Everyone remembers their fave family holiday. Digging holes on the beach, showing off your handstands in the pool, pretending your mocktail was the real thing… Core memories for life. Plus, it’s a chance to press pause on your daily grind and spend some proper quality time together with the kids. Toddlers, teenagers or twins – we’ve got Family holidays for every size and set-up.
For most families, All Inclusive holidays are the ultimate hack. Kids are notoriously bad at getting a round in or splitting the bill after a meal out, so paying one price for all your food and drink is a major win for sticking to a budget. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are buffet-style as standard – a win for fussy eaters – and everyone can help themselves to snacks and soft drinks without you getting your card out.
Another huge bonus about All Inclusive is that, usually, some activities and entertainment are included, too – we’re talking sports, games and hotel-run kids’ clubs, plus family-friendly shows and discos in the evenings. You get to sit back, sip on your piña colada, and relax because your past self has already sorted the spending. Go you.
If you’re a family of outdoorsy types, destinations like Switzerland, Iceland and Canada meet the brief for unreal natural beauty and a high chance of spotting some wildlife. The Caribbean, Mexico and Costa Rica all get a mention for their Jungle Book scenes and epic zip-lining opportunities, and the kids can have their little explorer moment in Thailand, India or Sri Lanka. Their geography school trip could never…
For the Horrible Histories-obsessed kids, City Breaks will bring it all to life. Rome and Athens cover the ancient history lessons, pick Paris for a recap of the French Revolution, and cities like Berlin, Krakow, Prague and Budapest are full of World War Two and Cold War sites. Museums and art galleries often have fun and interactive areas especially for children, and guided tours will give them all the extra tea which’ll send them to the top of their class.
Going big? Go Luxury. Treat the fam to a five-star stay in Turkey, Cyprus or Greece, or get some winter sun without going too far from home in the Canaries, Tunisia or Cape Verde. Wherever you pick, you’ll be treated like VIPs – expect top-tier facilities like waterparks, swim-up bars, private beaches and boujie à la carte restaurants. Extra child-friendly features like football, art and dance academies are ideal for making friends and learning new skills – and gives you a chance to check out that dreamy adults-only spa…
Everyone knows school holidays aren’t the cheapest time to get away, but there are definitely ways you can keep the cost down of your family trip. We’ve got a long line-up of holidays with a free child place for every two full-paying adults – just use our free child place finder to see how it works and where they’re available. Otherwise, locking it in well in advance means you can make the most of early booking offers, or snap up a last-minute deal if you’re feeling spontaneous. Self Catering can be super affordable and is a great option if you need accommodation with more space, like an apartment or a villa – plus you’ll get to stick to your mealtime routine. To swerve the crowds and save on peak prices, opt for a destination that’s not in its prime touristy period yet. Places like the Caribbean, Thailand and Mexico are much cheaper during their rainy seasons, and any showers quickly clear to blue skies and tropical temps.
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School’s out, holidays are so on… Make the most of the breaks with one of these trips.
Our guide to family holidays
Holidays with free child places
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Family holiday FAQs
Look for destinations that are in their low season during the school holidays and book your trip in advance to catch an early-booking deal. Go All Inclusive to save spending money on meals, drinks and activities out or go Self Catering and cook your own food at your apartment. If you’re going on a daytrip, pop to the supermarket to grab some snacks and drinks to avoid paying a premium at the actual attraction.
Stay in a family-friendly resort with lots of activities and facilities for little kids. Pick a place where you can hire baby equipment, so you don’t have to travel with it all, and you’ll save room for more essentials like nappies, wipes and favourite toys. Find flights that are around the time your little ones usually go down for a nap or early in the morning. And, to keep the flight time down, stay close to home with a holiday to Europe – lots of destinations, like the Canary Islands still get year-round sun and are under a five-hour flight away.
Activities like books, games and colouring materials are handy when you’re waiting in the airport or for your transfers. Make the most of family-friendly activities and entertainment programmes in your resort, as well as kids’ pools and splash parks, too.
Create a packing list with items to put in each bag, so that way you know exactly where something is if you need it, like nappies or a change of clothes. Lots of destinations are hot in the day but can cool down a fair bit in the evening, so it’s important to pack an extra layer for when you’re sitting outside once the sun’s set. Kids’ clothes don’t take up too much space, so you could share a suitcase to keep your luggage weight down. Don’t forget essentials like medication, toiletries, chargers and other bits for your little one – and make sure you pack them somewhere you can easily get to them
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