Getting away from it all doesn't have to mean saying goodbye to friends and family... go on holiday with a group and give the traditional house party a modern twist!

With its wide open spaces, beautiful beaches and fun attractions for all, Norfolk or Suffolk is the perfect setting for a self-catering holiday – and the county has a wealth of large cottages to accommodate groups of every size. Whether you're planning a family gathering, an old-friends reunion, a special celebration or a short seasonal break, Suffolk is big on choice where big cottages are concerned.

As the credit crunch continues to bite, sharing a large holiday cottage with a group of other people is a great way to keep costs down. It's also a fantastic way to reduce some of the workload usually associated with a self-catering break – shopping, cooking and even childcare are less of a chore when there are other people to help.

Ask everyone to bring along a favourite recipe that they'll cook one evening, let the children take charge of breakfast, or choose a theme for a special 'last night' supper – fun is never far away when there's a house full of people!

Local Tom

www.bigcottageholidays.co.uk