With the summer holiday break imminent, it seems there are still a lot of families who have yet to plan where to go and what to do. We asked Mark Hodson, editor of 101 Holidays, to give us some recommendations on the best places to take your kids on holiday this summer. Mark is an award-winning travel journalist with more than 12 years experience writing for The Sunday Times and other newspapers.
Q: Where do you recommend for a family beach holiday on a budget?
A: The Vendee, an unspoilt region in Western France, has wide sandy beaches and is great value, particularly if you drive. Rent a villa at the Mas de St. Hilaire holiday village which has a large pool and oodles of children’s facilities. A week’s self-catering from 28 July costs a total of £886 for up to 5 people including Eurotunnel crossing with Wake up in France (www.wakeupinfrance.co.uk).
Mas de St. Hilaire, Vendee
Q: What about if you don't want to travel abroad, where would you recommend in the UK on a budget?
A: You could explore the beautiful Norfolk Broads on a motorised cruiser. It’s an ideal holiday for families that value their independence, and no experience is required. A week’s rental from 10 August for five people sharing a cruiser costs £233 per person based on 5 sharing with Waterways Holidays (www.waterwaysholidays.com).
Messing about on the Norfolk Broads
Q: Where do you recommend for families with sporty children?
A: La Manga Club in Spain has superb sporting facilities -- including 28 tennis courts and eight football pitches -- and runs courses for kids throughout the summer. Prestige Holidays (www.prestigeholidays.co.uk) has a week’s B&B for 2 adults and 2 children at the five-star Hotel Principe Felice departing Gatwick on 16 July for £3,292.
La Cala restaurant, La Manga resort
Q: What do you suggest for teenagers that just want to sleep in late and laze beside the pool?
A: A villa with private pool. There are some bargains in Greece including Villa Erimitis on the island of Paxos which is available with a 25% discount for a week from 16 July with CV Travel (www.cvtravel.co.uk). It costs £554 per person based on 4 travelling including flights, ferry and car hire.
Villa Erimitis, Paxos
Q: Where do you recommend for families with very active children?
A: The Adventure Holiday Company (www.adventurecompany.co.uk) has multi-activity holidays for families. You could stay on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast where kayaking, river rafting, hiking and biking are all included. A week departing 26 August costs from £3,896 for two adults and two children under 12 including flights.
White water rafting in Croatia
Q: What do you suggest for families excited by the Olympics?
A: Sands Resort (www.sandsresort.co.uk) on the North Cornwall coast will run Olympic-themed kids activities this summer and has discounts of up to 20% during the Games. Facilities include adventure playgrounds, a swimming pool, climbing wall, zip-lining and free use of wetsuits and surf boards. A week’s B&B from 28 July costs from £1,742 for 2 adults and 2 children.
Sands Resort, North Cornwall
Q: What is a good option for large families that want to holiday together?
A: You could rent a large house and create your own private house party. The Big Domain (www.thebigdomain.com) has a huge selection including Plas Dinam, a Grade 2 Listed house in Powys with a tennis court, stables, billiard room and croquet lawn. It sleeps up to 30 in 14 bedrooms and costs £4,000 for a week beginning 17 August.
Plas Dinam, Powys
Q: Any ideas for families that want to go abroad and be pampered, but are really strapped for cash?
A: Stay at a chalet in the Alps. You’ll enjoy wonderful scenery, lots of activities and all your meals included - at low season prices. Esprit Family Adventures (www.espritfamilyadventures.com) has a week’s full-board in August at Chalet Hotel des Deux Domaines in Belle Plagne from £950 - the total price for two adults and two children. The Channel crossing costs an extra £125.
In the Alps with Esprit Family Adventures
Q: What is the best option for families that want watersports beside a beach?
A: Mark Warner (www.markwarner.co.uk) has a winning formula at its Mediterranean beach clubs: all your meals, wine with dinner, kids clubs, tennis and watersports with tuition all included in the price. A week at Perdepera Beach Resort in Sardinia from 28 July costs from £3,796 for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Perdepera Beach Resort, Sardinia
Q: Any suggestions for a family that wants something completely different?
A: How about a luxury volunteering holiday in South Africa? You could combine a safari and Winelands tour with three days teaching students in one of Cape Town’s townships. Eight nights from 21 July costs £19,200 for two adults and two children under 12 including B&B in Cape Town and full-board safari at Sabi Sands with Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com).
Volunteering holidays in South Africa
For more recommendations on summer holidays, please check out 101 Holidays at www.101holidays.co.uk.
