Ideas for a straightforward last minute week away with an 18 year old

[Ponkypinky]

We’re going round and round in circles. Every time we think we’ve found a holiday an external obstacle blocks it: I’m talking a jury service summons, the passport office losing a passport during renewal, a work commitment so a family member has to drop out (young adult, career enhancing event so non movable), limited time due to dog sitter availability.

We’re so tired already I’m getting to the point where I want to give up but I don’t want to cancel the dog sitter at short notice and this particular week is the only time DH can take off as we’ve already had to move the holiday dates once.

Can anyone help with ideas?

Here’s the criteria:

Monday to Sunday holiday (yup, limiting)
Soon. Very soon.

Two adults and 18 yr old son. I want something good as it might be the last time he wants to come on holiday with us (particularly if we end up in Drearyville)

Travel: we only have 7 days so I really don’t want to spend 3 days travelling (ie getting to the airport the day before for a 6am flight)

A holiday with certainty - it’s been a tough 3 years and I can’t face unexpected travel delays, changed flights, Eurostar and train delays/cancellations. We’ve been burnt before. DH doesn’t want to drive so ferries are out too.

Done the UK especially Scotland, Yorkshire, Cornwall, East Anglia, Lake District, Somerset/Dorset. DH doesn’t want to get a barge on the Norfolk Broads. We’ve done the big city breaks already.

Budget: £3k

Wild and outlandish U.K. holiday ideas would be appreciated.

You don't need a hire car. Bled isn't remote at all, 5 minutes off the highway. It's really easy to get around.

There is a direct bus from the airport to Bled, runs every hour on the hour from 8am to 8pm at takes 30 minutes.

From Bled to Ljubljana it's just over an hour on the bus, usually 2 or 3 buses per hour.

You can also take the bus to Lake Bohinj from Bled, takes about 40 minutes and runs approximately hourly.

Timetables /prices for the bus are at arriva.si

Sounds epic.

I have been to our friendly travel agent and she’s come back with Bucharest and a tour of Dracula’s castle which also sounds great. And I’ve asked her to look at Luxembourg.

Thanks for all the suggestions. It has helped me hone in on what I do and don’t want to do and what may interest the teen.

We have used air bnbs lots - Spain has great public transport along the coast ao lots of lovely places within an hour of the airport

if you can fly without checking in bags then you only need 2 hours pre flight which might open up some options
?

you sound utterly exhausted btw xx

Another left field option - what about a yoga / surf break either in Cornwall or Portugal / Spain. Quite often they will pick you up from the airport you and your husband share a room and your teen can bunk in a shared hostel room

lots of other people to keep your young adult occupied at worst you get a few restorative yoga sessions and your husband well - I'm sure he could find something to do / look around

That sounds great and I’ll look into it. And thank you, yes I am totally burned out. My lovely lady in the co op travel shop is looking after me. Normally I’m a veteran traveller but this time I know I won’t be able to cope if the flights cancelled and we lose the room we booked separately.

Have you thought about the Isle of Wight. The choice of types of accommodation is great. Get the train to Portsmouth or Southampton as appropriate. There’s a good bus service here as well. Loads to do here, you can be as busy or quiet as you want.

Can you get a coach to Heathrow or another big airport and fly from there? Barcelona would be great for his age and yours