family holiday travel inc

Family Holiday Travel Inc.

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Do not be afraid to ask questions about reservation by calling them: (905) 604—1025. Whatever you are searching for in a holiday, look if the business has it on the regular internet site: familyholiday.online. Feel free to tour them at: Canada, Markham, ON L3R 5T5, 8339 Kennedy Rd UNIT2555.

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Travel agencies in Markham

• UCruising of Unionville Unionville, ON L3R 9W4, 8360 Kennedy Rd Unit 68
• Miracle Holidays Unionville, ON L3R 1M6, 8392 Kennedy Rd
• Travel Lovers Group ON L3P 1Y3, 178 Main St N

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• Toronto Marriott Markham ON L6G 0E6, 170 Enterprise Blvd
• Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa ON L6G 1A5, 8500 Warden Ave.
• Premiere Suites ON L3R 7Z9, 23 Cox Blvd

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• CPTrip Service Inc. ON L3R 9Z4, 145 Royal Crest Ct Unit 32
• WeChina Vacation ON L3R 0G6, 3621 Hwy 7 #502
• Nexus Holidays ON L3R 0E7, 600 Alden Rd #312

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Expert Tips for Family Holiday Travel

The busy travel season makes flying as a family even harder than usual. Here, globetrotting parents share their best tips for holiday travel with kids.

GETTY IMAGES / WESTEND61

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way, shall we? Holiday travel can be stressful. The long lines, potential weather delays, the glut of traffic, and perhaps even a few short tempers to boot.

And when you’re traveling with little ones in tow, the list of potential pitfalls or stressors can certainly be magnified. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Take it from a veteran travel journalist who regularly hits the road—or the skies—with my young son.

It wasn’t always easy for me though. Especially when I was a new mom. On my son’s first Thanksgiving flight, he cried so much and so loudly prior to take-off that a flight attendant told me we’d have to disembark from the plane if he didn’t stop crying, so as not to disturb the other passengers the entire flight. 

My heart sank as I pondered not making it home to see family in Boston for the holiday. But at that moment, while the plane was pulled over to the side of the runway waiting for my son to calm down, a kindhearted woman (read: far more experienced mom) in the seat in front of me turned around, slipped me a lollipop between the seats and quietly said: “Try this.” I unwrapped the candy, gave it to my son and he was instantly as happy (and as silent) as a clam. Moments later, the flight began taxiing to take off as scheduled. 

Mental note to self: Always pack lollipops when you're flying with children .

All of which is to say, there are a few hacks that can make holiday travel less stressful for parents. Here are 10 travel tips and tricks, gathered from parents who’ve racked up plenty of miles with their children. 

Optimize Toys—and Tech—for Travel

No matter which mode of travel you choose over the holidays, ensuring that young travelers have plenty of entertainment along for the ride is truly key to everyone’s survival.

“Find ways to make the plane, car, or train a fun environment,” says Michael Motamedi, a travel influencer who has been traveling the world for six months with his wife Vanessa Salas, a producer, and their two-year-old daughter. “Consider toys that stick to the window or a sticker book to decorate.”

Audiobooks are another kid-friendly form of entertainment to keep handy. While you’re at it, don’t overlook the value of an iPad or some other similar electronic device that’s pre-loaded with your children’s favorite movies , cartoons , and games . And don’t forget to carry over-the-head earphones that are easier for young children to wear, rather than earbuds.

Underpack for You, Overpack for Kids

Co-founder of the travel tech company Faye travel insurance and father of two young daughters, Daniel Green says he’s learned over the years that it’s better to have more than you need for the kids to make it through a trip as painlessly as possible. This is especially true during the holidays, when flight delays and other travel traumas have become all too common. 

“I’m more than willing to underpack for me, but overpack for kids with too many diapers, too many changes of clothes, and too many toys and snacks,” explains Green. “I can always reuse a shirt for myself if I need to. Or I can go to Target and easily find something. But my kids are messy and you just don’t know what you might need, so it’s better to pack one too many things.”

Easy access is key. Green advises having enough items packed for your little ones in your carry-on to survive one night in a hotel or airport without needing to get into your checked bags.

“If your travel gets disrupted, or your luggage lost, you want kids to have a clean change of clothes and any other basics they may need,” he says.

Strategize for Departure

Repeat after me: I will not feel guilty about making the most of pre-boarding for families with young kids in tow. It’s a benefit that Motamedi and his family routinely make the most of in order to be able to get on a plane ahead of the crowds and get their young daughter tucked away without disrupting other travelers. And during the busy holiday season when planes are likely to be sold out and long lines of (cranky!) people waiting to get to their seats, you’re doing everyone a favor by getting settled ahead of time.

While you’re at it, find out what other expedited options are available for families at the airports you will be traveling through. “A lot of countries even have special lines for families during the immigration process,” says Motamedi.

As nearly any parent learns quickly, expedited service is your friend when traveling with young children.

Relax Your Rules

Few parents enjoy watching their kids glued to a screen for hours. Or downing a steady stream of cookies or other less than healthy snacks for that matter. But Green suggests relaxing some of your rules to make the trip pass more manageably—and to maximize fun.

“For me, there are no rules for kids on a plane, especially this time of year,” he says. “They can watch Frozen eight times in a row or eat too many chips if that’s what gets them through the flight,” says Green. “I’d rather have a kid who survives the flight relatively unscathed than have a screaming kid on a plane.”

Separate the Kids

Siblings are known to have spats now and then. And that can be especially challenging when they’re cramped for hours in tight quarters on a plane. 

To avert this particular challenge, Vanessa Gordon, CEO and publisher of Long Island, New York-based East End Taste magazine, has developed her own strategy for her two children, ages 6 and 9, whom she’s taken everywhere from Ireland to Mexico, Dubai, and Egypt—including over the busy holidays.

Sometimes, it’s best to give everyone some space to keep the peace—even if that means giving up your own. “I cannot tell you how many times I have had to break up rifts between my two children,” says Gordon. “I’ve learned that it’s best to sit in between them in the middle seat. Or if I’m traveling with my husband, we split up and sit in different aisles or areas of the plane. This alleviates so much stress.”

Book Red-Eye Flights

Purchasing tickets for red-eye flights is a travel hack for parents far and wide. And really, it makes perfect sense. Flying at night typically aligns with a child’s natural sleep cycle . Holidays or otherwise, this option can make travel far more peaceful.

“My children sleep very well on planes and I make sure they fly with relaxing clothes on and have them brush their teeth so they are not tempted to snack late at night,” says Gordon.

Added bonus, if your children spend most of their travel time sleeping, they’re less likely to be disruptive to fellow passengers.

Lighten the Load

At the risk of stating the obvious, traveling with kids, especially small ones, usually involves carrying extra gear, in addition to luggage. It can be a lot. Now, add to that any extra items you might be toting during the holiday season and it can be even more challenging 

“If you're going to a family member's or even a hotel or vacation rental, ask if you can have your online gift orders all sent directly to the destination so that you don't have to lug them with you,” says Marianne Perez-Fransius, CEO of Bébé Voyage , an online guide and community for family travelers. “You can also send diapers and other gear you might specifically purchase for this trip directly to your destination.”

Rent—Or Borrow—Baby Gear

In recent years a number of services have sprung up that allow for renting gear for babies and young children in your destination ( Baby Quip , Rents4Baby ). Some even deliver the gear to you at the airport when you land. So, lighten your load when traveling with kids over the holidays, and consider renting needed items wherever you’re going.

“There are so many services across the United States and increasingly internationally, as well now, that allow you to rent strollers, cribs, pack-and-plays, toys, car seats, and more so that you don't have to travel with your own,” says Perez-Fransius.

Want to save money? You might also consider borrowing gear wherever you're going. “Whenever we visit my mom in the New York City suburbs, she always posts on her neighborhood ‘no-buy’ group and she's been able to borrow second-hand or barely-used car seats, toys, baby gates, and more from neighbors,” adds Perez-Fransius.

Pack Some Small Surprises

It’s the holiday season after all, so consider the strategic use of small gifts along the course of your journey to surprise your children and bring a smile to their face when needed.

“Keep secret gifts for your kids in reserve that you can deploy during a particularly stressful moment…Presents that might otherwise go in a kid’s Christmas stocking that can add a morale boost if you run into some holiday travel stress,” says Motamedi.

Share Treats With Passengers—And Crew

The holidays can be stressful for travelers of all ages, not just children. And they’re also a time for giving back. So why not spread a little cheer as you proceed through your journey? This can be especially thoughtful when you’re a family with young children that may need to call upon travel professionals for extra assistance. A little bribery can go a long way, especially when you have a long way to go.

“Buy some $5 Starbucks gift cards for the flight attendants if you have small children, just as a thank you and an acknowledgment that your group will probably take a little more effort on their part compared to the average passenger,” says Motamedi. “This will also go a long way when your little one needs water or cookies ASAP.”

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The best family holiday destinations in the world

By Condé Nast Traveller and Issy von Simson

From holidays in the sun to the most family-friendly spots in Europe , here are some of our top picks of the best family holiday destinations in the world to take the whole crew.

ROAD TRIPPING IN CHILE

Replacing the depths of a British winter with the technicolour high of a Chilean summer is delightfully disorientating. The sky is steeped in blue, the roads are lined with saucepan-sized hydrangeas and avocado trees dangle their fruit as we make for the wild Pacific Coast. Our sons, aged three and five, were born in Santiago – this is a much-anticipated trip back to a country that owns a chapter of our life. Our first stop is a two-hour drive north-west of the city, and the view from the car window switches from bucolic to Sahara-like with goats nibbling on squat trees. Then, abruptly, the land drops away and the cliff-clinging road leads down to Zapallar, a horseshoe cove where butterscotch- coloured sand spreads out before fantasy houses separated by woodland and agapanthus-filled gardens. To my mind, it’s Chile’s prettiest beach town. We’re staying in a green-and-white doll’s house, Hotel Isla Seca, its walls hung with photographs of 1880s society and a guest-book entry from Margaret Thatcher’s visit in 1994. Days are spent ordering Pisco Sours and ceviche at El Chiringuito as the boys watch jumping dolphins and wave at pelicans. The smells tug at the strings of nostalgia – salty seafood, citrusy pine trees, sun-baked stone.

Next up: Santiago , a city that is like a magic box where all the best bits are tucked away in hidden compartments. We race to Metissage, our favourite bakery in Vitacura – its hot chocolate is so thick you eat it with a spoon – and have lunch at Mestizo with a view of flamingos. Then it’s time to move south-west, to the beach at Matanzas – but first we eat at Santa Rita (pictured), where French vines first took root more than 150 years ago. Waiters like the penguins from Mary Poppins appear with cloche-covered dishes. We go on a tour of the immense gardens, nodding admiringly at South America’s tallest bougainvillaea while trying to keep the boys from dive-bombing into the Roman baths. From old world to surfer’s paradise, we arrive at Hotel Surazo in the early evening. The next day we delight in dragging ourselves up the steep sides of sand dunes only to whoop back down again, free and weightless. Evenings are for eating: plates piled high with grilled octopus followed by meaty white kingklip and creamed polenta, toes in the sand, bodies warmed by the fire pit. We’ve saved Matetic Vineyard in the Casablanca Valley for our last stop. Again, the smells draw me in – here it’s sun-drenched terracotta tiles and the olive-oily woodiness of the plants. I sit in dappled shade by the pool with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc as the children learn to leap in like little frogs. I think of the popular saying ‘ más chileno que los poroto s’ (more Chilean than beans). It may not be as charismatic as Argentina or as legendary as Peru, but Chile is wholesome, understated and genuinely nourishing for a family. Gabriel O’Rorke

BOOK IT Journey Latin America offers a 12-day trip to Santiago, Zapallar, Matetic and Matanzas from £3,018 per person, including flights, transfers, excursions and some meals; journeylatinamerica.co.uk

TEMPLE HOPPING IN LUANG PRABANG

Some places leave their mark, so much so that you find yourself longing for them years later. I had always wanted to return to Luang Prabang in Laos, with my pre-school daughter by my side. The heavy, fragrant air and quiet streets, packed between the muddy banks of two rivers, combine to create a bewitching effect. Wandering its dusty, forest-fringed lanes is such an escape from modern life. When I finally booked a trip for us I was delighted to find that she too was entranced. She loves treasure maps, so Luang Prabang was hers, with dozens of temples to explore. ‘Buddha!’ she would shout triumphantly in the delicious freshness of the mornings as she darted between blossom-laden frangipani trees, spying statues beneath pointy roofs, or leapt up steps guarded by many-headed serpents. This was a magical kingdom where orange-robed monks padded around on business of great importance. She learned to remove her shoes before sitting quietly at a Buddha’s feet and staring up into his wise eyes. Enlightenment was perhaps some way off, but we achieved moderate success at least on the road to sitting still, if only for a minute.

The city has a cosy café culture and our favourite haunt was Le Banneton, where I would linger under cooling ceiling fans over organic Laotian coffee, my daughter wolfing down French pastries. For sheer beauty, Wat Xieng Thong was our favourite, offering a great haul of ‘treasure’ – rows of gilded figures propped up against red ochre walls brimming with colourful glass tiles. We’d go for strolls, spotting smaller compounds behind tangles of vines or following the rhythmic chanting. At Wat Choumkhong, we found a golden monkey in the garden and at Wat Xieng Muang, we watched statues being restored in the shade of crinkly banana leaves. Wat Pa Phai was tiny but had the most gorgeous setting, surrounded by feathery tamarind trees, towering palms and spiky bromeliads. When the sun began to sink behind forested hills on the far side of the Mekong, we ordered ice cream at rustic riverbank bars and watched barges idle past. We blinked like magpies at exquisite tribal jewellery and browsed indigo-dyed blouses and patterned jackets, whooping as the tuk-tuk bounced over bumpy roads on the way to the night market. Just opposite, the royal temple shone in the darkness, its tiered roof swooping upwards to meet the stars. Luang Prabang had fed my daughter’s imagination. Natalie Paris

BOOK IT Red Savannah offers a seven-night private trip in Laos for a family of two adults and one child from £1,458 per person. Excludes international flights; redsavannah.com

ISLAND ROAMING IN MADEIRA

We were a family in transition: illness, teenage break-ups, leaving school. An escape was needed, quickly, so I did something I’d never considered before and booked a five-day trip to Madeira . There was no chance to plan – we just threw some clothes in our bags and set out for this island trying to shrug off its reputation as holiday hotspot for octogenarian ladies. In Funchal we took the cable car to the tropical gardens at Monte and whizzed back down in wicker sledges. The sturdy rental car managed to rev up precipitous tracks past Cadillac-pink belladonna lilies, eucalyptus and UNESCO-protected pockets of laurel forest to hike to waterfalls and lagoons. One afternoon we headed up the mountain of Achada do Teixeira, arriving in the early evening just as the sun was doing spectacular things with shades of pink and gold. We walked to the highest peak, Pico Ruivo, through an amphitheatre of jagged summits while beneath us the clouds shapeshifted into dragons and whales. It would have made a great picture: the five of us striding towards the horizon, children up front, faces like trailblazers. On past holidays they have demanded downtime, screen time, pool time – but now there was no such request. Lockdown had made us all greedy for experience; they wanted to feast on the foreignness of everything.

