Mumpo
This boy's a mess, he's a menace, he's a pest
Posts: 5308
  
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posted 17-03-2010 12:45
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It's about time we did a family Med holiday. Or at least, flew out with the kids to somewhere hot with a nice beach or pool, or preferably both. Trouble is, the all the travel agents want to send us to some scuzzy Med hotel on the Costa Plonka (© 1973 'Carry On Up The Plonka'), where we're going to be shunted from paella to post with all the other apathetic loungerphiles.
Unfortunately, a fortnight's rental of a bijou little villa in the foothills of the Sistema Bético is probably beyond our budget; so, the question is, what's the best (i.e. most economical) way to do the Med thing, giving the kids somewhere to let off steam whilst we retain a semblance of dignity? Anyone care to suggest a destination?
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Last Edit: 17-03-2010 12:48 By Mumpo.
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posted 17-03-2010 13:45
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Choose a slightly off-the-beaten-track resort? The stretch of coast south of Valencia, for example, around Gandia, has lots of places that seem to cater mainly for holidaying Madrilenos with the occasional family of French folks. It'd be a bit different.
I only cite there because I happen to know there, I should stress.
Or what about heading out of W Europe, to Croatia or somewhere? Or go crazy and bin the sea entirely, and instead head for somwhere inland like Lake Balaton in Hungary?
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Last Edit: 17-03-2010 13:46 By Why at Last!.
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posted 17-03-2010 13:49
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Or you know what? Majorca. For close proximity between resorts and cool non-resorty bits, it's ideal. But choose somewhere like Soller or Pollensa rather than Magaluf and the other southwestern Britghettoes.
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posted 17-03-2010 13:49
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Lake Balaton = midges, I'm told.
Turkey might be worth a look.
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posted 17-03-2010 13:53
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How important is "hot"? You wouldn't consider one of those fantastic slightly faded French resorts, like Trouville or Villers-sur-Mer, where you could pretend to be Bertie Wooster?
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posted 17-03-2010 13:53
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Anywhere's affordable if you stay in youth hostels, surely.
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posted 17-03-2010 14:07
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It's not "Med" as it's Atlantic coast, but we went to the Vendée one year, and that was very nice. Well-priced, hot and sunny enough for us in August (not guaranteed "Greek island" sunny, but getting up there). Les Sables d'Olonne is a pleasant resort (it's twinned with Worthing, which I think says it all), and St. Jean-des-Monts up the coast is caravan park land so plenty of places to choose from.
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posted 17-03-2010 14:34
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You could try Nerja. There are tons of places you can hire an apartment for 4 people for around £400 - £500. It's 45 minutes from malaga so you'd be able to get a flight for peanuts, presumably as long as you don't mind flying Sleazyjet.
Or as WE says, try Majorca, but stay the Can Pastilla\S'Arenal side of Palma rather than the Shagaluf side. More German tourists than British, so it's not like Doncaster on Sea, unlike some other parts of the Island.
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posted 17-03-2010 15:51
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Hobbesian levels of rightness there. Nerja is a lovely oasis of quiet in that horrible stretch of coast
We used to drive down to the area around Pampelonne beach by St Tropez 30 years ago and stay at a caravan site just off the beach.
I think that there are still quite a few down there and you can probably get some good deals there
West of the Algarve around Lagos is a good area as well bit it's not the Med
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Crusoe
A lover, not a fighter. Well, not a lover either.
Posts: 2425
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posted 17-03-2010 16:07
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The Med coast of Turkey is nice but can be quite expensive (places like Kalkan or Kas). How about Croatia?
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posted 17-03-2010 16:23
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Avoid Side in Turkey though. IT is a shithole
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posted 17-03-2010 20:28
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Malta.
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posted 17-03-2010 20:39
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Doesn't exist
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posted 17-03-2010 20:50
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?
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posted 17-03-2010 22:52
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Slovenia. Tourist farms. lakes cycling walking
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posted 17-03-2010 23:42
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Lodzubelieveit wrote:
Malta.
Great suggestion - I'm going there in May for 10 days and cannot wait.
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posted 18-03-2010 04:58
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You could fly to Split on a cheap flight/ charter and stay in Trogir, which is only 8km away. Trogir is fantastic, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site - like a smaller version of Dubrovnik with fewer old gimmers carking it on the walls.
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posted 18-03-2010 10:20
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We're off to the Greek island of Thassos in late May. Ad hoc recommended it, and the journey/transfer times all look pretty good for a young family (3 hr flight, 45 mins ferry). Supposed to be a good bus service as well so don't have expense of hiring a car. Well looking forward to it.
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Etienne
Life sorted but now lacking time for OTF
Posts: 6670
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posted 18-03-2010 10:40
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I went to Thassos when I was about 14 and thought it was great.
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posted 18-03-2010 13:32
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Saranda in Albania. you can negotiate accomodation for 10 euro a night. swimming to Korfu which is like 2 kms away might be fun especially while drunk.
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