Where to go for Summer 2016

BringMeSunshine

Hi

I hope it's ok to ask this kind of question here. If it isn't, please point me in the right direction.

Basically, we usually go camping but this year one of my children had a toenail op in late July, which meant that camping was out. We got lucky by booking flights to Crete and found availability across 2 great villas off the beaten track (essential - I couldn't manage a resort type holiday) at a bargain price.

I want to plan something similar for next year. I fell in love with Crete but going back a second time so soon might not be the best idea. I've read that booking flights as early as possible when they are realeased is the way to get them cheapest. This means I have to decide where to go soon, so please does anyone know anywhere that ticks all these boxes if we rent a car?

Snorkelling/scuba (beginners)
Interesting geology
Old ruins/museum for MrSunshine
Interesting wildlife for YoungestSunshine
Rivers for canoeing
Boat trips
Beaches that have interesting stuff to see and do
Lots of lovely sunshine.

Thanks

DomRavioli

France, Italy, northen Germany and Eastern Europe fit the bill in Europe, and perhaps Nerja in southern spain or the surrounding areas - where you go will depend on your budget and what your exact preferences are, as well as your ability to speak the local language in some areas.

You could also go further to somewhere like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia etc who all have very interesting geography, history and plenty of wildlife, although some of it can kill you.

You'll struggle with beaches that are interesting (I've never found an interesting beach yet). You need to do some research into when you are going, what weather you are looking for (Nerja can get up to 45 degrees in summer), and your budget.

hollydays

Ryanair flies to Zadar, Croatians Dalmatian coast?
Eg
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/europe-short-haul/croatias-dalmatian-coast-spot-holiday-6087908

BringMeSunshine

Thanks for the suggestions.
I was thinking Europe rather than Thailand etc.

We'll need to keep the cost of flights down as we're booking for 3 but might be joined by a couple of our adult children and/or our teenager's friend but they'll be needing to book their own flights later.

bigadaj

Turkey seems an obvious option which ticks most of the requirements, not too far and not expensive.

BringMeSunshine

Thanks bigadaj. We did go to Turkey on clubcard points when Tesco were giving them away like sweets
It was excellent but I'm trying not to go back to places we've been before. We went camping in the Tarn Gorge 2 years running and it wasn't as new and exciting the second time.

BringMeSunshine

Maybe a different Greek island would fit the bill.

dangers

We went to northern Spain this summer. It was beautiful and we saw very few Brits!

We went by ferry to Santander but you can fly to Bilbao as well.

bigadaj

BringMeSunshine wrote: »

Thanks bigadaj. We did go to Turkey on clubcard points when Tesco were giving them away like sweets
It was excellent but I'm trying not to go back to places we've been before. We went camping in the Tarn Gorge 2 years running and it wasn't as new and exciting the second time.

Turkey is quite a big place though! Sounds a bit like an American having 'done Europe' in a week.

We've been five times in total, three times for a week on the beach and twice for wider ranging adventures. The last two weeks we went on was about five years ago, flew into Istanbul with a couple of days then flew across to Diyarbakir. Buses were cheap and convenient and if you are after history then nemrut Dagi is probably the best experience I've seen.

There are four principle beach airports to fly into, with dozens of locations from each so no limitation on choice.

Your requirements are so general that most of the med would fulfil them, Malta or Cyprus would be easy, southern Italy more hassle but potentially more interesting. Sicily has more history and geology than most areas of the world for example.

For Greek Islands then santorini can be good, or Zakinthos with turtles etc

littlereddevil

Northern Portugal

DomRavioli

OP, what is your budget? I did ask earlier but that will be a determining factor.