Families shun Benidorm for Bournemouth and Butlins

In the week that Bournemouth was voted as the best place for a British holiday and following the revelation that overseas trips by Britons have fallen 12 per cent, we look at other UK resorts that offer families a cheaper alternative to going abroad.

Remember though that you'll still need travel insurance to provide cancellation cover and protection for your valuables while away from home. Family policies are available and cheaper than buying travel insurance for every individual.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef has colourful coral and more sharks than you can shake a fin at ? but so too does the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth. This Norfolk resort is home to Britain's biggest shark, Nobby.

Superbreak (www.superbreak.com) has family packages to Great Yarmouth which include a family day pass to the Sea Life Centre (www.sealife.co.uk).

Adrenalin junkies may be drawn to the vast expanses of New Zealand but there's no need to go that far when we've got one of the best family-friendly adventure playgrounds in Europe.

Perthshire in Scotland offers endless activities including white water rafting, archery, shooting, off-road driving and mountain biking.

Visit the tourist board at www.visitscotland.com for further information. For family accommodation, try English Country Cottages at www.english-country-cottages.co.uk

Nothing beats the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but Butlins in Minehead (www.butlins.com/resorts/minehead) comes close.

Okay, not that close but it's a much cheaper family holiday than Los Angeles and it has recently undergone a £10 million face lift, including a makeover of its main entertainment venue, which is now fitted with plasma screens, state of the art sound and lighting systems and a new bar.

Butlins acts include big names like the Sugarbabes and stars of X-Factor ? and you don't see those in Hollywood.

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