One night we found ourselves on a street framed in drifts of bougainvillaea: purple, magenta, blazing orange. We settled at a restaurant with chequered tablecloths and devoured plates of soft Azeitão cheese, limpets in a garlicky marinade and ferocious-looking black scabbard-fish. My son ate this – the same boy who a few years ago was prone to throwing a fit over a fish finger. Another evening we shared a table with a local family in Câmara de Lobos and in faltering Portuguese engaged in a lively conversation punctuated by nods while a stray feline did figures of eight through our legs. The proprietor insisted that we try poncho , a tooth-achingly sweet liqueur, and my eldest became tipsy and revealed secret crushes she later denied. On the last day we took another cable car to Fajã dos Padres. Some 450 years ago, an intrepid band of Jesuits arrived here by boat. Beneath the towering rock, they grew figs, mangoes, sweet potato and prickly pears. Today, this jewel-green spit of land still sparkles with flowers and flashes of birds and butterflies – the perfect place to pass the day. The children padded off to find a cool spot under a mimosa tree, lazily keeping an eye on the shimmering sea – unwittingly putting sights and sounds into their pockets to sustain them when we returned home. Emma Inglis

BOOK IT Doubles at Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira from about £285; belmond.com

OFFBEAT EXPLORING IN ANTIGUA

When Queen Elizabeth II came to visit this Caribbean island in 1966, the roads she travelled on were freshly tarmacked so that her driving experience could be as pleasing as possible. And in that spirit, the something-for-everyone hotels, white beaches and shallow waters are what has made Antigua an evergreen winter-sun retreat. But my two boys and I wanted to get closer to local life. We wanted to travel the pot-holed roads, the ones the Queen did not see. We’d already joined the fishermen at Keeling Point and pulled up lobster from cages. We’d talked to the white-haired Englishman who had been shipwrecked 20 years ago, living in his boat with a broken mast ever since. We’d sat down with the fruit sellers on Old Road who’d set up stalls piled high with whatever they’d picked that day, and eaten at the no-name place. But here we were, on a Saturday night, and the capital St John’s seemed oddly deserted. The air was filled with frogs chirping in the bulrushes; a cow crossed the street. Otherwise it was empty.

Our taxi dropped us off at a restaurant where a waiter led us to a small tilted table with insects whirling around. ‘Do you have wine by the glass? I asked, opening the C&C Wine House menu. ‘Alas, no wine,’ the waiter informed us. I ordered a beer. He wafted his hand dismissively, disappeared then reappeared with our food – seared tuna with toasted sesame, fresh as the breeze. Just as we were finishing, I became aware of drumming. ‘Jump up,’ the waiter said. ‘There’s a street party on the boardwalk.’ We followed him towards the quay, straining to hear. As we rounded the corner the music hit us – a steel drum, a saxophone, nimble fingers stringing a guitar. People twisted and jived, welcoming us to join in. We did. Local life, it turns out, is actually easy to find amid the glitz. This is what makes the island unique – the paved and unpaved roads running into each other, wherever you go. Lindsay Hawdon

BOOK IT British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick to Antigua; ba.com

FISHING IN THE SELOUS

The red path ribbons through bush that is blushing green at the first rain. We don’t see another vehicle; it’s like we’ve got the land all to ourselves. Originally called the Selous after the English conservationist who inspired novelist Henry Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain, Tanzania’s Nyerere National Park was renamed in 2019 in a nod to the country’s first president. It is one of the biggest on the continent – more than twice the size of Kruger. We’re on the Rufiji River to catch tiger fish. Africa’s most exciting freshwater species, they run a hard, fast fight. They’ll whip the line so that it whines, breaking the surface then darting beneath the boat. It lurches but the tigers only yield when they tire, and often they don’t. When we can’t get them, we catch enormous catfish with fingernail-pink skin and whiskered heads. My eldest daughter explains her passion for fishing – ‘time to think’, she says. Which is why her brother isn’t keen. But tigers are never dull. And there’s always something to watch here. Hippos glare at us. They look like fat labradors, except less friendly. Crocs litter banks like driftwood. When they become aware of us, they scuttle into the water and lurk like submarines.

Sandy banks yield to steep cliffs; hyrax scream and fish eagles cry, combining in a scary movie soundtrack. This is one of the few parks where you can walk and fly-camp – all that’s between you and the dark is a sheet of canvas. I worry the children will get bored on a game drive after the river’s excitement, but our guide is used to engaging youngsters, pointing out tracks. We watch birds on Lake Tagalala. A pair of lapwings furiously defend their nest from an egret picking its way towards a fishing spot. Ducking the lapwings’ dive-bombing, it comes at its prey from a horizontal angle, folding its neck gracefully so the head is almost at water level and the shadow doesn’t give its position away. Then it strikes. Perhaps we should approach the tigers with more cunning too. Anthea Rowan

BOOK IT Nomad Tanzania offers a seven-night safari in southern Tanzania from about £3,985 per person, including activities such as fishing, meals and domestic transfers. Excludes international flights; nomad-tanzania.com

CAMPING IN SOUTH-WEST FRANCE

The cross-Channel camping holiday is an age-old tradition that launches a thousand roof racks at dawn, military-grade packing lists fluttering in their wake. Six hundred years ago, English pennants were raised at Crécy and Agincourt; now multi-coloured settlements appear each summer around rural France, punctuated by the clack of paddleball and young voices in faltering French asking for croissants. Camping here was until recently of the pitch-your-own variety, or of ready-pegged sites under the Eurocamp banner, but that’s been changing over the past few years as smaller, more individual glamping spots have emerged. The Loire, Brittany and Normandy are well-mapped, but we headed south to Lot-et- Garonne, a region tucked beneath the Dordogne with few claims to fame. Framed in part by the two rivers that give the area its name, the landscape was defined by the Hundred Years’ War, with bastides crouching on hilltops amid a sea of fields, orchards and woods. La Parenthèse campsite is positioned around a gaggle of old farm buildings a few miles north of the town of Monflanquin. Alongside individual pitches, there’s a herd of safari-style tents set on raised wooden decks with kitchen spaces and bunk beds, and a couple of chairs on the terrace.

The best campsites aren’t just fields with enough space for tents but little worlds that have their own centres of gravity, their own rituals and myths. La Parenthèse could be plotted out like Pooh’s map of 100 Acre Wood. The steep ascent from the trees, past meadows to the goats of the petting zoo and the pétanque court; the short-cut down ditches to the pool and bar for baguettes and citron pressé ; behind it the lake with its white-sand beach and leaky boat that crews of children row to the middle then yell to be rescued. On Friday night it’s the mussel-and-frites beach party, excitable small helpers dispatched to gather branches for toasting s’mores. One afternoon, tipsy with the heat, I swung with our son in hammocks and saw a travelling circus arriving in the field below – a miraculous intrusion from the outside world. Within striking distance are pools for wild swimming, and the nearest town, Villeréal, a medieval time capsule with absinthe- coloured shutters and a covered market where locals have been buying farm food for the past 700 years. But for the most part we kept to the slow rhythms, embracing the midday langueur , watching our son slip away with new friends, an absence of any real plans. Campsites may have evolved since my own childhood trips in the early 1980s, but at places like this that decade’s sense of children being able to roam free, without supervision, remains. Rick Jordan

BOOK IT Visit l a-parenthese-camping-les-ormes.com or coolcamping.com

NATURAL-SPRING SWIMMING IN ICELAND

Last summer I realised that all of my daughter’s friends could swim – some really well – but we’d totally missed the memo about booking lessons. We thought that a few weeks at a villa with a pool would fix the situation, but before we knew it, borders were closing and our choice of destinations dwindled. But just as limitations foster creativity, the lack of options led to an incredible counterintuitive idea. They took us to a land where naturally hot springs flow straight out of the ground, with dramatic waterfalls, glacial pools and the famous Blue Lagoon. A place where the swimming culture is so strong that the community gathering place is the hot tub at the local pool, rather than the pub. If you can learn to swim anywhere in the world, why not do it in Iceland? We hatched a plan: rent a campervan , drive round the 800-mile Route 1 and hit the water twice a day. Every hour or so along the way, there was somewhere exceptional to plunge into: hot springs and rivers, municipal pools and no-frills spas, off-the-beaten track spots. Into our luggage went multiple towels, a pair of swimming costumes and a very warm jumper each.

Our first dip was in Reykjadalur Valley, an hour from Reykjavík. The perplexed look on the children’s faces at the bath-warm temperature was worth 45 minutes of moaning about the walk up a steep dusty path – the fast-flowing river was hidden up a slope beyond bubbling mud patches and sharply defined alpine valleys that cut the sky in half. Later at Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall that tumbles 200ft down to a deep, dark pool, we watched circular rainbows veiled in cold mist dance in the late-afternoon sun. Early the next day we sought out Seljavellir. It looks like an ordinary outdoor lido, except that it is moored to the base of a mountain, a 15-minute walk along a stony path. We sank into its warm mossy waters, luxuriating in having it all to ourselves. Further along the route, the glamorous hexagonal floating pools at Vök Baths near Egilsstaðir called to us. There are legends about a lake-dwelling creature but that didn’t deter the locals from taking a brisk immersion before returning to the steamy spa. The kids squealed with delight when their father attempted the same. Mývatn Nature Baths, along the northern stretch of the circular route, was a delirious splash of blue in a lunar landscape with an eggy whiff. It was just deep enough for my eldest to stand on tiptoes – ideal if you’re learning to swim – and the sky was so bright we needed sunglasses. But the best moments of all were also the strangest: the tin bath by the side of the road, filled with natural spring water too hot to sit in; the falls at Dettifoss, where 100,000 gallons per second thundered by; the clifftop Geosea spa in Húsavík, where we strained our eyes looking for whales far out at sea while the wind blew the sand from the shore below up into our faces. With the children asleep in the campervan one night, I sat under the midnight sun and soaked up the scenery. There was a black-sand beach before me and shadows of dark islands offshore. Kittiwakes wheeled around the sea-thrift-dotted cliffs. I thought about how my memories of swimming lessons are tinged with chlorine and too-tight goggles, but theirs will be lost in this: mountains, magic and the scent of sulphur. Laura Dixon

BOOK IT Check out Indie Campers for campervan tours and use the Hot Spring Iceland app to locate swimming spots.

Far-flung family hotels we love

SUNDY PRAIA

PRINCIPE, SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

Arriving here feels as if you have slipped off the map somewhere between Robinson Crusoe’s island and The Lost World . Cast adrift from the west coast of Africa , Príncipe is an intrepid adventure of natural highs. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the smallest of the two-island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe , it is also the focus of a sustainable tourism project dreamt up by South African millionaire and philanthropist Mark Shuttleworth. Locals are employed at his three hotels run under the name Here Be Dragons; Bom Bom, Roça Sundy and Sundy Praia, the smartest of the trio. Its 15 tented villas have taken root in a thick tangle of almond and banana trees to avoid disorientating the turtles that frequently settle on this deserted scoop of sand.

The extraordinary landscape begs exploration – the emerald rainforest’s biodiversity has earned it the title of the Galápagos of Africa. A hike with a guide to Príncipe’s O Que Pipi waterfall turns into a botany class with lacy white tattoos fashioned from fern leaves for little arms, followed by a cooling dip under the falls. Then there are night-time excursions to see turtles nesting on Praia Grande and a visit to Roça Sundy’s chocolate factory, while a boat trip to castaway beaches ends at the pin-up Praia Banana, where the captain encourages plucky plunges into the clear blue water. At Sundy Praia’s cathedral- like Oca restaurant there’s a chance to taste the exotic local bounty; fresh fish grilled in banana leaves and Calulu soup made with produce from the hotel’s organic farm Paciência. It’s all a subtle lesson for curious young minds about different cultures and the challenges facing Príncipe’s precious flora and fauna. Splendid isolation does not come more splendidly isolated than this.

INSIDER TIP To really bring the country’s geography to life, head to the southern coast of São Tomé where Rolas Island is sliced in two by the equator line and stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern.

BOOK IT Doubles from about £620 half board; sundyprincipe.com

Olivia Morelli

Anna Prendergast

Sarah James

LA COTTE FARM

FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA

Farm stays with lashings of grown-up appeal are nothing new in the Cape , especially on heritage wine estates. What gives La Cotte the edge is its prime position in Franschhoek – the village’s restaurants, galleries and boutiques are within walking distance. You can nip down to Main Road for an ice cream or take the old-fashioned wine tram all the way to Babylonstoren for lunch. Then there are the unmarred views, a rarity in these parts. Sitting on the deep veranda of the hotel’s Cape Dutch manor house, it’s easy to imagine why French Huguenots put down roots here in the 17th century.

The farm’s 25 hectares are fed by a mountain spring, keeping not only the vast grounds springy and lush for playing on but also the Chardonnay and Shiraz-producing vineyards in good nick. Spring water flows from the taps too, adding sustainability clout along with compostable bin liners and coffee pods by Terbadore, a local roastery, in the rooms. The self-contained Orchard and Forest cottages, some with two or three bedrooms, have been a hit with families since the property opened. All the Orchard dwellings have mini pools in their gardens, while the Forest ones share a 65ft pool and dining pavilion that is lovely for evening barbecues. Eight new hotel rooms and a two-bedroom pool house are the most recent additions.

Wherever you check in, La Cotte aces a modern-British country-pile vibe, cleverly layered with Cape antiques and traditional textiles (rare suzanis from Uzbekistan , block prints from the south of Jaipur). The whole place reflects South Africa’s jumble of global influences and bristles with history. The enormous oak trees surrounding the estate were planted from acorns brought back from scorched Delville Wood in France after World War I. There are plans to use the water mill, the second oldest in the country, as a wine emporium, while the restaurant is supplied by fresh farm produce including vegetables, eggs and honey (there are 24 hives tucked into three hectares of preserved renosterveld fynbos). Small-scale and low-key, this is a haunt that families return to time and again because it feels like home – nothing is prescribed, anything is possible, and young children have what they really need: space and freedom.

INSIDER TIP While the cottages take first prize for longer stays, especially for multi-age parties, the new rooms suit families with older teens or couples with a baby or toddler in tow (cots and camp beds can be set up).

BOOK IT Africa Travel offers seven nights in a two-bedroom Forest Cottage from £4,495 for a family of two adults and two children under 12, including flights and car hire; africatravel.com

RAA ATOLL, MALDIVES

Conservation was as high a priority as privacy for Joali’s owner, Turkish businesswoman Esin Güral Argat, when she began plotting out this hideaway. To protect both, not only did she buy a handful of neighbouring isles and employ an almost entirely Maldivian team to pull together the property’s thatched rooftops, hibiscus-shaped fans and liquid-look marble interiors, but she also kickstarted reef regeneration and local tree-planting initiatives to help offset your journey before you’ve even stepped foot on the sun-bleached boardwalk. This escape had a big budget, but despite its self-appointed title of art hotel, there is nothing pretentious about it: the seaplane pilot flies barefoot for the 45-minute transfer from Malé; a giant inflatable flamingo bobs in the pool, and there’s a spirited sense of freedom throughout.

