Family activity & adventure holidays – PAGE 2

Tips for enjoying your family activity or adventure trip:

Be it a DIY trip or one with a family activity holiday provider these tips could help make your trip easier and more enjoyable, some will apply, some will not – please take your pick.

• If they've helped choose the adventure they'll look forward to it all the more, so get the whole family, including even the youngest, involved in the planning stages. Let them have a say in what activities are included and what countries/areas are visited.

• If you're on a observation type holiday (e.g. bird watching, safaris or even a city sightseeing tour) give each child their own binoculars (needn't be expensive ones) or a monocular (which some kids find easier). It's amazing how a pair of binoculars can keep a youngster occupied on other parts of the trip too (waiting at the airport, on the train, in the museum ...).

• A cheap digital camera for each child is a good idea too. Combine that with a travel journal/scrapbook and encourage them to record the whole holiday.

• If the trip involves camping, and it's their first time, do a test run in the garden or backyard before you go, they'll get an idea of what it's all about and you'll be able to see if there's anything else you need to pack to keep them happy.

• Waterproof dry bags are a great way to pack, even if you're not doing water based activity. You can use them to organise the family gear (they usually come ready 'colour coded' in bright colours) and they'll keep things dry in wet weather. And if you are doing stuff on the water you can use them to store your spare gear or sandwiches.

• A baseball cap makes a great (and 'cool') sunhat, and it can be worn under a helmet (kayaking, climbing, cycling, ...) for extra sun protection, or for kids who refuse to wear sunglasses.

• And speaking of glasses, if they wear them then a back-up pair is a good idea on an activity trip.

• Hydration is important whatever the activity, particularly for kids and particularly if you're in a warmer climate, at a higher altitude, doing more activity than at home, or if you're eight years old and are getting both excited and a little anxious at doing your first abseil.

A responsible family activity holiday company will provide water, but take your own bottles just in case. Use proper rigid water bottles rather than the ones you get in the supermarket (which are prone to splitting on an active trip). Check with your tour provider about safety, if the local tap water isn't safe, water may have to be purchased or the tour company may provide boiled or filtered water for guests.

• Don't forget the sunscreen and if you're on a water based activity holiday remember to keep applying it, or use a water-repellent version. Water reflects the sunlight and makes its effects more intense; the same goes for snow and even rock faces, so a good rule is to just keep slapping it on. For kids with sensitive skin sun-protective clothing (UPF rated) is worth considering too.

• And then there are song sheets and sock puppets, neither take up much space and both can provide hours of entertainment round the camp fire, or break the ice with the locals when visiting strange lands.

Read our tips on how to select a family activity holiday here»