The UK is not just about run-down guest houses and bad weather. There are many different holidays to sample, from a luxury mobile home on an immaculate site to your own tent in a field with a river bubbling through it. Then there are a choice of seaside resorts, forest parks and lakeside cabins, all without the hassle of changing currency and buying phrase books. And of course, staying in the UK usually means less travelling time, so you can have a longer holiday.
When planning your UK break, decide first of all whether you want to stay in a tent, caravan, chalet or holiday apartment. Next, decide where you want to go. Keep in mind travelling times, and what type of road you'd have to travel on. If you're going to drive, it's worth planning a route to allow breaks, especially if you're taking young children.
What type of holiday you want will be a big influence on where you go. If you're after a quiet, relaxing break, heading for a resort with loud night-time entertainment and 'knobbly-knees' competitions won't be to your taste. Likewise, if you're looking to get a tan, you won't want to head to the forests on a hiking holiday!
Think about when you want to go, and how long you want to go for. During the summer holidays is obviously the favourite if you have young children, but places can fill up quickly during this time, so book early. Try to avoid taking your children out of school for the sake of a holiday, as schools frown on this. The length of your stay is important too; some places will only allow 7 or 14 night bookings; no good if you just want 10 days. Be prepared to be flexible with regards the date and duration.
When packing for your holiday, keep in mind that as you're staying in the UK, you'll probably encounter rain at some point. Take waterproofs and jumpers as well as summer clothing. Remember to pack towels, baby wipes, spare toilet rolls and perhaps even paper bags - for young tummies - to reduce the amount of sundries you'd have to buy when you get to your destination. And even though you're in the UK, remember your suncream!
