Before you leave home:

Ensure that you have valid travel insurance booked and check any exclusion such as water sports and other general activities.

Apply for and receive EHIC cards for the family. This will allow for some of your treatment to be covered should you be hospitalised while travelling in a European country. All members of your family, providing they are entitled to UK passports, will be eligible for one of these and you should carry these with you while in a European country just in case.

Once you arrive at your accommodation:

Move any furniture around to ensure that sharp edges are facing walls, that furniture is not a slip or trip hazard and that you have covered up any potentially dangerous areas or even had the furniture moved completely.

Tape up any sharp corners on furniture or perhaps ask at your hotel reception for them to do this for you or perhaps provide an alternative piece of furniture.

Move blind cords or other long wires that could be a hazard and try to think about anything that could potentially be grabbed by your child and present a choking hazard.

Use plug protectors to cover any plug sockets and you can pack some of these in your suitcase to save yourself the hassle of having to find them while in another country.

Check underneath the beds for any pieces of dirt or debris that your child could end up eating or playing with.

Pack some cable ties or something similar so that you may close any doors that do not have locks and ensure that you lock any doors that can be locked and put their keys in a designated place.

Look out for hazards or climbing items near windows and doors to ensure that your children are not able to climb up and open windows or doors by themselves.

Do not leave your child unsupervised if you would not leave them unsupervised in that room at home. Remember that bathrooms can be terribly hazardous places with hot water, razors, electrical items, heaters and other items being ways for your child to injure themselves. Also remember to keep the toilet lid closed at all times and pack a child lock for that if possible from home.

Basically you should be looking out for any of the hazards that could present themselves like they would at home. Nothing dangerous should be left within reach of your child and they should never be left alone or unsupervised regardless of the reason why. As long as you prepare in advance and use some common sense you should be able to have a wonderfully relaxing family holiday after spending just a short amount of time ensuring that your accommodation is child proof.

Article courtesy of Netflights

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Disneyland Paris

The most child-friendly destination in Europe has to be Disneyland Paris. Its short journey time from the UK on the Eurostar makes it a strong contender for one of Europe’s best holidays for kids, particularly if you have young children who get bored easily. The Disneyland resort has all sorts of attractions for kids and parents too. With a range of thrilling rides, shows and entertaining parades, the magic of Eurodisney Paris is an unforgettable holiday for everyone.

The Spanish Costas

Activities for kids are aplenty in Spain – and it’s just a few hours journey from the UK. The likes of Costa Brava, Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol offer many beach activities, such as wind surfing, volleyball and banana boats. Hotels with Kids Clubs for younger children are also fantastic at keeping them entertained. With the sun, sea and vast variety of destinations there’s plenty of options for the perfect holiday with the family.

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Even closer to home is Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Although the temperatures aren’t as high as they are in Spain, there’s plenty here to keep the kids entertained. With various museums, playgrounds and three zoos, Eindhoven is a great alternative to the typical European package holiday.

Algarve, Portugal

For a sunnier holiday on the beach, the Algarve is another fantastic option for a family holiday. Water parks like Aqualand and Atlantic Park are always terrific days out for families who love sliding down water chutes and splashing about in the wave pools. With zoos, dolphin tours and mini golf, this Portuguese resort has everything.

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This summer, YHA have family rooms at a selection of Youth Hostels for just £29.00 per night, saving you a whopping average of 50% on the normal cost of this type of room. It doesn’t matter if you are a small family of two or a brood of six – the price of the room is still the same.

Many family rooms have en-suite facilities, some with double beds.  Travel cots can be provided at some hostels. You can come and go freely, with access throughout the day to facilities including the self-catering kitchen.  If you don’t want to self cater, most hostels have a restaurant or café where you can purchase fantastic food, many with special menus for children under 10.

All properties have a selection of games and activities for all the family.  From board games to kite making or giant games like Chess or Jenga.  Most have a games room with arcade games, pool or table tennis.  Games and activities vary so contact your chosen location for more information.

