Holiday parks a great family accommodation option

A holiday park or a holiday village is a great family friendly holiday centre with on-site accommodation, entertainment, activities and facilities for all the family. It generally has everything you need for a family friendly holiday all in one place. Typical on-site activities are swimming, tennis, amusements, minigolf and sometimes even a spa. Having everything together can be a real bonus although it can also become a little overwhelming.

Holiday parks and holiday villages on a very well set up with activities for children of all ages. Many of the activities are free of charge and some sports coaching programmes are available.

Accommodation is usually family friendly and is usually in self-catering apartments or villas. In some cases you can stay in rooms which include breakfast.

Top tips for selecting your holiday park or a holiday village

Consider whether a holiday park is the right thing for you and your family. Holiday parks can be fantastic for those with children from about three upwards because of the large amount of activities available but if you have a young baby it is unlikely to be your first choice.

It is worth checking to see what is included in the holiday price and what the extras are. This can certainly affect the price of your holiday. While some holiday parks provide bed linen, towels, hair dryers and toiletries however, some others don't and you may need to hire them. It is generally a case of getting what you pay for. Some holiday parks and villages grade their family accommodation with the larger and more expensive rooms and apartments having facilities such as TVs and DVD players, outdoor space and balconies.

Pros of family holiday parks and villages

Lots of family friendly entertainment and things to do and see for the kids.

Great value for money but you do get what you pay for as standards vary.

Lots of family friendly facilities including entertainment, restaurants and accommodation on-site.

Cons of family holiday parks and villages

The extras can certainly add up and you should check what is and what is not included.

The standard of accommodation can vary.

Can be difficult to find healthy eating options for children and adults alike.

Facilities for babies may vary.

It can be a bit overwhelming and “too much” and you need to be able to get away from it all.

Further information on holiday parks and holiday villages

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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