Are you feeling a little jaded by doing the same things on holiday each year? Perhaps you need to choose something a llitle more active. Maybe an activity holiday is exactly the right thing for you.

There is a huge range of activity holidays for you to choose from, from abseiling to archery, from golf to gliding, or from waterskiing to watercolour painting holidays. Usually this type of holiday takes place in beautiful surroundings, whether at home or abroad. Obviously, there's also a link between the type of activity and the surroundings. For instance, you'd be unlikely to find abseiling or rock climbing in the Russian steppes, or anywhere else where there's an absence of rugged scenery. And you wouldn't find waterskiing without a good stretch of open water. Similarly, painting holidays tend to be situated amongst beautiful scenery, whether rural, urban, coastal or mountain.

Mostly this type of holiday combines activity with a certain amount of leisure time, and many include excursions to places of interest as well.

The holiday you choose depends on a number of factors:

the sort of person you are

the sort of work you do

your age

whether you go alone or with friends

whether you need to feel physically challenged, or just relax

whether you have a particular interest that you wish to pursue further

Benefits

A great advantage of these holidays is that they cater as easily for single travellers as they do for couples or even families. Once you've strapped on your ice skates, heaved yourself into your wetsuit, or just picked up your palette and brush, you become simply a group of people out to enjoy themselves learning a new skill or practising an existing one. And how satisfying to come home at the end of a holiday and know that you can do something you couldn't do before, or with a collection of ceramic pots, silver jewellery or a series of paintings.

Things to look for

If you do decide to look for an activity holiday, be sure to shop around to find one that really suits you, to make sure you won't be disappointed. An important factor to check is that group size is guarranteed to be no more than ten, especially if you're a beginner. Nothing is more demotivating than sitting or standing around waiting for guidance to take you on to the next step, while the tutor deals with a whole load of other people before you. If the activity you have chosen is physically demanding, look up the qualifications required to teach the subject, and then make sure that all the tutors are well qualified. Check that they have a first aider on hand.

If your holiday is devoted to arts and crafts, then find out if the tutor is also experienced with teaching adults, especially beginners. Just because someone is a practising professional artist doesn't guarrantee they'll understand your first fumblings, or understand how to help you improve. Check if the company charges extra for materials such as clay, patchworks etc; and if there's likely to be field work, ask if they provide lightweight portable stools or chairs.

It's also useful to find out if they can cater for non-participating partners, and if so, what can they offer them?

Accommodation

The accommodation is likely to vary. If you're skiing it is likely to be in ski chalets; if you're sailing it may be on board. Rock climbing holidays are often based in perfectly comfortable Youth Hostels. Some holidays take place in the organiser's own family-run hotel. Here at Watercolours in Spain we provide accommodation in pleasantly furnished private apartments, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, separate kitchen (though you won't really need it as the holiday is full board), living room and terrace. Most of the apartments have either sea or marina views, and all are within easy walking distance of the main venue.

Whichever type of holiday you choose, be sure to research it thoroughly to make sure it suits your needs. That way you'll have a great time, learn a new skill or improve an old one, enjoy delightful surroundings, and maybe make some new friends as well!

The author of this article is Pauline Rendall. She lives most of the year in North East Essex, and part of it in the Costa de la Luz, especially in Isla Canela, where you can rent her apartment when she's not there. She is also the owner/manager of Watercolours in Spain, offering week-long holidays learning or improving your watercolour technique.

If you would like to rent her apartment check out

http://www.spainbeachapartment.eu

If you are interested in a painting holiday in the Costa de la Luz, then explore

http://www.watercoloursinspain.co.uk

Source: www.articlesbase.com