Sunshine holidays

The family-friendly holiday park operator will be offering accommodation at two new Spanish parks, which both feature direct beach access, pools, and plenty to keep the kids entertained

If you’re already dreaming of soaking up the sunshine in 2026 on a summer holiday, Eurocamp is adding two new parks in a sunny Spanish hotspot that are perfect for families.

Alannia Els Prats and Alannia Costa Dorada are both set on long stretches of sandy beach on the sunny Costa Dorada region of Spain, which roughly translates to ‘Golden Coast’. About 90 minutes south of Barcelona, these parks both have direct beach access and a whole host of activities to enjoy, so you can choose whether you want to fit in lots of fun adventures or simply relax on the beach.

Both parks are located conveniently close to Reus Airport, which is served by budget airlines including easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair, with plenty of flights from across the UK in the summer months, so you can often pick up a cheap flight.

Alannia Els Prats offers a pool complex with a lagoon-style pool, waterslides and a splash zone for little ones. There’s also a free kids club for children aged 4-12, with plenty of activities to keep them entertained. Families can enjoy a game of padel, tennis, or mini-golf, while adults can relax in the spa with a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.

You’re also just a 15-minute drive from PortAventura World, Spain’s largest theme park, which includes Ferrariland, Caribe Aquatic Park and much more. Or from nearby Tarragona, you can take a train to Barcelona for a day trip, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Prices for a week’s stay can be from £531 for a party of up to four guests in May half term, or from £1405.95 for the summer holidays.

Meanwhile Alannia Costa Dorada has three pools, including a jacuzzi and a splash zone for little kids. Its spa area includes a fitness centre and jacuzzi, and there’s a soft play area, badminton, mini golf and more. The park’s kids club is free for 5-12 year olds, and is a great way to keep them entertained while you relax.

Prices for a week’s stay start from £416.36 per party of up to six guests in May half term, or from £1261.12 for the summer holidays.

As with most Eurocamp resorts, you’ll find restaurants and bars at both camps, with family-friendly dining options. Alannia Els Prats has a snack bar with sea views, so you can enjoy a beer as you watch the sun go down.

But the fun doesn’t stop at night, both parks also offer evening entertainment suitable for all ages. This can include live music, themed shows, and of course, the ever-popular minidiscos where kids can make new friends.

Accommodation is in two or three bedroom holiday homes, meaning you aren’t stuck sharing a hotel room with the kids. Depending on the accommodation you choose, there are often facilities such as air conditioning, private decking areas, and BBQs, so you can make it a home away from home. Many camps also offer free hire on baby essentials such as cots, high chairs, and bed rails, making it easier to pack light.

You can find out more on eurocamp.co.uk.

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The islands are particularly popular this time of year for Brits looking to escape the winter gloom. But a new crackdown could mean it’s harder to find a place to stay in one of the popular resorts

Popular Spanish islands, which have long been a winter sun favourite for Brits, have approved a new set of laws that could make it more difficult to find accommodation at peak times.

Following a heated debate last week, the Parliament of the Canary Islands approved the new bill, more than two years after it was first announced. According to Canarian Weekly, the bill has been widely criticised by holiday let companies and local councils, who’ll be required to enforce the new measures.

ASCAV (Asociación Canaria del Alquiler Vacacional), which represents owners of holiday rentals across the Canaries, said it was a “black day”, according to the Spanish news outlet. They warned the changes will mostly affect small-scale lets and mean less choice for holidaymakers visiting the islands.

The new laws target holiday lets, with one of the main supporters of the bill being the hotel industry, its main competition. Holiday rentals will now be classed as a business, even for smaller operations such as families letting out their own homes. There will also be strict rules about where tourist rentals can operate. Councils will now have five years to define areas where holiday lets are allowed and will need to demonstrate that the area can support them. Until then, no further licences can be granted.

There will also be new minimum standards for holiday lets, including a minimum property size and energy rating, and properties will need to be at least ten years old before being let out.

Councils will also be required to ensure that 80% of housing is earmarked for residents, and in major tourist areas, they’ll be required to keep at least 90% for locals. In areas identified as “municipalities facing demographic challenges” from tourism, new holiday let licence applications will be suspended, although existing ones will still be valid.

