Travel companies are wising up to creating breaks for kids and busy dads or single dads. Here’s how to spend quality time together ­ without an amusement arcade in sight

"WHEN I WAS a kid," the American comedian Jerry Lewis once said, "I said to my father one afternoon: `Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?’ He answered: `If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.’" It’s a joke, of course, but the fact remains that fi nding ways to spend "quality time" with your children isn’t always easily done.

The problem, according to Chris Barnardo ­ a direct descendant of the original Dr Thomas Barnardo, founder of the fi rst children’s charity ­ is that dads don’t always know where to start.

"Fathers are suffering from an identity crisis," says Barnardo, himself a single father of four aged between eight and 20. "We’re either trying to be metrosexuals or Jack the lads, but the bulk of us exist in the hinterland of being a real father."

Barnardo has recently launched a website to try and fi ll that gap: www.dadcando.com. A positive voice for single dads, the site offers practical tips and ideas ­ and in the future hopes to fi nd ways of repacking traditional travel products to make them more suitable for single parents.

"From my own experiences of taking my four kids on holiday, [I know that] time away is crucial for taking their minds on an adventure," says Barnardo. "Fathers are innovators on holiday. They’re not always as prepared as mums, but they can fi nd inventive things to do and help to widen their horizons."

So what options are there for dads looking to make the most of that special bonding time away with their offspring? From hotel packages to specialist tour operators, we pick some of the best.

SWEET AND SAVOURY

With the teenage daughter

Keeping a demanding daughter happy for the weekend is no mean feat. Shopping, food and nightlife are winners ­ especially if you can guarantee they will come in bulk.

Thankfully, Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo (above), located in the heart of Brussels on the Grand Place, has the ideal solution for father-and- daughter-bonding. For not only is Brussels one of the chicest capitals in Europe, it also has some of the world’s best beer and chocolate.

No surprise then that this package includes a morning visit to the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, where you can take a class with a master chocolatier to learn how chocolate is made and taste new recipes. The afternoon is devoted to discovering some of Belgium’s fi nest brews, beginning with a visit to the Brewery Museum, and followed by a leisurely tour of some of the city’s best bars. While dads will surely love the dark Trappist beers, daughters can try the new school of fruit beers, such as Margriet. Throw in a chic hotel and good-value souvenir shopping in the arty district of Le Sablon, and it’s just the job for some quality time before your little princess heads for university.

The package: Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo has a fi ve-star package from £274 per night for two interconnecting or adjoining classic rooms on a B&B basis, a welcome basket of goodies and access to the fi tness centre. The concierge will arrange classes and museum visits but these are charged separately. Call +32 2547 4747 or visit www.hotelamigo.com for further details.

GOLF ACADEMY

With the sporty son

Be it the football terraces, the cricket crease or the golf fairway, sharing a sporting triumph is the ultimate male-bonding experience. To capitalise on this, the stylish Gleneagles Hotel (below), located just 45 minutes from either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports, is offering a Like Father, Like Son package.

Set in an 850-acre estate and surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Highlands, the resort has recently undergone major refurbishment, creating new facilities for kids and teenagers, such as a games room with an interactive TV, Sony PS2s, pool, tennis and football tables. But this being Gleneagles, it’s golf that provides the primary bonding activity. Junior golf lessons at The Golf Academy are based around expert advice from one of the Gleneagles pros. Having been fi lmed to assess their style, kids receive their own golf club cut to suit their height and swing.

The package: The family package costs £530 per room per night, based on two adults and one child sharing a Sovereign room with full Scottish breakfast. Also included are use of the club facilities and a 30- minute junior golf lesson. Call 0800 704 705 (UK only) or visit www.gleneagles.com for details.

THE ITALIAN ADVENTURE

With enthusiastic youngsters

Specialist tour operator the Adventure Company has introduced single-parent group trips. These offer one- parent families the chance to mix with others and take in a little culture at the same time.

