Your Holiday
Family adventures afar
As the saying goes ‘if the kids are happy, the parents are too’. Flying to a far-flung destination with children can seem daunting. Where to go? What do to? How to keep them amused on a long flight? To help make your planning easier, here are some expert long-haul travelling tips “Dubai is the destination seeing the greatest levels of growth for families,” says Enda Corneille, country manager of Emirates in Ireland (www.emirates.ie). “It is a great alternative to Florida and Disneyworld, particularly with the opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts theme park and IMG Worlds of Adventure last November. “Other popular family destinations include Australia, South Africa for safari holidays, and Bali in Thailand. If you’re looking for an active family holiday, try something completely different such as an 8km trekking experience through the beautiful forest of Matheran, India, which is 90km from Mumbai.” If you’re thinking about flying long-haul with the kids, Enda says researching every fine detail is vital. “Wherever your preferred destination, think about the specifics. For example, Dubai is a wonderful holiday destination at Christmas or during February mid-term, but is not suitable for families during the summer because of the heat. Remember that for some destinations, you will need a visa or the whole family may have to be vaccinated. Give yourself more time to plan a long-haul trip with children to ensure you have everything covered well in advance. “When flying, it’s a good idea to prepare children for the upcoming ‘adventure’ and get them used to the idea that this is an exciting prospect, and being on an aircraft for several hours is nothing to worry about. Get to the air-
port early and if your child has a favourite toy or security blanket, make sure it’s not packed away, but that you take it on board. This one thing could make all the difference to your trip! Emirates has a non-stop entertainment system on board, special children’s meals, and complimentary toys and goodies, plus the crew is always there, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Universally loved!
Planning a magical family trip to Universal Orlando Resort, Florida? Clodagh Dooley speaks to Kevin Gibson, Universal Park & Resorts, about making the most of your visit
How long should families plan on visiting the resort for? “Universal Orlando Resort is the kind of place where you can spend as little or as much time as you want! Universal Orlando’s third theme park, Volcano Bay, will open this May 25th, so now is the perfect time to start planning a summer trip across the pond. The ‘3-Park Explorer’ ticket will permit guests to experience all three theme parks. This means that, over a validity period of 14 days, guests can hop in and out of the parks and come back as much as they want!”
How long can you expect to spend at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? “There are two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida, and these are connected by a short train journey on the iconic Hogwarts Express. It would be very easy to spend a whole day taking in only things Potter-related, spending the morning at one park and the afternoon at the other.”
How can I beat the queues?
Downtown Dubai
“For those staying on site in one of Universal’s hotels, early park admission is offered – so you can squeeze in an hour before the masses arrive. New to Volcano Bay is the TapuTapu wearable, which allows guests to virtually wait in line for Volcano Bay’s attractions, giving them extra time to explore the park.”
Sunway 7024695
What attractions are a must? “Take a selfie next to the Universal globe statue, then make a beeline for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Browse the iconic shops down Diagon Alley (maybe with a Butterbeer in hand) and experience the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride. Visit The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure for a thrilling ride, and book a table at a CityWalk restaurant in the evening – which has neon lights, night clubs and a 20-screen movie theatre. “Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at CityWalk offers an expansive menu of all things chocolate – try the Chocolate x5 milkshake, which is a visitor favourite. There is such an assortment of entertainment for every type of person, be that a Minions-loving kid, a 30-yearold Harry Potter fan or a 70-year-old who just wants to experience something they could have had as a child!”