Family Traveler

PHOTOGRAPHS:GETTY/SHUTTERSTOCKWATERPROOFSUNCREAMQI’mheadingtotheCaribbeanwithmyyoungchildrenforasailingholidayandwouldlikesomeadviceonsunprotectiononandinthewater.Holly,ChichesterADrJonathanBowling,FRCP,consultantdermatologist,specialistinskincancerdiagnosisandtreatmentApplyingsunprotectionwhichhasbeencategorised‘VeryWaterResistant’,or‘WaterResistant’aftercontactwithwaterishugelyimportantwhenonand``````aroundthesea.UVrayscanpenetratewatertoadepthofatleast 10 metreswhenthesunisoverhead,sodespitethecoolingeffectswimmingmighthave,alwaysrememberyoucanbeburntinthewater,too.Anotherimportantfactoristhereflectionofthesun’srays,whichcangreatlyincreasethepoweroftheradiation,byupto5%aroundwater.Ensureyoupackenoughforthewholefamilywhenembarkingonalongtripasitmaybedifficulttostockuponceyou’vesetsail.P20sunprotectionhasbeencategorisedas“VeryWaterResistant”- thehighestclassificationavailable- andofferssuperiorprotectionevenafterprolongedimmersioninwater.AJUNIORECO-TRIPQMylittlegirlisfive,andwe’rereadytodoalong-haulflight.We’dliketogosomewherereallyexoticbytheocean,whereshecanlearnabitaboutconservation.Fiona,CheshireANadineMellor,editor,i-escape.com/kidsChildrenarenevertooyoungtolearnaboutthenaturalworldandhowtopreserveit.Wildlifetourismdirectlycontributestoconservation.WhataboutreleasingrareleatherbackturtlesintotheseaviathePureBlueFoundation,supportedbyboutiqueresortAleentaPhuketinThailand?Roomsfrom£158B&Bpernight.Or,baseyourselvesatWhyHouse(doublesfrom£152pernight,B&B)nearGalleinSriLanka,whereyoungerguestscanencounteranelephantinthegardenandgiveitawashafterwards.Visitaturtlehatcherynearbyortakeaboattriptowatchwhalesanddolphins.SouthAfrica‘sGrootbosPrivateNatureReserve(suitesfrom£350pernight,fullboard),acoastalretreatbetweenCapeTownandtheGardenRoute,hasrestoreduniquefynbosshrublandvegetation,nurturingwildlifeandplants;familiesgettoplantatreeintheirname.ThisisalsoagreatplaceforwatchingsouthernrightwhalesbetweenJuneandDecember.GENTLERSWIMMINGSPOTSQWehavethreechildren,twoofwhomareconfidentswimmers,buttheyoungest(agedseven)isstillquitenervousofthewater.Canyourecommendanygentlerspotsabroadforswimmingandsnorkelling?Katie,byemailATimWinkworth,productandbrandmanager,TheFamilyAdventureCompanyJordan’sDeadSeaisourgo-tospotforfirsttimers.You’reguaranteedtofloatinthewarm,saltywater(actuallyavastsaltlake),whichisstrangelycalmingandwillputyouandyourchildrenatease.WewouldalsorecommendSaadaniNationalPark,ontheshoresoftheIndianOcean,withanimpressivesafaribackdrop.Thewateriscalmandsuitableforthoselessconfidentwhowanttostayintheshallows,butfullofwildlifeinthereefsandmangroves,perfectforexplorers.``````Fornervousswimmers,CubaandThailandarehometosomebeautifulwaterfallswithshallowareas,idealforchildrentobecomecomfortableinthewater,spottingwildlifeupclose,andtheenclosedpoolsmakeaccessinandoutofthewatereasy.OneofourfavouriteplacestoenjoythewaterisintherockpoolsofSorrento.WithwarmwatersettlingfromtheMed,kidscanenjoyseekingoutplentyofseacreatureswithouthavingtoimmersethemselvesfullyinwater.Visitfamilyadventurecompany.co.ukformoreinformationonthebestswimmingspotsfromallfourcornersoftheglobe.``````PUTDOWNROOTSAtGrootbos,guestscanplantatreeaspartofaconservationeffort``````MADABOUTTHEBUOYANCYFloatingintheDeadSea,oneofthesaltiestbodiesofwaterintheworld31