| Choosing the right holiday for the whole family can | | | | sea with lots of sunshine and lots of freedom; I was |
| be a real nightmare. There are so many different | | | | in my element. Kids like to do their own things and |
| options available to everyone it can be a tough call to | | | | most of the time they are probably not bothered by |
| make and if you've never taken the family away | | | | anything too elaborate, they just want to be able to |
| before it might seem like a real minefield to you. | | | | play. It's the same at Christmas, when they play with |
| Ultimately the two main things to consider are the | | | | the boxes and the bubble wrap rather than the |
| value for money you are getting from any deal and | | | | presents that were inside them! |
| possibly most importantly making the right decisions | | | | The freedom that a self catering deal gives you is |
| that will help keep your children happy. Firstly, don't | | | | brilliant, but just remember that it might end up being |
| be scared to compare the different star ratings, | | | | expensive if you have to pay for everything once |
| facilities and activities the various hotels or | | | | you're away. If you choose to go all-inclusive instead, |
| apartments offer and the different board basis' | | | | do some extra research and find out if it has the |
| available to you. Work out if one place in particular | | | | right family facilities (things like playgrounds and |
| stands out as being more cost effective than the | | | | waterslides) for you, because the hotel won't then |
| others. If it does and seems to suit your family also, | | | | just be a base; you will be spending a lot of time |
| then you know you could be onto a winner. | | | | there. If your kids are fussy eaters, then you need |
| Secondly, you need to remember that if your children | | | | to consider whether they'd be happy eating at the |
| are content and occupied whilst on holiday, then the | | | | hotel every night also. Whether you decide that |
| more likely it is that everyone in your party will have | | | | cheap family holidays are right up your street or |
| a good time when you're away. Thinking back to | | | | decide to plum for something a little more exclusive, |
| when I was a child, I was as happy as could be if I | | | | just make sure that you try to consider every angle, |
| was with a friend or two (siblings or otherwise) just | | | | because after all making a bad decision on a holiday |
| doing simple things like playing on a beach or in the | | | | isn't something anyone wants to do. |