South African designer Porky Hefer’s jolly 15ft manta-ray-shaped treehouse charms both intrepid toddlers and solitude-seeking teens, plus parents can book it for cocktails at dusk. A single lap of the cavernous, iPad-controlled villas designed by renowned Istanbul studio Autoban will wear out lively little ones, but an ice-cream pit stop at La Joie’s will revive them for a scavenger hunt led by the kids’ club team. Out on the water, a divemaster teaches buoyancy skills and fish identification while spinner dolphins swim alongside the boat on trips to nearby thilas (underwater mountains).

The northern Raa Atoll is one of the least developed in the archipelago and has great diversity at its drop-offs, which makes for interesting snorkelling and diving. Back at the beach, the lagoon is gentle and perfectly clear, with turtles often spotted in the shallows. Trip along to the restaurants at any time of day – a godsend for disrupted sleep schedules and fussy appetites – while your personal jadugar (butler) organises everything from spa treatments to water sports and barbecues on the sand. A factory reset for the whole family.

INSIDER TIP Save on precious packing space – villas have help-yourself snorkels, fins and beach bags, as well as baby monitors on request.

BOOK IT Turquoise Holidays offers seven nights from £13,999, half board, for a family of two adults and one child, including flights and seaplane transfers; turquoiseholidays.co.uk

HOSHINOYA FUJI

YAMANASHI PREFECTURE, JAPAN

Forget tents and sleeping bags. Glamping in Japan is elevated to near- spiritual heights by hotel brand Hoshinoya and its 40 minimalist cube cabins scattered among red-pine forests. Two hours by train from Tokyo ’s skyscraper hub Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi prefecture, home to green peaks and mirror-like lakes, this space nails that very Japanese balance of being deeply in touch with its environment and simultaneously contemporary and stylish. New arrivals, kids included, pick from a range of chic utilitarian rucksacks packed with camping gear to use during their stay.

The heartbeat is the Cloud Terrace, a network of wooden platforms that weaves through forested mountainside, helmed by expert staff who will quickly become your children’s new best friends. A wander might lead to hammocks looped between trunks, decks for morning stretches, music concerts or a campfire where marshmallows are toasted around the clock. At the outdoor Forest Kitchen, make rice balls with wild vegetables or unicorn-shaped pizzas (a pointy bamboo shoot is the perfect horn); let off steam with a wood-chopping session; and go forest bathing amid the trees. Concrete lodges, designed by architect Rie Azuma, have stripped-back white interiors with cloud-like bedding, Snow Peak titanium cups hanging on the wall and wellies by the door. Eyes are drawn through floor-to-ceiling windows to Mount Fuji. There are also spacious terraces (safety nets are available) with in-built fire pits. Everything is in tune with nature – even the food. In the glass-fronted dining room, seasonal game from venison to boar is served (warming wintertime shabu shabu hot pots or fatty cuts with local fruits in summer). And one of the best ways to start the day? A sunrise canoe trip on the still waters of Lake Kawaguchi as Fuji looms startlingly close.

INSIDE TIP While each S Cabin comes with its own wood-burning stove, go for the F Cabins which have a bigger terrace for families to spread out on.

BOOK IT Doubles from about £690; hoshinoyafuji.com

CONSTANCE EPHELIA

MAHE, SEYCHELLES

Some may be quick to dismiss the Seychelles as a destination for high-end honeymoons. But this Indian Ocean archipelago, with unique wildlife, reliably fabulous weather and just a four-hour time difference from the UK, is a good bet year round for a real escape, even if you flop straight into a resort. For families, the multi-layered offering at Constance Ephelia makes all sorts of sense. It is a hotel of two halves: a bustling south side dotted with swimming pools and, in the north, large suites and a note-perfect beach. Bedrooms are a minute’s stroll from some of the loveliest sands in the Seychelles and the quiet bay is glorious for water babies (and wobbly adult paddleboarders). Little ones can spy dancing parrot and angelfish in the shallows. For older children, there are snorkels and sea kayaks, plus a zip wire and climbing wall. Parents will appreciate the one-level pool villas, where travel-worn adults can sunbathe as toddlers snooze indoors.

The bacchanalian breakfast is hard to resist, from the waffle station to the technicolour tropical fruit. In the evening, the fairy-lit Asian restaurant Adam and Eve is a favourite for its Sichuan aubergines and pad thai, while the children’s menu delivers with fish tacos and cornflake chicken. The kids’ club is brilliantly equipped: mini sun loungers and umbrellas beside the shallow pool; a wooden kitchen. Beyond this, a wander past mangroves and chirruping frogs is a leap into David Attenborough territory, with huge but harmless palm spiders, giant tortoises and scuttling red crabs. By the end, it’s hard to drag young explorers away from their waxy-leaved empires, barefoot, salt-whipped and fully embracing island life.

INSIDER TIP Bicycles are the best way to get around to avoid the buggy wait. They come free with villas or are rentable (baby seats available on request).

BOOK IT Sovereign Luxury Travel offers seven nights from £5,299, half board, for a family of two adults and one child, including flights and transfers; sovereign.com

SIX SENSES YAO NOI

PHANG NGA, THAILAND

Plenty of Thai hideaways promise the away-from-it-all experience: private beaches, secluded coves, backdrops of rainforest untouched by anyone but gibbons. But many also forget to mention the rowdy day-trippers docking their speedboats out front in the morning, the villages chock-a-block with diving schools and moped rentals just beyond their gates. Not this one. For a hotel of this calibre, the kind with all the bells and whistles that stretch beyond the usual suspects, Six Senses Yao Noi feels really, truly off the beaten track.

Draped over a hilly slice of jungle on Koh Yao Noi, a sleepy island 45 minutes from Phuket by boat, the villas blend in seamlessly with their tropical surroundings. With thatched roofs and bamboo details, they could be dwellings straight out of The Jungle Book , only with swimming pools and spa-like bathtubs that have brilliant views over the limestone pinnacles rising out of Phang Nga Bay. Little Mowglis are in good hands with the linen-clad staff, whether they’re off hunting for seashells on the (actually private) beach or joining the Junior Eco Warrior programme to build hornbill houses from recycled timber and search for wildlife along the property’s mangrove mazes. Grown-ups can then retreat to the spa, a small village of salas and longhouses, a blend-your-own coconut-oil apothecary and some techy bits for in-depth wellness screenings – all wrapped by gardens as soul-soothing as the therapists’ hands.

At the restaurants – close to the sand or in the glass-floored pavilion deep in the forest – the offering is equally feel-good: coconut chia bowls at breakfast and superfood salads with quinoa and greens plucked from the organic garden, balanced out by a dangerously accessible all-you-can-eat ice-cream counter. This is toes-in-the-sand, phones-on-flight- mode territory. Back to nature without the slightest hint of roughing it.

INSIDER TIP As a brand, Six Senses is big on sustainability, recycling every bit of waste down to the metal staples from the finance department. The behind-the-scenes tour here is an eco eye-opener for all ages.

BOOK IT Scott Dunn offers seven nights from £7,800 for a family of two adults and one child, including breakfast, flights and transfers; scottdunn.com

THE RITZ-CARLTON RAS AL KHAIMAH, AL WADI DESERT

RAS AL KHAIMAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

It would be hard to imagine a more polished and shiny version of a Bedouin retreat. Surrounded by desert but less than an hour from Dubai , this hotel hunkers down in the middle of a 1,200-acre nature reserve. It has a delicious sense of remoteness while actually being only 12 miles from the coast. Not that anyone will hanker after the beach here. There is far too much to be getting on with, from knock-your-socks-off falconry displays to bicycle rides along lantern-lit pathways, camel treks and wonderful Arabian horses to take out exploring. Set within the folds of the saffron sand dunes, villas are vast affairs, so large they have wings, dressing rooms, sitting rooms, decked terraces and temperature-controlled swimming pools to cool down in. There’s a main pool too, for more sociable splashing about, and three restaurants to pick from. Farmhouse has the edge, with its blink-and-you-could-be-in- California menu: lobster chowder, burrata salad and wagyu burgers, plus views of gazelles gathering at the watering hole. Enjoy a drink while they do.

This used to be the Banyan Tree hotel with a strong wellness focus, so the spa is a full-throttle maze of saunas and steam rooms, experience showers and jet baths. While parents uncoil in clouds of hydrotherapy, little guests can explore the adventure centre, meet the pet snakes and develop archery skills. More than 100 endangered Arabian oryx share the reserve, so accompanying rangers on daily feeding trips is a rare treat for budding biologists. Dusk strolls are equally exciting: bats flap and swoop, occasional stray gazelles dart past and trees burst into song, choruses of nesting birds hidden behind dense leaves. After dark, there’s stargazing. Aided by computerised telescopes and astronomical laser pointers, rangers identify the constellations that once guided the nomadic Bedouins who roamed this land long before holidaymakers.

INSIDER TIP The Ras Al Khaimah region is made up of mountains as well as dunes; make sure to hit the exhilarating summit of Jebel Jais – the UAE’s highest peak which also has the world’s longest zipline.

BOOK IT Villas from about £360; ritzcarlton.com

KARPAHA SANDS

BATTICALOA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Places like this are as rare as hens’ teeth now that pretty much every beach worth its salt has been discovered. So when something as exotic and remote as Karpaha Sands pops up, it’s thrilling travel news. For those hankering for the smarts and seclusion of the Maldives without the exorbitant price tag or tiny-island fatigue, then this unique set-up on Sri Lanka’s lesser-explored east coast is not to be missed. It’s not the easiest site to get to unless you take a seaplane, but boy is it worth it. Set on a 14-acre former coconut plantation between Passikudah and Batticaloa, the 17 African-safari -inspired tents have been arranged as if they were chess pieces throughout lush gardens that lead to a stretch of palm-fringed shore lapped by the Bay of Bengal. They are deliciously big with soaring canvas roofs, huge beds, deep bathtubs, outdoor rain showers and, most importantly, a light footprint.

The waterfront Palam dwellings have winning views of the surf, but for families, the impressively spacious two-bedroom Seed lodges, set further back within their own gardens, are brilliant. French owner Jerome Mathieu has lived an international life, which is evident throughout the property in the quirky artwork and exceptional food – a blend of Sri Lankan and Mediterranean . Feasts can be taken on your private terrace, in the two-storey main restaurant and bar or on the beach for a seafood barbecue under the stars. Mathieu has young children and has kitted out the retreat with a stylish library and playroom, although the turquoise sea and powder-soft sand are playground enough for those of any age – the calm waters offer excellent snorkelling, while diving can be arranged at nearby shipwrecks. Stay a few nights at the end of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle tour or simply check in and unplug indefinitely, drifting off for an afternoon nap to the rhythmic calling of Tamil fishermen slowly hauling in their catches as they’ve done for centuries.

INSIDER TIP Don’t pigeonhole a stay here just for winter sun – the east-coast location means the weather is fantastic in the summer holidays.

BOOK IT Seed Suites from about £150; karpahasands.com

ISLA BELLA BEACH

MARATHON, FLORIDA

Anyone who watched Bloodline will already know that the Florida Keys have a lilting, quasi-Caribbean sultriness as heavy as humidity. With the islands probably better known as a world-class sport-fishing destination, until now the crowd has been distinctly khaki sandals and wide-brimmed hats, and the stays – a chintzy bedroom in a cute farmhouse at best, a roadside motel at worst – reflected that. If you went south to Key West, you would get more bling for your buck, but that is as edgy as it is exotic, and the drive itself is enough to turn most parents ashen. Now, Isla Bella on Knights Key in the less-familiar Middle Keys has opened up this string of islets to a different tribe: discerning families. Just two-and-a-bit hours in the car from Miami , it makes a great bolt-on to a city trip.

The secluded 24-acre estate, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, was a reported 100-million-dollar build, and you can well believe it. The mile of freshly raked sand, knitted by breeze-slung palms and strategically placed hammocks, is flanked by striking white buildings. Yes, it’s big – there are 199 bedrooms and five pools – but the crisp styling and low-key atmosphere means this is definitely a resort for non-resort people. So glide to one of the shaded pods and watch the kids dig for shark teeth in the ankle-deep lagoon with the preppy blonde twins from Texas as you sip something long and rum-laced, occasionally misting them with Sun Bum factor 50+.

Head over to the Marketplace for smoothies, snacks and ice cream, or book in at the Beach Bar for conch fritters and lobster. Dinner is at Il Postino – sit outside to soak up the Ibizan vibe, or by one of the fire pits beside the water if you can bear to drink your wine from a plastic cup, because USA + sand = regulations. The service is charming, if not snappy, but there’s no rush, right? Besides, the food is fabulous. Older children can peel off to poolside movie nights or games of cornhole with friends they met on a kayak expedition that morning. You too might surprise yourself by enjoying the social buzz that starts with hermit-crab races and ends with Gin Slings. Each bedroom has a sea view and either a balcony or beach access; decks are pretty open plan, which doesn’t suit everyone. But what they lack in privacy, they make up for in comfort – and as every parent will attest, sitting in the balmy air as the sun drops below the water and little ones sink into a heat-blushed sleep is the definitive holiday benchmark.

INSIDER TIP Real beach babes will miss the proper sweeps of the Florida Gulf, but the sandbars, coastline and mangroves of the Keys are prime for adventure: from snorkelling and wreck diving to stand-up paddleboarding and PADI courses. Just keep your eyes peeled for manatees and crocodiles.

BOOK IT Doubles from about £210; islabellabeachresort.com

CAMP KALAHARI

KALAHARI DESERT, BOTSWANA

The Makgadikgadi Pans are not your typical safari landscape. These vast salt flats fringing Botswana ’s north-eastern Kalahari can feel desolate: a terrain of dust storms and mirages. But their golden grasslands harbour unusual wildlife, from aardvarks to bat-eared foxes. And when summer rains fill the pans, zebras and wildebeest arrive in their thousands, bringing lions and cheetahs – but none of the crowds that throng better-known destinations further north. This is a region of big skies and empty horizons. In short, explorer country. And Camp Kalahari encapsulates that old-school adventure vibe.

Set in a palm grove where crocodile hunter Jack Bousfield once broke his journey, it shares access to one million acres of private reserve with the much- loved Jack’s Camp and a handful of others. The 12 Meru tents, two of them set up for families, nod to a sepia-tinted age of discovery with their four-posters, antique chests and Moroccan kilims , while local artefacts celebrate the indigenous San community. Activities extend far beyond the daily game drives. Children can play detective on guided walks with the Ju/’hoansi bushmen while teenagers take a quad-bike spin. And nothing brings the whole clan together quite like meeting the native meerkat troop, whose sentries may clamber onto your head for a better view. There’s a swimming pool, though during the dry season it’s often shared with thirsty elephants. And at the end of a dusty day, sundowners and lemonades are sipped on the crust of a salt flat beneath the rising moon.

