Best holidays for mixed-age families

[Pandapoop88]

I am awful at planning holidays and want our family to have an amazing summer holiday this time round. We have 3 children, one who will be just under one, one who will be nearly 4 and one who will be 9 at the time of travel. Please suggest to me the best type of holidays, locations, even exact places that you think would fit our family because I’ve no idea where to even start.

• None of us are particularly into the beach.
• We like to have pool access.
• Eldest very sporty so likes to have things to do.
• We are “foodies” so want decent food.
• Not opposed to self catering but like to have restaurants nearby too.
• Like to have places nearby can walk around I.e. not too remote
• Like warm weather but not blisteringly hot due to youngest’s age.
• Don’t want to spend LOADS but equally want a “nice” holiday not butlins (no offence to butlins)

What month are you looking to go? The whole of the Mediterranean seems blistering hot in August now.

Best holidays at that age were either a cruise with childcare, or Mark Warner type holiday

European Centerparcs. A lot cheaper than UK. Some are located close to small towns if you are looking for local restaurants. Dutch Centerparcs are quite large with loads to do. French Centerparcs have the better pools. We are booked for Le Lac D'ailette this year.

Valamar Camping Istra in north Croatia

So you like Lego? Billund is great and there is also a big indoor aquadome suitable for all ages.

Ideally July/end of August

Should have mentioned we would hate a cruise sorry

Ooh fab I’ll have a look at these thanks, are they literally called centre parcs still or have a different name?

Thank you will take a look

Unfortunately not, my son declared Lego boring 🤦🏻‍♀️

Eurocamp or similar that’s near to a nice town with restaurants. The one on Lake Garda (Bella Italia) could work for example, but there are loads

@Pandapoop88 They are called centerparcs.eu

There is a Facebook group 'center parcs europe just for Brits' its a positive group for people who love the European centerparcs. There is a lot of advice there, some parcs are more suited for younger children, some more suitable for teens and tweens. A lot of people use the parcs as bases for Disney land, eftelling etc. We went to De Kempervennen this year and had a great time. Next year we go to France we've paid 2600 euros for a 10 night stay in a 3 bed lakeside cottage.

Neilson although you’d have to pay if you wanted any childcare for the youngest.

Bella Italia on Lake Grada but it will be hot.
End of July will be hot everywhere around the Med & southern Europe.

The CP at De Haan is walking distance to town and there is loads for kids on the Belgian coast. https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/

Also have a look at roompot.com and landal.com for Belgium and NL and there are also some parks in Germany. Eurocamp is another great bet for activities, but not normally close to town. Normandy and Brittany also less likely to be scorching the summer. Pierre et Vacances might be worth a look.