I can’t remember what I was doing in the Starfish crèche, but my parents were surprised and delighted to see that the nannies took me out in a boat, splashed around with me in the sea and in the pool, helped me build sandcastles on the beach, and for some time out of the sun we would bake cookies, do face painting, drawing and crafts. All that activity makes for sleepy babies and I was always tucked in my pushchair or cot nice and early, ready for another day with the rest of the Starfish babies and nannies.

At four and five years of age and I remember running about a lot with my fellow Sea Badgers, marching around the resort shouting our special song at the top of our lungs. There wasn’t one thing about being in Sea Badgers that I didn’t like. When the nannies get out the confidence jackets you know its water time either splashing about making whirl pools in the small pool or sitting on the power boats being splashed by the waves as you get driven across the bay. The best part was when you were allowed to do a bomb jump in the pool and splash as many people as you could, and paint the nanny was fun too.

As you grow up into ‘big kids’ at the age of around eight, you get to wear the bright blue Sharksters rash vest, and are old enough to try more of the activities, so playing tennis with the slightly bouncier orange balls instead of the huge flat red ones, going in the main pool, trying your hand at sailing and even having a go at water skiing! 

When you reach the grand age of 14 you can pick and choose your favourite activities, for me that’s tennis and water skiing! This can be within the club or once you hit 14 you’re free to try the full range of watersports in the adult sessions. This is where I discovered that I was a passionate wakeboarder and an equally enthusiastic tennis player. I also enjoyed getting up at 7:30 am for the HIIT sessions (High Intensity Interval Training) with the fitness team and always stretch and relax before dinner.

After being on about 20 beachclub holidays and already packing for my next, the excitement of counting down to my next Neilson Holiday is still real. Getting ready to be back on the water with the ski team, on court with the tennis coaches, working hard with the fitness instructors and then if I get time, chilling out with TAG and the teen crew fills me with joy. Neilson feels like a family, growing up through the Neilson kids club ranks has been in every way perfect, teaching me loads of skills, having oodles of fun and making countless now friends. From toddler to TAG and hopefully soon to rep, it’s without a doubt been brilliant fun and a great experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. 

There is a real sense of family on a Neilson holiday, all the staff and all the guests, from the nannies on hand to look after the little ones to the watersports crew and bike guides to the chefs and waiting staff. This is the number one reason why I want to continue growing up with Neilson. They were there to see me take my first steps in the crèche and later, land my first ever toe side 180 on a wakeboard. I’m hoping that by completing the circle and becoming a Neilson instructor myself I can teach someone else as they grow up with Neilson.