First trip going solo for teens...

[ellieinfrance]

My DD and her best mate are planning to go away after a levels together next summer. They're after recommendations if anyone has any! Probably 5 - 7 nights. Somewhere hot but not too hot. Beach would be good. Pool would be good. And something to do that isn't either. Not really big on clubbing and drinking - somewhere with a couple of nice cocktails but not just getting blasted! They'll be 18. Either self catering or b&b / half board. From my point of view, somewhere that possibly isn't teen central and where the focus isn't just on drinking! Plus safe for 2 girls on their own. Budget maybe 500 -700 max including flights?

Nice or generally the South of France?

Will they be going before the earlier years break up?

south of France is excruciatingly expensive unless you go remote but they’d need a car.

Annecy would be great, could get Eurostar, not sure what prices are like these days. Great camp sites (with non camping options!) pools, walk or cycle
to the lake which does have some sandy patches. It will be warm but not blisteringly so.

My dd and her friends had a lovely time in Malta at this time…

How about looking at French or Austrian Alps area instead? I have had some great family holidays there, and both my sons have returned for weeks by themselves at age 17 or 18. We are a very active family - so mountain biking and hiking was the order of the day - this of course may or may not interest your daughter.

Places like Les Gets or (particularly) Morzine have big lake and beach, plus lots of public transport or multiple cable cars (vital when you cannot drive or hire yet), lifts up hills to nice walks and bars, yet also both have some great bars and nightlife without being 'full on chaos' that many places are. There are some fun things - like taking two cable cars ride brings you to one of Europe's largest zip wires, or a day out to Switzerland by two cable cars etc.

Malaga. It's on the coast but also a lovely city. DS went with a friend and loved it.

Thanks all. They're actually off to Switzerland later that summer with scouts, so think they'll be after something different when they go by themselves. Had forgotten about the French lakes, and good shouts with Malaga and Malta. I'll get them to do a bit more thinking about what they actually want to do there x