If you are used to family holidays in the UK, planning a trip abroad can seem daunting...
Where to start
Ensure that you have a valid passport or apply for one for everybody who will be travelling. Don’t get caught out with expiry dates if you haven’t used yours in a while; be sure to check dates and current regulations.
What do you want?
Consider how far you want to go, especially if it’s anybody’s first flight; how long do you want to be in the air? Are you looking for sun, sea and sand or towns, history and culture? How important are on site activities, pools, water parks etc? Do you need a kids’ club? These are great starting points for narrowing down your location and accommodation.
Board and budget
Set your budget and work to it – remembering that if you are going overseas there are flights, transfers etc to factor in, which are additional costs to a UK break.
Don’t get sucked in by a false economy. If you are staying on site all the time, all inclusive or part board could work well to save paying as you go. However, if you plan to go off site and explore, an all inclusive package is potentially wasting your holiday budget, as you’re likely to end up buying food elsewhere!
Where to go
Emma Baker at Holsworthy Travel recommends the family-friendly Balearic Islands for a first family holiday abroad.
“Destinations such as Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza are a great choice as the flight time is short, the accommodation is good, you have Mediterranean beaches and water parks and many people speak English. It is a fabulous place for a break abroad without feeling too much like the unknown, especially if you haven’t been overseas before or in a long time,” says Emma.
Planning ahead
If you’re looking to pay your holiday off in monthly instalments, Emma recommends planning ahead and booking in early for the following season. “We are already selling holidays for 2025 and travellers are welcome to pay off their holiday month by month if they wish; we can be very flexible.”
If you would like further guidance and advice, you can reach Emma at Holsworthy Travel on 01409 253962.