Christmas is now a distant memory and the chilly weather is slowly but surely moving on, making it an ideal time to start planning your 2012 family holiday.
Travelling with kids can seem like a daunting prospect. Cheap holidays to Spain can be a great first holiday for families with young children, as are holidays to Turkey (another family favourite).
There’s a whole world of options to explore, so aim to find a place that is right for you and your brood, with a relatively short travelling time and that offers something to please everyone.
Benidorm, Spain
Picking one of the many hotels in Benidorm can be the ticket to a fun-packed family holiday to remember. This coastal town in the south of Spain is known for being home to some of the liveliest child-friendly bars and restaurants as well as some top attractions.
Adrenaline junkies will love Benidorm’s Terra Mítica Fun Park, the largest theme park in Europe, which offers rides for all ages as well as street performers and spectacular shows.
Other excursions include Mundomar, a marine life paradise, and Aqualandia, an immense waterpark with pools, flumes and lagoons.
Marmaris, Turkey
Holidays to Turkey have become increasingly popular in the last ten years. The port city of Marmaris is an alternative to holidays in Spain, offering beautiful beaches, stunning weather (reaching approximately 35 degrees C at the height of summer) and an extensive range of activities for the family.
Traditionally a fishing town, Marmaris welcomes tourism, which is now their financial backbone. As well as some of the best waterparks in the Mediterranean (AquaDream is not to be missed), nearby Cleopatra Island is home to beaches that are known for their super soft sands.
Rome, Italy
Spending your days eating fine Mediterranean food and drinking wonderful wines in a city that oozes history and culture makes Rome an excellent city destination for your family holiday.
The city is brimming with historical sites such as the Colosseum, where vicious gladiator and animal fights brought in crowds in their thousands, and the Trevi Fountain, one of the largest and most well-known fountains in the world. There is no better way to whet a child’s appetite for history than by living it and only a select number of places bring it to life quite like Rome.
It would almost be a sin to visit Rome and not eat a true Italian pizza. Enjoy a simple, fresh piece of mozzarella heaven and put your meat feast days well behind you.
Coral Bay, Cyprus
Although having lots to do is great for keeping everyone occupied, those who prefer to spend their holidays kicking back and relaxing will feel right at home in Coral Bay.
Cyprus can seem a little pricier than other holidays in the Mediterranean, however, if you are planning to spend your days lazing on a lounger, with your children happily occupied building sandcastles and splashing in the pool, you can save a fortune in attraction tickets, while having luxurious surroundings to relax in.
Menorca, Spain
Travelling with the family can be expensive, though it is still possible to find some excellent cheap holidays to Spain. Many have visited the holiday hot spot Majorca, but if you instead consider its slightly quieter sister island, Menorca, you should find a good deal surprisingly easy.
Although a holiday in Menorca is predominantly based around sun, sea and sand, watersports and little shopping towns are also a pleasurable way to spend a day.
Should the kids get a little temperamental, a trip to Cala’n Forcat with its waterslides and trampolines bids a day away from bathing in the beautiful beaches and soaking in the stunning scenery.
Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife
The Canary Islands are a popular destination for UK holiday makers. Tenerife is typically known for its year-round warm weather and its lively nightlife. However, if the latter of the two usually strikes this destination off your list, Puerto De La Cruz in the north of the island is a family-friendly destination which still benefits from the gorgeous Canaries climate.
Like the rest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife offers stunning sands and wondrous waters. Puerto De La Cruz has three volcanic sand beaches as well as being home to the largest salt water lake pool in the Canaries, Lago de Martianez. The pool is surrounded by refreshment areas, which can get particularly busy during peak season.
If splashing and swimming gets a little tiring, Loro Parque brings children up close to wetland wildlife including penguins, dolphins and orcas.
Whatever destination you choose, discovering any of the best places in the Mediterranean is the perfect way to spend your summer.
