Package holidays are the family sunshine break godsend. Quick, easy and usually cheap, there are many destinations that embody everything a package sunshine break should, and one of those is summer favourite, Lloret De Mar. When combined with a night at one of the great selection of airport hotels, your package break becomes something even more special.

I put this idea to the test last year, and booked a night pre-flight at one of the Gatwick hotels. I combined this with airport parking and saved money, whilst adding convenience and comfort to my travel plans. As a result, my two weeks in the sun not only started earlier, but began with me calm and rested, not tired and grumpy. This is also a fantastic idea when travelling with young children.

Flights head regularly over to the Costa Brava, and a great idea is to combine your Lloret De Mar holiday with a few days in bustling and dramatic Barcelona. Flights head either into Barcelona, or Girona, which is the nearer airport, with buses from either plentiful. Once you’re based in resort, getting around is easier, and most things are within walking distance.

Of course, family sunshine breaks generally centre around the beach, and Lloret de Mar is the main beach in resort, with a range of water-sports. There are smaller beaches dotted around, but for the best in the way of facilities, this is where you need to be. For splashing away from the beach, the kids will love WaterWorld, and a day here is fun for all the family.

When splashing, be it on the beach or at the water-park, gets a little tiresome, get out and explore. Sant Joan Castle is a good one for history and architecture fans, with great views too, so remember that camera! Fancy a bit of retail therapy? The Tuesday market at Carrer dels Mestres is a good choice.

Bright, varied and plentiful – that sums up Lloret De Mar’s nightlife, and with something for every taste, nobody will be bored. Food-wise, similarly there’s something for everyone too, with many international dishes on most menus, and most restaurants catering for British guests.

When your dinner has digested, you can choose to chat and have a few drinks, sing a spot of karaoke, watch the football, or party on down. If you choose the latter, head to the Avinguda Just Marles, and take your pick of bars and clubs for your evening’s entertainment.

As far as package holidays go, Lloret De Mar sums it up perfectly, with the sun shining down in the background. Take my advice and pre-book an airport hotel prior to travelling, especially useful if you have an early flight, and your holiday will be that little bit extra special. Combine your hotel with airport parking and you save even more – what could be better?! Check out the large range of hotels Manchester Airport, if you’re flying from the north, and look forward to your holiday starting even sooner than planned!

Where is Wood Duck Cottage?

Wood Duck Cottage is an easy drive from Melbourne for a weekend away or longer if time permits. We’ve had a power-break here for 3 nights and 4 days. It’s school holidays here in Victoria and we were all ready for some R&R to see us through until the Christmas/summer break. We thought Wood Duck Cottage would be perfect and we weren’t wrong!

Wood Duck Cottage and Bunkhouse offers modern family holiday accommodation on a lovely farm setting. It’s located a short drive out of the Yea township. The main cottage sleeps two couples offering Queen sized beds and a sofa bed in the main living area. The Bunkhouse sleeps one double and four children in bunks and has it’s own bathroom facilities and TV. The Bunkhouse, at one end has floor to ceiling glass doors which are hidden by two large stable doors. Open the stable doors to reveal the glass doors which open up on it’s own little decking area. This proved to be a great spot to watch the sunsets! The whole set up is great for two families wishing to get away together. The parents have their own retreat, the kids have their own area and there’s plenty of space for the kids to enjoy the great outdoors.

The facilities include a fully equipped modern kitchen with dishwasher, laundry, modern bathrooms (main with a double shower and sink), 46″ TV, Wii, DVD library, outdoor fire and BBQ, bikes, helmets and access to the farm chickens for the children to collect the eggs. My two had a ball with all the space, tending to the chooks, patting the horses and building a fire each evening which one night we baked potatoes for dinner.

Wood Duck Cottage is located near the beautiful Yea Wetlands, horse riding, wineries, tennis, golf and a number of charming local cafes. We enjoyed lunch and coffee in the sunny courtyard at Marmalades on a couple of occasions and dinner at Yea Peppercorn Hotel. You’re a bit spoiled for eating places in Yea!

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Yea

One Great Reason to Visit Wood Duck Cottage

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the blissful solitude this accommodation offers and so close to Melbourne.

