I am sure you will agree that planning the perfect family vacation is always an exciting task. There are loads of options; the only trouble is trying to identify the best family holiday destinations in the world that every member of the family will enjoy just as much as the next.
With that in mind, here’s how to locate the ideal destination for you, your partner, and your kids (even the grandparents if you want).
Finding the best family holiday destinations in the world
· Work out everyone’s priorities
Figuring out what everyone most wants to do is a good place to start. For example, if your daughter’s a train enthusiast, you might want to consider locations with old stream train services still running. If your partner loves hiking, look for places with a few nice walking trails. If, as a family, you like to stay in one place then a big hotel complex may be better whereas if you like to go off and explore local areas, book trips to places like zoos or vineyards then you need to consider the wider location too. And don’t forget your own needs – this is your holiday too!
· Travel times.
Be realistic about how long you can keep the kids entertained in the car or on the plane for. There are plenty of activities you can give them to keep them amused, but ultimately, every child has a limit – especially if they’re very young. If you know they’ll start getting frustrated after four hours maximum, perhaps save the long-haul flights for another year but if they are a bit older and can handle the flight maybe look at visiting Bali with the children or even a trip to South California.
· What sort of climate?
Some people need to feel the sun on their skin (after all, we don’t get much chance here in the UK!). For other families, this isn’t so much of a priority. In fact, some people (young kids especially) hate being too hot. Take this into consideration when you’re working out where to go, perhaps a Butlins Just for Tots break would better for your family than a Caribbean cruise..
· What budget?
Set a budget before you start seriously considering anywhere. However, remember to be open-minded. For example, you might not be able to afford that luxury villa in the south of France, but you might be able to afford a campsite in the same area. Or if you fancy Disney but can’t stretch to Florida then maybe Paris would be the perfect solution and remember you can always look at reducing the cost by doing things like the Disneyland Paris meal plans.
· What sort of location?
What works best for your family – somewhere bustling and lively, with plenty of activities nearby? Or somewhere remote and peaceful surrounded by waterfalls where you can all lose yourselves in nature? Be totally honest about what suits you best; there’s no point arriving at a noisy holiday park, only to hate it the whole time because it’s too loud!
· What style?
Are you all happy to rough it for a week? If so, camping might be the perfect choice, and it’s cheap too, which is an added bonus. Alternatively, you might prefer to go out every night; to dress up, get your partner to splash on some cologne (Aventus Creed review sites suggest this is the ultimate fragrance for holidays), and enjoy cocktails in a fancy bar. Again – be honest about what sort of holiday appeals to you most.
· Alone or with others?
Going on holiday with friends or family is a great way to spread the costs, and get better accommodation for your money, as villas normally work out cheaper per person, when more people are staying in them. However, these sorts of holiday set-ups can get stressful. Do your kids get on with theirs, for example? Do you like them well enough to spend that long with them? Ask yourself these important questions before you commit to any particular holiday destination.
And whilst you are thinking about holidays then why not see how many of these three types of holidays that everybody should experience you can tick off!