The lastest news from Holidays with Kids...

Kids stay and eat for free at Perisher.

Winter’s almost over! Still keen to catch the last of the Australian snow season? Check out the great
family-friendly specials on offer at Perisher Ski Resort.

Smiggins Hotel:
Kids stay Absolutely Free

From $782 for 2 AD & 2 CH in a Standard Room and includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts & 2 dinners and free parking at the hotel.

5 night stays from $1990 for 2 AD & 2 CH. Packages available between 6 Sep to close to close of season.

Packages also include the FREE Smig's kids club (all ages) 6 to 9pm every evening.

Our fully trained staff provide supervised children's activities such as craft, games and video games, dress-up nights, kid's karaoke and much more!

The Man from Snowy River Hotel:
Children 0 to 5 years old stay & eat for free.

Great property for families for small children due to the close proximity to our brand new Snow Discovery Centre. Evening Kids Club operates from 23 Aug to 26 Sep.

Matterhorn & Corroborree
Family Pack - Kids stay free and only pay for meals

From $1176 for 2 AD & 2 CH. Includes 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners. Package available from 6 September to close of season.

Barrakee:
Kids stay free and only pay for meals.

2 AD & 2 CH $1800. Includes 5 nights accommodation, 5 breakfasts & 5 dinners as well as free oversnow transfers. Package available between 13 Sep to close of season.

For more information call 1300 655 811 or visit http://www.perisher.com.au/winter/holiday_planner/specials.html

It’s easy to book your family a chalet in the Alps, an apartment in London or chateaux in France!

Interhome is the largest provider of quality holiday rental apartments and villas in Europe with more than 46,000 properties in 24 countries. Every year, more than 500,000 families book their holiday homes with Interhome. Properties range from 1 to 5 stars and for all budgets.

Choose from: chalets and apartments in the Swiss, French and Austrian Alps plus Colorado and Utah; farm houses and villas in Italy; gites and castles in France; villas with pools in Spain; city apartments in Dubai, London, Paris, Vienna, Prague and Rome; cottages in England; condos in Florida and much more.

You can book a chalet in Switzerland for 6 persons for just $954pw, or spoil 15 family and friends with your own chateaux in France with pool, tennis court and private 9 hole golf course, for $10,906pw. Rates vary according to property size, location, furnishings and season.

To book go to www.interhome.com.au

Time to plan an overseas ski trip

Missed out on this year’s Australian snow season? All is not lost! Take the family overseas to Italy's Alta Baldia region in the Dolomites for a truly memorable ski holiday. Australian-owned Skiare has a great range of packages available for families, with some places offering free accommodation for children under 8 and half price for those under 12 years of age.

A good value option is a Skiare Silver Skiing Holiday inclusive of:

• 7 nights accommodation at a 3-star Bed & Breakfast
• 6-day Dolomiti Superski Pass
• 6 full days of skiing with a professional Skiare ski instructor – suitable for all levels of skier
• Return transfers from Bolzano to Alta Badia
• One day skiing in Cortina, including transfers
• Discounts on ski hire and equipment purchases
• Skiare Guest Services
  
  Price:  $2570

• The Dolomites are easily reached via Frankfurt to Innsbruck with Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa or Qantas.
• The season runs from 21 November 2009 to April 2010.

For more information on Skiare's family specials and great range of skiing holidays in the Dolomites, visit the website at http://www.skiare.com.au

Experience the Falls Creek 5 star experience

Enjoy 5-star treatment at the magnificent Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek, Australia's newest ski-in,
ski-out, alpine resort and spa. Starting from only $499* per night, enjoy luxuriously appointed apartments and penthouses.

This new Falls Creek resort offers stunning uninterrupted views of the valley, mountains and ski fields and is the perfect base for a family holiday.

Facilities include:

• Restaurant and bar
• Cafe
• Indulgent day spa
• Plunge pool
• On-site supermarket
• Retail outlets
• Concierge
• Ski, snowboard and toboggan hire
• Ticket office and chairlift adjacent

For reservations call 1800 630 882, email reservations@qwrsfc.mirvac.com or visit http://www.mirvachotels.com/quay-west-resort-spa-falls-creek

*Rate based on a 1-night stay including breakfast for 2 people, valid until 4 October 2009. Subject to availability, conditions apply.

New NSW Kids’ Adventure Passport

The NSW Government has launched a new Kids’ Adventure Passport program. The program gives all primary school children free access to more than 70 museums and galleries across the state on weekends, public and school holidays from 13 July 2009 to 27 January 2010.

At each venue, there are fun goals and activities for the kids to complete and check off on their passport. Children are rewarded for completing the activities with a stamp. Once kids collect three stamps they can apply for an official certificate, signed by Premier Nathan Rees, recognising their achievement.

To further encourage participation, there’s a series of prizes for those who are quick to complete it, including family passes to Taronga Zoo, Western Plains Zoo and kids’ shows at the Sydney Opera House.

If families use the passport on a Sunday they can also get cheap
transport as part of ‘Funday Sunday.  For $2.50 per person, a family can enjoy unlimited travel on Sydney's buses, trains and ferries.

Participating venues include the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW, Rouse Hill House and Farm, Elizabeth Farm, the Sydney Opera House, the State Library, the Powerhouse and the Sydney Observatory.

For details on where to collect a Kids’ Adventure Passport and start the challenge go to www.arts.nsw.gov.au.

Sydney and Newscastle Baby & Kids Markets throughout August

Visit your local Baby and Kids Market and browse through over 70 stalls filled with quality preloved baby
& kids goods. The markets are held inside from 9am to 12 noon with plenty of free parking available.
Food & coffee is also available. $3 entry, kids free.

Five Dock - Sunday 16 August 2009
Five Dock Leisure Centre, Corner of Queens Rd and William St, Five Dock.

Newcastle - Sunday 23 August 2009
Newcastle Basketball Stadium, corner of Young and Curley Roads, Broadmeadow.

Kellyville - Sunday 30 August 2009
Bernie Mullane Sports Complex, Marella Ave, Kellyville.

Sutherland - Sunday 13 September 2009
Sutherland Basketball Stadium, off Old Princes Highway & Rawson Avenue, Sutherland

For more information visit  www.babykidsmarket.com.au

Stay at Mercure or Ibis Brisbane and Kids stay & eat FREE

Spring school holidays in Brisbane city are cultured, cool and now even more affordable with the Mercure and Ibis hotels offering unbeatable family-friendly rates for stays between 19 September and 5 October 2009

There are endless options available to keep the kids entertained in the River City. From museums and malls to the renowned Southbank Cultural Precinct, tourist attractions or the great outdoors, every member of the family is guaranteed satisfaction.

Prices start from just:

• $164 per room per night at Mercure Brisbane. Two children aged up to 15 years of age can stay with two adults in a room when using existing bedding*
  
• $139 per room per night at Ibis Brisbane. Up to two children under the age of 11 can stay in a room with their parents when using existing bedding*

Kids eat for free when dining with paying adults at the Mercure's Quays restaurant, or the Ibis hotel restaurant (maximum two children).

To book or for more information on Mercure and Ibis Brisbane's School Holiday rates call (07) 3237 2310 or visit www.accorhotels.com