You wouldn’t believe it from the weather, but the summer holidays are definitely hurtling towards us. If you haven’t booked your holiday for kids yet, don’t worry – there are still some great family deals out there for a memorable summer.

Image courtesy of Chris Griffith under Creative Commons Licence.

Top five summer holidays for kids

Villa breaks

It’s hard to think of something lovelier than a beautiful house with its own pool, surrounded by fragrant plants and real sunshine. A villa break offers the flexibility, privacy and home comfort that can make a heavenly – rather than hellish – holiday with kids.

Check out James Villas for late deals and great value villa holidays in Europe and the US.

Camping holidays

Camping is what family holidays are made of – especially if you grew up in the ‘80s like me! If you want to take your brood back to basics, and are looking for a cheap and cheerful break with lots of fun facilities, Thomson Al Fresco offers discounts on luxury mobile home packages in parks across Europe. Family favourite Keycamp has regular special offers on its European park holidays, with a range of accommodation available.

Fans of real camping should take a look at the campsite search on the Camping and Caravanning Club website to find the ideal pitch in the UK or Europe.

Activity holidays

Fresh air and adventure in a new place provides a great release and family bonding for lively sprogs and parents. A fantastic holiday for kids, an activity break will keep your children stimulated and absolutely exhausted when it comes to bedtime, so you’ll get some quality grown-up time too. G Adventures and PGL are both leading family activity holiday specialists, with destinations as diverse as Thailand, Sweden, and Iceland to the Isle of Arran and France.

Private houses and cottage stays

If you fancy a self-catering holiday in a private home, check out cottages4you who have been offering holiday properties in the UK, France, Ireland and Italy for more than 30 years. No matter how late you’ve left it, you’ll be able to grab a last-minute family getaway.

All-inclusive

An all-inclusive package can make for a fantastic summer holiday with kids. It’s a great way to keep within a holiday budget and you’ll also be able to take advantage of an array of activities and entertainment.

Thomas Cook has a wide selection of all-inclusive deals in popular destinations across the world, with last-minute bookings available.

Have you found a brilliant holiday for kids and families this year? Let us know below.

Written by Maxine Clarke.

Budget tips for a great holiday!

With four ice creams costing more than £50 in a Rome tourist spot last week, we could all do with some advice on how to holiday on a budget.

Holiday on a budget and save those pounds! Image courtesy of Images of Money under Creative Commons Licence.

In a recent Holiday Extras poll of 1,219 customers, families said they tried to save money on their holiday by pre-booking their airport hotel rooms and parking (39%), using price comparison websites (26%), going on holiday during school term-time (23%), booking family rooms (10%), and taking part in house swaps (2%). We’ve put together more holiday money-saving tips below, to help make your travels a little easier on the pocket.

Choose your destination wisely – if you haven’t already booked!

Every year the Post Office publishes research on the cost of holidaying in various countries. Here you can compare, for example, the cost of a cup of coffee, a beer, three-course meal or suncream in the 20 most popular holiday destinations. For 2013, the Algarve in Portugal and the Spanish Costas came out as the cheapest based on the price of 10 common tourist items.

Don’t fly at the weekend if possible

Scour the price comparison sites for the best deals on flights and accommodation and, if you can, avoid travelling at peak times to make the most of your holiday budget. Weigh up whether all-inclusive or self-catering will work out better value for you; and consider lower-star rated or more unusual accommodation – check TripAdvisor for other travellers’ opinions before you part with any cash.

Book your travel extras as early as possible – and look for Supersaver and Undercover deals

Always book extras like airport parking and hotels, travel insurance, and car hire in advance. Never, ever, wait until you arrive at the airport car park to pay for your holiday parking – you will always save on the gate rate by booking before you travel.

At Holiday Extras, Supersaver prices on hotels and parking are even cheaper as they are non-amendable and non-cancellable. Undercover airport hotel deals will save you cash simply because you don’t find out the name of the hotel until you have booked.

Buy your travel insurance when you book your holiday, as you will be covered for many unpredictable events that could affect your holiday plans (and money) before you even set off.

When arranging car hire, look at deals from the big names as well as the online brokers; and read all the small print carefully. Don’t spend out on over-priced extras such as excess insurance and sat nav. Instead, buy your own independently for much less and keep your holiday on budget.

