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Kalpitiya, another whale watching hot spot in Sri Lanka

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne offers compelling evidence why Kalpitiya can be one of Sri Lanka’s three whale watching hot spots. This is the story of his quest to verify a theory by British marine scientist Dr. Charles Anderson

(Text and Pics by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne) – As I walked to the beach an Indian Nightjar churred. I was sensing the world through my ears. I was in a world of darkness, like the one inhabited by the Sperm Whales. In their world, in the murky depths where no light penetrates, they will ‘see’ with sound, using echo-location.

Waves gently lapped the shoreline in front of the boat house at the Alankuda Beach Resort. The silent murmur of the sea was abruptly broken by the scream of a powerful out-board engine as we thundered out, hurtling across the reef at 30 kmph to where the continental shelf plunged away into a deep abyss. I was heading in the darkness before day break, in search of the creatures of the darkness of the deep. I had instructed the boatman Susantha to head west, in search of whales and answers to another theory put forward by British marine scientist Dr. Charles Anderson.

An orange fireball lurked below the Eastern horizon, still waiting to be uncovered by the Earth’s rotation. I was on my way for one more of my dedicated whale watching trips in Kalpitiya. Amazing as it may seem, it seems that this was the first serious, dedicated effort to look for whales off Kalpitiya and to ascertain whether whale watching could work as an eco-tourism product. It is not that others had not seen whales before.

But almost all of them had been chance encounters of people watching dolphins in-shore of the reef. No one it seems had so far made a serious effort to go in search of whales beyond the reef which lies around 6 km out, roughly parallel to the peninsula. Any references to the reef in this article is not to Barr Reef which is off Kandakuliya.

Trincomalee has been known for its whales since the 1980s. But it is yet to be assessed for its whale watching strike rate in the post-war environment. I had already led the publicity campaign for Dondra. I was back in Kalpitiya to research another story – that Kalpitiya could be the next whale watching hot spot in Sri Lanka.

My last effort on April 19, 2009 to look for whales off Kalpitiya was thwarted by bad weather. With the boat buffeted by strong waves, and the chances of spotting a blow almost nil, I called off the search and decided to bide my time for the next season after the current south-west monsoon had spent its energy.

My next dedicated whale watching session off Kalpitiya had been the day before, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Two boats had set out. One had Sandie Dawe, the chief executive of Visit Britain, with her husband Jock. They would follow the ‘Dolphin Line’, broadly an area which ran north-south parallel to the Kalpitiya peninsula, in-shore of the reef.

The other boat, prepared with three tanks of fuel and food and water for a long sea faring session carried Dallas Martenstyn, English photographer Georgina Viney and myself with boatman Susantha for a deep sea mission. None of what I have done in Kalpitiya would have been possible without the help of Dallas and his team who put together all the logistics for my whale watching trips. It is thanks to Dallas and his fellow investors at Alankuda that the world learnt about the dolphin watching at Kalpitiya. As we headed out, we paused a few times to gauge the depth using a fish finder.

The whale watching effort this time got off to a fairytale start. We had left at 7 a.m. and at 7.55 a.m., Georgina spotted the first blow whilst Dallas and I were fiddling with our two GPS units. We were at N 08 03 583 E 79 35 300 approximately seven nautical miles out from the shore (Alankuda Beach Resort is at N 08 03 121 E 79 42 560). We had encountered a group of five Sperm Whales. I explained to Susantha he should never make a direct bearing to the whale and the importance of keeping a distance from the whale where it would be comfortable with the boat.

We spent about 15 minutes with the school that were travelling on a south to north trajectory parallel to the peninsula.
I was elated that the search for whales had been so successful. Determined to find more whales, the third consecutive whale watching session had begun before day break. I was joined once again by Nikki Connolly and Linda Fennell who had been excited by the images I had taken the previous morning. These are probably the first images of Sperm Whales taken off Kalpitiya of a publishable standard.

We headed out due west and then travelled on a south to north axis past the previous day’s sighting which I had marked on Jonathan Martenstyn’s GPS unit.

