Find me a holiday. Anyone up for a challenge? (long list of requirements)

[Crunchymum]

Not been abroad since 2014 and we will finally be in a position to take our 3 DC away next year.

We need the following:

• Departure from any London Airport
• 14 nights (any date 18th July onwards)
• SC or AI (SC under £5k and AI under £7k)
• Short transfer time
• Beach location and / or good pools for older primary aged kids who can swim
• Close to amenities (shops and restaurants if we SC)
• Would be willing to book flights and accommodation separately so if there are recommendations for villas that would work but we won't be able to hire a car or drive on this trip so it needs to be accessible.

I don't care where within reason (up to 4 hours or maybe 6 at a push) but I have always preferred Greek Islands to Spanish.

Was looking at AI in Turkey but couldn't find anything within budget with less than a 2h transfer.

Any suggestions hugely appreciated.

why don't you go onto BA Holiday finder and then you can literally input all these requirements and it'll come up with a list of destinations where they fly to that suit these requirements - you lazy bint ;). You can even include temperature.

I'd also try asking ChatGPT! Here's what it says:

Given your preferences (AI under £7k / SC under £5k, beach or great pools, under 2h transfer, and walkable to amenities), here are a few ideas:
1. Greece – Kos or Rhodes (Greek Islands)

• Kos has some fantastic SC apartments and family-friendly resorts near Tigaki or Lambi, both with beaches and short transfers (20–30 mins from airport).
• Rhodes also works well – check out the Faliraki or Lindos area. Short transfers, beautiful beaches, and lots within walking distance.
• For SC, try Blue Lagoon Village (Kos) for AI or Mythos Apartments (Rhodes) if you’re leaning SC — both great for kids and close to everything.

2. Portugal – Algarve (Alvor or Lagos)

• Easily under a 3-hour flight and short transfer to most resorts. Good mix of SC and AI options.
• Excellent beaches and a lot of walkable towns with restaurants.
• Try Pestana Dom João II (Alvor) for AI or Aqualuz Lagos Apartments for SC.

3. Croatia – Dubrovnik or Split coast

• Gorgeous beaches and not as hot as Turkey in late July.
• Look at Cavtat (near Dubrovnik) for a short transfer and a relaxing beach town vibe. Many apartments close to everything.

4. Italy – Sicily or Sardinia

• Often overlooked, but some SC options in beach towns (like Cefalù in Sicily or Alghero in Sardinia) are walkable and within your budget if booked separately.
• You’ll find good beaches and local dining, perfect without a car.

5. Turkey (Still possible!)

• If you really like the look of Turkey but are worried about transfer times, consider Dalaman area resorts like Ölüdeniz or Hisarönü. Transfers can be under 1.5 hours, especially if you book a private one.
• For AI, Club Letoonia (Fethiye) sometimes dips just under £7k in July if you book early or split flights/accommodation.

Also consider looking at Jet2 Villas, TUI, or booking.com + Skyscanner combos. Package deals can be sneaky expensive for AI, but splitting flights and a well-rated SC place often brings the total down nicely.

Really - I was looking on all the classic package tour operator sites.

Didn't even realise BA did packages.