Foreign holidays a time for family bonding



A travel company survey has found that one in five families spend an hour or less together each day at home but on foreign holidays 87 per cent enjoy four hours or more having fun.

The pressures of modern day living have created a situation where the family holiday is more significant than ever as 99 per cent of British families say it is 'an important or very important' time to bond together. Meals at home have also suffered: the survey showed the average family share only six meals a week together compared to 12 on holiday.*

Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels recognises the importance of family time together. It has 22 resorts in UK, Spain, Tenerife and Austria where the focus is fully on family fun, from the activities programmes around the poolside and its on resort 'Team Marina' for kids, to organised excursions. Resorts are totally family-friendly with well-equipped self-catering accommodation, as well as restaurants on site, impeccable housekeeping and maintenance.

Safety and health are also priorities. A doctor's surgery is located in the grounds of its multiple resorts on the Costa del Sol and considerable investment is made in security. It is also the only timeshare company in Europe to be BSI audited to quality standard ISO9000:20001 for Marina del Sol Management S.L.U. at four of its resorts, with plans to achieve this throughout its entire operation.

'We are committed to exceeding the expectations of our 50,000 member families and all staff are encouraged to go that extra mile to ensure the experience is memorable for all the right reasons,' said Richard Fletcher, Resorts Management Director. 'When families have saved all year to come on their annual holiday together, we have an obligation to ensure they have the best time ever.'

Catering for families' needs has made a huge contribution to Club La Costa's success since it was first formed in 1984, with more family-style resorts planned for Spain and Turkey as part of its ambitious expansion programme over the next two years.

However, it is also recognised that in addition to their main family holiday, members opt for other short breaks, often with friends. This can apply to groups of golfing mates, or other shared interests, and adults simply wanting quality time by themselves.

A survey among a nationally representative sample of 1,847 people in the UK over the age of 16, carried out by Tickbox.net, discovered 27 per cent take short breaks with friends and 10 per cent admitted they do it for time away from their partner and/or family.

Almost 50 per cent of those surveyed preferred to take a break in the British countryside. Club La Costa's UK resorts all enjoy tranquil rural settings. They include the splendid Duchally Country Estate in the heart of Scotland. With its five-star standard leisure centre and proximity to top class golf courses, including Gleneagles, trout and salmon waters, clay pigeon shooting, Scottish whisky distilleries... it's an obvious short-break choice.

Also the company's two resorts in Cornwall: luxurious and modern Hustyns at Wadebridge and historic Trenython Manor near Fowey, offer fabulous scenery, sumptuous spa facilities, fine dining and are spoilt for choice for golf courses and things to do in their local areas.

For more information on Club La Costa visit www.clublacosta.com

*The poll was carried out by First Choice