Among the sandy walkways and twinkling lanterns of the lodge, dinner brings with it the frisson that your group might just be the only people on the planet. Many tie in a stay here with a more conventional safari experience a short flight north at Sable Alley on the edge of the Okavango Delta, where waterways and hippo-crammed pools are a perfect foil to the pans’ arid expanse. Botswana’s combination of the wet and the dry is unlike any other in Africa and, in young hearts and minds, might just ignite a lifetime love affair with nature.

INSIDER TIP Don’t pass up a night drive at the camp. This is one of the top spots in Africa to glimpse the elusive aardvark and other shy nocturnal creatures.

BOOK IT Aardvark Safaris offers a seven-night stay at Camp Kalahari and Sable Alley from £12,516, full board, for a family of four, including all activities and internal transfers; aardvarksafaris.co.uk

One&Only The Palm, Dubai

An intrepid excursion

No one says no to anything in Dubai. When there isn’t any land left with beachfront access, they simply build another island and ship in new sand. Which is how The Palm came about, a man-made peninsula that juts out into the Arabian sea and is filling up with next-level all-glass villas the size of hotels and hotels the size of small cities. And yet right at the furthest frond of the Palm is a rather surprising oasis. Forget, if you can, the changing-every-minute backdrop of the city’s buildings and building sites. Here, all is quiet. The soundtrack is of birdsong and tree frogs. Lolloping rabbits nibble the lawns and woodpeckers tap away. Moorish archways give way to Andalusian-style villas-as-riads, where frangipani trees drop their flowers in the still heat.

Lie on a sunbed facing the pool, and you could, almost, be at a hacienda in southern Spain . Of all the Dubai hotels (there are so many now, with more bedrooms than London , or Paris , or New York ), this is the one where you really tune out. The swimming pool takes centre-stage, lined with day beds, air-conditioned cabanas for snoozing mini ones, shallow sections for paddling and enough space for splashing and squawking without entirely ruining everyone else’s holiday. In the Manor House, the kids’ club is like a thrilling secret, packed with toys, but actually children tend to gallop to the beach for a spin in a Hobie Cat, perfect their game on the tennis courts or get their hands henna-painted in the garden. While Stay by Yannick Alléno with its liquid-nitrogen-freezing food theatrics is a bit of a stretch for kids, the yacht-club-like overwater 101 Dining Lounge has squid-ink calamari, grilled tiger prawns and miso cod. For those with only few days to spare but in need of vitamin D, this is a ludicrously easy, no-questions-asked fly-and-flop.

INSIDER TIP The all-singing, all-dancing One&Only Royal Mirage is more often touted as the one for families, but staying here – smaller, quieter – is a clever side-step.

BOOK IT Destinology offers five nights from £1,455 per person, half board, including flights and transfers. +44 1204 474801; destinology.co.uk

Read the Bohemian guide to Dubai

Originally published in the June 2018 issue of Condé Nast Traveller

The Datai Langkawai

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

The jungle retreat

There was a time in the 1990s when every British family raced to the Datai for half-term. The jungle hotel by the late, great architect Kerry Hill on Langkawi, a barely-heard-of dot off Malaysia ’s north-west coast, became the most talked-about hotspot. Even timeless properties get tired, though, and in 2017 it closed for a £45million refurbishment. Rather than an over-zealous facelift, the revamp feels like a catch-up with an old friend – one who’s been in Bali on a surf-sabbatical and has come back buzzing with new yoga moves. Much is familiar: rainforest-luxe structures, lotus-filled ponds, Malaysian dishes at The Gulai House.

The location is still raw and out there – unlocked doors opened by macaques searching for mangoes; the Andaman Sea alternating between being kingfisher-blue and restless, and emerald and flat. But there are changes, too. Rooms have been reimagined by Hills’ original co-collaborator Didier Lefort, timber beams and floors sanded back, and gold and green accents added in a nod to the island’s 500-plus species of butterflies. A clutch of new rainforest villas have been added, but top billing goes to the Datai Estate Villa, a five-bedroom whopper with two pools and butler. The eco agenda has been ramped up with a water-bottling plant and permaculture garden. While competition is stiff when it comes to South-east Asian island escapes – Singapore ’s Cempedak, Bawah in Indonesia and new Cambodian arrivals are snapping at its heels – this combination of one of the world’s oldest rainforests and most alluring beaches is hard to beat.

INSIDER TIP Potential sites in Penang and Borneo have been scouted. Two Datais would make a trip even more worthwhile, so keep an ear to the ground.

BOOK IT Doubles from £470, including breakfast. +60 4 9500 500; thedatai.com. Malaysia Airlines flies twice daily from London to Langkawi via Kuala Lumpur. malaysiaairlines.com

Find our review of The Datai, Langkawi

Silversands

A beach-front breather

When Silversands opened last year at the northern tip of curving Grand Anse beach , the turbo-contemporary design was a game-changing first for low-key, laid-back Grenada. At a glance it seems almost too crisp to be family-friendly: all that floor-to-ceiling glass, walnut wood and smooth Calacatta marble. But it works brilliantly for those with teens who are savvy enough to appreciate the vibe – especially the beach-club-like Grenadian Grill which whips up lobster quesadillas for lunch – but equally still young enough to happily while away afternoons splashing about in the sea.

The beachfront pavilion villas are the ones to book, with four bedrooms, a private pool and sun deck, and an open-plan living and dining room. While kids get stuck into watersports – the see-through kayaks are great fun – grown-ups can head to the spa for a quartz-sand massage. It’s worth noting that the 330ft pool, the longest in the Caribbean, is for over-12s only. Adventure junkies might want to try some of the more high-adrenalin activities, too. Charter a traditional Carriacou sloop and go snorkelling at the Underwater Sculpture Park – book with Savvy Sailing and on the way back budding sailors can take a turn steering – sign up for a dune-buggy tour, or get a bird’s-eye view of the jungle on the Grenada High Wire canopy obstacle course before cooling off at Seven Sisters waterfall. Back at the hotel, dinner is delicious shrimp tempura and Singapore noodles at Asian-fusion restaurant Asiatique. Or slices of pizza served from the pop-up tuk-tuk, eaten poolside as the DJ plays mash-ups of Nineties classics. A sophisticated Caribbean crash pad with unexpectedly serious design kudos.

INSIDER TIP BB’s Crabback restaurant is a local favourite on the waterfront in St George’s. Order the crab, served in its shell, or spicy jerk chicken.

BOOK IT Carrier offers seven nights in a villa from £25,370, based on a family of four, including breakfast, flights and transfers. +44 161 492 1354; carrier.co.uk

Search the secret islands of the Caribbean

Tierra Atacama

CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA

The outdoor thrill

Chile is a case study in vast, surreal landscape shifts, outdoorsy thrills and vineyards worth flying for. Families, though, will find their sweet spot in the Atacama . The driest desert in the world looks like the surface of the moon, with waterless ravines and crusted-over salt flats stretching out for miles. Granted, a near-rainless plateau might sound harsh for little ones. But the Atacama becomes wildly hospitable when bedding down at desert-modernist Tierra Atacama in San Pedro, its plunge pool overlooking the often-smoking Licancabur volcano and outdoor showers for children who want to spot the constellations while shampooing. The Tierra brand, which also has properties in Chiloé and Patagonia, is known for its smart adventure lodges that are child-friendly without looking like it. The Atacama outpost embraces Chilean modernist design – cowhide rugs, wooden shutters, white mud walls, floor-to-ceiling windows framing Andean peaks – without making parents feel like they have to hold their breath when they herd their clan through the lobby. Experienced teenage equestrians can gallop through the dunes or head up to 14,000ft pre-dawn, drinking coca tea – which helps adjust to the altitude – around trippy natural geysers. Families with five- to 12-year-olds can walk the trails among the rock formations in Valle de la Luna or watch flamingos take off over the Salar de Atacama. After dark, go stargazing with an astronomer – this is one of the best spots in the world to see the Milky Way because of the absence of artificial light. Once the brood is in bed, it’s time for Pisco Sours and empanadas by the fireplace. As it turns out, properly adventurous destinations are the hottest family-holiday trend.

INSIDER TIP Bring an extra swimming costume for the nearby thermal spring and salt-water pools, which are shallow enough for paddling.

BOOK IT Doubles from about £590 per person, full board. Children from age five, from about £130. +56 55 255 5975; tierrahotels.com

Camp out in the Atacama

The house swap

LONDON – NEW YORK

Last summer our family (me, my husband and our three-year-old daughter) swapped our East London flat for a waterfront warehouse apartment in Williamsburg . I think we got the better deal somehow. I threw myself into it, joining a Facebook group for Greenpoint parents to get under the skin of the neighbourhood. And while Big Apple living was huge fun, the best part of the adventure was our road trip out of the sizzling city.

Using the money saved from the swap, we hired a car and spent a week in Upstate New York . Just two hours’ drive along Route 17 are charming towns studded with farm-to-fork restaurants and nice-as-pie places to stay. Most people head straight to Hudson but we wanted to sniff out something different, and ended up in Livingston Manor, a Catskills town that is home to a group of retro-rustic hotels run by Sims and Kirsten Foster.

We stayed at The Arnold House, a former boarding house reimagined as a mountain hideout with its own tavern, spa and fairy-lit barns that host bands on Friday nights. Here was good old-fashioned hospitality, with staff knocking up boiled eggs, warm bread and maple butter for our travel-weary toddler, showing us stacks of board games and s’mores kits to be roasted in the gardens. Their sister property nearby, the North Branch Inn, has its own skittles alley and is a beautiful spot for an early supper.

We wandered into Livingston Manor for lunches at the Main Street Farm deli and browsed around Nest, a lifestyle store owned by a former Vogue art director. On other days we swam at the Fosters’ newest venture, The DeBruce, which has amazing mountain views. A (free) tour of Apple Pond Farm in nearby Callicoon gave our daughter an incredible experience milking goats and feeding chickens. On our way back to New York we stopped in Woodstock, a tie-dyed time-warp arts colony with shops brimming with pottery and paintings. We grabbed ice cream at a nostalgia-tinted parlour then drove for a swim at Peekamoose Blue Hole. Real vintage Americana stuff.

INSIDER TIP Before leaving the city we swung by children’s swap-shop Flying Squirrel in Brooklyn for a scooter. Our daughter used it every day. We sold it back at the end of our trip in exchange for clothes for her. By Rohini Wahi

BOOK IT Start a conversation about a swap on Facebook community groups. Or visit lovehomeswap.com or homeexchange.com .

Eat to the beat: Williamsburg

Urban grazing in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Only the Swedish capital could have produced a phenomenon like Abba. However edgy the city looks in Scandi noirs, in reality it’s opulent and fun. There are 14 islands, palaces everywhere and, in winter, everything’s covered in twinkly lights. Nothing has been under-designed, and even the stations look either retro or funky. Ride a retro ferry to the funfair, or head off to Södermalm for vintage or a pink furry coat.

Teenagers will love it, especially ultra-cool cafés such as Urban Deli. The best place for lunch is the attic of the photography museum Fotografiska, a vast post-industrial space with wide-angle views of the harbour. Then ride the Twister at Gröna Lund, or visit the wolves of Skansen Zoo. And, for downtime, slope back to the Nobis Hotel, which was created out of two huge old banks. Inside there’s a quirky brilliance in the giant lampshades, the earthy colours, the handmade African wardrobes, and the central space, which is like a soaring rocket silo with chandeliers.

Have dinner in the startling silvery bistro, or head for the bar and drink like Midas, surrounded by gold. To restart the engines in the morning, there’s a full Swedish breakfast deep in the vaults. Your salmon and värdshusknäcke (crispbread) comes with a story too. It was here, in 1973, that a bank robber charmed his four hostages, giving us a new term, ‘ Stockholm syndrome’.

Nobis is also right where it matters. It’s only a short hop to the crooked, cobbled world of the old city, Gamla Stan. And a 10-minute tram-ride east is Djurgården, with its museums. Don’t miss the Vasamuseet, whose centrepiece, a six-storey shipwreck, is a time-capsule from 1628; or, if your super troupers still need glitz, go for overload and the Abba Museum.

INSIDER TIP If you’re seeing all the sights, consider a Stockholm Pass. A few museums, however, are free, including the Royal Armoury, where you’ll find golden coaches, an assassin’s outfit and Marie-Antoinette’s inkwell. For a full rundown on children’s activities, see visitstockholm.com . By John Gimlette

BOOK IT Baltic Travel offers three nights from £495 per person, based on two adults sharing, including flights and airport trains. +44 20 8233 2875; baltictravelcompany.com

Things to do on a family city break in Stockholm

Back to nature bonding in the jungle

BALI, INDONESIA

If you can’t up sticks and permanently move to Bali to enrol your children at the Green School – currently the coolest place on the planet for a free-range education – then this is the next best thing. During the summer holidays , the eco-friendly outfit operates family camps on a delightful site adjoining the school, where there are bamboo huts with bunk beds, mess rooms and communal showers.

It’s a bit like being at boarding school, except the weather is sultry, the food is fantastically healthy, the teachers are the loveliest bunch of enthusiastic young Balinese and classes are all about making connections and having fun. That might mean shimmying up a coconut tree (with a harness), embarking on a night safari to spot chameleons, or building a raft from scratch as a family and then taking it down to the river for a float.

The kitchen serves generous salads, vegetarian and vegan options, and gluten-free food too. Under peer pressure, children will go with the flow and gobble up grilled tofu and lentil pancakes. Families come from all over the world and make for a fascinating bunch, from boho jet-setters and European eco-warriors to those who are on a year’s sabbatical after enjoying corporate success.

There can be a competitive edge, especially at the finale of the DIY shadow-puppet contest, but generally it’s all a bit of a love-in and by the end you’ll be swapping email addresses promising to share recipes for oatmeal cakes.

INSIDER TIP Before camp starts, spend a few days in Ubud exploring the temples and markets. Afterwards head to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay , which has a great children’s club. You might deserve the break.

BOOK IT A five-day course at Green Camp costs from about £1,700 for two adults and two children under 12 years old (under-fives are free of charge), including all meals and activities. greencampbali.com

Check into family-friendly Villa Arjuna, Canggu, Bali

The Inca adventure

PERU, SOUTH AMERICA

An archaeology holiday might not be the way to sell it, but a trip through Peru ’s highlands is likely to be profoundly educational and deeply enjoyable. For children, as for adults, it’s all about making connections. Peruvian indigenous peoples, and their clothes, culture and food, remain a force in this mesmerising region – and going overland helps to link must-see sites with present-day realities. Big, blue, deliriously beautiful Lake Titicaca is enticing.

But to get to know it, approach from multiple angles. Sleek Titilaka Lodge is the ultimate base: wake up with the immense, glass-calm lake filling your bedroom window, then, after breakfast, set off on a small boat to visit the Uros people, who dwell on floating reed islands. There are also pole-rafting excursions and bustling market visits. The fine Peruvian fusion food, from subtle sea-bass ceviche to tender llama steaks and grilled guinea pig (gulp), helps to power lungs and legs.

