Black Sea resorts are gearing up to take some of the strain. Yet Balkan Holidays’ sales and
marketing manager Chris Rand believes the appeal goes beyond budget. He says: “Bulgaria’s value-for-money aspect cannot be denied; however, there is much more to it than that. Sunny Beach is well known and a popular resort with families – waterparks, kids’ clubs and a Blue Flag sandy beach are just some of its attractions. There are also smaller resorts such as Golden Sands, Obzor and Albena, and genuine towns and villages such as Nessebar and Sozopol where you get a taste of the history and heritage of Bulgaria.” Book it: A week’s all-inclusive at the four-star Grand Hotel Sunny Beach costs £1,251 for a family of four, with Gatwick flights departing May 22 and transfers.
balkanholidays.co.uk/agents
w SWITCH ORLANDO FOR SAN DIEGO The theme park capital of the world has much to recommend it. But if they’ve done Disney one year, Universal the next and SeaWorld the year after that, it might be time to try something
new, which is where San Diego comes in. Flying to the West Coast means a few extra hours on a plane, but it’s worth it to experience that laid-back California vibe and take a dip in the Pacific Ocean instead of the Atlantic. Funway senior marketing executive Rebecca Evans says: “San Diego has a staggering number of family attractions, from San Diego Zoo and Safari Park to Legoland and SeaWorld. Not only does it have an impressive bay-side setting and sunny climate, but also a youthful, fun-loving atmosphere.
Cyprus’s good-value, four-star hotels have proved especially popular with switch-sell clients
It’s up there as Funway’s number-one family holiday spot.” Book it: A week at the three-star Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego starts at £689 based on two adults and two under-12s, with Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow departing November 15.
funway4agents.co.uk
w SWITCH NORTHERN THAILAND FOR SOUTH AFRICA For those who prefer a sense of adventure to a sandy beach, there are growing numbers of group or tailor-made tours designed specifically for families. Carrier’s new two-week family
TOP: Legoland California
TOP RIGHT: Elias Beach Hotel, Cyprus
LEFT: Madikwe, South Africa
64
travelweekly.co.uk 11 February 2016
tour to South Africa has some real highlights for the grown-ups, including staying at Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town and exploring the vineyards of Babylonstoren in the Winelands. But it’s the chance to spot seals and southern right whales in Cape Town, board a boat to see bottlenose dolphins and endangered African penguins at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve,
or take tailor-made family game drives at malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, that will really get the kids engaged. Book it: Carrier’s 12-night Family Adventures itinerary costs £13,500 for four, including international and internal flights, accommodation, some meals, six days’ car hire and private transfers.
carrier.co.uk
w SWITCH SHARM EL-SHEIKH FOR CYPRUS If families changing their Sharm plans aren’t comfortable switching to a different Red Sea resort, they can look a little farther north. “When there have been problems with Egypt in the past, we switch-sold families from Sharm and our other Red Sea resorts at that time to Cyprus, with a high level of success,” says Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides. “Families who would have
booked the Red Sea want a great beach for the kids, good watersports and a quality hotel to relax at for a week or two. Cyprus can give them all that. Its good-value, four-star hotels have proved especially popular with switch-sell clients, and those seeking a quality all-inclusive won’t be disappointed.” The family options are endless, but among Olympic’s best-sellers are the four-star Elias Beach Hotel in the exclusive Amathus area of Limassol, and the five-star Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos.
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