Sky-high parking fees, queueing at the airport, taking ages to check-in, stopping the kids getting bored and spending hours waiting for your flight can put pressures on families before they even go on holiday. Families can avoid this stress by choosing to fly from Kent International Airport at Manston.

The airport promises a hassle-free check in, ample parking located close to the terminal, friendly and helpful staff and a good choice of shops and restaurants. From May, tour operator Cosmos is offering a real family holiday with a difference to Virginia, in a little-known part of America just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

The direct flights are operated by Monarch Airlines and Cosmos is offering a range of fantastic family breaks for those looking for an exciting new holiday destination. Virginia is geared up for families in a big way – it offers fantastic beaches, more theme parks than any other US state outside of Florida, great food, a friendly atmosphere and real value for money. Families can stay at three of the most popular resorts – Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and the Outer Banks. Virginia Beach is the state’s main resort. It boasts a 20-mile sandy beach, cosmopolitan shopping and a buzzing boardwalk filled with cafes and restaurants.

Family activities include the popular Virginia Beach Amusement Park and the resort’s Ocean Breeze Waterpark, which offers 16 waterslides to choose from. The Outer Banks are a must for those families wanting to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing holiday. Set off North Carolina’s coast, this string of beautiful sandy islands offers 130 miles of outstanding beaches, fantastic restaurants and a host of fun-filled attractions. Watersports are a must on the Outer Banks and one of the most popular excursions is learning to kayak and then taking a Kayak Nature Tour where you can get ‘up close and personal’ with dolphins and other marine life. Meanwhile the town of Williamsburg offers a rich history, fantastic sight-seeing, a range of dining options to suit all tastes and a relaxing atmosphere – but not for long because it’s also home to the ‘World’s most beautiful theme park’. Busch Gardens is where 17th century charm combines with 21st century technology to create the ultimate family experience. There are more than 50 thrilling rides and attractions, 10 main stage shows, world-class shops and lots more.

This summer, Busch Gardens’ newest roller coaster ‘Griffon’ will send riders through an extraordinary journey 205 feet up and 90 degrees straight down at more than 70 miles per hour. The Cosmos service from Kent is being launched to help mark the 400th anniversary of the first British settlers arriving in America. In December 1606, a 105-strong party set sail for America. Five months later they arrived in Virginia and settled in Jamestown, which was the first English speaking settlement of its kind in America. Jamestown celebrates the 400th anniversary throughout the year, with the main celebrations taking place from May 11 to 13. Highlights include an anniversary village, which tells the story of the journey, guided tours and presentations, pageantry displays, children’s theatre and arts and craft displays and a spectacular firework display.

For more details visit www.americas400thanniversary.com To request a brochure about flights to Virginia from Kent International Airport, call Cosmos on 0871 622 4118, visit www.cosmos.co.uk/virginia or visit your local travel agent. For more information about Virginia visit www.virginia.org

14 April 2007