Vacation, Staycation and now the... kidcation?
2010-05-04
What on earth is a kidcation? I am glad you asked! Apparently an increasing number of families are opting for short breaks in cities to blend learning and fun. Thus kidcation. That's the findings of the Thistle Hotel chain.
The chain (which has 33 hotels in the UK) reports a substantial rise in the number of enquiries and confirmed bookings of ‘kidcations’ at its city centre hotels throughout the country. Parents, looking for a change, are aiming to treat the family to short breaks that mix learning with fun. Thistle points out that city breaks are not any longer the sole preserve of romantic couples and intellectuals.
Some families seem to have ‘traded down’ from overseas package holidays, instead they opt for cost conscious domestic breaks, with reduced spending and -often- reduced holiday periods. Thistle has designed a new family package to serve the growing interest from parents with younger children in this type of holiday. The Thistle deal is for £149 per room, and this includes bed and breakfast and dinner on one night. As part of this deal, Thistle also offers 50% off an additional room, and what's more, the under 12s can eat from the main menu at half the price.
Children will get a special goody bag which contains novelty treats such as expandable magic flannel and folding toothbrush, as well as pencils, activity sheet and a notepad. Families will also have free use of heated indoor swimming pools and a good deal of them offer a dedicated splash time for children. But a word of caution: My father took my brother and I to see the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. We were bored senseless by the experience, so do ensure that you ensure that there are educational trips for all members of the family!
Also, there's no reason to limit your kidcation to the UK. Imagine parking your car with APH at, for example, Birmingham, Gatwick or Manchester airports and enjoying a short kidcation in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Berlin, Dublin or Geneva? Check with www.aph.com for some ideas and information.
