Positive experiences of long haul holidays with teenagers?

[PurpleParent]

Looking at booking a ‘big’ holiday next summer, long flights, 2.5 weeks, partly to visit family but also to have a week in a great holiday place with lots of activities our kids enjoy - zip lining, aqua parks, water sports etc. It’s going to cost a lot and will be our only big holiday in several years. Our two children will be 15 and 13 yrs, after reading other posts I’m worried it could all be a big disaster and we’ll waste our money on a trip moody teenagers won’t enjoy. Our eldest already would rather stay at home and game with friends than do much with us. There’s no one they can stay with if they don’t come - it’s all or nothing. Anyone any positive stories about holidays with teens?

We did Mexico last year with DS13 and friends with 3Dd- 15, 13, 12.
Hits:
Turtle snorkelling, cenotes, zip lines etc, water parks.
The Mayan temples were a hit with DS who loves history but less so with the girls…

It depends on so many things. You know what your young people enjoy. For some, those ages still like stimulating activities, but for others you will be spared all that and need no more than a villa with a pool and few family days out over the week

At that age (and even now aged 22.. I fear she’s one of those people who just hates relaxing!) DD was only happy if kept very busy on holidays. A week poolside in Spain was met with many teenage tantrums but she loved activity based holidays in California and Australia. City breaks a big hit as well.

It might be worth asking them what they enjoy doing? They are old enough to have an opinion about the activities on offer.

Only you know your own teenagers but we took ours to Florida and NYC, had a great time.

We all got involved with the planning and made sure we all did things we enjoyed, it was great fun (especially universal studios as they were both big enough for the rides by then so we all did them together)

Just send them to a workhouse instead!
the woke mob has gone INSANE!!!!!

they can game with their friends in the evening after wearing them out all day with activities. It won’t last 🫢