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News
All our latest travel news and information.
| Rate the Seaside with OnBeach |
If the beach is integral to your holiday experience and you want an unbiased opinion of your preferred options, try visiting web site OnBeach  ....If the beach is integral to your holiday experience and you want an unbiased opinion of your preferred options, try visiting web site OnBeach . This collects and publishes information on beaches and coasts, claiming to offer the largest (multimedia) database of beaches in the world.
After comparing more than 3000 beaches in Western Europe - reporting that they hae seen every one in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy - and analysing them for 100 issues such as cleanliness, facilities and suitability for swimming, the top five rated by OnBeach are: Platja S' Amarado in Mallorca, Cala Salada in Ibiza, Baie de Rondinara in Corsica, Praia de Sao Rafael on the Algarve, and Porto Nuova in Puglia in the south of Italy. If you want to add your own comments - good or bad - you too can post your ratings. |
| Holidays with Grandparents |
Grand Breaks ....Grand Breaks is a family-run business created by a former FTSE 100 Corporate Affairs Director and specialising in one, two or three day breaks in the UK for grandparents and grandchildren. It covers activities and attractions that can be enjoyed by both generations.
Breaks are categorised as Classic, Active, Discovery and Bespoke Grand Breaks and are in Warwickshire, Hampshire, London, Surrey, London and Sussex, with more destinations planned. The package includes hotels chosen chosen as welcoming and fun for all ages and examples include the award-winning, independently owned Deans Place Hotel in the picturesque village of Alfriston; or the luxurious Buxted Park Hotel in Ashdown Forest, near Uckfield. |
| Beat the Cost of Flying |
With news of increases in the cost of flying, European Rail is reporting that rail remains a bargain - while the growing high speed network means you can get there almost as fast, and without the hassle of airport security....  With news of increases in the cost of flying, European Rail is reporting that rail remains a bargain - while the growing high speed network means you can get there almost as fast, and without the hassle of airport security. Even better for those with children, there's space on a train for children to fidget, go for walks, visit the bar for snacks, and watch the countryside go flying by - all of which keeps them out of trouble.
Prices for second class returns departing London St Pancras include Cologne for £95; Berlin(overnight)for £159 (including couchette); Nice (also Cannes)for £97; and Geneva for £103. Fares are subject to availability and advance purchase is required. Booking fees apply. To make a booking contact the European Rail booking centre on (020) 7619 1083, email sales@europeanrail.com, or for enquiries call (0901) 235 0105 (60p per minute) European Rail Ltd, established in 1994, is reported the UK's leading agency for booking rail tickets throughout Europe. For further details see or for their range of independent rail holidays see . |
| The Original Christmas Markets |
For the original Christmas market experience go to Germany, where the season starts on the last weekend in November with mulled wine, seasonal food specialities and the opportunity to find some charming presents, including wooden toys.... For the original Christmas market experience go to Germany, where the season starts on the last weekend in November with mulled wine, seasonal food specialities and the opportunity to find some charming presents, including wooden toys.
If you want to know which one to choose and how to book it, the German tourist office has published a 40-page brochure listing them all, including opening times. Information is also available at a dedicated website .
Each geographical section also features recommendations such as markets in castles and other unusual locations, plus special tips on things to do during the festive season. In the North, Bremen features 150 festively decorated stalls around the brick Gothic town hall, Roland Statue and St Peter's Cathedral. In Celle half-timbered facades surround the Christmas market in the heart of the old quarter while in the East Frisian port town of Emden a market is being set up on a giant pontoon in the harbour. In Hamburg, there are seven markets in the city centre alone including a historical and a hanseatic market. Heading further East you will find the famous “Stollen” Christmas cake the Dresden version of which gives its name to the city's “Striezelmarkt”, Germany's oldest Christmas market. The “Erzgebirge” (Ore Mountains) are home of the famous Christmas decorations with Seiffen as the cradle of tradition and handicrafts featuring the largest nutcracker in Germany and the toy-making village. And Berlin boasts 50 different Christmas markets. For Germany's biggest market, visitors should head west to Dortmund where they will also find the world's tallest Christmas tree. Or try a small and exquisite market such as the one in the famous wine town of Deidesheim at the German Wine Road. Further south, there is, of course, the country's most famous market in Nürnberg with the popular “Lebkuchen” (ginger bread). Try something different in Regensburg, UNESCO world heritage site on the Danube with three markets. For a printed copy call (020) 7317 0908 or email gntolon@d-z-t.com. |
| Discounted Baby Breaks in Devon |
For families with at least one child under three, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parcs in Devon is offering Baby Breaks including specially furnished rooms complete with wooden cot, blackout blind and night light.... For families with at least one child under three, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parcs in Devon is offering Baby Breaks including specially furnished rooms complete with wooden cot, blackout blind and night light. These are in the parc's luxury lodges or the top of the range holiday homes.
A high chair and changing mat are also provided, along with a free basket with the likes of shampoo, bubble bath, talc, disposable bibs and wipes. And included in the price is an hour's complimentary entry into the Romano Spa for both parents where they'll find a Jacuzzi, plunge pool, steam room and sauna. Mum and dad also get a complimentary bottle of wine. Baby Breaks include a 15% discount off the standard price and are available until 23 December. Cost for seven nights in a centrally-heated two-bedroom Honeysuckle Lodge ranges from £306 down to £170. For more details ring (01271) 870343 or see . |
| Families go Hostelling |
Hostels are traditionally used by students and travellers on a budget but Hostelbookers ....Hostels are traditionally used by students and travellers on a budget but Hostelbookers reports that bookings for private rooms have increased by 121% since the start of the year, and many of those bookings are by families, looking for ways of cutting their holiday costs in the current economic climate.
What they have found is that they can get private rooms for three or more with en suite bathrooms, or even an entire dormitory for their exclusive use, at a lower price than hotel accommodation. The site offers more than 10,000 hostels in 2,500 destinations, with independent reviews and strict quality ratings alongside reviews by former guests. PGood hostels for families, with customer ratings of 80% or more, include the Hostel Meyerbeer Beach in Nice, Lybeer Travellers Hostel in Bruges, Stayokay Vondelpark in Amsterdam, Andonov Family B&B in Bulgaria, Sydney Beachhouse YHA in Sydney, Meininger City Hostel & Hotel in Vienna, Hostel Heart of Tuscany in Florence, and Meininger City Hostel & Hotel in London. |
| Protect Your Children's Sight in the Sun |
Sun damage from UV rays contributes to a wide range of eye disorders from cataracts to cancer and recent research has shown that by the age of 16 more than half a lifetime's worth of damaging UV light has been absorbed by a child's eye, with those under 10 being particularly at risk.... Sun damage from UV rays contributes to a wide range of eye disorders from cataracts to cancer and recent research has shown that by the age of 16 more than half a lifetime's worth of damaging UV light has been absorbed by a child's eye, with those under 10 being particularly at risk. This is because kids have big pupils and a clear lens, and because children's eyes lack an enzyme which in adults creates a natural filter by reducing the clarity of the lens on exposure to UV.
There are plenty of poor quality children's glasses around and these can do more damage than good - encouraging the eye to open up without offering any protection. Kodak is one company specialising in high quality glasses for this age group with details of specialist outlets at where there are frames and lenses designed especially for children. Many of the styles are designed to look just like the ones worn by adults, as children often want to look like their parents or older brothers and sisters. Sunglasses can be tailor made and fitted for each child, and can include such features as scratch and impact resistance.
Their tips for choosing children's shades are: • Only buy sunglasses with CE marking which means they conform to European safety standards • Only choose sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB rays as other versions could actually damage your children's eyes rather than protect them • Think about buying a strap to hold them in place • Encourage your children to wear their glasses by wearing yours • Explain the damage the sun can do to their eyes |
| Irish Ferries Entertainment |
Crossings to Ireland with the Ulysses or Dublin Swift on the Holyhead/Dublin route feature extra crew in the form of children's entertainers offering balloon modelling, face painting and general clowning around.... Crossings to Ireland with the Ulysses or Dublin Swift on the Holyhead/Dublin route feature extra crew in the form of children's entertainers offering balloon modelling, face painting and general clowning around. The ships also have designated children's play areas with soft-play equipment and mini-cinemas showing cartoons and films.
The ships also include facilities like lounges, bars and restaurants, plus on-board cinemas and shops. For more see or call (08705) 17 17 17 including child free special offers.
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| Backseat Brawl Syndrome (BBS) |
As 1.... As 1.3 million Brits plan a family driving holiday this year, reasearch reveals that children average just three hours and 15 minutes into a car journey before bickering begins.
