WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Next year it is our golden wedding anniversary and to celebrate we would like to take one of our families, with grandchildren aged 10 and eight, to Barbados in the February half term or Easter holidays. Can you suggest a suitable hotel or self-catering establishment on the west coast, with childfriendly facilities and close to a good beach, in the medium price range? Any help would be most welcome, thank you!

Dear Mel

MEL MACKAY Barbados is a great choice. I’ve been there with my children when they were of similar age to your grandchildren, and we had a fantastic time. You are right to focus on the west coast. Though it’s the most expensive area, the sea off this side is usually calm, so ideal for safe swimming.

We stayed at Beach View Barbados (telegraph.co.uk/ tt-beachview), a family-run complex of spacious and impressively-equipped apartments with a large, enticing swimming pool. When we were there it was effectively self-catering, but an expansion due to be finished this winter is adding a restaurant, plus more accommodation and pools.

You need to cross the busy coastal road to reach the beach, but a couple of minutes’ walk along the sands brings you to Paynes Bay, a superb, long expanse of soft, white sand. For a fully-fledged hotel with lots of facilities, Tamarind by Elegant Hotels (telegraph.co.uk/ tt-tamarind), behind Paynes Bay beach, with watersports and children’s club in the rates.

But to stay in the periods you suggest, the trip won’t be cheap. For four adults and two children, a week’s package with Virgin Holidays (virginholidays. co.uk) over the February half term will cost around £7,143 room-only in a three-bedroom apartment at Beach View, or £11,477 B&B in interconnecting suites at Tamarind, including flights. Go instead during the Whitsun half term, when prices are 20-35 per cent lower.