Buy a prepaid currency card

Currency cards such as FairFX offer a competitive exchange rate, and do not charge for transactions or withdrawals when you’re overseas. They’re also really useful for helping you keep control of your holiday budget.

Find the most competitive credit card

Look for credit cards that won’t add transaction fees, such as Halifax’s Clarity card and the Post Office’s Platinum card. Don’t pay in sterling on a card when you’re on holiday – you’ll be charged a few pounds for the exchange every time you do this. Go to MoneySavingExpert.com for everthing you need to know about using credit cards abroad.

Buy city attraction and travel passes

In many popular destinations you can buy attraction and travel passes that will save you more and help you holiday on a budget. Check out your nearest tourist information office for details.

Venture off the well-worn tourist trail

Everyday necessities, eating out and sight-seeing will be cheaper – and often more authentic – once you leave the hordes behind. Instead of heading to a restaurant every day, try some street food or go the local supermarket and buy provisions for a picnic or home-cooked meal.

Look for free activities

Tricky to find in fiercely touristy locations, but in many places you will be able to find a free festival in a village square or an exhibition with no charge. And wherever you are, an invigorating hike, amble through town, or stroll along the beach will cost you nothing.

How do you make the most of your travel cash and save money on holiday?

Written by Maxine Clarke.

You’ll never feel like a lemon in a foreign restaurant again…at Holiday Extras we want to help with more than your airport parking. Take a look at our round-up of the best language apps that’ll help you learn a new lingo whenever you get a spare minute; or guide you triumphantly, dignity intact, through tricky language situations abroad.

Take it easy! A cheeky little language app could help in sticky situations. Image courtesy of Victoria Reay under Creative Commons Licence.

Quickstart Apps from BBC Active, £5.99
Fun and interactive app to help you get to grips fast with the basics of Spanish, French, Italian or German. It features 28 practical lessons plus a grammar guide and interactive phrasebook where you can record yourself speaking. Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

World Nomads Language Guide and audio, free
One of the best language apps combining a conversational lesson with a local, and around 40 basic phrases to keep you out of trouble on holiday. World Nomads’ guides come in 25 languages from German and Swedish to Swahili and Korean. Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

24/7 Tutor Lite versions, free
Ideal for learning or refreshing your skills in French, Italian, Spanish, Russian or German. These engaging, interactive activities include native speaker audio recording, puzzles and quizzes to help you learn useful words and phrases in your chosen language. Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Pangaea Learning – Online Language Help, free
Learn Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hebrew, Arabic or German with audio lessons based on real life travel situations, games and quizzes. You’ll soon be up to speed on useful vocab and common phrases, and you can use it offline too. Available for iPhone, iPad, Android and as a web app.

Google Translate, free
Fast and very handy, good old Google translates words and phrases between more than 60 languages. For 17 languages you can speak your phrase instead of typing it; and in 24 languages listen to your translation spoken aloud. Non-Latin script languages can be read phonetically and your translation history is also accessible offline. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

What do you think are the best language apps out there? Let us know below. 

Written by Maxine Clarke.

The sound of wedding bells becomes pretty deafening around this time of year, so we’re taking pity on the hapless best men and stressed-out maids of honour out there desperately trying to organise stag and hen weekends. Check out our no-nonsense group-planning tips, which should help you avoid tiffs, tears or traumas.

How do you organise this motley crew? Image courtesy of Atomic Jeep under Creative Commons Licence.

Do…

1 Plan well ahead – consult with the bride or groom on possible dates and style of do, and give plenty of notice to the other guests. Some people have complex work and family commitments and will have to do a lot of negotiation to get away. You’ll also need to allow for recovery time before the big day. Get names, phone numbers, email or Facebook contacts and suggest a few potential dates. Choose the one that most – and key guests – can attend.

2 Make the budget clear to everyone you’ve invited, and don’t price people out of the game if the head honcho really wants them to come. If you’d rather not have the responsibility, delegate managing the finances to one of the more sensible members of your gang. They can also hold the kitty when you’re away.

3 Take time choosing your destination and accommodation – stags and hens differ wildly on what makes a rockin’ pre-wedding break. Guys will probably want to focus on a centrally located, basic hotel in a lively city, or a big house within staggering distance of a good pub. Many gals like to make the hotel more of a destination in itself, booking into spa or pampering treatments as part of the itinerary.