BBS aside, the ideal length of time for a driving holiday abroad has been identified as just over four days (4.25 days) before the arguments begin in earnest. However, seven out of 10 rate the car the least embarrassing way to travel compared to train, plane or ferry. Best games to keep children entertained are the classic I-Spy (favoured by 30%), the number plate game (10%) and red car, blue car, yellow car (9%). |
| Find a Travel Companion |
Buddies 4 Travel ....Buddies 4 Travel matches up women travellers, including single mums, looking for someone else to travel with.
As the site founder comments, many women find travelling on their own can be pretty lonely. It can be particularly problematic with children. Buddies 4 Travel can provide both company and the opportunity to cut costs by booking family accommodation. Customers complete a questionnaire and return it with a recent photograph, which is then entered along with your profile on the Buddies 4 Travel database. A member of staff will also contact you to find out more about you and your travel buddy requirements, to make sure they match you with someone sharing the same interests - something done by a real person, not a computer. Charges are £45 for one match, £75 for two matches, £100 for three matches and £120 for four matches. |
| Travellers Tales for Children |
Adults get a click of recognition when they see famous places.... Adults get a click of recognition when they see famous places. Children however, who haven't had as much chance to hear about them beforehand, are sometimes undwerwhelmed by the famous 'sights' they are visiting. A solution is to give them a book on the subject beforehand.
The hitch with that is that there aren't very many suitable books, particularly when it comes to popular tourist destinations like France, Italy and Spain. A solution is Nobbys Travels a series which features the adventures of a cartoon brown labrador puppy visiting the various countries.
Originally published as printed books with stories in Australia, France, Hollywood, Italy, Scotland and Wales, titles in the second series are Italy, Spain, Ireland, London and New York, launched as downloadable ebooks from the web site. All 10 in both series are available at just £9.99, or for the printed books in series 1 £12.50 for all five. |
| Costa Cuts the Cost of Cruising |
Costa, the specialists in Mediterranean cruising, is offering a special family deal on cruises, with children under 18 years paying just the port charges if booking a ‘cruise-only' package, and flights if booking a fly+cruise package.... Costa, the specialists in Mediterranean cruising, is offering a special family deal on cruises, with children under 18 years paying just the port charges if booking a ‘cruise-only' package, and flights if booking a fly+cruise package. The offer is valid for up to two children per cabin sharing with two adults, but excludes selected departure dates.
Founded by Italians, the line offers international style cruising with a mix of nationalities on board and routes like Costa Serena, “Ancient Treasures” costing from £854 per person including all meals. Sailing from Venice it stops in Bari, at Katakolon in Greece, birthplace of the Olympic games, at Izmir where there is the Turkish shrine said to be the home of the Virgin Mary, and then Istanbul. There's a stop in Dubrovnik on the way back to Venice. Other routes take in for example Italy, Spain and Malta, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and Italy, Spain and Provence For more information or to book go to or call (0845) 351 0552.
All Costa's ships have been awarded RINA's voluntary “Green Star” notation based on the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is also an official partner of the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. |
| Good Hotel Guide On Line |
The invaluable Good Hotel Guide has launched a website ....The invaluable Good Hotel Guide has launched a website with entries for all the 850 selected hotels hotels and B&Bs in its Great Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands guide.
Unlike most internet information on hotels, details given here are completely reliable because, unlike most listings, no property listed pays to be included. That means the views provided are honest, unbiased comment on the merits (and sometimes short-comings) of each property. It is also up to date because it is based on readers' comments which are carefully tracked and assessed. The Guide also benefits from readers reporting on new hotels they have discovered. As the editors say, 'Any fool can find an expensive hotel which charges fancy prices. Finding good-value hotels when they are still building up a reputation is more difficult.' And of course those are the ones which are much more useful to know about. |
| Holiday with King Arthur |
Like England's West Country, Brittany in France lays claim to King Arthur.... Like England's West Country, Brittany in France lays claim to King Arthur. If your family fancy a Celtic break with a difference, plan a trip to the forest of Broceliande and then the cultural hub of Rennes which this year is paying him tribute in an exhibition running to the end of the year.
The exhibition looks at his life, the historical background to the literary character, touching on ancient sources and modern versions of the creation of the legend and myth through manuscripts, books, paintings, art and film posters plus one of the oldest, illustrated, manuscripts of the stories of the Round Table. For further information on Brittany, please see .
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| Car Free Switzerland |
The Switzerland Travel Centre (020) 7420 4900 ....The Switzerland Travel Centre (020) 7420 4900 is offering a seven-night holidays in the car-free Alpine village of Bettmeralp at the special twin share rate of £439 per adult, with one child under 12 years of age (sharing with two adults), paying just £142 in July and August including return flights from London City airport, taxes, rail transfers and accommodation with breakfast at the three-star Minotel Alpfrieden with family rooms available sleeping up to four.
Bettmeralp - high above the Rhone Valley - is a family-friendly destination offering gentle hiking (including pushchair friendly options), downhill scooter and cycle trails, tennis and miniature golf, along with fishing and swimming in the clear Lake Bettmer, and access via cable car to the UNESCO World Heritage site Aletsch Glacier. |
| Specials for Single Parents |
Single Parent Holiday Savers ....Single Parent Holiday Savers launched in January 2008 to cater to single parent families wanting holidays without add-on costs or under occupancy charges.
It includes details of more than 40 hotels around mainland Spain and Majorca, all child-friendly and at prices including flights, accommodation, resort transfers, all meals, entertainment and kid's clubs. A best-selling deal from Single Parent Holiday Savers is a seven-night all-inclusive deal at a 3* hotel in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava, minutes from the beach, 1 – 8 June. The parent pays from £274 and each child from £137, flying from Stansted or East Midland airport. Or later in the summer 24 – 26 July there's an all-inclusive deal at Tossa Beach, a 3 * hotel also on the Costa Brava where Mum or Dad pays from £314 and each child from £157. |
| A Chocolate Break |
The minimum age is 14 so this isn't for young children, but plenty of teens will enjoy a chocolate workshop in Bournemouth ....The minimum age is 14 so this isn't for young children, but plenty of teens will enjoy a chocolate workshop in Bournemouth where you sample the chocolate fountain before learning to make truffle fillings, dip your truffles into Belgian chocolate and decorate them with a variety of toppings and coverings. All participants take home between 40 and 50 Belgian chocolates each, all wrapped, designed and made by you. Only downside of the two and a half hour workshop is the cost of £110 for two.
All this takes place at the Chcolate Boutique Hotel with 13 bedrooms five minutes' walk from the centre of town or five minutes to the beaches, which also offers a five-day chocolate cookery school. The Chocolate Truffle Family Suite is £160 a night with children from 4 - 11 sharing just £20 each extra, and under 4s free.
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| The Great Outdoors - With Comfort |
Perfect for families who love wildlife and the outdoors are the five-stary Doxford Cottages ....Perfect for families who love wildlife and the outdoors are the five-stary Doxford Cottages (01665) 589 393 or (07802) 517 121, near Alnwick and five minutes from the Northumberland coast on a 2,500-acre private estate.
There's a resident expert is on hand to explain where, when and how best to see red squirrels, badgers, deer and otters, or birds seldom spotted in other parts of the country. Live webcams in owl boxes and at squirrel feeding posts will also transmit Doxford wildlife images back to the cottages. There are a variety of signposted paths around the estate and guided wildlife and bird watching walks can be arranged. A large games room also provides games including pool and table tennis and cottages are equipped with shelves of good quality books. Office facilities and wi-fi internet access are also available. The seven cottages in restored 19th century farm buildings range in size from one sleeping two people to Doxford House, which offers accommodation for eight in four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Every cottage has a south west-facing, stone-flagged terrace opening on to a lawned area which leads down to Doxford lake, complete with resident swans, via a secure gate to keep unaccompanied children safe. A week in August in a property sleeping 6 to 8 is £830. |
| Alpine Experiences |
The Swiss are among the world's best hoteliers and the Victoria-Jungrau Grand Hotel and Spa ....The Swiss are among the world's best hoteliers and the Victoria-Jungrau Grand Hotel and Spa in Interlaken offers everyting you'd expect from that - ESPA, Turkish and sauna baths, 16 therapy rooms offering treatments from an Indian head massage to Padabhyanga (foot massage) and aromatherapy.
