Any advice on holiday's??
whitewitch
Posts: 1,922 Forum Member
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Hi,
i a wonder if anyone has any advice on a holiday for us. we haven't been abroad for 15 years generally because my husband works away in various places and wants to be at home or in england when he gets time off. these places aren't exactly holiday based as generally you might as well be going to work in an industrial park in warrington for example for as much as you see.
So this is what we want to do, but as we don't want to mess it up i wonder if anyone had any advice. i am even interested in tour operators and everything as well as places and hotels.
this is the critera.
we are a mid 40's mum and dad, with an 18 year old daughter and a 11 year old son.
we want a warm place
would like a mixture of beach and sightseeing, don't mind hiring a car.
will go for 10,11 or 14 days as soon as the schools break up for summer as we have to be back for the 'a' level results
would like a 4 or 5 star hotel.
don't want it to be in a 18 - 30 resort.....but don't want it to be dead either.
i wonder if you have any advice, it would be much appreciated
i a wonder if anyone has any advice on a holiday for us. we haven't been abroad for 15 years generally because my husband works away in various places and wants to be at home or in england when he gets time off. these places aren't exactly holiday based as generally you might as well be going to work in an industrial park in warrington for example for as much as you see.
So this is what we want to do, but as we don't want to mess it up i wonder if anyone had any advice. i am even interested in tour operators and everything as well as places and hotels.
this is the critera.
we are a mid 40's mum and dad, with an 18 year old daughter and a 11 year old son.
we want a warm place
would like a mixture of beach and sightseeing, don't mind hiring a car.
will go for 10,11 or 14 days as soon as the schools break up for summer as we have to be back for the 'a' level results
would like a 4 or 5 star hotel.
don't want it to be in a 18 - 30 resort.....but don't want it to be dead either.
i wonder if you have any advice, it would be much appreciated
0
Comments
I went somwhere I didnt like the look of on YouTube and lo, I didnt like it AT ALL when I got there!
From your criteria Id start with a suggestion that immediately comes to mind: Crete!
Im sure others will have great ideas too!
There's a vast array of restaurants (we don't usually book all inclusive or half board as we like the evening meal to be part of the evening out) ranging from Portuguese (obviously!), Indian, Chinese, and of course English (not too many) We went for 10 days and ate somewhere different each night.
We didn't hire a car as we've been before but if you do there are plenty of places to see such as Cape St Vincent (the most south westerly point of Europe) and mountain villages and markets.
We boked organised trips to: water park, zoomarine [don't recommend it as our lads were 20 & 17 and it was too babyish] and boat trip around the caves. The highlight was a speedboat trip to see the dolphins in their natural habitat - well worth the money as you get to see loads of them.
I should work for the Portuguesse tourist board, lol!
Anyway good websites to look at are: holidaytruths & trip advisor.
Edit: you can't beat the Algarve beaches too!
or try Skala in Kefalonia (Nine Muses is worth a look)
Both places have enough top do so you won't get bored but are certainly not for the party crowd. Both also have bars so your 18 year old could go off and find new friends but not the sort of bars you'd find in Faliraki
Here is some pics: http://www.tropicalisland.de/united_arab_emirates/dubai/jumeirah_beach/jumeirah_beach.html
You wouldn't need a hire car either you can travel across the emirate in a taxi for about £10 no exaggeration.
I stayed in the hilton jumierah which again I loved.
It has everything including the biggest mall in the world. 1200 shops, 400 restaurants and 70 cafes:eek:
Absolutely amazing place.
Also, Paphos in Cyprus is nice. Loads to see, nice restaurants and a water park nearby.
Another vote for Paphos from me
We booked with Thomson, who were pretty good.
any advice on tour operators. who is value for money and who is unreliable etc.
much appreciated again.
Well when I was in Dubai I flew with virgin atlantic. Virgin had organised had a rep to meet me in the lobby of the hotel. With the rep I paid for a heli trip and a yacht both were organised by a company called Alpha tours. They called my hotel and picked me up and dropped me off at the hotel. Also, they give me a rolls royce back to the hotel.
In conclusion, Alpha tours are very highly recommended.
Back to my last post on the Dubai Mall here is a link to some pics:
Just have a look at these http://www.thedubaimall.com/en/section/media-centre/image-gallery
POrt de Pollenca on Majorca was really nice. I think you have to pick well on majorca although generally thought it was good
If you'd like anymore information I'd be happy to help.
We love Tsilivi, Zakynthos too. The biggest resort on the island (but not the 18-30 resort) with plenty of excurions, lots of other resorts nearby to explore and FABULOUS restaurants and local people.
Thomas Cook are the biggest and oldest tour operator in the UK. Book with them rather than a random internet company that can't be trusted!
Other points to consider: