Thank you, that was a great place to look.

I was just thinking Newquay when flanneruk chipped in.

Torquay is another one.

If it wasn't about partying, I'd suggest the Western Isles. Not that they don't party but you have to be born there

Whilst all these seaside resorts are charming, I'd like to persuade you to spend at least a few night in the capital, London. If I were you, I'd do a week in London, and a further 10 nights along the south coast, splitting your time 5:5.

Hi,
Thank you.We have actually been in London before and we will be there again for a week this fall.
It's just that my daughter wants to stay in a flat and see what it is like to actually live there.
It would have to be summer, as she is in school and could not take several weeks off at any other time of year. I thought that the coast would be a nice place to be at that time of year.
I am trying to get some suggestions so that we might be able to visit a few place while we are there in Nov. We would be taking the train or bus to get there.

If you want to get a taste of real british life, stay away from London.
I suggest somewhere south because its generally warmer and probably devon or cornwall, or West Wales, Tenby and Saundersfoot are great for a 14 year old, and parents alike.

Muck

If staying in the UK there is only one choice London, it is the Capital it is what life is about here, a teanager would love to be let loose in London there is more of everything, one would not want to let them loose in Brighton the gay capital of Europe.

Wow, a wide range of opinions.
Any other ideas on how to find these rentals?
If in fact we do not stay in Brighton, I am back to square one!
I understand about London being such an important place to visit, but my daughter at age 14 will be taking her third trip there this fall.(Different reasons for each one).I have been there a couple of times in addition to that.
She thinks she might want to live in Europe and wants to "experience doing that" for a short time this summer.
If I am going to spend the money and indulge her, I would like to go somewhere that I haven't been before, and make it more of a relaxing vacation.
That is why I am thinking somewhere along the shore. But, there has to be plenty for us to do, also, as she is not really a beach person. (I am.)
Thanks for all of the input.

Would you consider forgetting the English speaking stipulation?

The UK is not typical of Europe in any of its ways, it's very much its own island.

Brighton is boring for two weeks, the beaches are always packed, you might be able to cope for a week.

You can rent many attractive apartments in Cornwall - St Ives can be a good base, hire a car otherwise anywhere except London is pointless as you won't be able to explore the surroundings. The same applies for Devon too!

cpeicott:

You're stuck with conflicting objectives.

I'm not sure what being a beach person consists of, but it probably isn't something you can do in Britain or Ireland. In midsummer you can, unless you're utterly wimpish, sit round a British or Irish beach and swim. But you can't sip leisurely Pina Coladas, or reliably spend hours doing nothing more than frying yourself. Which is why many of us like British and Irish beaches. You have to do things: having a dog, or an interest in geology, helps. And surfing's good in places (though not Brighton). Cornwall's posh teen belt, or Brighton, are interesting places. But they don't ressemble a West Indies resort.

For that, there are two kinds of places. First, there are the real beach resorts where English is either an official language (Malta and Cyprus) or such a universal lingua franca that you can't tell the difference (the British expat and package holiday belts in the Algarve and Southern Spain above all). These are resorts for foreigners: the social life is made up of people who don't live locally, and generally care nothing for the place. They're a really untypical (and I'd say unpleasant) introduction to European
life.

Alternatively, if being a beach person matters to you, you might try places Europeans take domestic holidays. The small resorts along the French bits of Lake Geneva. Most Italian domestic beach resorts (NOT the Cinque Terre, but places like Rimini). Gotland, in the middle of the Baltic, which a climatic warp makes surprisingly warm in summer. English is not the natural language of social life, so your daughter's insights will be limited. But it's widely enough understood to get by. And you really ought to be able to pick up reasomnable Italian in a couple of weeks.

These are the closest you'll get to seeing real European life while being a beach person. But, sadly, being a beach person is not a natural human state.

Hi,
I am not planning on going on vacation and lie around on a beach for 2 weeks. I just enjoy being near the ocean on vacation when possible.
I am willing to give that up to find a place that is a more suitable to achieving the goal of seeing what living in a different country is like.
My daughter really would like it to be English speaking.
She has been to places where little English was spoke and knows that it is not what she wants this time.

Some rambling thoughts...

I recently saw the movie Wimbledon and remarked on another thread that the beautiful shots of Brighton made me want to visit there. You and your daughter would enjoy the movie.

I think maybe you need to be flexible on the "where" and just explore some places til you find something to rent that interests you. Once you see something, you could post back for info on that area. The lake district could be lovely.

