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SMART TRAVELLER


FAMILY HOW TO TRAVEL IN 2021


What sort of journeys will your family be setting off on next year? We look at the latest trends, from virtual tours to private cruises


Virtual escapes During the UK’s first lockdown, Original Travel partnered with Oppidan Education to create online modules based on 10 of its destinations, including Rome, Botswana and Japan. The interactive workshops help to feed children’s curiosity until they can visit in real life and are perfect for families not quite ready to hop on a plane. Google’s Arts and Culture platform also offers a range of experiences, including building your own space station. originaltravel.co.uk artsandculture.google.com


Take to the road Hitting the road in your own caravan or motorhome might be an option — and you’ll have plenty of company, too, as last summer, many campsites were reported by the Caravan and Motorhome Club to have sold out. New openings from its Experience Freedom brand mean it’s not just caravans that are up for grabs, but also airstream caravans, yurts and camping and glamping pods at a range of sites, including in the Cotswolds, the Lake District and Kent. experiencefreedom.co.uk


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Wild & remote Pitchup.com confirmed a 337% increase year- on-year for 2021 camping bookings. Plan your trip in advance and go off-grid in the likes of Shropshire’s Wrekin Forest for a back- to-nature experience and woodland walks. Alternatively, pitch up in the grounds of Somerset’s EarthSpirit Centre, on the edge of Compton Dundon, for a tranquil rural retreat. For family-friendly excursions, mystical Glastonbury and the Wookey Hole caves are a 20-minute drive away. pitchup.com


Stay in your bubble Cottages, barns, villas… self-catering trips with the family (or support bubble) are likely to continue as a trend for 2021. Mulberry Cottages’ new Sidown Barn in Hampshire is a pet-friendly property that sleeps up to four, with a fresh design and views across the Downs. A week in February or March starts at £890. Further afield, Oliver’s Travels’ villas in mainland Spain and the Canary Islands will no doubt return as firm favourites. mulberrycottages.com oliverstravels.com


Sail away Escape the crowds in your very own narrowboat for around £760 a week for up to four people, or from around £540 for a three- to four-night break, including tuition, with Driſters Waterway Holidays, which has boats for hire from 45 locations across Britain. Rent a boat in Oxford and cruise west to the market town of Lechlade. The four-night break offers plenty of chances to moor up and explore; don’t miss Kelmscott Manor, once the retreat of William Morris. driſters.co.uk


Take it easy Immerse yourself in your surroundings and support local communities with Intrepid Travel’s new range of closer-to-home retreats. Best suited to families with older kids and teenagers, the trips are designed to help places striving to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Intrepid Retreats’ offerings include a four-day Cornwall experience from £505 per person and a five-day break in Syros, Greece from £780 per person (excluding flights). intrepidtravel.com MARIA PIERI


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