If you have wheels of your own, you can also drive off to explore the elegant and pretty town of Meaux. They worked especially well when the boys were pre-adolescent and could spend the morning at the football coaching courses and every remaining hour at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, although a recent return visit proved that teenagers can find plenty to do, too. But basically we're creatures of habit. The Spanish really do love children, however small, cranky and vile, and our main holiday every year is on the Catalonian coast, right by the Greek settlement and Roman ruins of Ampurias near L'Escala. Unlike some of the other former fishing villages of the Costa Brava, the sea front has not been spoiled by development - boats still go out and return with the early morning catch.
Beaches are clean, safe and, by law, dog free.
Making repeat visits has meant we have got to know locals, the best source of information about where to eat, what to do and see, who to ask to babysit, and where the dentists and doctors surgeries are located. This summer we will be heading off to Catalonia as usual, knowing that we only have two or three more years of family togetherness left. After that they will be off on their own with backpacks into the wide blue yonder, leaving us fretting that they have made no contact for weeks, and no doubt overcome with nostalgia for the days of family holidays when at least you knew where they were. 15 years of packing our bags Age 0 - 5 CenterParcs villas provide privacy so you won't be embarrassed by your squalling infant. Good range of diversions for your toddler, and getting round is simple and fun if you hire a baby-trailer to fit on your bike.