Multi generation holidays
This bizarre and counterintuitive habit may seem peculiar given the current economic climate, but it’s actually very canny; the simple truth is that a ‘sharecation’ is often cheaper per person than taking holidays in separate holiday homes. And as large properties tend to come with extras such as pools, hot tubs, indoor games rooms, gyms and children’s play rooms, families are seeing the fun as well as financial advantages of taking large family holidays together.
The research was conducted by South West self-catering specialist Blue Chip Holidays which surveyed over 2,000 of its customers earlier this summer. The survey revealed that 68 per cent of those questioned would be happy to share a holiday with their wider families if that meant they could get bigger, more luxurious properties with better facilities at a cheaper price per person.
While the survey clearly shows that necessity is the mother of inventive holiday bookings, it also revealed that far from disliking the idea of sharing, over one third said that the current economic climate was actually helping to bring families back together.
Among the many benefits of the extended family holiday the survey identified that 42 per cent felt that the ability to split the cost of food and entertainment, helping to save money, was an advantage over separate family breaks.
One third felt that having young cousins and friends to play with made for a more relaxed and fun holiday. One in five said that having Granny and Granddad on holiday gave mum and dad the chance to spend time alone together as a couple.
Seventeen per cent felt that extended family holidays meant that children could spend more time entertaining each other, helping to save money normally spent on expensive attractions. However, the biggest advantage of all was seen quite simply as having the opportunity to bring family together to have a good time, capturing three quarters of the votes polled.
Alan Taylor, Managing Director of Blue Chip Holidays, said: “Customers often ignore larger holiday homes when they look for a place to stay in the UK, as they feel they simply can’t afford them. However, by clubbing together with Granny and Granddad, brothers, sisters and cousins, these larger and often more exclusive properties can represent much better value than the cost of separate holiday homes.”
“This year we’ve certainly seen more of our customers book multi-generational holidays and as the economy continues to bite, we expect many more will look at ‘sharecations’ as a great solution to getting more for less,” Alan added.
by clubbing together with Granny and Granddad, brothers, sisters and cousins, these larger and often more exclusive properties can represent much better value than the cost of separate holiday homes”
Get more for less by going large:
Isle of Wight
On the Isle of Wight
Weston Manor, a luxurious four star gold, 1879 coastal manor house for 14 can be booked for six nights from 8-14 September, costing £106.50 per head.
By comparison over the same dates it would cost over £110 per person staying at a combination of the four star, three bedroom Brookside Cottage, near Freshwater; the four starred Koi Cottage and Mirror Cottage near Sandown; both 2 bedroom bungalows overlook fishing lakes, just 6 miles from Shanklin’s Old Village and the beach.
And the added extras?
Weston Manor is surrounded by two acres of beautiful grounds, situated on Moon’s Hill overlooking West Wight’s pretty coastline. This impressive pet-friendly manor house comes with its own breathtakingly ornate chapel that has been listed by the National Trust as a heritage site of significance. The Manor has a grand entrance hall with its own pool table, a devoted games room with table tennis table, a full size snooker table, air ice hockey game, table football and arcade machine. As well as six spacious bedrooms, three of which have en-suite bathrooms, the Manor has acres of gardens and a large hot tub situated on the decking next to the outside dining area.
By comparison Brookside Cottage has a pretty cottage garden, a 32” LCD flatscreen TV with Freesat, DVD player, CD, radio and Wi-Fi, a patio area with wooden pergola and a cast iron barbecue. Koi and Mirror Cottage have access to on-site facilities including fishing lakes with coarse fishery, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a restaurant and bar.
For bookings visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk
Cornwall
In Newquay a week from 08 September can be booked for eight at Headland Views from £161 per person. By comparison the five star gold one bedroom 12 Rocklands and 4 star gold 6 Rocklands can be booked together for eight guests at £167 per person.
And the added extras?
Headland Views is a luxurious 5 star gold four bedroom house. It comes with its own elevated hot tub with LED lighting and a luxury swim spa with views to the sea and headland. As well as a sun deck, large living room and separate dining room the house has its own enclosed garden.
Rocklands, by comparison, comes with a communal rooftop sun terrace and hot tub.
For bookings visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk
Devon
On The English Riviera in Devon a week at the end of August can be booked in Mincarlo, a spacious four star, four bedroom house for ten above Torquay, for just £159 per person. By comparison, the same week would cost £204 per person staying at 4 Sovereign House, a four star gold, three bedroom apartment for six overlooking Torquay Harbour and Marina; combined with Stone Acre Lodge, a five star property just a short walk from the town centre and beach.
And the added extras?
Set within its own large garden Mincarlo is especially suited to families. It provides a cot and a highchair plus a stair gate, a bunk bed with dinosaur bed linen, jigsaws, monopoly and a small selection of children's books. Entertainment is provided by a 32” LCD flatscreen TV with Freesat, DVD player, CD, radio and Wi-Fi.
By comparison Stone Acre Lodge has a 50” TV with DVD player and Hifi, a Nintendo Wii games console and a Playstation 3.
For bookings visit www.bluechipholidays.co.uk
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FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM