Family holiday planner

BLACK TOMATO’S FAMILY HOLIDAY PLANNER

+44 207 426 9888 BLACKTOMATO.COM/PLANNER

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Our top tips to keep ahea of the crowds

Summer’s almost out. The children are heading back to school. Normality is about to return to the family home. Ish. Use September (and the peace and quiet) to look forward to the rest of the year and get planning.

Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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Read this calendar front stick it to your fridge. to back and Goes without saying really. »» It might sound obvio us, the kids’ passports are all but make sure up to date. As well as your own. »» Book your time off durin holidays right now. Save g the school the office politics and yourself from something to look forwar give yourself d to.

Think ahead

Something for September?

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With your last holiday a your heads to October. Hdistant memory, turn And will be here a lot soonalf term is on its way. er than you think.

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October already. Wow.

fore you The Christmas break will be here bethe time know it. Bet you’re glad you booked re’s half off work early. And even better, thenth. So term to take advantage of this mody (we’ll if you haven’t planned a trip alreaout some resist the told-you-so’s) check within a of these top recommendations, all know how five hour flight from home. We n’t waste precious your time off is, so doBickering it with really long haul flights. ay. children is no way to start a holid blacktomato.com/fivehours

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Something for October?

Grootbos, Western Cape, South Africa blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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NOVEMBER It’s time

Christmas at yours. New Time to start juggling the in laws. Exhausting, isn’t it? We Year with friends. Endless politics.so we won’t suggest you don’t want to be too predictable, bles behind. take it abroad and leave the squab yway, and you haven’t But. If you’re thinking about it an a… already made plans, we have an ide away. Grandparents and Why not take the entire family ose leftovers have to go all. You can even invite the dog. Th ve it, we just so happen somewhere. And as luck would ha to fit the whole family. to have a collection of luxury villas ok the turkey.

We can even get someone in to co e head to For more on our luxury villa servic blacktomato.com/luxury-villas

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Something for November?

A family villa on Peter Island, British Virgin Islands blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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DECEMBER We hope by now you’re packing your bags...

...brushing up on your local lingo and rea on a plane for your winter escape en fam dy to jump ille. So bon voyage and happy holidays. Right?

Mum, please look away now. Just for this month.

Dad, forgotten to buy presents altogether got it covered. Why don’t you treat them ? We’ve trip in 2014. We’ll plan it, we’ll wrap it andto a special you to put under the tree. We might eve send it to n throw in a bow.

Something for December?

Hotel Arenal Nayara, Arenal Volcano Park, Costa Rica blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

No need to panic. Just call us on +44 20 7426 9888 and we’ll fix everythin g.

Here’s a little inspiration before you call: blacktomato.com/family-holidays

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Y R A U N JA 2014

No one likes breaking resolutions But thankfully “This year I will travel to… ” is one of the easiest to keep. And we can help.

As a family, create a list of all your travel for 2014. Give us a call and we’ll plan your must do’s (around the school holidays of course). Wh year ahead a couple of ‘family challenge’ resolution y not make Learn a new skill all together. Mingle withs this year. cultures. Far more motivating than throwi some new ng money away on a gym membership. Again.

Something for January?

So, for some resolutions you can keep this

Amanwella in southern Sri Lanka blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

blacktomato.com/resolutions

Did you know…

year, visit

On average, we spend five weeks of commuting to and from work in the UK. the year So use that time wisely and plan for the five weeks ann ual leave you’ll be taking in 2014.

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The snow is falling and it’s around this time of year that our heads turn to the mountains. We know the best places to learn to ski, favourites for those looking for fresh powder and the best English speaking instructors out there. And ever heard of Lulea? Think Narnia meets Swedish Lapland. Wasn’t it one of your resolutions to try something new in 2014?

And as a gentle reminder, book off your summer annual leave if you haven’t already. You’re only a few weeks away from Easter (not to mention the summer) so make sure you stay ahead of the crowds.

Something for February?

Dunton Hot Springs (and powder fields), Colorado blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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M A R C H

With six months of the school year gone and Easter around the corner, treat the family to an adventurous getaway and blow off some steam.

We know better than anyone that distracting the children is the best way to keep the parents happy, so check out our top family friendly hotels and our favourite family adventures.

blacktomato.com/familyhotels blacktomato.com/familyadventures

Top Tip

Something for March?

If you’re planning an adventurous trip this summer, now’s a good time to start breaking in the new footwear. Call us crazy, but it beats blisters and tears half way through your jungle trek. And make sure you’ve seen your family doctor at least a month ahead of your trip in case you need any jabs before you leave.

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Hotel Rangá, Iceland blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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Kids revising for end of year tests ?

