How to pick the right holiday destination for a trip with the little ones

When you're planning a family holiday, there can be bigger fish to fry before you can even get round to wondering how many buckets and spades to bring or how many pairs of pants will be enough. First things firsts, you have to get the destination right.
Picking the location for a holiday with the kids may seem like an easy task, but there are multiple things you need to consider to ensure that the trip goes smoothly. Here are a few tips surrounding how to pick the right destination for your family holiday:

1.       Weather Check  - Whilst you and your partner may have always dreamt of holidaying in the Caribbean or Dubai, they might not be the most child-friendly destinations just in terms of the weather at certain times of year. Be sure to check average temperatures of the destinations on your shortlist, so you can see what the weather might be like at the time of year that you'd be visiting. If the mercury is going to be topping 30 degrees, you may want to reconsider. Heat of that kind is no fun for kids and you'll have to be ultra careful with sun protection which could mean you'll never be able to properly relax.

2.       Travel Time - Consider how long it's going to take you to get to your destination. If it's a long-haul flight then you may want to change you plans and go somewhere closer to home. Look at resorts in the canary islands, which offer good weather all year round but are only about 4 hours away by flight. Also, ensure that the transfer time is fairly short once you've landed, as there's nothing worse than one long journey after another with the kids in tow. Consider spending the extra on a private transfer, as it saves a lot of hassle at the airport, shortens the travel time and you'll be sipping cocktails at the pool by the time your fellow holidaymakers arrive in a shuttle bus.

3.       Things To Do -  Although mum and dad's idea of a holiday might involve doing as little as possible to get the most from the relaxation, family holidays aren't like that. You need to ensure that wherever you are going has plenty for the youngsters to do, whether it's a kid's club (which will give you a certain amount of time off), or some fun beach activities and excursions. Bored children can lead to tantrums and a ruined holiday.

4.        Budget - Every family wants to hop on the next plane to Disney World with their kids, but you need to be realistic about what you have to spend when booking a holiday. Don't get carried away and go over the top. Create a budget and stick to it.

5.       Suitability - It's no good looking at a resort that's going to be full of hens, stags and revellers for your family holiday. That won't be the kind of environment you want your children to be around, as a 24/7 drinking culture and constant loud music can make for an ugly family holiday setting. Avoid party resorts in the likes of Ibiza, Majorca and Cyprus and look further down the road at more family-friendly hotels if you do want to visit these islands, as they have plenty!

Just remember that careful planning is the key to ensuring that your family holiday goes without a glitch. You can never do too much research, but make sure that enough is carried out before you actually book rather than afterwards when you've already committed. It can be tricky to amend a booking if you've had a change of heart or realised that the destination you've picked isn't suitable for a family break after all.

Chris Clarkson, Managing Director of online holiday firm www.sunshine.co.uk

*this is a guest post