The results are in and we have a winner! Thanks to everybody who entered our family travel competition to celebrate the release of magical film The Princes' Quest. We had some fantastic tips on travelling with the family and certainly had a tough time narrowing the entries down to the ten tips below.

The winner, as chosen by the editor of guardian.co.uk/travel, is KittyWelch, who shared an intriguing idea for turning over the whole business of planning a holiday to the kids themselves! Kitty and family now have the chance to enjoy the locations which inspired The Princes' Quest themselves, as they've won a holiday for four to Marrakech.


KittyWelch's winning tip:

Leave the planning to the kids.....
Posted by KittyWelch
Much of the excitement about holidays is in the planning, so get the kids involved. We have often tried to do this, but last year, we decided on a UK touring holiday and one dreary Sunday afternoon handed it all over to our 9 and 12 year old. Gave them a map of UK, some pins, a couple of Visit Britain brochures and, of course, the internet, recommending they consult the AA route planner and camping sites.

A little bit of guidance was needed at times, to lessen the whistle-stop nature it had the potential of turning into. For example, a 200 mile detour simply to visit a donkey sanctuary was not an option, and also to remind them to leave some blank spaces to do nothing.

The kids planned it all, printed out an itinerary with route maps, negotiated with each other (horse trek in the Lake District was traded by my daughter for the National Railway Museum in York for my son) and they even bothered to ask us about places we might like to visit (whilst giving us ‘no promises’). The holiday really worked because they felt in control and pleased with themselves when it went really well. The campsite they had found on a beach in Scotland was truly fantastic. Flexibility was needed for the weather, but plans didn’t deviate too much. They weren’t allowed to.

It turned out one of best holidays ever. Did all sorts we’d never normally have done and, it’s a cliché, but we really got to appreciate our own country. The kids did learn they’d probably tried to fit too much into 12 days. But by them controlling it, they accepted the driving distances, for it was their decision. The tables were turned and I had the chance to whinge “Are we nearly there yet?”.

The holiday culminated in a long awaited trip to Alton Towers, and two satisfied children as we headed back down south. However, this year, I’m back in the driving seat!


Finalists (in no particular order)

Posada de Tigua, Ecuador
Posted by Rosacan
Fantastic little dairy farm with amazing views on the Quilotoa circuit. The couple who own it are really friendly and took our kids off on the llamas and let them milk the cows. Great homemade food using lots of stuff from the farm, cold beer/wine and a wood-burning stove for cosy evenings. Rooms are quite basic but clean and they were building ensuite shower/loos when we were there.

Getting there: 3km east of Tigua. Tel: 03-281 3682 (best way of booking) or email laposadadetigua@latinmail.com


Tom Tits Experiment
Posted by janiusbaktus
Only a short ride from Stockholm, you will find a magnificent red brick building, which used to be a factory, brimming with activity. This is the 'science centre' Tom Tits Experiment.

Here children (and adults) can try out more than 400 experiments using water, wind, gravity, sound, light and movement while at the same time learning about themselves and the world around us.

The huge house has four floors, and an enormous outside area for water experiments. There is a buffet restaurant serving food that will appeal both to the young and older taste buds, but there is also space for eating a packed lunch.

Getting there: Tom Tits Experiment is located in Södertälje 35km south of Stockholm, close to the E4 and E20. If travelling by train from Stockholm, it is within walking distance from Södertälje station.


Ice cream in the Pearl Cafe before sundown
Posted by toottoot
Sitting atop six huge hot water tanks on a hill in Reykjavik, Perlan (the Pearl) restaurant is one of the top eateries in Iceland, with prices that go with its reputation. One floor down, however, is the inexpensive cafe, where extended local families gather on the weekend to sip a beer and eat Italian ice cream. Surrounded by windows on all sides and with access to the viewing platform outside, this is a great place to take in all of Reykjavik and the mountains beyond. As the sun moves towards the horizon, the surrounding landscape becomes bathed in a wonderful golden light (weather permitting of course!)

Getting there: Perlan - Öskjuhlid - 105 Reykjavik
www.perlan.is
Tel: (+354) 562 0200


Every child (and adult) should run down a giant sand dune
Posted by tangotime
What? Europe's largest sand dune at Pyla in south-western France. Not only is there a mountain of sand to run, roll, or slide down, pretend you're Lawrence of Arabia in, and generally fall about laughing on because you can't walk properly (parental supervision maybe required), but there are also miles of sandy beaches and smaller dunes to muck about in too.

Why? Because it is one of the most fun, memorable, exhilarating things the whole family can do together, and it's free. (Our four-year-old still talks about running down the Pyla dunes last summer.)

When? Any time between May and September should give you good weather. August is predictably busy, but the sheer expanse of the sands means it's never going to be packed.