From the lake it’s a day’s drive across the Andean high plain, an otherworldly region of golden grassland, llama herds and sudden views of snow-capped peaks. Around dusk, the road dips into a lush valley, peppers and potatoes sprouting on tidy terraces, to Cusco, the Incas’ navel of the world. A couple of nights at Inkaterra La Casona, a restored 16th-century manor house, allows time to stroll through artsy San Blas and see the Sacsayhuamán ruins. Then onwards, 35 miles north of Cusco to the Explora Sacred Valley.

Here, on the banks of the Urubamba River, a menu of 20 or so explorations includes trips to a salt mine, a walk through the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo and a thrilling, mainly downhill bike ride into the valley. One last climactic quest: Machu Picchu, reached by the Pullman-style Hiram Bingham train, with music and dancing as you roll. Walk up to the Sun Gate to take in the views and celebrate the collective knock-your-socks-off conquest.

INSIDER TIP Go easy for the first day or two to acclimatise to the thin air. By Chris Moss

BOOK IT Journey Latin America offers a 12-day overland holiday in Peru similar to the above, with driver, from £4,612 per person, including flights. +44 20 8600 1881; journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Machu Picchu tours and alternative trails

Wine and wildlife on the Cape

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

A driving holiday with small children might sound like madness, but park those fears: epic as it is, South Africa is crammed with charming small towns, so the next stop is never more than an hour away. It’s wildlife that tops the agenda, even on an African odyssey without a safari. Kicking off in Cape Town , that means Boulders Beach, home to thousands of penguins, then back to the Mount Nelson Hotel for afternoon tea. At the foot of Table Mountain, it’s brilliantly positioned for whizzing to the top by cable car or eating your way around the foodie hubs of Bree, Long and Kloof Streets (all ages will love the ice cream at Unframed).

Inland, in the pretty, laid-back wine town of Franschhoek , La Clé des Montagnes has five villas – each with their own pool as well as nothing-is-too-much-trouble staff to whip up French toast or light a braai. If you pick your estates right, winery hopping offers as much for children as their Shiraz-loving parents. Picnic by the lily-pad lake at Solms-Delta, taste grape juices at Grande Provence or explore the gardens at Babylonstoren, where turkeys and ducks roam. Road signs here warn of baboons, which flash their pink bottoms.

But soon the gentle vine-covered slopes give way to the arid landscape of the Little Karoo. Just off Route 60, the Robertson Small hotel has a great guide to nearby vineyards and farms, though it would be easy never to leave its gardens, having story-time on the cactus-print sofas and dips in the two pools. Further south, there’s an edge-of-the-world feel to the beaches of De Hoop Nature Reserve. And this is where the wildlife count really racks up: ostriches on the way to breakfast, antelope by the jungle gym and cheeky guinea fowl trying to steal your lunch. Low tide at beautiful Koppie Alleen beach reveals octopus and crabs, urchins and starfish in the rockpools. By the end, as Africa starts to seep under their skin, children are a little bit wilder, a little bit freer and a little bit more full of wonder.

INSIDER TIP Stop at Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre near Stellenbosch to feed Gerry, a rescue giraffe, and befriend llamas and lemurs. By Fiona Kerr

BOOK IT Africa Travel (+44 20 7843 3591; africatravel.co.uk ) offers an eight- night trip, staying at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, La Clé des Montagnes, Robertson Small and De Hoop Nature Reserve, from £1,998 per person, based on two adults and two children, including breakfast, car hire and flights.

Our guide to Cape Town

A mind-blowing roam through Rajasthan

RAJASTHAN, INDIA

All involved! India is all involved – from the moment we climb into the little van that will scoot us around Rajasthan , its windows looking onto a kaleidoscope world of bleating, beeping street life. My 10-year-old beams (forget the overnight flight, forget the tussles at the airport, forget the heat that hits like a brick): ‘Mama, I feel so alive!’ Here are children with eyes like almonds, mothers with skin as worn as shoes, an unconcerned cow crossing the road, taking its holy unholy time. Drinks stalls, umbrella stands, a swathe of men having their hair cut, their manes wet and grooved like otters, slipper shops and flip-flops, mangoes the size of the sun.

In the countryside around Amanbagh it feels as if we have stepped back into medieval times; ladies scythe fields of corn the colour of dawn, a leopard hunts in the night, grunting in the chase. Everywhere we go – every feast, every forage – our paths are lit by candles, and there’s the strain of a sitar. Monkeys stare imperiously at us in the ruined temples, and pick at each other, the flame trees of the forest are in flower and shimmer filament orange in the heat. We spend an afternoon at a village house and try to carry an urn of water on our heads like the locals. Then off we roll to Jaipur and Suján Rajmahal Palace , a trippy dream of Willy Wonka happiness, where the wallpaper covers not just inside the house but outside too. The train hoots past the garden, men wear turbans the colour of candy floss, and we listen to jazz root-tooting from speakers in the drawing room where Princess Diana used to keep cool. We paint elephants, we watch the furious whiplash of the carpet weaver’s loom. At the Gem Palace we sit in Fifties Buicks parked out back and try on necklaces that cost a million bucks.

At The Oberoi Udaivilas the children are given wooden ducks that they pull on pieces of string, clip-clopping over the miles of shiny black-and-white-marble corridors. We have supper on a boat at sunset and watch egrets flying home to roost, the lake a melted pink mirror. We zoom around town on tuk-tuks and buy bracelets and boxes and pretty little linen dresses. One dusk, in the desert at Mihir Garh, we are looking out the long windows sliced into the walls. We gaze at a slow procession of goats being hurried home, their bells tinkling away, the farmers bringing up the rear. Suddenly a horse dashes into view – a beautiful creature as polished as a chess piece – galloping across the field, snorting and neighing, its tail high in the air like a plume.

At Umaid Bhawan, we have tea with the maharaja. He is not wearing a crown. The children politely pop sandwiches into their mouths, and then impolitely push them back them out again. At breakfast they feed the peacocks on the steps of the palace. At supper they dance with the dancing girls in the courtyard to the high-low holler of the band. Before bed we look at the offerings around the sink in our bathroom; it is a shop in itself, everything you could ever want and more. Nail files, ear buds, toothpicks, shoe-shining kits, eye drops, mints, a packet of safety pins fanned out exactly according to size. We stare at it all for a long time. India: rigorous, glamorous, shocking, mesmerising. India is all involved. By Melinda Stevens

BOOK IT Scott Dunn offers a Rajasthan trip from £4,600 per person, based on a family of four staying on a B&B basis, including three nights at Amanbagh, three nights at Sujan Rajmahal Palace, two nights at The Oberoi Udaivilas, two nights at Mihir Garh, two nights at Umaid Bhawan Palace and one night at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, flights, private transfers and guides. +44 20 8682 5075; scottdunn.com

Get inspired with these beautiful pictures of Rajasthan, India

A tale of two Thai cities

BANGKOK & CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Bangkok is an exhilarating entry point to Asia . It’s exotic, unfamiliar, heady from the smell of jasmine and sizzling street-food stalls, with a honking roar of bumper-to-bumper traffic as its soundtrack. Children will have their eyes out on stalks: the glitter of gilded temples, the giant Buddha, the squealing thrill of a kamikaze tuk-tuk ride. Hole up in the reassuring calm of the Mandarin Oriental , where guests of all ages are nannied and pampered. Rooms in the River Wing have amazing views of the Chao Phraya below, particularly at night when the neon skyscrapers wink at an endless parade of lantern-lit boats. The hotel’s world-famous staff are brilliant with even the tiniest guests, from the amiable pool attendant supplying goggles, sun cream and impromptu rides around the gardens on his towel trolley to the butlers who leave hand-carved chocolate elephants by little ones’ beds at night. Thai people love children and, rather than hushing them up, they encourage sticky fingers at high tea in the Authors’ Lounge and enthusiastic youngsters to dance along when the band strikes up in lobby at 6pm sharp. Whizz across the river on the shuttle boat for Thai boxing lessons and cookery classes, or ask the concierge to book a longtail boat trip around the khlongs (Bangkok’s network of canals) to spot huge crocodile-like water monitors.

The adventure continues an hour’s flight north in Chiang Mai . The Dhara Dhevi is a magnificent mini fiefdom on the outskirts of town which draws on traditional Lanna architecture with a palatial lobby, hidden shrines, walls of dragon carvings and a Rolls-Royce-badged buggy to ferry everyone around. The two-bedroom family villas come with teak-wood floors, pianos, hot tubs and four-poster beds.

It’s tempting to just kick back but an hour’s drive into the jungle there’s zip wiring, excursions to see native hill tribes and ethical elephant camps that limit the number of visitors and rides. Back at the kids’ club, though, everyone gets an opportunity to hop on a water buffalo to ride out into the paddy fields to plant rice. There are also yoga sessions for children and craft classes with local women to make paper lanterns. Just factor in that there might be tears when it’s time to kiss the resident pet pigmy ponies goodbye. By Olivia Falcon INSIDER TIP Call in at the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park in Chiang Mai where they turn dung into stationery – guaranteed giggles for weeks.

BOOK IT Turquoise Holidays offers seven nights from £2,025 per adult and £1,350 per child, based on two adults and one child sharing, with three nights at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and four nights at the Dhara Dhevi, including flights and transfers. +44 1494 678400; turquoiseholidays.co.uk

Above: elephants in Chiang Mai.

Five brilliant boutique hotels in Bangkok

A safari with a twist

TANZANIA, AFRICA

A four-tonne african elephant leant against our flimsy canvas tent, somewhat alarming my wife by scratching his tusk just as she was dressing for dinner. My teenage children had a fit of giggles as they heard their mother ask over the walkie-talkie if anyone had a gun, as she believed this was needed to scare it away. ‘His tusks are making a dent in my gauze window,’ she whispered down the line to our safari guide, who was sitting by a roaring campfire with the children and me as I sipped a whisky sundowner. We had all been advised never to leave our tent without calling for an escort. Life in the Tanzanian bush carries a risk. By the time two men – without guns – reached the tent the elephant had sauntered off. Later that night lions growled hungrily outside. Some buffalo left marks, which we saw on the ground when dawn broke and vultures circled above. Earlier, when I was in the outside shower, one side open to the savanna, zebra and impala had wandered past a matter of yards away.

From the moment we had left Kilimanjaro airport we were not so much looking for animals as being stalked by them. Straightaway we had halted to watch two cheetahs lazing in the curved branches of a sausage tree by the roadside. Later, on an afternoon game drive, a pride of 22 lions, including 12 cubs, sprawled before us. We saw a tower of giraffes, a dazzle of zebras and herds of (as well as solitary) male elephants.

We saw a tower of giraffes, a dazzle of zebras and herds of male elephants.

Tanzania is the ultimate animal-viewing paradise, with about 50 per cent of the biomass of all animals in Africa. Our safari in four different camps was wild and unpredictable yet also spoiled and deeply comfortable. Indiana Jones meets Ralph Lauren. It was a spectacular adventure on small planes and in fly camps, soaring above heart-stopping panoramic landscapes and tracking elephants on the ground (with armed escorts). We went to Masai villages where the children jumped with warriors with spears and sat on the dirt floor in their thatched huts. The safari camps were all owned by Asilia, a company committed to all that is eco and sustainable, as well as a decent nod to luxury and wellbeing. Part of Asilia’s purpose is to help support local education. This trip was about seeing hippos yawning in the river, about rising early for a surprise Ritz -standard silver-service breakfast set up on a remote prehistoric rocky outcrop, or enjoying an impromptu picnic in the middle of lion country. But a visit to a primary school with its safari-funded books and teachers proved equally moving.

Every day brought new sights. Baboons as well as red-billed storks. Always impala and Thomson’s gazelle, the Bambis of Africa. One male elephant blocked our road. ‘Do not move,’ our guide whispered urgently. The bull drew back its ears, harrumphed and stepped towards us. This was all of 30ft away. And he was big. He could flip our vehicle as if tossing a frisbee. Everywhere umbrella acacia trees seemed planted as if for photo opportunities. The vast skies, the sense of space and isolation were mesmerising for the children. Giraffes were majestically odd with their tufted ears and catwalk high legs. Mating ostriches with outrageous red necks inflamed by lust were comical. All co-existed. Fear arrived with the threat of sugar badgers breaking into our tents, their razor claws as sharp as their sense of smell. My children immediately gave up all their secret supplies of chewing gum and sweets voluntarily for fear of night-time invasions.

Here was the Great Migration and we were alone on the bank watching it at dawn as the sun rose.

And then there was the wildebeest migration, the most spectacular animal event on the planet, with a million of them on the run. We were mid bacon and eggs when our breathless guide rushed in and told us to get in the Land Rover immediately. We dashed. Then, hanging on for dear life, we bumped and banged about along tracks and trails until we came to the Tarangire River. And there they were: 25,000 wildebeest on the opposite bank. It was like an apocalyptic scene, as if the natural world sensed something terrifying that we didn’t. These ragtag animals started to wade into the river one by one, followed by a few more, until suddenly it was filled with a twisted mass of horns and hide and an incessant bleat of panic and fear. Here was the Great Migration and we were alone on the bank watching it at dawn as the sun rose. They rushed past our vehicle, bedraggled and relentless. This was nature raw and surreal. We were utterly engrossed as mothers crossed the river only to realise forlornly that their calf was not with them. Zebras were caught up in the mêlée. One beast got its leg caught between two rocks mid-stream. And then we were joined on the bank by a lioness, who saw in these tired and disorientated animals an opportunity for a free lunch. A crocodile came upstream and snapped its jaws around a young beast about 200ft from us.

It was Africa more intense and exciting than we had even dared hope. The force was as unstoppable as the tide or a thunderclap – animals compelled for their very survival to go south to seek land with rain. Wildebeest, our guide told us, are apparently what God made from the spares parts of rest of the animals. Horns of buffalo. Tail of horse. Face of grasshopper. Leg of topi. Millions of them racing for survival, as we bore witness. By Geordie Greig

BOOK IT Africa Travel can arrange a family holiday to Tanzania, including one night at the Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge and two nights each at Oliver’s Camp, Dunia Camp and Ubuntu Camp, from £5,275 per adult and £3,095 per child under 12 years, based on two adults and two children travelling, full board, with flights, all road and light aircraft transfers and safari activities. A three-night extension to Essque Zalu on Zanzibar costs from £770 per adult and £340 per child. + 44 20 7843 3591; africatravel.co.uk

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Incredible family holiday destination guide for 2022

If you’re thinking about a family holiday destination for 2022, creative Original Travel are way ahead of you. Take a look at their line-up of kid-friendly adventures for every school holiday this year.

Why families trust Original Travel with their precious holiday plans

Original Travel journey worldwide to nearly every family holiday destination you can think of – and a few you may not have discovered yet. They take a thoughtful approach to designing the type of family holidays you’d create for yourself, if you had decades of expertise and boundless energy. And almost half of their clients are families, so they come highly recommended. Because no other travellers are more demanding than parents with kids, and only a few precious school holidays to play with each year.

With that in mind, Original Travel not only specialise in precisely tailoring your holiday, they also provide a range of above-and-beyond services. As they know from experience, it’s details that make the difference between a great holiday and an unforgettable holiday.

