If the best judges of a family holiday are children, then Pontins have got it right. MARK PRATT took his family to Pontins' Prestatyn Sands resort and they liked it so much they wanted to live there

'WOW" was the only word my ten-year-old daughter Sarah could muster as we arrived at Pontins in Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.

She was looking at the enormous climbing frame and park as we passed through the gates of the site. Before we could get that far though we were checked by security, which was quite reassuring if we were going to consider letting the children out of our sight on this holiday.

The complex is less than ten minutes walk from Prestatyn's long sandy beach and a short drive along the coast from Rhyl.

We arrived at night and, although there was a fish and chip shop still open on the resort, I had already promised the children a Chinese supper, and only had to travel about a mile down the road to the nearest takeaway.

I think my two excited, though tired, children decided to treat it like Christmas Eve with the philosophy "the sooner I go to bed, the sooner I get up". Before they did go to bed however, they made me promise that they were allowed to go swimming as soon as they woke up. Sure enough, we were the first in the queue waiting for the pool to open the next morning.

The pool was ideal. Two small slides either sides of the main pool, and a giant crocodile to climb on in the little pool.

The larger pool would be the venue where my six-year-old son Mark would finally realise that he was capable of swimming on top of the water as well as under it. I was then made to promise that they could go swimming every day and twice on some days. It's a lot easier to make these promises when all the events are included in the price of the holiday.

The chalet was basic, but immaculate, which impressed my mum and encouraged us to cook a fair share of our meals.

The children soon came to the conclusion that "this is the best holiday ever" with Mark asking seriously: "Can we live here? Because it is good you know, Dad."

There was plenty on offer for different age groups, including scuba diving lessons, trampolining, quad bikes, abseiling, computer games, soft play and a park with all the usual play equipment.

A miniature village for motorised cars and lorries was a popular stop. The layout had road markings and traffic lights, making for a realistic drive for the under 11-year-olds. The cars didn't move fast enough for anyone to get hurt, though it was obviously fast enough to keep them entertained.

Well worth a visit for those travelling by car is Chester Zoo. This huge attraction contains virtually all the animals your children have ever heard of, and kept in decent conditions.

Every evening my son was eager to drag me to the pub where the Crocodile's Club provide the entertainment for most of the night. Keeping hundreds of children entertained at the same time is no easy task but Captain Croc and the Blue Coats tackled this admirably. Within a day or two all the children learn the crocodile's song and Pontins' version of the hokey cokey.

My son was so happy that he sang everywhere he went. He danced until he virtually dropped every night, falling asleep in my arms as I carried him from the children's disco.

It was the first time I've been on a holiday of this sort, but I suspect the children will make sure it's not the last.