Getting there: We stayed at Le Petit Nice (Sunelia - camping), Route de Biscarosse, 33115 Pyla-sur-Mer, Arcachon. Tel: 33 (0) 556227403, www.petitnice.com
Nearest train station: Arcachon (15 km)
Nearest airport: Bordeaux (50km)


Kampala Market, Uganda
Posted by ClaireBurdett
Amazing mix of colours, sights and sounds.

Best tip - buy a couple of kilos of crickets from the old lady sitting under the umbrella at the very far end of the market. Crickets? Yes, don't be squeamish! They are caught by children for Ugandan pennies, de-winged, and then kept alive in a huge covered barrel, which keeps them docile and sleepy.

Fry them quickly over a high heat - they taste exactly like prawns! My children couldn't stop eating them, and we had to fight them for a grown up share!

Grown up tip: fried crickets are delicious nibbled as you sip your Ugandan beer sitting in the sunshine, waiting your meal to arrive freshly cooked...yum.

Getting there: Kampala Market, centre of Kampala, by the taxi rank.


Renting a summerhouse on the Jutland coast
Posted by Garyjc
There are many privately owned summer houses owned by Danes which are rented out. These can be an absolute bargain, especially if rented after the Danish schoolchildren go back after their summer break (typically second week of August). You can pay less than £600 for a house that sleeps 6-8, half the price of a mobile home in France in the middle of August.

The western coast of Jutland boasts mile after mile of wide beaches, dunes and clean unspoilt coastline. Many summer houses are located in the dunes just a short walk to the beach. There are no hotels or high rise apartment blocks here, just a fantastic place for a relaxed family beach holiday.

Getting there: While there are several commercial rental companies like
Sol og Strand, you can find privately rented properties which are cheaper. Use Google with search words like "Jutland" or "Jylland", "sommerhus" or "feriehus" and "udlejes". Sites will generally have English and German versions. A typical example is www.driverhuset.dk/index_en.htm


Camping in Comillas
Posted by harrismatrix
Comillas in the region of Cantabria, northern Spain, is a gorgeous little cobble streeted seaside town, loads of lovely cheap family friendly places to eat, a fab fun family atmosphere in the square at night (sometimes there is even a free outdoor cinema) and the most perfect beach and sea.

The very basic campsite is within walking distance of both the town and the beach - so no worries about evening drinking. The huge beach is great for swimming, bodyboarding, rockpooling and sandcastle building. In Comillas, you can get up late, have late lunches and late dinners, just really chill out - and there's not too many British travellers! The climate is perfect for camping - you won't be boiled out of your tent in the morning!

Get the ferry to Bilbao or Santander and drive there - the ferry journey is great fun - kids love it and it's so relaxing! There is plenty to see and do in the area apart from just lazing on the beach. You can visit the fantastic nature park of Cabárceno, palaeolithic rock art caves, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the oceanographic museum and aquariums of Santander, Gaudi's only building outside of Barcelona or the perfectly preserved medieval village of Santillana del mar - there really is something to please everyone in this area of Spain.


Camping on the beach at Ardroil
Posted by Kabak
If you want a break that gives you peace and quiet, beautiful Scottish island scenery, a pristine beach, sparkling sea and masses of outdoor space to let the kids explore, this is perfect.

There is no formal camp ground. You pitch your tent on the grass next to the beach and put some money in a box in the local village. There are public toilets to use but other than that, this is pretty wild camping.

The area is really safe so the kids can go off and explore the beach and rock pools whilst you relax and get the camp fire going. Long summer days, lovely walking, swimming, fresh air and starry skies. This is a wonderful, memorable place to take the family.

Getting there: Ardroil Beach, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis


Paris in summer
Posted by vertcycliste
Paris is perfect for those with kids, and especially the park at La Villette. On the Canal de l'Ourq there is the awesome dragon slide (almost two stories high), playgrounds designed for specific age groups, a submarine my five-year-old nephew wants to return to with his big brother and cat (!) (3€ each). Just by the park bikes can be hired that take the whole family along the traffic-free canalside to the forest of Sevran, where coffee and ice cream can be had in the old poudrerie, where Nobel of the Nobel prize worked - well worth a visit. And if it rains, back at La Villette there is always the Cite des Sciences - again with exhibits tailored to tots and to slightly older kids. Further afield, there's Paris Plage for sunbathing, sandcastles, misters, boules, rock-climbing (5 years old and upwards), the fountains and concerts at Parc Andre Citroen, the fireworks on July 14, or the swimming pool on a barge by the Francois Mitterand Bibliotheque, or the fantastic mini Paris Plage at Canal St Martin where another five-year-old loved her tot-sized pedalo and the tea dances and water fountains. Paris is perfect for families, especially in the summer, and since almost everything referred to above is free or cheap, it won't break the bank. Plus - no hours spent travelling to, or queueing at, airports.