Winter sun holidays
   
Why not escape the woollies and sniffles and take your family away
for some winter sun.
Under 2 hours travelling
Winter sun doesn't have to mean long flights. Two hour flights can take
you to southern France, northern Spain, the Balearics and northern Europe
which makes it ideal for younger families.
Murcia, Spain
The place to go for a sports and leisure paradise which also offers a
great family environment. The Hyatt Regency at La Manga, has plenty of
activities for children including their kids club and babysitting service
which leaves parents free to enjoy the golf, tennis and luxury spa. Prices
start from £135 per double room per night B&B (children under 12 sharing
with parents go free!) or take advantage of the 7 night Family Package
which includes meals, accommodation, activities for adults, club membership
and free ice creams for the kids. Take advantage of low season prices
whilst you don't have to worry about school holidays! Visit www.holidays-in-europe.com
Mallorca, Spain
The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has tried hard to move
away from its dodgy Rose & Crown English pub reputation to become a sophisticated
family destination. Stay at the five star Mardavall Hotel and Spa, near
Palma. Close to beautiful beaches and offering two golf courses, the Thalasso
spa and luxurious junior suites. The kids club is for 3 to 8 year olds
with a babysitting service for younger children. A kids pool means the
adult pool is child free. Prices start from £1,363 per adult for seven
nights. Call Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or visit www.prestigeholidays.co.uk
Funchal, Madeira
Madeira enjoys a very warm climate, although never getting unbearably
hot - which makes it perfect for young families and as a winter sun destination.The
team behind the very popular Luxury Family Hotels(Ickworth, Woolley Grange
etc) have now set up a holiday company called Four Winds Holidays which
is a great option for winter (or spring/summer) sun and repeats their
winning mix of characterful and sophisticated accommodation with good
childrens' facilities. The lovely 5 star Jardins do Lago is a stunning
old Manor House set in beautiful gardens with great facilities. Set just
outside Funchal, it's in a an ideal location.
The hotel welcomes children of all ages - Colombo's den is supervised
six days a week from 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm, plus an unsupervised cyber
area for older children. Children's tea is served daily in the pink room.
The hotel also provides all the facilities needed when travelling with
a baby; cots, sterilisers, baby changing mats etc. Adult prices are from
£750 - £950 per adult for 7 nights including accommodation and breakfast,
flights, transfers and a complimentary airport lounge, child prices around
£295 if sharing room with parents. Visit www.babygoes2.com
Three hours flying
Three hours in the air will take you a bit further and get you to southern
Spain and the Algarve, the central Mediterranean and the islands of Corsica
and Sardinia.
The Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve is famous for its long beaches, fabulous golf courses and
extended summers. Villa Vita Parc has a great spa, five pools, eight restaurants,
mountain bikes and an adventure children's club on site, as well as babysitting
facilities. Double rooms and junior suites sleep four while two bedroom
family suites sleep five. From £869 per adult for seven nights (including
flights and transfers) visit www.powderbyrne.com
or call 020 8246 5300.
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Caves, camel rides and a hot volcanic landscape combine to make this
an unusual and exciting sunny retreat for families. The Gran Meliá Volcán
is a five star deluxe hotel situated by the sea in a picturesque fishing
village. A spa, gym, tennis courts and 4 pools, one specifically for children,
ensure plenty to do. The kids club and babysitting service means parents
can retreat from the children while the on-site entertainment means you're
never too far away. Prices start from £125 per room per night. Visit www.solmelia.com
where, for a limited time, all bookings qualify you for automatic entry
into a competition to win free holidays.
Mad for Morocco
Lying at the foot of the Atlas Mountains the Palmeraie Golf Palace and
Resort, Marrakech is a luxury 5 star resort is scattered like a Moroccan
village. The Palmeraie is located in Marrakech's palm grove where exotic
flowers and courtyards with fountains provide a perfect retreat. 10kms
from Marrakech airport and city centre. From £775 - £1085 (depending on
season) per person per week on a B&B basis in a double room including
flights and transfers. The Mini Club welcomes children aged 4 to 12 years.
