Sun holiday with a bit of culture, not too hot

[wholeeverything]

Hello, our teenager wants a typical poolside sun holiday, lounging, sunshine and swimming. Beach not necessarily essential.

We would ideally like some options for cultural or nature activities, museums, history or walking - although we could probably survive without that for one holiday!

The bigger issue is that we can't really handle anything above 28 - maaaax 30 degrees. I feel like this rules out most of Europe in the summer?

I'm considering either Crete or Madeira at Easter time. Are these good options? Any others? Azores?

Would prefer a budget option i.e. not long haul, but could be flexible for the right place.

Oooh. I’m just jumping on because I want exactly the same, ideally Easter. I’ve been looking at Madeira too.

How about Denmark or Poland. Theres so lovely beaches to explore.

I'd love either of those options. But would they provide a 'sun holiday' vibe for the teen? In fairness she puts up with our nerdy holidays quite well and I'd like her to get what she wants (pool and sun lounger, and more lie-ins than normal, basically! And maybe a basketball court!)

I love the idea of Madeira but I think I might be accused of stealth-nature-holiday-ing!!

Just looking at Denmark and it looks like the islands are beautiful. I hadn't realised. Any particular recommendations?

How about Tenerife? You're more likely to get pool weather there at Easter than anywhere on the med, but it isn't ridiculously warm at that time of year. The Teide National Park with the volcano would provide you with options for walks and nature. Take a look at places to stay around Los Gigantes, there are other hiking trails around there as well, and it's much quieter than the more popular tourist areas.

Denmark would be lovely but won't give your teen the holiday they are looking for.

I want to Poland at Easter one year and it was fucking freezing, colder than where I stay in Scotland and I didn’t take my “big coat” off once when outside.

Madeira is lovely OP. Very chilled vibe! And beautiful places to walk while your teen flops.

Crete is insanely hot during the summer so I would give it a wide berth. What about Northern France? Holland?

Seville in Spain would be amazing at Easter, warm, loads to do and see and hotels with pools and not too hot

Thanks folks. I guess Denmark and Poland would be summer options - fine if they aren't 30 degrees plus like Southern Europe.

Yeah, Tenerife might work. I'll have a look at that area - thanks!

Crete would be an option for us at Easter. We've done Northern France for three years. I'd happily go forever! Not quite hot enough for a proper sun holiday.

I think May or September are ideal for not-too-hot European sun holidays but sadly not options for us with school / work!

Madeira is lovely but I didn't see many teens about. More of a couples, older people, cruise ship place. The wicker baskets are great though, lovely botanical gardens and scenery, and it's great if you like to walk.

Easter is pretty early next year. The Mediterranean will not be warm enough for a pool-based holiday unless you find a place that heats its pools (££££ typically), and the sea will still be very cold.

The Azores are beautiful for walking and the temperature is a year-round 20°. But only 20°, and people don't go there to sit by the pool, so there are not many "lie-and-fry" setups.

The Canaries are the obvious place, in that Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a proper city. But "culture" is relative. You aren't going to find major museums there.

Denmark and Poland in summer... well, they might be warm enough (Poland definitely, Denmark has about the same climate as Newcastle), but you are not going to find many hotels-where-you-lie-on-a-sunbed. Danes and Poles fly to Spain and Greece like the rest of Northern Europe.

Spain in May might be a good compromise. Barcelona / Alicante / Valencia area, maybe Cadiz.

Hehe, well thank you for confirming what I thought, which is that basically what we want only exists in May and September and those months don't work for us!!

I think a week at Easter in the Canaries is the best bet, and we'll forgo culture for another time!

Marrakech! It's brilliant. Sun and souks. Can stay in the medina, rent a riad with roof terrace then take a taxi to the country club and hangout by the pool.

Look at Kolobrzeg in Poland - we have just come back from a wedding there! Fabulous beach - okay the Baltic Sea is choppier than the Mediterranean but there are many hotels who have pools. We normally fly cheap into Gdansk for a couple of days and then use the train. Poland is an amazing country - have a look!

Malaga October half term

Croatia is amazing. History, culture, beaches, nature.

Lanzarote has lots of interesting places to visit. Volcano Park, vineyards, caves, Cesar Manrique (local artist) house as well as being a 'beach holiday' destination.

Would you consider travelling over the Christmas holidays? Luxor in Egypt is a lovely temperature at that time of year. Great base to see temples, tombs etc and warm enough to lie by the pool too.

Lanzarote, Madeira or Marrakesh!!!

all good holiday in my books.

Lanzarote leans more to beach, Madeira leans more to nature and marrakech for culture but I think you can achieve your brief with all 3 especially the latter two

The Alps (I’m specifically thinking of Austria) are lovely in the summer and often not too crazy hot due to the altitude while still being sunny and warm enough to enjoy swimming in the lakes there.

Riviera Maya in Mexico is a lot of fun and ticks all your boxes other than probably being too hot, but the amazing hotels there do have great air con and pools!

I want similar things to you from a holiday OP and it’s getting so difficult to find it in school summer holidays these days with climate change. Previously Crete was far and away my favourite destination but it’s just like a furnace there in summer nowdays 😭

Dubrovnik in Croatia sounds perfect for your needs. The Old Town is stunning with lots of galleries, museums, and back streets to explore. You can take boat trips to Cavtat and Mljet, a world heritage site with an incredible salt water lake where you can swim. Lots of hotels - the ones near the Old Town are mostly luxurious and expensive and there are loads more in Lapad, a few kilometers away, with frequent bus services.

Should add that Dubrovnik would suit you better at Easter than summer as it gets hot.

Ibiza as further into spring as you can muster.

It's stunning and offers partying and the scenery is amazing.