Suggest somewhere for us a bit different!

yup, by far the most expensive country ive ever been to, worth it though, if you re into things such as volcanoes etc. i could have rented a cheaper car(main cost at 2k for the 10 days), but….

Italy?? We went to lake Garda a couple ot years ago. 2-3 days in Venice and then a week at Bella Italia hotel at lake Garda, with access to campsite included. Actually we preferred the campsite cabins, but it was sold out.

Kids loved swimming in the lake cos the water wasn't salty. My missus fell in love with Italy. Going to Amalfi coast next week. Probably lake Como next year.

Did you try cruise holidays? Explore a new town/city very day or just enjoy the pool, beaches, shows every evening, teen clubs etc. great itineraries from Barcelona or other Mediterranean cities.

We went to Sarande for 2 weeks at Easter. Was gorgeous. Lots of day trip options and even better if you wanted to rent a car.

There are not heaps of "resorts' yet but they are on the rise. It was so lovely to be somewhere that ticked all the tourist boxes but didn't have the endless streets of tourist shops, nor did we feel ripped off at any stage. 100% recommend.

Check out something like Lakes and Mountains with TUI, we've done Austria with them and used the ski lifts to take us up the mountains and do the trails then from there and already mentioned I'd second Lake Garda

Italy lakes are great.

Also the Liguaria region in Italy is fabulous. Especially where it meets France.

Or the south of Italy near Puglia is also lovely. Not expensive but you'd need a car to get around.

guy in work just back from albania, he went with his missus and teenager (think 17 year old) and he was raving about it. he described almost every meal he had! they were there for two weeks, spent time somewhere on the coast near corfu for half of it.

if you have money consider switzerland, not everything is expensive and you can get reasonable prices with research and booking early. their school holidays start later than here (varies across the country, but going in june means you're not competing with locals for accommodation etc) and all ages are well catered for. swimming areas (can be pools or by lakes or rivers) are cheap to pay into and well organised.

Why not Orlando? Kids can go to more cultured places when they're older and can appreciate it more, as can you when you can relax without the kids. Now is the time for a place like Florida which they will love guaranteed, and if they're happy you're happy. Can also easily rent a car and drive down to Miami.

What's the story with Albania, is it packaged by some tour operator? I'd be interested, but am probably out of the loop a bit since we just go where Ryanair goes lol and DIY it usually. Thanks.

I'm heading off to see Rome next month, it's been on the to do list forever. Now I know it'll be busy with the Jubilee and all that, so we are staying on the coast in Ostia Lido and taking the train in, it's only 30 minutes. Ostia Antica is up the road which is said to be as good if not better than Pompeii. Hope it works out for us ha ha.

Anyway, can't beat Italy IMO. These are the three ways we did it over a few years, all by train (super easy and cheap) and hopped from place to place.

Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Siena.

Padova (Padua) an amazing spot, Venice half an hour away, and Verona.

Bologna, Modena, Ravenna

Lake Garda, but take the boat around the lake and stop at Sirmeone. It's hop on hop off. Lovely.

Rome and surrounds next, then hoping to go to the South next time, and take the train across the Strait of Messina to Sicily. More Greek and Roman stuff for me in Syracuse. Not sure where to fly into!

I've more but don't want to come across as yer wan going around the world in 80 days or anything.

Ah thanks for that. I was thinking there must be a DIY way, and of course there is, except lazy me doesn't really want to do multi leg flights for Europe! But needs must I suppose.

Can I ask if you found the accommodation easy to book and was it OK?

Albania was described to me by someone who went there last year as Bulgaria or Croatia 30 years ago, she and her husband left after 2 days,. (said was definitely for locals-I've spent a bit of time in the Baltics and Russia, some nice places there too but I definitely know what she meant when she said "definitely for locals").