As we take a look through the PB Academies for summer 2013, it only seems right to start with the original that paved the way for the new line up, PB Surf Academy. 

Teenagers. The age of “childhood” that parents dread, mainly because we all know first hand just how much of a nightmare they can be, because after all, we were all one ourselves once upon a time!  And they don’t get any easier when whisked off on holiday either.

Until now.

Too old for kids club, and often with no desire to spend the holiday with parents, teens are an age group so often disregarded by hotels and travel operators or simply given a sad looking  “teen room” with a couple of bean bags and games console. We’ve taken on the challenge of creating activities (not a club!) that appeal to teens, that still get them outdoors and active. 

Launched in summer 2012 and based at the world famous Guincho surf beach in Portugal, we believe that the success of the PB Surf Academy lay in the fresh experience and the flexibility of the programme.  With schools now offering a host of worldwide experiences that are a little different to the school trip to the beach that used to be, kids expect more when it comes to a family holiday as well. Made up of 5 mornings of surf instruction, teens get to try out this new sport alongside new found friends with the afternoons giving the opportunity to opt in and out of spending time with the group either back at the Penha Longa Resort, or out and about at local attractions. Another attribute to the PB Surf Academy is the member of staff designated to over see it all, The handpicked Surf Manager is a role for a specific kind of person, who isn’t there to hold their hand and cut up but their lunch, but get to know the group in a way that the group sees them more as an older brother or sister who they look forward to hanging out with every day. 

Leave entertaining your teens to us this summer and you’ll be free to lie by the pool, relax at the spa or line yourself up a lesson with our very own tennis coach.  

With more Brits than ever relocating to Australia, and Australian families wanting to experience what Europe has to offer on the slopes, Powder Byrne are heading for the Snow Expo Show in both Melbourne and Sydney this month.

We’re proud to be partnering with Switzerland Tourism to showcase the best of what Switzerland has to offer when it comes to skiing. To accommodate Australian families and their school holidays we’re delighted to announce that we have extended our children’s programmes from Christmas and New Year to run throughout January in Flims and Laax.

The two resorts, just a 10-minute drive  apart, offer two very different styles of resorts with a vast ski area that links the two. The traditional Swiss village of Flims offers the perfect family resort with the beautiful Waldhaus Mountain Resort and Spa, or alternatively the option to stay at the Casa Flumina, a collection of five luxury family apartments exclusive to Powder Byrne clients. Alternatively, the modern resort of Laax offers an on the doorstep, ski-in ski-out location, perfect for keen skiers and those with older children.

We look forward to welcoming all the new Powder Byrne families from Australia traveling with us to the Swiss Alps this coming winter.

When it comes to travelling with children it seems that the trusty iPad has become a must have tool to keep them entertained, whether waiting in the airport lounge or killing time during the flight. We take a look through some of our favourite apps for kids on the move. 

Heatsense

A drawing app with a difference. Select from a range of colour pallets in the app before drawing on the screen, where the temperature of the drawers finger will determine the colour that appears on the screen. This app can be enjoyed by all members of the family but will mesmerize the smallest of travellers. Kids will also enjoy the set of fun animal templates that they can use to colour in, whilst you can relax as the therapeutic nature of the game will help to settle over excitable little travellers. Snapshot their artwork as just a start of their holiday memories. 

Heatsense is available to download from the appstore for just £0.69

Stack the countries

Perfect for travelling children, this app that contains all the fun of a Tetris like game with an educational geographical element thrown in. By answering questions about countries, landmarks and national flags you earn blocks that must be arranged to keep building as long as possible. Around the game you can explore different continents and learn about them, the idea being the more you learn outside the game, the better you’ll be when playing the game!

Stack the Countries is available to download from the appstore for just £1.49

Super Hero Comic and Princess Fairytale Maker

Duckduckmoose.com have won no shortage of awards for their collection of fun educational apps, but if we had to pick one (or even two) to occupy kids for hours it would be the Super Hero Comic and Princess Fairytale makers. From colouring in the characters to selecting the scenes, kids get to use their imagination to build their very own comic strip that can be completed by adding their very own narration.

Both apps are available from the appstore and cost $1.99.

Little Pim

When going on holiday it’s always fun for kids to learn snippets of the language and get to try them out, even the basics of hello, goodbye, please and thank you will help them to experience the local culture. The Little Pim app introduced kids to the basics by starting with up to 60 words and phrases divided into three categories; playtime, wake up smiling and eating and drinking. The apps adorable character Little Pim, and colourful take on learning languages will certainly keep little ones engaged with a choice of either a Spanish, French or Chinese app available. One thing to watch out for however is that the app does have links to download other apps, you don’t want to find a big bill from the appstore if your little one takes a shining to all things Little Pim.

