SMARTER TRAVEL

�n style GIVEAWAY!
For the chance

KIT & KABOODLE

to win a Thule Sapling
Elite Child Carrier, visit
natgeotraveller.co.uk/
competitions (competition
Plot your travels on a map of the world and keep the little one safe in a closes 30 February
child carrier, plus games, lights and positive affirmations to illuminate 2018). T&Cs online
each day of your journey

STORYBOOK PROJECTOR TORCH SPACEMAN USB LIGHT

Are your camping trips a circus? Embrace the Boldly go where no USB has gone before with
chaos and light up the tent with this torch that this little astronaut on a data wire. Travelling
projects such scenes as ‘panic in the lion cage’ in with homework and storing pics has never
1950s-style graphics. RRP: 12.99. jeujouet.co.uk been such fun. RRP: $20 (£15). store.moma.org

THULE SAPLING ELITE

Carry all your precious cargo in this
child transporter which comes with
detachable backpack, various mesh
and hip-belt pockets, load stabiliser,
sunshade and mirror to check in with the
baby on board. RRP: £235. thule.com

YESMUM MINI CARDS SCRATCH THE WORLD

These affirmation cards help to banish self- Plot your world wanderings with this old-
doubt and encourage a happy mindset. RRP: school wall poster: a global map where visited
£10.50. londonhypnobirthing.co.uk/product/ destinations can be scratched off and revealed
yesmum-mini-cards/ beneath in colour. RRP: £14.99. amazon.co.uk

MONKEY BINGO
Entertain your cheeky monkeys on the road
with this bingo board game featuring 64
weird and wonderful primates, with fun facts
and illustrations worthy of an encyclopaedia.
RRP: £19.99. laurenceking.com

ZIP AND FLIP TRAVEL PILLOW

A cuddly animal that changes into a
functional travel pillow in seconds.
Choose from bear, elephant, penguin,
whale and, for the more fanciful traveller,
a unicorn complete with rainbow. RRP:
€28.50-40 (£26-36). kikkerlandeu.com

Family 2018 11

SURFING HOLIDAYS FOR EVERYONE
We’ve selected some great trips for families where there’s more than just waves on the horizon
UK
WHERE
C ROY DE , DE VON
WHAT
The last thing anyone wants on a
surf trip is disappointing waves.
That’s where Croyde shines; this
golden sandy bay’s exposure to
the Atlantic means the surf’s
extremely consistent. While the
waves can be challenging, Croyde
Surf Academy guarantees
beginners will be up and riding in
their first lesson or the second
lesson’s free. It also offers kids’
camps (8-16 years) during school
holidays, and for those who want
to practise on their own, there are
lifeguards on the beach during
summer.
BONUS POINT: Someone in the
family not up for surfing? Try
coasteering or foraging, then end
the day in one of the village’s
many excellent pubs.
Lessons from £99 for a family of
HOW MUCH
four. croydesurfacademy.com
Stay at Ruda Holiday Park, close
to the beach, which offers
lodges, caravans and safari-style
glamping tents with kitchens and
loos. Prices from £189 for
three-night weekend in March.
IMAGES: ALAMY; GETTY
parkdeanholidays.co.uk
No flights and affordable
WHY
accommodation make this Devon
village a surfing hotspot.
We compare
PORTUGAL
PRAIA DO GUINCHO
Famed for its rolling waves,
consistent wind and glorious
sunsets, Praia do Guincho is a
popular Portuguese surf hub. Set
in the Sintra-Cascais Natural
Park, just 40 minutes west of
Lisbon, Surf’s Up (certified by the
Portuguese Surfing Federation),
teaches kids from five years old
and, in addition to private family
lessons, offers dedicated surf
clinics for children (6-18 years)
during school holidays. Days are
spent surfing and playing games,
beach football or frisbee.
BONUS POINT: Surf’s Up can
collect kids from the nearby
Oitavos Resort, giving parents
free time to chill out on the
hotel’s on-site golf course, yoga
pavilion or in the spa.
Private two-hour family surf
lesson (two adults, two
children) costs €200 (£177),
including equipment, session
photos, and transfers.
Five-day kids surf clinic €250
(£222). Rooms at the Oitavos
from €157 (£139).
oitavosdunes.pt
Families can surf together or
apart, giving everyone time for
other activities such as yoga.
COSTA RICA
N I C O YA P E N I N S U L A
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is a
rugged region with beaches,
waterfalls and tropical jungle,
where you wake up to the sound
of howler monkeys and exotic
birds. There’s excellent surfing to
suit all levels (best between
December and April) and most
surf schools give lessons to
children as young as five. Stay at
the luxury Florblanca Resort, and
the resort offers a free lesson for
under-12s. There’s a superb spa
and excellent Pilates and yoga
instruction, with other activities
including zip-lining and horse
riding along the beach.
BONUS POINT: The beautiful
beaches of Playa Hermosa and
Playa Santa Teresa are on your
doorstep.
Seven nights at Florblanca
from £2,820 per person
including six private surf
lessons, return flights
(international and internal)
and transfers.
healthandfitnesstravel.com
Kids get the chance to enjoy the
surf, along with numerous
outdoor activities.
SMARTER TRAVEL
SRI LANKA
AHANGAMA
Sri Lanka is a world-class surfing
destination offering warm water
and consistent breaks, including
the 2km Weligama Bay.
Soul & Surf operates from a
12-bedroom villa in the jungle
near Ahangama. Week-long
retreats include yoga and surf
sessions, with guided meditation
and Pranayama offered in the
evening. Group surf lessons for
kids are also available (6-16
years), along with activities
including guided canoe river
trips, Sri Lankan cooking classes
or SUP sessions.
BONUS POINT: With family rooms
and group meals, this surf break
can be a good option for
one-parent families keen to
connect with other travellers.
A seven-night retreat based on
two adults and one child sharing
a room from £2,075. The price
includes accommodation, full
board and the activity
programme. Flights are extra,
around £592 return, direct with
jetairways.com
srilankan.com soulandsurf.com
A laid-back holiday with a warm
welcome from friendly locals and
the chance to enjoy social meals.
Family 2018 13