We continued north keeping out at sea at a distance of around seven nautical miles, with the shoreline no longer in sight. Three hours of searching yielded nothing when on the way back, I saw a burst of spray dancing over the waves. We had found Sperm Whales. There was a group of three and another pair. They were travelling south, on a south-north trajectory, at a pace of around 10 kmph. Susantha knew how to handle them this time and we spent over an hour with the group keeping a comfortable distance and trying out the arc-forward a few times.

Susantha said that he had come out just once before beyond the reef to look for whales. It had been with some of the staff. With clients they always stayed in-shore of the reef to look for dolphins and encountered a stray whale about once every three weeks.

That evening I spoke to Jonathan Martenstyn who runs the boats from Dolphin Beach. He confirmed that they stay in-shore of the reef and had never gone looking for whales. He said their rate of encounter with whales was less than Alankuda who ran more dolphin trips.

Chitral Jayathilake of John Keells who runs the whale watching from Mirissa and dolphin watching from Kalpitiya also confirmed that they stayed in-shore of the reef. Chitral had never gone out to look for whales off Kalpitiya and had never seen one here, in-shore or off-shore of the reef. Even Dallas Martenstyn had told me that the only time he went out beyond the reef to look for whales was when he had gone out with Georgina and me the previous morning.

It seems quite astonishing that with Kalpitiya becoming publicly known two years earlier for its dolphin watching no one had made a dedicated effort to whale watch and evaluate whale watching as an eco-tourism product from Kalpitiya.

It was not that people had not reported whales from Kalpitiya before. There had been a trickle of reports from people who had gone dolphin watching. Initially, I had dismissed them as chance events. I was a sceptic until March 2009. No one had offered a concrete reason why Kalpitiya should be good for whales.

My earlier doubts about Kalpitiya being good for whales had to do with the location of the continental shelf. I knew the continental shelf held the key to an area of sea being good for whale watching. It had to be close to land. I had looked for whales off Negombo and Kirinda for example and failed because one had to travel out over 30 nautical miles to reach the edge of the shelf.

In May 2008, I had taken the story to the world that the seas south of Mirissa was beyond doubt the best place in the world for seeing Blue Whales. My conviction was based on field results of a theory by Dr Charles Anderson. In addition to a theory of a migratory movement, a key to the ease and proximity of sightings was the fact that the continental shelf pinched in very close to Dondra Head.

My interpretation of Admiralty Chart No 828 Cochin to Vishakhapatnam was that the continental shelf was just too far out from Kalpitiya. But I wondered whether there was a submarine canyon which in conjunction with a movement of currents or tides somehow created a channel rich in nutrients which created an unusual and exceptionally rich concentration of marine life. The Spinner Dolphins would be a top predator of this unusually focussed food chain off Kalpitiya.

A more likely answer came on March 24, 2009 as I listened to Charles explaining to Dallas Martenstyn that the latter’s observations of dolphins and the occasional stray whale could be explained by the continental shelf being closer than was previously believed. He also thought that there could be whales to be seen beyond the reef. I had been circulating a graphic we had done based on British Admiralty Chart No 828 which showed that the continental shelf was far out from Kalpitiya, not close to it. Charles disagreed with my interpretation and we pulled out a bundle of admiralty charts that Dallas had in the office. I saw that the 1,000m depth contour which is my personal benchmark is not actually shown on any of the admiralty charts I had carelessly interpolated. It was easier to interpolate smoothly along where the depth was available and draw the 1,000m isocline far out from Kalpitiya than to imagine that somehow it pinched in close to the Kalpitiya Peninsula like it did at Dondra.

I studied the charts more intently and with Charles teaching me to read them, the realisation swept over me, that what I had misinterpreted as hard evidence for a wide shallow basin was no evidence at all. In fact the location of the edge of the continental shelf was wide open. There was absolutely no data available at that time to us or anyone to know conclusively where the continental shelf lay. I instinctively knew that Charles with his deep experience was onto something. I was astonished by the idea that the continental shelf could be pinching into the Kalpitiya Peninsula as it does at Dondra.

That night, long after the others had turned in, I waited in the ‘ambalama’ thumbing through the charts. Occasionally I stared out to sea, immersed in thought, a shiver of excitement running through me. I knew that Charles had led me onto another big stoy.

The next day, on March 25, 2009, Charles, Dallas and I went dolphin watching from Alankuda and saw around 600 Spinner Dolphins. I returned to office as there was a business to run. But I knew I had to come back to nail the story with evidence. I needed to get the whales and get the depths.

