Anyone who is a parent and who either owns their own car or is fairly familiar with the rail or bus networks will have found themselves pondering the obligatory summer seaside trip.
The UK has dozens of seaside resorts and where to go will depend very much upon a number of factors, not least proximity and also how long one intends to hang around.
Where the day trip is concerned, as an essential rule of thumb the southerner will head for a southern coastal resort and the northerner for a northern one.
This makes a good deal of sense when one only has a few hours to spare and does not wish to be spending the larger part of it travelling.
On England's south coast we are veritably spoilt for choice.
Worthing, Hove, Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Eastbourne, Hastings, Southsea, Hayling and Lyme Regis to name only a few.
By some margin the most popular resort on the south coast is of course Brighton.
Precisely because it is popular it can, especially at weekends and on Bank Holidays, become quite exceptionally overcrowded.
A number opt to take the short if expensive boat trip across the water to the Isle of Wight, England's own Sunshine Isle.
Meanwhile others prefer to look eastwards towards Kent, the Garden of England, where Margate and Ramsgate have their own special allure.
In the north meanwhile there are Skegness, Scarborough and Morecambe.
Many a northern soul swears that the northern resorts have a more traditional feel, are less commercialised and are truer to the ethos of the old British coastal resort that we all know and some of us still love.
But standing over them all, whether in terms of prestige, value for money or tradition, is Blackpool, on England's north-west coast.
Not for nothing is it known as the holiday capital of Great Britain.
Most holidaymakers who have been to Blackpool would agree that it is the quintessential seaside resort.
Even those whose preference might remain for the slightly warmer climes of the south would readily concede that Blackpool is the daddy of the coastal towns, standing proudly aloof from other resorts around the country.
With its famous Tower, Pleasure Beach, Illuminations and Golden Mile, not to mention its much celebrated entertainment and its ample provision of good value accommodation, Blackpool is one of those places that even a Ramsgate regular or a sucker for Skeggie will feel they must pay a visit at least once in their lifetime.
For those who live around the north-west there is the quite appealing option of visiting Blackpool as a day trip.
For those who reside further afield however it makes very good sense to track down a pleasant and inexpensive Blackpool guest house and book in for one or two nights, or perhaps for longer.
Strategically the little town of South Shore is a very good place to base oneself, being conveniently located just a short walk from all the top Blackpool attractions.
Luckily good quality Blackpool hotels are plentiful, ensuring both availability and some really competitive pricing.
Take a little time out to ascertain what they offer and give them a call to reserve a room.