Travel Exodus at Passover!

It may not be biblical but May, June and July are all about the movement of people to all sorts of places. Where are you going?

OBI WOULD, WOULDN’T HE?

For Star Wars fans the arrival of a 500,000 brick LEGO Star Wars recreation of The Empire’s ultimate super weapon, The Death Star is a good enough reason to go to Windsor. The model is part of an ambitious new scene comprised of 651,086 individual Lego bricks which took a team of 15 model makers three months to build. LEGO’s Star Wars Miniland Model Display recreates seven iconic scenes from the films including the Millennium Falcon rising over the desert planet Tatooine (with the Cantina band playing), to Imperial AT-ATs on the icy planet Hoth and Ewoks in their forest home of Endor. Special Star Wars event days will run on May Bank Holiday Weekend and you can stay in a themed family room at the Lego hotel from £404. The hotel price includes breakfast and park tickets for two days including early bird access to selected rides. legoland.co.uk/hotel/shortbreak

SEPHARDIC SPAIN

Granada, in the southern province of Andalusia is renowned for the Moorish influence in its architecture and heritage, but the Jewish heritage of the city makes Granada an important destination as part of the Sephardic Spain trail with the Realejo Jewish Quarters and the Jewish Museum of Spain. It is an ideal destination for all the family especially food lovers who will can enjoy the delights of the numerous tapas bars in the city and Spain-Holiday.com – a leading rental specialist has some wonderful properties available for spring. Among them is a rustic Moorish style 5 bedroom villa with private pool for £1,957 for seven nights located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage neighbourhood of Granada with views to the Alhambra. There is also a golfing two-bedroom apartment which sleeps up to six on the Granada Golf course available for May half-term week for £220. There are also places available in Cordoba and Seville. Spain-Holiday.com

PARENT PARADISE

With average temperatures of 22 degrees expected in May, Tenerife is the place for certain sunshine. are offering seven nights at the Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel, a five-star property in Playa Paraiso on the Southern coast of Costa Adeje. Ideal for young families, there is a ‘mini club’ for kids aged just 10 months to 12 years old, daily entertainment for the youngest guests, an infinity pool with Balinese chill-out beds; open air Jacuzzi; four restaurants and bars; plus two tennis courts, a gym, an archery range and a beach volleyball court. Departing 28 May for a total of £3,999 for a family of four in a Junior Suite on a half-board basis and including return flights from London Gatwick (other UK departure airports available). classic-collection.co.uk (0800 294 9318)

JE NE SAIS QUOIS

In March 2016 one of the Languedoc’s most beautiful wine estates, Château St Pierre de Serjac opened following an extensive two year, €25m renovation. The estate, which was first restored in 1886 occupies a 200 acre site overlooking vines, olive groves and woodland. The château is an intimate hotel with eight luxurious rooms and beyond are 36 stylish and fully equipped self-catering properties spread around the facilities which include a huge heated infinity pool, Cinq Mondes spa, clay tennis court, kids club, BBQ area and boulodrome. A Kids Club (four to12 years) is open throughout the holiday periods and babysitting can be organised through a screened panel of local babysitters. The restaurant (huge Venetian chandeliers and chic leather chairs) has the feel of a bygone Paris salon, although guests are more likely to be outside on the terrace as the Languedoc is reputed to get 300 days of sunshine a year. A three-bedroom house with terrace and garden is 439 Euros per night in May /June. Visit serjac.com to make a reservation or email resa@serjac.com or call 03456866505 (UK local rates) or +33 (0) 4 67 93 12 34

CARRY ON CAMPING

It may be a trip you have never consideredbut Venue Holidays has a selection of Spring Bank Holiday deals in France with locations by the beach,the riverbank or in the forest. For families who love the beach, the company recommends Camping l’Atlantique at Fouesnant in South West Brittany, a family-run campsite, just 450 yards from a sandy beach. Facilities include an aqua park – with indoor and outdoor pools, chutes and slides – along with tennis, cycle hire and a wellness centre. Seven nights from 28 May in a three-bedroom mobile home with decking is now priced at £265, saving £106. The above prices are for two adults and up to four children. Ferry crossings can be arranged by Venue Holidays on request and cost from £120 for a return P&O Dover/Calais saver fare for car and passengers. venueholidays.co.uk (01233 629950)
KIDS CAN COME TOO

