Christmas Family Breaks in London 2008 - by Rhonda Carrier

Christmas is a magical time wherever you choose to spend it, but big cities excel when it comes to lights, dazzle and festive shopping and entertainment. With the recession starting to bite, everyone needs a little winter pick-me-up, and a short break in London can be surprisingly affordable

Read more...

Credit Crunch Family Skiing Holidays - by Nick Dalton

When it comes to great-value family ski holidays, it’s hard to beat Eastern Europe. In years past, the resorts there might have been cheap because of poor lifts and food that was always running out (apart from the potatoes). But all that has changed – huge investment in hotels and lifts, and even the construction of whole new resorts, means they’re worth a visit.

Read more...

Winter Wonderland holiday ideas - by Rhonda Carrier

Winter is the perfect excuses for a family break, whether you go to a fireworks extravaganza at a theme-park, head north or to the mountains in search of some real snow, or jet off to warmer climes...

Read more

We're Website of the Week on TRAVELMail

Have you seen that Take the Family are Website of the Week on the TravelMail site?

We're delighted and take their comments onboard - in fact as we speak we're all being busy bees with development for our site relanch later this year! This amongst an awful of other brilliant new things, will include the facility for users to add their own reviews. We've said all along that parents like you are the ones in the know, so we're making it even easier for you to tell us what's what.

In the meantime - take a look at our favourite family events for October half term.

Take a look at these fab events for Autumn

Got a touch of half term panic?

Even if you're not going away this half term, we've still gots lots of ideas to keep the kids entertained. Take a look at our Autumn Events guide.

From Sea Monster Week in Newquay to DISCOLOCO in Hackney, or CBeebies at the Theatre to Halloween on the Heath (no not that one, the one in Suffolk), and tons more besides....

And what's more, a fair few of them are totally FREE!

Dea Birkett's Eating with Kids Series - A Fantastically Foul Feast with Roald

With Roald Dahl Day on September 13th, this month Take the Family writer Dea Birkett and family turns their attention to their annual fantastically foul feast at Cafe Twit at the Roald Dahl Museum.

The menu may consist of Fresh Mudburgers, Snozzcumbers and Squiggly Spaghetti, all borrowed from Dahl books. "It’s not what food tastes or even looks like that warms my kids’ tummies. It’s the story attached."

"There’s nothing quite so tasty as disgusting food. Try and get my kids to eat meatballs and passata, and they’ll turn up their little noses. Tell them the same dish is eyeballs oozing blood, and they’ll scoff them down."

Read the full article...

Tip Top Tree Top Trip reviews

Just a quick note to let you know about the huge bundle of brand new compelling articles in our new feature article section on takethefamily.com.

Soon to come is a tree top camping adventure, with recent articles including, Eating with Kids: On Eurostar,by renowned travel writer Dea Birkett, Top 10 Welsh campsites for families, theme park hotels, jersey, northern greece and tons more...

Our terrific new writers include, Nick Dalton, Jos Simon, Sarah Ebner and Lynette Lowthian,with more to follow in the recent future.

Take a look!

Take the family to Cornwall

Take the Family have just returned from a fabulous few days on the Cornish Riviera...

Read the full article.

We stayed at The Rosevine, nr Portscatho - an absolutely fabulous luxury retreat of apartments and suites with all the amenities of a luxury hotel, with fantastic facilities, and superbly friendly staff. Nothing was too much trouble. Over looking Gerrans Bay, with a 3 minute walk to a superbly family friendly safe sandy beach, and more coastal walks, it is the perfect place to get away from it all, relax and enjoy...

And what's more for May and June, The Rosevine are offering Take the Family users a complimentary chilled bottle of wine on arrival, a bucket and spade per child and a paper back each for mum and dad.

We also stayed at Parc Vean, a superb self catering bungalow, 5 minutes from 2 very secluded beaches, with 2 acres of wonderful grounds, a giant wooden fort, family bikes, a football goal, trampoline, bbq, and superb gardens. You'll feel like you are staying in the Lost gardens of Heligan!! This is the perfect retreat for families, sleeping up to 7 guests, with 2 bathrooms, 2 living rooms and tons more. Described as Cornish Charm London Style, the attention to detail is superb, with a mixture of gorgeous eclectic antiques and quality modern appliances. You can't help but relax in this fabulous environment. You can even get meals and provisions delivered, and do as little or as much as you wish. Relaxation is what Parc Vean does best!

Parc Vean are offering Take the Family users a huge 10% discount on all breaks outside of school holidays, plus a free welcome hamper for your arrival.


Don't forget to visit TaketheFamily again soon, to find out where we are off to next!

Happy Holidays!

Eating with Kids Series - Dea tackles Museums

This month Dea Birkett and family tackle 'Eating with Kids' in Museums. Although you would anticipate this to be an easy formula to follow, they find that many are not too family friendly.

Next stop: Cruise Ships

Take the Family on Five News Today

Take the Family's founder Andy Cook appeared on Five News bulletins at 12:30pm and 5pm today, following yesterdays anniversary of Madeleine McCann's disappearance, talking about Take the Family's poll revealing that 62% of parent's were less likely to use in-resort baby sitting/listening services that they were a year ago.

