Please please can you tell me what sort of holiday I'm looking for and where to find it. Thanks

[myredquattro]

Ok, 3kids (6, 4 and 2) DH&me.

We haven't been abroad in summer since having kids. (Just skiing) Always Cornwall or Scotland or Center Parcs or similar. Fancy a change this year and school is having renovations so closing for an extra 2wks in Sept. Absolutely no idea where to start.

Neither of us are sit by the pool or by the beach type of people. Pre kids always walking/exploring adventure type hols. Looking for something reasonably relaxing but with lots to do. Don't mind flight time too much. The idea of resort with pool then evening entertainment fills me with dread though but maybe I'm not being open minded enough. We did a Med mini cruise before we got married; worse holiday ever with just pool, food and bloody 'shows'.

I absolutely do not want somewhere with kids clubs that allow M&D to sit by the pool all day. Just not my type of thing- Not that I know what is.

I want the kids to see new things, different animals maybe, new experiences.

Ok, wise Mnetters, tell me what I'm looking for and where to find it.

Not sure where to suggest but I think you should def stay in independent self catering villas or apartments rather than the whole package /resort/pool/reps doing shows type thing.
There are loads to choose from on www.holidaylettings.co.uk or www.holidayrentals.co.uk .

Thanks, Magenta but are they just UK based. Hoping to take them somewhere different this year. I'll have a look though. Thank you

Have you tried any of the European Centre Parcs? We did a Dutch one at Easter and it was fantastic (although have never been to a UK one so can't compare!). We chose Holland because they are so geared up for bikes with proper paths etc. The CP we were at had a Dutch bike too for hire where the younger children can sit in the front in a proper trailer like affair with seats, as well as the usual trailer, bike seats etc you get here. There was also a minature farm and it was right on a nature reserve.

Hi My redquattro,The links I gave have self catering accomm all over the world not just uk. We have used them before for France, Spain and Italy.

Centre parcs Le lac d'Ailette in France looks really nice and would have lots of activities to do?

Thank you Fimbo and Thebutterflyparty. We have thought about European CP but just fancy a change.

I'll look at the island you suggest, TBP.

What do people normally do? Most people go on holiday surely!?!

Great, Magenta, I'll have a look. Thanks again.

Have you thought about something like explore worldwide? They do family adventures some which move about some which have a base with different activities. I've always fancied doing one but never had the money or opportunity (yet!).
here

There are holiday cottages all over Europe, and they are often cheaper to rent than equivalents in UK.

Just decide on an interesting area which has things you want to explore, then look at the local tourist board website for rentals.

You need to come to Kenya. Book a package (keep an open mind, honest) to Diani, Mombasa and when there organise a mini safari to Shimba Hills or Tsavo National park, The dc get to see animals.

The beaches are amazing and there is always watersports to do, kitesurfing, camel riding, sightseeing, a local former cement works transformed into a mini safari park, snorkelling with amazing fish, I could go on.

myred, I can understand your dilemma. I'm the same as you, hate package hotel/pool holidays but so far have failed to find anything suitable for me and DH and the DC's who are 4 and 6. I have found most of the 'explore' type hols are only suitable once your DC's are at least 7.

So we are unfortunately having to do the beach/pool hols for a few more years until DS turns 7. We just book our own villa/apartment from ownersdirect and stay away from the package tourist areas and have so far had some lovely holidays.

Hello master, I am so looking forward to taking the DC's to Kenya on a safari, but am waiting til they are a bit older. I have been to Mombasa and Nairobi many times, although not very recently. You are lucky to be living there!

Hi everyone, thank you!

Safari/Kenya sound great but I'm not brave enough with 3kids of 6yr and under! Def one for the future though!

I guess a self catering and DIY thing sounds the best option.

There must be tens of thousands of parents like me. What do they all do? Maybe I need to set up a holiday company!

Your requirements sound similar to ours. We've been thinking of the French or Austrian Alps, possibly somewhere like Morzine where there are lots of outdoor based activities in the summer. We have stayed with a company called Reach4theAlps when we have skied who also do chalet rentals in the summer season that I've been tempted to use.
Our two are 3 and 18 months so we're not quite ready for it this summer, but we are def planning to head to the Alps next summer when we can do more activities.

Some of the holidays we have had and enjoyed are:

Drove to Belgium, stayed on a campsite near Roche en Ardenne. Explored the local area (Medievel castle, small non-touristy towns) etc.

Booked a holiday to Corfu with Lastminute at the end of the season. Toured the island, went to Corfu town.

Last year we did Eurocamp on the Lido di Jesolo, my kids are older and wanted to go to the club a couple of times but we went to Venice and other islands in the lagoon and explored the local area.

Stayed in an apartment near Nerja in Spain. Visited Malaga (Picasso museum, castle, old town etc), local caves, took the kids in the cable car at Benemadena etc.

So basically, other than Belgium which was countryside, we have mixed beach with a bit of culture and a bit of kids stuff but apart from the Eurocamp holiday we have gone away independantly.

Went to Holland, stayed in a campsite about an hour from Amsterdam. Did beach and visited the windmills and tulips etc, went to Amsterdam with the kids and took them on a canal cruise and mooched about.

My advice, choose a destinatation that you want to go to anyway, your kids will fit in and there is always something for the kiddies to do.

Perhaps somewhere like Scandinavia? Copenhagen and Stockholm both have great places for children and adults to enjot together, and are very family friendly. If Stockholm in the summer you could perhaps spend some time on an island in the archipelago?

I would second the Alps idea.

The Family Ski Company have a hotel in Switzerland I think that look like a good base, or Kinderhotels have been recommended to us by friends.

Let us know what you decide on.

How far are you prepared to go? How about getting a direct flight (12 hours) to Singapore? Lots of fab stuff about the place! Also, it's perfectly safe for the little ones and once you get there, eating etc is cheap.

• A world-class fantastic zoo and night safari

• Integrated resort that just opened that has Universal Studio theme park, marine park etc... More info here

• Lots of cheap shopping

• Completely different cultural experience

If you are bored, you can literally take day trips to nearby Malaysia or Indonesian islands.

Have you considered the kinder hotels in Austria? They advertise on this site sometimes. We have been twice in spring/summer and loved it. You go to lakes and mountains in Austria where there is a hotel with loads of outdoor stuff to do. We stayed atone on a lake which meant lots of boating, and they had bikes you could use and horses to ride and they did have a timetable of events you could do IF you wanted which were very outdoorsy. Most of the places have animals too. There was no evening entertainment shows as such. They did have a kids club, but we only used it when there was an activity the kids wanted to join in with. Otherwise, the kids were with us. We love lakes and mountains holidays in general so look at that even if you don't want to do a kinderhotel maybe.

I suggest Austria.

Kinderhotels are good (don't assume this is a chain, all privately owned so all different) but also look at these

Have you seen Responsible Travel?