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Family holiday picks for 2008

Whilst we’re still enjoying the delights of British winter the prospect of a sun drenched beach holiday might still seem like a distant dream but if you ask me this makes planning your summer escape all the more appealing. There’s nothing like contemplating your holiday plans for the coming summer to take your mind off the dreary day to day routine. 
Unfortunately for those travelling with a family in tow there’s generally a host of additional considerations to factor in; is the accommodation family friendly? Is there plenty to keep the kids entertained? Do you really want to be travelling long haul with bored children? We’ve come up with a couple of destinations that we think have the making of a great family holiday.

Andalusia, Spain

Apparently 16.2 million Brits visited Spain last year and it’s a fair bet that a good proportion of them were families. It’s not surprising really; Spain has long been a firm favourite with British holidaymakers and ticks all the boxes when it comes to family holidays. Proximity is obviously a factor – the fact that Malaga is just a short 2 hour flight away minimises the trauma of travelling and because it’s so well established as a popular destination there are plenty of options for families.

Andalusia is a particularly appealing destination; boasting long stretches of glorious sandy beaches, wide expanses of rolling countryside and an attractive mixture of developed resorts with all the amenities and family entertainment you could hope for and more remote areas that remain mercifully untouched by some of the less appealing side-effects of mass tourism.

Keep an eye out for bargain holidays and cheap flights on Travelzloo; at the time of writing they were advertising a 7 night family holiday in the Costa del Sol starting at just £189.  With a huge collection of villas in Andalusia and across Spain James Villas is also a good bet for Spain holidays.  

Crete

The Greek Island of Crete has a bit of something for everyone – glorious beaches, picturesque towns and villages, dramatic mountains and plenty of wonderful architecture. All of which make it a great family destination offering a nice balance of opportunities to relax (and lets face it, as a parent this is probably going to be important) and to explore an island that is steeped in both history and natural beauty.

You can find out more about Crete at creteonthe.net.

Take a look at travel Insurance offered by the AA to make sure your family is fully covered before you travel.