On March 24, 2009 I had realised I needed to get the whales and the depths to confirm Charles ‘s insight that the continental shelf was close and that explained the presence of whales straying to the dolphin line. I was elated that on February 24, 2010 I had finally found the whales.

But I decided not call or text anyone yet with the news that there was conclusive evidence that Kalpitiya could be a whale watching hotspot. In my heart, I knew I did not have all the pieces together. The depth soundings I had taken with Dallas with a fish finder effective up to 700 feet was Mickey Mouse data. It did not prove anything. Driving back, that Wednesday, I knew that the only chance for any meaningful data lay with the National Aquatic Research Agency (NARA). What followed was a remarkable series of fortuitous meetings.

The next day, on Thursday, February 25, I attended a meeting at the World Bank convened by Sumith Pilapitiya. I looked around for people who could help me in the search for the missing data. I homed in on Dr Malik Fernando, a marine biologist and asked him if there was any data available on depths off Kalpitiya and where the continental shelf may lie. Malik told me how he had swum with Arjan Rajasuriya from NARA in the area where they had thought the continental shelf plunged into a deep abyss. Dallas had also told me on the last visit that with his experience as an angler, sailor and diver, that the continental shelf was close. But visibility in water does not go beyond a hundred feet. No one can peer down to a few hundred metres and see the edge of the shelf plunging a kilometer or two deep.

So although there were clearly others who shared the Anderson theory, I only had gut feelings to go by.

I desperately needed hard data. As if reading my mind, S.A.M. Azmy, Head of the Environmental Studies Division of NARA joined us and introduced himself. I asked him whether there were any data, any recent data at all of depth soundings off the Kalpitiya Peninsula. He explained that the search for oil had resulted in the sea floor being mapped. I asked him whether it would show the 1,000m and 2,000m isoclines. He confirmed it would and in fact said that they would have that for all around the island.

On February 26, Azmy pulled out a chart which showed in remarkable detail the depth contours off the Kalpitiya Peninsula mapped for exploration of oil. There in front of me were the depth contours which showed that the continental shelf was indeed very close and that the edge of the shelf, where it rapidly plunged to 1,000 and 2,000m was parallel to the peninsula. It was the north-south axis at E 79 35 the Sperm Whales had hunted on and for which I had taken GPS readings. I could not believe how well it all fitted together. Wow!

Technically speaking the continental shelf is defined as the 200m isocline and here that was as close as 4 nautical miles. The 1,000m depth isocline which I use as a benchmark for whale watching was 9 nautical miles away. I was probably the first person from the general public to see this chart which had been published internally in October 2009. The data simply had not been available when Charles had first convinced me to re-consider my view. The data had come out seven months later and I suspected that few in marine biological circles were aware of it.

M.A. Ariyawansa, the Head of the National Hydrographic Office (NHO) introduced me to his team and to their amusement I rushed over to a pile of maps on a table and began thumbing through feverishly. Out came an untitled map simply which showed the 200, 1,000 and 2,000m depth isoclines around Sri Lanka and the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. It showed the continental shelf pinching in three places.

Trincomalee with a submarine canyon which has been known for some time and shown in the Admiralty charts. Dondra, again shown on the Admiralty charts but its significance for whale watching unknown until Charles had explained it to me in August 2003 and only one other place – the Kalpitiya Peninsula. Sri Lanka therefore has only three places which in terms of the location of the continental shelf are positioned ideally to be whale watching hot spots because the whale and oceanic dolphins need deep water to come close in.

I had now found the conclusive evidence which connected the dots to show that Kalpitiya was one and in fact the last of the three whale watching hot spots to be recognized as such. My role once again had been to listen to scientists and to go out and do the field work and connect the dots to make a big story to bridge science with commerce.

The NHO team were helpful, courteous and genuinely interested in their work. They gave me a print-out of the Mannar depths and a custom print-out of the chart showing the continental shelf. I came out of NARA clutching the remaining evidence why Kalpitiya can be a whale watching hot spot. The chart with the continental shelf was dated January 2010. My timing had been perfect. A few weeks earlier and the chart may not have existed.

