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So, we've been trying (badly) to arrange a family holiday consisting of parents, four adult siblings and other halfs, and now a 1 year old. Last time we managed it was 2016, when my brother and I managed to convince everyone to take over a chalet in Les Gets which I feel slightly guilty about as we 3 of us disappeared off biking quite a bit!
So, 10 adults, 1 baby (cot), 4 bedrooms minimum.
UK would do but preferably abroad but short-haul or drive-able. If in the UK there would be 1 dog.
Some of us want to be out in nature/mountains.
Some want a city break.
Some want a hot tub and/or outdoor space/garden.
Some want to eat out every now and then.
We all have typically poor language skillz so somewhere where we can get by with a few polite attempts and then drop in a bit of English!
I think we'd all prefer a big house/chalet and self catering.
So I've been trying to find somewhere that is a bit out of town and scenic but with good bus/train links for those that want to shop and sightsee.
Any suggestions of areas to look at or even specific properties would be cool...thanks! PS August/7 nights ish
Well, there’s a few places near water where a broad-spectrum antibiotic would be useful, because there’s a risk of catching everything… 😉
I don’t think that’s so hard. I think the Alpes could work but you need a better centre with more going on. Chamonix has all the mountains stuff and a bustling town. Same with Cortina in Italy. I speak a bit of French but we did the Dolomites without any Italian.
Id start looking for the holiday to recover from that holiday. Lol
Joking aside, im sure some people will have some good suggestions though.👍
Gothenburg. Like a Scandinavian Berlin, but you've got amazing scenery and nature on your doorstep.
Several different holidays might work? Some to the beach. Some to the mountains. Some to a city. Etc. No need to get everyone together. Folks stay happy enough. A sort of Jack Spratt arrangement.
Thanks for the suggestions!
PS several different holidays...well that would be a bit boring...we've only all been together once since the last holiday six years ago!
clermont ferrand. Lovely small city, you can walk up into the mountains from the centre.
6hr drive from Cherbourg or easy flight either direct from london or Birmingham (don't know about Manchester or any Scottish airports) few places or via Paris. Easy journey
Pre covid we hired a house for 10 in Cornwall at Retallack. Cracking house, had hot tub, outdoor space etc. The BIG houses are set away from the rest of the resort so it's peaceful. Lots to do on the site too.We looked Into various locations abroad but finding one that all 3 families could fly too from around the UK was not easy so we settled on Cornwall. Had a brilliant time.
https://www.awayresorts.co.uk/parks/cornwall/retallack/
Innsbruck or Salzburg?
Almost anywhere near a station in Switzerland?
Came to say Innsbruck or Salzburg and have been beaten to it.
Almost anywhere near a station in Switzerland?
This is what I came to say. We went to Switzerland this year and it was the best family holiday we have ever had, by miles. So much to do, everything was superb. Transport, food, people, cleanliness, love of sport and the outdoors, shopping, very kid-focused and friendly. Dont fall for the 'its expensive' line, its not really - its just that nothing is cheap rubbish.
Dordogne?
We've hired a 6-Bed house with a private pool for 8 nights May half term for about £1600. Not bad when split across 8 people (2 families)
We've done this a few times and we're currently looking for a suitable place in Brittany.
Last year we had a great few days at Carsington Water near Ashbourne. Knockerdown Holiday Cottages. The main one held 10 of us and other close by cottages (20 metres away) held 4 or 5.
On site pool, games room etc. Nearby water sports, biking, walks. Good pubs, great nearby towns/villages and the local takeaways know where it is!
Previous large family breaks have been in Woolacombe (closer and nicer than Cornwall) and Monknash, South Wales (closer and nicer than the Gower).
Monknash, South Wales (closer and nicer than the Gower).
What an odd comment! Monknash is a small village and a beach, Gower is an area that contains many villages and beaches and wouldn't even fit into the space between Bridgend and Llantwit Major. Where did you stay in Gower?
Some nice big chalets up in the Aviemore area that have everything you want, bloody expensive though.
Soller or Palma in Mallorca
I go on a group holiday with friends most years, it's become a Thing. There's like 15 of us give or take. We've been to the same place several years on the bounce and it's ace but the price has skyrocketed so we relocated here this year:
https://www.cottages.com/cottages/abbotts-farm-ri2
Ticks most boxes I think, even has a sex pond.
Honestly though, if ten "adults" can't organise a holiday between them I'd be sorely tempted to go "off you go then" to the other nine, throw a tent on my back and find a big hill.😁
I give you the beach at Monknash on a warm bank holiday weekend.
It's a bit of a trek, no facilities of any sort, danger of rockfalls and completely cut off at high tide but we love it.
BigJohnFull Member
I give you the beach at Monknash on a warm bank holiday weekend.
It’s a bit of a trek, no facilities of any sort, danger of rockfalls and completely cut off at high tide but we love it.
Sorry, BigJohn, when I re-read it I thought my comment was too blunt and I get what you meant, but I can point you to several beaches on Gower which are absolutely gorgeous, deserted on almost every day and not too difficult to get to. (I've spent almost every weekend for the last few weeks wandering around near one of them and still not got bored of it.) But, glad that you enjoy that area. ^
Alsace - Colmar area. Good rail links to Strasbourg, driving there can be difficult and parking is now very expensive unless you're more than 5km from the centre. Vosges mountains to ascend, lots of cycle paths, wine and food. Short-ish drive from the ferry in Holland too.
When we’ve done similar, we’ve looked for holiday parks (Centre Parcs type thing but with houses rather than static caravans) is suitable locations, then each family has rented their own property. So we’re all in one location together to do things together, but each family has their own space and no pressure to be together all the time. Worked particularly well when the kids were small so they didn’t disturb the oldies, and now so the oldies dogs don’t disturb everyone else.
Lisbon.
City
Beach (trains have bike AND surfboard parking)
Stuff Pastel de Natas down the throat of anyone who complains.
Obvious: somewhere with a pool in SE France, SW France. Go about 45-60 mins away from the coast and it can be very reasonable. France really good for having city pools and lakes. Food and wine needs no comment. Trains for day trips. More historic cities than you'd ever need. Self catering easy. Transport can be cheap and easy - esp if 1-2 people drive with all the stuff, and everyone else travels sans baggage on a plane or train.
Less obvious: somewhere in Tatra mountains on Polish or Slovakian side, close to Krakow or Jasna resort. Big house in Turkey.
Several different holidays might work?
Classic STW advice!