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Teen Dreams
As anyone with teenagers or children approaching their teens knows, it’s a difficult age. Even if your teens and tweens don't fit the sulky, lazy and uncommunicative stereotype, keeping them occupied for long enough is a struggle – particularly on holiday.
Teenagers are probably the most difficult age group to cater for. Many hotels offer children’s clubs but these often only go up to the age of 12. After this age, children are less inclined to want to attend clubs unless they are very much geared to their requirements.
Mark Warner properties in Turkey and Sardinia
Mark Warner properties offer clubs for two age groups. Its Kidz Club caters for 10 to 13-year-olds and has a lively programme of activities and watersports throughout the day, with entertainment and games in the evening.
The Indy Club, for 14 to 17-year-olds, aims to give older kids some independence so they can decide what activities to take part in. Options include windsurfing, sailing and beach cricket in the day and Indy dinners and entertainment in the evening.
The four-star Sea Garden, near Bodrum, the only all-inclusive property in the Mark Warner programme; the five-star Select Maris resort, Datca, a boutique hotel with the emphasis on watersports and wellness; and the four-star Hotel Garden Beach, Cala Sinzias, Sardinia, which is surrounded by calm waters that are good for learner sailors.
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Dubai itself is well suited to this market, with great beaches, attractions such as the Wild Wadi Water Park, Dreamland Aqua Park and Ski Dubai, as well desert adventures and plenty of trendy shopping.
However, there is so much going on at Atlantis The Palm that it is possible for teens and tweens to stay happy here for the duration of the holiday.
On offer is a 42-acre Aquaventure waterpark with tunnels, vertical drops, water rapids and cascades; the chance to get up close with dolphins at Dolphin Bay and The Lost Chambers, a labyrinth of linked chambers filled with exotic marine life.
Teenagers have their own, fully supervised ‘no adults’ private club, called Club Rush and, with 17 dining venues, there will be something to suit even the most fickle of palates.
Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort, Crete
This five-star resort has been a good option for families since it opened its own attraction, the Minoan Amusement Park, in 2007. Parents have the option of either exploring the games, rides and interactive rooms with their children or leaving them to enjoy the park with childcare staff.
The resort itself resembles a Cretan village and is set on its own peninsula, surrounded by a botanical park and extensive gardens, a small river, three beaches and a small zoo.
Hotel Jagerwirt, Kitzbuhel, Austria
No teen or tween could possibly moan about being bored on this Austrian adventure. There are lots of outdoor options to choose from including rafting for the whole family on the Tiroler Ache river, followed by a barbecue, or a forest high-rope course on which your young ones can learn abseiling and wall-climbing skills and go ape on the rope swings.
This package, new for 2010, can suit children of all ages but has been particularly designed for 10 to 17-year-olds.
Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa, Cancun
Cosmos’s second most popular hotel for summer 2010, this four-star all-inclusive has created a subtly supervised club, T-Zone, for teenagers aged 13 to 17. It was designed after extensive research with the people who use it. The outcome is a club that is trendy and not over-organised.
Cancun itself has 14 miles of beaches, with nearby attractions including Dolphin Discovery Island. The islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, just off Cancun, are easily reached by boat. Away from the beaches, teens and tweens can burn off some of their energy exploring Mexico’s ecosystem, wildlife and Mayan ruins.
Le Meridien Limassol, Cyprus
The big draw here is Le Meridien’s top-notch kids’ clubs: Penguin Village, for three to 12-year-olds, and Leisure Land, for teenagers. Both offer extensive facilities. Leisure Land has tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a football pitch, mini golf, pool tables, table tennis, archery and a bowling centre.
The five-star resort also boasts spacious rooms, five outdoor swimming pools and plenty of eating options. Cyprus itself has plenty to occupy teens and tweens, including archaeological sites, nature trails, cycling in the Troodos mountains, rock-climbing and 4x4 adventures.
The Price Is Right
Families need holidays. A recent study by a psychotherapist for Kuoni confirmed as much. And in the current economic downturn, providing a value-for-money holiday is more important than ever.
The good news is that this year operators are focusing on value for the family market. As result, the problem lies not in searching out options but choosing which one is best for you.
For example, Keycamp has extended its programme to Greece, with bungalow accommodation at the Camping Areti site in Halkidiki starting at £854 for a family of four, accommodation-only, in August. This specially selected park offers a fantastic option for families seeking a spot of traditional Greek charm without breaking the bank.
Closer to home, the Edinburgh Residence hotel has launched a family adventure short break in conjunction with Wilderness Scotland, an award-winning adventure travel and ecotourism company. Three nights for a family of four costs £2,247 in July and August, including entrance fees to nature reserves, private guides, bike hire, breakfast every day and dinner on the first night.
For families with a bit more brass, the first family-friendly resort in the Seychelles, the four-star Constance Ephelia, has just opened on Mahe, offering 12 family villas with private pools. And with Air Seychelles offering special fares for 2010, this year is a great time to go. Prices start at £7,292 for a family of four, with breakfast and flights.
The Maldives
The destination has the best of both worlds because the school summer holidays fall in the Maldives’ low season, yet the climate is pretty consistent year-round.
