WINTER SUN FAMILIES DESTINATIONS RIGHT:


St James’s Club, Saint Lucia


FAR RIGHT: Almyra Hotel,


Cyprus


Paula Whitehead, European managing director for Elite Island Resorts Group, suggests Saint Lucia and Antigua for those tempted by the Caribbean, while Carrier recommends Mauritius for those wanting to go further. Both offer direct flights and a comprehensive kids’ offering, with standouts including Saint Lucia’s St James’s Club Morgan Bay – boasting everything from movie nights to singing workshops – and Mauritius’s St Regis Resort, whose lures include complimentary glass-bottom boat tours, sailing trips, dolphin swims and an excellent kids’ club.


w LOOK OUT FOR EXTRAS Wherever you choose, make sure the resort’s children’s offerings extend to the winter season, says Ricky Wason, head of product and purchasing at Olympic Holidays. “In Cyprus, for example, the Almyra Hotel in Paphos is one of the few hotels to offer a kids’ club in the winter months,” he says. “It also has a crèche on request, and shaded areas that are ideal for keeping


little ones out of direct sun.” It’s also worth keeping an eye out for


anything that will make your clients’ lives easier, such as interconnecting rooms, pre-bookable baby provisions and dedicated family sections, or the special family check-in area at Sunscape Resorts & Spas, where kids get welcome treats and special resort passports.


Club Med Cancun Yucatan leads


the way with Aguamarina, a newly expanded area that now houses 120 family rooms plus a pool area and family bar (with a dedicated children’s food and mocktail menu) and a new Bread & Co culinary concept, which lets children cook for their parents. Cabana Bay in Orlando has adaptable family suites sleeping up to six, with two queen beds and a pull-out sofa, plus a sliding privacy partition and compartmentalised bathroom so three people can get ready at once. Beaches Resorts, meanwhile, has plenty of suites with connecting rooms, plus butler service for the higher categories, making


WHAT TO


PACK Tricia


Birmingham, product and commercial


director, Travel 2 and Gold Medal, suggests:


w High-factor sun lotion w Cooling mist spray w Goggles


w Travel-sized board games w Sun hat w Snacks


things that bit simpler for those willing to splash a little more cash.


w SAVE AIRPORT STRESS Once you’ve got the basics sorted, all that remains are the extras. Navigating flights to long-haul, winter-sun destinations with kids in tow can be a challenge, so suggest some add-ons to smooth out the process – and plump up your commission at the same time. Travel 2 recommends airport fast-


track passes and a meet-and-greet on arrival to stop the youngsters getting restless, while Funway suggests booking bulkhead seats for more legroom. For families really wanting to cut


the hassle, look to Jet2holidays’ free resort flight check-in service. Available at select hotels in the portfolio, clients can drop their bags in reception on the last day, from where they’re taken directly to the aircraft, meaning families can breeze through to security without a care in the world. That’s at least some compensation to help soften the blow as they return to cold, blustery Blighty.


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