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Family holidays aren’t just for kids


A child with father
If your kids are happy, then you’re happy. But shouldn’t there be more to your family holiday than toddler paddling pools and kids’ clubs? Here’s our pick of the getaways designed to make all of you smile

For some, a family holiday is all about the kids, but increasingly, the grown ups want a piece of the action. Holiday operators and resorts have been quick to respond with adult-friendly features such as spa facilities and gourmet restaurants becoming as commonplace as play zones and children’s menus.

The do’s and don’ts of having a holiday you’ll all enjoy

•Do book in advance – the best family hotels and resorts get snapped up many months ahead.
•Do think about what you’d all like to get out of your holiday before you book a ‘bargain break’ that turns out to be the holiday from hell – do you want activities that you can all take part in as a family? Do you want somewhere you can safely leave the kids while you go off and do your own thing for a few hours?
•Do book somewhere with a swimming pool on site if possible, ideally an indoor as well as an outdoor pool if it’s in the UK – kids don’t need much else to keep them entertained.
•If you have a baby or young children, choose somewhere that has a babysitting service or can arrange for an experienced local babysitter or nanny to come in, so you can have some evenings out without the buggy and an overtired infant in tow.
•If you get on well with parents or in-laws, consider taking them with you on holiday to split the cost, get babysitting on tap and extra pairs of hands to help out with the kids.
•Holiday in the Mediterranean countries, where going out and eating out with kids is much easier and more relaxed than in the UK, so you’ll feel less stressed.

•Don’t choose bed and breakfasts if you have a baby or young kids. You’ll have to stay in your room with them all night, every night.
•If you have little kids, don’t book anywhere that takes more than two hours to fly to. What with airport security checks adding to the inevitable delays, you’ll feel frazzled before you’ve even got on the plane. Plus, what you can take onto the plane is so limited that you won’t be able to pack enough distractions/ nappies/snacks and drinks to keep you going for longer than a couple of hours.
•If you’re driving, make the journey part of your holiday. Plan in lots of stops for leg stretching, loo breaks, meals and snacks and throw in an overnight stay if it’s more than a six-hour drive.
•Take the train instead of the plane. It’s easy to book train travel across Europe and although it costs more than dirt-cheap flights (London to Barcelona via Paris starts at about £160 including sleeper berth), it’s a far more interesting and relaxed way to travel with kids. Go to www.seat61.com to find out more.
•Don’t pick somewhere hot in July and August if you have young tots. They won’t be able to go out in the sun and you’ll all feel hot and bothered.
•Don’t give cruises a wide berth. Believe it or not, they’re no longer all about posh pensioners but offer some of the best value family holidays around.

Family hotel resorts
These resort-style hotels are pricey, but for a reason, as they cater equally well for everyone in the family.
Sandbanks, Dorset. Gorgeous location right on a soft, safe sandy beach, family rooms, children’s activities, nursery for little ones, teenagers club, indoor pool, spa.
Watergate, north Cornwall. Surfing and lots of other activities, family rooms, kids’ playroom, organised activities for the kids, therapy and beauty room for the grown ups.
www.luxuryfamilyhotels.com including hotels in Dorset, Suffolk, Wiltshire, Worcestershire (from May) and Cornwall. Features include supervised kids’ play rooms, family rooms, kids’ meals, baby listening, baby equipment, babysitting booking service, spa treatments.
Studland Bay, Dorset. A warm and welcoming, traditional style hotel that’s been catering to families for generations, many of whom come back year after year. Features children’s own dining room with special kids’ menu, indoor and outdoor play zones, outdoor pool, baby listening service, spa and treatment rooms.
Sunsail Fantastic for active families. The Club Vounaki in Greece is especially family-friendly and has all the water and land-based sports you could shake a paddle at, for all ages, plus kids’ clubs for tots to teens so you can chill out to your heart’s content while they play.

Cruises
Cruises are the next big thing in family holidays. Leading travel companies like Thomson are now in on the act so there are some great value holidays on board ship around. You can all relax on a cruise ship – all meals are catered for, kids get their own clubs, pools (on some ships) and entertainment, plus trained supervisors looking after them. You can have a session in the spa or gym (on some ships) enjoy an evening out at a bar, restaurant, or cabaret if that’s your thing, and know that your kids are safely tucked up no more than a few feet away. On some cruises, kids get on shore entertainment specially designed for them so you get to sightsee while they have fun. Make sure the cruise you book has facilities for your child’s age, as they can vary.

Check out:
www.pocruises.com Family cruises on the Aurora, Oceana and Oriana with family saver deals for kids. Family-friendly features include Youth Crew kids’ supervisors, inter-connecting cabins, night nurses and in-cabin listening service.
www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk Fun cruise line, designed for’ people who don’t do cruises’, including families. Prices for a cruise on the Med start at £149 including flights, plus you save 5% when you book online, Features include family pools, netted decks, fully supervised kids’ activities, ball pools and soft play zones for them, plus a spa and beauty salon, comedy, party and casino nights for you, plus spectacular open air laser acrobatic show.
www.thomascook.com
Book a family cruise with any number of cruise lines through Thomas Cook including Carnival Cruises, the world’s biggest cruise line with ships to match. The Conquest is one of Carnival’s family-friendly liners. It’s the length of three football pitches and features a 3,300 square foot children’s play area, four swimming pools, including one with a 214 foot long water slide, a 15,000 square foot health and fitness studio, seven Jacuzzis and 22 bars – something for everyone and then some.

Self-catering
www.siblu.com A new parc in the Loire means there are now 10 siblu-owned parcs across Europe. Everything on site makes for an easy, relaxing holiday for you and loads of fun for the kids. Toddler-friendly parcs and kids’ clubs for children aged one to 14 give you less to stress about and more ‘you time’.
www.butlinsonline.co.uk A household name, and as popular as ever. Butlins is bang up to date and has loads to do for all ages so the kids are occupied and you can chill. Stay at the swish Shoreline Hotel in Bognor and you get all the usual fun-packed entertainment Butlins is famous for, plus indulge in a sea-view stateroom with private patio, lounge area, room service, and kids’ own TV, DVD and PS2.
www.hoseasons.co.uk Great sites across the UK and Europe, with bags of facilities to make sure there’s plenty for everyone to do. Some Hoseasons’ lodges have a hot tub and spa for you to relax in while the kids can splash out in action-packed outdoor and indoor pools.
www.cottages4you.co.uk If you like self-catering in style, choose from thousands of gorgeous, family-friendly, well-equipped and beautifully situated holiday cottages. Many are big enough for groups so you can take the grandparents along as baby sitters.

For the latest family holiday news and deals, go to bounty.com/travel ends
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