Whether you’re after a relaxing break in the countryside, a bucket and spade holiday on the beach or sightseeing around our fantastic cities, there is a Youth Hostel right up your street!

Book before 30^th June 2011 for arrival at your chosen Youth Hostel between 22^nd July and 25^th August 2011 to enjoy this amazing offer.  Please quote the promotional code SIZZLER-001 when booking online at www.yha.org.uk or when calling 01629 592700.

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This year, for the fifth year in a row, Post Office Travel Money has compared the costs that families will face in resorts overseas for its Holiday Costs Barometer.  The barometer takes into account a range of different family holiday must-haves including a cup of coffee, a bottle of water and of course the ever-important sun cream.  We’ll also explore the top five family holiday destinations in the live show.

You may be surprised hear that destinations all over the Eurozone – except Italy – are  actually cheaper this year. Further afield it’s Sri Lanka that makes it into the top five value destinations.  Other popular long haul destinations including the USA and Barbados have actually dropped down the list, as their resort prices have shot up.

Sarah Munro, Head of Post Office Travel Money, and travel expert Sarah Tucker appear in this web TV show to give their top tips to avoid getting stung when you fly off with your family this year.

For more information visit www.postoffice.co.uk/holidaycosts2011

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It’s true that on a glorious weekend, a camping break spent surfing, kayaking, sunbathing or generally exploring North Devon’s coast, with its incredible long beaches, is pretty much unbeatable fun for all the family.

However, it’s also true that if the sun doesn’t make its scheduled appearance and you’ve got the family to entertain, a UK camping holiday can seem a less enticing proposition.

Yet there are plenty of hidden gems and secret attractions to keep the family entertained on your holiday in North Devon. So bin the suncream and check out one of the following family activities, and you’ll have more fun than if you were just lazing around on the beach anyway…

Broomhill sculpture park

This award-winning oddity situated in a dramatic valley in the countryside around Barnstaple is an internationally renowned outdoor art exhibition. As well as being a beautiful natural environment with dense canopies of woodland and a dissecting stream, since 1997 the gardens have been the backdrop for currently over 300 bronze and stone sculptures.

You’ll witness giant red high-heels and robotic horses, a scene filled with eerie, post-apocalyptic, life-size figures haunting an abandoned tennis court, and a crashed space ship and a gigantic otherworldly portal nestling menacingly in the undergrowth –there’s something around every corner to fire the imagination.

Hunt ghosts

If you’re feeling daring, why not leave the safety of your cosy North Devon holiday park and visit the supernatural Chambercombe Manor? Those with nerves of steel can even take a ghost tour including an overnight stay… Spooky!

Shipwreck hunting

Grab a guide or visit Tourist Information and take to the high seas. Find out why the area became known as the shipwreck coast, and visit places like Hartland Point, with the rusting hulk of the Johanna, to see evidence of how the unforgiving meeting place of the Bristol Channel and the Atlantic caused so many vessels to run aground.

Gnome Reserve

Even if it is raining, you needn’t worry about the elements at the Gnome Reserve, as gnome hats are loaned free of charge. Plus, you’ve willingly volunteered to enter a world of gnomes, so perhaps the weather should be the least of your worries. There are over 1,000 of the mini-men and women to entertain you, plus 250 different species of wild flowers, herbs and grasses for the horticultural. But it’s really about the gnomes and pixies: make sure you check out the Pixie Kiln, where tiny specimens are created daily.

Miniature golf in Woolacombe

There are actually very few victories that taste as sweet as a Crazy Golf victory – and the whole family can take part (though dad will usually win). Woolacombe is particularly well served for this small but perfectly formed all-weather entertainment, with courses in the town centre. A must even if the weather is below par.

So even if it is raining outside, that doesn’t mean your camping holiday in Devon has to be a wash out. Spice it up with a surreal, quirky or fun alternative to the bad-weather blues, and it’ll be a family holiday to remember.

