| The process of choosing and booking a family | | | | Sailing tuition: The operators offer a range of tuition for |
| summer holiday can be complicated. When children are | | | | people wanting to take up new activities (particularly |
| small they are more likely to be delighted just to be | | | | sailing). People can learn sailing skills in a superb, safe, |
| going on holiday but as the teenage years approach | | | | "warm water" environment. "Informal" group training or |
| children expect to have their views taken into account: | | | | "clinics" are usually provided free of charge at different |
| and this is where the trouble can start! | | | | times during a weeks holiday but for more formal |
| Everybody wants something different: | | | | RYA training specific places need to be booked at the |
| For teenage children one of the key things they often | | | | time of booking the holiday. |
| want on holiday is to be surrounded by children of | | | | Kids clubs: Using the term "kids clubs" does not really |
| roughly their own age who they get on with and make | | | | do justice to what is on offer. The operators typically |
| friends. | | | | split the age groups down into three or four age |
| For other people in the family its "does the holiday | | | | groups and importantly, teenagers are "grouped |
| have potential for some serious relaxation"? For others | | | | together" and provided with just enough guidance and |
| who might get a bit bored lying by the pool other things | | | | support to make sure they have a great time and mix |
| that will keep them busy are required (sports and other | | | | well but are not treated as "children". Also, with so |
| activities in particular). | | | | many things to do at the clubs that teenagers can |
| So, how do you find a holiday that can possibly satisfy | | | | participate in as a group, means all the ingredients are |
| such a diverse range of requirements? One category | | | | there for a fantastic holiday. For the younger age |
| of holiday that has the potential to do this extremely | | | | groups there is always a level of appropriate support |
| effectively but which is in some ways is not particularly | | | | and supervision to make sure they have a great time |
| well known, is the Beach Club holiday. There are a | | | | as well. For children under two there is usually a |
| number of suppliers of these types of holiday but they | | | | charge whereas clubs the other age groups are |
| all offer such a variety of things to do, all based at one | | | | usually free. |
| hotel-style beach location, that everybody's needs are | | | | Relaxing: Beach Clubs by definition are based right |
| catered for. | | | | beside a beach which will have plenty of sun loungers |
| Things the main providers make sure they include are: | | | | for those that want to watch the world go by and |
| Pleasant accommodation: Usually not "five-star" but | | | | they nearly all have one or two swimming pools with |
| certainly of a good standard. Normal hotel standards | | | | plenty of space and for those that prefer freshwater |
| apply in terms of daily cleaning but things like a mini | | | | swimming. |
| bars and cable TV tend to be a rarity. | | | | Other activities: Most Beach Clubs also have a range |
| A good standard of food and plenty of it: The Beach | | | | of mountain bikes and a guide for (early morning!) rides |
| club operators often have quite a confusing board | | | | on local trails plus waterskiing, tennis, beauty spas and |
| basis but its normally the equivalent of a hotel's "half | | | | gymnasiums. The mountain bikes are usually "hard tails" |
| board" with the difference being that is that the main | | | | from brands like Specialized, Trek and Orange |
| meal of the day is sometimes at lunchtime and | | | | although some clubs do have the full suspension bikes |
| sometimes an evening meal. There are almost always | | | | as well. |
| snacks available. | | | | In summary, a Beach Club activity holiday offers the |
| A good range of water-sports equipment: This includes | | | | choice and variety that makes them one of the best |
| canoes, windsurfers and sailing dinghies. The quality of | | | | options for keeping any family or small group with a |
| water-sports equipment is usually excellent but as the | | | | diverse range of holiday requirements happy. |
| holiday operators cannot afford to renew their boats | | | | Sam Turnbull is a Director of Just Active, which brings |
| every year they are usually a mix of new and "not so | | | | activity holidays to everyone. |
| new". | | | | |