You can go behind the scenes and learn about herbs and prepare your own pesto sauce, or visit a pastry cooke and make pastries, make picture frames, thread pearls, attend etiquette sessions for parents and children, take a Jaguar for a test drive, learn how to sail, play golf, go river rafting, take the free bikes for an outing, and more. There are also family rooms, and free stays for one child up to 15 years sharing their parents' room, plus a 50% reduction on breakfast and evening meal and on second rooms for children. There's a Wunderhuus in the grounds with playroom and open air play area, professional children's entertainer for 2-8 years, and a children's programme for 6-13s during Swiss school holidays. And along with that there's babysitting on offer, Splash Hour in the pool, children's meals, and a children's passport with top tips for excusions. Prices are from £643 per person for three nights in a superiod double room b&b plus Dine-Around with dinner each evening in one of the hotel's three restaurants. |
| Do Family Holidays Get More Remote? |
Tucked away in a remote corner of the Western Himalayas, wedged between Tibet and Central Asia, is Ladakh.... Tucked away in a remote corner of the Western Himalayas, wedged between Tibet and Central Asia, is Ladakh. Specialists African & Indian Explorations (01993) 822 443 offers an 8-10 day itinerary that takes you through the high jagged mountains to the vast green fields below, passing a spectacularly diverse assortment of birds and mammals. There's walking and camping at high altitude, riding on the tough Zanskari and Ladakhi ponies, rafting on the Indus or Zanskar rivers, visits to monasteries, villages and schools, and the chance to understand how these hardy people are adapting to the modern age.
Alternatively (and a little less remote), the Elephant Safari and Wildlife Tour in Corbett Park enables families to explore the forests on elephant-back and even spend three ro four days travelling, riding, and camping with the elephants. You can then spend two more days exploring the amazingly diverse wildlife. Prices to Ladakh start at £1,400 per person based on a family of four and includes sightseeing, guiding and entrance fees to monasteries, domestic return flights from Delhi, and all accommodation b&b and when camping all meals. The basic six-day Corbett experience starts from £600 per person based on a family of four travelling together. It includes all accommodation with meals, entrance fees, expert naturalist guide accompanying, camping and transport with taxes. It does not include transport to and from Corbett or any services outside Corbett. |
| St Moritz - in Cornwall |
Paying tribute to its 1930s roots is the brand new art deco inspired St Moritz Hotel at Trebetherrick near Rock ....Paying tribute to its 1930s roots is the brand new art deco inspired St Moritz Hotel at Trebetherrick near Rock (01208) 862 242. The £15 million property replacing the '30s original offers 32 double rooms and 16 suites, these second including a fully equipped kitchen and a living room opening on to a patio or balcony.
Alternatively families can make use of two, three and four-bedroom villas with kitchens, DVD players, private garden with barbeque, balcony and patio area. A 'deli' on site sells best Cornish fare including organic breads, fresh fish from Padstow, fruit, preserves and wines. Or if you want to be catered to there's good food with a head chef previously in the same role at Soho House New York and J Sheekey's in London. There's a Cowshed Spa - the first being at Babbington House Hotel - and a gym includes life fitness resistance and CV machines, personal training, daily fitness classes, a running club, iIndoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and outdoors there's tennis - as well as access to the gardens and beyond that the Cornish beaches - though an outdoor pool is planned. Families are of course welcome. Cots are provided free of charge and babysitting can be arranged. Price of a suite in high season is £260 a night b&b for two with under 3s free and children to 14 years paying 65% of the adult rate. |
| The Government Pays For Your Child's Summer Camp |
The action-packed YHA Do It 4 Real scheme is back after three sell-out summers, delivering adventures to more than 30,000 children and teens which, thanks to support from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, range in price from just £25.... The action-packed YHA Do It 4 Real scheme is back after three sell-out summers, delivering adventures to more than 30,000 children and teens which, thanks to support from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, range in price from just £25.
New camps for 2008 include Urban Vibe, working with one of the best music production and DJ colleges in the UK, creating beats and bass lines, trying street dancing and producing music videos. An Ultimate Fun and Games Camp for 10-13 year olds is both in and outdoor and messy and noisy, with everything from flinging eggs to lifting fingerprints from a crime scene. And the Adventure and Expedition Camp gets kids to push their mental and physical abilities to the limit on land and in water, culminating in an overnight expedition across the mountainous Lake District. Camps last five nights/four days (Sunday – Friday) and included in the price is accommodation, food, return coach travel from selected departure points, all activities, excursions, equipment and expert instruction. With 27 locations and 23 pick up points, top price is just £399 - the full cost being subsidised for children living in England by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Campers in care or from households that qualify for Income Support, Working Family Tax Credit or free school meals pay just £25, and those from families with a household income of less than £58K (and therefore entitled to Child Tax Credit) qualify for a concessionary rate of £150. For more details see or call (01629) 592 530.
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| Is There Really a Sausage Tree? |
If real wild animals aren't enough of a draw for your kids, the name Sausage Tree Camp ....If real wild animals aren't enough of a draw for your kids, the name Sausage Tree Camp should tickle their fancy. It's in the Lower Zembezi National Park in Zambia.
There are just six Bedouin style tents, recently enlarged and fitted with sliding doors and teak decks looking over the river and passing wildlife. Private “open-air” bathrooms feature brass taps and showers and stone basins. Families can tailor the day's activities with options including canoe trips lasting from an hour to a whole day, led by qualified canoe guides. On land there are 4x4 game drives into the bush to spot giraffe, buffalo and zebra by day, or by night civet, porcupine, genet and larger predators such as stalking leopard. Bush walks are led by a ranger who shows the family how to track animals by interpreting their spoor and dung, while explaining the medicinal uses of the African flora and fauna, highlighting conservation issues along the way. Fishing trips for tilapia and catfish (which can grow to over 50kgs) guarantee excitement, or there are quieter sunset riverboat cruises. There are currently free flights to and from Lusaka and the local airstrip for all bookings of a minimum of four nights for two people, including children over the age of twelve, and a seven-night stay in May including the half term week starts from £2,632 per person based on two people sharing, including international and internal flights, land and water-based activities, and full board accommodation. You can book through Expert Africa
(020) 8232 9777. |
| A Chateau for the Family? |
Western Loire ....Western Loire offers not just chateaux to stay in, but chateaux that welcome children. Chateau des Briottières offers a heated open air pool in the garden, new tennis court, bicycles for all ages, trampoline, ping pong, archery, coarse fishing, badminton, children's games, and 50 acres of park - and if that isn't enough to keep them quiet, riding at €30 per hour and hot air ballooning at €350 per hour.
Château des Arches in Yvré L'Evêque +33 2 43 89 49 92 michel.metais@neuf.fr offers another park, plus forest and river, with plans for a mini animal park with ostriches, lamas, yak and more. The chateau of Saint Paterne in Sarthe offers an animal farm, tea on the farm, and activities like horse riding and quad biking. Special packages cater specifically to families, pampering the parents with a candle-lit dinner including aperitif, wines and coffee, along with daily buffet breakfasts for the whole family in the breakfast room and dinners for children up to 12 years plus lunch in a typical country inn in a lovely villages. Cost for two adults and two children is €810 for two nights.
The area is served by direct flights from Southampton to Angers and to Nantes in season from Gatwick, Nottingham East Midlands, Manchester, Stansted, Liverpool, Shannon, Cardiff, Cork and Dublin and there will shortly be seasonal flights from Bournemouth. |
| Child-friendly but Upmarket |
The Ile de Ré on the west coast of France is gaining popularity with families who want great restaurants, charming villages and excellent markets and beaches - at a destination where you don't even need a car because it's close enough for taxi transfers from La Rochelle airport.... The Ile de Ré on the west coast of France is gaining popularity with families who want great restaurants, charming villages and excellent markets and beaches - at a destination where you don't even need a car because it's close enough for taxi transfers from La Rochelle airport. Hire a bike from the local bike rental shop and enjoy the fun of exploring the island on two wheels with the kids.
Wake up in France (01484) 680 855 offers properties including Villa Florence, a restored 4-bedroom village house sleeping eight, 800 metres from the beach and even closer to the local market, restaurants and shops. A one-week stay at the villa in June costs from around £1,756.
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| Family Surfing Break |
The surf savvy owners of Finca Malvasia, four boutique self-catering apartments in Lanzarote, have launched a number of surfing holidays with one - the ‘Aspiring Surfer' - especially suited to families.... The surf savvy owners of Finca Malvasia, four boutique self-catering apartments in Lanzarote, have launched a number of surfing holidays with one - the ‘Aspiring Surfer' - especially suited to families. Lessons are tailored to suit individual students, from the youngest up to Mum and Dad.
