Challenge any teenager about family holidays and you’ll get a variety of responses.
Many of which will probably be negative comments.
Be it skiing in the Alps, trekking through the Australian outbac
k or spending a week at a holiday camp in Skeggie, they’re all destinations we go with our parents for the traditional summer holiday.
It’s something we as a nation have been doing for years; some of us love it, while others hate nothing more than a fortnight of sibling squabbles, embarrassing karaoke singing parents and dodgy tummies.
But what makes a good holiday and what about those with only one parent?
Well, this summer I had an excellent holiday with my Mum. We didn’t fly off to some exotic destination, nor did we stay in an all-inclusive 5* hotel. In fact we went to Italy’s Adriatic coast, by coach (yes, all the way) and we stayed in a mobile home.
After a 5am start and a very long, 24 hour coach trip, we arrived in Lido Estensi.
The sun was shining, there wasn’t a wisp of cloud in the crystal clear sky an
d the temperature was 32° C, in the shade!! My tiredness was soon banished away!
We had an amazing week: Lazy afternoons in the sun, splashing in the pool, eating enormous amounts of delicious pizza, pasta and ice-cream, drooling over gorgeous shoes (and men!) and having a fabulous day in the surreal city of Venice.
Family holidays haven’t been so rosey in the past though. Last year’s trip to Gran Canaria along with my Mum and Step-Dad was a little on the hairy side at times. It wasn’t just the sangria that flowed but the arguments too!
I came to the conclusion that it was meeting people your own age that made the holidays more bearable and enjoyable. Two years ago on a trip to Spain’s Costa Brava I did just that, and even went to stay with some friends I’d made during the October half term holiday.
I don’t think that rule just applies to this years holiday though. I did meet people my age, and some younger but I think it was the fact that camping is so sociable. We met such a variety of people, getting together for barbecues, quizzes and even going on a 
midnight stroll to the beach during an almighty storm!!
Also, I’m very lucky that I get on so well with my Mum. Perhaps having two parents around creates more tension?
Having annoying siblings constantly pestering you, or a hotel full of over 65’s that sit in the lounges playing chess doesn’t help.
All I can say is sometimes you’ll have a good time, others you won’t. What ever happens though, soon you’ll be able to go on holiday where you want, with who you want and you’ll be able to do what you want!
