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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Help me work out what sort of holiday we want!

15 replies

cordiality · 19/01/2026 21:32

We need to book our summer holiday, we have two weeks booked off work at the end of August. We have two teenagers who have both been begging to be allowed to take a friend each with them on holiday, and we’ve agreed to this as otherwise they’ll just be bored and look at screens all day. My husband and I have really busy years ahead of us at work and will want a quiet holiday of doing nearly nothing, as opposed to an adventure/sightseeing trip, we’ve done plenty of them.

We were going to look at a villa somewhere, probably for a week/10 days max, maybe Greece, but everywhere seems really expensive and I don’t know the areas at all, and I worry about getting a villa and it being not nice or too far from nice things to visit/places to go for food.

We thought that maybe a hotel with activities would be more fun for the kids, but 3 rooms would be expensive and I’m not sure about the younger kids being in a room separate from us.

Ideally something might exist that’s like an apartment or villa in a hotel with activities? Does such a thing exist?! So we could have 3 bedrooms self contained with a living space but also go for breakfast and go to a big swimming pool, maybe a beach?? Am I dreaming?! I’m pretty relaxed on location, southern Europe I guess, really need to get something booked as flights everywhere are getting really expensive, but I feel completely flummoxed.

Tell me your stories of going away with kids + friends please!!!

OP posts:
hahagogomomo · 19/01/2026 21:39

Look at somewhere like pierre et vacances which have lodges and apartments etc but also offer food packages. Sites vary a lot but most have pools, entertainment etc and are set up to be safe for families. They tend to be cheaper than hotels

goodnightssleepbenice · 19/01/2026 21:41

How old are the children ?

HeidiLite · 19/01/2026 21:45

French campsites are fabulous, the higher end mobile homes and chalets are as nice as being in a hotel. Pools, gym, restaurants, all kinds of activities for teens. Check Sandaya for example. https://www.sandaya.co.uk/countries/france
The better ones get booked up super fast, so you indeed need to start looking ASAP.

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cordiality · 19/01/2026 21:46

goodnightssleepbenice · 19/01/2026 21:41

How old are the children ?

Good question - 13 and 15. Both sporty, 13yo v into football and tennis, 15yo prefers to swim and sunbathe!

OP posts:
cordiality · 19/01/2026 21:46

HeidiLite · 19/01/2026 21:45

French campsites are fabulous, the higher end mobile homes and chalets are as nice as being in a hotel. Pools, gym, restaurants, all kinds of activities for teens. Check Sandaya for example. https://www.sandaya.co.uk/countries/france
The better ones get booked up super fast, so you indeed need to start looking ASAP.

Had not even slightly considered this, I thought all campsites were tents! Will have a look, thank you

OP posts:
cordiality · 19/01/2026 21:47

hahagogomomo · 19/01/2026 21:39

Look at somewhere like pierre et vacances which have lodges and apartments etc but also offer food packages. Sites vary a lot but most have pools, entertainment etc and are set up to be safe for families. They tend to be cheaper than hotels

Hadn’t heard of these before, thank you will have a look now

OP posts:
Flicktick · 19/01/2026 21:47

Some hotels in the Canaries have bungalows, one or two bedrooms plus living area, plus a pool and meals if you book B&B or HB.

foxbasesecular43 · 19/01/2026 21:49

Yep came here to say find a glamp site somewhere in Europe - look at Canopy & Stars. Get a big safari tent, kids get freedom and opportunities to make other friends and you get peace and quiet.

HeidiLite · 19/01/2026 21:49

we have been to this one, the Luxe Chalet was very comfortable, no complaints. www.les-sablons.com/les-chalets/

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 19/01/2026 22:02

My sister did a Nielsen last year in Croatia with a teen/tween said it was fab.

200skies · 19/01/2026 22:19

I was literally looking for this exact same thing yesterday! The peace and quiet of a villa with it's own grounds, but also with some kind of kids activities and shared areas like pool, etc. Oh and not expensive😅

Gabbycat245 · 19/01/2026 22:29

Aphrodite hills in paphos?

Xmasssssss2025 · 20/01/2026 03:08

Hd paruqe Cristobal in gran canaria or
Eden villas Portugal

Both have villas but on hotel complex so got the pools and entertainment.

MiddleAgedDread · 20/01/2026 16:25

Club la Santa or Neilsons (might be tricky on the room sizing) if budget permits

NutButterOnToast · 20/01/2026 16:35

With sporty kids Club la Santa leaps out at me.

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