Family Friendly 04-Sep-2011
Christmas holidays are one of those times we try to put all our work responsibilities to the side and focus on spending time with family and friends, eating too much and not feeling guilty, having an afternoon nap in the sun and letting kids be kids and be spoilt with presents. The Christmas school holidays are the longest break of the year and the perfect time to take the family away on a well-deserved family holiday.
Because the needs of each individual family vary, a good place to start is a check list of the things to consider when planning your family holiday.
Accommodation: Do you need separate sleeping for your children? At home we take it for granted that kids are in their own room. Imagine putting your mattress’s on the floor in your lounge room tonight and sleeping together. For some families this may sound like fun but for others it may be a challenge. So the first big decision is how many rooms do you need?
Activities: What will the kids do during the day? Active kids need to be kept busy to allow parents some time out from being responsible 24/7. It is a great feeling to be able to lie by a pool and read a book guilt free knowing your children are being supervised and entertained. Kidz Clubs and activity centres operate over the Christmas holidays in a number of resorts, though it is important to check if they have a Child Protection Policy in place to ensure your children are safe.
Mealtime. Kids can be fussy eaters and there’s nothing worse than dressing the kids up, sitting in a restaurant, ordering from the menu only to hear “I don’t like it”. It is best to plan ahead when it comes to meals and fussy eaters. Another important issue to take into consideration around meal time is catering for allergies and special needs. Many resorts and hotels offer meal plans, kid’s meals and eating times suitable for children. An apartment with self-catering is a great option for fussy eaters, caters for allergy suffers and is often good for the budget.
Destination: From a simple beach holiday at Byron Bay to having a white Christmas in Whistler Canada there is a smorgasbord of choice for families. Does your family want an amazing experience based on factors such as culture, geography, history and architecture? Another great option is specialist activities which include cooking classes, swimming with dolphins and dancing with the Masai.
Transport: How many hours do you want to spend travelling? The idea of holidaying overseas sounds exciting and fun, though an important consideration is travelling distance and number of connections; remembering weather governs all modes of transport. Take into consideration “beyond your control” situations when planning your itinerary. This last year alone travellers have been affected by cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami’s and volcanic ash.
Your family budget. When planning a holiday it is important to be clear about your budget and how much you want to spend. If you include your children in the planning and decision making well in advance of departure they may provide more than just ideas for the holiday. You may have the kids contribute by doing jobs around the house, baby sittings the neighbour’s kids or sacrificing something to put the money towards the holiday. Your children will appreciate the holiday more knowing they have contributed.
So now you have worked through the check list with your family, here are the top four styles of family Christmas holidays.
Beach Holidays A beach and bucket holiday is one of the easiest and cost effective holidays for a family as you are able to have a set budget including meal plans, accommodation and transport. Top of the beach popularity list is Fiji, though be careful when choosing your resort as brochures can be misleading and not all have a good beach. Family island favourites are Castaway Island, Jean Michelle Cousteau Resort, Malolo, Vomo and the Outrigger Fiji Resort located on the mainland.
White Christmas For the energetic family, why not head to the northern hemisphere for a white Christmas. Imagine waking up on Christmas morning with your kids and running outside to play in the snow. With the strength of the current Australian dollar, skiing holidays in America can be great value for money with the added bonus of visiting Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disneyland on the way home via Los Angeles.
Theme Parks Something closer to home is an all-time family (well the kids especially) favourite, the Gold Coast. With a huge variety of accommodation, endless white sandy beaches and the exciting Theme Parks including Dreamworld, Movieworld, Wet & Wild and Seaworld, it is a winner with the kids. Booking a “Mum day of pampering” at a day spa and a “Dad day game of golf” as a compromise to watching the kids scream their lungs out on the rides can ensure everyone has a great time.
Overseas Adventure For the adventurous family wanting to try something different, heading to South Africa to view lions and elephants first hand is an amazing experience. Some options include the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, which caters for families and has a dedicated children’s centre. Another great option is Ant’s Nest, which is ideally suited for families who enjoy getting involved in the running of a game ranch. There are happy carnivore animals on the ranch including rhino, giraffe and zebra. Activities available for kids are guided walks, game drives, horse rides which cater for all riding abilities. Africa can be the trip of a lifetime for the whole family.
Planning is important in a successful and fun family holiday. It is easy to stay home and visit Grandparents, go to the movies and hang with friends though ultimately, sometimes we all need a holiday from responsibilities. Family holidays create a lifetime of memories and well worth the effort.
Specialising in family holidays for over 16 years, Wendy Buckley is Managing Director of Travel With Kidz 1300 729 541. To view a 
free copy of “World of Travel with Kidz” travel guide online visit http://epublishbyus.com/the_world_of_travel_with_kidz/10019386