We look forward to there being an Italian version for all our families heading for Elba or Sardinia!

A Final Piece of Advice

While there are so many great apps out there to keep the kids entertained, watch out for apps with simple add on purchases, at the touch of a button (usually free apps). You don't want to let little fingers get carried away and not realise until your credit card bill comes through!

If waiting for the summer for some much needed sun seems all too far away, then May Half Term offers the perfect opportunity to whisk the family away for some warmth, and ever so precious family time. We’re yet to find a location that we think is more ideal for a May Half Term family break than the beautiful island of Elba, with its warm Mediterranean climate and the ever-accommodating Hermitage and Biodola hotels.

Kids will fall in love with the hotels’ beachfront location, with water sports to keep them entertained for hours as part of our exclusive children’s programmes, Scallywags and TheZone, where they can meet new friends and explore the hotel and local attractions with our team of dedicated staff. 

Whether you like to spend your holiday whiling away the hours on a sun bed or prefer the more active side of life then Elba won’t disappoint. With a choice of a sun bed by the pool or on the private beach, or the chance for a spot of tennis and walks that will take you exploring the island you can tailor your time to whichever style of summer holiday you prefer.

For a spot of culture then why not take the family for a visit to what the island is arguably most famous for, Napoleon's home. It also happens to be nearby to one of our favourite restaurants on the island, Le Viste Restorante. Follow the winding streets down to the beach where you’ll find this perfect little restaurant overlooking the sea, where fresh seafood and exquisite pasta dishes are what’s on offer.

With Half Term just around the corner, get in touch with one of our Travel Consultants who can iron out all the finer details for you, before letting our resort team take over and take all the stress out of a family holiday, allowing you to lie back, relax and enjoy the sun.

Catherine O'Dolan, Editor of Junior Magazine and her 7 year old son, travelled with Powder Byrne on a weekend trip to Penha Longa Golf Resort & Spa last summer. We take a look at some of the extracts from the article that showcase all that’s great about Penha Longa Golf Resort & Spa.

‘Our cares began to melt away as soon as we landed at Lisbon airport to be greeted by a bright young lad, one of the local team of Powder Byrne professionals on hand to provide assistance who cheerfully carried our suitcases and drove us to the hotel, chatting away to Joe - "I like your shoes, mate" sort of banter - and pointing out the bright green Lego-like structure of the Sporting Lisbon football stadium en route.  Our hosts played tag when we reached the hotel, as our chauffeur left and Nat, the Powder Byrne Resort Manager took over the baton to welcome us in the grand entrance hall of the hotel'

'Joe was delighted by the bundle of gifts waiting for him in our room.  In anticipation of his action-packed programme of activities at the children's club, there was a Scallywags baseball cap and rucksack, while my gift was a beach bag and some posh suntan lotion.  Powder Byrne prides itself on its excellent childcare and children's clubs, and at Penha Longa offers a pb crèche (catering for four months to three years), Scallywags (four to eight years) and TheZone (for nine to 12 years).'

'Joe was surprisingly reluctant to go (to) the children's club the following day.  He prefered the idea of more water-based fun.  But once we arrived at the children's club and he saw a lively group of boys his age, he quickly changed his mind.

With Joe occupied from 10am until 4.30pm, with a schedule of tennis, portrait-painting, aquabatics, nature activities and a parachute party, I was left to my own devices.  In this respect, you can see how a resort like Penha Longa comes into its own for families.  With the children happily busying away, parents have some time to do their thing, whether that be golf or tennis, some time in the spa or a spot of poolside relaxation.'

'Our break was fast coming to a close, but Joe was eager to hook up with his new Scallywag buddies at the children's club.  Alas, when we got there, we realised that the children were venturing out on a day trip to the zoo and, as our flight was mid-afternoon, Joe wouldn't be able to join them.  His crumpled face showed his discernible disgruntlement, and the rep's words of "Look on the bright side, though.  Now you get to spend the day with your mummy!" didn't go down too well.  On the plus side, I guess this meant that the children's club is really good….."

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Find out more about Penha Longa and the Powder Byrne children’s programmes available at the hotel (pb crèche, Scallywags, TheZone and PB Surf Academy) or to enquire about your very own trip to Penha Longa Golf Resort & Spa click here or call us on 020 8246 5300 to speak to one of our experienced Travel Consultants.