There usually is a compromise do be made when booking a family holiday with different interests and conflicting ideas what actually constitutes a holiday! If you have energetic kids then this can add to your dilemma, like most parents Nadia and Dan did not look forward to the prospect of cajoling their boys into activities they had little or no interest in.
They took the plunge and booked a Half Term Family Cycling Holiday here in Andalucia. As per Nadia’s article in ‘The Telegraph’ they described themselves as enthusiastic amateurs, but in truth, had little idea of what they had actually signed up for. Whilst their twin boys were super excited the parents were, understandably, a little apprehensive about their family cycling holiday in Andalucia.
There is always the fear of having spent your hard earned cash on a new and different type of family holiday that you’ll still end up bickering about, what all families bicker about, something over nothing! But they soon discovered it’s hard to bicker on a bike. The Telegraph article continues with how on this trip Nadia and Dan decided to let Claire and myself handle all the logistics and plans for the week, all they had to do was arrange their travel and we took care of pretty much all other aspects of their family cycling holiday in Spain. As parents we know and appreciate how important this can be!
I guided Nadia, Dan and the boys for all their rides and having two children myself I am well aware of how to motivate young riders, what makes then tick but also, and perhaps most importantly, noticing the tale tell signs when things are about to get out of hand. I find it most rewarding to meet and ride with families.
Watching them develop their skills on the bike and enjoying the great outdoors and doing an activity together fills me with joy. On some rides I would be riding and chatting with the boys whilst Nadia and Dan would be riding together without them having to constantly be checking on or cajoling their boys along. During the week we gave the boys a chance to ride road bikes which they took to like ducks to water.
Their confidence grew each day and the rides became progressively more challenging for them (by their request). Like my son their boys wanted to ride a little further each day. At the end of each ride we would return to Montecorto and whilst Nadia and Dan felt the need to relax after a day in the saddle, their boys would join the locals at the football pitch and run around for a few more hours playing football. The energy of these and many young riders, my kids included, is relentless. Just when you think you have tired them out for the day they seem to be able to recharge their batteries with a post ride ice-cream and be off again!
Overall, I do believe, there were no regrets on taking the plunge and booking their first family cycling holiday with the Andalucian Cycling Experience. I know that once travel is once again permitted after COVID19 we will indeed being seeing them again for another fun filled week of riding. If you are contemplating trying something new with your family, cycling or something else, I would recommend finding a local company, preferable who have children and therefore who are experienced in doing your chosen activity with children to organise your trip for you.
Click here for more information on our family cycling holidays
