There’s no better way to banish the January blues than by planning the family holiday. There’s no better place do that than with Oroko.
The travel experts at Ireland’s luxury travel specialist know the best destinations for families of all ages.
“Many of us are parents ourselves, so we know what works for babies, tweens, teens and beyond,” says Ruth Kavanagh, Oroko marketing manager. “We take the time to listen to our customers needs and recommend the most suitable destination and property for their family.”
The team at Oroko won’t recommend a property unless they have experienced it for themselves.
Family holidays are too important to leave anything to chance, she says. “We take the stress and uncertainty out by organising flights, accommodation, transfers and restaurant reservations. Where appropriate, we’ll arrange car hire and make sure it has the right kind of child seats - things people often forget.”
The comprehensive service provided by Oroko doesn’t just enhance your holiday, it can save you money. “Because we have built up strong partnerships with all the properties we recommend, we can get better value for our clients than they could by booking direct,” says Kavanagh.
Europe is an ideal holiday destination for Irish families because journey times are short and there are no major time differences to contend with. Oroko travel experts crossed the continent last year to pinpoint some of Europe’s most family-friendly luxury resorts.
Tenerife
Oroko Europe travel expert Aisling O’Carroll is just back from Tenerife where she stayed in the Ritz Carlton Abama Resort. ”We consider this property to be the best in Tenerife. It has excellent family-friendly facilities and discreet adult-only areas within the resort for those seeking solitude,” says O’Carroll. ”The resort also has spectacular views of the Atlantic ocean and La Gomera Island.”
There’s a planetarium and cinema and an exploration programme designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Teenage guests have their own DJ booth. “It can be harder to keep 14 to 16-year-olds entertained, but here they have a cool space to hang out and make friends in,” she says.
The Canary Islands are a great option for summer. “It’s a year-round destination but Ireland’s summer time is their quiet season, so there is extraordinary value, even in five-star properties,” she says.
Portugal
Portugal is another firm favourite at Oroko, especially the Pine Cliffs Resort on the sunny Algarve. With six flights a day to Faro, and short transfer times, it allows for particularly family-friendly travel.
The resort sits on 25km of golden sands and has plenty of restaurants to choose from. “If it’s an extended family travelling, I’ll typically book the grandparents into the hotel and the parents and children self-catering next door, for extra space,” says O’Carroll.
The property is home to the Mimo cookery school, which offers great cookery classes for all generations of the family to enjoy.
Another Oroko recommended property is the Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort, which sits in a protected natural park overlooking Martinhal Beach and comprises a five-star hotel plus luxury family villas. It too has terrific kids' clubs and sporting amenities. It is a superb property for families with younger children.
“At Oroko, we organise lots of multigenerational holidays. We plan everything from birthday celebrations to activities for the whole family,“ she says.
Greece
Oroko travel specialist Mary Masterson has brought her children everywhere, from Africa to Borneo to the Maldives.
For ease of access, she too believes Europe is hard to beat. In particular, she recommends Halkidiki in northern Greece. “German tourists have been going there for decades and with good reason – it has incredibly sophisticated hotel properties,” says Masterson.
Among the best of these is Sani Resort, a luxury holiday destination with five award-winning hotels, located in a 1,000 acre ecological reserve, surrounded by pine forests, golden beaches and crystal clear waters. As well as its treetop adventure park it has Bear Grylls, Chelsea football and Rafael Nadal tennis academies – guaranteed to get them “off their screens,” she says.
For older children, a chartered cruise around the Greek Islands is an experience they will never forget, and Oroko can tailor the perfect itinerary.
Alternatively, pairing a few days in a smart hotel near Athens with a longer stay in The Westin, on the Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese, is another great option. It’s where Masterson’s family, including teenagers, chose to holiday last summer. “It’s suitable for everyone from babies up, has great sporting and water sports options, its own karting track, bowling and indoor climbing walls,” she says.
Croatia
Despite being like all Oroko experts, an avid traveller, last year was in fact only the first time Masterson ever visited Croatia. For families she can now personally recommend the Sun Gardens, a beautiful resort just outside Dubrovnik.
“It is just excellent for families and is just 25 minutes from the old town. Sun Gardens has become a close partner property of Oroko due to it’s exceptional facilities for families. Good food and warm hospitality are in abundance here.”
While in Dubrovnik she took a boat to an island for a day trip that included lunch in a beachside restaurant and an afternoon swimming on a beach. “It’s the kind of experience you’ll remember forever and we can organise it all for you.”
Hearing her talk about Dubrovnik one thing is clear – it may have been her first trip to the Pearl of the Adriatic but it won’t be her last.