One of the best itineraries to widen the cultural horizons of kids is based around the Bay of Naples in Italy (above). This trip combines active excursions ­ such as climbing 1281m to peer over the edge of the Vesuvius volcano ­ with fun activities for all ages, be it a pizza- making class or a trip to the Roman city of Pompeii.

The package : The Adventure Cmpany has an eight-day Around the Bay of Naples package with adult and child prices from £549pp not including fl ights. Accommodation is on a B&B basis but some meals are included. For details call +44 (0) 845 450 5311 or visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk/family

SUN, SUN, AND MORE SUN

With the 20-something daughter

Come their twenties, when your children become grown-ups and enter the "real world", that doesn’t mean they’re too old for a bit of quality pampering from Dad. Barbados’s main attractions are brilliant sunshine, beautiful beaches and bright blue seas but, should you need further persuasion, the Hilton Barbados Hotel (below) has put together a special spa package to pamper you from head to toe ­ literally giving you and your lovely daughter the chance to relax, revitalise and re-bond. And, should you need further distraction, there are three tennis courts on site, and the hotel can also arrange golf and/or scuba diving for certifi ed divers.

The package: One night’s B&B based on two people sharing starts at $494 (£240) per room per night, including a facial, massage, pedicure and manicure treatment per person per stay, complimentary use of the fi tness centre and a welcome gift. A minimum three-night stay is required. Flights and transfers are not included. For further details call +1 246 426 0200 or visit www.hiltoncaribbean.com/barbados

PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS

With the young explorers

With the ever-present lure of the Nintendo Wii, getting the kids to strap on their walking boots can be a challenge. But specialist walking holidays operator Upland Escapes has a cunning plan: an active week based around small villages in France’s Mercantour National Park gets the kids active while dad soaks up some fresh air and spectacular mountain scenery.

Trips are designed with families in mind, so there are fl exible departure dates, no high-season supplements charged during school holidays ­ and the support of the Upland manager, who is based in the same village as you. Not only that, but Uplands Escapes promises the transfer time from Nice will be a maximum of two hours. Every child gets a personalised Upland Explorer activity pack which includes local phrases, a map of the village, and animals and fl owers to spot on a selection of self- guided or escorted walks. Away from the nature trails, there are cycling routes, climbing, bungee jumping and horse riding ­ but not a Wii in sight.

The package: Upland Escapes offers seven- night breaks from May to October with adult prices from £615pp not including fl ights and a 25% discount for children aged 2-11, based on two people sharing a twin room on a B&B basis. The price includes daily packed lunches, hire car, three escorted walks per week and children’s Upland Explorer packs. For further information call +44 (0) 1367 851111 or visit www.uplandescapes.com

SCANDINAVIAN SECRET

With the active teenagers

Little surprise that Ole Markdal, founder of Kajak Ole, is a major exponent of Copenhagen’s best- kept secret: its network of 80.6 sq km canals and waterways. Rather than join the masses streaming into the Tivoli Gardens, Kajak Ole offers small groups the chance to get into the very heart of the city without the deafening commentary and souvenirs at infl ated prices.

In true Scandinavian style, the ethos is very low key and laid-back: no previous experience is necessary ­ just a decent sense of balance and a willingness to don a giant Day-Glo babygro by way of a life jacket. Having negotiated your way across the harbour mouth, the trip ends in the little Amsterdam that is Christianshavn, a canal- strewn area popular with locals for its café culture and numerous moored houseboats. There’s nothing like a little adventure to help with some family bonding and, relaxing over coffee and croissants at canal- side water café after the tour, you’ll be united by the adrenaline thrill of the trip.

The package: Kajak Ole runs daily kayak tours from April to October. A two-hour trip costs 245DKpp (around £22), three hours costs 295DKpp (around £27). All safety equipment is provided. For further details call +45 4050 4006 or visit www.kajakole.dk