The first decision you are likely to face is whether to travel abroad or stay in the UK. Not an easy decision but maybe the information on this page will help you decide which will be the best for your family.

Going abroad

Some parents have found this works really well for them. Here's a selection of reasons why:

• choosing to go out of season and so avoiding the school holidays often means that your holiday will be much better value for money;
  
  
• good weather is guaranteed which is not to be underestimated! It's worth checking the expected temperatures however before you book. Choosing to go away out of the main summer season should mean that the sun will be less fierce and hence that both parents and children spend longer outdoors. If it's too hot you can find yourselves spending more time indoors than out and whilst swapping indoor childminding duties might solve this problem you can find yourself spending as much time away from your partner as with them;
  
  
• above baby age, toddlers are usually very happy to spend significant periods of time in the water, sea/pool. This has the dual benefit of keeping them happy and wearing them out;
  
  
• you don't always need to fly to get away. A lot of people are put off the option of travelling abroad because of the potential airport delays and baggage restrictions. If this is you it may be worth considering the car and a ferry as a way to get you to warmer foreign climes. Below is the feedback we've received from one of our visitors who found that this option worked very well.

"A trip to Spain need not be a nightmare of flights, buggies and too much luggage. We travelled with our twin boys when they were babies on an overnight ferry and found it a very good way to travel.

As you are taking your car you can fill it full of the home comforts and essentials such as food, nappies, toys. There is also plenty to do on board, including children's entertainment, a cinema, swimming pool, several restaurants plus evening cabaret shows. There was even a doctor on board to advise us when the babies developed spots on the way back (luckily nothing serious). I would recommend getting a 4 berth cabin in the upper levels as you can hear the engines lower down. We had a really relaxing time and it was the perfect start to the holiday."

"I would like to recommend Thomson SuperFamily Holidays. We went twice with them last year and it was brilliant. They provide a sterilser and bottle warmer so you don't have to take the kitchen sink. I was worried about taking a baby abroad but in Spain they have nappies, wipes, milk and baby food. Don't feel that you are restricted to the UK it is not such a chore as you might think."

"I would like to share my experience with my daughters when they were two and a half and six months respectively. We went, as a family, out to Kenya, to a fairly remote area where initially my husband (and later myself also) was employed as a teacher in a boys' secondary boarding school.

I had never flown before, my continental trips having been by ferry, so it was an exciting experience all round. We had a marvellous time in Kenya, so much so that, instead of just staying for the two and a half years that we had signed up for, we ended up being there for sixteen and a half years!!

For a perfect holiday destination nowhere can quite beat it. It has beaches that rival any we've seen in our travels, there are mountains for the adventurous, there are beautiful lakes, and, of course, there are the animals. It has changed politically, I know, since we were there last but basically the people are the same.........friendly and willing to help, especially where children are concerned. Our friends who are still there have an enviable lifestyle ......and think of the gorgeous weather!!

So I'd like to give Kenya a great big vote for a holiday destination with children, with the proviso that malaria precautions are taken seriously. I've had malaria twiice and it is NO JOKE."

Online Resources

"If you are looking for a family activity holiday take a look at www.kidsintow.co.uk, the online guide to family activity and adventure holidays.

It's aimed at parents seeking something different to the standard package holiday. The site provides information on the many different types of family activity holiday available - adventure, cycling, multi-activity, snow sports, trekking/walking, watersports, etc. It provides details of the holidays offered by different tour operators and the key features of each holiday such as destinations, activities, childcare and minimum ages."

"Another site worth a look is www.takethefamily.com. Whether you're looking to take the family to an island in the Far East or skiing in Canada, they offer exciting ideas, good value and good old-fashioned human advice. Plus you can f

"If trawling round the High St. Travel Agencies trying to book a holiday fills you dread why not try www.travelcounsellors.com. This independant Travel Agency has over 400 travel advisors nationwide who provide travel advice to their clients from home."

Staying in UK

Other parents have found they prefer to holiday in the UK. Again here's a few of the reasons why:

• to avoid airport nightmares! - the great thing with a UK holiday is that you can pack the car full of everything you might and might not need and take as long as you like to get there. You'll also avoid the hassle of airports, luggage restrictions and coach transfers;
  
  
• familiarity - this means if you forget something you'll know where to get it and the children will know what food to expect;
  
  
• discovering your own country - how many parts of mainland Britain do you know? Most of us prior to having children have probably opted for foreign holidays, rather than exploring the UK. This means we've missed some fantastic regions, often close to home, that offer great holiday choices;
  
  
• fed up with sunbathing holidays - in the UK when it rains there is usually something else to do. As long as you some wet weather and are happy to think harder about holiday activities you will usually find enough to do to occupy whatever the weather.
  

Click here to see the forparentsbyparents guide to holidaying in the UK.

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