FAMILY HOLIDAYS family holidays summer value destinations

SPECIAL ISSUE Summer on Family fun in the sun need not mean breaking the a shoestring bank, writes Laura French

@laurafrench121

e’re all going on a recommend, with expert tips beach breaks, Rhodes, Crete and bargain properties is the three- “Wsummer holiday” might on how families can keep the Corfu provide especially good star Orion, set opposite the beach be the tune your clients sing as costs down in a Brexit-conscious, value for money, and they’re near the resort of Platanes and they stroll in and approach you wallet-watching world. an excellent option for families, the historic town of Rethymnon. for a family booking, but what according to Olympic Holidays. It has two pools, comfortable happens when they follow it up w BEACH Among Crete’s smattering of rooms and decent facilities, with a budget that would make For beach-seekers looking to get Ebenezer Scrooge look like a a solid dose of Vitamin D without spendthrift? stretching the purse strings, Well, it doesn’t necessarily Jet2holidays suggests or have to mean you start looking – both of which up the nearest B&B. From came in the top three on summer deals in the Caribbean the Post Office’s annual to camping parks on the Côte Holiday Costs Barometer d’Azur, there’s a host of options – while Cyplon says out there that can have the entire Malta, and family entertained without a hint Greece are selling well of a hole in the wallet. with budget-conscious To help in the mission, we’ve holidaymakers. compiled a guide on where to For classic Greek

9 February 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 65 family holidays summer value destinations

and is available for £1,993 destinations such as Costa del Al Fresco also has a collection all‑inclusive for a family of four, Sol but can be cheaper in resort,” of ‘Authentic and Value’ parks departing on August 15 (the he says. Spain’s Costa de where the pounds will stretch price includes an early-booking For even better value, it’s even further. Among the most discount of £427). worth looking outside the Almeria and Costa popular sites in the range is La Booking early to get those eurozone towards the likes of Brava can be cheaper Palmeraie, located in Roussillon offers is key. In addition to Bulgaria. Balkan Holidays offers in resort than the likes in the south of , complete early‑payment discounts, Olympic a week’s B&B at the four-star of the Costa del Sol with a waterpark alongside direct Holidays offers free child places Hotel Fenix in Sunny Beach, for access to the beach; mobile for up to two kids at certain example, from £1,969 for a family homes start from £751 for seven hotels, while Monarch offers a of four, departing on July 27. It’s nights, sleeping up to four. 20% discount on some of its set within metres of a white-sand And there’s a bonus when it properties alongside free places stretch alongside shops and at Primrose Valley in Yorkshire comes to getting bargains. John for the first child. Thomas Cook nightclubs, and repeat clients and Lakeland in Cumbria, which Escott, sales and partnerships and Thomson both offer kids-go- who booked in 2015 or 2016 can means second‑timers have a manager for Al Fresco, says: free slots too, alongside various get an additional 5% off. reason to go back, and prices are “With the flexibility on arrival money-off deals, all valid during hard to beat: three nights in a days and durations, customers above: Sunny Beach, Bulgaria the UK summer holidays. w HOLIDAY PARKS caravan at Yorkshire’s Thornwick are able to take advantage of Discounts aside, it helps if For a bargain break closer to Bay costs £315 for up to four cheaper midweek fares.” clients can be flexible with home, look to the UK’s holiday Suggest one of Hoseasons’ Go off breaks across various parks people, arriving on July 28. destination, says Alan Cross, head parks. They offer accommodation Active parks for outdoorsy types: when booked by February 28. Outside the UK, Al Fresco w ADVENTURE of trade at Jet2holidays. types to suit a range of budgets, Sandymouth Holiday Resort Haven, meanwhile, is offering Holidays and Eurocamp are Active and adventure breaks are “Destinations such as Costa from coast-side caravans to luxury in Cornwall has added tree up to 20% off all of its parks this both excellent, wallet-friendly naturally a little more costly than de Almeria [where Jet2.com is lodges, alongside comprehensive climbing, body zorbing, archery, year for breaks booked before options with sites across Spain, the holiday parks, but they’re launching flights this summer] activity programmes that will fencing and more for this year, the end of February (for travel on , France, Holland and not out of the picture entirely. and Costa Brava have all the keep kids entertained while with activities starting from £5, selected dates). New high-ropes beyond. They offer a selection Take Trafalgar’s Costsaver brand, selling-points of more popular parents slot in some down-time. and families can get up to £200 courses have been introduced of mobile homes (Eurocamp whose 16-day Highlights of also offers traditional camping) Spain, Morocco and Portugal and are worth suggesting to trip – passing through Madrid, families wanting to stay in iconic Marrakech, Lisbon and beyond – locations without busting the costs from £82 per day or £1,325 budget. per person in total land-only, Activities cater for toddlers including breakfasts, six three- up to teens: Eurocamp’s kids’ course dinners, airport transfers clubs span performing arts to and sightseeing. paintballing, while Al Fresco Then there are the all-inclusive offers waterparks with slides, activity resorts such as those plumes and baby areas across offered by Mark Warner, Neilson several of its sites. and Club Med, which are ; haven l fresco holidays : A s PICTURE Above: Costa Dorada, Spain

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Left: worth suggesting to families Lisbon who might end up forking out for these activities while away right: anyway. It’s worth emphasising Walt Disney to customers that there aren’t World Resort any hidden charges on arrival, below: while you can boost your Club Med’s commission with a higher-value Sandpiper Bay, booking in the process. Florida Club Med has various offers, including free stays for children under six, and its resorts are a good option for those looking to go farther afield with properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the US all available for around £1,000 per adult in the summer holidays. A week at Sandpiper Bay in Florida costs or £113 per child, plus free parking. those who don’t mind a bit of heat, £966, based on an August 28 Elsewhere, the Caribbean it can be a good time to head to departure from Edinburgh. Most hotels in Dubai is the suggestion of Malcolm the likes of Dubai to try new family Davies, product destination attractions such as the theme w LONG-HAUL offer free half-board manager for Funway Holidays, parks of Dubai Parks and Resorts On that note, bargain hunting during the summer especially outside the December and IMG Worlds of Adventure. for a holiday needn’t mean months, which makes to February peak season. “It’s a “The majority of hotels offer restricting clients’ horizons. it more affordable good option for families as many free half-board during the Orlando can be done on a hotels offer free child places summer months, which makes relatively tight budget if it’s where the first child stays free it a much more affordable arranged carefully, so encourage with two paying adults,” he says. destination for families,” says families to take advantage of Prices plunge in the summer Deborah Wadhams, Travel 2’s offers at the parks. Walt Disney World is offering two free nights months, so look out for deals: senior product manager for the on a 14-night summer stay at the Hard Rock Punta Cana offers Middle East and Indian Ocean. the All-Star Sports Resort and a free child place (aged 12 and Sister brand Gold Medal offers a 14‑day Ultimate Ticket for under) for every paying adult a week at the five-star Jumeirah the price of seven days, when travelling between July 1 and Beach Hotel from £519 for travel booked by March 29 (from £1,454 August 31 (in addition to resort on August 12 (based on a family including flights from Gatwick). credit available year-round). of four). It includes BA flights Meanwhile at SeaWorld, visitors Funway offers seven nights there from Heathrow, half-board in can get entry to three parks for from £1,535 (excluding the offer) an Ocean Deluxe Room and the price of two for any booking for travel on August 1, including unlimited access to Wild Wadi before December 31, 2018. Do return BA flights from Gatwick. water park – proof glamour and Something Different offers a The Middle East offers similar family fun can be done without 14‑day ticket from £118 per adult deals during the summer. For breaking the bank.

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