Visit www.babygoes2.com
Sardinia, Italy
Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is popular
for its breathtaking beauty and crystal clear waters. Le Meridien Forte
Village is a huge family resort in 55 acres of pine forest with a mile
long sandy beach. The village is a paradise for children of any age, with
a mini-club that charges per child per hour up to the age of three, after
which it's free. A special children's restaurant and babysitting facilities
mean parents can enjoy the numerous activities and spa facilities. Children
aged 0-2 are charged at 10 per cent when sharing with an adult and ages
3-12 are charged at 50 per cent or try a Meridien Family break which includes
a gift for the children on arrival. Call Le Meridien on 0800 028 2840
or visit www.lemeridien.com
Andalucia, spain
Andalucia is Spain's biggest and most beautiful province at the heart
of the tourism industry, with glamorous resorts, excellent hotels and
many activities. Stay at the San Roque Club, a former private mansion
near Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol. Now a 100-room Andalucian oasis
with riding, beach club, great children's activities, world-famous golf
course and a Seve Ballesteros golf school. From £725 per adult for seven
nights' B&B. Call Barwell Leisure on 020 8786 3092 or visit www.barwell.co.uk
Four hours flying
If you want the sunniest spots in Europe, four hours will take you to
Greece, Cyprus and the Canary Islands but it's best to avoid all of these
in peak summer season unless your children are very resistant to intense
heat.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is often thought of as a
cheap and cheerful winter destination and you can certainly rely on the
weather, especially on the South of the island which boasts 3000 hours
of sunshine a year. Stay at the Bahia del Duque a large, elaborate hotel
on the Costa Adeje built around a series of eight pools descending in
tiers towards the sea. With several restaurants catering for all tastes
and entertainment, plus a children's club prices start from £1,089 per
adult for seven nights. Call Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or visit
www.prestigeholidays.co.uk
Cyprus
Cyprus is still one of the best short-haul family destinations, thanks
to the sunny climate, fascinating cultural history and native Cypriots'
inherent love of children. Stay at the award winning Le Meridien in Limassol,
where your children can spend time at the free Penguin Club, or you can
use the babysitting services while you spend time shopping in the arcade
or a day in the Thalassotherapy Spa. From £1,090 per adult for seven nights
B&B (including flights) call Thomas Cook Select on 08705 666222 www.thomascook.com
or book a Meridien Family Break with special treats for the kids at www.lemeridien.com
Also worth a look is the The Almyra, Paphos - a supremely stylish hotel
offering good value for money, good facilities for children and a stress-free
journey. Great year round, but perfect for autumn breaks. Ideal for May
or October half term. Garden view rooms from £478 to £911 per adult depending
on the season for a week inc flights, sea front suites from £1297 to £1959.
Visit www.babygoes2.com.
Halkidiki, Greece
This is the perfect place for a quiet, relaxing holiday on some of Greece's
best beaches for a traditional toes-in-the-sand, dip-in-the-sea holiday.
Stay at the Porto Sani Resort and Village for a touch of luxury thrown
in. An exclusive suite hotel with 7km of private golden beaches against
crystal clear Aegean waters. Plenty of dining and a luxury spa, children
are well catered for with 2 kids clubs and a baby sitting service, as
well as a Babe Watch programme which keeps an eye on the kids on the beach.
From £907 per adult for seven nights B&B. Call the Mediterranean Experience
on 020 7630 6047 or visit www.themed.net
Lykia World, Turkey
This award-winning family holiday resort 3km from the town of Oludeniz
sits on the skirts of the Dead Sea. It features Children's Paradise -
a fantastic adventure and water park with 15 slides, six pools and numerous
activities such as a trampoline, a treasure island and arts-and-crafts
zone. Elsewhere, there are 17 pools and plenty of health, beauty and fitness
centres as well as two long private beaches. Luxury family suites from
£79 per person per night. Lykia World, tel: 08702 245524; www.lykiaworld.com
Antalya, Turkey
As a region, Antalya is blessed with three national parks and a clutch
of exciting caves to explore as well as several restaurants, shops and
bars, and cultural and historical sites such as Antalya Museum. Natural
attractions include Cirali, known as the 'burning mountain', Düden waterfall
and Saklikent Canyon. Stay at the all new Hillside Su Hotel, the first
city resort hotel in the region, located on a glorious Mediterranean beach.
