When it comes to travelling with young children, parents may find themselves struggling to choose where to go on holiday. They must consider if the destination is safe for kids, has family-friendly accommodation and offers activities that cater to all ages. Here I have chosen a few top destinations for the perfect family holiday.
Who wouldn’t want to be big kids on the trip of a lifetime to the happiest place on earth? You could visit Mickey’s house, have breakfast with Cinderella and take on thrilling rides like space mountain and the tower of terror. Walt Disney World, Orlando is a magical experience for the entire family that everyone will enjoy. Get a park hopper pass so that you can go on safari at Animal Kingdom, travel around the world in one day at Epcot before visiting the Magic Kingdom for a phenomenal firework display at night. I went pre-children and had a blast but know it would be even more enjoyable with the children in-toe now, plus I wouldn’t look half as silly wandering around with Minnie Mouse ears on if the kids were also wearing them.
There are many family-friendly Disney resorts close to the parks that are great for children. They offer kid’s clubs and other onsite activities as well as something for the parents including spas and babysitter services. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers everything from convenience to luxury and most importantly a whole lot of fun. In addition to the several Disney hotels in the area, other popular favourites include Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
A few Blogging friends went to Orlando with their families last year as part of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, you can read Kara’s posts on this magical holiday here and Rosie’s posts over here – these should give you a feel of what it’s like to holiday here with children.
Turkey
Turkey’s Aegean coast is the perfect place for a fun filled holiday abroad. With guaranteed sunshine, turquoise waters and beautiful beaches, Turkey has all you need for an action-packed family holiday in the sun. Those seeking a little culture can explore the traditional Turkish markets and enjoy the delicious traditional food. Families love visiting the famous Turkish baths for a little rest and relaxation after an action-packed day.
Due to its ideal climate and proximity to the U.K, Turkey has really established itself as a firm family favourite with a number of family-friendly hotels along its coastline. Mark Warner’s Phokaia Beach Resort is a superb hotel for families with excellent facilities for kids and adults alike including sailing, waterskiing, tennis, cycling and more all included in the price. The resort is conveniently located on the coast next to the beach and has two bars, a delicious restaurant to relax in the evenings. Childcare is also included in this package. It was actually a blog post over on Dear Mummy Blog detailing her ideal holiday which has made me lust after this location – take a read and you’ll see why.
We are actually heading to Turkey in October with the children, they are super excited as it will be their first time abroad.
Costa Rica
As a world leader in eco and adventure tourism, Costa Rica is the ultimate getaway for families who enjoy the outdoors. Put on your explorer hat and discover the beautiful and protected rainforest. Families can take part in thrilling activities such as hiking, zip lining, horse riding, canopy tours, white-water rafting and camping under the stars. It is an adventure that everyone will love and always remember. With many national parks, you can do some wildlife spotting where you might be lucky enough to spot tree frogs, monkeys, sloths and much more.
Take your family on the adventure of a lifetime with one of the many Costa Rica tours available. Visit the Jaguar Rescue Centre, a home to rescued, orphaned and injured animals. Here you can get up close and personal with the wildlife while learning the importance of the centre’s mission to helping these beautiful creatures.
Cruising
Of course if you really can’t decide on one destination you could look at European river cruises, these may be right up your street, with everything you’d need on board from childcare, cinemas, theatres, water parks and of course amazing food and drinks – you and the kids won’t get bored with the only decisions to be made are what you do next and whether you hop off to explore the next city on stay on the ship. Paul and I recently had a taster cruise and loved it – you can read my review here.
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Clare
Hi, I'm Clare (Emmy's Mummy). A former Nanny and Mother of 2 - Emmy (born February 2010) and Harry (born October 2012). We are Essex based and share our adventures and misadventures of a busy crazy life.