With the bride or groom and other key players, consider your particular group and what will work best for you. Book this for everyone, rather than leaving it to individuals…and give clear deadlines for payment, well in advance.

4 Organise some sort of ice-breaker to get the party started. It may sound cringeworthy, but it’s likely that many of your guests won’t know each other. You could even get creative and prepare a cheeky hand-out featuring brief bios and everyone’s mobile number in case anyone goes AWOL while you’re away.

5 Be prepared for the unexpected…make sure you have access to the internet while you’re away so you can research last-minute venues or activities if necessary. And have some strategies up your sleeve for livening up a flagging do or diffusing tense situations.

Don’t…

1 Invite too many people – 10 to 15 is an ideal number to avoid splinter groups, factions and general chaos. You can arrange a cheaper, easier local night out for parents, aunts/uncles, bosses and more random guests.

2 Leave booking your flights and travel extras until the last minute – you’ll generally get lower prices if you book early, and always ask about group discounts. At Holiday Extras you can email group.bookings@holidayextras.com to arrange airport hotel bookings of more than 13 rooms and lounges for groups of eight or more. Some airport lounges will not accept hen or stag parties, so always check this out before booking.

Specialist companies who sell stag and hen packages will remove a lot of the hassle of planning a stag do and they also have access to some good deals. Try The Stag Company and sister company Hen Heaven, Red Seven Leisure, Chilli Sauce and Compare Stag & Hen.

3 Play it by ear – organise your main daily events and dinner destinations in advance and distribute the itinerary so everyone knows the plan. This should ensure your weekend doesn’t become an unstructured mess and will also help if people get split from the main group. Do remember to break up the heavy drinking with eating and other activities, and don’t peak too early!

4 Expect everyone to know what to bring – if there are dress codes, activities or accessories required, make sure you let everyone know exactly what they need to pack.

5 Leave the groom or bride to deal with problems – they’ll be stressed enough as it is. You all want to have a good time, and it’s your job to make it happen. Good luck!

Still need some help planning the perfect stag or hen party? Check out these useful websites:

I Am Staggered
Hitched
You and Your Wedding
Confetti

Written by Maxine Clarke.

Preparing for a round-the-world trip requires more forethought than booking flights and flinging a few things into a rucksack. Trust me. I’ve been there, binned the excess t-shirts, and done a sterling job of busting my budget through bad planning.

I’ve compiled five things that made a real impact on my journey. No matter who you are or where you’re headed, I’m sure these top backpackers’ tips will help you to enjoy a hitch-free trip and ensure you make the most of your precious money.

Flexible flights.

No matter how stringent your travel planning, things change. You never know what’s around the corner or who you’re going to meet, and that’s what’s so amazing about a long-term overseas trip. Amazing, except when it comes to changing the dates of your flights that you were so sure were set in stone, and now you’ve got to sacrifice a chunk of your budget to do it. Make sure you book flights with a round-the-world agent such as STA who can offer you unlimited or a set number of free date changes. Travelling is all about the unexpected, so don’t let it hinder your journey.

Pick the right plastic. It makes cents.

I spent a good year scrimping and saving for my trip, and a fair proportion of it choosing which cards to take with me. Most banks and building societies will charge you each time you draw money from an ATM – sometimes as much as £3 – as well as adding a fee to overseas transactions. In many south-east Asian countries, they also slap on an extra withdrawal fee – usually around £3 – on top of your own bank’s charge. Your hard-earned savings will slowly dwindle away on, let’s face it, helping to keep those bankers’ accounts nice and flush.

Norwich & Peterborough building society offers free worldwide withdrawals and transactions with its Gold Light and Gold Classic accounts. You could also opt for a pre-paid currency card – good ones are FairFX and Caxton FX – where you top up as you go and can avoid withdrawal and transaction charges.

It’s probably not sensible to rely solely on a credit card, but it’s an extra cushion if you find yourself in a sticky situation. Halifax’s Clarity card won’t charge you for foreign transactions, nor will the Post Office’s Platinum card. Don’t forget to apply for new accounts well in advance of your leaving date – it will take most companies around three weeks to process an application and send out your card/s.

Backpack: your best friend. Or your enemy, if you fail to choose wisely.