Read more details in this press release: Parents less likely to leave kids alone on hols after Madeleine disappearance

Exclusive April Offers for Newsletter Subscribers

SPRING FEVER, SIZZLING SUMMER AND FAB EXCLUSIVE OFFERS: IT'S NO JOKE!

For a limited period only, and exclusive for subscribers to our newsletter, Bluestone are offering a whopping 20% discount off your family holiday.

Sign up to our newsletter and take advantage of newsletter Exclusive Offers.

Check out our April Newletter

Dea Birkett launches 'Eating with Kids' series

This month delectable and renowned journalist Dea Birkett, launches her 'Eating with Kids' series, starting in bustling Edinburgh.

Often finding somewhere to sup is the biggest challenge for a travelling family. So, throwing weight loss to the wind, we head to the start of this culinary journey where her family started - Edinburgh.

Next Month: Museums.

Another FANTASTIC offer from Bluestone & Free Gift from Take the Family

We're delighted to let you know that if you book your family a break at new generation holiday vilage Bluestone, in Pembrokeshire before March 31st 2008, then boy oh boy do we have some great exclusive deals.

As well as free family bike hire by quoting 'Take the Family', we can also bring news that if you also quote 'March Saver', befre March 31st then you will receive such a HUGE saving we're keeping it secret until you call.

Call Bluestone on Call Bluestone on 08000 224 519, and use both promo codes before March 31st.

By booking through Take the Family, you will also receive a free gift, of either a Trunki ride-on suitcase or a bottle of Moet champagne to celebrate your booking. Please see our Booking Confirmation page for more details.

Bluestone Opens with Exclusive free bike hire

We're really excited about the opening of Bluestone, the new next generation holiday village set in 500 acres of the stunningly beautiful national park of Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Now open for bookings, with holidays from June 30th, Bluestone has 233 luxury timber lodges, cottages and studios, that are so nice you'll want to move in permanently.

Forget over priced on site shops, Bluestone has built it's own celtic village, with a butchers (with locally produced meat), a bakers, no candlestick maker, but clothes shops, cafes and restaurants and more besides. Facilities include the eco-friendly fabulous Blue Lagoon waterpark and Landsker Sports Club, plus there’s a huge range of on- and off-site activities. There’s even a nanny service!

We've had a sneaky peak, love what we've seen, and can't wait to go. To help your family have an even better holiday, we have arranged free bike hire for Take the Family users, booking before March 31st.

Call Bluestone on 08000 224 519 and Quote 'Take the Family' to receive free bike hire for your family holiday. (Not available online. Book before March 31 2008.)

March Newsletter

Spring into action with Take the Family's March newsletter.

Spring Towards your next Family Holiday

Take the Family on ITV Central East News

See Take the Family (albeit briefly) on Central East news or online.

Click on Central East: Evening Bulletins to watch the story of half term price hikes featuring our MD, broadcast on Wednesday February 13th on the evening news at 6pm.

The item starts at around 11:35 minutes.

http://www.itvlocal.com/central/news/?player=CEN_News_26&void=151645

New York family features

Take a look at our latest New York features.

Dea Birkett and family's destination of the month - New York
On the trail of their heroine - mischievous madeline.

Read Linzi Hill's "Free family activities in New York."
Staten island to Central Park - All for free!

February Newsletter

Take a look at our egg-ceptional February newsletter.

Egg-Scape to the North, South, East for Easter

Feature in the Telegraph

Read about Take the Family's recent poll in the Telegraph online, by Phil Davies.

Interview on BBC Southern Counties Radio

Take the Family were live on BBC Radio Southern Counties, broadcast on Friday February 1st at 9:45am, interviewd by Gordon Astley, (of Tiswas fame), on parents' concern over resort childcare services. You can still text your comments to the show, (9am to 1pm). Text: 07786 207070. Or post your thoughts to our Talk the Family forum.

PRESS RELEASE: Parents less likely to leave kids alone on hols after Madeleine disappearance

BRITISH parents are less likely to use hotel baby childcare services following the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, according to a new survey.

The survey by award-winning family travel website takethefamily.com showed that 62% of parents were now less likely to leave their children alone in their room using baby listening or in the care of hotel or resort staff.

Takethefamily managing director Lucy Ace said: “The tragic disappearance of Madeleine McCann has obviously had a dramatic effect on parents’ attitudes.

“Such incidents are extremely rare but it has definitely made parents re-evaluate their holiday childcare – whether it’s baby listening or even qualified babysitting.”

In the survey 25% said recent news stories had had no effect on their attitude.

“Holiday childcare has become increasingly sophisticated with resorts and hotels offering supervised cinema clubs and children’s activities while parents have dinner,” added Lucy Ace.

“Fully vetted babysitting and nanny services using local or often British-qualified staff have also proved popular in recent years but the result of this survey shows the Madeleine story has made parents think again.”

Tell a friend about Take the Family

Friends.
Blimey!
Sometimes you want to tell them they're stupid.
Sometimes you want to tell them you love them.
And sometimes you just want to tell them about the extraordinarily absorbing new family travel website you've just discovered.
We'd like to help you with the last one, in a friendly sort of way.

http://www.takethefamily.com/tell_a_friend.php