Home > Travel > 5 Family Holiday Destinations You Might Not Have Thought Of

Photo: @meandbeau_travels

After a bit more culture than a flume decorated all-inclusive? But think it would be impossible to do with kids?

From safari to skiing, family travel expert @tinytravelship says your love of travel doesn’t need to be sacrificed when you have children. 

Here are their favourite destinations to explore:

Complimentary childcare and stunning scenery

Austria

The hills are alive with the sound of happy parents in Austria, Europe’s crowning glory for sumptuous spa hotels with complimentary childcare. Offering an elevated spin on the traditional family-friendly holiday, Kinderhotels are a group of baby-centred all-inclusive hotels, where plastic fantastic kids’ clubs are replaced with sustainable style-led children’s play areas, and beige buffets are exchanged for gourmet 5-course menus.

The best place to stay in Austria with kids
The best place to stay in Austria with kids

Moar Gut is an Alpine show stealer set in the mountains with (almost) round-the-clock complimentary childcare. From newborn to teenager, there is something for kids of all ages. FREE childcare starts from 4 weeks old, and all you need to pack for your little ones is their clothes – everything from blackout blinds, toiletries and baby monitors are provided. There’s even a Bugaboo pram park where you can choose your wheels for your stay. At the wellness centre (yes, there’s a spa), there’s a dedicated baby pool, a kids’ sauna, and a very cool water slide.

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Things to do with kids in Austria

In summer, the colourful meadows of the mountains are covered in glistening sunlight. From hiking to horse riding, it’s a fabulous place that the whole family will enjoy. In winter, there are obvious snowy activities, and at Moar Gut, you can organise ski lessons for little ones as young as 2. There’s also a small animal farm on site to keep them entertained.

Where safari and wine tasting is made possible

South Africa

Spectacular scenery, safaris, world-class wine, beautiful beaches, AND the same time zone as the UK – so no jet lag! South Africa is fantastic for families.

The best place to stay in South Africa with kids
The best place to stay in South Africa with kids

There’s no need to cross a safari off your bucket list until your kids are older. Melozhori is a luxurious lodge in the Western Cape (a mere two-hour drive from Cape Town) that’s a great family-friendly introduction to safari. You can embark on private game drives at your leisure and around children’s naps.

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Things to do in South Africa with Kids

A road trip through the Cape Winelands with a toddler is much more achievable (and enjoyable) than it might sound. Many vineyards provide picnic hampers for tiny travellers, have aesthetically pleasing playgrounds and offer mini-tasting flights of juice. For lovers of good food and wine, it’s hard to beat Franschhoek, the country’s culinary capital. Within walking distance of the charming high street, home to a host of Michelin-star restaurants and wine bars is La Cotte Farm – a chic self-catering stay with a seriously applaudable, affordable price tag.

Relaxed hazy days in the sun

Provence

With plenty of small towns full of streets made for strolling, luscious vineyards and gorgeous gorges, a holiday to France’s sun-kissed Provence is guaranteed fun for the whole family.

The best place to stay in Provence with kids
The best place to stay in Provence with kids

A former Tuscan-style farm and winery has been transformed into eight tres chic (and affordable) self-catering apartments at Le Mas Des Oules. Contemporary decor and traditional farmhouse fixtures complement each other inside, where you can choose between 2-5 bed houses. Families with babies will love House Clematis, thanks to its sizeable wisteria-covered terrace and tub in the bathroom. Outside the serene stone walls, you’ll find a fenced pool, giant chess board, petanque court and plenty of (deliciously scented) outdoor space. A baker visits every day with freshly made baguettes, croissants and pain au chocolat – c’est délicieux

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Things to do in Provence with kids

The nearby beaches are home to shallow waters, bluer than blue hues secluded spots. Long lazy days can be spent at picture-perfect villages, browsing and sampling their weekly food and flea markets. Culture vultures will want to check out Fondation Vasarely – a gallery outside of Aix whose exterior looks like a giant set of dominoes and interior is full of larger-than-life optical illusions.

A hidden gem with unspoilt adventure

Montenegro

Boasting beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, rugged tree-cloaked mountains & medieval towns, it’s no wonder Montenegro is known as ‘the hidden gem of the Adriatic Sea’ and the perfect place for an unspoilt adventure for mamas and minis alike. Head to the coast for a tiny traveller-approved road trip (i.e., minimum drive time, maximum reward).

The best place to stay with kids in Montenegro
The best place to stay with kids in Montenegro

Once a baroque palace and now a boutique hotel, Palazzo Radomiri makes an unbeatable base. Teeming with history, the waterfront hotel promises sweeping bay views from all ten rooms. As parents, we know location is key when choosing a holiday home from home. Palazzo Rodomiri is handily located an easy breezy 20-minute drive from the airport and a mere 5-minute drive to the walled old town of Kotor – full of restaurants, museums and streets waiting to be wandered. Closer to home, older kids will love swimming, kayaking and diving straight into the aquamarine sea directly in front of the hotel.

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Things to do in Montenegro with kids

In Kotor, climb the fortress walls for awe-inspiring panoramas, and enjoy lazy lunches in one of the Old Town’s countless courtyards – relaxing is always on the menu in this car-free zone. Perast promises picture-perfect boat trips and is dotted with shallow, secluded bays built for paddling. With designer boutiques, superyachts & seafront cocktail bars, Tivat serves up a slice of luxury for mamas, without scrimping on entertainment for tiny travellers, including submarines to explore at The Maritime Heritage Museum.

A chilled out city break for culture seekers

Amsterdam

Whilst Amsterdam’s red-light district and coffee shops might not immediately spring to mind as the perfect family-friendly city break, the charming cobblestone streets of the Dutch capital really do tick all our parent-pleasing boxes. With miles upon miles of walkable canals, restaurants built for Instagram feeds, oodles of green space, and not to mention the direct train from London, Amsterdam is a city break that has it all for mamas and minis alike.

The best place to stay in Amsterdam with kids
The best place to stay in Amsterdam with kids

For the conveniences of an apartment combined with the design-led decor of a boutique hotel, check into Hotel Boat and Co. The rooms are spacious (by city hotel standards) and include mini kitchenettes, giving self-catering flexibility. There’s a restaurant downstairs (with more than enough highchairs), and babysitters can be arranged if you fancy an adult-only date night.

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Tiny Travelship

Tiny Travelship is THE community for stylish family travel. Featuring a curated collection of handpicked holidays that prove parents don’t need to sacrifice their taste for their toddlers. Each and every recommendation is mama inspected and selected, so you know you can 100% trust them.

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