You wouldn’t buy a house in an area you didn’t like, would you? Essentially, your rucksack is the closest thing to home during your trip – so it’s mightily important that you do your research and buy informed. Head down to your local camping shop and get a feel for the style and brand of backpack you’d like, even if you plan to buy it online. Your worldly possessions will be hauled around with you for miles – in blistering heat and over all types of terrain – so spend that little bit extra and make sure it’s sturdy, comfortable and the right size for the job. I went for a Gelert, and it’s still going strong now.

Ross makes it up Mount Luxmore, New Zealand in his sensible shoes

Fitting footwear.

Yeah, dead simple. But you really will live and die in those trainers/sandals/flip flops/boots. I thought I’d packed the perfect selection: trainers, flip flops and a pair of Birkenstocks. When my former manager asked me if I was taking my walking shoes, I shrugged it off naively. I only discovered when I was trekking up a mountain in the jungle – and you’ll do a lot of walking if you plan to explore properly – that my meagre pair of plimsolls weren’t up to the job. And I had the blisters and bloodied feet to prove it. I eventually forked out on a pair of hiking boots, which would’ve cost a lot less back home, and my feet were as happy as I was. My wallet, not so much.

Invest in a tablet PC or iPad.

It may seem like an unnecessary outlay when you’re working hard to top up your savings, but I really couldn’t have lived without my iPad. I bought it originally to keep in touch with family and friends via social media and Skype (and make them suitably jealous) while I was gallivanting around the globe. It turned out to be invaluable in a whole host of other situations, too.

Almost everywhere – and I mean everywhere – has wifi, often free. So you’ll make good use of your device when you want to keep track of your money situation – ATMs in many countries don’t display your balance … research your next destination … book yourself a bed for the night –  and one without bugs, thanks to TripAdvisor … edit and upload your snaps to the web … keep reading material in one handy place with apps like Kindle or Kobo … blog about your adventures … the list goes on …

This guest post was written by travel blogger Ross Barnard. Check out his own blog, Little Ross on a Big Adventure, to follow his journey around the world.

Written by Guest Blogger.

If you’re not inspired by snoozing on a beach this year, maybe it’s time to consider a special interest holiday. Ideal when you’re travelling solo, with a friend or as a couple, this type of holiday will help you fill your days developing a hobby or interest, and meeting like-minded people. Take a look at our top ten activity breaks, and you could be out there doing it in a few months.

Your boots are made for walking…image courtesy of Blair Cook under Creative Commons Licence.

Adventure
You might want to hop on a horse and get a taste of the wild west, hike through a South American jungle or conquer a Nepalese mountain. Award-winning adventure specialists G Adventures are dedicated to changing your life, so you could be exploring Antarctica, trucking across Africa or trekking in the Dolomites before you know it. They offer a range of family adventure holidays too. Fill your all-terrain boots!

Sport
Pick a sport and there’ll be a specialist holiday with your name on it, from sailing, kite surfing and scuba diving to golf, cycling or even triathlon. Explore organises cycling holidays around the world.

Food
Quite fantastically, you can spend your entire holiday either cooking or sampling food from your chosen culinary destination. Long, leisurely meals accompanied by good wine are the order of the day. Take a look at Seasoned Travel.

Nature
Whether its butterflies or bears, wolves or wild flowers that tickle your fancy, you can dedicate your break to spotting and tracking your favourite member of the natural world. Get going with Nature Trek.

Yoga
If your mind, body and soul are in need of some TLC, a yoga retreat could provide the break you need. A specialist yoga holiday will generally involve daily classes led by experienced teachers in a beautiful and tranquil setting; with the added attractions of stylish accommodation and delicious, healthy food. Destination Yoga are award-winning specialists.

Spa
Maybe a yoga break is too much for you, and you feel you deserve a week or two of full-on pampering in a beach paradise. And why not? You couldn’t fail to come back refreshed and glowing after enjoying various passive activities in the fresh air and sunshine: massages, Reiki, hydrotherapy, specialist spa treatments…Where do I book? Try Wellbeing Escapes.

Photography
For those with a creative eye, a photography holiday provides a fantastic opportunity to hone your skills in an inspiring location. Some providers combine photography with another passion such as cookery or even surfing. You’ll usually be taught in a small group led by an experienced tutor, often a professional photographer. GoLearnTo.com offers a wide range of learning holidays.

