How Beer changed holidays for Children everywhere!

This week MumsNi.com published a letter I wrote to my pre parent self on what to expect with the arrival of Fatherhood.

Sitting here in sun soaked Lanzarote it got me thinking about just how different pre parenting life is. Take holidays, right now it’s just gone 11am & I’m sat on a hot concrete seat under a palm tree which is providing zero shade, surrounded by Children of several nationalities.

It is of course kids club, or Daisy Club as it’s called at this particular hotel & my youngest boy is currently speaking the international language of football with a group of European children. The kids club, is to parents what the bar & sun loungers are to a pre parents holiday, the existence of a kids club on holiday is the holy grail of parents no matter their nationality. It’s a mirage in an otherwise kid centric week away (a fortnight is like a prison sentence). A few hours in the morning between breakfast & lunch where you can take part in a selection of adult only activities.

Sun lounger sport - you can choose between lying down, sitting up, a hybrid of both or if you’re particularly trusting lying on your front & tanning your back. Personally I find this position a little submissive for my liking.

Sun chair sport - as above but in a chair, I’m definitely not going for the submissive pose in this one

Both activities involving either reading a book or magazine, though never a newspaper alternatively you can close your eyes tightly & avail of a power nap. Whichever you choose they are all found under the much sought after ‘relaxation’ tab! Something you pre and indeed post parents get more than your fair share of.

Simple in its nature & a thing of beauty in its execution, yet its undoubtedly the highlight of the day. It’s the classic case of the grass being greener, as we watch those Childress people bathe away the day, they watch us enjoy the company of our children for the few short years they remain happy to be seen with us.

The package holiday kids club can trace its routes back to 1980 when renowned Spanish Business Man Samuel ‘San’ Miguel saw an opportunity to increase consumption & therefore sales of his beer to tourists by providing a crèche type facility for the kids of holidaying Europeans.

The first kids club facilities were based beside tourist bars controlled by his brewery & were originally called ‘Sans Club’ (not to be confused with the Major US retailer) they quickly grew in popularity & in 1982 Senor Miguel partnered with the now defunct Spanish Credulo hotel chain to roll the clubs out across the Costa’s. The rest is of course history.

So, pre parent me, if your listening. When it comes to booking a family holiday, make sure a decent kids club set up is near the top of your list. You will thank me for it someday