Summer Holiday ideas

[DottieLottie]

Does anyone have any ideas for summer 08, we usually go to US and hire a villa but with all that is going on it looks very expensive. Will be 2 adults and 2 children (2 and 11). Have not been anywhere in Europe so all advice gratefully received.

Do you want sun?
What is your budget?
What do you normally like to do on holiday?

snap, we usually go to a villa in Florida but simply can't be arsed to go next year what with the exchange rate, the 'immigration welcome' and a new baby. We are looking at going to Centreparcs in France (near Paris). There was a thread on here a few months ago that recommended it and it looks really nice. Also, if you take your car, you won't have the concerns that a lot of people who have booked holidays involving flights will have/have had with regards to some airlines going bust.

That sounds nice, mumoverseas.

Kinderhotels or s/c apartments in Germany/Switzerland/Austria are good too, very child friendly here, and they vary in price according to facilities. But it can rain quite a bit some years. You never know until you get there.

We normally like to get some sun, living in uk we don't seem to see enough of it. Budget wise I would like to not spend more than 3k, but I would still like something clean and nice for that.
We like beaches, especially if the water is warm enough to swim in. Pool would probably be a necessity for DD1 and DH. I like to be able to go look at things, but not too much as dd2 still only just over 2.
Will have a look at Centreparcs France, I didn't know that they were anywhere else.
Will have to convince dh to holiday in Europe as he is v english ie cant go to Spain, it;s full of spanish people etc.

Menorca is in Spain, but it is full of English and Germans, with all the requisite English food in the shops, however the Spanish culture is there in the background if you want it.

Cyprus is pretty good as well, with English and Greek culture both there, and decent weather.

Center Parcs is in Holland as well - everyone speaks English there, but the weather isn't so different from here so that might rule it out.

Turkey might even be an idea - Bodrum has bags of history and also a lot of cheap family-friendly accommodation.