Swansea, on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, is a great family friendly holiday destination. With miles of beaches covered in golden sands, medieval castles, craft shops, rolling hills and world-class museums, there is plenty to do in the area, and with great deals available on self-catered accommodation - up to and including in Dylan Thomas's childhood home - the area can be great for a low cost holiday as well! The city itself is great for kids as the centre is small enough that it is easy to walk around, and quite pedestrian friendly.

There is so much to do in the area - from exploring the fishing village of Mumbles, to visiting museums such as the National Waterfront Museum (a look at the Industrial Revolution) and the Dylan Thomas Centre. TV fans can have fun spotting filming locations for series such as Doctor Who (Swansea doubled for Victorian Cardiff in 2005 episode The Unquiet Dead). For the more outdoors types, as well as exploring the coastline and countryside on foot, there are also several companies offering boat trips around the coast. The Gower Peninsula was one of the first areas to be designated as a site of outstanding natural beauty in the UK, and as such its woodlands and valleys are well worth exploring, and the area is also home to several parks and nature reserves, including Swansea Vale Nature Reserve - an exciting scarce wetland area which comes complete with bike trails and board walks. Sports fans might not often be excited to see Championship team Swansea City AFC play football at the Liberty Stadium, but Glamorgan County Cricket Club play at St Helen's Stadium. Keen shoppers can also head straight to The Quadrant Centre and Oxford Street for a mixture of chain stores and more independent outlets. Swansea Market, which lies between the two areas, is also the largest market in Wales.

With weekly prices for a rental cottage for a family of four starting from around £300, choosing a holiday rental property on the Gower Peninsula is a great money saving option when compared to the high cost of hotel rooms. Many of the cottages also benefit from stunning sea views, and provide the opportunity for some days spent walking over the coastline, further reducing costs. Preparing a few packed lunches ahead of a day trip can also make the holiday budget stretch much further than eating out every meal.