The apartments are among vineyards, 6km from a beach offering year round waves. The five days of tuition are usually split into two days of surfing, a rest day and then three days surfing, leaving two days of relaxation before heading home. Tuition runs from 10.30am to 4pm, and you learn how to paddle out through waves, turn and manoeuvre correctly, ride broken and unbroken waves, and more. First lessons are on soft trainer boards, helping you to stand and ride waves on your first day, then you move on to fibre glass boards. You also learn about the history of surfing, surf board design, rules of surfing, and how the weather affects the waves. Price for the package is from £495 per person and includes b&b in a two-bedroomed apartment sleeping four, packed lunch for the five days of the surf course, wetsuits and surf board hire, five days tuition with a BSA accredited instructor, and one post-surf massage per person. All apartments have private outdoor terraces, with views out to the pool or vineyards and dramatic Timanfaya Mountains beyond. Kitchens are well equipped and each apartment has an honesty bar, welcome hamper, TV and DVD,CD and book library. For an extra £45 you can get a ‘Surfer's Supper' for four – a Moroccan tagine served on your terrace after a day in the sea. For more details call + 34 928 173 460 or see . |
| Archaeology for Kids |
Archaeology specialists Peter Sommer Travels (01600) 888 220 ....Archaeology specialists Peter Sommer Travels (01600) 888 220 reports regular requests from clients to bring their families on their specialist breaks and Peter Sommer himself, father of a six-year-old girl, will be leading a week-long family archaeological gulet cruise during the October half term holidays, October 25th to November 1st, with further dates on offer for the summer.
Trips combine sea and ancient ruins - taking the stage and performing in the Greek and Roman theatres round the sites of Western Lycia, also taking in a bit of wildlife, like lizards and tortoises. Cost is £1,195 per adult, £1,095 for children, including full board accommodation on the gulet, all road transfers, archaeological excursions, entrance fees and trips. |
| Tailormades for Families |
Award-winning operator Original Travel (020) 7978 7333 ....Award-winning operator Original Travel (020) 7978 7333 is launching an Original Kids programme with a dedicated web site at.
As with the main programme the aim is to tailormake holidays to meet each family's requirements. Options include Young Indiana Jones in Jordan, Snowmobiling in Iceland, Wildlife in Borneo and Costa Rice, and Mediterranean and Caribbean classics, along with some UK hotels. They choose properties with childcare, or if you prefer there's also a holiday nanny service. |
| Single Parent Breaks |
Specialist operator Mango Holidays ....Specialist operator Mango Holidays is offering a growing range of overseas holidays for singles with children. This year they include Jersey – staying at the three-star Mayfair Hotel in St Helier 18-24 August where half board including flights and transfers is £499 adults, £399 for children, local payment adult £25, child £15.
Other options include Mallorca in the quiet resort of Puerto Soller, right on the sea in a pedestrianised area, and a Moroccan Adventure including Marrakech, a Berber village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and the seaside resort and old port of Essaouira staying in riads, a village house and a three-star hotel with pool. And for later in the year there's Santa in Lapland including sledging, cross-country skiing, ice-skating and optional visits to a reindeer or a husky dog farm for a sleigh ride. Staying half board 4-7 December costs £795 per adult, £635 per child, or £295 if under 2. |
| A Fantasy Getaway |
Elegant Resorts (01244) 897 516 ....Elegant Resorts (01244) 897 516 is offering a truly luxurious family holiday at Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives Spa Resort & Marina .
Described as the ultimate barefoot destination for families, parents can relax on the beach, get pampered at the Hideaway Spa, or dive and explore the surrounding coral reefs, while children are looked after at the Tender Hearts club. This features a white sand playground, library, traditional family board games and adventure activities ranging from sandcastle master classes to island cycle rides, Robinson Crusoe style treasure hunts to sandwich making. Children are encouraged to get away from the influence of computer games and television and can explore the island's natural habitat and discover wildlife including resident fruit bats, a variety of tropical birds, lizards, and rainbow-coloured fish. Junior Certification Programmes, like Junior Marine Biologist and Junior Diver, will offer more dedicated activities. All accommodation sleeps two adults and two children without compromising your privacy, and the villas are separated by beautiful lush greenery and have their own direct access to a personal white sandy beach. There's teak flooring, open air bathrooms, private plunge or infinity pool and an outdoor lounge and dinning areas. A personal butler attends to every need, including caring for the children while parents get a lie-in, waking and dressing them, and even whisking them off to breakfast. Elegant is offering stays of seven nights for the price of five from £3,970 per family - a saving up to £1,330 per family - or stay 14 nights for the price of 10 from £6,150 per family - saving up to £3,620 - based on two adults and two children under 11 b&b with return Emirates flights and plane and speedboat transfers. |
| Insights into the French |
Anneke Elwes, mother of two teens, has just published a new style of guidebook, designed to appeal to the distinctive interests of that age group, along with adults retaining a sense of humour.... Anneke Elwes, mother of two teens, has just published a new style of guidebook, designed to appeal to the distinctive interests of that age group, along with adults retaining a sense of humour. Bof! available at is sub-titled 'France Funny Side Up' and includes sections on French swear words, gesticulations, sports, idioms and even French jokes.
It doesn't tell you where to go or what to see, but instead offers an insight into what the French really think and say, like and dislike. It's £5.99 to download or £8.99 as a paperback. |
| Voluntourism for Families |
The Imaginative Traveller is offering two new itineraries for families based on volunteer work with elephants.... The Imaginative Traveller is offering two new itineraries for families based on volunteer work with elephants.
The 13-day Thailand Elephant Experience and 14-day African Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya with July, August and Christmas departures combine a 10-day adventure holiday with working on volunteer projects and have been designed for families (minimum child age 10) that want to put something back in the environment. The Kenyan trip involves four days working as a volunteer in the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. The price is from £1,649 for adults and £1,519 for children, plus local payment of around £168 and donation payment of £150, including return flights from Heathrow. The Thailand trip involves three days doing volunteer work in the Elephant Nature Park of Northern Thailand. It costs from £1,199 for adults and £1,149 for children, plus local payment of around £75 (US$150) and £180 donation, including return flights from Heathrow. Each tour operates with a maximum of 20 - around four or five families. For further details call (0845) 077 8803, or see .
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| Find your Lost Luggage |
Every year a reported 37 million pieces of luggage go missing in transit.... Every year a reported 37 million pieces of luggage go missing in transit. That's bad enough when it's only your stuff but there's children's as well it's a real pain. And when the paper label used by the airline gets torn off, the chances of getting it back are slim.
Registration and recovery service Trace Me Luggage Tracker provides a durable tag for bags, with an individual serial number and 2D bar code linked for life to registration details on a secure data storage system. And because it's just a number, you don't have to reveal personal details like your home address.
The tags provides baggage handlers and lost luggage officials at airlines, train operators, the police and local transport companies with the facility to identify the luggage and immediately notify the owners how to retrieve it. Cost is a one-off fee of just £12.50. |
| Baby-Friendly Boltholes |
A spinoff from Boutique Boltholes is new programme offering luxury and welcoming families ....A spinoff from Boutique Boltholes is new programme offering luxury and welcoming families . Catering to parents and children in England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, it also offers a few family-friendly resorts worldwide booked via Quo Vadis (see previous mentions).
Described as 'hip hideaways and elegant escapes', unlike others offering this kind of service, they include the genuinely hip ie small and discreet, some of them very attractive, and you can search on a list of facilities which includes babysitting, baby equipment, creche, toys, swimming pool, outdoor play equipment, meal delivery and farm animals. For more details see the web site or phone (020) 7830 9332. |
| Advice from the Specialists |
AITO is an association of independent travel agents which now offers a free (and fast) information service to all travellers.... AITO is an association of independent travel agents which now offers a free (and fast) information service to all travellers. Go to the web site and an online Travel Consultancy Clinic will tap into the expertise of the 150-odd members.
They will be able to answer questions about destinations worldwide, from people who have either travelled to the destination you're interested in, or have organised successful holidays of the type you are considering. So you could ask them about anything from late night arrival in Marrakech to the availability of nappies in the Canaries or formula brands in north America. And because that's what membership is about, the advice will be both honest and impartial - not just designed to encourage you to book a holiday with them. |
| A luxury b&b for all the family |
Trapham Farm ....Trapham Farm is a grade 2 listed farmhouse five miles from Canterbury, Kent, just opening as a b&b offering modern luxury for all guests, including babies, toddlers and children.
The building has been elegantly decorated and facilities include wooden cots and cotbeds, Egyptian cotton child bedding, vispring mattresses for children's beds, baby play mat and toys plus those for older children like Lego and Duplo; indulgent baby and children's toiletries, sterilising equipment, feeding equipment, bottle warmers, monitor, nappy bucket, changing mat, a small fridge in every room to store prepared bottles and food and can supply full fat cows milk for bottles and heat bottles. There are also DVDs and CDs to borrow, use of Wii and games, garden games, swings, tree house, trampoline 3/4 of acre of child friendly grounds a fenced heated outdoor swimming pool. There's a baby monitor for use when downstairs in the lounge or sitting outside, and baby listening service for parents visiting one of the local restaurants or pubs in the village (if parents can provide a contact mobile telephone number). There are child portions of everything on the breakfast menu (homemade with local organic produce), children's high tea of light and main meals for babies and children, homemade and cooked to order; plus baby and toddler breakfast items in the room for early risers. Although a b&b light evening meals are offered for those who want to eat in and they will also do you packed lunches and hampers. Prices are from £60 per adult per night for two sharing, £15 per baby/toddler per night extra for babies and toddlers in cots/cotbed, £20 per child per night extra for children. |
| Useful Presents |
A few ideas of places to find presents which will work on the road:
The Happy Puzzle Company ....A few ideas of places to find presents which will work on the road:
The Happy Puzzle Company (0870) 873 8989 offers a mass of puzles (plus some games) suitable for three years and up.
