Travel Challenge: The Family-Friendly City Break
July 8, 2010 Hidden Gems, Travel Challenge
We would like to take our children, aged 2 and 7, on a city break this summer. We need to go within the peak holiday season and are working to a tight budget of £800 for the four of us. We like the idea of combining a bit of culture with some relaxation: Barcelona would be ideal because it has a beach, but the accommodation there seems to be so expensive. Can you recommend a destination within our budget that is close to the coast? We’re open to suggestions. Accommodation doesn’t have to be luxurious, just clean and fairly central. We can fly from any airport in north west England – Peter.
We recommend Krakow in Poland. It isn’t near the coast, but 12km from the city centre and accessible by bus or taxi is Kryspinow, a lake with an attractive man-made beach. Also within reasonable travelling distance of central Krakow is an excellent water park, packed with exciting flumes that your older child will love. Krakow has gained something of a reputation as a party city in recent years, mainly because cheap beer and low cost airlines tempt over the stag and hen crowds. Don’t let this put you off though – every city has its nightlife and there is more than enough to attract families during the day. Children will love the museums and galleries, Wawel Castle with its fire-breathing dragon, open-topped tour buses, the aquarium and zoo. Blonia Commons and Jordan Park make the perfect spot for a family picnic in the sunshine. Kids are welcomed with open arms in Krakow and you will find plenty of affordable, family-friendly places to eat out.
If you’ll consider staying in a hostel with shared facilities, you’ll save on the price of a hotel. We’ve found the Secret Garden, which is a real gem. With clean, modern rooms and a great location in the Jewish Quarter, it’s better value-for-money than many of the hotels in the area and has a fantastic reputation. With bright colours, plenty of space and rooms with names like Violet Nook and Mint Sorbet, the Secret Garden is worlds apart from the dingy dormitories that spring to mind when you think of hostels. This award-winning property is a brilliant base for families, and you’ll probably leave feeling smug that you didn’t fork out for a hotel.
Hays Travel can arrange 4 nights at The Secret Garden for a family of four (two adults, two children sharing a quadruple room) from £750, departing Liverpool on 30th July. Click here for more information. Other dates and departure airports are available, check the website or call 0800 408 4131 for a quote to suit your requirements.
Price is correct at the time of blogging but subject to availability and change.
Clean, fresh and affordable - The Secret Garden Hostel in Krakow