• Check-in assistance, fast-track security and access to airport lounges at UK airports – even if you’re flying economy.
• Original Travel partner with Airportr so families can have their luggage collected at home and checked-in, a blissful start to your holiday.
• Pre-selected seats on all flights mean Original Travel families always sit together.
• Concierge Services in many destinations provide instant access to local know-how and let you quickly make changes to your Original Travel itinerary.
• Original Travel work with Sharky & George so travelling kids from age three to ten get their own Sharky & George pack full of games and goodies.
• Help Our Holiday (HOH) emergency service, helps if kids get restless on holiday. Text or email and Original Travel supplies instant entertainment ideas.
• A single Original Travel point of contact from your first enquiry to the last minute of your holiday, makes everything unbelievably easy.
• Original Travel also have a 24-hour helpline, so they’re on-call whenever you need them, 24/7 during your holiday.

Discover more Original Travel services which have won the loyalty of so many family travellers

Egypt: a perfect family holiday destination for young time travellers.

Almost nowhere on earth brings history to life like Egypt. If kids have been learning about the Ancient Egyptians at school, they’ll be thrilled by the pyramids at Giza and the extraordinary collection of mummies in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. And visiting the Valley of the Kings promises to be especially exciting in 2022, as it’s the 100th anniversary of the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Of course, Egypt is also the land of Nile cruises. And Original Travel make these iconic voyages even more extraordinary aboard their 19th century steamer. But it’s not just any steamer. The Steam Ship Sudan was once Agatha Christie’s writing retreat and her inspiration for Death on the Nile. Now it’s owned by Voyageurs du Monde, Original Travel’s parent company.

Eight day Egyptian adventures to fit February or October half term

• Tour the Pyramids of Giza and Cairo’s Egyptian Museum with private guides.
• Then sail away on vintage Steam Ship Sudan for a six-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
• Kids can look forward to hieroglyphic writing and cooking classes on board.
• The Temple of Edfu, Karnak Temple Complex and Valley of the Kings are part of the adventure.
• A road trip to the holy city of Abydos is another highlight.

Take a closer look at Egypt as a half term family holiday destination in 2022

Oman: a less travelled family holiday destination for desert adventurers

Oman is a fascinating country, often overlooked in the rush to do neighbouring Dubai. Original Travel don’t make that mistake. They’re experts in Oman and create incredible family holidays here, from the wildly beautiful Musandam Peninsula to the heart of the desert and high into the dramatic Hajar mountains. Naturally, outdoor activities play a big part in Oman holidays, so kids can look forward to desert adventures, diving, sailing, climbing and wildlife watching. What passes for quieter time, can mean anything from exploring Muscat to sleepovers at Bedouin camps or stately camel trekking. And even doing nothing much at all is idyllic on beautiful white sand beaches which compare well to the Maldives.

Experience rich Oman is ideal for Easter or half term in February or October

• Explore the Musandam Peninsula, try off-roading in the Hajar Mountains or ride camels across the Wahiba Sands.
• Spend a night under the stars as guests at a Bedouin camp.
• Take a dhow cruise to spot dolphins in the Gulf of Oman.
• Visit Muscat and see the Mutrah Souk and the Grand Mosque.
• Discover the stunning Daymaniyat Islands, Oman’s National Marine Nature Reserve.

Find out about Oman for late winter, Easter or autumn family holidays in 2022

Costa Rica: the world’s natural playground for family Easter holidays

Costa Rica is the land of Pura Vida and home to more than half-a-million wildlife species. One of the world’s leading eco-icons, it’s spectacularly bio-diverse from its volcanic landscapes and rainforest to Atlantic and Pacific coasts. And that’s one of the reasons Original Travel is so comfortable here. Costa Rica recently received an Earthshot ‘Protect and Restore Nature’ award, and that fits perfectly with Original Travel’s responsible travel policies, such as absorbing all carbon emissions from land and air travel. So not only do Original Travel create the most wonderful Costa Rica experiences for families, you can be sure every single one of them reflects the true spirit of this remarkable little country, in every sense.

Costa Rica eco experiences to fit into Easter, May half term and even Christmas holidays

• Wildlife spotting at La Paz Waterfall Gardens near San Jose.
• Hiking through rainforests in the company of sloths, monkeys and other rare creatures.
• A treetop cloud forest tour on a private ‘sky tram’.
• Night hikes to spot tree frogs in the volcanic Arenal region.
• Teen-perfect adventures like river rafting, tubing, canyoning, snorkelling and sailing.

Find out more about tailored Costa Rica family holidays with Original Travel

USA National Parks: unforgettable experiences for longer summer holidays

The US has a total of 63 spectacular National Parks. They’re where to find everything from the Grand Canyon to the Dakota Badlands. But untamed to an astonishing degree, almost all parks are best enjoyed with experts organising the details. Original Travel are passionate about creating the most unforgettable and activity-packed experiences for families whether kids want to try ranching in Montana – Yellowstone National Park celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022 – or watch wildlife in stunning Yosemite. Of course, you can visit US National Parks year round, but they deserve as much time as you can spare, so they’re highly recommended for summer holidays.

Original Travel does once-in-a-lifetime, again and again, in USA National Parks

• Mix Yellowstone, Glacier and Badlands National Parks for the Rocky Mountains, wild South Dakota, bison and Little Bighorn.
• Head to Wyoming and try ranching in Montana and wildlife spotting in Yellowstone – the world’s first National Park.
• Los Angeles, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon is an unforgettable summer blend of glamour and grandeur.
• Shorter breaks in spring or autumn are perfect for LA, Las Vegas, Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.

Find out more about Original Travel year round family holidays in USA National Parks

The azores: a surprisingly easy family holiday destination for summer 2022.

The Azores archipelago sits in the Atlantic, not far from both the coast of Portugal and North Africa. As one of the last landmasses between Europe and the US, these volcanic islands often give the impression of remoteness. But nothing could be further from the truth. From 2022, direct UK flights to the Azores make them as easy to reach as much more mundane European archipelago. Original Travel highly recommend the adventure for older kids and teens. So if the thought of dolphin and whale watching, sensational crater lakes and caldera, amazing diving and endless adventuring sounds appealing, the Azores is perfect for next summer.

Original Travel summer holiday highlights in the Azores 

• Island hopping around the remarkable, untamed archipelago.
• Whale and dolphin-spotting trips off the island of Pico.
• Exploring World Heritage Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira.
• Discovering natural geysers, crater lakes and the lush landscape of São Miguel.
• Marvelling at thermal Furnas for bubbling hot springs and volcanoes.

Explore the wonders of the Azores next summer with Original Travel

Sri lanka: a warm, sunny and stunning family holiday destination for winter breaks.

Sri Lanka is a year-round family holiday destination, but especially good for winter sun breaks with kids. The southerly beaches are even more beautiful than their reputation. But it’s also the country for elephant safaris and some of the world’s best whale watching experiences. Original Travel are expert in creating out of the ordinary holidays here, so expect vintage steam train journeys, tea plantations, Buddhist temples, turtle spotting on the coast and urban exploration around some of the most historic, colourful and cultured cities in Asia.

Packed winter sun holidays with time for the beach too

• Spot flamingos and elephants among the wetlands at Wirawila Nature Reserve.
• Laze on the beach or go whale-watching at legendary Mirissa.
• Discover the remarkable tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya.
• See elephants on a 4×4 safari in Udawalawe National Park.
• Wind through untamed landscapes on vintage steam trains.

Find out more about family winter sun breaks in Sri Lanka with Original Travel

Swedish lapland: the land of childhood dreams for quick christmas breaks.

Swedish Lapland in winter is every child’s fantasy made real. So it’s even more of a delight to find that Original Travel fit the fairy tale into long weekends for magical Christmas breaks. The sight of snowy winter forests and vast frozen lakes is enough to enchant kids. Then just add dog sledding, ice fishing, Northern Light safaris, snowshoeing adventures and cross country skiing into the mix for complete captivation. And you’ll be pleased to know, direct UK flights to Luleå mean the spell isn’t broken by too much travel time. Original Travel also create magical Christmas breaks in Finnish Lapland with the extra thrill of Father Christmas for young believers.

The wonder of long winter weekends in Lapland – Swedish or Finnish

• Fly from London to Luleå, the Lapland city famous for frozen seas.
• Stay in cosy family cabins by the lake.
• Chase the wonder on Northern Light safaris – Swedish Lapland is a world famous hot-spot.
• Go on dog-sledding adventures with pure-bred Siberian huskies.
• Learn to ice fish or try snowshoeing and cross country skiing in vast, snowy forests.
• Head to Finnish Lapland for the excitement of Father Christmas.

Take a look at Swedish Lapland winter adventures with Original Travel

Ready to discover more original travel family adventures for 2022 visit original travel and find this year’s perfect breaks in their wonderfully detailed selection of family holiday itineraries, love to travel with your family.

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The best family vacations in the U.S.

The best family vacations in the U.S. that will keep the whole family happy

Ah, family vacations. A chance to escape your routine, connect and make memories. Because getting time off school and work to explore together can be a rarity, we understand the decision of where to go  is important—and picking a destination that will be fun for the whole family will help make sure the adventure is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

To help you pick your next holiday away with children in tow, we have rounded up the absolute best family vacations in the U.S. that we guarantee both adults and kids will enjoy. Yes, we have the go-to Disney spots in Anaheim and Orlando on the list, but we also have more unique choices. From playing along the bay with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background in San Francisco , to hiting up the (free!) Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C ., to exploring the desert in Tucson, Arizona, these destinations offer endless ways to play. 

RECOMMENDED: Cheap family vacations in the U.S. for 2024

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Top family vacations in the USA

1.  San Diego, CA

With sunny beaches, fantastic theme parks, and the world’s largest comic book convention, there's no such thing as bored children in sunny San Diego . Plus, like a good Pixar flick, the best kid-friendly activities won’t leave adults gaping at their phones. We promise parents will love mingling with exotic animals, splashing through waterfront fountains and marveling at towering Lego sculptures right alongside the kids. Avoid rowdier crowds and embrace calm waves alongside other families at Mission Beach, Coronado Beach or La Jolla Shores.

2.  Yellowstone, WY

No other place on earth is like Yellowstone National Park . The massive, natural sanctuary (3,471 square miles of green) mesmerizes all visitors with its mountains, canyons, geysers and subalpine forests (and don’t be surprised if you spot buffalo). With challenging hikes into the backcountry as well as handicap-accessible wooden boardwalks, the wonders of Yellowstone are for everyone. Plan a trip to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center to see animals without hiking for it. Bring a tent and get here early to take advantage of the affordable campgrounds (seven are first-come, first-served and five require reservations ). Pack the car with a cooler of campfire meals and snacks to get you through the weekend.

3.  Grand Canyon, AZ

One mile deep, 277 miles long and visible from space, the Grand Canyon is right up there on the cool chart for kids. Explore it from the rim on foot (the guided hikes are perfect for children six and older) or bike, or ride a mule to the bottom. When you get out of Wi-Fi range, the kiddos might complain, but they’ll remember hiking these trails forever. Don’t miss the spectacular Skywalk at Grand Canyon West, which juts out 70ft from the canyon rim—there’s nothing but glass between you and the Colorado River 4,000ft below.

4.  San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is a giant playground for adults and kids alike. There's plenty of room to roam and play, from stunning parks to exciting museums to picturesque beaches. Check out the city's newest playground, the Outpost at the Presidio Tunnel Tops . When it comes to indoor activities, the Children's Creativity Museum , the Aquarium by the Bay and the Exploratorium are all classic favorites. And, of course, you can't miss a ride on a cable car that will leave the kids giddy, with a stop at Ghiradelli Square for a sundae that will make them even giddier. 

5.  Tucson, AZ

A dude ranch vacation is ideal for families and Tanque Verde in Tucson , Arizona, is one of the best, with spectacular trails that wind their way through desert and mountain scenery. This is a great place for kids with a horsey inclination to improve their riding skills, but novice equestrians can learn their stirrups from their saddles here, too. The daily kids’ club offers activities from horsemanship to arts and crafts, and there’s a spa to soothe aches and pains from too much time spent in the saddle. Venture into the city to   discover museums, local coffee roasters and microbrewers and a gorgeous landscape of saguaros, barrel cactus and prickly pear. 

6.  Orlando, FL

Resort complexes don’t come bigger than the 43-square-mile Disney World in Orlando , Florida, comprising four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), two water parks, golf courses and 36 hotels. For full theme-park immersion, add a day or two at Universal Orlando Resort , home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Allow at least two days (multi-day tickets are the way to go) and stay on-site as it gives you extended hours in the parks and early access to Fast Pass reservations, essential for skipping the lines. For a non-traditional hotel experience, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are nestled in the woods, frontier-style, and sleep up to six.

7.  Los Angeles & Anaheim, CA

You're going to need way more than a weekend for this SoCal vacation filled with attractions from Santa Monica to Anaheim . Want to spot celebs? Take the Starline Tours Movie Stars’ Homes Tour or book a backlot studio tour for behind-the-scenes moviemaking magic. Hire bikes in Santa Monica to explore the beach and the old-school Santa Monica Pier with its carnival games, vintage carousel and aquarium. Then head south to Anaheim for amusement park gold like  Disneyland . Looking for a Disney alternative? Knott's Berry Farm is a great option for thrill-seekers (we're taking real roller coasters) and fans of Snoopy and Peanuts (the park's mascots). 

8.  Oahu, HI

There’s no better place to learn to surf than the long rolling breaks of Oahu ’s Waikiki Beach, but other family-friendly activities include paddling an authentic outrigger canoe, or learning the graceful movements of hula. Explore the island’s most scenic and historic sights on a Waikiki Trolley tour , and swim with dolphins at Sea Life Park. The secret for families to get the best out of Hawaii is to try to split their time between busy, urban Honolulu  and another more laid-back area, like Oahu's north shore or family-friendly Maui .

9.  Chicago, IL

Chicago is fun to visit with kids year-round, but we'll be honest, it's more fun when it's not in the depths of winter. When the weather isn't frigid, let your kids run wild at the many urban parks and the beach, surrounded by skyscrapers that will wow them. Still, even when it's cold, there's plenty to do, including taking in the view at the top of Willis Tower , shopping along Michigan Ave, and museums like the  Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum . No matter the season, you can't miss indulging in a famous deep-dish pizza.

10.  Yosemite, CA

Famed for its sweeping valleys, towering granite cliffs, giant sequoias, waterfalls and plethora of wildlife, Yosemite , in California’s Sierra Nevada, is simply awesome. Hiking, swimming, rafting and fishing are just some of the many family activities available in the 1,169-square-mile national park . Reservations for the 13 campgrounds are fiercely competitive and you need to book months in advance, but  Curry Village  (open April to October) gives you the camping experience without the hassle of set-up in cabins and tented cabins that sleep up to six. For the ultimate family-friendly hotel, check out Rush Creek Lodge which features kids programming, a playground, a heated year-round pool and more. 

