Hoseasons’ Talacre Beach Haven safari tent Haven’s Hafan y Mor park
expenditure on Welsh holidays increased at an even greater rate – by 7.3% to a total of £1.19 billion. So not only are more of us travelling to Wales, but we’re also spending more when we do. To get your hands on a share of those lucrative bookings, here are a few ideas on how to sell Wales.
l FAMILY: FUN AND GAMES With Blue Flag beaches, 331 miles of traffic-free hiking and biking routes, and a host of free attractions – plus the bonus of avoiding the airport – the family appeal is obvious. Budget-friendly B&Bs, cottages and campsites are the norm, so it could suit those who like the independence of their own accommodation or the action of a holiday park. In the latter category, Haven’s six parks – three along the north coast and three on the south – boast lively facilities. These include an outdoor SplashZone at Greenacres in Porthmadog, go-karting at Presthaven Sands in
Prestatyn and a high RopeWorks course at Hafan y Mor in Pwllheli, while a zip wire has been added to Quay West in New Quay this year. Moreover, four of the six parks
are close to the Snowdonia or Pembrokeshire national park, and all are in or near areas of outstanding natural beauty or special scientific interest, which is a selling point with nature- loving little ones. Demanding similar energy levels, families at Hoseasons’ two Go Active parks – Brynteg, just north of Snowdonia, and Talacre Beach in Holywell, Flintshire – can take their pick of zorbing, snorkelling, archery and paintball on-site, while white-water rafting, mountain biking and horse-riding are on hand in the national park. Hoseasons has other specialist family product in Wales, including
two Bouja luxury caravan parks, a Daisy Door cottage and two Evermore luxury lodges, but those are just a fraction of the company’s 108 lodges scattered across the country. Cottages4you boasts 1,400 self- catering properties across Wales, and has seen bookings grow by a third year-on- year, especially in the Baby & Toddler and Luxury collections. Among the best-sellers are
properties capable of hosting extended
family stays, such as Cefn
y Gwynt in Cardigan, which sleeps up to 12 (from £1,091 for three nights); or charming, individual accommodation such as Upper Sign Farmhouse in Llandrindod Wells, set on a working farm and well placed for mountain biking, walking along Glyndwr’s Way, and
fishing in the River Wye (£418 for four nights in September, pets welcome).
l RELAX: REST EASY Wales might have its share of adventure activities opening this year – Go Below began operating the world’s longest and deepest underground zip line in March, and Surf Snowdonia opens in a former aluminium works this summer – but it’s also great for a quiet escape, either as an extra break after a busy main holiday or for clients who prefer to take it slow. Shearings bases most of its tours in seaside towns Llandudno and Tenby, so passengers can visit the likes of Anglesey, Portmeirion and the Welsh Highland Railway without having to switch hotels each night. Saga similarly uses The Dunoon Hotel in Llandudno and Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli as centres for a host of special- interest holidays, from a Castles and Railways programme soon to go on sale from the former, to
54 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 25 June 2015
FAST FACT Cardigan Castle
reopened in spring after a four-year, £12 million restoration, plus Harlech Castle has added a new visitor centre
PICTURES: VISITBRITAIN/PAWEL LIBERA; VISITWALES
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