The Green Board Game Company features things like number snap and Around Europe Snap, plus sticker picture books and for while safely in one place, a World Time Zone jigsaw.
Itchyfeet (020) 7292 9750 sells for example a compendium of travel games in a small box while at radica uk (01992) 503 133 you'll find the fun 20Q gadget which you can try to beat at 20 Questions.
Worth considering because it now comes with headphones is Bop It from Hasbro (0800 328 7007 which tests reactions in a way that seems compulsive. Hasbro also produces Travel Hungry Hippos, the game where the hippos are meant to munch marbles.
If you have time to trawl through the toy specialists like Letterbox (0870) 600 7878 you will almost certainly find something not too large to attract the interests of your offspring (but avoid noises and small parts). And Toymaster Youngsters and Mail Order Express offer the basics including a variety of Top Trumps sets plus Happy Families with characters ranging from harry Potter to Winnie the Pooh but also the traditional Pots the Painter and Bung the Brewer.
Don't forget traditional games like cribbage eg from Compendia .
Lastly Hamleys (0800 280 2444 is one of the more expensive places to shop for toys but they will almost certainly have what you are looking for eg magnetic travel games. |
| One Step to Finding Family Rooms |
A new web site ....A new web site is specialising in family hotels and apartments in Mediteranean resorts and further afield. Operated by The Linden Travel Group, it claims to offer the largest selection of family friendly hotels on the web.
The search checks all prices for available flights, along with the rates from all the major accommodation providers and then selects the lowest price, based on daily updated prices. Accommodation options range from self-catering to luxury hotels, all discounted. Most hotels offer children's clubs and pools, cots and baby chairs and children's games. The Linden Travel Group is independent and offers flights and accommodation from all suppliers so while the holiday including budget airline flights, is protected by both the ABTA and ATOL licences of The Linden Travel Group, you are free to make up the package which suits you. |
| Family Walks in Northern France |
A new publication Family Walks in Northern France offers 11 walking trails with maps and itineraries for those with children up to 12.... A new publication Family Walks in Northern France offers 11 walking trails with maps and itineraries for those with children up to 12. The walks go from 1.6 to almost six miles and are suitable for all ages and degrees of mobility, including in push chairs.
Routes take in walled towns, ports, life in the marshes and country lanes, in areas stretching into France along the Belgian border. Locations are easily accessible from the major autoroutes inland from Calais, making them good for a stop en route to or from the Channel. Alernatively each of the four areas comes with accommodation recommendations, plus ideas for other possible attractions, ranging from the Flanders Eco-Museum to boat trips on the inland waterways or the Casteel Meulen windmill where you can watch flour being milled or linseed oil extracted.
The guide is available free from 132 tourist attrctions in Kent and the Nord Turist Board , along with the leaflet Cross Channel Days Out, a map for walkers, cyclists and riders featuring 172 trails plus information on the five areas which make up the Nord department. |
| Pollution Rises as Governments Propose to Cut Water Testing |
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has challenged the UK and Scottish governments over their plans for a 50% cut in water quality testing.... The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has challenged the UK and Scottish governments over their plans for a 50% cut in water quality testing. Official figures for 2007 compared to 2006 have showed a ten-fold increase in official UK coastal bathing sites failing legal minimum standards. MCS believes that the number of failures will rise still further when unofficial sites are included in its Good Beach Guide 2008, published next May.
New bathing water standards have been adopted by the European Union which must become domestic law by March 2008, and current proposals are the minimum necessary to comply. The MSC is not happy. |
| Online UK Green Guide |
A tight budget prompted the author of new green guide ecoescape to stop considering Britain as a second choice destination and start to look at it as an eco friendly option.... A tight budget prompted the author of new green guide ecoescape to stop considering Britain as a second choice destination and start to look at it as an eco friendly option. Her research has covered the whole country so, as Laura Burgess says 'an ecoescape could be as close to home as the local cycle path or the nearest railway station'.
Her online green guide to the UK covers sustainable attractions, accommodation, events, restaurants and activities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and includes images, practical information and details of the nearest cycle network route and rail links. The businesses included do not pay for their entry, but are selected on environmental merit and the individuality of the experiences on offer. Inclusions range from treehouse beds in Cornwall to an organic hotel on an island off an island. As well as accommodation there are listings of attractions and places to eat. Most are child friendly and specific isues such as the real nappy service offered at Higher Lank Farm are highlighted in the write-ups. Guests can leave feedback about the businesses in the online guestbook. The guide is available at or a printed version can be ordered at a cost of £3.65 for postage and packing. |
| Toddler Friendly but not Tacky |
At Glynn Barton in Cornwall eight attractive holiday cottages have been shaped out of stables dating back to the 18th century.... At Glynn Barton in Cornwall eight attractive holiday cottages have been shaped out of stables dating back to the 18th century. Run by parents who left London in 2000, they cater specifically to families, particularly welcoming toddlers. About 30 minutes are spent with young visitors every morning hand-feeding two highland cows, two kune kune pigs, donkeys and sheep, and collecting the freshly laid eggs from the chickens and ducks.
Other entertainments include an indoor heating pool with terrace and garden all safely enclosed, a games room with pool, table football, books, videos and board games, a games barn with enclosed toddler ride on area, table tennis and swing ball, an all weather tennis court, children's play area, forest walks and children's toys. Features for children include built in stair gates, cots and high chairs. Babysitting can be arranged and extras include a supply of frozen homemade goodies and catering services, plus the option of supermarket ordering online. The cottages themselves look good but are also designed for ease of use with facilities including dishwasher, fan oven and hob, microwave, cast iron stoves, DVD player and video, and even the likes of washing up liquid, all purpose cleaner, j cloths, and sponge scourers provided. Set in 13 acres they are helpfully 2/3rds mile from the public road and two miles from the hamlet of Cardinham - or if you can tear yourself away from Glynn Barton's attractions, 12 miles from the north coast and eight from the south one. For more details see or ring (01208) 821 104. A two-bedroom property is generally £750 for a week at Easter. |
| And Granny Goes Skiing Too |
Family ski specialist Ski Famille is offering a special deal for families wanting to ski at Christmas without feeling guilty about abandoning the grandparents.... Family ski specialist Ski Famille is offering a special deal for families wanting to ski at Christmas without feeling guilty about abandoning the grandparents. Any Grandparent joining a family of four or more booking for the weeks beginning 15th or 22nd December will pay half Ski Famille's discounted rate, as little as £182.50. The usual under occupancy charge (£350) is also halved if a grandparent would like a room to themselves.
Ski Famille holidays include a channel crossing or transfers from Geneva, half board accommodation and of course five days childcare. Standard brochure prices start at £435 per adult and £395 per child (15th December, Chalet Portes du Soleil – Les Gets) rising to £1040 per adult and £860 per child (9th & 16th February, Chalet Le Marjorie – Les Gets). Infants are £375 on all dates in all chalets. For further details contact Ski Famille on (0845) 64 437 64 or see . |
| Weekend Breaks to Relax to |
At the six Shire Hotels ....At the six Shire Hotels not only do under 16s stay free when sharing with parents, there are milk and cookies before bed plus fluffy white robes bearing the logo Back off: Relaxing! for the little ones to wear while enjoying the evening snack.
And for adults there are hotel spas with options like an 'Espa Totally Holistic body Treatment and VitaMan treatments for tired dads. Venues for the largely modern hotels are Penrith for the Lake District, Blackburn in Lancashire, the quiet village of Knutsford in Cheshire, Leeds, Kettering in Northamptonshire, Bristol (the Solent Hotel), and Fareham close to Portsmouth and Southampton. Childcare is run by a groupwide partnership with the childcare specialists Safehands, and each hotel can arrange for a nanny with Safehands training to provide babysitting. Activities at the North Lakes Hotel include pool, air hockey, video games, table top football plus popcorn movie nights and treasure hunts. There's also a newly renovated pool and children's spash pool while Solent Hotel, Cottons Hotel in Knutsford and Aztec Hotel in Bristol also have kids' pools. A room at Knutsford would be £138 b&b for two adults in an Executive Room, under 16s sharing free, their breakfast from £4. Alternatively, families can stay in two inter-connecting Executive rooms for two nights b&b for £376, including family entrance to Chester Zoo. For further details see the web site or call (01254) 267 444. |
| Easy Passport Photos |
Nowadays all children must have their own passport and the Paspic web site at ....Nowadays all children must have their own passport and the Paspic web site at has come up with a solution to help parents get approved passport photographs for those quickly and easily. Parents take a picture of their child using a digital camera, upload it to the Paspic website and within two working days will receive four passport photographs, guaranteed to be approved for use.