Of the three records of Orca sightings since 2008, two have been at Kalpitiya, photographed in March 2008 by Senaka Abeyratne and on January 31, 2010 by Maithri Liyanage. It is likely that Kalpitiya could rival Mirissa for the diversity of species of marine mammals. However, Mirissa may remain the top spot for watching Blue Whales because the migratory movement postulated by Charles takes them past Dondra twice. I saw no Blue Whales on the two days I was whale watching at Kalpitiya. In contrast on Wednesday February 24, Anoma Alagiyawadu, the Jetwing Lighthouse naturalist observed what he believed to be seven different Blue Whales from Mirissa.

It is too early to conclude where Trincomalee, Mirissa and Kalpitiya will rank in terms of overall species diversity, the likelihood of seeing Blue Whales and Sperm Whales, etc. But what is very clear is that we have a scientific basis for concluding that Sri Lanka has three key sites for whale watching because of the proximity of the continental shelf, the marine mammal species diversity and logistics. The three sites could result in Sri Lanka emerging as the leading whale watching destination in the world.

The appetite to go after whales from Kalpitiya and not to dally with just the dolphins will grow. Serious whale watching will now start from Kalpitiya. A trail has been blazed.

In Kalpitiya as elsewhere, legislation or guidelines will need to come in for the safety of the whales as well as the whale watchers. But legislation must be intelligent, practical and simple, to allow the whale watching industry to grow and create livelihoods. Whale watching in Sri Lanka can easily grow to be worth several billion rupees of revenue each year. Wildlife can pay its way.

(Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne is CEO of Jetwing Eco Holidays. He can be found on www.jetwingeco.com, Facebook and Flickr)

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Sri Lanka

Eco-tourism and boutique hotels increasingly popular in Sri Lanka

(by Quintus Perera) – Tirippane, Anuradhapura — Usually it is not quite possible for a business or industrial concern to afford a total solution, at least sustenance with nature. Yet there is one business which tries to keep abreast and close to the nature and also an attempt to provide a total solution.

Ulagalla Walawwa Resort a Luxury Boutique Hotel, part of Finco Group and a BOI approved project is utilizing an area of 58 acres, in Tirappane about 23 km from Anuradhapura to develop 25 luxurious villasat a cost of around Rs 700 million.

A group of journalists were taken to Tirappane to witness the project being completed, recently. The site they have chosen is an old Walauwa – first the ancestral abode of a village chieftain Nikawewa family and then the Panabokke’s of Kandyan fame that has been operating for the last 200 years.

The developers are using the Walauwa in its entirety with some modifications to suit the modern architectural trend as for example, they have converted the infamous torture chamber to punish the errand servants etc of the Walawwa as the wine cellar of the Resort. The resort is the brainchild of ICC / FINCO Vice Chairman Harsha De Saram.

Ranjan Dissabandara, General Manager who was at hand along with two other officials Ranjaka De Mel, General Manager, Marketing and Lalin De Mel, Resident Manager to answer the queries of the media said that in developing this resort they are very near to a total solution as they have in the first place not disturbed the spirit and tranquility of the land they use or the vicinity.

Unlike other similar projects they have not used virgin land but a land that has been in use. Though elephants and other animals wandered at the backyard of the Walauwa it is a land that animal and people cohabited with two irrigation tanks (Wewas) and the jungle covering two sides. They have selected the areas to erect villas very carefully to avoid cutting down any trees but chosen land covered only with scrub jungle. In fact they have started growing 1,000 large trees within their land.

Most of the walls of these villas are fitted with planks that are built with a mixture of paddy straw. To retain the coolness of villas a special kind of imported straw are used on the roof. Mr Dissabandara said that when the resort commences operations – soft opening by May and full operation in August – they will employ 30% of the required staff from the area. Inside their compound they are maintaining. 20 acre flush paddy field meeting their total rice needs and very much more. Mr De Mel said that every three months they are training 10 youth from the area as naturalists and tour guides. They intend to absorb a part of them and the balance could obtain ready employment as they will be trained.

Most importantly is spending a massive Rs 120 million in constructing a solar panel to obtain 125 KVA electricity that would take care of 50% of their energy requirements when the resort is in full operation. But when it is not at full capacity the excess electricity will be sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board.

