots in Poland. Gdansk was amazing but probably only for a couple of days, but there is a beach resort within 20 mins called Sopot you could stay there for a few days.

I would focus on going somewhere that wouldn’t be as enjoyable with DCs.

You will have a great time wherever you go.

Some great ideas - thank you! We’ve been to Santorini and the north coast of Spain, which were both great, but I’m so tempted by Ibiza. The only thing is that we’ve always struggled to eat good veggie food in Spain (ham and anchovies seem to be considered vegetables) and end up self catering - which, on this trip, I’d rather avoid.

anyone know what Ibiza’s like for veggies?

Hadn't considered Portugal, but worth a thought.

slightly annoyingly, we’ve just had a save the date for a family wedding which is around a week into our 9 days of freedom! DH thinks we don’t have to go but I’m not sure we can avoid it…

@SomeoneElseDidIt i wonder! Is it Switzerland? 😉

Sorrento is beautiful, go B&B and eat in the wonderful restaurants. Lots to visit nearby. Definitely an adults trip.

There's lots of different types of restaurants in Santa Eulalia so you could pick something other than Spanish such as Italian or Asian for more non meat options. Or specify no ham/anchovies.

@loveawineloveacrisp I did consider Sorrento but assumed it would be one of those places like Santorini which is too busy to be enjoyable in late July/early August?

Italy. Not far, great food. Beautiful. My kids love it there but it’s a very ‘grown up’ holiday too. There isn’t the whole Brits Abroad thing. I lived there for a while and return on holiday regularly.

the Lakes are stunning, the cities spectacular and if you want coastline there is mikes to choose from. Sicily is a good call too.

Ah if you’re going August it will be busy but that applies most places tbh. Avoid the holiday hot spots like Sorrento then. Still lots of other places that won’t be as busy.

I’d recommend hotel Gardenia al Lago In Gargnano on Lake Garda. Family run, on the lake , beautiful garden, you can swim in the lake from the garden and hire bikes, kayaks . Quiet location. Short walk along the lake to Gargnano where you can get boats to all the interesting towns around the lake, local buses are good too. I’m veggie and managed fine - their pumpkin ravioli was amazing! Only drawback - a long way from airport ( Verona) but doable by train and bus.

https://www.hotelgardenialakegarda.com/

Oh My that is living the dream, my kids going away never line up!

Word of warning - please make sure you can get to wherever the kids are going in case of an accident. We had a kid (dancer) have a massive crash skiing and broke her leg in multiple places needed surgery. Parents didn’t pick up the phone first few tries - they were in Hong Kong, refused to come and sent grandma to look after their child before and after some major surgery to save their leg in a foreign country with a different language. I felt sorry for the teachers and grandma.

The poor child was so hurt, they had to stop dancing for so long.

You won't struggle as a veggie in Ibiza, I've been 4 times as a veggie and 3 as a vegan (which was more of a challenge admittedly).

I'm a vegetarian and found Ibiza was ok food wise but not great.

I loved Lake Garda, Albania, North Macedonia. Sao Miguel island in the Azores was stunning.

South of France is lovely.

Would you consider a cruise? There's a lot of adults-only ships and I've found the food options great for a vegetarian.