Railway
Forget stained seats and overcrowded carriages, travelling by rail can be an epic adventure. Escorted railway tours across North America, Europe and Russia are extremely popular, while some operators will create a tailor-made itinerary for you. Great Rail Journeys has been organising rail holidays for more than 30 years.

Walking
How about stretching your legs and discovering a new part of the great outdoors at the same time? You can pretty much ramble, hike or trek across the globe, in good company too. The best walking holiday providers offer a choice of walking grades within the same trip, depending on whether you’re feeling gentle or more extreme. Check out Ramblers Worldwide Holidays.

Language
The majority of British travellers could probably do with some help when it comes to speaking the lingo. It is possible to devote your entire holiday to learning a new language; and by immersing yourself in the culture, probably much more effective than that tatty phrasebook. Have a look at Responsible Travel.

Do you have any special interest holiday recommendations? Share them with us below.

Written by Maxine Clarke.

With many of us mums and dads ourselves at Holiday Extras, we know about the ways of the little people, and the not-so-little ones too. From painful personal experience, we can understand the amazing highs and inevitable lows of family holidays. Happily there are ways to avoid total family meltdown when you embark on your long-awaited trip.

Travelling with kids isn’t always fun and games…Image courtesy of Daquella Manera under Creative Commons licence.

Canny planning
It may sound obvious, but spend some valuable time researching family-friendly destinations and accommodation before you book. We don’t all head for all-inclusive resorts with children’s clubs, so if you prefer a more tailor-made stay, make sure that your villa, hotel, or apartment is geared up for the rigours of family life. Have a look at specialist sites such as Tots to Travel and Baby-friendly Boltholes, particularly if you have very young children.

Don’t just assume that local restaurants will provide high chairs and a healthy kids’ menu, check it out first. And highlight a few activities your brood might enjoy in the region before you go – not all holiday villas will offer local tourist information in English.

If you’re going to be self-catering it’s also worth finding out where the local supermarkets are before you set off. A late night arrival with no basic provisions will not fill everyone with holiday cheer. Many self-catering providers offer a welcome pack – say yes to this even if you don’t think you’ll need it.

Safety in numbers – travel with friends or family
This isn’t always practical, but if you have friends or family with children of similar ages who get on, a whole raft of common holiday issues can be avoided. It’s brilliant how much fun little ones can have on the flight, exploring their temporary home, sharing a room, visiting new places, and eating different foods when they have a partner in crime or two – and how draining they can be when they are tired of travelling, bored of their own family and missing their own things. Be prepared for disputes though!

The grown-ups may well appreciate some varied adult company during the evenings too, and there may even be the possibility of a babysitter and the rare opportunity to venture out after dark.

Thank you iPad
A world of family entertainment is at your fingertips with Apple’s ubiquitous tablet (or an alternative brand of course). It’s not cheap but may well prove a treasured long-term investment, if you don’t already own one. Fully loaded with Peppa Pig, Alvin and the Chipmunks, music and games galore, it is possible to entertain an almost two-year old and a five-year old for at least two hours on a plane – tried and tested!

And during your holiday this sort of device can be a life-saver, whether dealing with determined early risers or reluctant restaurant diners. It’s not bad for entertaining the big people either.

Old school activities
It’s not all about technology; games you remember from your childhood still work today. I-spy, count the red cars, ten green bottles, kids love them. You might be losing the will to live after the tenth round of I-spy, but it’s easier to bear than Justin Fletcher’s greatest hits on repeat. Books, small toys from home, and a drawing pad and some pens will always come in handy on holiday, as will some well-timed treats.

Water and snacks – don’t get caught without them, ever!
Despite being an obsessively well-organised parent at home, last summer I made the classic error of ending up with no water or snacks late at night at a car hire office near Malaga airport. Something to note, this does not make sweaty, tired, hungry children happy or nice. No one was happy or nice by the time we reached our villa two hours later, but thankfully the owners had provided an amazingly generous welcome pack which filled the fridge for days.

How do you keep everyone sane during your family travels? Share your top tips for a harmonious holiday with us…

Written by Maxine Clarke.

Gadgets aren’t just for geeks, especially when you’re travelling. From hot-footing it across the airport to capturing your memorable moments, we’ve got five top devices you should probably stick on your holiday shopping list.