The idea is to avoid the traumas of photo booths, expense of professional photographers, or trying to crop their own images themselves. Paspic provides simple guidelines and online video tutorials explaining how to take a suitable picture and once uploaded to the site the picture is formatted into a passport photo size and the image is centered so the head is in the middle of the frame. It is then examined – both by built in technology and by Paspic staff - to ensure it meets all the Passport Agency guidelines. A set of four passport pictures costs £3.50 for UK, AU and/or EU style photos including free postage, while a set of three US style photos including free postage costs £4.20. |
| Travel with Barnaby |
Although they don't cover every destination you might be thinking of, Barnaby Bear books are a useful resource from the Geographical Association.... Although they don't cover every destination you might be thinking of, Barnaby Bear books are a useful resource from the Geographical Association. Covering Key Stages 1 and 2, the books take Barnaby to places including Edinburgh, Norway and Brittany, learnining about landscape, lifestyle and customs. There are associated titles like Barnaby Bear's tartin tie (about tartan and Scottish clans) or Baranaby's mountain rescue, about climbing in the Welsh mountains.
These are more are available at the Geography shop . including books for older children linking fiction to geography. |
| Take a Big House for Christmas |
Large properties are always at a premium at Christmas but try some of the following specialists.... Large properties are always at a premium at Christmas but try some of the following specialists.
Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has Ty Ystrad on the banks of the River Teifi with access to beautiful riverside walks. The origins of the house which sleeps 10 - date back to the 1650s, with a large, baronial slate-floored lounge plus two woodburning stoves and central heating. Price is £949 for the week. Coastal Cottages can also pre-book Christmas hampers with prices for a special festive edition containing sparkling wine, chocolates, salmon, ham, cheese, mince pies, Christmas pudding and nuts from £65. For more details phone (01437) 772 760 or see .
Ecosse Unique has Aberchalder Lodge, a traditional shooting lodge in Inverness-shire with views across Loch Oich and the Caledonian canal. Five bedrooms can sleep up to 12 and the property has a large, modern kitchen and elegant dining room. The estate offers fishing, walking, bird, wildlife and even Nessie-spotting. The price for Christmas week is £1,450 inclusive of bed linen and towels, while a cook and domestic help are available at extra charge. For mroe details call (01835) 822 277 or see .
Holiday Lets offers Claires Cottage in Devon's most southerly village, East Prawle. This five-bedroom property (one ensuite, one family bathroom, one separate WC) sleeps 10 and has a large, comfortable living room with TV/DVD/video and fitted kitchen with all appliances.Christmas week costs £852. For details call (01234) 757 290 or see .
The Cornish Collection includes May Lane House in Millendreath, near Looe and only yards from the beach. It sleeps 10 people in five bedrooms each with its own bathroom. There is a large dining room with a table that seats up to 10 people comfortably with further dining space available in the breakfast room. Cost is £1395, more details on (0845) 365 1394 or at . |
| Go Green - and Child-Friendly |
TYF Eco Hotel in St David's in Pembrokeshire ....TYF Eco Hotel in St David's in Pembrokeshire doesn't just reduce food miles, serve organic meals, use green electricity, and do all those desirable eco-friendly things like provide wind-up Indigo lanterns and wind-up and solar powered EyeMax radios. It also welcomes children.
The ethos of this 12-bedroomed converted windmill is laid back and relaxed, and there are family rooms, children's menus and board games, high chairs and cots - plus space outside for kids to let off steam. If they need to do something really demanding TYF Eco Hotel's sister company - TYF Adventure - offers coasteering, kayaking, surfing and climbing adventures along the lovely Pembrokeshire coastline for children aged 8 and over. Price for Dinner, B&B is £50, children under the age of 12 years sharing with parents / guardians are £10 per night B&B, and under 5s are free. Packed lunch (baguette, crisps, drink, chocolate bar, fruit) is £5. |
| Supernannying on Holiday with You |
Butlins has teamed up with childcare expert Dr Pat Spungin to give parents with pre-school children a well-earned break.... Butlins has teamed up with childcare expert Dr Pat Spungin to give parents with pre-school children a well-earned break. Families visiting one of the three Butlins Resorts, at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness, between Monday and Friday can take advantage of a free appointment with the good doctor.
Dr Spungin, founder of Raising Kids has trained Butlins' Redcoats and nursery nurses to provide ‘Nanny Knowledge' and is happy to pass on the same skills to mums and dads who want tips on anything from helping the children get to sleep and avoiding tantrums, to making friends with other children and sticking to eating routines.
Particularly designed for those with pre-schoolers, ‘Nanny Knowledge' is particularly helpful for children who might be playing up away from their familiar home routines. And with those skills under their belt parents can take advantage of attractions like the Bob the Builder interactive show and Family Sports Day as well as nurseries which will look after the children while parents enjoy some time to themselves. There's self-catering accommodation apartments allow parents to stick to familiar eating routines and the nurseries on all Resorts allow for parents to enjoy some time to themselves. To book a Butlins break call 0845 070 4730 or see for a virtual tour around the resorts. |
| True Swiss Luxury - for all the family |
The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland is a rather smart, traditional style hotel, but to make sure families know they are welcome, it has created a family summer programme including a kindergarden with professional supervision and baby sitting in the evening.... The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland is a rather smart, traditional style hotel, but to make sure families know they are welcome, it has created a family summer programme including a kindergarden with professional supervision and baby sitting in the evening. Children to the age of 15 stay free and have their own buffet breakfast and dedicated lunch and dinner menu.
The Wunderhuus, based round an indoor playroom and outdoor play area, is a free rpgramme of fun and games for children 2 to 8 years 9am to midday and 2-5pm. There is also a daily “Splash-Hour” between 4 and 5pm at the hotel's swimming pool. For the very little ones, there are more craft orientated play times as well as a kid's disco, a monorail adventure, and indoor climbing. For older children excursions options include Schilthorn Peak (a favourite on the James Bond trail); a visit to an Emmenthal cheese dairy; the model railway museum; a musical on Lake Thun's floating stage; skateboarding instruction; lessons from the pastry chef; plus sports including water skiing, tennis, bike hire, and crossbow shooting. All children are invited to BBQ parties, in-house cinema screenings, and classes in the spa from Hip Hop to dance aerobics, encouraging them to meet and mix. For parents there is golf at the nearby 18-hole course, an award-winning spa, gourmet restaurants, romantic walks and the tranquil and opulent surroundings of the hotel itself. Rate for a double room is from CHF 450 (approx. £184) and for a two-bedroom suite from CHF1950 (approx £796.45*). Children to the age of two are free if sleeping in a cot in their parent's room while children to the age of 15 are free in a separate room, (one child per adult, up to the maximum of three children in the same room), subject to availability. Babysitting is CHF30/£12.10 per hour and CHF35/£14.10 per hour for two children. For more details see . |
| Crystal has it Covered |
Crystal Families offers pretty much every type of active holiday you might think of for a family - from Santa to safaris.... Crystal Families offers pretty much every type of active holiday you might think of for a family - from Santa to safaris. Theree are theme park trips, seaside and watersport holidays, lakes and mountains active holidays, and of course, ski and snowboarding.
In the Lakes & Mountains programmes Les Gets in the French Alps has been awarded a Famille Plus Montagne award by the French National Tourist Office as a resort particularly suitable for families. It's on offer with Crystal Families from May to September for summer activities as well as for the ski season. Also in the ski programme new resorts include Chamonix in France with free creche and kids club places, Ischgl in Austria with a family resort with creche, play rooms with ball pool and mini train to take children to ski school, or the family-friendly Kranjska Gora in Slovenia. If you fancy something more exotic, new this year is the Intrepids Flying Safari which includes three wildlife reserves, a visit to an elephant orphanage, and children's clubs which including making camp fires, tracking, throwing spears and more. Or if it's seaside anwatersprots you want there's Dubai and the luxury Jumeirah Beach Hotel, or self-catering villages in Aquitaine, Cote d'Azur and Brittany with childcare and clubs for children from 3 months old. Prices start at £81 per person based on eight sharing, or £733 for a three-bedroom house at the Belle Dune Holiday Resort in Brittany for seven nights' self-catering, including a midweek Channel crossing. For more details see or phone (0870) 402 0293. |
| Being Beside the Seaside - in Style |
Small independent hotels group Elite Hotels has been investing in interesting old properties, including the five-star Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.... Small independent hotels group Elite Hotels has been investing in interesting old properties, including the five-star Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. Known as The White Palace, it was built in 1875 and dominated the seafront until World War II when it was requisitioned for miltary purposes. Now sympathetically restored, with the beach in front and the rolling South Downs on the other three sides, it boasts a restaurant voted by The Independent as one of the 50 best in the UK.
