30 amazing family holidays for 2021
From forest holidays in Britain to surfing in Canada, here are 30 adventures to banish the lockdown blues
Find adventure in Costa Rica
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Of all the things that have been damaged in the past 10 months, it is the shrinking of the concept of “family” that many have found the most upsetting. What existed, a short while ago, as a frequent mingling of ages and generations, has, in plenty of cases, been reduced to Zoom windows and remote conversations. The babble of children with grandparents, the catching up with siblings, reminiscences with relatives – much has been boxed up and pushed into a virtual world that feels a wan substitute for normality.
4. Palacio Estoril, Portugal
An inspiration for Ian Fleming, and the set for the 007 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, this glamorous coastal grand dame is also home to one of Portugal’s leading wellness centres. As well as a golf-course, gyms and several pools, the 1930s hotel has a full medical centre and a spacious spa fitted with treats from Vichy showers to high-tech aesthetics equipment. The hotel’s real USP is its two-floor Banyan Tree spa, where guests can decompress using a variety of Eastern-inspired packages, and Turkish hammam.
Doubles from £114 B&B, booking.com
5. Santani Wellness Resort and Spa, Sri Lanka
Hotel quarantine comes into force today – here are the holidays you could afford, for the same price
15 February 2021 • 9:07am
Where would you rather be?
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Would you rather spend £1,750 on ten lonely nights locked inside a Novotel next to Heathrow Airport, or on a luxury escape for two in Barbados?
As of today, anyone arriving into England from 33 red-listed countries (or Scotland from all overseas destinations) will have to enter a mandatory ten-day quarantine in a Government-approved hotel – a policy which has been dogged with criticism and delays.
For the privilege, arrivals will need to pay £1,750 and take two tests – on days two and eight after arriving in the UK – before being released into the world on day 11.