family summer how to elevate your holiday

If you love the idea of lazing on the beach but know all too well that the family will be ready to get active after a few days in the sun, Kuoni Solihull have got you covered.

Whether it’s spotting elephants in the wilds of Sri Lanka before relaxing on a private island in the

Maldives or combining hiking and history with pro football coaching in Sicily, the store’s experts know the experiences that will stay with you for years to come.

We spoke to Mary, Store Manager at Kuoni Solihull, to get a run-down of her favourite family beach holidays that come with a side of adventure.

Tropical island adventures in Mauritius

Mauritius is packed full of all the sights and sounds you could want from an exotic holiday. On this pint-sized tropical island, you’ll find a pictureperfect coastline leading to lush forests, tumbling waterfalls and rugged mountains – all ideal for running free and exploring.

To keep the kids entertained, stay at cool and contemporary LUX* Belle Mare, which has a fantastic kids’ club called Play for ages 3-11 featuring an outdoor culinary school and splash pool, as well as Studio 17 for teens, complete with a DJ zone.

A cultural twin-centre in Greece

Our handpicked hotels in Greece raise the bar when it comes to family holidays. Start your twin-centre trip on the lesser-visited west side of the island, where you can explore ancient Minoan sites, build pink sandcastles on Elafonissi beach and stroll round Chania’s pretty harbour. Stay at Domes Zeen Chania, A Luxury Collection Resort, Crete which has excellent family rooms and is the place to stay for insightful local adventures.

Further east on the island, Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection in Crete brims with culture and character, and its clever design – with familyand adults-aimed zones – will keep everyone happy. CORE is an open-air agora with pop-up shops, activities and events for families where the kids can meet mythological Greek monsters and try out every flavour at the ice-cream truck.

Sport, hiking and history in Sicily

Active families, this one’s for you. Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Sicily pulls out all the stops for a fun-filled break surrounded by pristine beaches and olive groves. The resort has three championship golf courses, a 9-hole course, putting green and driving range for little golfers-in-training, plus a tennis academy and six clay courts where wannabe Murrays and Raducanus can get competitive. Football lovers are in for a real treat: in summer, Verdura holds four-, five- and seven-day Juventus Training Experiences when professional coaches share their pro soccer skills with the kids.

Sicily is a treasure trove of nature and culture, packed with experiences you can all enjoy together.

Beach and city living in Spain

Just a three-hour flight from the UK, Marbella has been a family favourite for decades, and with its incredible location overlooking the beach on the Golden Mile, Puente Romano Beach Resort is one of the region’s hottest resorts. Kids’ activities here range from paddle boarding and tennis to beach clean-ups to learn about sustainability –you can even arrange private tutors for catch-up sessions.

To see more of Spain, take off on a mini road trip and combine your time on the beach in Marbella with a city stay at H10 Casa de la Plata in Seville. A private walking tour is a fantastic way for kids to learn about Seville’s local history. If a walking tour isn’t going to keep the kids’ attention, up the adrenalin levels and head for the thrills and spills of the city’s theme park.

The ultimate Indian Ocean twin-centre

Sri Lanka is ideal touring territory and if you book a private car with an experienced driver/guide, you’ll be able to take in the island’s highlights at your own pace. You can explore the Cultural Triangle and Minneriya National Park all from Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, so there’s no need to worry about the unpacking and repacking that’s needed when you move from hotel to hotel. Race to the top of Sigiriya Rock, explore cave temples and go on safari to spot wild elephants, then return to the lodge to watch monkeys play as the kids splash around in the pool.

It’s just a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Sri Lanka to the Maldives – our top recommendation for tropical island relaxation. Kurumba Maldives is only a 10-minute speedboat hop from the airport. The two-level Family Villas here come with a plunge pool and the resort has stand-out experiences ideal for families with older children.

Temples, elephants and beaches in Thailand

Where else can you whizz between golden temples, spend time with gentle giants at an elephant sanctuary and relax on a glistening beach where your hotel has its own private night market? Start your time in Thailand at the exclusive Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok, where you’ll find spacious family suites and a rooftop infinity pool with sweeping city skyline views.

If you’re travelling with children over 7, Elephant Hills Jungle Safari is our top suggestion. At this award-winning elephant sanctuary, located in one of the world’s oldest rainforests, you’ll create memories to last a lifetime as you watch the elephants bathe and help to prepare their food.

Round off your holiday on the soft sands of Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. There are plenty of pools to make a splash in – including one with mini water slide – and cute extra activities such as Junior Master Chef and traditional Thai kite making.

Create a perfect holiday with Kuoni Solihull – For an adventure that’s as individual as you are.

Our in-store personal travel experts can tailormake a holiday of any type, almost anywhere in the world.

Make an appointment at Kuoni Solihull where you can relax with Nespresso coffee or a glass of Champagne as one of our Personal Travel Experts craft a one-of-a-kind holiday just for you.

Kuoni Solihull 3 Crescent Arcade Touchwood Shopping Centre Solihull B91 3GZ 0121 711 8848 stores.kuoni.co.uk he region’s biggest and best celebration of food returns once again this September as the Solihull Food Festival takes over the town centre!

Taking place between Friday September 29th and Sunday October 1st, the free family festival will feature over 80 food and drink traders in Mell Square, Mill Lane and Solihull High Street.

Organised by Solihull BID and supported by RR Events, this year’s event will again feature the hugely popular live music Rum and Reggae zone.

Plus, there’s the much-loved demo kitchen, taster tent, and roaming entertainment across the town centre.

For a full line-up of music and activity, head to the Solihull BID website by scanning the QR code!

For The Foodies For The Reggae Lovers For The Families

We’re once again joined by some of the best celebrity chefs in the business. National treasure Ainsley Harriott, Italian maestro Aldo Zilli, ‘Yummy Brummie’ Glynn Purnell and MasterChef 2022 runner-up, Pookie Tredell and our very own Michelin Star chef Rob Palmer from Toffs will be showcasing their skills in the Live Demo Kitchen on the High Street! All demonstrations are free to watch with seating on a first come first served basis.

We’ll also have over 80 street food and drink traders from the Continental Street Market provided by our partners at RR Events. Expect an eclectic mix of delicious flavours from around the world!

The Taster Tent also gives you the chance to try out the amazing range of eateries we have in Solihull town centre!

There’s plenty of free family themed activities across the weekend to keep the little ones entertained.

Children can join our VIP Kids Club and receive their free collectable key ring before taking part in the fun recipe trail, discovering some of the best restaurants on offer in Solihull town centre.

The eco glitter horsebox and free face painters will be on hand to add sparkle to young faces and roaming entertainment will spread the festival cheer across the town centre.

We’ve even got dinosuars joining us so you can get up, close and personal with a T-Rex... if you dare!

The Rum & Reggae section has been a massive hit since its introduction. So much so, in fact, that the music stage is now located in Mell Square!

Expect to hear some of the country’s very best reggae and ska musicians, including the amazing UB40 tribute Rats In The Kitchen as well as the Skabucks, Ultimate Madnezz, Global Reggae Band and Reggae Matic.

Our line-up of free live music will get those toes tapping whilst you’re surrounded by delicious food and drink. Authentic Caribbean food and cocktails will be available so you can really make a weekend of it!

There really is something for everybody at the Solihull Food Festival so come on down and tickle those taste buds, you won’t want to miss out! For a full line-up of activities across the three days, please head over to our website by scanning the QR code.