The best family holiday destinations
Wild luxury in the Highlands
Scotland offers all the elements of a great family adventure with excellent places to stay – from glamping sites to an indulgent break at one of Wildland’s beautiful properties in the Highlands. Aldourie Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness, is perfect for those seeking a grand, house-party-style holiday at its most luxurious. Recently restored and impeccably decorated by Charlotte Freemantle and Will Fisher of Jamb, the interiors are at once beautiful and deeply comfortable. The gardens are the work of Tom Stuart-Smith and are equally wonderful, full of corners to explore. It is part of a 200-year conservation project by Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne, who set up Wildland in 2012.
There are also a variety of self-catering cottages and two hotels, all of which allow guests to make the most of the 222,000-acre estate. Aldourie may be the jewel, but other properties exude a quieter, more Scandinavian feel. No matter your choice of accommodation, a host of Highland fun and games awaits: falconry, golf, hiking and biking, boat trips on the loch, fishing and treasure hunts in the woods are all on the programme. Rooms at Lundies House hotel cost from £425 a night, B&B.
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A trip down Memory Road in Morocco
Travel along southern Morocco’s intensely beautiful Memory Road – or the Route du Sud, as named by Thierry Teyssier. The French hotelier has designed a six-night-minimum, five-stop journey from Marrakech to Skoura on the edge of the Sahara, where he has opened Dar Ahlam in a painstakingly restored kasbah. The landscape changes dramatically along this 1,200-kilometre route, from palm oases breaking through arid copper-brown earth and the blues of the Atlantic crashing onto sand dunes, to preserved mud villages and the sweeping silence of the desert.
Nights are spent in a series of private houses as well as at Dar Ahlam and its tented desert camp, positioned right on the windswept dunes of the Sahara, offering rare encounters with nomads and their herds of camels and views of the High Atlas mountain range in the distance. All the accommodation has been designed by Thierry, the magical and carefully considered interiors reflecting his background in theatre production. Itineraries start at around £875 a night per person, full board, based on two sharing for trips of six to nine nights, including a driver, butler and all excursions, but excluding flights.
A lakeside sanctuary in Italy
While Como might be known for being the most obviously beautiful of the Italian lakes, Garda is its independent and characterful sister, with beautiful castles dating to the early medieval period dotted along its shoreline. This spring sees the opening of Borgo Tre, a restored 18th-century farmhouse in the hills above the water. The tranquil, rural sanctuary comprises six apartment-style suites that sit somewhere between self-contained accommodation and a hotel, so families can have a mixture of privacy and service. Each has its own garden or terrace, with various layouts designed to sleep from two to five people, plus a sitting room and kitchen with a dining area (breakfast baskets are delivered daily).
Parents will enjoy the wellness options, which include a spa, sauna room, hot tub and yoga classes, while the heated outdoor pool is a perfect spot to relax en famille. Borgo Tre is located above the medieval village of Torri del Benaco and across from Isola del Garda – the largest island on the lake, crowned by a handsome 19th-century Venetian, neo-gothic-style villa surrounded by formal gardens. A four-person suite at Borgo Tre costs from €650 a night, B&B.
A road trip across Europe
Luxury tour operator Original Travel has seen an influx of requests for a special holiday before children leave home. These tend to be longer and incorporate multiple destinations, allowing more time together. Original Travel’s 20-day road trip through Italy, Slovenia and Croatia takes in forests, beaches, villages and lakes such as Bled in Slovenia (above). The itinerary costs from £2,260 per person, B&B, based on four sharing, including return flights and car hire.
Island relaxation in the Baltics
In a remote corner of the Estonian island of Saaremaa, Pilguse Residency is a 90-hectare estate centred around a 16th-century manor with rooms, as well as a number of cottages and cabins spread through the grounds providing more space and seclusion. This includes mirror-clad Ööd cabins, which disappear into the landscape, and the Laundry Cottage, which retains its original 19th-century features. Activities include relaxing in a sauna, dips in freshwater springs, horse riding and kayaking. Rooms in the manor start at €120 a night, Ööd cabins cost €225 a night, sleeping two, and the Laundry Cottage costs €350 a night, sleeping up to four, all B&B.
