3 Generation holidays - the newest travel trend
There’s nothing more bonding for a family than spending quality time together. And a holiday is the perfect setting. With the growing trend for 3G (no, not mobile coverage – three generations!), there’s a huge variety of options.
For many families, 3G holidays are the perfect choice for everyone. The children get the chance to bond with their grandparents, and probably a few extra treats. The parents gain some adult company, and probably a bit of babysitting. And the grandparents? Well, it’s a more relaxing way to get a sizeable chunk of family time and store up treasured memories of happy times. Here’s our pick of the best, whatever your holiday preferences.
For Beach Buddies
Mark Warner has resorts in Greece, Corsica and Sardinia – perfect for 3G breaks, with a full range of free water sports, biking, tennis and guided tours, as well as kids’ clubs. Stay at the Lakitira Beach Resort on Kos (below) for seven nights from £549 for adults and £489 for children, including return flights and half board.
The Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye, Turkey (below), has a private bay with water sports galore, a spa and walks along the Lycian Way. The Discerning Collection offers seven nights’ full board for a family of six from £7,230 including return flights.
Escape the winter with a Caribbean break. St Lucia has a special charm, and the Landings Resort, near Rodney Bay, offers all-suite accommodation, a spa, a kids’ club and water sports. Kenwood Travel has seven nights’ B&B in a three-bedroom suite from £1,115 (adult) and £699 (child), including return flights.
At The Sarojin, a luxury hotel complex in Thailand, white sand, water sports (including cave canoeing), mountain biking, national parks and an amazing spa await you, plus the chance to shadow a local fisherman, monk or fruit farmer. Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B from £1,856, including return flights (no children under 10).
For the Adventurous
Catch the Northern Lights, learn igloo-building and try snow-shoeing on a Finnish Arctic Adventure. This is a chance to push yourself in a mesmerising landscape with Discover Adventure, which has found that 3G families will often combine such a trip with raising funds for charity. Join a five-day trip departing in March, available only for those over 18, from £1,324, including flights, transport, accommodation and most meals plus guides, cooks and drivers.
Get up close to animals in their natural habitat on a safari. The malaria-free Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in South Africa offers guided ‘big five’ game drives, bush walks, campfire cook-ins and more. Aardvark Safaris has seven nights from £15,265 for six, including all flights, three nights’ full board and three nights’ B&B at the Welgelegen boutique hotel in Cape Town.
Magical and rugged, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic offer dramatic cliffs and waterfalls plus a thriving foodie scene, not to mention the million puffins. Try hiking, kayaking, fishing or even abseiling. Stay seven nights at the four-star Hotel Føroyar in Tórshavn from £1,015 B&B. Fly from Luton to Copenhagen with Ryanair (£22 return) and from Copenhagen to Vágar with Atlantic Airways (from £168 return). Visit The Faroe Islands website for more info.
For Home Lovers
With the fluctuating exchange rate, staying in Britain is popular. Try self-catering at Turnip House (sleeps eight) in Plaish, Shropshire (below). There are games rooms, tennis courts and the chance to feed chickens and ride ponies, plus miles of country walks. Sykes Cottages has seven nights from £559 inclusive.
In nine locations, Forest Holidays provides a magical blend of the great outdoors (from treetop adventures to gentle strolls) and hot tubs. A three-night break in a Golden Oak Treehouse (below) costs from £1,275 inclusive, and in a Golden Oak Log Cabin from £760 inclusive.
If your memories of hostels include damp clothes, rickety beds and curfews, think again. Now you’ll find private en suite rooms, bars and restaurants. You can even hire a whole hostel in some areas. Try YHA Broad Haven, just 200 metres from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and beach. To hire the whole hostel (which sleeps 42) costs from £199 per night. Or head for YHA Eden Project in Cornwall, where you can stay in an eco-friendly Snoozebox, from £39.99 for two per night. And the Eden Project is right on the doorstep.
Walking Breaks
These can work for those with older children. Ramblers is probably the best-known organisation, and now offers three different types of break. Inntravel, HF Holidays and Headwater are just three of the many specialist operators offering guided and self-guided walking breaks in the UK, Europe and beyond.
Cruises
With the huge variety of activities, entertainment and shore trips, cruising lends itself to 3G breaks. Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are all family-friendly.
Going abroad?
With the uncertainty over Brexit and foreign holidays, follow these tips:
- With a weak pound, try to pay in sterling.
- Book a package holiday – the price is agreed upfront.
- All-inclusive packages can be the best option, as everything is included – so no surprises.
- Book early to take advantage of offers.
Photos: Getty, Image Source, iStock, National Trust Images
