parenting - travel

FAMILY TRAVEL

AOSFuFmumner sure everyone has equal amounts of free
reign and their own space. SoloSicily is the
How to keep everyone happy during those long Sicilian villa specialist that has an
summer holidays? Give them something to look impressive portfolio of three, four and
forward to, like a family break away at one of more bedroomed villas on its books, many
these hot destinations. with their own large pools, Jacuzzis
terraces and extras like football tables and
The Group Holiday games rooms. New this season are at-home
pasta-making lessons whereby a professional
There’s no better gathering than a group Sicilian chef visits your group at your villa
gathering and whether you’re teaming up and teaches young and old how to make
with other couples so your kids and their traditional pasta dishes using local, organic
kids can have instant playmates, or using ingredients. Bella. solosicily.com
your break in the sun to catch up on some
valuable, extended family time, a stay in a The Country Jaunt
luxurious villa is the ideal way to make
If your family has always dreamed of going
on safari but the budget, travel time and
reality of South Africa isn’t on the cards,
you can get your wildlife fix with a short
jaunt across the pond. Of course, at home,
we have Fota Wildlife Park, but hop over
to the UK for a family break and you’ll be
spoiled for choice with wildlife parks to
spend some time in the great outdoors with
your little ones. Everyone has heard of
Longleat, which dubs itself the first ever

safari park outside of Africa, and it has an you watch from the relaxing vantage point The People Pleaser
impressive array of African wildlife of your sun lounger. The Barceló Jandía
wandering freely, from giraffe to zebra, Mar is a resort on Jandía beach on the If you want a cost-effective, no-brainer
lions and more. Elsewhere, in West Sussex, south of the island and has all the usual of a holiday at an all-in resort and the
the Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa has added a activities one expects – miniature golf, real package experience of not having to
safari and geocache adventure to its books, windsurfing, scuba diving and fishing organise a single thing, then get thee to a
with a 4x4 drive with wildlife experts included. But it has also launched extra travel agent. Undergoing a rebrand this
through the South Downs National Park kids’ features, such as a kids’ reception, May, the former Thomson Family Resorts
and Cowdray Estate to get in touch with themed family rooms with extra bunks and has become Family Life and promises
some native wildlife, flora and fauna. The a revamped kids club that caters to three all-inclusive packages for summer holidays
next day, head off on a GeoTour, a real age groups and every kind of imagination. that will keep everyone from tots to teens
world treasure hunt that uses the Geocache Kids can choose to hang out with entertained. Think sunbeds by the pool,
app (or GPS) to seek out secret caches Christopher Columbus, Einstein or yoga classes for mum, watersports for
hidden by other players. From £360 for a Pythagoras as they learn about science and teenagers, a BabyClub for the real minis
family of four. hshotels.co.uk the planet, discover their inner musician and kids activities a-plenty for 3-11 year
with Mozart and Mary Poppins or indulge olds. And it doesn’t mean you have to
The Beach Dream their artistic side with Leonardo da Vinci. sacrifice a touch of luxury either. Take the
There is the chance to be a princess for a offer currently available for a five-star
Looking for some fun for the kids, with a day, join in the Mr Cook academy or break to the ancient Greek island of
side of beach-lazing for you? Step up the embark on a pirate treasure hunt. All this Rhodes this June. Flying from Dublin, it
Canary Islands. Fuerteventura is accessible in the reliable 365-day sunshine, surrounded includes a stay at the Atlantica Aegean Blue
year round with Ryanair and by Aer by white sandy beaches with cliffs and in Kolymbia, all inclusive for seven nights
Lingus if you’re looking towards an sheltered coves just made for exploring. and starts at €2,479 for two adults plus
autumn break and is ideal for watersports All inclusive rates start from approx. one and €3,489 for two plus two.
enthusiasts to get their fix of activity while €175 per room per night. barcelo.com thomsonholidays.ie

THREE MORE... … on home turf

1 THE FALLS HOTEL 2 BREAFFY HOUSE 3 SEAFIELD HOTEL
RESORT
Head west, to the Wild Atlantic Way The Wexford resort of Seafield
County of Clare. The family-owned With two hotels on one resort, this is well equipped for the family
and managed Falls Hotel is within Castlebar destination has 90 acres looking for some summertime fun
great range for exploring Loop Head, of rolling countryside to explore in Ireland. There are 64 Courtyard
The Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and (including mature forest, AKA a suites, with either two or three
everything the west has to offer from deep dark wood, for any fans of The bedrooms, situated beside the main
its beaches and wildlife parks. The Gruffalo) and an award-winning leisure hotel and overlooking an area of
hotel itself has a host of family rooms centre. Breaffy House Hotel is the green. A nature walk leads to the
with a double and two single beds, as country house that dates from the hotel’s own Ballymoney beach – a
well as nine apartments and a three 1890s, while the Breaffy Woods Hotel beautifully sheltered stretch of
bedroom cottage on the grounds for is its adjoining property with spacious sandy beach that overlooks the Irish
a self-catering option. The 50 acres of family rooms. Also on the grounds Sea. The playground is also within
land has river walks and kayaking on are a playground, an astroturf pitch one minute’s walk from the hotel,
site, there’s an indoor Aqua Club for for kickarounds and crazy golf (what and older children (10 plus) can join
those rainy days and a River Rascals Irish family holiday would be complete in a round of golf on the hotel’s
kids’ club to give some much needed without it?), while nearby are the golf course or (13 plus) indulge in a
R&R to holidaying parents. Why night popular resort towns of Castlebar and pit-stop manicure at the sizeable and
tie in some surf lessons in nearby Westport, with plenty to do for all stunning Oceo Spa. Check them in
Lahinch as part of your break? An ages. Throw the Breaffy Buddies Kids to the kids’ club from 6-10pm and
activity break including two nights Club into the mix, which runs a whole parents can enjoy a peaceful dinner
B&B, one dinner and a two hour lesson schedule of supervised kids activities, while children dance , craft or enjoy
starts at just €180 per adult and €80 and you’ve got one happy family break. a movie night, all under supervision.
per child sharing. fallshotel.ie breaffyhouseresort.com Winner. seafieldhotel.com