PARENTHOOD.IE

As the summer season is upon us, many families have waited for better deals to book their holidays. We have spoken to Sue Cahill, a travel counsellor in Wexford, for her advice on family friendly destinations this summer.

Can you recommend three family friendly sun holiday destinations this July?

For a family looking for a destination for a sun holiday in July, the destination would depend on certain factors, such as the ages of kids, whether they would like a short or a long flight. For the typical family I would generally recommend sticking to shorter flights of 2-3 hours and this would take in destinations like mainland Spain, Balearic Islands (Majorca and Menorca) or Portugal.
For mainland Spain I would recommend Salou, at about one hour by train from Barcelona. It might also be nice for  a day trip depending on the kids ages, as it has a massive theme park called Port Aventura, which has been taken over by Universal and it really popular with families.
Also I would highly recommend travelling by boat and camping in France. There are so many wonderful camp sites in France and you can rent either a mobile home or tent, there is no need to bring more packing than for a normal holiday. You can comfortably drive to the regions of Brittany and the Vendee Region, south of Brittany. If you prefer to fly and get more sun St Tropez also has many camp sites to choose from. All have excellent facilities, with laundries and often both BBQ and decking.

What should I consider when I book a family holiday abroad?

I would take into account the time of year. You need to be careful of temperatures, consider the flight distance and the distance that needs to be travelled when you get off the plane. When thinking about accommodation know the distance from the beach and town centre, the distance from supermarkets, shops, restaurants and so on. The last thing you need is to have to trek to these thing and have three kids trekking after you. I would be careful not to be near lots of steps or hills.

Is it worth the trouble travelling abroad with a baby? What should I consider?

This really would be a personal choice. Personally, I would not consider it at all, but if you were to ask my partner Kathy she probably would recommend it. She has brought her daughter on holiday since she was a baby, while I have only started to bring the kids since they were maybe 4 years old.

What should I consider when choosing the right holiday resort for my family?

Try choosing a holiday resort that is family friendly and does not have a reputation for a lively night life. Make sure to also consider all the issues of distances and heat, as I mentioned previously. Note if there was water or theme park nearby or some other attractions that may interest your kids.

Should I buy travel insurance? What should I consider when getting one?

I would always recommend to get travel insurance and would not travel without it. The main reason that I would take out travel insurance is for medical reasons, if you get sick or have an accident while abroad this will take care of all your medical bills and if necessary then it will take care of air ambulance home. If you don’t have travel insurance to take care of these bills it can cost you a fortune.

What destination gives the best value for money this summer?

Turkey is excellent value for money this year, both in terms of tickets, accommodation and stay. On average you can get a three course meal for around €40 for two people.

Can you recommend a few bargain destinations in Europe?

Turkey would be my first choice and I just came back from a family holiday there. There are great special offers for both flights and accommodation.
People are very friendly, the food is gorgeous and there is so much to do in terms of activities. You can visit historical sites, do all kinds of water sports and don't miss a visit to the Turkish baths with the whole family. Other destinations in Europe for a sun holiday would be Greece, where you also get good value for money, Salou and Fuerteventura in Spain.

Where can we holiday without too much sun or heat?

Northern France would be ideal. Brittany is an excellent choice for a family holiday, the weather could be similar to Ireland, maybe a few degrees warmer.

What is the current passport situation? What other identification can be used in Europe?

You need a passport to travel to all European destinations, some destinations require a six month validity on your passports from the date that you return home. At present they say to allow 25 working days for a passport.

What is your best advice for indispensable things to pack on a family holiday abroad?

Sun cream. Also things that kids never leave home without, such as blankets, teddies, and so on. Small toys, colouring books and crayons to keep them amused in the evenings. Remember that if you are in a mobile home or an apartment they generally do not have televisions. A Nintendo DS would also be very handy to amuse them on the flight.


You can contact Sue Cahill through her webpage http://www.travelcounsellors.ie/sue.cahill if you need more information or help to plan your family holiday.