Vacationing with Children
Here is a guide to vacationing with children, using the 5 steps:
Design your vision.
The first step to happy memories is good communication. Start scheduling family meetings to plan ? the earlier the better. At the first meeting, ask each member of the family to describe what he or she would like to have in order to have a wildly successful vacation. It’s a great idea to put some structure into this discussion. Use a flip chart and have family members take turns recording answers. Subsequent meetings can be used to work out each of the next steps.
Eliminate your obstacles.
Mark Twain is credited with saying “Progress starts with the truth.” Certainly that applies in this situation. For example, some teens simply do not think it’s “cool” to travel with mom and dad. If you want your teens to enjoy their travel experience, make sure you understand what they like and dislike. With young children, keep in mind “less is more.” A swim in the hotel pool may be a much better choice than another two hours at the theme park.
Move to the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is particularly attractive because · Summer heat is less intense than further south, · Scenery is spectacular, · There are beautiful well-preserved mediaeval towns like Pals and Peratallada everywhere, · Catalonia is well run with good roads and railways · The A7 motorway is never more than a few minutes drive and connects to the French network · Barcelona is easily accessible · Golf courses are numerous and of the highest standard all year round · In winter, there is good skiing in the nearby Pyrenees · There are cheap flights to Girona/Costa Brave airport and to Barcelona and Perpignan. · Eating out is inexpensive and a real pleasure · The cost of living generally is reasonable.
If you are thinking of semi-permanent or even permanent residence, you may be concerned that you will find it hard to make friends here, and therefore be somewhat isolated. This is generally not so. Most residents are retired or semi-retired and it is fairly easy to meet new people, particularly of course if you play golf. Incomers tend to be of a similar age and background, even if from different countries. They too want to make new friends.