As parents feel the financial pinch it is grandparents who save the summer...

 The traditional British family holiday is back and the grandparents are coming too – because they are the ones paying for it. Grannies and granddads will be digging deeper into their purses to save the summer holidays for the sake of the children as more and more families simply cannot afford to take a break.

That is according to www.grannylook.com – which offers help and advice to thousands of grandparents every day. Escalating fuel and food prices, coupled with the credit crunch, means that desperate mums and dads are turning to grandma and grandpa to bail them out.

Grandparents are finding themselves with more disposable income than their children, says granny guru Juliet Hambro, the brains behind the grandparent advice website www.grannylook.com. Couples with children – especially younger parents – cannot cope right now and are having to go cap in hand to their own parents for cash.

We have got a huge email-bag full of questions from grandparents seeking advice about taking their grandchildren on holiday, says Hambro.

The site has fielded hundreds of enquiries on the topic and says there is a clear message that the traditional annual extended family break is back. There is also evidence that some parents are taking cheaper holidays on their own and leaving their offspring in the hands of their grandparents.

The truth is most children do not care whether they are playing on a beach in Spain, Florida or Norfolk, says Hambro. What they really enjoy is being with their grandparents as they get spoiled rotten.

The evidence – from more than a thousand emails – shows a dramatic U-turn in status for grandparents and means they are once again finding themselves having to support both their children and grandchildren.

Grandparents love to dote on their grandchildren but they will now be paying more for that privilege, adds Hambro, herself a proud grandmother. The British seaside is an evergreen choice for young and old. Families are being more realistic and holidaying closer to home to save money. Where once a foreign holiday was a cheaper alternative, that is now not the case.

Family holidays that extend to three generations are becoming more common, with large families renting houses to save money. This is great for the grandparents who get to spend more time with their loved ones, and only fair when they are footing the bill.

www.grannylook.com

High-flying holiday-makers looking to rise above the credit crunch and enjoy an experience of a lifetime have voted a trip on the UKs only commercial seaplane service as the perfect day out.

A UK-wide survey found visitors to Scotland consider Loch Lomond Seaplanes as one of the top ways to see the spectacular scenery of the country’s West Coast in style.

The online review of the top 10 ways to spend a perfect day north of the border was carried out by BD Network on behalf of VisitScotland, the country’s national tourism organisation. Visitors were asked to list their personal favourites out of a possible 108,000 activities.

In almost every region of the UK Loch Lomond Seaplanes was named among the top attractions with the Scots themselves voting it as the Number One - must do - activity for sightseers.

- If I was going to visit another country and wanted to find out about the best places to go and things to do I would ask a local for their opinion, so it is a tremendous honour to have been voted best day out by the people who really know what’s on offer. - said David West, founder of Loch Lomond Seaplanes.

Other activities highlighted in the VisitScotland survey included watching bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth, walking the West Highland Way, white water rafting on the River Tay and fine dining at Gleneagles.

- There are a lot of fine ways to spend a day in Scotland but I can guarantee you’ll see a lot more of the spectacular scenery and in far greater comfort onboard a seaplane, - said Mr West.

The company, which has been successfully operating charter flights out of Loch Lomond for the last four years, also operates daily services from the centre of Glasgow to Oban and Tobermory with frequent excursions to other destinations throughout the west coast.

Since April this year more than 3,000 passengers have flown by seaplane from a specially constructed terminal next to Glasgow Science Centre to Oban Bay and Tobermory – reducing journey times from hours to minutes.

Last year Loch Lomond Seaplanes won the coveted Innovation Award in the Scottish Thistle Awards – the Oscars of the tourism industry – for their success in re-establishing the seaplane as a sustainable form of transport creating minimal impact on the environment.

In the last couple of years the airline has featured in a number of popular television programmes, including - Britain’s favourite View,  Mountain - and  -The Woman Who Ate Scotland - as an accessible way to experience the beauty and isolation of the Highlands.

- English holidaymakers account for a large number of our passengers. The seaplane has opened up the whole of the west coast of Scotland to a new generation of visitors who want to see the sights and enjoy as many experiences as possible without spending hours and hours sitting in a car or on a bus. - said Mr West.

www.lochlomondseaplanes.com

 

For a family holiday with a difference, log on to adventure travel portal www.addictedtotravel.com. From educational trips to historic and beautiful regions of the world to activity holidays designed to keep all members of the family entertained, this website offers a range of high quality and original family holidays. All trips are tailored with children in mind – the itineraries are action-packed, there are shorter driving distances and all hotels are child-friendly so whether you wish to join other families on a small-group family adventure or prefer to travel privately with just your tribe, www.addictedtotravel.com has something for everyone.