On the rails through Mexico
Mexico’s 1,500-kilometre train route connecting five states across its Mayan heartland, from the state of Yucatán to Chiapas, has now opened after years of planning and construction, making it possible to visit the beach, the city and ancient ruins in the same holiday. From Mérida, the creative capital of Yucatán, the route goes down towards Cancún and Tulum before reaching the southern-most state of Chiapas, passing through Quintana Roo (above), Campeche and Tabasco. These areas were previously very poorly connected, requiring internal flights or long drives, confining many visitors to the resorts of the Riviera Maya with day trips to the busiest, most touristy sites. Families can now happily combine a relaxing beach holiday with an exciting adventure through more remote regions, learning about the Mayans at sites such as the city of Chichén Itzá. It is easy to plan a trip online using El Tren Maya maps and timetables – you can then buy tickets at the station on arrival. Set up base in the Yucatán, which has the best hotels for families, and use the train for day trips.
Best for adventure
The Dolomites have long been a hotbed of sustainability, from eco-resorts such as Saltus and Forestis, to chef Norbert Niederkofler’s cook-the-mountain concept at three-Michelin-starred St Hubertus restaurant in Rosa Alpina, the region’s top luxury family hotel. The Dolomites has some of the best ski slopes in Europe, yet it is in summer that its beauty blossoms: the snow-capped mountains and jagged rocky surfaces become softened by lush greenery; birds and butterflies circle the meadows; and ski lifts connect scenic walking routes, which end with apple strudel in a traditional gasthaus. Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano is well positioned for several of the best walks in the Alta Badia area and offers a range of experiences for all ages; from €1,800 a night for a family of four. rosalpina.it | altabadia.org
Whale and dolphin watching, hiking to waterfalls and lake-filled calderas, walking through green-carpeted pastures and exploring fishing villages are just a few of the possible highlights on a family adventure in the Azores. With British Airways’ direct flights to the capital, Ponta Delgada, operating from June to August, the journey is now just four hours from Heathrow. Stay at the recently renovated ocean-facing boutique hotel White (above), where the four-bedroom La Maison costs from €1,800 for a two-night stay. britishairways.com | whiteazores.com
Take a family road trip to the five national parks of this western US state – known as the Mighty Five – to see iconic sights such as Monument Valley, the Moab desert and the canyons and red cliffs of Zion. Utah is ideal for stargazing while camping or glamping, or check in to one of the many inns or boutique hotels. Visit Utah has various itineraries and routes to help you plan your trip. visitutah.com
For a perfect wintry long weekend, Abercrombie & Kent offers a short break in Lapland, northern Finland, where children can visit the home of Father Christmas and might catch a glimpse of shooting stars and the Northern Lights. Activities include dashing through the snow on a sleigh and forest walks with the chance to spot reindeer (above), before warming up with hot chocolate. Accommodation is in an enchanting tree house. A three-night trip to Finnish Lapland costs from £4,590 per person, including flights and transfers. abercrombiekent.co.uk
Best for culture
Black Tomato’s journey through Switzerland for families takes in city life and nature in equal measure, with stops in Lucerne, Interlaken and Montreux on Lake Geneva. You will travel past the scenic towns and towering peaks of the Alps, including on the Brünig Pass to Interlaken and the Golden Pass to Montreux, in a beautiful Belle Époquestyle carriage. Explore the pretty medieval architecture and lakefront promenades of Lucerne, visit Chillon Castle in Montreux and board a cogwheel train to climb 3,454 metres to Jungfraujoch – the highest railway station in Europe – where the views of the continent’s largest glacial pass are breathtaking. The six-night Lucerne, Interlaken & Montreux: A Swiss Family Escape trip costs from £3,550 per person, excluding flights. blacktomato.com