The resort remains one of the most traditional and is officially the UK's sunniest spot. There are Blue Flag beaches, and a busy events programme but not too much razzamatazz. But it's not all retired old fogies. The hotel is offreing real family service with a dedicated creches for children 3 to 8, evening babysitting service, a swimming gala every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, mini deckchairs on the beach, a Junior Crew goody bag on arrival, and a chance to take a free family boat trip with Allchorn Boats - an institution running for more than 140 years, offering cruises in style along the South Coast. A deluxe room would be around £180 a night, a junior seaview suite £370. For more information see or call (01323) 412 345. |
| Suitable for September |
Balkan Holidays ....Balkan Holidays (0845) 130 1114, has a number of suggestions for holidays after the high heat of summer and suitable for preschoolers.
These include Albena, on a scenic wooded bay with a 7km sandy Blue Flag beach, which shelves gently into safe calm waters. Around the resort are parks and flower gardens, many with playgrounds; plus toddler-friendly activities including a fun fair and a miniature train, which costs just a few pence for a ride around the resort. As an added bonus, the streets are largely traffic free. The all-inclusive 4-star Hotel Ralitsa and adjoining 3-star Ralitsa Park complex offer a children's section in the swimming pool, children's entertainment through the day, playground and family rooms Prices for a week based on two adults and two under 5s in September start from £1,204, including return flights, three star all inclusive board, transfers and supplements. For more ideas, see the web site. |
| Sunsail Antigua Newly Refurbished |
Sunsail's Club Colonna in Antigua opened its brand new kids club this year, complete with a life-sized pirate's galleon, a statue of Captain Hook, cannons and a slide leading into the sandy play area.... Sunsail's Club Colonna in Antigua opened its brand new kids club this year, complete with a life-sized pirate's galleon, a statue of Captain Hook, cannons and a slide leading into the sandy play area. The new kids area also has an exclusive beach area for children and an adult-free chill out zone for the teenagers. Bikes, cars, scooters, and activity gyms are also on offer.
Club Colonna is close to Antigua's local attractions as well as the airport and has undergone a total makeover including new reception area, bar, upgraded accommodation, new fitness facilities and a spa with sauna, steam rooms and outdoor Jacuzzi. One child under the age of 17 goes free for every two full paying adults so one week at Sunsail's Club Colonna in Antigua departing 27 July, 3 August, 10 August and 17 August costs £4,077 for a family of four. Price includes half board accommodation, return economy flights from Gatwick, free Kid's Clubs for children 2-17yrs, use of Sunsail's watersports equipment, fitness, tennis, spa and lots more. For reservations contact Sunsail Clubs (0870) 112 8487 or visit .
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| Tipi Camping |
Cledan Valley Tipis (01686) 420 409 ....Cledan Valley Tipis (01686) 420 409 in Powys is a new green holiday provider. It offers the kind of place where you build a fire to grill your sausages and after dark listen to the owls. There are candles for light and sheepskins on futons to sleep on.
The site is seven acres, fed by a natural spring, and there are currently five tipis of different sizes on the wooded land. Each tipi is based round a central hearth and there are daily deliveries of wood for the fire and ice for the cool boxes. The tipis are made less than 20 miles away and the site can even cater to wheelchair users. Cost is £107 a night or £600 a week for a tipi sleeping between six and eight. |
| Travel Journals for Little Ones |
A small but not overly onerous project for children on holiday is to keep a travel journal.... A small but not overly onerous project for children on holiday is to keep a travel journal. Any old scrapbook will do as it's likely to see the attachment of leaves, tickets, and sometimes even larger objects. But as you are likely to value the end product above any of the souvenirs you bring home, it is nice to have a good home for all the comments, drawings, photographs and other treasures your offspring draw together.
Darling & Darling offers a dedicated book for the purpose called ‘This is my Holiday'. Photographs to take include `My bed on holiday`, `Something that I really like to eat on holiday` and `My family enjoying their holiday`. Other sections include `Can you draw a picture of something you saw on holiday that you never see at home?`. Costing £17, each pack contains a reusable camera (loaded, with flash) and a fun-to-fill photobook contained in a handy carry case.
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| Ferry Helpful |
Stena Line ....Stena Line is looking to keep parents happy and children entertained in a link-up with a mischievous, childlike monkey - Curious George. George, who featured in the 2006 film about a museum guide trying to save his museum from becoming a car park, will appear on board five the the ships operating on the Irish Sea every day in full costume in the summer holidays plus October half-term and at Christmas Christmas. Children will receive Curious George goodies, including a set of postcards to colour in, a foldable Frisbee and more.
Therwe will also be the chance to win a family holiday to Universal Studios Holloywood with an on board kids colouring prize draw plus a VIP tour to meet the Curious George animators. Curious George will also be introduce on the North Sea Stena routes to Holland later in the year. |
| Rural Luxury |
Forest Holidays ....Forest Holidays (0845) 130 8224 is the brainchild of The Forestry Commission and the Camping and Caravan Association, who have joined forces to reposition the concept of open-air holidays firmly within most people's comfort zones.
Along with traditional camping and caravan sites, there's the option of cabins, which now include features like flat screen TV, DVD player and hot tub on the veranda, bookable for three, four and seven nights. And of course there is also immediate access to the surrounding woodlands courtesy of cycle trails and walks, plus Forest Ranger led activities to discover the local flora and fauna. Already three sites (Keldy in North Yorkshire, Strathyre in Scotland and Deerpark in Cornwall) include comprehensively equipped Standard, Superior and VIP Cabins, and depending on the size booked, they will sleep up to 8 people, plus pets. Prices start from £249 for a week in a superior cabin and £349 in a VIP cabin (with outdoor hot tub), sleeping up to 6. |
| Kids Free Cruise Break |
DFDS Seaways ....DFDS Seaways is offering free kids places on the Norway Coastal Cruise Break midweek sailings, departing from Newcastle upon Tyne. The three-night Coastal Cruise Breaks are at their best in summer, sailing out Tuesday and returning Friday.
On board is a restaurant, swimming pool, cinema and dancing at the Columbus Club, while children get their own dedicated play area, videos, games, ball pool and Pirate's Club with treasure hunts and compettions. The route is along the extraordinary Norwegian Coast featuring two brief stops before a stop in Bergen.Prices are from £59 per person or from £89 to include breakfasts and dinner buffet on the return journey. |
| Keep the Little Ogres Happy |
Holiday Inn has teamed up with Dreamworks for Shrek-themed family breaks.... Holiday Inn has teamed up with Dreamworks for Shrek-themed family breaks. B&B breaks are from £49 per room per night, or two nights' b&b plus dinner one night for all the family from just £109. On departure the kids get a Shrek the Third goody bag - keeping them busy on the next leg of the journey. For more details see or call (0870) 400 9670. There's also a competition to win return flights to Los Angeles, accommodation at the Holiday Inn Hollywood, VIP passes to Universal Studios - home of the new Shrek 4-D attraction - plus £500 spending money. For details see .
Watch out too for the next promotion, linked to the animated penguin movie, Surf's Up. |
| Worth Packing |
Here at Family Travel we're not big fans of the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to travel, and we're doubtful abou the usefulness of some travel gadgets on the market, but when you can find items with multiple uses, then it's a diffrent matter.... Here at Family Travel we're not big fans of the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to travel, and we're doubtful abou the usefulness of some travel gadgets on the market, but when you can find items with multiple uses, then it's a diffrent matter.
A great idea from Crazy About Gadgets is a beach towel that's also a game. The super soft Twister Beach Towel is 158 x 128 cm, and costs £19.95, with the classic board game printed on it. It comes with two inflatable waterproof dice printed with body parts and colours, the dice doubling up as pillows.
Also offering plenty of fun in return for space in the suitcase is the inflatable Boogie Board, which in its mesh carry bag is about the size of a rolled up beach towel. It's £19.95 and you use if for bodysurfing, or ‘sponging' as it's called by regular boogie boarders, easier than surfing and suitable for kids. |
| Bath for Families |
The mainly Georgian, UNESCO World Heritage city is not known as a big family destination but is keen to encourage those with children to consider a trip with the ‘Family Friendly Bath' section of the official destination website ....The mainly Georgian, UNESCO World Heritage city is not known as a big family destination but is keen to encourage those with children to consider a trip with the ‘Family Friendly Bath' section of the official destination website listing all the practicalities like where to stay and eat, plus weekend and school holiday events designed for children.
