Where to take the family for a splendid Easter
Sunny escape in the south of France
Les Jardins de Saint Benoit is a beautiful riverside estate in the Languedoc region of the South of France, with vineyards, olive groves and renovated medieval gardens. This Easter break children aged four to 16 can enjoy the daily Kids Club, with activities that get them closer to nature such as fishing, raft-building, swimming, cycling and arts and crafts. There’s also a petting farm, orchard and vegetable garden for them to get stuck into. Stay 7 nights at Les Jardins de Saint Benoit in a two bedroom village house from £1,150 per week. To book, call 0871 218 7066 or visit www.garrigaeresorts.com.
Family luxury in the Alps
Take the whole family to enjoy the last of the season’s snow at the opulent Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St Moritz. As well as skiing, there’s a Kids Club to entertain the little’uns while parents get some peace in the hotel’s brand new spa, and the whole family can enjoy the splendid swimming pool – surrounded by huge windows with dramatic alpine views. Easter Sunday Brunch will be packed with kid-friendly goodies. Five night package (31 March-5th April), including two set-dinners, exclusive Good Friday Dinner and Easter Sunday Brunch, plus ski-passes, CHF4,440 (£2,700) per double room. To book, visit www.badruttspalace.com.
Spain’s new Funlandia
La Manga Club in the Murcia region of south-east Spain is launching a new family programme this Easter called “Funlandia”, including sports coaching and matches, karaoke disco sessions, and kids’ dinners and movie nights. There’s also family sports days with sack races and tug-of-wars. The resort’s five star hotel is also offering complimentary accommodation for kids under 12 when sharing their parent’s room, and free meals for kids under five. A four night stay over Easter weekend, from 1-5 April, starts from €568, based on two adults and one child sharing a King Guestroom in the Hotel. To book, visit www.lamangaclub.com.
Luxury Welsh cottages at a discount
The self-catering cottages run by Welsh operator Sheepskin are beautifully rustic affairs. Think ancient brickwork, roaring log fires and glorious seclusion – though you get all your contemporary designer comforts too. Dotted around rural Wales, they provide a base to explore the great outdoors with the family, and to that end Sheepskin is offering families a 20 per cent discount on week long Easter breaks (completed by 11 April) – and then on all subsequent stays. As a price example, a week’s stay at Cragside, a two bedroom cottage near Caernarfon, from 2, 3 or 4 April, is £888 with the discount. www.sheepskinlife.com
Cake-making family fun at The Grove
The Grove estate in Hertfordshire is famous for its beautiful surroundings and luxurious spa. For Easter it’s drawing inspiration from children’s tales. Celebrity chef Eric Lanlard will be summoning up the spirit of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with cake-making classes, pastry chefs will be creating the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the Grove’s children’s club, Anouska’s will be running performance classes culminating in a staging of Peter Pan. The Grove is offering four nights for the price of three from 28 March to 25 April. Room rates from £290, with 25 per cent off adjoining children’s rooms for children under 12.
Costa Rican escapades
An adventure for all ages awaits those exploring the wildlife and open spaces of Costa Rica. Ride through jungle canals, explore the lava fields of the Arenal Volcano and relax on white sand beaches of the Pacific ocean. There’ll be little time for sand castles though, with hot springs, monkey spotting, rafting and cave tours to get stuck into, and places such as Tortuguero National Park and the Cloud Forest Reserve to discover. GAP Adventures’ 12-day Costa Rica Family Adventure goes from 28 March to 8 April. Prices include accommodation, transport, a “chief experience officer” throughout, arrival transfer and daily continental breakfast. www.gapadventures.com.
Take the kids on a Zambian safari
African adventure company Norman Carr Safaris is offering special reduced family rates this year in celebration of its 60th anniversary. Staying at the highly stylish Kapani Lodge, situated in Zambia’s wildlife-rich South Luangwa national park, families can spend their days exploring the bush on foot with a personal guide, identifying animal prints, spotting the Big Five from a 4×4, and enjoying campfire food. Original Travel offers a special reduced fate for a seven night family package between 2 April and 18 April, coming to £2,775 per person including flights, transfers and full board accommodation. To book, visit
www.originaltravel.co.uk.