Combining a city break in Bangkok with experiencing elephants up close in Chiang Mai, visits to traditional villages and exploring the forests of Khao Yai National Park, Audley Travel’s new journey through Thailand offers a chance to discover the country beyond its beaches. The trip includes a stay in a solar-powered tent at The Bush Camp overlooking the Ping River in Chiang Mai. Here, you can interact with the elephants and learn about how the camp’s mahouts care for them. Try your hand at cooking delicious Thai dishes and discover how local people make paper from elephant dung. A 15-day trip, with a night at The Bush Camp and time in Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Pai and Khao Yai, costs from £4,950 per person, including flights, transfers and excursions. audleytravel.com
With its unspoilt valleys and gothic castles, Transylvania is probably still best known for its associations with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, whose home in the novel was apparently based on Bran Castle outside Brasov. Original Travel’s family itinerary, Creepy Castles, Vampires and Bears, marries the chance to explore the more sinister mysteries of the region with a visit to the Romanian capital Bucharest, as well as bear spotting in the countryside and trips to Unesco towns such as Sighisoara, where you can explore a way of life unchanged in centuries. Other highlights include the former summer residence of the Romanian royal family and learning about the Saxons, who built a series of villages in Transylvania. The seven-day trip costs from £3,550 per person, including flights and transfers. originaltravel.co.uk
Best for the beach
Despite being the birthplace of the all-inclusive holiday back in the Fifties, Mallorca has been having a creative renaissance lately, with a string of new design hotels, shops and artists’ studios popping up. This year sees another surge of exciting openings of hotels that are a family-friendly alternative to package holidays on the island: a new Four Seasons in Formentor; Son Net by the owners of Finca Cortesin in the Costa del Sol; and Virgin’s much anticipated Son Bunyola development. mallorcaformentor.com | sonnet.es | virginlimitededition.com
Just a 40-minute drive north of Lisbon, Ericeira on Portugal’s Silver Coast offers easy access to some of the best surfing spots in Europe. And Aethos Ericeira (above) makes the perfect base for a long weekend learning to surf, cycling the coastal trails and working your way round the restaurants of the neighbouring towns. Surfing lessons are available at the new hotel, as well as yoga and Pilates classes, and floral design workshops, making it ideal for families with teenage children. A former farmstead, the hotel has interiors by Barcelona-based studio Astet in collaboration with the Portuguese architect Luis Pedra Silva, which respond to the setting with a neutral palette reflecting the colours of the cliffs, the sand and the waves that produce a meditative melody. Rooms cost from €200 a night. aethoshotels.com
Low key, authentic and still protective of its wild side, this Caribbean country is perfect for winter fun. Known as the Spice Isle for its wealth of export crops, Grenada was put on the map by the opening of Silversands resort in 2018. This year, Six Senses La Sagesse joins more established hotels such as Calabash and Spice Island Beach Resort. Elegant Resorts offers various itineraries, from £7,950 for seven nights for a family of four at Spice Island Beach Resort, all inclusive. elegantresorts.co.uk
A 50-minute ferry from Naples brings you to the beautiful island of Ischia, known for its natural springs and glorious gardens. It is large enough to accommodate different styles of holiday, with more remote locations for adventurous families and long sandy stretches for those with younger children seeking the convenience of a beach hotel. Choose between a villa, a B&B or a hotel such as San Montano Resort & Spa, which has suites, villas and several restaurants that cater to families. Suites cost from €1,238 a night for a family of four, B&B. sanmontano.com
Recently opened, Atlanta Trevone is a collection of five cottages carved out of a glorious Victorian estate with access to two beaches. Its owner, Jess Alken-Theasby – whose former family home is now The Pig at Harlyn Bay – has ambitiously restored the Cornish properties, with handsome interiors achieved with the help of The Pig co-founder Judy Hutson and Tom Cox of HÁM Interiors. Cottages cost from £1,400 for a week in Atlanta View, which sleeps five and a toddler. atlantatrevonebay.com