You may have pictured yourself in the Maldives without the children, but May half-term is a great time to take all of you on an Indian Ocean holiday. There is a range of accommodation options for families seeking a luxury experience with a touch of fun and adventure. At the Per Aquum, Niyama there is snorkelling and dolphin spotting, floating aqua parks, cookery classes, Tai Chi, pilates and yoga on over-water pavilions to keep everyone entertained. Turquoise Holidays is offering a seven night half board package at Per Aquum from £5,799 per family that even includes a pampering experience for children at the the Spa LIME where they will indulge in a ‘Daphne the Dolphin Massage’ or a ‘Captain Red Claw Manicure’. The price is based on two adults and two children (aged below 12) travelling during May 2016 half term. turquoise holidays.co.uk or 01494 678 400

MEET N CRETE

You may have visited the Elounda Beach property in Crete many years ago, but by now renamed Downes of Elounda is even more lovely now. A reason to book is that there is a £1,250 saving per family during May half-term with Carrier, which is offering a 15% early booking reduction from £4,960 per family of four, based on two adults and two children sharing a family suite sea view with outdoor jacuzzi for seven days. This includes a complimentary upgrade to half board, one complimentary à la carte dinner per person (excluding drinks), complimentary kids’ club, children’s lunch on first day and daily ice cream happy hour at the kids’ club. Also includes a VIP check-in and check-out, return flights from London Gatwick, and return private transfers. The offer is valid for travel 28 May to 5 June 2016. carrier.co.uk or 0161 492 1357

BETTER IN BRAZIL

With the Olympics pending and more health warnings about the Zika mosquito virus than it needed ahead of such a huge event, Brazil is doing its best to keep going and get read for the world to arrive. For tourists, it remains a largely safe destination and to visit Rio this year is a must. Going there in May or June, ahead of the hordes and athletes, is an experience is the best way to do it and Bespoke Brazil can customise a trip with stays at the impressive Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Santa Teresa Hotel and Miramar Windsor, which will suit all budgets. It will also equip you with a guide like Marcelo Fontes to keep you safe. Don’t miss the chance to sip caipirinhas on Ipanema. bespokebrazil.com or call 01603 340680/07786 325215

Holy Moly

May is a great time to go to Israel with the children, although they would love it even more during Shavuot in June when cheesecake is on the menu and impromptu water-gun and balloon wars take place in the streets. David Segel at West End Travel is the sort of Israel expert you want as your travel companion in the Holy Land. For this spring period, West End Travel has a wide range of highly competitive El Al air fares – the cheapest of which is El Al from Luton at £293. With excellent rates at Israel’s best hotels, West End Travel will reserve you a room and if you fancy a water hike along Israel’s rivers, another Shavout pastime. West End Travel on 020 7644 1500 or visit westendtravel.co.uk. Holiday Designers also has the perfect spring trip with their Past to the Future – Highlights of the Jewish State Guided Tour, which is available as nine, 10, 12 and 14 nights itineraries and includes visits to Safed,Galilee Winery, Hula valley, Atlit, Rosh Pina, Mahane Yehuda Market, the Weizmann Institute, Zichron Yaacov, Daliat El-Carmel, Caesarea and a Tel Aviv walking tour. The fully guided tour package start from £1,435 per person (based on two sharing) including flights, 20kg baggage allowance, nine nights accommodation on bed and breakfast basis, transfers from/to the airport, all sightseeing and entrance fees in accordance with the itinerary in a modern air conditioned vehicle and services of an English speaking licensed guide. What are you waiting for? (holiday-designers.com/020 3384 0023)