‘Our gite was perfection for ages 11 to 81’

You reveal your tips for holidays with the extended family – and the secret of keeping all generations happy

In 2005 I visited Jamaica with eight others and we had one of the best holidays ever. I took my 12-year-old-daughter, Lauren, and my widowed uncle Harry. My best friend came with her husband, her three children and the eldest boy’s girlfriend (my uncle’s granddaughter). We ranged in age from eight to 70 years.

Staying at an all-inclusive hotel on the beach, we did our own thing by day: beach, pool, water sports, nature walks. One day the boys played golf while the girls went horse riding. But we all climbed Dunn’s River Falls together at Ocho Rios, swam with dolphins, and did a catamaran cruise party with snorkelling. In the evenings we always met for a meal and played pool or cards.

Tina Saunders, East Sussex

LYME AND TIDE

Over the years, we have had some great family holidays. Our adult son has his partner, while our daughter has a husband and two children (boys aged two and four). Tentatively we enquired whether we could go on holiday together and, gladly, they were keen.

We hired a large house outside Lyme Regis in Dorset. The weather was glorious and we had the luxury of a pool in the garden, which the children adored. But the sea beckoned, and we spent days on the beach watching the children (and adults) exploring rock pools, crabbing and collecting shells. The simple pleasures of building sand castles and jumping the waves brought back so many happy memories for all.

Jack Hay, Kent

WILD TIMES

I remember a holiday I had with my brother, my son, his wife and three children in Zambia. The main safari park resort was full, so we were offered a satellite oasis – five thatched chalets with outside bathrooms, a lodge with seating and dining areas and a small kitchen. Outside were a firepit and plunge pool.

The staff fed zebras, wildebeest and eland on our doorstep – a pleasure to watch while sitting with a coffee in the mornings or a glass of cold wine or beer in the evenings. When we fancied a meal at the main lodge, the drive there took in giraffe and many smaller species. The main lodge was by a lake, with fishing to entertain the children and their father. Every generation had a wonderful time. Carol Paton, Hampshire

THE WEEK

For many summers, eight of us holidayed in France. Perfection was the gite in St Martin-Don, Normandy, where ages

ranged from 11 to 81. One Sunday after Mass, the local band began the

village fete with La Marseillaise at the war memorial. Plied with warm brioches, everyone watched the traditional

cycle race begin. The 15-year-old followed the race all morning, and was delighted to find his favourites had won. Our prizes from the stalls, a bag of cement and a live rabbit, were exchanged

for bottles of wine, though the donors were mystified that the rabbit

had been a problem. Friendly people, beautiful

countryside, fun evenings, and chatting quietly with a drink under the stars kept everyone happy. What made everything perfect, though, was having two cars. The 20-year-old, competent at driving on the right, took his younger siblings to explore beaches while we “oldies” indulged in “cider trails” and delightful

lunches.

Carola Morton, from

Hereford, wins an overnight stay for two people worth £250 from

England’s Coast iTake a break: it’s OK to do your own thing on a family holiday – such as take in the view of rural Normandy

NIGHTS APART

Michael Caine said: “The secret to a happy marriage is having separate bathrooms.” Well, for us over the past 16 years, the secret to a happy villa holiday has been bidding our daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren a fond goodnight when they join us at our wonderful property on Turkey’s south-west coast, then departing to sleep elsewhere.

Nothing beats an uninterrupted night, away from late-night snacks and TV, a gentle awakening and a separate breakfast that recharges our batteries, ready to follow our guests’ itinerary of pool, beach, walk, restaurant and adventure. Other sage pieces of advice include not looking in the kitchen while they are there and arranging a thorough cleaning of the villa on departure. Andrew Young, Gloucestershire

LEFT OUR ART IN MARGATE

To celebrate my 70th birthday, I arranged a long weekend for myself, my son and daughter, their partners and five grandchildren aged from eight to 11 years old. A suitable Edwardian property in Margate had a triple room for the girls, a double room with TV for the boys, interesting books for me, a refectory-style dining table for meals and a garden for handstands and cartwheels.

Those who wished did the Park Run along the cliffs. We all had a bracing seafront walk, on which the children organised their own treasure hunt, laying out their finds for adult perusal. At the Turner Gallery we saw an exhibition of portraits and all tried our hand at drawing each other with materials provided. A restaurant meal was served by the Mad Hatter – especially relevant, as we had an Alice in our party. Three days and nights of happy memories for all. Jane Barnes, West Sussex

CREAM OF JERSEY

My wife, two adult daughters and their other halves, our 19-year-old son and two grandchildren aged four and nearly three gathered at the Hotel de France in St Helier, Jersey, having flown in from three separate airports for a four-day break celebrating two big birthdays.

The hotel, which looks Parisian, has an indoor pool, spa facilities and manicured lawns which provided glamorous leisure space for all generations.

A typical sunny seaside day at St Brelades Bay, an arc of golden sand, tired out the tots – and dinner on a hotel terrace adjacent to the beach provided a highlight for all. Everyone loved a visit to the zoo, with its open spaces, in which one almost feels on safari among gorillas, orangutans and flamingos.

There are numerous places to eat well and the locals are welcoming. It was a perfect holiday for all ages.

Wiljo Salen, Cardiff