Home or Abroad? Decisions Decisions ...
Once Christmas has come and gone, most families start to think about where they want to holiday during the summer, needing something to look forward to after the long British winter. The all important question arises in the camp, should we holiday at home or abroad? There are a mass of pros and cons to deliberate; ‘do we opt for sunnier foreign climes, but can we really be bothered with the hassle of traipsing our brood thousands of miles away, or should we make life so much simpler by staying in Britain, avoiding the airport, packing the car with as much stuff as we like and heading to the Cornish coast, where face it, the beaches pretty much beat the pants off the Mediterranean?’
The next question is ‘where in Cornwall shall we set up home for the week?’ Situated in the west of Cornwall on the north coast, the stunning harbour town of St Ives truly offers a bit of something for everyone, especially families. Often mistaken for a far flung Greek hideaway, St Ives is surrounded by azure seas and fine golden sandy beaches, with two great expanses holding the much converted international Blue Flag beach award, rating them amongst the beast beaches in the World. Watched over by the RNLI Lifeguards during the summer months, the beaches are not only beautiful, but are also safe for your little ones. 
Loose yourselves amongst the quaint cobbled streets, dipping in and out of the quirky shops and galleries. Bob about off the shore on a self drive rib or head out to Seal Island on the Dolly P to watch these mischievous creatures chilling out. On your adventures you may have seen flocks of sea birds feeding, and now it’s time to feed your own little gannets. There is a whole host of family friendly cafes, delis, restaurants and pubs to choose from, with the majority using wonderful locally sourced ingredients. A trip to Cornwall would obviously not be complete without a steaming hot pasty and a Cornish clotted cream Moomaid ice cream to finish off.
Now that you have been thoroughly enticed by just a handful of the things St Ives has to offer; now you need to set your mind to ‘where shall we stay?’ There is a good selection of hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from in and around St Ives, but self catering really does lend itself perfectly to an easy going family holiday. You can come and go as you please; there are no set meal times and the children can run around to their hearts content without you worrying about what the couple downstairs are going to think about your fairy elephants. 
Carbis Bay Holidays are a locally based luxury self catering agency, offering over 120 stunning 4 and 5 star awarded properties, exclusively located within St Ives and it’s pretty neighbouring village of Carbis Bay. Their properties are truly gorgeous, with the majority just a hop skip and a jump from the beach. Don’t be put off by the word ‘luxury’ it doesn’t necessarily mean expensive, it is more about providing you with all of the facilities you could wish for. Apart from a small handful, all properties are family friendly, offering complimentary travel cots and highchairs/booster seats, so that’s more space in the car to fit some essential Cornish purchases before you head home. You will also find an all important bucket and spade, welcome hamper and an incredibly useful guide to the area, with even more ideas on what to do with the kids come rain or shine.
During the summer school holiday weeks, a beautiful apartment sleeping 4 can costs as little as £202 per person, or alternatively why not go all out selecting a fabulous house sleeping 7, boasting panoramic sea views and a fun packed outdoor hot tub? To secure your little piece of heaven in St Ives with Carbis Bay Holidays, just a third of the rental fee is required, with the remaining balance, returnable security deposit and booking fee payable 6 weeks prior to your holiday start date.
So you can afford to get your perfect holiday booked, giving you and your family something to really look forward to in 2014.
To discover your perfect home from home with Carbis Bay Holidays, visit www.carbisbayholidays.co.uk or for advice on which property would suit your every need, contact the office on 01736 630015