I’m looking for ideas for a short-break holiday for my extended family group of 17 people including my parents (in their 70’s) as well as my and my brothers’ families (children aged from 6 months to 17). We want to go over the Easter holiday, Thursday till say Easter Tuesday, and not too expensive. We’d like good weather, restaurants etc, as well as the option of being able to pursue activities – swimming, tennis, golf, cycling etc. Katie Hill, via email

Family travel expert Emma Mahony (middle in picture above right) responds: The idea of big family get-togethers is becoming more and more popular, and has even inspired our current travel editor Jane Knight to write a book The Big House Party on the subject.

The book covers 80 UK destinations able to house such a large gathering, and a couple of available venues that jump out as ideal for you include The Old Rectory in Suffolk and Combermere Abbey in Shropshire.

The Old Rectory, close to the Suffolk coast with swings, trampoline and table tennis to amuse the children, would rent out its eight bedrooms and various z-beds to house you all for £1,000 per night over Easter. Combermere Abbey, which has a tennis court, bicycles and fishing in the abbey grounds, would rent you out cottages from £687 for the week over Easter. Both can arrange catering if you require.

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Other places to consider if you wanted some guaranteed sun over Easter would be Morrocco, under four hours flight and the same time difference. The Times reported on large groups getting together out there in the ideal accommodation of Morroccan riads, a group of houses centred around a central courtyard which often double as hotels in the capital of Marrakesh.

The biggest source of such riads for hire would be from Best of Morocco, where offers are from £650 per person including flights in some places. If you wanted the full monty in absolute luxury, with full board and private staff, you could go for Cazenove & Lloyd’s tailor-made package to Ezzahra for five nights at £25,185.

If the thought of rocking the Kasbah is beginning to whet your appetite for something more exotic, then look at our international round-up of best house-party venues. India and Wyoming, USA may be a little two far for a short break but a combination of villas in the Algarve would be doable in so short a time. Light Blue Travel suggest a cluster of villas around a pool and in the upmarket Golfing resort of Quinta da Lago at around £2,500 for the week.

So, guaranteed sun or the possibility of rain? This is the question you need to pose the family. And then you can begin the first of the family arguments by all holding different view. Happy houseparty hunting.

Got a question about family travel? Email our trio of experts at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk - Chloe Bryan-Brown takes care of questions for the 0-6 year olds, Emma Mahony handles the 7-12 age group and Jane Owen writes about teenage and single parent travel

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