January is the perfect time to start planning your year of family travel. From European beaches to African safaris, here is some inspiration for where to take the family in 2025.
Family holidays really are precious. Time spent together, relaxing and having fun, exploring new places and just having a break from the busy day-to-day routine. Whether it’s a weekend away or a longer stay, a ski trip, beach break or adventurous escape, setting aside time to properly plan each holiday you take throughout the year is always a good idea – focusing on not just the ‘where’ but also the ‘when’. Timing is key – the right place, but the wrong month can really spoil the trip. And while the most obvious question is ‘what will the weather be like?’, there are other elements to think about too such as local festivals or seasonal events.
For parents of children over the age of four it’s most likely the school holidays that will dictate the dates of travel, but with a list of destinations to tick off in a year, taking a coordinated approach to the 12 months ahead helps to make the most of those joyous homework free weeks. Even those who aren’t tied to a school calendar just yet, might actually want to book for those peak times when hotels and resorts are most geared up to welcome younger guests with kids club open; no need to worry that you’ll be the only ones with a happy (but noisy) toddler splashing in the pool. Either way it’s good to know the knock on effect. So get your wish list together and start the fun of plotting where 2025 will take you and your children.
Here is some inspiration from Citizen Enfants’ editor for where to visit and when throughout the year ahead. Suggestions include everything from all inclusive tropical breaks that are perfect with little ones and thrilling adventures for older kids to exciting city breaks for all the family. Plus some new child-friendly openings set for 2025 that are well worth having on your radar. Happy planning!
Winter – January and February
Start the year with a European ski break. Whether that’s early in the season or the ever-popular February half-term school holiday, these are great months to hit the slopes. Skiing with little ones requires careful planning with proximity to the slopes, ski schools and childcare all important factors. The easiest way to navigate this is by enlisting the help of experts who specialise in taking the hassle out of alpine holidays. For truly five-star skiing in the most exclusive, yet family-friendly locations, speak to Powder Bryne. For 30 years, they have been creating bespoke trips in the likes of St Moritz and Zermatt in Switzerland and Lech in Austria. Every element is taken care of (including flights, transfers and ski hire) meaning kids happily learn to ski in small groups with excellent instructors, while parents get some quality time on the piste. Plus, everyone loves the luxurious hotels, chalets and catering. As children get older and more confident, guides can help you explore more of the resorts, as well as fun activities such as tobogganing and ice skating.
Eco and educational tourism is a growing trend for family travel, as parents look to use their time away to encourage children to learn more about the world in a fun and engaging way in sustainable, environmentally conscious locations. The Datai Langkawi Island is a superb – and very stylish – place to do just that. Our winter is their dry season, making it the best time to visit. Situated on the north western tip of Malaysia, the resort is not the easiest place to get to (one long haul flight, one hour short flight and a 45 minute transfer), but if you are up for an exciting journey with older children then it is definitely worth the effort. On the edge of a 10-million year-old tropical rainforest, it’s a thoroughly magical hideaway that floats amidst the ancient canopy adjacent to Datai Bay’s idyllic white sand beach – recently voted one of the top 10 in the world. So far so good? It gets better. Along with the five-star service and fantastic, spacious accommodation that’s ideal for families, you and your kids can discover a whole range of conservation-led immersive experiences from coral regeneration sessions and butterfly spotting walks, to planting trees and wildlife lessons (expect to come across monkeys, iguanas and plenty of bird life) with the team of resident naturalists and marine biologists based at the outstanding educational Nature Centre. The property also has a state-of-the-art lab which is focussed on the initiatives they have in place to make sure there is zero waste and nothing goes to landfill – all laid out in The Datai Pledge. A very impressive place with plenty to learn for all ages.
Spring – March, April and May
As Easter rolls around the Caribbean is a great destination for families. Guaranteed sun, warm sea and a relaxed, child-friendly vibe makes these islands an ever popular choice as we emerge from the cold British winter. A great option is the secluded paradise that is the Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands where the ethos is very much about welcoming kids. Located on a crescent-shaped bay fringed by the tropical forest, this five-star hotel’s stunning setting is matched by an equally impressive selection of activities for the youngest guests. Rosewood’s Explorers programme offers a range of fun-filled activities with plenty of age-appropriate adventures, activities and events designed to celebrate Caribbean culture, along with water sports, tennis and boat trips – plus a spa and fitness centre for adults. Babysitting can be arranged for very young children along with all the equipment you could need to for a stress-free stay with a baby such as cots, bottle warmers and even buggies. Originally founded by conservationist Laurence Rockerfeller in 1964, the 500-acre resort has become a firm favourite with seeking tropical hideaway that makes it easy for parents to truly relax.
