TAKE THE KIDS

Perhaps the children have flown the nest and you dearly miss them, or they have moved overseas and you are keen to catch up somewhere away from home in order to spend some quality parent-child time together. Sexagenarians planning bonding holidays with their grown-up children (with or without the grand-kids in tow) are in many travel companies’ sights right now – especially because it is the over-60s that are often found to be footing the bill for a group stay in a trend that has been dubbed “holibonds” (family bonding holidays).

Lindsay Gregory, the managing director of The Luxury Villa Collection, says stays in the brand’s larger Family Collection category are often booked by 60-somethings planning intergenerational trips.

Villa Tenang in Marbella, which is split into two houses and comes with a cinema-disco area, modern games room, cocktail corner and movie screen is a hit with mixed-adult groups. Although it sleeps 16 it costs from a pension-melting £26,000 per week (020 3903 9094; theluxuryvillacollection.com).

Specialist tour operator Flavours Holidays meanwhile says that the brand focuses on experiential grown-up mother-daughter breaks, which are growing in popularity for fit 60-something bookers. They offer painting breaks, pilates holidays and cooking retreats from £1,099 per person, excluding flights (0131 343 2500; flavoursholidays.co.uk).

Then there is the arrival of flexible short packages, such as Original Travel’s Rest and Rejuvenate: A Big Short Break in Umbria which offers a choice of activities for different tastes and energy levels. You can try your hand at everything from poking about medieval hilltop towns and villages, to lounging around in spas, unwinding in yoga classes and taking those horse-riding lessons you have always wanted. A four-day trip costs from £1,215 per person, including flights (020 3958 6120; originaltravel.co.uk).

g Let’s cook! Learning about local dishes and produce with your grown-up children is a great way to bond