They are installing water purification plants and all waste water is recycled to be used for their massive plantations. Their plans are to grow all the needs of their vegetable and fruits and any shortfall they intend to buy from the area itself. They have already earmarked some farmers to outsource their balance fruits and vegetable and these farmers would also be provided with some inputs and training.

The entire waste matter of the resort will be collected to make compost manure for their vegetable and fruit garden and guests could taste the fresh fruits and vegetable that is plucked just outside their challets. The required cowdung for the compost would be purchased from the villagers.

Though the Ulagalla Walawwa is completely isolated and is in a remote village atmosphere, the resort is fitted with all the modern internationally accepted hotel facilities – you name it they have it. Horse riding, archery, canoeing are some of the recreational facilities.

Two irrigation tanks that link the jungle are on the border of the Walauwa and careful guests could watch the wild animals slip out of the jungle to drink water from the tanks in the wee hours when the rest of the world is asleep.

The resort has fixed the villa rate, half board at a price of US $ 250. The Ulagalla Resort concept is comparatively unique as it appears to be closest to nature and stands out as it hasn’t compromised nature. The company is also working on two other hotel resort projects.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka tourism promotion Europe launched in Brussels

The Sri Lankan embassy in Brussels in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism held a week long promotion of Sri Lanka in Brussels this week in a programme intended to be replicated in other European capitals.

Centered on Sri Lanka’s participation as the hos country at the BELASIA annual travel fair which projects over 25 Asian countries as a tourist destinations, it included tourism and travel promotion, a Sri Lankan Food festival, performances by a Sri Lankan dance troupe and Sri Lankan lace, masks, handicrafts and gem displays. The embassy in Brussels said the Minister of State of the Belgian Government Jos Chabert recalled his visits to Sri Lanka during the inauguration of the BELASIA on 20 February 2010.

Mr. Chabert said he saw Sri Lanka as the ‘paradise of Asia’ and was happy to see it forge ahead. According to the statement, he commended the sense of partnership generated by BELASIA to bring the East and West together and saw it as an opportunity to learn from each others capacities and advantages, to stimulate synergies and raise confidence in relations. He hoped that this exposure of Asia in Belgium, this year particularly highlighting Sri Lanka, would stimulate Belgians to visit these countries and build strong partnerships in the future.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Ravinatha Aryasinha said Sri Lanka was honoured to have been selected as the host country of BELASIA, a key event in the tourism calendar of Belgium. He said this exhibition could not have come at a better time, for having overcome both the natural calamity caused by the tsunami and the man made damage caused by 30 years of terrorism, Sri Lanka tourism was gathering unprecedented momentum.

He said the 32% increase in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in January 2010, over the corresponding period in 2009, is indicative that “tourists to Sri Lanka have voted with their feet”. He expressed confidence that BELASIA would serve as a catalyst in further promoting Sri Lanka in Belgium as well as in other parts of Europe.

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Sri Lanka

Destination Sri Lanka tourism campaign in New York

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) brought their worldwide ‘Destination Sri Lanka’ and ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ campaigns to the New York Times 2010 Travel held last weekend at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

An SLTPB statement said, Sri Lanka Tourism’s Honorary Director in the US Dillan Ariyawansa said the event was opportune for showcasing the multitude of tourist attractions Sri Lanka has to offer and build on the publicity generated from the recently published New York Times article where Sri Lanka was declared the top destination to visit in 2010. Mr. Ariyawansa added that the SLTPB also wanted to impress upon visitors that different possibilities are available within a country half the size of New York state.

It said that Sri Lanka, having so many attractions which are sometimes polar opposites like virgin rain forest and Donald Steel designed golf courses set among cool hilltops all within close proximity, is the main reason for choosing Sri Lanka as a holiday destination. The country offers hundreds of miles of golden beaches, seven UNESCO world heritage sites, varied climates, exotic wild and marine life, safaris, surfing and cultural events.

The SLTPB added that the Sri Lankan government has launched major publicity campaigns to develop tourism. ‘Visit Sri Lanka 2011’ is an international communication campaign involving CNN, Discovery Travel, BBC, and Al Jazeera. SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, also participated at the travel show. To add a little colour to the event, a dance troupe from Sri Lanka performed as well. Tourist arrival figures for the US have increased by 21 % in January 2010 from last year.