The Florida theme parks are on every child’s wish list and spring is a good time to visit them before the high temperatures of summer kick in. A big reason to add the Sunshine State to your holiday plans in 2025 has to be Universal Studios’ brand new park, Epic Universe, which opens on 22 May this year – conveniently just in time for the UK half-term school holidays. This looks to be the most impressive park yet, with five new zones – including How to Train Your Dragon, Isle of Berk and Super Nintendo World, filled with rides and attractions for all ages. It’s an exciting new spot that will undoubtedly be absolute heaven for kids (and most likely mum and dad too!) and tickets are on sale now. Add the other Universal Parks and Disney to the Orlando itinerary and you have an action packed holiday. For a break from the crowds, book into the newly renovated Waldorf Astoria which is just a short distance from all the hustle and bustle, but a real oasis for when you want to relax – theme parks are great but also exhausting. Huge family suites, great restaurants and a spa make it the perfect base from which to explore the parks. Plus there’s 18-hole golf course onsite.
For a family city break that’s easy to get to and packed with sights and activities that kids will actually enjoy, opt for Amsterdam. It’s a cliche to say it’s great in Spring, but it’s frankly true. Tulip season makes the Dutch Capital just so darn pretty. Arrive via the Eurostar (which takes less than four hours door-to-door and is super straightforward with kids in tow) and then make the most of this wonderfully child-friendly city. Take a Blue Boats Kids Cruise to explore the extensive network of pretty waterways that crisscross this amazing UNESCO World Heritage site, or hire bikes to discover all the quaint little streets. Then head to the playground at the Hortus Botanicus, a gorgeous botanical garden with a great cafe. Stay at The July Boat & Co, a chic, sustainable apartment-hotel with spacious family rooms that also offers a full hotel experience including housekeeping, a restaurant and a gym – all located on the waterfront in the Houthaven, Amsterdam’s historic timber harbour district just a short walk from the centre.
Summer – June, July and August
What do you get if you combine a picture-perfect beach in Europe with one of the world’s finest hotel groups? The answer is the Four Seasons at Formentor, Mallorca. Taking over the site of the world-famous old Formentor Hotel, the new property is a completely renovated space that has all the magical hallmarks you’d expect from the brand. After a soft launch last year, it fully opens its doors to guests in 2025. Here’s why parents will love it: all 110 fabulous rooms overlook the sea (the views are genuinely spectacular); there is a free, supervised Kids for All Seasons programme for little ones where they can enjoy games, treasure hunts, arts and crafts and beach activities, which will be be joined by a super-cool teens club this summer; babysitting is available; the swimming pool is enormous and there are excellent kids’ menus in the restaurants. But the biggest wow factor has to be the dreamy Mallorcan beach which is just steps from your room – so handy when you want to nip back for nap time. Warm, shallow waters and soft golden sand make it bucket and spade heaven. Add the cool beach bar offering up delicious food for all, and you have the perfect ingredients for a great stay with little ones.
When the summer sun is shining, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful holiday destination than Cornwall. Rugged coastline, sweeping beaches and quaint little villages make it the loveliest location for a quintessential British seaside break. Located five minutes from glorious Porth beach on the edge of Newquay, Seaspace is the new Aparthotel that families need to know about. The first of its kind in the area, 2025 is the development’s inaugural summer season and it’s already choca with activities and events parents and kids will love. First thing to know is that there are 56 self-catered spaces that sleep between two and six, all dog-friendly with a bright, funky aesthetic and everything you need – kitchens, cots, high chairs – the list goes on. But the real selling point for Seaspace is the range of easily accessible on-site of facilities including a five-court padel tennis club, a café, excellent deli, gym, swimming pools, fitness classes, water sports and children’s play areas. Add to that, a full programme of arts, music and foodie events to bring the community together – it’s been designed not just for Cornwall-loving travellers, but also like-minded locals, who can all gather in Seascape’s stylish open spaces. It’s a super-cool concept and bound to become a go-to for families holidays in the county.
If you’ve done enough of the standard beach holidays in Europe and want something that feels more adventurous (but still a bit luxe) then take to the sea off the coast of Croatia for a family sailing holiday. Chartering a yacht (complete with crew and chef) will allow you to gently cruise around the crystal waters off the Adriatic, stopping to swim, snorkel and head ashore to visit some of the wonderful little towns and pretty beaches. The sheltered coastline is dotted with oodles of gorgeous uninhabited tiny islands to sail around and you can also schedule in visits to Dubrovnik and Split. This is just the kind of exciting and varied escape that older kids and teens will love and the school summer holidays are a great time to sail in Europe when the sea is calm and the sun is shining. F&P Travel offer a range of itineraries and luxury yachts which sleep up to 10 in style. Plus they tick all the boxes with an experienced crew catering for your every need as well as ensuring you travel safely. The company can tailor the route to suit your preferences, as well as arrange on-land accommodation along with flights. So if you’re ready to set sail this summer now is the time to start planning.
