Alabama's Gulf Shores provide white sandy beaches which are both perfect for a family holiday, and a quieter alternative to the heavily crowded beaches of Florida. The Gulf Shores provide a family friendly environment full of sunbathing, watersports and golfing opportunities, as well as plenty of theme parks and attractions which are great for kids, and with a variety of very reasonably priced self-catering accommodation, renting a holiday condo or apartment represents a real money saving opportunity!

Most families heading to Gulf Shores are going to be hitting the beach for a good chunk of their stay. Gulf Shores Public Beach is totally accessible, with excellent parking, dedicated lifeguards and a host of activities, but it can also get incredibly crowded. Gulf State Park is a quieter alternative nearby which is more family friendly. It also has a very respectable and reasonably priced golf course for any budding golfers in the family. Pirates Island Adventure Golf is a nearby mini golf equivalent which might be more to the tastes of the whole family, and Waterville USA is a fantastic water park which combines watersports, mini golf and arcade attractions for younger children. To get back to nature, the Bon Secour Wildlife Reserve is also highly recommended for its six miles of hiking trails, and access to a much more secluded stretch of beach. Any family will certainly be able to keep themselves occupied over the course of a week's holiday and still not see everything!

With a huge number of condominium and apartment rentals in and around the Gulf Shores area, shopping around for deals can make a break in this part of Alabama a very low cost holiday. With weekly prices for condos large enough to sleep a family of four or more starting from just £250 it can work out much less expensive than booking hotel rooms, and the extra privacy and space means they are great for kids - the youngest members of the family can run around and let off steam in the evenings without worrying about disturbing other tourists. And with the condos coming with all modern conveniences as standard - including flat screen TVs and wireless internet, you can truly relax and enjoy a home away from home!