11.  Destin, FL

Known for its fishing spots and sprawling white sand beaches, Destin is full of family fun in the sun. Kids will love the calm shorelines, especially along Henderson Beach State Park and the shores at Crystal Beach Park  and the amusement parks—head to Big Kahuna's for waterslides and a lazy river and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park to see dolphins and penguins. A boat tour is a must. Destin offers everything from dolphin-spotting excursions and pirate-themed cruises to glass-bottom boats and high-speed racers.

12.  Branson, MO

You'll find family-friendly fun without the crowds and the soaring price tag in Branson, Missouri .  Enjoy classic family fun in the great outdoors, from hiking and biking in Table Rock State Park to kayaking on Lake Taneycomo. Plan to spend some time at Silver Dollar City , too, which offers rides, attractions, shows, and food for families of all ages and interests.  Perched on a bluff overlooking the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake, Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve  features a cave and nature trail, a golf course, a natural history museum, four restaurants, a clifftop wedding chapel, and a Civil War-era cabin. It’s considered one of the best entertainment spots in the state.

13.  Washington, D.C.

The nation's capital is a perfect destination for a family trip. Let stops along the way bring history lessons to life, from touring the U.S. Capitol and White House to visiting George Washington's in Mt. Vernon, Virginia. Best of all, a trip to D.C . won't break the bank: all Smithsonian museums are completely free and could fill up your itinerary alone, from the Air & Space Museum to the National Museum of Natural History . 

14.  Gatlinburg, TN

Asheville gets a lot of credit for being the 'gateway city' to the Great Smoky Mountains, but Gatlinburg , a  mountain town in eastern Tennessee , is actually the closest city to the national park—and it was practically made for families. When you're not exploring the national park,  take a ride on the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway to reach the amusement park of the same name. Or, head to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies to view various marine animals. The area   has developed a reputation for vacation kitsch, and there’s a ton of it in Pigeon Forge , Gatlinburg’s neighbor to the north, where you'll find no shortage of old-time photo booths and believe-it-or-not attractions. 

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Best of Costa Rica Family Holiday

14 days | make family memories among evergreen forests and towering volcanos.

Get off the beaten track on this two-week family holiday in Costa Rica, exploring all the best highlights and hidden secrets. Starting in subtropical San Jose, you'll explore Tortuguero National Park – home to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals and the nesting ground of the green turtle. Spend some time in biodiverse Sarapiqui and maybe take on a few fun, active adventures with the kids. Stay in La Fortuna under the mighty gaze of Arenal Volcano and soak in your onsite hot springs before heading to the cloud forest in Monteverde. Learn how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food in Dominical with three generations of locals and then take a day trip to the popular Manuel Antonio National Park. After a huge adventure full of natural wonders and wildlife, meet the Indigenous community along the Terraba River and learn about their matriarchal society before ending it all back in San Jose.

Trip overview

• Spend time with the Terraba community – an Indigenous group who have survived off the land for more than 500 years – and enjoy a shared lunch of local eats. The kids will love the chocolate-making lesson here!
• Walk through the diverse forest and jungle and take an incredible canopy walk along suspended bridges in Cloud Forest – lookout for sloths and various birdlife as you go.
• Experience life as the locals do by spending time on a family farm and learning how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food. 
• Enjoy some family downtime in the seaside town of Dominical at your eco-hotel, surrounded by stunning beaches and a tropical jungle.
• Look out for wildlife in the evergreen rainforest of Sarapiqui – a town known for its rich biodiversity – and enjoy some free time to maybe learn about the nocturnal creatures that dwell here.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.
• Make sure you pack some sturdy and comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking around cities and towns and through forests and jungles on this trip.
• There are a few days of long travel on this trip as you’ll be covering a lot of Costa Rican ground. These drives are along smooth roads in new and comfortable vehicles, and are great for games, chats and scenery spotting. You’ll also make interesting stops along the way to break up the longer drives.
• Is it hot in here? You’re in tropical Central America so it can get very humid, although nighttime and locations at higher elevations can get chilly. Carry plenty of water, dress in light clothing and bring a waterproof jacket. We’ll give you every opportunity to cool off with a swim.
• With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure starts in subtropical San Jose, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at the hotel. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see in this bustling city. Maybe take the kids to the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden – the perfect way to introduce the family to Costa Rican biodiversity (while also getting respite from the clamour of the city). After the meeting tonight, maybe get a taste of Tico food (and get to know the other families and your trip leader) with an optional group dinner.

• Hotel Parque del lago or similar (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

This morning, you’ll descend to the Caribbean lowlands on a scenic (and slightly bumpy) bus journey that ends at the port of La Pavona – this rustic port is your entry point to Tortuguero. Hop aboard a small boat and journey into the depths of the Costa Rican wilderness. Arrive in the middle of this biodiverse area, where freshwater lagoons rest under the canopy of rainforest bordering the ocean. Many animals call this place home, so look out for jaguars, various birds and turtles as you sail quietly across the water and traverse the lush jungle.

• Hotel Tortuguero Beach Front or similar (1 night)
• Tortuguero - Boat ride to Tortuguero

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

This morning, head to Tortuguero National Park for a boat tour of the canals. This park, established in 1970, is now home to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals, including manatees, ocelots and jaguars. This is also the nesting ground of the green turtle, which comes ashore between July and October to lay its eggs on the beach. The hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle and giant leatherback turtles also nest within the park, but at different times of the year. This afternoon, maybe wander around some of the park’s walking trails or just kick back and relax at your lodge. Tonight, you might want to head out on a turtle-watching tour – part of the cost of this optional activity will support a program to patrol the beach for poachers, keeping the turtles and their eggs safe.

• Tortuguero - National Park Entrance
• Tortuguero - Boat tour of the canals
• Tortuguero - Turtle Watching Night Tour - USD45
• Tortuguero - Sunrise canoe trip around canals - USD45

This morning, say goodbye to the evergreen rainforest and make the journey to Sarapiqui – a town known for its rich biodiversity. When you arrive you'll have time to settle into your hotel. This evening join your leader for a walk through the rainforest, crossing trails as you look out for wildlife, an excursion to learn about the region’s nocturnal creatures – including sloths, howler monkeys, snakes and frogs.

• Gran Gavilan hotel or similar (1 night)
• Sarapiqui - leader led rainforest night walk

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Today is a free day to explore Sarapiqui. Maybe you and your family could take a trip down the river on a float or get adventurous and go white water rafting through the rapids. Maybe you’d like to jump in a kayak and discover the lush surroundings on a more leisurely on-water experience. If you need to recharge, maybe you’d like to just relax by the pool at your accommodation.

• Gran Gavilan or similar (1 night)
• Sarapiqui - River float tour - USD70

Note - the price for the River float tour is for the float trip only and excludes transportation. Transport will need to be paid in addition to this amount and the price will vary depending on the size of the group.

Today, you’ll cross west through the north of the country to the Arenal volcano area, which lies beneath the volcano of the same name. Rising from verdant plains, Arenal Volcano shoots up 1633 m in a perfect cone and in certain lights, it resembles a storybook drawing. The landscape is mainly cloud forest and rainforest, cut through with rivers, lakes and (thanks to the volcano’s inner workings) thermal hot springs. When you arrive in La Fortuna, you’re free to explore the area at your own pace. Maybe just unwind by the hotel pool in view of the mighty Arenal volcano and get the kids to practice their drawing skills.

• Magic Mountain or similar (1 night)
• La Fortuna - Los Laureles Hot Springs

Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.

Today is a free day to explore La Fortuna and all it has to offer. Maybe grab the kids and head to the La Fortuna Waterfall – at the base of the dormant Chato volcano, the waterfall is surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, and you can even swim at the base of the cascades! Maybe the kids would rather get a new perspective of Arenal Volcano from the 1968 trail, where you can also explore lava trails.

• La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD20
• La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25

The above optional activity prices include an entrance fee only. Transportation will need to be paid in addition to the entrance fee and is subject to change depending on the number of participants.

Today, you’ll take the scenic route to Monteverde. Travel by minibus to Lake Arenal, then cross the water by boat. On the other side of the lake, re-board a minibus and continue to your destination. In 1951 North American Quakers founded the nearby Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve – a sanctuary for the unique flora and fauna of Costa Rica. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call the reserve home, and over the next few days, you’ll get acquainted with some of them. Tonight you will be able to relax in your boutique accommodation on a family-run farm, surrounded by spectacular cloud forest, gardens, coffee fields and views of the Nicoya gulf.

• Cabinas Capulin or similar (1 night)

Start the day experiencing life on the small family run farm of the Torres family. The farm has been in the family since 1954, and is the current home of 2 grandparents, their 5 children and 9 grandchildren, all of whom are comitted to sustainably managing the farm and conserving the forest. Learn more about small-scale farming and campesino life, in this hands-on breakfast & farm visit in which you can feed chickens, harvest eggs, and meet the family. Mid-morning, see the forest from a different perspective on an included canopy walk across the suspended bridges of the cloud forest. The variety of bird life in Monteverde is enough to make an ornithologist out of anyone, so don’t be surprised if younger children have a new answer to the question – what do you want to do when you grow up? While you’re up among the treetops, look (or listen) out for the reclusive quetzal, the blue-crowned motmot or the emerald toucanet. The rest of the day is free to relax or partake in some optional activities. You could visit an orchid farm or whizz through the trees on ziplines. If conditions are right, there might be a chance to hike through the forest at dusk – a unique opportunity to see the area’s nocturnal creatures begin to stir.

• Monteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance)
• Monteverde – Hands on breakfast activity & Farm tour
• Monteverde - Sky Tram & Sky Trek - USD84
• Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD45

Wave adios to Monteverde and hit the Pan-American Highway for a southward journey past beaches and palm plantations to the beachside town of Dominical. Along the way, you’ll stop at a local family home where you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food. Spend some time with the three generations of Costa Ricans here and learn about their stories as you enjoy the essence of the Pura Vida lifestyle. Your accommodation while in Dominical is an eco-hotel, surrounded by lush rainforest, with all the comforts you could want.

• Villas Rio Mar or similar (1 night)
• Manuel Antonio - Cooking Class & Lunch

Today is a free day in Dominical. Flanked by the Baru River, this town is known for its surfing beach and tropical forest hiking trails, so there are plenty of options if you and the kids want to get outdoors (and who wouldn’t when you’re in this natural paradise?).

• Dominical – Marino Ballena National Park hike - USD78
• Dominical – Mangrove Boat tour - USD85

This morning after breakfast, you’ll take a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park – the most popular national park in Costa Rica. When you arrive, enjoy a guided walk along the trails that snake through the park with your leader. Immerse yourself in nature and learn more about the area’s diverse flora and fauna. Look and listen carefully, and you may just be able to spot howler monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, iguanas and heaps of various birds. This afternoon, make your way back to Dominical for the night.

• Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
• Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide

Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours roundtrip.

Visitor numbers to Manuel Antonio have been reduced from 3000 per day to 1000. This means it is more difficult to secure entrance tickets for both tour groups and individual visitors. Over school holidays and peak travel season, it is especially difficult. We do our best to secure entrance tickets, but it is possible that on occasion demand will be too high. In these instances, we will include a visit to Marino Ballena National Park, home to a variety of animals, including crocodiles, monkeys, and two-toed sloths.

This morning, head to San Jose and on your way visit a small Indigenous community with a rich cultural heritage – The Terraba (or Teribe). Located on approximately 34.7 square miles (9000 hectares) along the Terraba River, they have survived off the land for over 500 years. The community consider themselves matriarchal, and women are the teachers responsible for passing information down through the generations. Here, you’ll learn how to carve your own wooden mask and participate in some chocolate-making before sitting down for a shared local lunch with the community. Tonight, you’ll return to San Jose for your final night – maybe head out for a farewell dinner with the other families when you arrive.

• Terraba community - Indigenous Community Visit & Mask Carving Lesson
• Terraba community- Chocolate making

There are no further activities planned for today, and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.

13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Private vehicle, Boat, Public Transportation

Hotels (13 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. Age restrictions apply to this trip: minimum age 5 years old. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian.

2. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 or younger at the time of travel.

3. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase entrance tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park. Delays to provide this information may result in changes to your itinerary, and we will not be able to guarantee entry. Details provided must be accurate as per your passport bio page.

4. First day - there will be a group meeting at 6pm on Day 1 Last day - no activities are planned for your last day, so you can depart at any time.

5. A single supplement is available on this trip 

6. Costa Rica is a tropical country, so rain can be excepted at any time. The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May – November. While July and some of August does experience dry spells, families need to be prepared for the rain. Rain does usually come in the afternoons, and it can pour. So you will need to be prepared with wet weather gear. Hurricane season in this region is from June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. Intrepid monitors any situations that arise and may need to change itineraries or activities in response to these natural weather occurrences.

7. Many hotels outside of San Jose have been built further out from the centre of town so travellers can enjoy the countryside, rainforests and views, where people can wake up to birds, not cars. Many of the hotels we use are in such locations.

8. Costa Rican food is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables. Rice and black beans are a staple of most traditional Costa Rican meals. Meals in Costa Rican are more expensive than its neighbouring countries.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Check back later or explore reviews for similar trips.

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The 5 Best Family Travel Insurance Plans

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Seven Corners »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

AIG Travel Guard »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Family Travel Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Rating Details
• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

The best travel insurance plans can provide you with considerable peace of mind, but the real value comes into play when you wind up using your coverage. Hassles like flight delays, lost luggage and unexpected injuries can be stressful and traumatic, yet travel insurance can reimburse you for the financial costs associated with these mishaps.

If you are planning to travel with your entire family in tow, you already know that the stakes are higher and the potential for losses even greater. For example, you'll want to make sure children traveling with you have travel medical insurance as well as coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions.

You'll need to compare the best family travel insurance plans of 2023 if you want to find the right one for you and ensure each of your dependents is covered by your policy. U.S. News has compiled this guide to the best of the best when it comes to companies offering family travel insurance, since these top picks make it easy and affordable to add children to your plan.

• Seven Corners
• World Nomads Travel Insurance
• AIG Travel Guard

Best Family Travel Insurance Plans in Detail

Travel Select plan offers complimentary coverage for children 17 and younger

Primary coverage with no deductibles

Travel Select only includes up to $50,000 in protection for emergency medical expenses (optional upgrade available)

Meager policy limits ($200) for delayed baggage and sporting equipment

• Trip cancellation protection worth up to 100% of prepaid travel expenses (up to $50,000)
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% (up to $75,000)
• Up to $2,000 ($250 per day) in coverage for trip delays
• $750 for missed connections
• $50,000 for emergency medical and dental expenses
• $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• $1,000 in insurance for baggage and personal effects

Single-trip travel insurance plans include free coverage for children ages 17 and younger

Allianz offers annual travel insurance plans for families

Not all plans cover kids for free

Get coverage for up to 10 people in a single policy

Generous policy limits for emergency medical expenses and evacuation

Kids aren't covered for free

Emergency dental coverage is capped at $750

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of prepaid trip costs
• Trip interruption coverage up to 150%
• Trip delay coverage up to $2,000 ($250 per day)
• Up to $1,500 in protection for missed tours or cruise connections ($250 per day)
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $1 million in protection for emergency evacuation

Includes coverage for up to seven children on a single policy

Provides coverage for more than 200 adventure activities and sports

No free travel coverage for kids with paid adults

No option to customize coverage with CFAR protection

• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical insurance
• $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• $3,000 in insurance for lost baggage and belongings
• $10,000 in insurance for trip cancellation

Free coverage for one child 17 or younger with each paying adult relative on the plan

Choose from three tiers of travel protection based on your needs

Travel medical expense coverage is low ($15,000) with Essential plan

Essential plan also has low limits for baggage delays ($200) and lost or stolen luggage ($750)

• Up to 100% in coverage for trip cancellation
• 150% in coverage for trip interruption
• $1,000 in baggage insurance
• $300 in protection for baggage delays
• $50,000 in insurance for emergency medical expenses
• $500,000 in protection for medical evacuation

Family Travel Insurance: Coverages You'll Need

As you compare the best travel insurance plans for families, you might be wondering which types of coverage are most important. Ultimately, that depends on the cost of your trip, where you're traveling and the travel issues you worry about the most.