In areas where the 10% allowance has already been met, licence applications will only be accepted again once the cap is raised.

While the changes will give local councils on the Canary Islands greater power, critics have said it’ll create a “massive workload” for local authorities, placing the onus on them to ensure compliance with new health and safety standards. They now have an eight-month window to create a plan for checking and enforcing the new regulations.

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Tourist-rental licences will now be valid for five to ten years, with owners needing to apply for renewals. In areas with a ‘stressed housing market’, this will be more challenging for the current 70,000 licence holders.

The changes follow two years of protests on the Canary Islands, as well as on the mainland of Spain. Despite protesters telling tourists not to visit destinations such as Tenerife, the island still saw a surge in tourist numbers over the summer.

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While the New Year is a peak time for booking summer holidays, especially for families looking to jet away outside of term time, here’s why I tend to be an early bird booker in November

The promise of a summer holiday is often the thing that gets you through the post-Christmas slump. And holiday companies certainly know this. While you’re finishing your turkey sandwich and fighting festive hangovers, there are two adverts you’ll see a lot of; sofa sales and holidays.

As a travel journalist, I take a lot of last-minute breaks, but as a busy mum when it comes to booking my own holidays, I like to be organised. This means that before I’ve put the tree up I’ve often got my summer holiday booked, and November can be an excellent time to start browsing travel sites.

Here are some of the reasons why I’m already thinking about my summer holidays this month and will likely be booking in the next couple of weeks.

1. Yes, there are some great deals

While travel companies do offer sales in January and February, November is a quiet month for bookings for travel companies, which means there are often flash sales and deals going on that aren’t as heavily promoted, but can still save you a lot of money.

Of course, the big one in November is Black Friday. At the time of writing, many of the major operators were still keeping their deals under wraps, although Jet2 currently have 20% off flights and £100 per person off all holidays.

Black Friday is officially on November 28, but in my experience, most travel companies will launch their offerings before then. If there’s a particular tour operator, airline, or cruise provider you’re interested in, sign up for their newsletter now. Some of them will give early access to deals, and you can always unsubscribe later.

2. Availability is better

Most airlines and accommodation providers will have released their 2026 summer availability by now for early bird bookers. If you’re looking for a very specific destination or holiday type, for example a certain cabin type on a cruise or a sea view apartment in your favourite resort, then you’ve got a better chance of nabbing it now before the New Year rush.

As someone who once endured an overnight ferry to France in a reclining seat because I booked too late and there were no cabins left, I always try to get bookings locked in as soon as I know the dates I want. Car hire is another one that tends to be better booked in advance, especially if you’re visiting a small Spanish or Greek island, as they’ll often have limited vehicles available.

3. It’s easier to budget

As a parent whose family holiday dates are restricted to half terms and those dreaded six weeks of summer, I’m well aware how expensive it can be to even get a few nights in a caravan during peak times. That’s why I like to take advantage of interest-free options for spreading the cost, so I can budget monthly and get the holiday paid off before I go.

TUI, for example, offer zero deposit options, with the cost of the holiday paid in instalments via direct debit. The last payment is made eight weeks before your holiday, so if you book earlier, you can spread it in smaller instalments which I find much less painful than paying in one go.

Some UK holiday providers offer the same such Haven offer low deposits of £30 and a variety of payment options to help you budget.

Always make sure you can afford the monthly payments, as missing one could mean your holiday ends up getting cancelled with any payments lost. Read any terms and conditions carefully. Make sure there’s no interest being added and avoid options like credit cards and pay later providers who can add massive fees.

4. You can lock down popular annual leave dates

If you’ve ever worked in a team with other parents, you’ll know there can be a battle to get weeks off at certain times of year. Even if you aren’t booking your holiday yet, it’s worth getting those annual leave requests in. Of course, never book a holiday before you’ve had your annual leave approved.

5. Enjoy the holiday excitement for longer

Christmas can be a stressful time, so it’s nice to have something to look forward to. I appreciate it’s not the same for everyone, but I really love the countdown to my big holiday. It gives me plenty of time to look for local attractions I want to visit, and even start shopping for holiday clothes.

Admittedly, early booking isn’t for everyone, some people love to be spontaneous. But if you’re already dreaming of jetting off in summer it may be a good time to see what the tour operators have to offer.

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