Head to Croatia and you’ll see flourishing vineyards, citrus and olive orchards; and on the sea, you’re never too far from a fishing boat bringing in a fresh catch for dinner.

In recent years the popularity of taking a holiday that includes an active element such as cycling, hiking or watersports has been growing. Online searches for terms such as ‘activity holidays’ and ‘sport holidays’ are on the increase but what is behind this growth in popularity?

Imagine a sun drenched, pristine coastline with colourful landscapes and ancient architecture - and you’ve got Calabria. Lying to the extreme south of Italy, located on the ‘toe’ of the country’s boot-shaped peninsula, Calabria is a region of hidden gems.

It's important to hydrate when you play tennis, equally important as your fuelling routine is a good tennis warm-up drill. Play un-stretched and you could find yourself limping for the rest of your holiday.

Tennis is a great sport for any age, something to think about when starting out is the racket you will be using. Choosing the right racket is important as it will affect your progress and enjoyment of tennis.  

Tennis is a sport that can be played on many different surfaces. Each surface has different playing characteristics which will affect the style of play and a players natural playing ability. 

We spoke to Bex, who has been on her fair share of Neilson holidays and has spent her summers immersed in the various kid’s clubs, learning a whole host of new skills and making loads of new friends. For Bex, Neilson is like a family, super friendly and super fun.

There’s lots to consider when your packing for a family beach holiday, especially if you and the family will be enjoying water sports and other activities too. Check out the list below in preparation for your next holiday.

Learning to sail or windsurf (or kayak or water ski or paddle board) with your family on holiday will create holiday memories that’ll last a lifetime.