Frequent traveler Linda L. Adkins of Spokane, Washington, says she purchases travel insurance for every trip since her U.S.-based health insurance policy doesn't apply when her family travels overseas. She worries not only about emergency medical expenses that could come into play, but also about the high costs of medical evacuation if a family member needs to be transported a long distance or even back to the U.S.

Adkins has also endured scenarios where her luggage was temporarily lost by an airline while traveling internationally, and she says her delayed baggage benefit was useful when it came to purchasing clothing and toiletries. "I spent almost $100 per day for three days in a row while we waited for our bags," she says.

Adkins saved her receipts and received reimbursement through her travel insurance provider's baggage delay benefit.

U.S. News recommends having the following types of coverage (at a minimum) in place for every trip with kids:

• $50,000-plus in primary insurance per traveler for emergency medical expenses
• Coverage for COVID-19
• $100,000-plus in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Adequate protection for trip delays and lost or delayed baggage

Frequently Asked Questions

Credit card travel insurance can provide coverage for families, although the types and amounts of protection you receive can be limited. As an example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card comes with trip cancellation coverage for up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per covered trip, as well as lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger if the cardholder or an immediate family member has their luggage lost by a common carrier.

Fine print with the card also states that trip delay coverage can apply if common carrier travel gets delayed by more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, and that both the cardholder and their family members can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for incidental travel expenses including meals and lodging.

For credit card travel insurance to apply, the cardholder needs to pay for common carrier travel for all of their family members with the credit card in question. In other words, simply carrying a travel credit card with travel insurance benefits won't be enough.

Travel insurance plans are built to cover every person listed on the application for coverage. This means you can apply for travel insurance as an individual or as a family who wants all members covered under a single plan.

That said, some travel insurance plans are superior for families since they offer free coverage for dependents. Others offer comprehensive travel insurance policies that provide broad coverage for groups up to 10 people.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg – who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states – in their family media business.

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The Best Family Travel Insurance Plans of 2024

Find the best travel insurance policies to protect you and your loved ones on your adventures.

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Charlotte Whitaker is a content writer and PR professional currently writing for clients in the travel, tourism and recruitment industries. Coverage highlights for her PR clients include publications such as National Geographic, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, TimeOut and CNN. When she’s not writing, you can find her traveling to the next destination on her bucket list or relaxing in the countryside of the north of England, which she calls home.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

If you are traveling as a family, you can protect your international vacation with travel insurance. Travel insurance helps you recover nonrefundable expenses such as airfare, hotel reservations and excursions if you’re forced to cancel your trip or leave early due to an emergency. Travel insurance can also help your family cover the cost of lost baggage and emergency medical expenses.

According to our research on costs and coverage,  Travelex, Berkshire Hathaway and Nationwide are the top three family travel insurance options.

Compare the Best Travel Insurance for Families

Ready to start comparing travel insurance providers for families? The following are our top choices for travel insurance coverage for families.

How We Ranked Family Travel Insurance Companies

To determine the best travel insurance providers for families, we looked at the following characteristics of each insurance provider.

• Complementary children’s coverage: Select travel insurance providers offer complementary coverage for children with the purchase of an adult policy. We rated these providers highly in our review as many families will include children in travel plans.
• Cost: Next, we compared the cost of coverage for family-oriented policy choices offered by each provider. Companies with more affordable policies for a variety of traveler ages scored higher than those with more expensive plans.
• Coverage options: Travel insurance providers with more policy and add-on choices offer customers higher levels of customization. We ranked these providers above those with more limited plan offerings.
• Types of coverage: Insurance providers with multiple types of coverage included in each plan scored higher than those with more limited benefits. For example, we considered baggage benefits , travel delay compensation, medical evacuation coverage and more.
• Reimbursement limits: We prioritized recommending companies with higher maximum reimbursement limits for major policy components like trip interruption coverage and lost bags.

Top 6 Travel Insurance Plans for Families

Below is our list of the best travel insurance companies for all-inclusive resort vacations:

• Travelex : Our pick for families
• Berkshire Hathaway:   Our pick for luxury travelers.
• Nationwide Travel Insurance:  Our pick for cruise travel.
• Generali Global Assistance:  Our pick for emergency assistance.
• Allianz Global Assistance:   Our pick for concierge services.
• AXA Assistance USA:  Our pick for leisure travelers.

Why Trust MarketWatch Guides

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

Pros and Cons

Why we picked travelex for families.

Travelex is our top-rated choice for family travel insurance thanks to its all-inclusive Travel Select policies. Travel Select plans include coverage for one child under the age of 17 with the purchase of an adult travel insurance policy. You could save up to 50% on coverage by purchasing a plan with Travelex if you have an equal number of children and adults traveling together.

If your family will be traveling as a group of adults, consider Travelex’s Travel Basic policy option, which is available from $60 for low-cost trips. This policy includes a host of general coverages competitive with other travel insurance providers, ranging from up to $15,000 in emergency medical coverage, $150,000 in emergency evacuation coverage and $500 in trip delay benefits. This can be a viable budget option for families looking for affordable individual protections.

Add-On Options

If you want to expand the coverage of your travel insurance plan, Travelex has the following upgrades:

• Additional medical coverage
• CFAR (cancel for any reason)
• Car rental collision
• Adventure sports cover
• Flight accidental death and dismemberment

Based on quotes we obtained, a family of four going on a week-long, $8,000 vacation to Mexico should expect to pay $200  for a Travelex plan.

To learn more: Travelex travel insurance review

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Why We Picked Berkshire Hathaway

If your family is traveling together, you could have a higher-value vacation that you need to insure. While most insurance providers place caps on the total trip cost they will reimburse, Berkshire Hathaway offers luxury coverage with higher-than-average limits. With the Berkshire Hathaway LuxuryCare plan, you can protect each traveler with up to $100,000 in individual cancellation protection — ideal for high-value international travel.

Berkshire Hathaway’s policies are a bit more expensive than competitors, which means premiums for families will be higher as well. However, its plans are also more inclusive, with up to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage and up to $2,000 for trip delay expenses. Berkshire Hathaway also offers unique plans for adventure travelers and cruise-goers, with specific coverages outfitted to your planned excursions.

Berkshire Hathaway’s LuxuryCare plan covers most travel expenses, such as in a medical emergency. Add-ons are available, but this level of coverage is comprehensive for international travel for families.

Based on quotes we obtained, a family of four going on a week-long, $8,000 vacation to Mexico should expect to pay  $168 for a Berkshire plan.

Generali Global Assistance

Why We Picked Generali Global Assistance

If you plan to visit an international destination with young children and you want to add another layer of safety, consider a travel insurance policy from Generali.

Generali Global Assistance is our top choice for international travel assistance, as all of its plans include 24/7 multilingual travel assistance that can help you while abroad. This can be a major benefit if you’re traveling to an area where you do not speak the primary language spoken, especially with young children. We also suggest considering Generali’s plans if you are looking for extra assistance planning your family’s trip, as all plans come with complimentary concierge pre-trip assistance.

• Rental car damage on standard insurance plan, up to $25,000 per person per plan
• Trip cancellation for any reason on premium travel insurance plan

Based on quotes we obtained, a family of four going on a week-long, $8,000 vacation to Mexico should expect to pay $359 for a Generali plan.

To learn more: Generali Global Assistance travel insurance review

Allianz Global Assistance

Why We Picked Allianz Global Assistance

Allianz is another top selection for families looking for free children’s coverage with adult travel insurance. The company’s OneTrip Prime policy option includes free coverage for children under the age of 17. However, you must purchase adult coverage and plan to travel with the child. Like Travelex’s family coverage, this could potentially save up to 50% on insurance costs for family vacations.

The OneTrip Prime policy is one of Allianz’s most comprehensive and inclusive options, with up to $100,000 in trip interruption coverage, $50,000 in emergency medical protections and $1,000 for lost baggage. This policy also includes a few unique inclusions, including up to $500 in last-minute travel itinerary changes.

The following add-on options come with Allianz Global Assistance:

• Winter sports and ski insurance
• Cancel anytime upgrade

Based on quotes we obtained, a family of four going on a week-long, $8,000 vacation to Mexico should expect to pay  $250 for a Allianz plan.

To learn more: Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance review

AXA Assistance USA

Why We Picked AXA Assistance

If you are planning to travel with your family to a remote area or partake in outdoor activities, consider AXA’s travel insurance policies . In the event of a medical evacuation or illness, AXA will arrange complimentary return transportation for a travel companion or unattended minor. In the event of a sudden medical emergency that leaves a minor unattended, AXA will arrange an escort to accompany the child and ensure their safe return home. This can be a major benefit and offer peace of mind if you’re a parent traveling alone with a minor child.

• CFAR coverage available on the platinum plan
• Collision damage waiver available on gold and platinum plans

Based on quotes we obtained, a family of four going on a week-long, $8,000 vacation to Mexico should expect to pay $276 for a AXA plan.

To learn more:   AXA travel insurance review

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance policies often offer a range of coverage options for families traveling together, coverage can range from the basic needs to medical coverage abroad, and canceling for any reason. When traveling with a family, and incurring higher prices than individual travelers, travel insurance is worth the price . These include the following:

Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage

Trip cancellation coverage refers to circumstances that may force you to cancel a vacation before departure. Trip interruption coverage applies when you may have to cut your vacation short because of unforeseen circumstances. Most insurance policies cover you in both cases, however there are limitations in the included trip cancellation coverage for what’s included. Many insurance companies offer CFAR(cancel for any reason) coverage for insurance buyers that want peace of mind no matter the reason for canceling.

According to the participants in our study over the age of 54, 60% purchased CFAR coverage, and 19% purchased Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage.

Medical Coverage

Medical coverage reimburses you for medical costs should you have to pay for a medical emergency or need medical attention. Reimbursable events can include basic health care treatment, ambulance fees or repatriation costs in the event of a death. The maximum limit of coverage varies among insurance policies.

Baggage Loss, Delay and Damage Coverage

Most insurance policies give coverage if your luggage is delayed, lost or stolen on your family vacation (as long as the event isn’t your fault or is out of your control). The maximum coverage you can receive depends on the travel insurance policy.

If possessions within your baggage are particularly expensive or if together they add up to a high dollar amount, you may want your family insurance policy to have a larger coverage limit for baggage. You can also take out single-item coverage for something specific if it’s that valuable.

Does Standard Travel Insurance Cover Family Members?

Standard travel insurance policies cover you and your family members. The difference between standard travel insurance and family insurance is that family insurance typically covers families of two adults with at least one and up to eight children under 18.

With family travel insurance, you are offered peace of mind that your insurance policy has been crafted with families in mind to cover your needs.

Common Add-Ons

Common add-ons for travelers and families can include:

• Winter sports coverage: For those hoping to ski or snowboard and partake in winter sports activities
• Cruise coverage: For groups who will be venturing on cruises during their vacation
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage: A financial backstop if you  must cancel your vacation outside of the policy guidelines

How Much Does Travel Insurance for Families Cost?

The cost of travel insurance for families will depend on the number of family members, the location of the trip, the trip duration, and the total cost. The table below compares costs for basic coverage for a family of four going on a week-long $8,000 vacation to Mexico:

Is Family Travel Insurance Worth It?

Family travel insurance is necessary if you invest a lot of money for a grand family vacation. Knowing that you have comprehensive cover for every member of your party makes it more convenient for travels when you want protection from a range of eventualities.

With a range of family travel insurance policies available, families have ample choices to find a policy that matches their trip, coverage needs and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you travel separately on family travel insurance.

Some family policies let you travel separately, but you should check with your insurance provider and your policy terms to see if you’re covered.

Is it better to buy travel insurance as a group or individual?

Buying family and group travel insurance is much more convenient and easier to insure everyone on a trip. Group coverage is also likely to be less expensive than purchasing individual policies for every group member. Children sometimes get included for free in family policies.

Does credit card travel insurance cover a family?

You may have insurance to cover your whole family from the credit card you use to book your trip. This is something that varies by bank. You’ll need to talk to your credit card issuer to ask about travel coverage.

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Travel Insurance Companies for Families

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
• A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
• A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.

A.M. Best Disclaimer

More Travel Insurance Guides

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• Travel insurance for parents visiting USA
• Best travel medical insurance plans
• How much does travel insurance cost?

If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at [email protected] .

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Best Hotels Near Electrostal History and Art Museum, Elektrostal

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Florida expecting record travel over Memorial Day weekend

The prediction comes two weeks after governor ron desantis announced that entry fees would be suspended for all florida states parks over memorial day weekend, by news service of florida and nbc6 • published may 14, 2024 • updated on may 14, 2024 at 12:08 pm.

A record number of travelers are expected to hit Florida roads and crowd airports during the Memorial Day holiday period.

The AAA auto club on Tuesday forecast 2.5 million Floridians will travel more than 50 miles during the period. AAA estimates a 5 percent increase from 2023 in Floridians traveling by car and a 9 percent increase in air travel.

24/7 South Florida news stream: Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are among the top U.S. destinations around the May 27 holiday.

This prediction comes two weeks after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that entry fees would be suspended for all Florida States parks over Memorial Day weekend. The waived fees run from May 25th to 28th.

Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.

Other top destinations include Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston and Anchorage, Alaska.

“Memorial Day will be the start to a very busy summer of travel,” AAA Vice President of Travel Debbie Haas said in a prepared statement, adding that interest in traveling after the COVID-19 pandemic could make this year the busiest Memorial Day weekend in nearly two decades.

Nationally, 43.8 million people are expected to travel for the holiday, up 5 percent from the Memorial Day period in 2023.

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As refineries finish maintenance and ramp up output, increased travel shouldn’t reverse a downward trend in gas prices, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“While gas prices stand slightly above where they were last year, I expect most Americans will see prices fall before the holiday weekend, and I’m optimistic the trend could extend into June and beyond,” De Haan said.

The average price of regular unleaded gas in Florida on Tuesday was $3.48, down 9 cents from a week earlier and 4 cents from a month earlier, according to AAA.

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