Samsonite micro-scooter cabin bag, £249.95
The latest version of the Micro 3 in 1 suitcase scooter has an extendable handle making it easy to use no matter what your height. It weighs 5kg with a capacity of 26 litres, and is approved as hand luggage by most airlines. If you’re tempted, you could win one in our Holiday Extras 30 Years competition. You’ll never find yourself huffing and puffing across departures again.

Tumi Travel Adaptor, £50
This nifty adaptor features four different plug types, so you can use it in a whopping 150 countries. It’s suitable for plugging in a range of ‘non-grounded’ devices, including MP3 players, digital cameras, mobile phones and travel speakers.

iPad or iPad mini, from £269
The ubiquitous tablet is a true travel hero, from keeping little ones entertained during the journey to checking out restaurants or keeping in touch when you’ve reached your destination. It’s also super-light and looks beautiful.

Kindle Paperwhite 3G, £169
The Kindle is looking pretty appealing too these days, even to a devoted paper-lover. Load up with more reading than you could ever get through, without having to sacrifice your spare underpants or sandals. The Paperwhite 3G even features free unlimited 3G web browsing overseas.

Olympus Tough TG-1, £315
A tough cookie of a compact camera, the Olympus TG-1 incorporates a metal body and shock-absorbing system. It works well in dark as well as light conditions, with a fast operating speed so you won’t miss a shot. It also features built-in global GPS which automatically records your location, great for tracking your travels.

What are your favourite travel gadgets? Share them below.

Written by Maxine Clarke.

Anyone who has ever travelled with a child knows how challenging it can be. Just getting out of the house on a normal day can be fraught with tears and trauma (mine), so the potential for disaster when you’re trying to leave the country is huge. Thankfully there are some great products out there designed to help make long journeys easier for little travellers, and their mummies and daddies too.

So we’ve been road-testing a Freddie the Fire Engine Trunki during the school holidays…

Trunki history

Back in the late 1990s, a lovely man called Rob Lewis came to the rescue of stressed parents across the globe and invented the Trunki. Featured on the BBC show Dragons’ Den in 2006, the company has now sold more than 1.4 million of the cute cases worldwide and developed a host of other handy children’s holiday accessories.

Fun and sturdy

The packaging was frantically ripped off Freddie the Fire Engine when he arrived, not only by the almost 3-year-old but pretty manically by the 6-year-old too. One of the 10 Trunki characters available, Freddie is red with yellow and blue stripes and a silver ladder detail on the top. He also features blue horns for holding on. It’s fair to say he doesn’t really look like a fire engine (“no fashing gites” according to the little one), and the foam firefighter helmet is a bit flimsy, but the fact that you can sit on him makes up for any shortfalls.

My boys have given Freddie a tough ride at home and on our travels, and so far he’s holding up well. He’s made of durable plastic and both can easily hurtle around on him. The youngest prefers to push him along, but will also be towed when necessary. I have found the strap and locks a bit fiddly, but it’s probably a good thing that they’re not too accessible for chubby little hands.

Practical features

The Trunki is designed to be used as hand luggage – weighing just 1.7kg by itself and measuring 46 x 20.5 x 31cm. It’s perfect for filling with activities to relieve the boredom of the drive to the airport and hanging around departures, as well as the flight itself. It’s worth checking with your airline on their baggage rules, but most will let a Trunki onboard. There’s space for some spare clothes as well as toys and books, and a handy little pouch – which does fly off if over-filled with Hot Wheels cars.

The tow strap attaches as a shoulder strap when you need to hold your tot or move quickly through the airport, and it also has two smaller carry handles for easy lifting. A Trunki will give your little ones some independence and save your strength – they’d much rather be cruising around on their own wheels than be carried by you. It’s also very hard to lose a toddler riding a small fire engine or the Gruffalo.

And once you’ve arrived at your destination, you’ve now got a ride-on which is always a good thing when small people are around.

How much use will I get out of this?

The Trunki is aimed at children aged between three and six years, and is not recommended for loads over 50kg. Despite laughing in the face of CBeebies, my bigger boy loves Freddie as much as any toddler would. Although he would prefer a Skylander-themed case.

We will use our Trunki in the house, for sleep-overs and long drives in the UK, as well as overseas trips. It has definitely made travel easier for us.

Where do I get one?