Why not bring their hom doesn’t it? We all wish ework to life. Sounds nice, from history class. Or liswe could remember more in double biology. But th tened for that whole hour can have in a classroom ere’s only so much fun you them early and they’ll re. So get out there. Inspire member it all.

This month’s homework

»» Make like a gladiator »» Track a rhino in Sout in Rome »» Race the Incas in Pe h Africa »» Discover the lost cit ru y in Jordan

Too young for exams?

Lucky them. Why not get the kids started on holiday-related projects before you head off. Map your route, learn some useful vocab and trial the local cuisine back at home to prepare the kids for what’s to come.

blacktomato.com/homew

ork

Something for April?

Hotel Esencia, Riviera Maya, Mexico blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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May brings with it anothe Really?) and a couple of r half term (Another one? and our favourite time fobank holidays to boot. Oh, temperatures are perfec r an African safari. Cooler with vegetation at its thint for the whole family and nest the game is easier th ever to spot. an

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Nothing beats showing tonne elephant. For all them their first ever five luxury safaris and top tip our Attenborough worthy blacktomato.com/family s visit -safari But for some quick inspira tion…

Hire a 4WD, throw the self-drive adventure in Nkids in the back and have a and brilliantly maintainedamibia. The roads are quiet . And they even drive on the left.

Something for May?

Okonjima Lodge, Omboroko Mountains, Namibia blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

Worried about the mosqu luxury resorts in malaria itoes? Head to one of our perfect destination to -free South Africa. It’s the tantrums, and then ther avoid those daily medicine e’s being no jet lag with just the added bonus of there an hour’s time differenc from the UK. e

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ju n e

Summer is coming

And the kids are soon to We know that keeping tr be set free off school. can be hard work. So letack of the kids in busy crowds the masses and get the us help you. Get away from our private tours. We can’best in local knowledge with Wall of China but we can t promise a tourist free Great give you room to breath e.

Or for a private lesson a Japanese sensei, an af in the art of the ninja from Sistine Chapel or the Taj ter-hours tour of Petra, the Mahal, look no further th an blacktomato.com/just-for -us

Top Tip

what each n o s t s li e m Draw up so ts to do well before of you wan specially if you’re you travel (eh a second family) travelling witrrange everything and let us a get out there. before you ch into an u m s a e ic w t You’ll fit cluding your in , ip r t d e is . organ d down-time much neede

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Something for June?

Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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July The children are going to be home for months. Months.

And we all know they’ll be going stir crazy before long.

Plan something for the end of the school holidays and give yourself some leverage for your dinner table negotiations.

‘Finish your greens and empty the dishwasher or we’re not going on holiday’ always worked wonders on us…

Plus chances are it’s raining. So there’s another excuse to get out of the UK. Why not do something epic and take a twin destination holiday. We know that catering for the whole family’s needs can be tough, so why not double your chances of getting it right with one of these multi-stop trips...

Think Oman meets The Maldives, Paris twinned with an Indian Ocean adventure playground, a Californian road trip with a French Polynesian chaser... ...and the list goes on at blacktomato.com/double-up

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Top Tip

es ite themselv n. r w o t s id k tio Get the each destina urite m o fr d r a c t vo a pos and their fa ry. It e t a d e h t t t s n Ju t the cou thing abou n’t arrive home until probably wo but they’ll make a September, ook one day. great scrapb

Something for July?

Awasi Lodge, Atacama Desert, Chile blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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August

Something for August?

Uma Ubud, Bali, Indonesia blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

Travelling in Aug

ust?

Good plan. This is one of as the children will be ge the last opportunities this year to enjoy some there’s plenty you can dotting back to their studies soon enough. So what extended family time And plenty we can do to to make sure your trip is as smooth sailing as po ever your travel plans, ssible. help... »» Skip the airport queu es an hour shuffling your cases d let us arrange a meet and assist service. No ne ed to spend an and clan towards the chec k-in desk. »» Take the chaos out of air travel as we arrange a departure lounge day pa family. Last minute char ss for the whole gi ng of all iPads is a must for any lo »» Don’t forget to chec ng flight. k ha just ask us. We don’t wantnd luggage restrictions just before you travel. If yo u’ you to have to give up yo ur formula milk at the se re not sure, »» Buy some local toys curity gate. when of trouble, and it’s the pe you’re away. It’s a great way to keep them ente rfect thing for show and rtained and out tell in September.

Oh. And send us a post card for our wall of fam e, will you? Nothing be fashioned post. ats some good old

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START PLANNING YOUR NEXT FAMILY HOLIDAY

+44 207 426 9888 BLACKTOMATO.COM/PLANNER