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Hi folks
it’s that time of year again!
We’re looking at trying sort our summer holiday and our go to over the last few years has been Neilsons but I’m keen to find an alternative so thought I’d pick singletrack’s collective brains.
Neilsons have loads of activities including mountain biking and great kids clubs (plus accommodation and good food). But they’re expensive, the biking is limited and the Mediterranean temperature is often too high for doing anything other than lying around these days.
If there was a family resort in the alps (lower summer temps and more trails but with some water sports) it would probably be perfect. I’ve had a look on the web and there are a few alternatives but it feels a little like a pin the tail on the donkey. I’ve also not looked at Northern Europe or Scandinavia that may also have options.
Anyone know of any family resorts with lower temperatures, great kids clubs and mountain biking that they’d recommend?
ta and a happy new year when it comes
woody71
Lots of campsites (where you sleep in permanent accomodation) have kids clubs. Take your own bike and go to one of them?
Hi 5lab
Yes been thinking about hiring a camper and having a bit more of a roadtrip (rather than a resort) but that opens the options even further. Perhaps I just need to go with the flow a bit more ?
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We never did it as it was too expensive, but if you can afford Nielson then you may be ok
Similar thoughts to yourself re Neilson
They need to find areas further north as the climate is just getting too harsh to do any of the activities
And it’s getting bloody expensive!
Mediterranean temperature is often too high for doing anything other than lying around these days.
I know what will fix that... Fly somewhere else...
I know what will fix that… Fly somewhere else…
Trying to work out if the irony is intentional or unintentional! 🙂
My general feeling about the med, having worked there a few decades ago somewhere not dissimilar to Nelson.......why go in high season? If tied to school holidays, go in May or October half term. And if you need a summer school hol too make it UK based. The 'tradition' of those lucky enough to do two family holidays a year and do the UK one in the spring or autumn in the UK when the weather is even more fickle and the big overseas one in the med when costs and temperature are both quite frankly mental, is.......mental!
go in May or October half term
because in May the water is cold, in October it’s generally pissing it down and cold
And I think that’s also outside Neilsons operating season
Mark Warner do equivalent too but I’ve heard not very good reviews
because in May the water is cold, in October it’s generally pissing it down and cold
Water in May - Depends what you call cold. Having just been swimming in the loch here at a positively balmy 5.7deg water temp in my budgie smugglers, my views might be biased but you'd have to a proper woose to think med water at any time of year actually cold. I used to windsurf in Turkey in a shortie in the spring, autumn and right through the winter. Summer would be just my boardies. Transition from shorty to boardies was probably about early June. You are right about Oct - you have to anticipate maybe a day of rain on average per week. May is lush though - scenery is still green before getting nuked by the summer heat. And at an activity centre the kit is still in good nick - always progressively trashed through the season before layup and refit the next season.
And I'd be very surprised if they are not open. We always were in the days of working seasons and I've been a Nielson guest in both May and Oct half terms in the not so distant past.
It depends what bit you want to compromise on.
We went to Eurocamp at Les Mathes last summer (near Royan) and it was tremendous - part of it was the adventure of a ferry and a drive across France. There’s lots of bike paths but not so much MTBing round there.
Depends how big the kids are - mine were 13/11.
I've been looking at Les gets bike park, had anyone been there? Could be an alternative?