Family holidays can be tricky at the best of times. But throw in a tantrum here, a mid-flight meltdown there and a stroppy teenager or two, and it might be enough to put you off. Luckily, we're on hand with our top family holiday advice to help minimise mishaps while on your family getaway. Our consultants have years of experience planning family holidays, including our co-founder, Tom, father of four and a Condé Nast Top Travel Family Specialist. Read on to discover their top tips for a great family holiday, whether your children are two or 12 years old…
1. Book in advance
2. Ask for advice
3. Think original
4. Explore a new culture
5. Go for the big one
6. Keep the little ones entertained
Book in advance
So, what family holiday advice should prove invaluable? First up - book as far in advance as is humanly possible. Hotels and airlines are notorious for ramping up their rates during school holidays, but they also like to have money in the bank, so there are often excellent early booking offers to look out for. We can help you find the best deals.
Ask for advice
Secondly, ask for advice. When it comes to family holidays, some hotels claim to be family-friendly, and some really do understand the requirements of children and parents alike. Two hotels that fall into the latter category are the Anassa and Almyra in Cyprus, both of which manage to pull off the near-impossible achievement of being perfect for both young and parents. The hotels also run a 'baby go lightly' service to take the stress out of travelling with babies. All you've to do is fill in a form before you travel, and nappies, bottle sterilisers, changing mats, colouring books and more will be waiting for you on arrival. Next, get the professionals (that’s us) to plan everything else and bingo - holiday arranged.
Think original
Our next piece of family holiday advice is to think original. If your children are bouncing off the walls most of the time, then why not take them somewhere that is so extraordinary that they'll (hopefully) be dumbstruck? Take the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, a country that's literally still growing, as witnessed by the constant tectonic activity and the occasional pesky volcanic ash cloud. It's also a destination that’s so far removed from anything they’ll likely have seen before (this includes the telly). And all this is just a three-hour flight away from the UK.
Image by Olivier Romano
Explore a new culture
When children are a bit older and eager to learn, there are some truly wonderful family holidays around the globe that really allow children to see another culture, learn a skill or immerse themselves in somewhere completely different. One of the best destinations for this sort of trip is Kenya - think overnight flights and minimal time difference for less sleep disruption, safari animals that defy imagination, and the chance to make like a hunter and learn bush skills. For children to fully appreciate a safari, it’s probably best if they’re over seven years old. The routine of getting up early and resting in the middle of the day, followed by later afternoon activity and early bedtime, suits parents with young children well. We work with lots of amazing, family-friendly properties in destinations like Kenya and South Africa.
Go for the big one
When you're a fully paid-up member of the 'travelling with children isn't so bad after all' club, our family holiday advice is to go for the big one - a truly radical long-haul destination with all of the above - beach action, fascinating flora and fauna, things to learn, volcanoes, you name it. If that's the order of the day, then might we suggest the wildlife wonderland of Costa Rica? Or Borneo? Or the Galapagos? India is also a great destination for children; there are so many things for children to do, from kite flying to puppet making. Best of all is seeing the animals from The Jungle Book come to life on safari. Colombia is also a great place for adventurous families who want to travel with little ones but don't want to be confined to a resort in the Caribbean.
Image by Claire Guarry
Keep little ones entertained
Last up on our list of family holiday advice is to keep your wee ones entertained. To help with this (oftentimes taxing) task, we’ve partnered with the amazing children’s party people at Sharky & George, who can provide you with a Partner-in-Crime for your holiday. His or her sole purpose is to keep the children entertained with games, a spontaneous bingo quiz in a dull immigration queue or an ingenious treasure hunt in a fascinating (read: 'boring' to children) ancient ruin. The Partner-in-Crime will bring along a Go-Pro video camera for capturing action shots, first aid kits, ideas for games and a desire to find the fun in everything. All this while the adults relax. Sounds perfect, right? As part of our Sharky & George partnership, we also provide tailored family fun packs for children aged three to ten, which include engaging activities, creative ideas and other means to keep your children quiet and interested during the flight. Hopefully, all the fun will tire them out, which will buy you a few more hours of peace…
Header image by Grant Harder
