Recommendations for peaceful UK or short-haul family holidays with calmer atmosphere (and not many aggro holiday makers).

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Can anyone recommend a UK holiday OR a short haul abroad holiday where it is quite nice in terms of the general genre of holiday makers?

We've just come back from a cheap and cheerful UK seaside break and there were soo many shouty, sweary mums and dads. Both my kids commented on it!!

I know that sounds snobby but we actually live in a rather interesting area ourselves so it's not like we are sheltered and never hear shouting or swearing. One of my kids isn't bothered by swearing and one hates it. I'm pretty neutral. None of us like hearing parents emotionally abusing their kids. 😔

It got me thinking, even abroad holidays we do tend to be 3 star type resorts and have experienced this in a few different places.

Can anyone recommend anywhere they've been that has been nice and peaceful and not felt like a Jeremy Kyle style cuffle could break out next to them?

You’re also less likely to see guests verbally abusing staff while drinking cans of red stripe.

Imagine if you tried to price yourself out of the dross and ended up sat next to the Fury family

Isle of Wight! Can’t believe no one has mentioned it. Have been lots of times. Loads to do there. Many beautiful bits, much calmer and a bit quaint compared to the mainland. We love it!!

I honestly haven’t been to anywhere in Greece like this - they don’t seem to do so much of it- in fact I haven’t been to anywhere in Greece loud or lairy - maybe there are such places? I just haven’t found one yet

Fuerteventura fits your criteria 🏖️

I was just using Greece as an example, but places in Greece (this includes Greek islands) I would avoid would include Malia, Hersonissos, Faliraki, Santorini (too busy), Mykonos.

Ah - haven’t been to any of those apart from Santorini- which wasn’t like this in terms of vibe, but as you say was simply ‘packed’ I hated Sorrento for exactly the same reason - we actually went to our favourite greek island 2 summers ago ( mid July) and won’t be going again unless out of season as it now has cruise ships in 3 days a week and is a one horse town that simply can’t cope with it - it was totally horrendous on those days and spoilt the 7 days we had there, I was relieved to get back to Athens for 2 days and some space!in future if going to Greece I’m checking the site that gives you all the cruise ports of call - both big operators and smaller ones as I would never ever have thought they would stop here and we’ve been multiple times over last20 years

Thanks for all the suggestions!

As I said I'm my op I'm definitely not from a fancy area, not even a middle class area, but as a family we are quite quiet, and don't like crowds of loud shouty people. Which sadly we seem to have experienced a lot lately on holidays. UK and abroad, little hotels, big ones, all inclusive and self catering.

I think it is definitely worth us looking for quieter, less well known, less busy places.

Definitely going to look into some of these options for our next holiday. 🙂

The way we avoid this is to books a villa or small hotel.

Tuscany
Malta/Gozo
Madeira
Greek islands ( especially those you can’t fly directly into. Eg Naxos- get ferry across from Santorini)
Quieter pockets of Algarve & Cyprus

It basically means avoiding big AI resorts and possibly needing to hire a car.

The trick I find is not to go to "summer holiday" places but just places that you want to see and that are interesting. That way people are dispersed and a significant proportion of people in the bars and restaurants will just be locals going about their every day business.

South Hams, we're practically horizontal

Our favourite beach in Sete is just that- a beach where locals go after a day at work or school - no sun loungers, no beach club, no jetski hire. Just a curved bay with a stretch of sand , a small cafe on a terrace to get a drink and snack and some lockers.

It's very relaxing.

Lake Balaton in Hungary might be worth a look.

Isle of Arran, south-west Scotland.

It’s the “cheap and cheerful” element that is the problem. What is your budget?

I came on here to strongly recommend Menorca too. We’ve travelled a lot but this is a real favourite!

Austrian, French or Italian Alps - cooler than the Med, lots to do, and very peaceful vibe. Slovenian or Polish mountains if the budget is an issue.

European lakes also have beaches - Zell am See, Wolfgangsee, Lake Constance etc - as do many European cities such as Copenhagen and Stockholm. On the German and Polish Baltic coasts you'll rarely meet anyone from the UK but these have excellent beaches, as has the Danish island of Bornholm.

If you want hot and sunny (but beware of the heatwaves) look at Istria - Pula, Rovinj, Umag in Croatia or Koper in Slovenia.

I was going to say the same.

Northern Ireland is fantastic. We had one of our best holidays there.

Ditto the Isle of Man! So much to do that a week isnt long enough! It was relaxed though. No where got ridiculously busy but there was still a nice buzz. So many beaches (and beach huts for hire), the sauna on the beach was superb, wine bars, coffee shops, restaurants, attractions, hikes, wildlife (the seals were so cool) and more. Really recommend.

The Yorkshire Dales, Wensleydale in particular. Very untouristy, you can walk miles without seeing anyone, superb views, rolling hills, history, castles, waterfalls, lakes, pretty villages. Not as hot or expensive as the south, and the lovely old stone cottages stay cool inside on the hottest days. So much quieter than the neighbouring Lake District. Lots of natural beauty and wildlife.

Totally agree 👍

Honestly I think people think many of us sit around po faced assessing people’s status on holiday - some of the best evenings I’ve had have been with really down to earth people, but ideally not drunk to the point of paralytic and picking fights with partners in public or belting ( or in some cases totally ignoring ) their kids etc or arguing loudly and banging doors - it’s not about class or income at all , it’s about behaviour of some who feel that once on holiday ‘anything goes’ - even if it’s spoiling others time -

Well said.

I am sociable and like chatting to other people, but the idea of holidaying somewhere that is full of loud, lairy and very drunk people is just not what I enjoy.

Bordeaux is really family friendly and stunning - not too touristy either

nice is also beautiful

I would opt for places with less laid on child entertainment as they attract the lazy parents- somewhere with no wifi and definitely not all inclusive

Cavtat in Croatia. Fly into Dubrovnik so short flight then about 15 minutes up the coast to Cavtat. Lovely little town. Lots of Brits but no rowdy types. No AI hotels in sight.

Whilst the rowdy Brits abroad types can be irritating, we’ve had meals out spoiled by Hooray Henry types on neighbouring tables who love the sound of their own voice!