by Matthew Adams

Created on: March 02, 2008   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

Let's have some fun in the sun! While the holiday season still hasn't arrived just yet, this doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't consider your summer family holiday now. Indeed, sooner might actually be better. After all, why have a last-minute rush for the deadline when you can have your holiday planned and booked months in advance?

Planning ahead will give you the greatest opportunity to ensure your exact location and accommodation requirements are met. With more time for research, you will have a greater chance of getting the best deal.

To start, the date and duration of your holiday must be the paramount issue. A suitable date will need to ensure that you and your family are available to depart for the chosen destination. Alas, no last-minute work dates or anything else should overlap. You must be certain that the date and period you select will enable you to depart unhindered. Only you can ascertain your work commitments, so make sure that you are indeed free on the dates specified! Also, discuss with your family if the date and period will be okay with them.

Set a realistic budget and ensure that the holiday fees fit within the parameters. You should consider setting an overall maximum fee (everything included) to help you with this. As you are planning in advance, you might be able to find some good holiday deals. Look for hotels that offer free nights accommodation or reduced family fees.

The destination will be the next thing to decide. For a family holiday, consider including something fun. Adventure parks, water parks and amusements can provide this. You might want some good beaches to lay on too! This, of course, is something that should be discussed with your family. Pick up a variety of holiday brochures, sit down and flick through them together. Select a number of potential destinations and narrow down the field until a most appropriate location is decided upon. If you have web access, this can be helpful too.

The date, budget, destination and accommodation will leave most matters catered for, except for insurance and other safe-checks that you might wish to take into consideration. No stone need be unturned as time is on your side. Insurance coverage is most appropriate if planning on a holiday abroad. Otherwise, some might argue the necessity for insurance with more localized holidays. It must be stated that if the destination does carry genuine potential safety risks then it might not be entirely appropriate for a family holiday. If going abroad, I would also recommend that you review the validity of your passports to make sure they aren't due to expire.

Your final step will be in booking the holiday. Booking through a holiday agent will cover aspects of insurance and save you contacting the hotel yourself. With the deal sealed, you now have many months left to pack your bags.

The rain will give way to sunshine soon enough. As your holiday approaches the prospect of beaches, surfing, swimming pools or anything else you may have planned, will loom large. Roll on summer!

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