The adverts for package holidays seem to start earlier every year – or maybe it just feels like that.  Many parents are pressured into making that decision on holidays abroad many months away because the discounted and child dfree places are rare and have to be snapped up instantly.  Of course, in the decades before the package  holiday to spain and other hot places, the holidays were spent on crowded beaches in our own country.    How we used to so look forward to that week by the sea – if we were really lucky, our landlady would allow us to return to our room to get changed or to warm up if the weather was inclement.  Very often though, the harriden would send us out after breakfast for the whole day and not allow us back into the boarding house until gone five pm.   It is a bit easier these days with agencies that handle the booking of rooms.  Usually these are shown in glorious colour as online brochures – they show all the amenities and features that are included in the rental.  Getting the popular apartments can be tricky as some families block book them well in advance.  Almost all rental landlords insist on the agency providing a welcome hamper for their guests – and this tides them over until they can get their bearings to find the local shops for themselves.  Having the easiest heating and hot water system is still essential for a British based holiday home!