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Uncategorized

THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: CONCLUSION

Taking a family holiday on a budget isn’t out of reach for the savvy person who wants to do their research and find the best deals out there.

At the heart of every good holiday is knowing that you’re getting what you’ve paid for. Somehow sipping a piña colada on a lounge chair while your kids frolic in the pool feels that much more relaxing–and sweeter–knowing you’ve gotten a good deal.

Whether you want to admit it or not, money is a big part of your holiday experience. Feeling like you’re being nickel and dimed to death puts a dent in your wallet and your fun. There’s nothing worse than waking up in an expensive resort room feeling like you’d rather be home.

Simple planning and forethought are all that’s needed for a good experience. A great family holiday depends on the family and what their needs are. But most families will agree that a perfect holiday needs to be relaxing and fun with something for everyone.

There is a seemingly endless list of resorts worldwide that fit this description. But for many parents, there is one more essential aspect of the perfect family holiday. It needs to be affordable.

Again, the term affordable is a relative concept, but for many families, a resort that costs more than £300 per night takes the fun out of the holiday. Parents on a budget are too busy worrying about how they will fund the trip and are unable to relax and enjoy themselves.

Likewise, limited funds mean that a more expensive resort results in less money to spend on tours, attractions, and food. Many families end up staying in cheap hotels with no kid-friendly amenities rather than spend all their holiday money on accommodation.

By searching for discount resorts or obtaining the services of a knowledgeable travel consolidator, it is possible to find many affordable family resorts that will not blow your budget. The goal is simple – make everyone happy with an unforgettable trip to the perfect destination. Achieving that goal can be daunting, especially when all the travel planning falls on you. But it is obtainable, as long as you know what your family enjoys and what travel options you have at your disposal. In the end, seeing your children’s faces light up makes it all worth the money, time and effort.

In these uncertain economic times, being savvy about how you spend your holiday money is more important than ever. Though price is certainly important in planning your family trip, don’t forget the most important factor: fun!

You want to go somewhere that everyone will delight in. And if you’re dealing with young children, you need to be sure there’s enough “downtime” as well. Because, in the end, all the money in the world can’t make your kids happy. And if they aren’t enjoying themselves, you won’t either.

Family holidays can become more about tradition than where you go, so keep this in the forefront of your mind. If your kids know that every June you are going somewhere as a family, they are going to enjoy the experiences even more.

Don’t get overly caught up in worrying about money. Set your budget, stick to it, and have fun. Everyone can have a memorable family holiday no matter how much money you have to spend. It takes research, planning, and the desire to make more family memories than you already have!

HAPPY TRAVELS!

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Uncategorized

THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

No matter where you go on your family holiday, there are tons of other money saving tips that you must know. And we’re here to tell you about them!

Be sure to join travel clubs like the AA or search online travel clubs. They can be huge sources of savings not only when talking about your holidays, but also year-round. Make sure you’re using these memberships to their fullest potential. You’re paying for the privilege of being a member, take advantage of all they have to offer.

Stay alert to the little things that siphon off money. It really adds up. If you have to pay for parking, look for parking a few blocks away and get some extra exercise. If you are tempted to buy souvenirs, just stay out of the shops! If that seems too severe, give yourself a small budget and stick with it.

Take food into parks and attractions so you aren’t tempted to spend the exorbitant rates charged at concession stands. If you are a more mature person or taking the grandparents, always ask if senior discounts are available.

Keep a journal of expenses on each trip. This gives you an idea how much to budget for future holidays. Keep a record of the money you save as well. You’ll discover that it will inspire you to find more ways to save. Create a special fund to deposit the extra savings and use it toward something you’ve been wishing for – this will provide you with additional incentive.

Set your itinerary. Agreeing on an itinerary is important because adults and children have different ideas of “fun.” Adults may want to do things that they can’t do at home like drive through the mountains, visit historical sights, go horseback riding, etc.

Children basically want to do what they can do at home: watch TV, visit a man-made attraction like Six Flags, or swim in the hotel pool. You’ve got to compromise. If they agree to give you a day in the mountains, reciprocate with them by taking them to the run-of-the-mill theme park that seems like a waste of time to you, but heaven to them! After all, holidays are for the whole family.