One property ideal for young children is the small island retreat of Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort. It offers plenty of shade and multi-coloured fish that swim up to the water villas.
Turkey
Already the top-selling summer destination for 2010, this year has seen more family-friendly properties coming on to the market in Turkey.
Cosmos has introduced the Kefaluka Resort in Akyarlar Bay, Turgetreis, not far from Bodrum. Akyarlar Bay has shallow waters and a sandy beach, with superb scenery and a range of watersports.
Facilities to keep the kids entertained include a water park, children’s à la carte restaurant, family rooms, kids’ club for three to 12-year-olds and a teens’ club, not to mention a private beach.
As a bonus for families, the transfer journey time is short because the resort is just nine miles from Bodrum airport.
The Red Sea
The plentiful resorts on the Red Sea offer some fantastic value-for-money breaks for families. For example, Red Sea Hotels charges a fixed child price of £399 year-round and for 2010 is offering a ‘free all-inclusive upgrade’ for children whose parents have booked either bed and breakfast, half-board or full-board.
A particularly good property for families is the five-star Makadi Palace hotel on Makadi Bay, 18 miles from Hurghada. It has a secluded, unspoilt beach, large pool with children’s section, a full range of sports and activities, plus a children’s club.
Switzerland
Crystal Lakes is throwing in a three-day local transport pass for the family at the four-star Hotel Lago di Lugano.
The hotel, which is new for the operator for 2010, is in Lugano, in Switzerland’s most southerly region. A good option for outdoor types looking for more than a beach holiday, the property has children’s clubs for youngsters up to age 14, games room, outdoor activities and free canoe, dinghy, pedalo, windsurf and cycle hire.
Spain
The La Manga Club in Murcia is launching a family programme, Funlandia, with activities and events for the summer and half-term holidays.
Funlandia activities will include sports matches and tournaments, karaoke and discos, kids’ dinner and movie nights and family bingo. Funlandia is in addition to La Manga Club’s Junior Academy courses, which offer safe and fun sports coaching.
Free meals for children under five are also on offer at a selection of the resort’s restaurants.
Jersey
Easily accessible, and with the chance of better weather than on the UK mainland, Jersey is a good value option for families. The short flying time means it’s perfect for little ones, while families on a budget can opt instead to get there by channel ferry.
Les Ormes is an ideal location for holidays or short breaks, with options ranging from self-catering coastal cottages to luxury lodges with their own private outdoor hot tub.
Kids’ activities include morning fun camps, tennis, golf and swimming lessons. Two miles away is sister park La Pulente, next to a sandy beach and within a good walking and cycling area.
A Better Class For Less Cash
Anyone who thinks they can cadge an upgrade to business class by dressing smartly, asking nicely and pleading that it’s a special event should speak to a good agent ... and should think again.
Unless you are a frequent flier with a gold loyalty card, the chances of getting bumped up are slim, unless it’s your 70th wedding anniversary and economy is way over-booked. Unfortunately, the best way to guarantee a posh seat is to pay for one, which is expensive.
There are however things we can suggest to soften the blow for people on the look out for a premium cabin bargain.
Times & Dates
One solution is to alter date and time of departure. Business travel to major cities like New York drops sharply at certain times like August, when corporate road warriors head to the beaches, so there is always a rash of cut-price premium offers and two-for-one deals. Other specific dates in the year provide an opportunity to get a cheaper seat in the front cabin. Many think of jetting off for Christmas, but few actually travel on Christmas Day, when most airlines that are operating are forced to cut UK rates to attract sales.
To get a lower premium fare, the booking must include a Saturday night stay, as this prevents business travellers from travelling on the cheaper tickets. Similarly, on destinations where there are several frequencies a day, such as New York, fares can vary dramatically on individual departures. A flight to JFK on Saturday lunchtime will cost a lot less than one leaving on Monday morning that delivers a corporate customer to Wall Street in time to do an afternoon’s work.
Fare Categories
Once the date and individual departure has been sorted, there is the question of fare category, another way in which we can score for you, particularly if you are prepared to book a long way in advance. British Airways revised its Club Europe fare categories in the spring so that some are now cheaper than full-fare economy if booked in advance.
Indirect Flights
However, it is on long-haul once-in-a-lifetime journeys such as to Australia that there is more scope for finding cheaper premium fares.
Many clients save for years for a special occasion and are delighted to find there are some reasonable premium fares to be had if they fly indirect. To the east, the growth of the Middle Eastern carriers has made this possible, while to the west, new partnerships, mean customers can be sent on a cheaper routing, for example from London to Los Angeles via Chicago.
Early Booking
If you are not time-constrained, indirect is always cheapest, and when combined with a restricted fare category and a booking long in advance, business class can be affordable.
Etihad, for example, usually offers four business fare categories ranging from totally restricted with no refunds or changes allowed to a completely unrestricted tariff. Savings of around 30% off the full fares are available to early bookers that choose restricted fares and many leisure travellers are booking premium cabins for longer trips.
Comfort is the thing people want these days, especially to Australia. The additional cost is minimal in terms of what you get for a 23-hour flight. The whole experience is well worth it – you also get a limo at both ends and lounge access.
That's all for this week. Remember to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call for all of your travel needs. To book your next holiday today visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk
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