Child-friendly holidays with a difference

If you’re a mum with school-age children, the chances are you’ll have heard of the Algarve resorts of Martinhal and Pine Cliffs or the Greek mainland choices of Sani or Ikos. They are fantastic resorts offering a huge range of accommodation and activities aimed at creating memorable family holidays and long may they continue to do so.

However, you might be looking for something different. Maybe you think it’s time for the kids to be introduced to new cultures. Maybe you don’t want to spend a week by the pirate-themed swimming pool. Maybe they’re a bit older and you can push the travel time a little further. Whatever your reasons, I’ve put together some ideas of alternative child-friendly holidays.

Thailand

Thailand might not spring to mind as a summer holiday destination and this one might be best to keep for Easter, May half-term or Christmas but as you’ll be spending a few days in a rainforest, you’re going to get wet at some point anyway! Elephant Hills offer luxury tented jungle camps in Khao Sak, part of Southern Thailand’s stretch of primary rainforest. The camps offer a fully inclusive experience giving you an intimate opportunity to befriend the resident elephants through bathing and feeding them (no riding). In between your elephant encounters you can enjoy the beautiful jungle surroundings by kayak, visit local markets or take a hike through the rainforest – experts estimate Khao Sak has a higher biodiversity than the Amazon.

This safari-like experience is open to children aged four and over and I can help combine this with a beach stay to create an unforgettable family holiday.

Costa Rica

Another choice for Easter or May half-term, Costa Rica is seeing a rise in popularity thanks to direct flights from Gatwick and the option of a self-drive holiday. One of the safest countries in Latin America (it has no army) and one of the most bio-diverse, if you time it right you’ll get to see turtles egg-laying, sloths hanging around and enjoy beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts – all in two weeks or less. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of a self-drive then I can put together private tours with shared transfers or you could join a small group family adventure specifically designed with children in mind. The Family Adventure Company (part of the Intrepid group) and Exodus both offer great options including all sorts of activities for children aged 5 and up.

Morocco

If that’s all sounding too far to go, then Morocco offers an experience of the other-worldly at a short-haul distance. From the craziness of Marrakech with its souks and snake-charmers, to a walk in the Atlas Mountains, a camel ride in the Sahara and a night under the stars in a Bedouin tent or lounging on the beaches – the experiences you can cram into a week in Morocco will make it feel like you’ve been away for a month (in a good way!) Perfect for a bit of winter/spring sunshine, with plenty of flights from regional airports this is a break that can suit all budgets.

European Activity summer holidays

If you’re thinking Mark Warner or Club Med right now, then that’s one approach but there’s an increasing call for child-friendly activity holidays where you can get out and about to explore. Perfect summer holiday options for the whole family range from pizza-making on the Amalfi coast to cycling the Danube; hiking, biking and rafting in France, Portugal or Croatia; or swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores – there are a wide range of choices available for all ages.

I hope this helps gives you some inspiration for where you could explore with the kids in tow whilst finding plenty to enjoy together as a family – if you’d like to find out more about these or any other family holiday options then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.