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Intervac.co.uk is the British arm of Intervac-homeexchange.com, the 1st ever home exchange agency. This premium home exchange website offers members a fantastic variety of worldwide accommodation; from quaint country cottages and chic city apartments to fabulous villas with pools and mountain lodges with open fires, all at a fraction of the cost of more traditional options.

Not only do people save on accommodation costs but there’s no need for endless cash to cover restaurant meals, parking, laundry, tea and coffee or internet connection. Many members exchange cars and saving on car hire, some take care of each other’s pets and gardens saving further costs. Many members actually become friends through their shared experiences and mutual belief in trust and respect, values at the heart of the site.

A few minutes on Intervac reveals inspiring destinations and beautiful homes as well as a wide range of search options allowing members to create a tailored made holiday that’s perfect for them. For families there’s a search for homes that are child-friendly, offering extras such as car seats, high chairs, stair gates, pools, gardens and even toys so they can have a relaxed break in a safe home.

Brian Hayes, Organiser of Intervac GB, said, “Over 30% of our members are teachers and we’re now seeing a rise in families joining because it’s so expensive to go away during school holidays. Home exchange means you can have a break that doesn’t cost the earth but is great fun and right for you. Our members are professional, honest and trustworthy people who enjoy travelling but are aware of their budgets and like home comforts. Many people come back to us time and time again because they get more value for money than they do with a ‘traditional’ holiday. It is great that there’s none of the formality of hotels and many exchange partners stay in touch afterwards – both as friends and repeat exchangers”.

Sally Johnson, a GB member, said: “Your company has brought our family many wonderful holidays and the opportunity to establish lifelong friendships. We sing your praises to all our friends. Thank you”.

For more information go to: www.intervac.co.uk and www.intervac-homeexchange.com

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If you are after some hints and tips on how to make planning the family holiday a rewarding experience for both you and your kids, log onto our live web TV show where parenting expert, Allison Mitchell, will show you how to get your kids excited about their holidays before you even set foot on the plane.

Alison Mitchell joins us live online on Monday 4^th October at 14:30 to show you how to create a holiday incentives scheme sure to excite both you and your kids!

Click here to submit questions before the show and to watch it live at 14:30 and on demand afterwards

For more information go to VisitOrlando.com/uk

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When you travel on a family cruise, you effectively travel in a floating hotel where all your amenities are laid on for you. As you travel across the seas, from place to place, you can enjoy fabulous meals, exciting things to do during the daytime, and interesting evening entertainments as well as sunbathing by the pool side, or strolling along the decks taking a look at the ocean views. You can go for a weekend, a fortnight, or even a month or two, and see many different parts of the world.

There are many companies you could choose to travel with, but two which are worth mentioning when it comes to family cruises are Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises. Both these companies offer excellent child friendly facilities on board ship as well as entertainments tailored to suit different age groups, and staff who are trained to work with them. There are age appropriate activities that children from the age of 3 upwards can partake in, giving ample opportunities for parents to get in a little rest and relaxation of their own.

Of course, you’ll want to spend time together as a family too, and Excursions are the perfect opportunity for this. At each port that you visit, there will be excursions available, and these will give you the chance to experience a little of the local culture and visit some of the many attractions that there are to see. Of course what these excursions are will vary a lot depending on where you are travelling. You might visit the Fjords of Norway, or the Great wall of China, go snorkelling and see the great barrier reef, or go shopping in India and barter for all your best deals.

Back on board ship each evening, and meals can be taken either in traditional cruise ship style with fine dining, or in the more relaxed atmosphere of one of the alternate eateries on board most modern cruise ships. An evening show, or perhaps another dip in the pool before bed, and you are floating off towards your next destination.

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However there are some points to consider when booking a family cruise.