Attractions include the Bertinet Kitchen with its unaccompanied cookery classes for children of 7-plus, mainly during school holidays, or parent and child sessions. Or Minerva Chocolate offers ‘Chocolate Initiation Workshops' which teach children how to handle chocolate (before eating it). At Bath Theatre of Glass an audio presentation explains to the audience what is happening as the glassmakers go about their work against a backdrop of burning furnaces. Museums and galleries include 400 years of fashion at the Fashion Museum, or the site where the planet Uranus was discovered, at the William Herschel Museum of Astronomy. The Museum of East Asian Art runs children's workshops, and the Building of Bath Museum tells the firsthand story of the city's architecture and social history. American History is covered at the American Museum in Britain, with a new interactive, computerised exhibition alongside rooms displayed in the style of different stages of American History. Children can meet cowboys and Indians and watch civil war battles on the lawn. The Roman Baths museum includes the relics of a real Roman spa complex and a special children's audio tour. At Farleigh Hungerford Castle history comes alive with an extensive programme of military re-enactments, music and drama. During the summer months at Glastonbury Abbey, characters from the Abbey's past are brought back to life by actors, while at No.1 Royal Crescent the guides tell stories of the Georgian past in the painstaking recreation of the house in its heyday. Jane Austen spent six years in the city and featured it in two of her novels. The Jane Austen centre offers guided tours suitable for children, a short film about her, fashion from her era, and even ‘Tea with Mr Darcy' in the regency tea rooms. There's also a free Jane Austen walking tour available to download from from .
The area includes a number of heritage railways running on steam and diesel, with reconstructed stations, refurbished carriages and lvingly restored track. The Avon Valley Railway runs to Bristol, with the option of switching for a boat ride back. At the Somerset and Dorset, based at Midsomer Norton, visitors can learn about another restoration project. Horseworld is the area's main equine welfare charity where you can meet rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. There's an interactive Museum of the Horse and the Heritage Tack Museum, plus a nature trail, and ‘touch and groom sessions'. |
| A new - and safe - insect repellant |
Insect repellants are variously smelly, ineffective, sticky and dangerous.... Insect repellants are variously smelly, ineffective, sticky and dangerous. Now there's a third option, an insect repellent patch containing the vitamin thiamine. When used vitamin is released through the skin, reported to offer 36 hours of protection from mosquitoes, midges, sand flies and most other biting insects.
Unlike other sprays and treatments Omozone continues working during and after swimming, works all over the body, and can be used on infants from as young as just one year old. The odour is reported undetectable to humans but repellent to biting insects. Originally from the US, the patch is now available in the UK by mail order from with a week's supply of patches (5) for £6.75 or two weeks'(10) for £13.50, plus a free gift of sunglasses. In both cases postage and packing is included.
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| Get Active Summer Courses - at Great Prices |
After two sell-out summers, the minimum age for the YHA's DoIt4Real courses ....After two sell-out summers, the minimum age for the YHA's DoIt4Real courses has dropped from 11 to 10 and the programme is running in 23 locations in Yorkshire, The Lake District, Wales and the Midlands.
New camps for 2007 include ‘Live like a star', a week at a gothic manor house where young people will produce and star in their own pop DVD, learn about costume and design and enjoy a celebrity outing to Alton Towers. A much bigger range of Watersports Action camps is also on offer following their popularity in previous years. All-day surfing at Okehampton, in Devon, and ghyll-scrambling, at Derwentwater, in the Lake District, are two more of the new challenges available. 10-17 year olds from families with a household income of less than £58K (and therefore entitled to Child Tax Credit) qualify for a concessionary rate of £199 thanks to help from the Big Lottery Fund. Full price places are £399 but the subsidy means YHA can offer substantial discounts to the majority of campers, particularly those from disadvantaged households. Campers who are in care, or come from households that qualify for Income Support, Working Family Tax Credit or free school meals pay just £25. Children must be resident in England to qualify for subsidised places, but non-English residents can attend. There are no hidden extras and all prices include – transport to and from camp, accommodation, food, activities, tuition and equipment. YHA are offering free Family membership and a £20 YHA accommodation voucher to all campers, all of whom also get a free goodie bag. Contact phone number is (0870) 118 8018. |
| Keeping the Teens Busy |
Guests of the Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beachotel in Pissouri Bay Cyprus ....Guests of the Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beachotel in Pissouri Bay Cyprus can keep the teens happy with a new water-sports course for older children and teenagers.
The Columbia Beachotel and sister five-star Columbia Beach Resort host Surf Cyprus, , taking advantage of reliable mid-strength winds April to November plus clean, warm water and a 2km Blue Flag beach - and plenty of space as it is flanked by just the two hotels and a few villas.
The courses for children aged 8 to 18 years last one or two days in half-day periods and include windsurfing, kayaking, water-skiing and Hobie-cat sailing. Instructors are all RYA qualified and use high quality kit. A sample package including a water-ski lesson, a sailing lesson, a wind-surf lesson, 60 minutes of kayaking and 60 minutes in a pedal boat costs £60. Kite-surfing, the fasting growing water-sport in the Mediterranean, is also available. The Columbia Beachotel offers 116 rooms and suites with a pool overlooking the Mediterranean, a children's pool and from July to September, and on local Bank Holidays a children's club and playground included in the price and offering crafts, games, sports and competitions. The 94 suites of the Columbia Beach Resort are in 'villas', some thier own plunge pools, clustered around the 80m lagoon style pool surrounded by cliffs and vineyards in the valley behind. Facilities include free wi-fi and fast internet connections. |
| New Escorted Family Adventures |
The new brochure from adventure specialist Imaginative Traveller (01473) 667 337 ....The new brochure from adventure specialist Imaginative Traveller (01473) 667 337 for ages six and up includes new escorted itineraries in Latin America, Madagascar and China.
The new Latin America adventures are Gauchos & Waterfalls (Brazil), Peruvian Adventure (Peru), Wildlife Discovery (Costa Rica) and Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Ecuador). A Madagascar Adventure has also been introduced while a second China tour is added, Naturally China. Other destinations featured in a programme of 17 tours, ranging from eight to 15 days are Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Itineraries have been specially adapted for the family market with stops of at least two nights and the meal plan modified to satisfy young tastes from Imaginative Traveller's Worldwide programme. The 15-day Ecuador Journey to the Centre of the Earth takes in Quito and Cuenca, traditional markets in the Andean highlands, the Amazon rainforest, by boat and on foot, plus a spectacular journey on board the Devil's Nose railway. The land-only cost of £725 per person (no child reductions), plus local payment of US$200, includes a flight from Cuenca to Quito, and boat, train and private bus travel, and 14 nights' accommodation with breakfast (mainly hotels but two full-board in jungle lodge and one at a spa). The newly added 14-day Madagascar Adventure looks for lemurs at Andasibe and Berenty and spends a few days on the tropical Ile Sainte Marie to visit a pirate cemetery, go exploring by canoe and snorkelling among the coral reefs. The land-only cost is £1,155 plus local payment of US$275). |
| Ideas for offbeat family holidays |
Unlike most guides on travel with children, Bin the Bucket and Spade: Unusual family holidays in the usual destinations, refreshingly assumes a willingness by all members of the party to get stuck in.... Unlike most guides on travel with children, Bin the Bucket and Spade: Unusual family holidays in the usual destinations, refreshingly assumes a willingness by all members of the party to get stuck in.
Organised by theme (beach holidays, cultural, fiestas, winter sports, call of the wildlife and more) there should be something here to cater to any interest. There's even a chapter called 'Parents Chill, Kids Thrill', on holidays to suit families where the kids want to get active and the parents just need to kick back (cruising and places offering kids clubs). There are practical pointers (two to three hours on a boat watching whales is quite enough for little ones) and a table of 66 holidays rated for age groups, active or note, time of year and budget. There are also very extensive listings of specialist operators, together with a list of questions to ask, but no detailed descriptions. Written by Paul Jenner and Christine Smith, White Ladder Press , £9.99, this is a title to make you realise there's a lot more to do on holiday than sit round a pool. |
| Virtual TV Holidays with Nickelodeon and Marriott |
Nickelodeon TV has just announced a joint venture with Marriott Hotels to create 20 dedicated self-contained resort hotels.... Nickelodeon TV has just announced a joint venture with Marriott Hotels to create 20 dedicated self-contained resort hotels. The first is expected to be a 650-room resort in San Diego in the US, which will incorporate a 100,000 square-foot water park and activity deck complex featuring a variety of pools and interactive attractions, opening early 2010, with a further 19 planned worldwide, including in the UK.
Each resort will feature state-of-the-art pools and water features (indoors in cooler destinations), plus live entertainment programmes with costumed Nickelodeon characters like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. And Studio Nick, a state of the art main stage theatre space will be the base for |