Here's a website for Cornwall and Devon that lists some self-catering places (that's the terminology you're looking for)

http://www.cornwall-devon.com/index.html

You must click accomodations then do a search for self catering.

Here's another
http://www.aspirelifestyleholidays.c...us.aspx?Over=2

http://www.cottages4you.co.uk/c4y_homepage.html

You might also have a look at
http://vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/reg...united-kingdom

to see what's available. There's nothing listed in Brighton, but there are a few places with water views.

FWIW, my DH who's English says one of his favorite areas is in Cornwall between Penzance and Land's End. My personal experience has been limited to the Cotswolds, Kent, Surrey, Sussex area. I am a very big beach person but when it comes to England, the countryside is sooo beautiful and picturesque I don't need to be near the water to enjoy myself.

Finally, you might find more info on the mesage board at slowtrav.com

John 44 said "a teanager would love to be let loose in London there is more of everything, one would not want to let them loose in Brighton the gay capital of Europe."
Astonishing response! John's happy to let kids roam about a vast city but not a nice seaside town, because they might, see, GASP, a gay couple or two. My god, the DANGER!!!!!!!

John, PLEASE tell me you're not from England. I'd hate to think we shared any common ancenstry.

Firstly I think that it's fabulous that your daughter wants to experience what it's like to 'live' somewhere else rather than just 'visit'; it brings an entirely different perspective. The only thing that I'd perhaps suggest is that if she is coming for a few weeks in one place (without the tourist agenda necessarily thrown in), would you maybe consider bringing one of her friends along too? I think that might heighten the experience for her.

I must confess to the same reaction as Kate's regarding John44's comments! I am putting faith in my assumption that you're not a knee-jerk bigot, nor an overly protective parent who wishes to shield their teenager from life, so rather doubt that you would consider his comments seriously. Anyway, I work in London, in Soho actually, and rather doubt that you can say that Brighton is any 'gayer' (HATE making comments like this!) than here!

I'd definitely go with Brighton or Newquay in the UK. And possibly if you stay in Brighton you could consider a weekend trip to Amsterdam as Gatwick airport is very close and EasyJet fly from there very cheaply? There won't be any language problems and it would be an interesting change in culture (if you haven't been there before).

Other than here, then I'd maybe go somewhere like Cork (Ireland) or Malta.

I hope that you have a lovely time. Wish that my parents had done the same for me....sob!

Thank you so much.
There are certainly many cottages and apartments to choose from. I appreciate the website suggestions.I guess I really need to narrow down my choices by picking a location.
I am trying to read about the places suggested, though I seem to be just getting more and more confused. Too many choices!

At this point in your "confusion" I feel the need to ask just WHERE the 14-year-old subject and apparent "driver" of this quest is? Waiting around for Mom to do ALL the work, ALL the searching, ALL the decision-making, enduring ALL the confusion, and then....not liking the results? Or is she somehow, as best fits her ability and YOUR pocketbook, being included in some of this work? Is she being asked for any feedback, etc.?

And since you have described this as "our" summer vacation is Mom going to get anything out of this other than work? Or is that satisfying enough?

I am not trying to be difficult but I do think the child should share at least some responsibility in this.

TopMan: How do you know that the daughter isn't doing anything? Maybe she's doing other research. And anyway, since Mum is paying, Mum needs to be happy with where they go! I'm not sure I'd want a 14 year old to pick my holiday destination!

My daughter has been doing some"research", but as there are so many options, and as it was pointed out, it is my money, I would prefer to narrow down the choices to things that I think would work, and then sit down with her with just a small list!
The problem that I am having as I send away for information and look on line, is that most places seem "too serene" which could be the same as boring after a few days.
I am hoping to find a place that we can enjoy and admire the beauty, but also have plenty of options for things to do.I am trying to find as much information that I can on things that have been suggeted here.

You see, there is nowhere in the UK except London that I could possibly stay for two weeks as a tourist.

If you're living somewhere you go about a routine life, you don't discover new places all the time, only London allows you to do that. Well, perhaps Manchester/Liverpool/Birmingham, but they're not nearly as desirable.

re: serene...yes, a lot of areas will be quiet, but remember you'll want to be out and exploring. I think Brighton was suggested b/c it's on the water (which you wanted) but still has a fair amount to do and is close to London. If you'd give up the water request, staying near Oxford or Cambridge would also give you some good exploring to do.