Autumn – September, October, November
Scotland is a wonderful place for a family holiday at any time of year, but arguably the best season to head north of the border is Autumn when you’ll find a stunning backdrop of colour from the changing leaves that rivals anything you’ll see stateside in New England. Accessible and easy, Scotland offers all the adventure with rugged scenery and escapism, without any of the hassle of long haul flights. Penicuik Estate is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh airport, but a world away from the bustle of the city. Set in 3,100 hectares of picture-perfect landscape, the innovative rural retreat has been in the same family since 1654, but it is the current generation who have transformed it into a fantastic, family-friendly place to stay. In perfect time for the October half-term break, a selection of stylish and well appointed self-catering cottages are available to guests on the regenerative estate, which includes a 100-year nature restoration project currently underway to proactively respond to the local climate and biodiversity needs. This August Penicuik House, a 16-bedroom hotel and exclusive-use venue, will open. With interiors design by Charles Orchard, it’s a beautiful new addition to the estate’s hospitality offering. With tons of green space to run around and properties set up for little ones – think cots, highchairs and stairgates – families could quite happily not leave the grounds for their entire stay. Conservation and heritage preservation is the cornerstone of everything here. From guided walks and mountain biking to foraging and historical tours, Penicuik offers a chance to really unwind as a family. There’s no kids’ club or babysitters, but if you want to really switch off and tune into your children without travelling too far, then this is a very good place to do it.
An African safari is a bucket list family holiday. The thrill of seeing the Big Five in the wild is such a special one to share with children and the Phinda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal is a spectacular place to witness it. Located in a malaria free zone of South Africa (a big consideration when with travelling with kids), it offers not only family-focused game drives that those as young as six can join, but also a unique WILDchild children’s programme designed to teach youngsters all about the area, its wildlife and conservation. Led by expert guides who make sessions fun and interactive, kids can expect to leave Phinda with a better understanding of the environment as well as lifelong memories of lion and elephant sightings. Stay at the recently refurbished five-star Phinda Forest Lodge which sits in Africa’s last remaining dry sand forests, in a beautiful family suite that floats on stilts above the forest floor. There’s also pool, local excursions and bush walking adventures to keep everyone entertained when you’re not out with your own personal guide looking for the animals.
December – Christmas and New Year
There are some family holidays that are best booked well in advance and a visit to Lapland is definitely one of them. Long before you feel remotely festive, you need to start planning a trip to meet Father Christmas as he’s very much in demand by the time December comes around. There are plenty of companies offering packages to the ‘North Pole’ – which is usually in Finland, but can also be Swedish or Norwegian Lapland too. One of the very best in this field is Magic of Lapland who have been wowing little believers with their outstanding immersive trips for 20 years. They will transport you all to the the snow covered Finnish wilderness firstly by plane and then coach. When you arrive, it’s elves and reindeer you’ll find waiting – along with some of the chicest, cosiest alpine accommodation you could imagine. There are several five-star hotels to choose from as well as ultra-luxe private cabins with huge windows offering breathtaking wintery vistas. It’s all in the details here, and everything from thermal suits to combat the freezing temperatures, to sleigh rides, cookie making and of course the all important meeting with Santa himself – is curated to perfection. Most trips last three or four days, but you can tailor your itinerary to add on a bit of skiing and sight seeing. There is even the option to fly in a private jet – now that’s a magical way to travel that the man-in-red would surely approve of.
Escape the greyest months of the year in the UK by jetting off to idyllic Maldives. No matter what age your kids are, there’s a hotel or a resort here to suit. With so many to choose from it’s hard to pick, but a safe bet has to be Niyama Private Islands. The resort is split over the Dhaalu Atoll and joined by a bridge – one is more chilled out and grown up, while the other is more family-focused. Stay in a family beach pool villa directly on the sand and dine at one of ten restaurants including a super-cool underwater one where kids will be mesmerised by the colourful tropical fish swimming by as they eat. As far as activities are concerned, there’s tons for all ages to do. Every imaginal water sport – from surfing to snorkelling safaris – as well as tennis, art classes, yoga and a dreamy spa. One of the big plus points for families is the outstanding Scott Dunn Explorers Kids’ Club that caters for littlies as young as 12 months who are cared for by fully qualified staff. Older kids will love all the fun activities the Club lays on like movie nights and shell collecting. If you fancy making this a Christmas break then expect to find plenty of festive fun over the season with decorated trees, presents for kids and fireworks on the beach for New Year’s Eve. An excellent way to end one year and start the next.
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