Operators Offering Childcare

Specialist Reports Just For Families With Specialist Childcare Operators Offering Childcare Sunsail 

	Sunsail
The Port House, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 4TH			MAP
tel: (023) 9222 2222

Often mentioned in the same breath as Mark Warner but with a more serious emphasis on sailing (and more equipment), only half board rather than all inclusive and reported to cater slightly less exclusively to the families of professionals. Part of the First Choice Holidays group.

Where

Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Antigua.

Style

Accommodation is mainly in beachside hotels or a few of the clubs have apartments. Increasingly they are introducing extra facilities such as a beauty spa, alongside for example tennis coaching.

Care Offered

All supervising nannies are NNEB/CACHE, Btech or equivalent, and all assistant nannies have some other training. Older children are looked after by trained activity instructors.
Hours are 9.30am-5pm six days a week with lunch supervised by staff. There is childcare for 8-plus only and only in school holidays only at Spartia and Leda.
Minnows (4 months to 2 years) one British qualified nanny per three children, seven days a week, the venue providing cots and high chairs plus sterilising equipment, but take your own feeding equipment. There are specially designated play areas, sand pits and children's pools, high chairs, potties and cots. Cots, high chairs, potties, baby baths and mats are all provided.
Snappers (2-4 years) with one nanny to four children, offer activities including swimming, sand play, treasure hunts, painting and singing plus access to designated play area, sandpits and children's pools.
Sea Urchins (3-7 years) supervised by trained activity assistants, can try swimming and there are treasure hunts, drawing, fancy dress, quiz competitions, supervised swimming, drawing, painting, fancy dress, quiz competitions, and decoration making.
Gybers (8-12 years) get activities on and off the water throughout the day with a team of qualified activity leaders organising informal windsurfing and sailing and other activities including swimming, snorkelling, team games and outside trips. There may also be tennis, table tennis, canoeing, ringo and other inflatable fun rides. For more intensive tuition recommend enrolling Gybers on a Club Dinghy course. When there are large numbers they are divided into 8-10s and 11-12s.
Beach Team (13-16 years) have more freedom and can join in activities and instruction sessions.

Cost of Care

Minnows £195 per week, all others free.

Other for Children

All Sunsail Clubs have special children's windsurfers.
An evening creche (subject to staff availability) may operate between 6.30pm and midnight for children 5 - 12 years. There is an extra hourly charge for this.
An early supper is available for children when accompanied by parents and children of Gybers age plus join their parents for dinner on evenings when dinners is included in the Club meal plan and may have high tea on non-inclusive nights. Beach Team have the same meal plan as adults.

Sample Price

A fortnight in August in an apartment for four would be around £1,500 per person or in a family room £1,500 per adult and £1,200 for a child 2-12 years on a Z-bed.
This includes flights, transfers, sailing tuition, kids clubs, and use of dinghies and windsurfers. Infants are £65 for one week and £90 for two.

Reader Report

Caroline Bromilow has tried both Sunsail and Mark Warner and has a marked preference for Sunsail. She feels that the half board system offers more flexibility and options to explore outside the resort (though the food is not too bad), as well as being cheaper. She also comments that Sunsail has much more generous watersport equipment supplies and better accommodation.