| The process of choosing and booking a family | | | | "not so new". |
| summer holiday can be complicated. When children are | | | | Sailing tuition: The operators offer a range of tuition for |
| small they are more likely to be delighted just to be | | | | people wanting to take up new activities (particularly |
| going on holiday but as the teenage years approach | | | | sailing). People can learn sailing skills in a superb, safe, |
| children expect to have their views taken into account: | | | | "warm water" environment. |
| and this is where the trouble can start! | | | | "Informal" group training or |
| Everybody wants something different: | | | | “clinics” are usually provided free of |
| For teenage children one of the key things they often | | | | charge at different times during a weeks holiday but |
| want on holiday is to be surrounded by children of | | | | for more formal RYA training specific places need to |
| roughly their own age who they get on with and make | | | | be booked at the time of booking the holiday. |
| friends. | | | | Kids clubs: Using the term "kids clubs" does |
| For other people in the family its “does the | | | | not really do justice to what is on offer. The operators |
| holiday have potential for some serious | | | | typically split the age groups down into three or four |
| relaxation"? For others who might get a bit bored | | | | age groups and importantly, teenagers are |
| lying by the pool other things that will keep them busy | | | | "grouped together" and provided with just |
| are required (sports and other activities in particular). | | | | enough guidance and support to make sure they have |
| So, how do you find a holiday that can possibly satisfy | | | | a great time and mix well but are not treated as |
| such a diverse range of requirements? One category | | | | "children". Also, with so many things to do at |
| of holiday that has the potential to do this extremely | | | | the clubs that teenagers can participate in as a group, |
| effectively but which is in some ways is not particularly | | | | means all the ingredients are there for a fantastic |
| well known, is the Beach Club holiday. There are a | | | | holiday. For the younger age groups there is always a |
| number of suppliers of these types of holiday but they | | | | level of appropriate support and supervision to make |
| all offer such a variety of things to do, all based at one | | | | sure they have a great time as well. For children under |
| hotel-style beach location, that everybody's needs are | | | | two there is usually a charge whereas clubs the other |
| catered for. | | | | age groups are usually free. |
| Things the main providers make sure they include are: | | | | Relaxing: Beach Clubs by definition are based right |
| Pleasant accommodation: Usually not | | | | beside a beach which will have plenty of sun loungers |
| "five-star" but certainly of a good standard. | | | | for those that want to watch the world go by and |
| Normal hotel standards apply in terms of daily cleaning | | | | they nearly all have one or two swimming pools with |
| but things like a mini bars and cable TV tend to be a | | | | plenty of space and for those that prefer freshwater |
| rarity. | | | | swimming. |
| A good standard of food and plenty of it: The Beach | | | | Other activities: Most Beach Clubs also have a range |
| club operators often have quite a confusing board | | | | of mountain bikes and a guide for (early morning!) rides |
| basis but its normally the equivalent of a hotel’s | | | | on local trails plus waterskiing, tennis, beauty spas and |
| "half board" with the difference being that is | | | | gymnasiums. The mountain bikes are usually |
| that the main meal of the day is sometimes at | | | | "hard tails” from brands like Specialized, |
| lunchtime and sometimes an evening meal. There are | | | | Trek and Orange although some clubs do have the full |
| almost always snacks available. | | | | suspension bikes as well. |
| A good range of water-sports equipment: This includes | | | | In summary, a Beach Club activity holiday offers the |
| canoes, windsurfers and sailing dinghies. The quality of | | | | choice and variety that makes them one of the best |
| water-sports equipment is usually excellent but as the | | | | options for keeping any family or small group with a |
| holiday operators cannot afford to renew their boats | | | | diverse range of holiday requirements happy. |
| every year they are usually a mix of new and | | | | |