Travelling with children can sometimes be a daunting prospect; keeping them entertained before and during a flight, making sure they have plenty to keep them occupied and happy whilst in resort, worries about food etc. But with such a wide range of options now available to families, single parent families, and even grandparents taking their grand children on holiday, travelling with children really doesn’t have to be thought of as a ‘chore’ anymore!

In the past, holidaying with children at a luxury 5* property would be a very rare occurrence. Nowadays luxury worldwide properties are embracing children with open arms, and will go out of their way to make sure both children and parents alike have the best possible holiday experience they can. Kids clubs are no longer just about a colouring book and crayons, they include activities such as treasure hunts, dance classes, movie nights, pony trekking, cooking classes and painting lessons. There are also educational topics which teach youngsters all about the area in which they are holidaying.  The Rosewood Mayakoba Hotel in Mexico for example offers an eco-tour led by the property’s resident marine biologist which explores the local lagoons and mangroves. By the time you are reading this, I will have visited the Rosewood Mayakoba and hopefully taken part in the eco-tour myself, do ask what I thought!

If your children are into sports, many hotels now offer coaching lessons in football, tennis and golf. The Aphrodite Hills Resort in Paphos, Cyprus is one such property. I have personally stayed here with my six year old daughter (pictured above), and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough for families with children of all ages. The choice of dining is endless, the surroundings luxurious, and the facilities second to none. I chose to have a spa treatment whilst there, and was safe in the knowledge that I could relax and enjoy a little bit of ‘me’ time whilst my daughter played happily and safely with her new found friends in the kids club.

It’s not just a beach holiday which is a good choice for families. For the more intrepid traveller, there are a wide variety of worldwide family adventure holidays on offer, ranging from a visit to a chocolate factory in Nicaragua to swimming with penguins in South Africa, and from learning Bedouin survival skills in Jordan to a rainforest adventure in Costa Rica. This type of holiday is perfect for children to mix with other members of the group, and of course for adults too. Some trips are specifically targeted at certain age groups so that children/teenagers will be taking part in activities which are suitable for them. If you’re a single parent, there are even departures catering purely for single parent travellers who might prefer to join a group of other parents travelling alone.  Ask for our latest Family Adventures brochure which we can offer a 5% discount for families booking before 31/11/2011.

If you’re looking for some winter fun with your children, it’s not just a visit to see Santa in Lapland that will keep them entertained. A visit to the Ice Hotel in Sweden is fantastic for older children (approx ages 7 and upwards) with a taste for adventure. After sleeping on a bed of ice, they can wake the next morning and take a husky ride in the wilderness or a trip to a reindeer camp and learn about traditional Sami culture. And what could be better than taking a trip on a snowmobile in search of the Northern Lights? An experience that they would hopefully never forget! Skiing holidays are always a popular choice for families in the winter months, and the majority of destinations will have English speaking ski instructors. Ski schools can be pre-booked before you travel as well as crèche spaces. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t ski or doesn’t want to learn to – they will have plenty of fun building snowmen and sledging with other children in the kids club. 

And so wherever you have wanted to visit, don't think its not possible with the whole family, the world can still be your oyster! Call us for a personalised family holiday quotation on 01543 258631 or email: kirsty@robertbroadtravel.co.uk.