Clients can enjoy a family getaway their way, finds Alice Barnes-Brown
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By the time Easter rolls around on Sunday, March 31, spring should be well and truly in the air. And with the two-week break extending into April, there’s plenty of time for families to seek sunshine overseas, whether they’re looking for a short-haul hop, a mid-haul getaway or a jam-packed long-haul escape.
Every family’s ideal trip differs, whether they’re travelling as a large, multigenerational unit of all ages, as a family of four with teenage children or as a couple with a baby or toddler in tow. And while some packages will allow for families to spend all their time together, others will cater for independent activities too, offering kids’ clubs and sports facilities, for example.
The cost-of-living crisis may mean some are tightening their belts and seeking shorter trips closer to home, but others may be looking for that once-in-a-lifetime holiday somewhere far-flung before their kids get too old. From cultural experiences to poolside fun, here are nine holidays that cater for every sort of family fun this Easter.
Short-haul
Fun times for all, Malta
Just a four-minute drive from the Popeye Village movie-set-turned-water park, the db Seabank Resort & Spa in Mellieha occupies a prime spot. The hotel boasts the largest pool in Malta, while a team of ‘animators’ hosts activities for tots, from pool aerobics to play in the jungle gym. Teens can compete against each other at air hockey, arcade games or even in the hotel’s bowling alley.
Book it: Mercury Holidays offers a week’s all-inclusive in a Family Land View room from £1,959 for a family of two adults and two children, including flights from Stansted on April 3, transfers and luggage.
mercuryholidays.co.uk
Pirates at Pine Cliffs, Portugal
The Porto Pirata children’s village at the Pine Cliffs Resort will appeal to kids of all ages: there are two life-sized pirate ships to clamber around on, plus a bouncy castle, basketball court, football camps and even an 18-hole mini-golf course where kids can work off all the holiday excitement.
Book it: Caribtours offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast for a family of four in a two-bedroom Pine Cliffs Suite for £1,799 for adults and £499 for children aged under-12. The price includes flights on March 29, private transfers and airport lounge access.
caribtours.co.uk
Dunes and dirhams, Morocco
A 75% chance of sunny days means Agadir is a reliable choice in spring. The Iberostar Founty Beach’s four-bed family rooms offer an economical way to stay, and kids will have access to Iberostar’s Star Camp activity programme, where talent shows and VR games cater for different age groups. For a taste of family-oriented Moroccan culture, the city centre is just a 10-minute walk away.
Book it: Classic Collection offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for £4,489 for two adults and two children sharing a Sea View Junior Suite. The price includes flights on April 4, transfers and luggage, plus fast-track security and lounge access at UK airports.
classic-collection.co.uk
Los Zocos Impressive, Lanzarote
Mid-haul
Sporty springtime, Lanzarote
Easter is a great time to visit the Canary Islands, as resorts tend to be quieter. Los Zocos Impressive hotel, in Lanzarote’s popular Costa Teguise area, is a comfortable base. The Family Suites offer separate bedrooms, kitchenettes and big private terraces, plus a PlayStation in the kids’ room. Sporty children will enjoy the tennis, volleyball and football courts, while the ball pit will keep toddlers occupied.
Book it: Jet2holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at Los Zocos for £889 per person, based on two adults and two under-fours sharing a room. The price includes flights from Bristol on March 31, 22kg luggage and transfers.
jet2holidays.com
Sandy shores, Cyprus
The Leonardo Cypria Bay hotel is metres from the safe swims and sandcastle-building afforded by Pachyammos beach. There’s also a kids’ pool where they can zip along waterslides. The Kids’ Club offers gymnastics classes and discos for four to 12-year-olds. Parents can visit the sister hotel’s spa, stroll the local area (Polemi has a tulip festival in April) and take advantage of evening babysitting for dinner dates.
Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive in a Family Room Inland View for two adults and two children starts at £855 per person with Olympic Holidays. The price includes flights from Luton on April 7, 15kg luggage and transfers.
olympicholidays.com
Live it large, Turkey
Antalya’s swathes of sand, theme parks and archaeological sites offer something for all the family. The five-star Aska Lara Resort & Spa puts clients within a 15-minute drive of Sandland, an open-air exhibition of illuminated sand sculptures – which the kids can try to replicate on the beach – and the Land of Legends theme park.
Back at the hotel, families get unlimited access to the Wet ‘n’ Wild water park, plus they’ll find a range of pools, zip lines, a rope park and climbing wall, and even a pocket-sized cinema.
Book it: EasyJet holidays offers seven nights on an All Inclusive Plus basis for £508 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Bristol on April 4.
easyjet.com/holidays
Rainforest Pool Villa at Datai Langkawi
Long-haul
Luxurious Langkawi, Malaysia
Wild-at-heart families will adore Langkawi’s pristine nature, with its 10-million-year-old rainforest and array of tropical birds. At Datai Langkawi, kids can take part in experiments with a marine biologist.
Alternatively, they can enrol on the Little Gardener programme to learn about the origins of food and take a tour of the hotel’s zero-waste produce garden with a chef, before cooking up the staples of Malay cuisine or making ‘monkey muffins’.
Book it: If Only offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a Canopy Garden Room from £9,510 for a family of four. The price includes flights on April 2, luggage and private transfers.
ifonly.net
Caribbean cool, Jamaica
Family favourite Beaches Negril was updated last year with 12 new penthouses offering bunk beds. Expect powdery sands on the seven-mile beach, with snorkelling, bodyboarding and kayaking opportunities in the still sea.
Little ones can meet Sesame Street heroes, join the Cookie Monster for baking sessions or make puppets with Bert and Ernie. In the early evenings, teens and tweens will enjoy the mocktails, beats and cool vibes at under-21s Club Liquid.
Book it: Sandals offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in a Grande Luxe Double Room from £5,139 for adults and £1,599 for under-12s. The price includes flights on April 4, luggage and transfers.
sellingsandals.co.uk
Island magic, The Maldives
At the tail end of the high season, Easter in the Maldives means slightly lower prices, while the weather still hits 30C. Oblu Nature Helengeli reopened after a makeover in 2023, with two new accommodation categories for families.
The colourful Water Villas and Beach Suites, each with their own private pools, give parents and up to three kids a separate space, plus direct access to the beach. Also new is the kids’ club and nature centre, where children can discover the Maldivian ecosystem above and below the waterline.
Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive in a Deluxe Beach Villa starts at £9,849 for two adults and one child under 12. The price includes flights on April 1, luggage and speedboat transfers.
kuoni.co.uk
Ask the expert
Leah Marshall, director of sales, Unique Vacations UK
“March and April is an ideal time to visit the Caribbean. It’s still considered to be peak season, so the weather is usually excellent. We recommend booking as far ahead as possible. Hotel rooms tend to fill very quickly during the Easter period, and flights often become more expensive around the school holiday dates.
Taking advantage of deposit schemes (when booked over 71 days before departure) is a great way for families to budget in advance. For families with younger children not bound by school holiday dates, travelling a few days either side of the Easter period can often make a difference when it comes to saving money.”
PICTURE: RTCreation
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