As we’ve said time and time again, be flexible. Not every one of your days has to be planned. This can be risky, but sometimes the memories are worth it. You may happen upon a music festival that wasn’t in the brochures and be able to share your love of 80’s music with your children even if they are rolling their eyes the whole time!

If you are driving to your holiday destination, it’s a great idea to stay in one place for a majority of the time. Admittedly, this is from Dad’s perspective because he is the one who packs the trunk. For at least part of your holiday, pick a place (like a family camp or the beach) where you are not packing and unpacking the car every day. Having five kids and your spouse packing and pointing toward a scheduled departure time begins to take on aspects of a cattle drive. Staying in one place allows you to relax for awhile.

Since prices usually are 30 to 50 percent less in off-peak times, you may need to take school-age children out of school to realize your holiday dreams. This isn’t as big of a deal as it used to be, so save the guilt and focus on the rewards.

As soon as you have your trip tentatively scheduled, inform the teacher. Ask for the work ahead of time and suggestions of how your children can share the experience with their classmates. Perhaps they can give an oral report when they return or present a photo journal. This is a great way to keep your child interested in the trip and let them get the maximum value out of what you’ve planned so hard to make a reality.

Set aside “homework time” every day so they don’t fall behind, and bring some goodies back to share with the class from the region you’re visiting. The teacher will appreciate it and the kids will be excited to have one of their classmates share the experiences they got to have first-hand!

Because you want to save as much money as you can without sacrificing fun or memorable experiences, you need to do research and shop around. What’s the best way to do this? Online, of course!

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Uncategorized

THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: EUROPE ON A SHOESTRING

In Europe, France is a top pick for affordable holiday destinations, for these exact reasons. Not only do you have more budget flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote location. Driving to France can also have its advantages and is our favourite method of seeing the country.

On average, staying in France may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and other travel essentials gives travellers opportunities to create their holiday to fit their budgets. And you can use Paris as your home base to set out on day trips to other more exotic locations or buy a Eurorail pass and see those more remote cities without the expense of flying there.

A note about Eurorail passes needs to be made here. You cannot buy a Euroail pass in Europe. These types of passes must be purchased outside of Europe. Also you must purchase it before your trip, and have it validated at a train station in Europe before boarding a train in your selected European destination. Check online for various offer which are usually family or period orientated.

You can purchase different types of Eurorail passes depending on how and where you’ll be using it. Prices vary according to the type of pass you buy. These can seem expensive at first glance, but they can be well worth the money when you consider the places you can go armed with this small card.

The greatest part about a European holiday is that the Sterling Pound has massive spending power abroad. With the exchange rate, you can expect to get more bang for your buck when spending overseas.

For lodging, you should look at staying in hostels which are abundant in Europe. It’s best to make reservations so you don’t have to worry where you’ll be sleeping for any given night.

In general, hostels are quite inexpensive – in many places, you can expect to stay for under £20 a night. In a hostel you will have a bed, shared bathroom, and sometimes breakfast. Remember that you are going to Europe for the sites and people, not the hotel rooms.

Travelling abroad is, of course, going to be more expensive than a trip to Cornwall, but the experience will be well worth the money spent. If you’ve budgeted enough money, you can have an amazing time with memories that will last forever! There’s also huge educational value in trips to Europe for the kids, so do your research and also find out what your kids have been learning about Europe at school.

In this series of articles we have given you only a few of the possible places that you can take your family on holiday for a budget. There are endless options for you if you think creatively and plan accordingly. What else should you know about taking a family holiday on a budget? Plenty!

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Many parents are familiar with the family-oriented mission of the YMCA programs. Located in urban areas internationally, this kid friendly organisation offers many educational, sports, and social opportunities. The YMCA of the Rockies, Colorado also operates two budget holiday resorts that help families get out and enjoy the legendary beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park Center are nondenominational programs open to any guest. However, members receive a slight rate discount and have their reservations processed first.

In addition to opportunities to enjoy the mountains, summer children’s programs operate daily for ages three through 16. Age appropriate activities include hiking, hayrides, roller skating, arts and crafts, campfire cooking, orienteering and archery.