Nile Cruise and Red Sea –10 days from £1049 per adult and £959 per child.

Tours run in October and December 2008.

Discover ancient Egypt on this adventurous yet educational trip around this historic country. On this tour you will visit and go inside the Pyramids, be dazzled by the treasures of Tutankhamen, discover ancient Karnak, visit the Valley of the Kings, relax in delightful Aswan, sleep on an overnight train as well as spending three days on a Nile cruise, seeing temples and villages along the way. Relax at the end of the trip in Hurghada and enjoy snorkelling in the Red Sea.

This trip includes international flights from London to Cairo, five nights hotel accommodation, three nights on Nile Cruise Boat and one night in overnight train from Cairo to Aswan. During the tour you will visit Cairo, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Luxor, and Hughada. Child rate apply to children under 12.



Tanzania Family Safari - 10 days from £1799 per adult and £1499 per child.

Tours run in August, October and December 2008.

Escape to the wilderness with addictedtotravel.com on this family adventure safari in Tanzania. You''ll explore Lake Manyara National Park, which has large numbers of elephant and giraffe, and then head into the Serengeti, perhaps Africa''s most prolific reserve, where herds of wildebeest, along with lion and cheetah, can be found. The highlight for many is the Ngorongoro Crater for its sheer beauty and the huge concentration of animals found all in one place.

This tour includes return flights from London, seven nights accommodation, and all transport throughout the tour. Child rates apply to children under 12.



Wet and Wild in Dalyan - 8 days from £599 per person.

Tours run from April to October 2008.

This week long adventure in Turkey with addictedtotravel.com is perfect for water lovers everywhere. Try your hand at gullet cruising, white-water rafting and diving whilst exploring the coast and waterways of Turkey’s stunning south west.

This tour includes three nights onboard a gullet and four nights in a hotel and all transportation and activities. Participants must be 12 or over. International flights are not included.



Discover Rainforests & Volcanoes on this Costa Rica Family Adventure - 14 days from £1949 per adult and £1599 per child. Tours run in October and December 2008.

For an adventurous family looking for a holiday with a difference then Costa Rica is the perfect choice. On this trip you willl dip your toes in both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, experience the contrast between the laid back Caribbean coast and the ranches and cowboy country of Guanacaste in the west, and enjoy a dazzling array of activities in the rainforest – canopy tours, zip-wire riding, rafting, inner tubing and horse-riding. High mountains, dense primary rainforest, wildlife and empty beaches are just a few of the highlights of this compact and peaceful Latin American republic.

This tour includes international flights from London to San Jose, 12 nights accommodation and all transportation.

DISCOVER WHALES AND DOLPHINS FROM £99* WHILE SAILING IN LUXURY WITH BRITTANY FERRIES’ CRUISE TO SPAIN

Brittany Ferries have teamed up with Planet Whale and marine conservation charity ORCA to bring passengers our first Big Whale Watch!

Passengers can join the expert guides from Planet Whale for an unforgettable experience whilst sailing through some of the richest waters in Europe for whales, dolphins and birds, on board the Brittany Ferries luxury flagship, Pont Aven.

The Plymouth to Santander route has developed a reputation for crossing some outstanding habitats for whales and dolphins. From the comparatively shallow English Channel to the 4000m deep Bay of Biscay and the gigantic submarine canyons off the northern Spanish coast, marine wildlife is abundant. A typical trip will allow passengers to see the Finn Whale – the second largest whale on earth, along with the Sperm Whale – made famous thorugh the story of Moby Dick.

Watch the excitement as Pilot Whales and several species of Dolphins race the bow of the ship!

Presenting outstanding value for money, the cruise includes:

• Plymouth – Santander – Plymouth cruise

• 2 nights on board with the comfort of en-suite cabin accommodation including all port charges

• Expert whale watching and dolphin spotting advice

• Time ashore to explore the elegant port city of Santander



Itinerary of the cruise is as follows:

• Depart from Plymouth on Sunday 28th September at 16:00

• Arrive in Santander at 12:30

• Depart from Santander to Monday 29 September at 16:00

• Arrive in Plymouth at 10:00

If the excitement gets too much, passengers can step back inside Pont Aven and enjoy the kind of service and facilities normally only found on cruise ships, including leisure bars, stylish shopping malls, a wide choice of dining and superbly appointed en-suite accommodation.

So, remember your passport and your binoculars and let Brittany Ferries and Planet Whale take care of the rest!

Book online with Brittany Ferries at www.brittanyferries.com/whale or call 0871 244 0441, quoting reference YS8WWC