Hi,

I am trying to find a holiday for my family (Mum, Dad, Son 16, Daughter 6) and have not had much luck finding anywhere via searches so I thought I would ask on here.

We have a narrow window due to other commitments and so need to leave between 12 and 15 of August and be away for a week.

The kids like pools and beaches but mum likes a bit of culture and we are not keen on the pervasive all inclusive culture due to reports of long queues for food etc. Equally not too keen on renting a villa unless it were within walking distance of shops, restaurants and a beach.

Last year we went self catering at Candia Park near Agios Nikolaos in Crete.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g189414-d250621-Reviews-Candia_Park_Village-Agios_Nikolaos_Lassithi_Prefecture_Crete.html

This was ideal as it had great pools, an ok beach and was close to two towns for evening meals. We also saw Knossos and Spinalonga to fulfill the culture requirement.

Something similar would be ideal – any suggestions welcome.

Somewhere like San Sebastian, good beaches, sunny, plenty of culture. Be expensive though.
Slightly cheaper would be Hondaribia (or anywhere else along the Basque coast) they are linked to the main cities by train/bus but are nice in their own right.

I suggest these places cos I know them. I think Valencia and Malaga would be good too.

A quick search found these.
http://www.rentalia.com/holiday-rentals-hondarribia/

or thees, near where I live, last metro stop from Bilbao.
http://www.rentalia.com/holiday-rentals-gorliz/

Nice places, lots of restaurants, excellent beaches, any more info needed just ask.

Spooky! My wife’s just suggested we go to Malaga for our holiday in August, and this thread turned up in search. I know nothing about the place. Will there be a chance to sneak off for a day or two’s riding mincing – or will it be too hot? I’m not a big fan the beach.

Lake Garda in Italy. We love it. Beaches on the lake, Italian medieval culture, Venice and Verona 2 hours and 1 hour away from the very top of the lake. Can’t recommend it enough.

Thanks for the responses.

Lake Garda seems to tick all the boxes so have booked a week at La Perla

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g194771-d314118-r132386990-Hotel_La_Perla-Garda_Province_of_Verona_Veneto.html

Thanks to everyone who responded 😀

Just come back from a week in Port de Pollenca in Mallorca. Been a few times before but a very nice family resort. Plenty of bike hire shops too 😉

Play at being tourists where you live. Your kids won’t be miserable because they’d rather be with their mates (statistically at least half their mates will be at home so they’ll entertain themselves ), you will have a comfy bed to sleep in, you know where the best restaurants are and I bet you haven’t done any of the things tourists normally do where you live. Don’t go to the travel agents, go to the local tourist office.