If you’re feeling lucky today, we are giving away three Trunki suitcases in the first of our Holiday Extras 30 Years competitions. Make sure you enter by April 12, 2013.

Freddie the Fire Engine is also available for £37.99 from the Trunki website, along with a range of tantrum-busting kids’ travel accessories.

Have you got a Trunki or another fantastic kids’ travel product you want to recommend?

Written by Maxine Clarke.

As family, work and financial commitments lessen, a new generation of adventure-hungry tourists hits the travel trail. In 2011, Brits aged 65-plus were among the busiest travellers, with 28% taking two or more overseas breaks a year compared to 19% of all holidaymakers.* And a 2012 survey by Colletts Travel found that 40% of over-50s say they have become more adventurous with their holidays as they have got older.

Image courtesy of michaeljohnbutton under Creative Commons licence.

If you’re reaching this point in your life and want to make the most of your new found freedom, you might appreciate these top tips for preparing for a hassle-free holiday.

You’re ready…

1 Get online to research the best deals and up to date travel information. Whether you’re a computer whizz or beginner, once you get going you’ll discover a whole world of flights, hotels, packages, destinations, reviews, tips and guides. When you’re armed with all your research, you can still visit your local travel agent if you prefer to talk face to face.

2 If you haven’t been globetrotting for a while, consider travelling with a 50-plus specialist holiday provider such as Saga.

3 Cruise, rail and coach breaks are all very popular with older travellers who prefer to holiday as part of a group. The benefits are an organised itinerary, including meals and excursions, and the chance to make lots of new friends – a good way to dip your toe into travel if you haven’t done it for a while.

4 Increasingly, older travellers are taking the opportunity to indulge in the backpacker-style independent travel they may have missed out on when they were younger. If you’re feeling adventurous, what a fantastic time to explore the world – you’ve racked up some great life experience and you’ve probably got enough cash to avoid the less desirable accommodation.

STA Travel and Trailfinders are the classic round-the-world specialists; and Lonely Planet will give you plenty of inspiration. There are also many niche travel companies offering specialist adventure holidays for the over-50s.

5 When you’re considering the best time to go away, pass on peak travel periods and school holidays if you want to reduce the cost and avoid the crowds. The months of April, May, September and October are very pleasant times for European travel, and winter sun is always a tempting option if you’re looking further afield.

6 Don’t forget travel insurance – specialist policies such as Latitude will provide cover at a very reasonable price if you are aged 50 to 85 or have pre-existing medical conditions.

7 If you don’t do so already, take up a bit of walking or other light exercise to limber up for the journey and your holiday. It’s amazing how tiring travel can be, particularly if you’re not usually very active.

Set…

8 When the time comes, pack light! You don’t want to be hauling unnecessary kilos around the world. Check with your airline and the airport on the latest baggage limits and restrictions so there are no nasty surprises at check-in. Think about investing in an e-reader if you’re a holiday bookworm.

9 If you are on medication, ensure that you have enough supplies for the duration of your stay (and extra for any delays) plus the correct paperwork. Keep your medication in the original packaging and find out what it is called in your destination in case of emergencies. Take a look at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website to confirm that your medicines are not illegal in the country you are visiting.

If you will need assistance due to mobility problems or medical issues, contact your tour operator / airline and accommodation in advance. The ABTA website has a very useful checklist for disabled and less mobile passengers.

10 Check in online and select seating before travelling to get the most comfortable seats available on your flight. Plan your journey to the airport a few days before departure, and gather all your booking confirmations and itineraries in an organised manner!

You’re off!

11 On your day of travel, dress in comfortable clothing and check for any delays and disruption on the roads. Allow plenty of time for the drive so you don’t arrive at the airport headless-chicken-style.

12 Consider treating yourself to Meet & Greet parking and an airport lounge to escape the added stresses of parking and the hectic departures hall. These may seem like luxuries, but they can be very affordable.

13 Once you’re nicely nestled in your seat, sit back and relax. For the most enjoyable flight, indulge in a few stretches and walks, and don’t drink too much! Your journey has just begun…

*Mintel Research Consultancy report on behalf of Travelsphere in 2012

Useful links
Silver Travel Advisor
Laterlife
TripAdvisor
Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Have you discovered a whole new world of travel as you’ve got older? Share your experiences with us below.

Written by Maxine Clarke.