A family affair

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Dubai Summer Surprises 2008 promises ‘Tens of Surprises’.

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Ireland offers plenty of activities to keep kids happy.

With many family-friendly products on the market, it's not hard to find a holiday that keeps mum, dad and the kids happy, says Selina Denman.

With colourful festivals, mammoth theme parks, lively kids clubs and exciting wildlife experiences on offer, junior jet-setters have never had it so good - and selling a family holiday has never been so straightforward.

For Etihad Holidays, the "big five" family destinations are Geneva, London, Paris, Malaysia and Thailand, says general manager, Tony Gauci.

He predicts that Malaysia's diversity will make it Etihad Holidays' top seller for 2008.

"Malaysia has some of the best shopping centres in the world; it's safe and attractions and entertainment facilities are easily accessible. For ex-pats there are also the family resorts, which are almost destinations in their own right," he explains.

Verena Hartmann, senior product development executive at Dubai's Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays, is witnessing high demand for mountain excursions in Austria and Switzerland, sightseeing and shopping in the UK and theme parks in France and Germany. The Asian stalwarts of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are also performing well, she notes.

Closer to home, a number of regional destinations are proving their mettle with both local and ex-pat families. Gauci anticipates that regional travel will become more popular as families take a greater number of shorter holidays during the year, as opposed to the traditional three-week-long hiatus.

"Professionals tend not to take long holidays anymore. It is becoming more difficult to leave your office for three weeks. Instead, they take a lot of shorter breaks - a week here and a week there. And if you are taking shorter breaks, you don't necessarily want to spend 14 hours flying, so anywhere within a four-hour flying range is going to benefit.

"Therefore, I see the GCC and the Middle East being big growth markets for Etihad Holidays."

The tour operator has launched a major promotion encouraging ex-pats living in the UAE to take advantage of their time in the Middle East by visiting regional destinations such as Oman, Jordan and Egypt.

Research by Afkar Marketing Company, Oman Tourism's representative in the GCC, confirms that many families are choosing to take either an additional break in the region before or after their main, long-haul holiday, or are replacing the long-haul trip with a number of shorter, regional breaks.

There is also a growing trend of families wanting to ‘travel around' together, with cruise and rail holidays emerging as popular options, says John Flower, product manager at Alpha Holidays Dubai.

"Cruise sales have skyrocketed in recent times and the interest has been from families," he explains. And there are a whole host of other family options to consider, Flower insists.

"One that I think is often overlooked is Ireland. And to spread the wings a little further, Australia and New Zealand should be on everyone's agenda. The two destinations complement each other and cater extremely well to families. Another that I think all families should consider, if for no other reason than to give the kids an education and an experience of a lifetime, is a game reserve in Africa."

The Middle East

Dubai: Now in its 11th year, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is promising ‘Tens of Surprises' with a new activity being introduced every other day for the duration of the 65-day shopping and family entertainment extravaganza. Festivities end on August 22.

Emirates Airline has launched DSS packages with prices starting from as little as AED 228 ($62) per person. Visitors can choose from 24 hotels for a minimum of three nights. Packages include meet-and-assist at Dubai International Airport, an Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack and chauffeur-driven airport transfers.

Oman: Families seeking respite from the heat should head to Salalah for the monsoon season. The Salalah Tourism Festival is taking place from July 15 to August 31, with "plenty of activities planned for children, from natural wonders such as walking in the rainy mist in the mountains and marvelling at the natural waterfalls, to concerts, theatre productions and craft activities", says Mark Senior, director of Afkar Marketing.

Those looking for soft adventure experiences should visit Al Hoota Cave, trek along mountain trails or head down to the sea for snorkelling, diving, deep sea fishing, boat trips and dolphin watching. Alternatively, families can head to Ras al Hadd, where giant turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The area's Ras Al Jinz project was inaugurated in June and features a five-star lodge as well as educational and leisure facilities.

Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat is offering GCC residents a Family Fun package for the summer months.

The offer includes one night at either the Al Waha or Al Bandar hotel with the option of a second room or a second night at half the price.

Europe

Germany: The resort town of Ruhpolding in upper Bavaria is home to its own amusement park, Germany's first wave pool and the Primal Ocean, an open-air, salt-water pool.

In winter, visitors have four skiing areas, winter hiking paths, a toboggan run and an indoor ice arena at their disposal.

Located in Guenzburg, South Germany, Legoland offers more than 50 attractions in eight themed areas. Kids can see how Lego blocks are produced in The Legoland factory or visit Miniland, where more than 50 million blocks were used to build miniature replicas of famous cities.

A five-hour train ride from Munich and home to nine rollercoasters, Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany. Alpha Holidays is offering a three-night package to the park, with a lead in price of AED 1900 ($517) per person, based on a twin share in a four-star hotel. This includes daily buffet breakfast with Euro Mouse and her friends, one full day VIP theme park ticket per overnight and free use of the pool, sauna and wellness facilities.

The Uk: Families heading to London can book a deluxe room at Rocco Forte's Brown's Hotel and receive another interconnecting or adjacent deluxe room for free. Prices for the Family Affair package start from £499 ($981) for up to two adults and two children per night, including continental breakfast. Kids even receive a complimentary copy of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, which was originally written in one of the hotel's suites.

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