We are thinking of going to Aruba next August. I have a three-year-old boy. My partner likes relaxing on the beach and I like to explore and take my boy for walks. What would your advice be? - Byron Crowley, Essex
Aruba, just north of Venezuela, is an interesting Dutch Caribbean island. But frankly, in August I would recommend "real" Holland over this exotic version.
Here's why. Travelling from Essex to the Dutch resort of Zandvoort, near Amsterdam, is fun and easy - whether you go by ferry, or fly in an hour from Stansted or London City. In contrast, the flying time to Aruba from Gatwick is nearly 10 hours.
Next, while Aruba has some impressive all-inclusive properties, Zandvoort has Sunparks - an unpretentious former Center Parcs. It boasts bikes to borrow, a great pool and a brilliant beach only yards away.
An August holiday at Sunparks isn't cheap: a week in the smallest chalet, big enough for three, will cost £981. But the cheapest Thomson package
I can find for one person in August going to Aruba is going to cost more.
Aruba's main Dutch sight is a windmill - but it is a mere decoration on this arid island. Sure, the capital, Oranjestad, has some ornate colonial buildings, but Zandvoort has the historic city of Haarlem only 10 minutes away, plus a national park and a beach your partner will adore.
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