Can I get this without flying?

Networkguy

My previous holiday criteria has been somewhere warm, 4 star plus, all inclusive and with a kids club for my 5 year old so that mum and dad get a holiday too.

But I have really had enough of flying. Stupid flight times, tour staff that treat you like a heard of sheep and speak to you the same, let downs when you get there, lost baggage (after you spent all that time keeping within your weight limit) and so it goes on.

So can I get close to my requirements without flying?

I have looked at some of the "camps" in France (I could drive) which whilst they have kids clubs, pools and nice weather seem to be just static caravans and are self catering rather than room only. The idea of cooking and cleaning for a week does not look much like a holiday.

Then I looked at cruises which have all of the above and I don't have to cook (or clean) but most of the nice ones seem to involve me catching a plane first to meet the boat which kind of defeats the point.

So is there any other option where I can leave my brain at home and still have a week doing nothing (nothing includes not keeping my 5 year old occupied 24x7) without flying?

I am more than happy to drive into Europe (within reason) but please can somebody save me from the airlines?

photome

Networkguy wrote: »

My previous holiday criteria has been somewhere warm, 4 star plus, all inclusive and with a kids club for my 5 year old so that mum and dad get a holiday too.

But I have really had enough of flying. Stupid flight times, tour staff that treat you like a heard of sheep and speak to you the same, let downs when you get there, lost baggage (after you spent all that time keeping within your weight limit) and so it goes on.

So can I get close to my requirements without flying?

I have looked at some of the "camps" in France (I could drive) which whilst they have kids clubs, pools and nice weather seem to be just static caravans and are self catering rather than room only. The idea of cooking and cleaning for a week does not look much like a holiday.

Then I looked at cruises which have all of the above and I don't have to cook (or clean) but most of the nice ones seem to involve me catching a plane first to meet the boat which kind of defeats the point.

So is there any other option where I can leave my brain at home and still have a week doing nothing (nothing includes not keeping my 5 year old occupied 24x7) without flying?

I am more than happy to drive into Europe (within reason) but please can somebody save me from the airlines?

I cant save you from flying, but I havent had any of the above problems that you have had and I have flown maybe 50 to 100 times.

I never go on a package so dont have reps to treat me like sheep,and I try and get a day flight. sorry I cant be more help, but if you have experienced all the above then I think you have just been very unlucky

martindow

You can travel by train. Be inspired here!
http://www.seat61.com/

dzug

You can get just about anywhere in Europe by car including the all inclusive resorts on the Costas. Even the Canaries have a ferry service from Spain.

getmore4less

Networkguy wrote: »

My previous holiday criteria has been somewhere warm, 4 star plus, all inclusive and with a kids club for my 5 year old so that mum and dad get a holiday too.
.....
So can I get close to my requirements without flying?
.....
Then I looked at cruises which have all of the above and I don't have to cook (or clean) but most of the nice ones seem to involve me catching a plane first to meet the boat which kind of defeats the point.

Cruise will do everything BUT the AI so you will need to budget for that.

Kids clubs are so good on some ships the parents have trouble getting time with their children.

Plenty of ex-UK options that are nice but if you need the school hols they will be a bit pricy. Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess,P&O are worth a look for 2weeks down to the med from southampton.

For AI you will have to look at Thomsons but not sure if they do a med from the UK.

We are doing a comprimise in two weeks time ,Dover out fly back cruise cost was £400pp for 11nights(now full). expect to pay over £1kpp(kids discount/free) for 2weeks in the school hols.

Fly cruise with charter can be OK the cruise flights have extras and they tend to be normal times. Flights for cruises with thomson,OV,Island also tend to be OK times as well allthough we prefer the early flights no traffic and on the ship for lunch, home by mid afternoon on return.

What dates, budget do you have? I will find something for you to consider.

TimothyEBaldwin

Among others, the following cities are served by direct sleeper trains from Paris:

Barcelona, Madrid, Port Bou (small town with major station on French/Spanish border - east side), Rome, Milan, Venice, Munich and Berlin (quicker changing at Brussels) and intermediate stations.

Fares are often similar or less to equivalent budget flight + transfers + extra nights accommodation.

patchwork_cat

Interesting - I have flown 75+ times, but last one we hit an air pocket on take off and plummetted and I haven't been able to get on a plane since - stupid I know. I do feel that i am letting the kids down and being irrational, particularly when you consider how often I have flown - my recoed for delay was 18 hrs having gone through passport control in Barcelona and not being allowed back out!

I will follow this thread with interest although I feel my budget is less than the OP.

Voyager2002

I think that many of your problems with flying result from going on a package and taking the charter flights that the tour operators give you. You might do better getting scheduled flights to your holiday destination.

Otherwise, pick somewhere nice to stay in southern Europe and get there by driving and/or by train. You can put your car on many French trains to save driving time. You can also get a direct ferry from England to Spain.

deva

fred olsen have cruises that depart from liverpool

hartcjhart

Hi you dont say if you are male or female(there is a point)

what I have done on many occasions(male)is to book a normal hotel holiday for the family (flying to destination)then arrange for transport for them to the departure airport,I then drive(a couple of days before) to the chosen destination and meet them at the arrival airport,

this way I dont have to fly(scares me s***less)and we dont need to hire a car when we are there,I then drop them back at the holiday airport and drive home,

This way you have the advantage of a package holiday without the hassle of flying,
why I said male/female,I know it will sound sexist but I wouldnt advise a woman to undertake a long drive alone although I know a fwe that have,

now if there are say four of you you book the holiday for 4 and when the 3 get to the airport you just say,so&so is going to meet us there,

there are cruises available from uk ports that do not entail flying and most go to the med resorts,check in the sunday papers,

Craig

davidlizard

TimothyEBaldwin wrote: »

Among others, the following cities are served by direct sleeper trains from Paris:

Barcelona, Madrid, Port Bou (small town with major station on French/Spanish border - east side), Rome, Milan, Venice, Munich and Berlin (quicker changing at Brussels) and intermediate stations.

Fares are often similar or less to equivalent budget flight + transfers + extra nights accommodation.

Once you get to Venice, you are on the Adriatic ferry network, and you can get to the Croatia and even the Greek Islands (Ionians - Corfu, Kefalonia etc and the rest via a Patmas-Athens overland link) very easily and cheaply. Minoan ferries do that route. Venice isn't a bad place to be for a couple of days either.