Six reasons to visit a holiday park this year

Families just love them – the foldaway fun of a mobile home, cabin or tent, combined with free activities and brilliant facilities – holiday parks have become more and more appealing. I know I'm a complete convert. So here are six reasons to pitch up at one this year...

1 The Chesil Vista Holiday Park in Weymouth, Dorset, is unveiling a number of new free children's attractions when it reopens on 19 March. Kids will benefit from new play facilities and a two-storey soft play centre, as well as regular visits from favourite TV characters. Meanwhile. the whole family will be able to take advantage of the new Chesil Bistro, which will be open at lunchtime and in the evenings.

2. Budding Robin Hoods and Maid Marians will enjoy the location of the new Forest Holidays 3,300-acre site in Nottinghamshire's Sherwood Forest, which is due to open in October. Also new this year, many of its cabins (pictured above) and treehouses have been upgraded to offer a little more luxury across its sites in Cornwall, Gloucestershire, North Yorkshire and Scotland.

3. Haven Holidays are offering the chance for families to go on safari – without leaving the country. Its stylish, fully equipped safari tents will be available at at two of its sites in Burnham on Sea and Perran Sands. And to complete the experience, the kids can take part in a Wildlife Detective programme.

4. Meanwhile, Eurocamp has added two new parcs to its portfolio for this year. Spaggia E Mare in Italy, sits on the Adriatic coast and is surrounded by a UNESCO World Heritage National Park. Overlooking beatuiful beaches yet just 30 minutes from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is Guincho parc – perfect for beach lovers and culture-seekers.

5. For bunny-loving little ones, Keycamp has introduced Miffy mobile homes on three of its sites in Holland, Picardy and the Languedoc. The special accommodation includes themed toys, DVDs, games and furniture, along with toddler cutlery and a fenced garden with Miffy playhouse.

6. Things are getting steamy at two of France specialist Siblu's holiday parcs this year. Le Bois Masson in the Vendée and Les Sables du Midi in the Languedoc are launching spa facilities for grown ups, which will offer steam rooms and spa treatments including massages, body scrubs and circulatory stretching.

So what are you waiting for? Book a break on a holiday park for this year.

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