In winter, families can spend the day cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 125 miles of groomed trails, and return to the resort to warm up in the indoor heated pool. Estes Park and other prominent winter activity destinations are nearby.

Accommodation options include cabins and lodge rooms. Cabins range from two to five bedrooms and include a fireplace and fully equipped kitchen. Rates begin at $138/night. Lodge rooms have two queen beds and a set of bunk beds. Rates begin at $64 during off-peak times. Accommodations are not luxurious but then you are on a budget, right?

The YMCA also offers many opportunities for family camps if you want to recreate the magic of scout camp with your loved ones. Many of these camps offer the traditional horseback riding and canoeing, but today, they’re adding modern activities as well. It’s not unusual to find rock walls for climbing and rappelling excursions.

You can stay in modest cabins or platform tents at a bargain rate – as low as $50 per night!

Now let’s look east and see what Europe has in way of budget holidays!

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: MEXICAN BEACH HOLIDAYS

All-inclusive resorts abound in Mexico and if your family is looking for a beautiful setting where to experience a new culture, Mexico could be for you!

All-inclusive resorts are always a hit because everyone can do what they want, when they want, and there are plenty of organised activities for the kids as well as other children at the resort for your kids to play with and befriend.

Usually you can get bargain rates throughout Mexico and the Caribbean until mid-December and then again from just after Easter all the way to Thanksgiving and beyond. A trip to Mexico can really be a bargain and will give the kids a chance to practice their Spanish!

There is just so much to do on a Mexican holiday. Not only can you tour the Mayan ruins in Cancun, you can take advantage of the beautiful beaches, go snorkelling or scuba diving, or just relax by the pool.

At many of these resorts, kids age 4-12 stay free with their parents. Your hotel may also offer free passes to some of the local attractions as a perk for staying at their resort. Several places have “kid’s clubs” with activities and entertainment geared to the younger visitors. These are great places for your kids to have fun while Mom and Dad relax.

These all-inclusive resorts vary in rate according to when you travel. They can often be found for as little as £400 per person a week including airfare. Just shop around and find the best deal you can!

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: THREE WELL-KEPT SECRETS ABOUT HOLIDAYING…

Many of the award winning family resorts are beyond the means of those on a budget, but Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania offers the amenities of a luxury resort for under $350 per night.

Located on a private lake in the Northern Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, this family owned resort was voted Favourite Family Holiday Spot by the readers of Better Homes and Gardens. Open year-round, the resort offers an amazing feast of activities from waterskiing, sail boating, and bumper boats in summer to snow tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling in the winter.

Kids of all ages love the go carts, batting cages, pool water slide and hayrides. Parents enjoy the Jacuzzis, massages for themselves and the all-inclusive rates that are difficult to find at U.S. resorts. Prices vary depending on room selection, time of year and number of people, but a family of four can purchase a four-night package that includes room and 12 meals for under $350 per night.

The family-friendly, all-inclusive pricing draws hundreds of families to Tyler Place Family Resort on Lake Champlain in Vermont which also offers this pricing that includes meals, snacks, lodging, and most activities. Tyler Place’s eight different kid’s programs offer structured nature and outdoor programs for children of all ages. Family water activities include sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, paddleboats, bumper tube rides, banana boats, and lots more.

Other entertainment includes tennis, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor pools, and group sports. Newborn and infant care is provided for parents who want to take art, yoga and aerobics classes, or visit vineyards in Quebec.

Discount, off-peak rates for a family of four are just under $300 per night and include lodging with separate children’s rooms, all meals and access to services and activities.

Some of America’s original family resorts focused on simple accommodations that provided easy access to the great outdoors. Nitschke’s Northern Resort, in Minocqua, Wisconsin has carried on the fine example of the original resort, with its tidy accommodations, coupled with the pristine setting on the edge of a lake, surrounded by forest.

Activities include fishing, hiking, boating, jet skiing, or simply relaxing on the porch of your cabin. The beach and playground provide additional play opportunities for children. Ice fishing and snowmobiling trails provide winter entertainment options. Despite the secluded, natural setting of this family resort, the town is within boating, walking, and driving distance when you need groceries or a change of scenery.

Cabins accommodate up to eight people easily and rates start at an amazingly affordable $180 per night.

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