With 2018 fast coming to an end, and the festive season almost over, many people are now looking to the summer and planning their summer get away. If you want to grab a bargain then January can be a good time to book a holiday as many travel agents have January sales on. Booking early also allows you to spread the cost out as many will allow you to split the payments in to smaller amounts to make it more affordable.
If booking early you should ensure that your holiday is ATOL protected meaning that if the company goes bust you will be entitled to a full refund. You should also get your holiday insurance in place as soon as possible to ensure you are covered should something happen which means you can no longer go on your holiday.
It can be hard to book a holiday in advance not knowing what the weather is going to be like, but if you are going to countries such as in the Canaries or the Caribbean, then they tend to have quite similar weather trends year on year. If you are considering taking your children out of school to go on holiday then you need to be aware of the fines that can be placed on you from the school and also check if the dates co inside with any exams or important events that they should not miss.
Author: Samantha
Turning a family event in to a holiday
If you have been invited to a wedding or christening or maybe a birthday party that will mean you need to stay away from home, why not turn it in to a mini break. Many families find it hard having to pay out a lot of money for nights away to attend a get together, but often feel like they have to go. If possible, you may want to consider actually extending your time away and turning it in to a mini holiday. It often seems silly and frustrating to travel such a distance and not get to explore any of the area. Staying an extra night or two will cost you more but it may be that you class that as your getaway that year.
If you are staying in a hotel, you may want to spend the other few nights somewhere a little cheaper or to camp for example. You can often find some lovely sites all over the country where you can spend the remaining few days for a fraction of the price it would cost you to stay in the hotel for that amount of time.
Often places have some fantastic last minute deals, so have a look online to find the best price you can for your break.
What to do in the Peak District
If you are looking for a last minute holiday before the children go back to school then the Peak District should be towards the top of your list. Although it is not near to the seaside, the Peak District has plenty to offer especially for families that are enjoy the great outdoors. Located in central England it is also often easy to travel to from many parts of the UK.
Within the Peak District you have some amazing walks which are suitable for people of a wide range of ages and abilities. There is a Go Ape in Buxton which can be a fun filled day for everyone, where you get to explore the forest from up high on a rope obstacle course.
There are a number of hotels, b and b’s and camping sites in and around the peak district so you will have plenty to choose from. In the main season some of these get booked up quite quickly so you may want to book in advance.
If staying on a camping site, have a good look at the facilities that it has on site as there are a number of sites which offer wild camping which means they do not have toilet and showering facilities.
Health & Safety Abroad
We’ve all made jokes about how ridiculous Health & Safety legislation can be in this country – it hardly seems necessary to include a written disclaimer to inform someone that their hot beverage may be hot, or that a packet of peanuts may contain nuts, for example – however, as the old adage goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
Especially when you have younger children, it’s worth being aware that Health & Safety legislation may not be anywhere near as strong or followed as rigorously as it is here – barriers may not be as secure, servicing, building & electrical regulations not as strong… I could go on.
As a result, you definitely need to exercise caution in choosing your destination and where to visit. Don’t assume that ‘everything will be ok or they wouldn’t be allowed to trade’, many countries instead consider that it’s your responsibility to be careful.
It is well worth researching any spots you plan to visit, and really looking at the comments, particularly the bad ones; it’s usually here where you’ll find warnings about cleanliness, faulty or unsafe equipment, and so on.
Last up – it won’t hurt to take a carbon monoxide alarm; issues with heating or gas appliances may not always be visible.
Do you need to take your children abroad to have a good holiday?
Many families simply cannot afford to take their children abroad on holiday or they have other reasons in why they do not feel it is a good idea. Often parents feel bad about not going abroad and holidaying in the UK but research has shown that it is more the parents that are bothered by this not the children.
When holidaying in the UK you do have to understand that you may not get the best weather. Unfortunately the weather can be so unpredictable that often you will not know what weather to expect until the day you go and even then it can change quite quickly. You need to plan for all weathers and make sure that you have activities that you can do some rain or shine. You may find that you spend a little more money when it is raining as you will often have to pay to do activities that are inside rather than having a cheap day on the beach or by the pool. Some parents prefer to pick a camp site or holiday resort that has free onsite activities such as a pool, games room and entertainment shows. This can allow you to relax and know that no matter what the weather brings you can still have plenty of fun and don’t have to worry about forking out loads of extra money.
There are many benefits to holidaying in the UK and often kids enjoy it more than going abroad where it may be too hot for them.