Holidays 2002: Make a splash close to home

BRITAIN'S holiday parks have lots of great new ideas for spring and summer breaks.

There are websites that make booking fun, new characters who greet and entertain the kids, and fresh ideas in entertainment for all ages. Here's a round-up of the great holiday breaks on offer:

At BUTLINS (0870 2420870 or visit www.Butlins.co.uk), you can enjoy a fantastic holiday come rain or shine. Each beach-side resort is packed with activities for the whole family, with lots of sports activities, fun fair rides, kids' clubs, swimming, karaoke, go- karts, and the fantastic Skyline Pavilion which is filled with top entertainment, sideshows, arcades, shops, restaurants and bars. Butlins has a range of brilliant venues including the weatherproof Skyline Pavilion which houses action-packed shows. And football fans will be able to see every single match from World Cup 2002 live on big screens around each resort!

Prices for a seven-night break start from pounds 65 per person (based on four sharing a self-catering studio apartment in Skegness, May 10-17 (Minehead pounds 67, Bognor Regis pounds 77 on same dates).

PONTIN'S (08705 331199 or visit www.pontins.co.uk) have more than 20 free leisure facilities at eight family centres during the school holidays. For over-eights there's free and fully-supervised quad biking, climbing, abseiling, trampolining, zip wires, snorkelling, fencing and stunt kite flying. For younger kids there's Captain Croc's Adventureland, Sony PlayStations, cartoon films, plus soft play areas for under-fives. Adults can enjoy 10-pin bowling, snooker, tennis, table tennis and volleyball and there's always live music, dancing and cabaret. Spring prices start from pounds 99 for three- nights self-catering. Pontin's many special interest breaks include musical themes such as Abba, Elvis and The Beatles plus football and snooker and comedy weekends.

PARK RESORTS ( 08701 299 299 or visit www.park-resorts.com) have their own Easter bunnies. Cheeky mascots Sparky and Sparkle keep little ones entertained with stories about their amazing adventures. And the whole family can enjoy their early cabaret, Sparky Showtime. For teenagers, there's The Mix, a place to hang out without Mum and Dad.

There's fun for grown-ups too with free entertainment, indoor pools, pubs, clubs and shops.

Four night breaks over Easter weekend, arriving March 28, start from pounds 137 for up to seven sharing "Bronze" caravan accommodation. And if you book for eight nights arriving on March 28 you get an extra three nights free (April 5-8). BRITISH HOLIDAYS (0870 242 5678, www.british-holidays.co.uk) have 19 locations where you can relax and let the kids enjoy themselves.

Fancy dolphin spotting? Quay West Holiday Park overlooks Cardigan Bay, home to a school of rare bottle-nosed dolphins. You're sure of a great time at the park with a heated pool, tennis, crazy golf plus family activities and entertainment every day. Save some energy for the evenings, with live music, dancing and shows every night of your holiday. And a week costs from just pounds 35 per person (family of six). Or stay at either of two parks in the Blackpool area to enjoy all of its fun and excitement. Prices for a three-night break start at less than pounds 27 per person (six sharing) including all entertainment.

WARNER HOLIDAYS ( 0870 601 6012, www.warnerholidays.co.uk) let you live like a star at 'just for adults" weekends at Historic Hotels which are landmarks in their own right. Warner has restored them to their original splendour to provide idyllic country retreats. Choose from locations all over England and one in North Wales. Among them is Littlecote House, where Henry VIII courted Jane Seymour - their love is immortalised in the high window of the Great Hall. Prices range from pounds 122 to pounds 259 for a 3-night half-board break including all entertainment and most leisure facilities.

HAVEN HOLIDAYS (call 0870 242 2222 or www.havenholidays.com) have a new, easy to use and colourful website crammed with details about their UK holiday parks and latest special offers. Great deals include four nights at Warmwell Holiday Park in Dorset from March 18 for pounds 83, saving pounds 50 - or a discount of pounds 110 off a week's holiday at Devon Cliffs near Exmouth or Primrose Valley on the North Yorks coast on June 7-18 (available until March 18). To find a late Easter break, click on "Late Deals" You can also check availability and confirm your booking there and then on-line (or just call the Haven number). There's a kids' colouring competition on the site too - you could win your family a weekend break, subject to usual terms, conditions and availability.

-ROCK AROUND CROC: Page 47

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