Antalya provides plenty for children with a water park and Dolphin Land
where they can swim with dolphins and the hotel has an excellent children's
playground with separate kiddie pool. From £899 per person for seven nights
call Savile Tours on 020 7722 2986 or visit www.saviletours.com
Six to seven hours in the air
This will take you as far as Egypt and the Gulf, for winter sunshine
and some truly stunning hotels and architecture.
The Red Sea, Egypt
The Red Sea is where the Egyptian desert meets the ocean and offers some
of the best water sports with spectacular scuba diving and sailing opportunities.
With 52 weeks sunshine, stay at the Abu Soma, situated on its own 1km
pristine sandy beach, with turquoise waters and stunning desert scenery.
The resort offers 5 restaurants and a total of 4 bars to choose from.
A fully equipped childcare centre, two outdoor swimming pools, a luxury
gym, health and beauty club, riding stables, scuba diving centre and everything
else you would expect from a five star resort. Mark Warner holidays offer
award winning childcare facilities. Prices from £450 per adult per week,
visit www.markwarner.co.uk
Dubai
Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the
South West corner of the Arabian Gulf and enjoys 365 days sunshine a year.
It's extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage,
and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to
visitors. Travel with Thomson Worldwide and stay at the Al Hamra Fort
Hotel. Designed on the lines of a traditional Arabic fort and set on 2
miles of white sandy beach with its own lagoon. Perfect beach resort away
from the crowds. The hotel is situated in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah,
about an hour and 15 minutes from the airport. Dubai itself is a 30 minutes'
drive. Children's playroom plus excellent programme of activities for
4 to 12 year-olds, open from 10.00 - 19.00 hours. Babysitting available.
From £850pp for 7 nights B&B; children from £500. Includes flights. For
more information visit www.babygoes2.com
Nine hour flights
The average flight time to the Caribbean, packed with fantastically classy
family-friendly hotels, and Florida for Mickey Mouse fun!
Make their day - take them to the USA!
How to have a family holiday that pleases mum, dad and kiddies? There
is so much more to Florida than Orlando you can have a two-centre holiday
by performing a balancing act between Miami Beach and Disney. In winter
- which was when, before Disney, most tourists came to Florida - the weather
is perfect. This winter the pound is strong against the dollar and package
prices are extremely attractive. Visit www.thisistravel.co.uk
for an in-depth guide to Florida, bargains flights and hotel suggestions.
St Lucia
With Pitons volcanoes, sulphur springs and rainforest walks, there's
plenty to keep children busy in St Lucia. Windjammer Landing is less formal
than some hotels but is famed for its creative children's programmes,
with a spa and watersports for adults. From £1,490 per adult for seven
nights in one-bedroom villa (including flights and transfers). Contact
Caribtours on 020 7751 0660 or visit www.caribtours.co.uk
St James, Barbados
This West Coast beach with tropical waters and beautiful reefs is close
the the island's capital, Bridgetown, a must for duty-free shopping. Stay
at the family friendly four star Tamarind Cove, directly overlooking Paynes
Bay, a long stretch of white sand beach on the West Coast in the parish
of St. James. Supervised childcare means you can enjoy some of the adult
only restaurants and venues. Passes are available for day trips and children
under 12 stay free of charge with an adult. From £999 full board for 7
nights, including flights and transfers. Visit www.voyana.com
Great Courland Bay , Tobago
With guaranteed sunshine, Tobago and it's neighbouring Trinidad are becoming
more popular with British tourists. Stay at Turtle Beach by Rex a very
family orientated hotel which operates its own children's club. It also
has a superb swimming pool and children's pool located close to the beach
as well as games rooms, a watersports centre and regular entertainment.
Prices start from £1294 for 2 adults/2 children in a family sea-facing
suite inc flights. Visit www.goldencarribean.com
to book.
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