Come over here and help me find a holiday please - bit long sorry

[TidyBush]

I'm looking for a summer holiday for me, DH and DDs (who'll be 16 & 13 in the summer).

Holidays have mostly been in a rented house/cottage in UK with a trip to Florida 6 years ago.

No holiday last year due to money being spent on my 40th birthday party.

DH and I think this might be our last holiday as a family and would like to go somewhere that we can all enjoy.

Now for the hard bit. DDs want to go abroad - fair enough. DH bought up on camping holidays and likes to be 'away from it all' - beaches OK but not all day every day. I was brought up on holiday camp style holidays and like to have plenty to do.

DH and I both like old houses/gardens/ruins. But DDs not at all bothered. DD1 loves city life - think shops, shows etc. DD2 has a fancy for beaches/nightlife etc.

So, where can we go (short haul ideally) that will give us and the girls plenty to do but wont be all lazing around on beaches by day and watching tacky entertainment at night?

Any ideas welcome.

Centreparcs abroad? there are quite a few in northern europe and they are soooo much cheaper than UK.

website here

You could then venture out locally but still have loads to do at base?

South of France - somewhere like Nice? Haven't been there in the high summer, but have been there in May and fits the bill for culture, beaches, days out...

We like to rent houses or villas, ideally with their own pool. We then get a car and explore the region.

We use cottages4you, welcomecottages and holiday-rentals.

Have had lovely times in South of France (near Frejus is a good base for exploring), Spain, Italy and Majorca, amongst others. Czech Republic was good too, but no beaches.

These are great, thanks -keep them coming folks

Majorca would be good for you. Has city, shops, beaches sea, and FANTASTIC art nouveau architecture in Palma, you should be able to rent a villa, I like holidaylettings.co.uk

i reccon a cruise around the med would suit you all!

Def Italy ticks all your boxes...Sorrento perhaps?

Santorini? DH and I spent two weeks in Santorini and it was lovely. Lots of nightlife if you are interested. There were also amazing ruins. And beautiful beaches. The island is not big either (45 minutes on a scooter from one end to another) so your DCs can probably get around themselves and not get too lost. We stayed in Oia (which is on one end) and noted for the most beautiful sunsets ever. We rented a scooter and it was great fun getting around. Fira had lots of touristy and retail shops, which was fun for me. Enjoy wherever you go!

I keep singing the praises of the Lido de Jesolo near Venice after going there last year.

Agree saggy but the size of the mosquitos

We have just booked into a apartment in the Croix des Gardes complex in Cannes for the summer hols, has the option of sightseeing, shopping and pool/beach

We found it on one of the private let holiday websites, this one has quite a few listed on it

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/

Agree with Italy being a good option for you. If you stay around the Amalfi coast, you will be able to tick all the boxes - beaches, nightlife, ancient ruins (Pompeii ancient/interesting enough for you?).

Although there are some truly fabulous hotels, if you are on a budget, you should be able to find some decent campsites too.

Thanks for you ideas - I'm off to look at those areas now.