Family Holidays

[Queenie23]

I'm already thinking of a family summer holiday - we haven't been abroad as a family of 5 before and I'm shocked how much it is going to cost us - What sort of budget do people have to go to say, Spain or Turkey? We like to be independent so I"m not really keen on getting a Thomas Cook resort type holiday but I can't see much change out of 4K once flights etc are paid. Anyone got any suggestions? (3 kids - 15, 11 and 9.

[MGolden]

We went to Croatia this year. Four of us - two adults and two children (boys aged 11 and 14). We booked flights separately from the accomodation and opted for self catering - although we ate out nearly every night. Cheaper and less developed than Spain or Turkey and we would go back in a shot.

[DaveR]

Portugal, and specifically the Siver Coast - about an hour north of Lisbon. We had an excellent hoiday there is summer 2012.

I reckon you could do a week there with five people for < ?2k, or two weeks for < ?3k. Easyjet flights to Lisbon x 5, about ?800, a hire car ?200/week, a decent apartment/house with a pool, about ?800/week.

Lots of properties on the rental websites:

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/sao-martinho-do-porto/381913

Also, costs when you get there are v low by W Europe standards - a coffee is 1 euro, an ice cream 1.50, a sandwich 2-3 euros etc.

I also liked the fact that there was a real mix of people - lots of Spanish and Portuguese, plus Brits, French, German, Dutch - and generally less busy than other holiday spots.

[EDmummy]

With those age ranges I'd really get a list of everyone's likes and wants before you start looking for a destination. I know my own children of similar age were less interested in our usual type of holiday and more interested in a bit more of local action (water parks etc). Of course, your kids may not be as annoying as mine :-)

[canela]

why don't you try camping or chalet-style accommodation? a couple of friends get caravan-style things in campsites in France by the beach and say they are great. cheaper too as can take ferry and drive.

[Queenie23]

Thanks for all the suggestions - good to know that people do it cheaper than I thought!

[bjm]

We stayed at a Pierre Vacance site in N France- amazingly good value and all facilities on site which you could use or avoid as you wished!

It was full of kids and mine made friends from all over Europe- they played out together every evening and had a ball, they still reminisce about it now!

[Matty Love]

We just got back from Sardinia with our one year old. I would go back, it had reasonable prices, short flight time and the locals were great with our little boy.

[pommie]

Rhodes in Greece is nice!! Look up pefki islands resort on the Thomson website

[EDmummy]

I would definitely look at booking flights early and then using Holiday Lettings or AirBnB and compare against a package hol. Self catering is v important to us and most of the main package companies don't give us this and enough rooms in the same apartment. Good luck! Stressful now, lots of fun next summer :-)