• Health conditions of the particular cruise you book should be checked thoroughly. For example, some cruises won’t allow pregnant women on boards.
• Like any trip always check the additional fees. Always book travel insurance. Kids are lovely most of the time but they have a nasty habit of picking up illnesses at exactly the wrong time. Most travel insurers will refund the holiday if a member of the travelling party picks up an illness that makes them unable to travel.
• Another tip is to check the onboard prices. Drinks are notoriously expensive on cruises so be sure to check out the prices of food and drink when working out your costs.
• It is also worth having a look on the tipping policy on board the ship.

Great family cruise deals are available at a huge variety of locations so find one and enjoy.

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TURKEY is surrounded by four seas, has the famous Blue Lagoon, many national parks, and over 8000 km of beautiful beaches. It is said that the waters of the Cesme peninsula are health-giving, and Dalyan has famous mud baths.

The holy cities of Harran and Sanli Ura, where Abraham is thought to have lived, have a 10,000-year heritage. Mount Ararat is said to be the resting place of Noah’s ark. King Antiochus’ mausoleum is on the top of Mount Nemrut, and in Didyma are the ruins of Apollo’s famous temple. The city of Troy was immortalized by Homer, and Moorish Istanbul has many special sights. King Mausolos’ mausoleum and the Temple of Artemis are two of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The southern coast (known as the “Turkish Riviera”) is where you’ll find the most five star hotels and world-class golf courses. Many of these areas were originally small fishing villages.

You can take a guided cycling tour through pine forest trails, country paths, the Aegean Sea coastline, the Turquoise Coast, and more. The ancient cities and quaint villages feature folk music, castles, tombs, temples, theaters, art centers, colorful bazaars, and fish markets.

– Full details about Turkey Holidays

MAJORCA is in the Mediterranean Sea and is Spain’s largest island. It has amazing beaches, a warm climate, and the Tramuntana Mountains. The capital city of Palma de Mallorca has a giant Gothic cathedral, Arab baths, the Bellver Castle, and boutiques which feature beautiful linens, leather goods, perfumes, and porcelain.

Valldemossa has the Royal Carthusian Monastery, built in 1399, where Frederick Chopin wrote some of his masterpieces and George Sand wrote her A WINTER IN MAJORCA in 1838-1839 when they rented a monk’s cell. His piano is still there, and a 15 minute piano concerto is given. You can explore the cells, chapel, gardens, and in the pharmacy the potions and drugs appear the same as they did 100 years ago.

Take a train ride to Soller in a brass-fitted and mahogany-paneled vintage railcar, again almost a century old, through the mountain tunnels. It is a 1 1/2 hour trip, and there are five trains a day.

The Caves of Drach are one of Majorca’s most visited sites, and a boat trip through the world’s largest subterranean lake and huge cave system features a lighting system that sets off the stalactites and stalagmites.

- Full details about Majorca holidays

EGYPT is known for its Passage of the Red Sea in the Bible, and you can still go diving in this world’s northernmost tropical sea and explore it in a famous underworld adventure of over 1,000 species of marine life. Sharm el Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula is a well-known diving center with the world’s northernmost coral reef and magnificent underwater sights that can be seen when snorkeling. The market in town is a delight for shoppers and features spice shops with their aromatic tastes and smells.

One must see the many pyramids including the Great Pyramid of Gaza, which is another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and which is substantially intact. The Pyramid of Djoser was constructed in the 27th century BC and was the prototype for all the pyramids that were built after it.

Egypt’s biggest city, Cairo, holds the Egyptian Antiquities Museum with the world’s largest collection of over 120,000 Egyptian artifacts including gold, jewels, mummies, and is the home of the Tutankhamun collection.

You can go on a camel ride, explore the White Desert, and visit a Bedouin camp. You can attempt the difficult climb of Mt. Sinai and visit the St. Catherine’s monastery on the peak, where God was said to have spoken to Moses.

If you prefer to take a cruise down the Nile, the world’s longest river, there are many onshore excursions in many of the cities so that you are still able to view the superb attractions of this land.

- Full details about Egypt Holidays

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