Make your family holiday one to remember – for all the right reasons! For advice on everything from where best to go with kids to how Direct Line Travel Insurance can help with that essential family travel cover, check out our brief guide below…

Where shall we go?

These days, the world is your oyster. You and your family could go camping in Cornwall, go on a package holiday to the Costa del Sol or go elephant trekking in Nepal. Generally speaking, the further you have to travel and how far you venture off the beaten track denotes the ease factor of your holiday. Wherever you go, it’s wise to do your research first but that can be part of the fun too. If you prefer to book with an agent, they should be able to offer plenty of advice and there are lots of tour operators, such as Thomson or Mark Warner, who specialise in family holidays. For more intrepid travellers, Lonely Planet’s book Travel with Children or Helen Truszkowski’s Take the Kids Travelling will be useful.

But perhaps the best place to have your first scout around for great family destinations is online at sites such as www.takethefamily.com. This comprehensive website covers it all: from the best destinations for young kids, to ways to cope with long-distance travel to keeping the family healthy when you get there and cost comparisons for types of family holidays. Some of their recommendations include Barbados for family winter sun, London and Amsterdam as family-friendly cities, Meribel for family skiing, Egypt for adventure, Sicily and Menorca for summer sun and Devon and the Lake District for great places nearer to home. They also recommend family-friendly sites such as www.babygoes2.com, www.kidsintow.co.uk or www.franceforfamilies.com.

What do we need to do before we go?

Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents and that you’ve double-checked all the small print regarding discounts or deals (for example, if small children go free). In addition to transport and accommodation tickets and bookings you should also invest in adequate Travel Insurance. Direct Line has a range of Travel Cover that includes Annual Travel Insurance, Single Trip Travel Insurance and Discoverer, which is ideal travel insurance for backpackers. Each policy includes cover for health and medical emergencies, loss and theft of possessions and valuables (including cash), cancellation, curtailment and certain activities where specified. The policy limits and full terms and conditions are shown in the policy wording (copies of which are available online).

Remember, your credit card booking or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may provide some insurance but your EHIC does not cover repatriation, for example. All Direct Line travel policies provide £5 million of medical cover per person for emergency medical expenses abroad and the policy also provides cover of up to £2,000 for one person to stay or travel with an injured party – a weight off your mind if your child falls ill and you need to be there.

You can view the summary of travel cover to find out what each type of policy covers and which one is best for you and your family. Then when you apply for a quote, just give us the number of people you want to cover and their ages and we will work out a premium for you.

Whoever is named on the policy can also travel independently – so if you have Annual Travel Cover and you decide to go on a weekend break just with your partner, or your child needs cover for a school trip (attended by an adult) you and your child are still insured during that time.

If you will be taking part in certain sports or leisure activities on your trip, it is important that you check your travel insurance policy documents to make sure they are covered under our list of insured activities.  If you are unsure of what you are covered for, or if you would like to do something that’s not listed, please call us and we will be able to tell you if your cover will be affected. If you do not inform us you will be taking part in any activity not listed in the policy document, you may not be covered for any accidents or losses.

Any other top tips?

The advice you may need depends on where you are going and what kind of holiday you want. Once you have made this choice the books and websites above can point you in the right direction. If you are travelling through Europe by car, for example, then you should think about how to keep your kids happy and occupied and prevent them from distracting you as you drive. If you want a relaxing holiday too, then look into childcare facilities – many hotels, campsites or parks run special kids clubs and some have nanny or crèche facilities. If you are going off the beaten track then make sure your children have had the right jabs. In all cases, it’s worth taking a good first aid kit in case your child comes down with something. Strong sun cream to protect sensitive skin is also a must – even when you don’t think it is that hot – as is protective clothing or equipment if you are treating them to specialist activities such as skiing or canoeing. Remember, the less you need to worry when you get there, the more fun your holiday will be.

It’s quick and easy to get Travel Insurance for your family with Direct Line. Find out how by getting a quote today.