I’m always amazed at how much you can cram into a micro-adventure, or how far you can get in five days, so try spreading your wings (if not your wallet) a little further this spring. Here are my tips for maxing out the best holidays to fit the time available.
By Amanda Statham
May Bank Holiday (three days)
Bank Holiday Mondays fall on 5 May and 26 May this year, meaning you’ve got two chances to create a three-day adventure. Make them count.
Stargazers’ Retreat, Isle of Wight
How stunning is this beautifully-designed glamping yurt on the southerly tip of the Isle of Wight? You get to sleep in a king-sized bed, while little ones climb a ladder to reach three single beds on a mezzanine level where they can fall asleep gazing at the stars. It might look rustic, but this yurt comes with a wood-burner to keep you toasty at night, a cute kitchen for self-catering and bathroom with shower and dome ceiling. There’s even an al fresco bathtub if you want to bathe in nature, and spa treatments available. It’s camping, but not as we know it. Catch the Wightlink ferry Friday, sail back Monday.
Three nights over May Bank Holiday (2-5 May) from £1,015.40 with Classic Cottages.
High Life, Wales
If you’re tired of scrolling through endless self-catering cottages, how about spicing things up with a narrow boat break instead? Think of it as a holiday cottage on the move, as these boats come equipped with beds, kitchens and bathrooms. Black Prince Holidays has a new High Life short break in Wales ideal for active families, which takes you over two aqueducts in the stunning Dee Valley - jaw-dropping enough to even impress a teen. You’ll cover 37 miles and along the way see Ellesmere Sculpture Trail, Chirk Castle and Wood Lane Nature Reserve. It’s a great holiday choice for canal boat first-timers and you’re given a free coaching session including steering and stopping (handy!) before gliding away.
Three nights over May Bank Holiday from £1,024 for a family of four with Black Prince.
May Half Term (one week)
This one-week, mid-term break in May is holiday gold. Prices haven’t yet soared to summer holiday levels of eye-wateringly expensive and the weather’s warming up at home and abroad.
Moorhouse Farm, Somerset
If you’re craving time off screens in the open air, what could be better than a working farm holiday? Moorhouse Farm is set in 150 acres of farmland near Glastonbury in a nature conservation area. Perfect for younger kids, this two-bedroom cottage has a large garden with Wendy house and wooden fort, but little ones can also gain a bit of independence by roaming the farm, feeding chickens, collecting eggs and meeting a pig (called Pepper!) and other animals in Pets’ Corner. Bikes and a barbecue make this a dream destination for all ages.
Seven nights in May from £565 with Holiday Cottages.
Verdura Resort, Sicily
May’s a wonderful time to visit Sicily with kids: warm (rather than scorching hot) weather, fewer crowds, plus uplifting blue skies. Family-friendly Verdura Resort is my pick of the island’s accommodation, thanks to its 230 hectares of coastland, two-tiered swimming pool and awesome Verduland Kids’ Club, with its own pool, plus a dedicated teen programme. While the kids are learning how to make pizza, going on a treasure hunt or snorkelling, you can hit the Verdura Spa (treatment rooms, four thalassotherapy pools, infrared saunas).
Seven nights from £3,944 for a family of three including half-board, flights and private transfers with Sardatur Holidays.
Les Oliviers, France
How does a week in Provence sound this May half-term? I’ve found a pretty three-bedroom villa that’s a ten-minute stroll from restaurants and shops in the historic hilltop town of Gordes. It’s surrounded by countryside and comes with a HEATED pool. If the kids need more, there’s loads to do in the area, including kayaking at L’Ile sur La Sorgue, a high ropes course at Fontaine de Vaucluse and a weekly market at Gordes where they can test their French vocab buying baguettes and fresh fruit.
Seven nights at Les Oliviers in May costs from £3,895 with Simpson Travel.
Easter (two weeks)
You’ve got up to two weeks of family time to fill, and what better way to spend it than a far-flung bucket list break with the whole team?
Siyam World Maldives
Thought the Maldives were only for couples? Think again, because five-star Siyam World Maldives makes a wonderful escape for all the family. From water pavilions with slides to the complimentary kids’ club for children aged 4-12, it’s a paradise for all ages. Explore the lagoon and spot the colourful cast from Finding Nemo, go on a daily complimentary snorkelling safari and watch the sun set from a hammock for four. And there’s no need to worry about picky eaters - with eleven restaurants on site there’s something for everyone. And did I mention the Theo Walcott football training camp this Easter? Yep, this Maldives hideaway even has its own football academy. Paradise indeed.
Seven nights from £2,349pp with Affordable Luxury Travel.
Big Sky Adventure, USA
You’ve got the time to really relax and explore on this epic family ÷self-drive adventure across America’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. After picking up your SUV in Salt Lake City, it’s on to Jackson Hole where you can fill your boots with outdoor activities including rafting, riding, biking and hiking. Next you’ll head to Yellowstone, home to hot springs, geysers and dramatic canyons, before hitting the road again and reaching Grand Teton, where herds of bison, moose and elk roam and the whole family can raft down the Snake River. The journey ends at Park City, where kids (okay, adults) can pretend they’re in a Western movie in the historic main streets, with shops and bars dating back to the 1800s.
Nine nights from £1,747pp including flights with American Sky.
Rainforest & Beach, Borneo
Borneo? This last one might be a little on the wild side, but bear with me because it’s a brilliant destination for older kids and teens. Nature nuts, wildlife lovers and eco-conscious explorers are all going to love this tour, which takes in Danum Valley, home to orang-utans and gibbons, boat trips along the Kinabatangan River, visits to tribal villages and stays in rainforest lodges deep in the jungle. There’s also time to chill out on white sand beaches and go snorkelling in the warm waters surrounding Kota Kinabalu.
Eleven days From £4,190pp with Selective Asia.