The 10 Best Family Holiday Destinations Overseas
Family overseas holidays can be tricky and frustrating, especially when you’ve got kids tagging along. There’s so much to consider; cost, activities, weather, culture.
Holidays should be fun for the whole family even when you're travelling with a baby, toddlers, teenagers, or—God forbid—a mix of all three.
In this list, we’ve rounded up what we think are the 10 best family holiday destinations that are sure to be fun for the whole gang.
10. Costa Rica
The Gem Of The Central Americas
Costa Rica is a haven for nature-loving families. Rainforests, wildlife, beaches, and eco-friendly accomodations are enough to excite family vacationers.
The best time to visit Costa Rica is anywhere from December to April, when it’s sunny and perfect weather for rainforest explorations and beach lounging.
Costa Rica has loads of adventure for kids and teens, but might be a little too tiring for toddlers and babies.
9. Mexico
North America’s Vibrant Underbelly
Mexico has gorgeous beaches, colonial scenery, and some of the best food in the whole world. It’s such a diverse country, guaranteed to give you and your family a ton of brilliant new experiences.
Mexico’s wet season typically starts in May and lasts until October, with the dry months being between December and April.
A trip to Mexico is ideal for families with teenagers, who can appreciate the diverse experience that this beautiful country offers.
8. Thailand
Tourist Haven In South East Asia
Thailand is one of the top-picks for adventurous families. Bike rides, kayaking, zip-lines, and hikes. It also offers some incredible cultural immersion in the form of wildlife sanctuaries and the one-of-a-kind flavours of Thai cuisine.
Thailand is generally alright to visit all year-round, but is generally cooler and drier between November and April.
Thailand is very safe for kids and provides tons of adventurous experiences for children of all ages. A great place to visit no matter what age your kids are!
7. Sri Lanka
Beautiful Beaches And Enigmatic History
A vacation in Sri Lanka is one hell of an adventure. You can go on safari in the rainforests, spot elephants in the wild, or you can explore caves and Buddhist temples and appreciate 2,000-year-old architectural ruins. If all else fails, there’s always the beautiful sandy beaches.
Sri Lanka’s rainy, monsoon season, lasts from May to September. So the best months to travel to Sri Lanka are anywhere between December to March.
Sri Lanka is recommended for families with children who are well into their teen years. While it’s not dangerous, It’s not often described as a kid-friendly country, and younger children aren’t likely to appreciate the rich culture of the country.
6. Cambodia
Temples, Monks, And Perfect Coastlines
The crystal clear beaches and the fascinating cuisine are what usually attracts people to Cambodia. But the temple complexes are truly incredible; The Angkor Wat happens to be hailed as one of alternative 7 wonders of the world. Many travellers will say that Angkor Wat alone is reason enough for your whole family to visit Cambodia.
Cambodia’s dry season is from October to April, with its wet season consisting from May until September. Cambodia year-round is warm, though most tourists favour visiting from November to March, with January holidays being its peak season for tourism.
As long as proper research and preparation are done, Cambodia is fun and safe for the whole family. Kids have plenty to keep them entertained, teenagers will be old enough to appreciate the culture, and adults will be thankful that the country is rather easy on the wallet.
5. Ireland
A Modern Country With An Enchanting Countryside
Ireland has an almost fairytale-like landscape; with towering cliffs, vast caves, and beautiful castles making it one of the most enriching scenic tours in Europe.
It has all the benefits of a completely modern country while boasting a rich culture, incredible scenery, and a truly wonderful melodic accent.
Ireland’s peak tourist months are in the summer from July to August. If you want to avoid the crowds, it might be a good idea to visit during spring from April to May.
Ireland is very safe and has all the necessary modern amenities to make it exceedingly welcoming to families with babies and toddlers. Adventure-hungry teenage kids might get a little restless, as many cultural attractions will likely be restricted to those aged 18+.
4. Norway
A Winter Paradise: Untouched Natural Beauty With An Embracing Culture
Summer in Norway is often hailed as one of the most beautiful travel experiences in Northern Europe. Norway is famous for its amazing scenery; from gorgeous coastlines, to vast mountainsides, to quaint towns, to the incredible beauty of the famous Northern Lights. Norway is so beautiful that at times it seems otherworldly, you might forget for a moment that you’re on this little lonely planet we call ‘earth’
To top it all off, the people are friendly, and the Ski resorts are top-notch.
Although Summer is a popular time for tourism, the Northern Lights are best seen in between the months of October and March.
Norway is extremely family-friendly European Holiday. It’s incredibly safe for babies and toddlers, kids will be utterly enchanted with the scenery, and teens will love the unique cuisine and friendly locals.
3. Hawaii, USA
An Endlessly Entertaining Tropical Paradise
Hawaii might be the most famous destination for travelling families. Hawaii is home to some of the best beaches, waves, and hiking trails the world has to offer. If you’re craving a tropical island holiday, Hawaii is definitely going to hit the spot.
In general, Hawaii’s overall dry season ranges from April to October, with the wet season falling in between the months of November to March.
Hawaii is a perfect destination for kids and teens of any age. It’s modern, adventurous, and cultural, all at once. It has a little something for everyone
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2. Austria
One Of Europe’s Best-kept Secrets
Austria is a little slice of paradise for many family vacationers. The country is extremely safe and kid-friendly, making it one of the best holiday destinations to do with kids. It’s got loads of tourist sites for the whole family to go sightseeing, and if you’re a little bit of a sporty family, the slopes in Austria offer some of the best skiing in the world.
The best time to visit Austria is during the spring, from April to May, and in the fall, from September to October. Austria’s peak season for tourists is usually from June to August.
Austria definitely has something for the whole family, and is highly recommended for babies, toddlers, kids, and teens.
1. California, USA
The Cultural Centre Of The Western World
California offers some of the best theme parks, resorts and beaches, nature parks, and restaurants in the world. It’s truly one of the greatest holidays for kids and adults alike.
Boasting beautiful beaches all along the coast, the vibrant culture of San Fransico, and Tinsel Town itself—Los Angeles—just a stones-throw away, it’s got incredible new experiences around every corner.
Planning a vacation in California is a breeze, tourism is a big business there, so there are many places that offer family-friendly packages and tours.
The best time to visit California, weather-wise, is anytime from May to October for tourism, and August to September for holidays where you want to miss the Summer crowd surge.
California offers something for kids and adults of all ages. If you’ve got babies or toddlers there are countless child-friendly activities at your fingertips. If you have kids are a little older, there's no better place than Disneyland. If you’ve got some teenagers on your hands, there’s no lack of fine cuisine and immersive American culture. California really is the perfect family getaway.
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For more holiday inspiration, check out WHO's The Travel List