For More Information

• Wood Duck Cottages
• Yea Website

If you are planning a holiday to Mallorca, there are a number of things that you can do to make your holiday special without breaking the bank. Holidays are meant to be enjoyed and saving money is certainly enjoyable these days. If you are headed to Mallorca and want to save money on your trip, here are a few things that you should keep in mind:

1. Book your trip well ahead. By booking ahead, you can take advantage of many savings opportunities. Most airlines and hotels offer substantial discounts for those who book their reservations at least six weeks ahead of schedule. While you could always wait until the last minute and hope that you snag a deal, it simply makes better sense to book as far ahead as possible and know without a doubt that you are saving money.

2. Travel during off peak seasons when possible. Most tourist destinations are a bit more expensive to visit during their peak seasons. Summer is normally when people take holiday with the family so if you have the option of travelling in the spring or fall, you can still enjoy the beautiful Mallorca weather and enjoy a bit more cash in your pocket as well.

3. Always avoid travelling on the weekends if possible. Mallorca is a popular holiday destination and most visitors travel on Saturday and Sunday. If you can, book your flight on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Not only will you save money on your flight, you will avoid the rush of incoming visitors as well.

4. While in Mallorca, check out free attractions. There are a number of sights that you can see without having to pay a dime. Natural beauty is everywhere in Mallorca and the only thing it will cost you is transportation fare. Depending on where you are staying, you may even be able to walk to many sights and avoid the cost of transportation altogether. Do a bit of research before you leave to see what sights are close to your hotel. Take in these sights and spend a day or so simply walking around and looking at the area.

5. Finally, pack lightly. Most airlines charge additional fees for additional luggage. If you do not need to pack five or six suitcases, then don’t. If you are staying for a week or so, find out what laundry facilities are located on or close to your hotel. Washing your clothing is going to be cheap compared to paying the fare for additional luggage.

This article was written by Hotel Sis Pins, one of the most charming hotels Pollensa offers.

You’ve saved your hard-earned cash. You’ve bought the Lonely Planet guide books. You’ve got a wish list of all the places you want to hit when you’re away on your great adventure. But now you have to make a big decision: do you go it alone? Do you buddy up with pals? Or do you take your partner?

This is no easy decision to make, and it’s one you should consider carefully as it will strongly affect the kind of holiday you have. Here are some pros and cons to consider for each option…

Travelling alone

Pros

Going it alone holds a certain allure for many. You’re unencumbered, pleasing no one but yourself. There are no arguments about who misread the itinerary, no negotiations about when or where to go. In the great tradition of finding yourself while on the road, the journey is yours to chase however you wish – popular choices for solo backpackers include treks across Europe, south-east Asia or South America.

Cons

Loneliness. The cold hard fact is, if you’re travelling solo, while you do have the opportunity to meet fellow travellers in hostels, none of these people know you like a friend, family member or partner does. Additionally, you’ll lack that second opinion that can sometimes be invaluable when travelling – making decisions that much easier.

Travelling with a partner

Pros

There’s no better way of getting to know your partner than going travelling with them. You’ll learn new things that you didn’t know before, even if you’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each other online dating or working together. The things that make you strong as a couple will also make you strong as travel buddies.

Couples might like to opt for romantic hotspots such as Paris, New York or Venice, but look for the lesser-known places that might bring some romantic magic too: for couples dating Adelaide, Edinburgh or Dubrovnik are often overlooked yet truly distinctive travel destinations.

Cons

Pressure can certainly be intensified on the road, especially in a backpacker situation. You might find that minor disagreements can be taken personally, or that competing interests (should we go to the museum? the beach? shopping? to the pub?) might cause tension. And if you’re staying in hostels, your ‘together time’ will be seriously reduced.

Travelling with friends

Pros

Your mates are the family you get to choose – they know you best and share your interests and activities, dreams and hopes. Backpacking with friends can be a 24-hour party – especially if you go to somewhere that likes to party hard, such as Berlin, Ibiza or LA.

Cons

No matter how well you get along with someone in daily life, travel can reveal surprising things. You may discover that you’re keen to be active but your travel buddy wants to lie on the beach – and that can lead to friction.

You might now have a clearer idea of what each travel route might bring you, but the main thing to remember is to have an open discussion with any travel companions about what you want from your trip and to be honest with yourself about whether you would prefer to travel alone, with a friend or with a partner – or a combination of all three!