Deciding where to go on holiday is exciting but not always easy, especially if you’re on a budget and have children to consider too. If you’re thinking about where to go on your next family holiday abroad, here are some of the best holiday destinations for UK families.
Spain
Spain is a fantastic destination for families with children, with an excellent choice of destinations, from the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria to Benidorm and Torremolinos on the Costa Blanca. With clean beaches, family-friendly hotels and villas with pools, there are options for those who want a self-catering holiday as well as half-board and full-board options if you’d prefer to go all-inclusive.
In Benidorm, kids will love the Terra Mitica theme park and in Torremolinos, you can get up close to crocodiles at Cocodrilos Park. Many of the Spanish resorts have their own kids’ entertainment, including water parks, activity clubs and evening shows.
You can fly to Spain direct from Gatwick Airport, which has its own train station to make transport connections easier. Depending on where you’re staying in Spain, flights take around two to three hours, making it manageable for younger kids who may get restless on longer journeys.
Bulgaria
The Black Sea coast in Bulgaria is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination for UK families, with glorious weather from May through to October. Family holidays in Bulgaria offer safe beaches, wonderful sunshine, and plenty to see and do.
Families with very young children might want to consider quieter resorts, such as St Vlas or the livelier resort of Sunny Beach, with its Blue Flag beach which is also a prime location for water sports. For those families who want everything taken care of, there are all-inclusive options with pools, sports facilities and even spa treatments on offer. Flights from London to Bulgaria take around 3 to 3 and a half hours depending on where you’ll be staying.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a long-standing popular destination for UK holiday-goers. Boasting a glorious Mediterranean climate, beautiful beaches and plenty of family-friendly resorts, it’s perfect for families travelling abroad with children. Though the average flight time from the UK to Cyprus is around four and a half hours, there are lots of destinations within easy reach of the island’s two airports, making transfers short.
Popular areas include Protaras and Paphos, both of which have blue flag beaches. There are many private villas to rent, allowing families to set their own schedules and eat (and nap!) whenever they please. Alternatively, there are all-inclusive resorts for those who want everything taken care of. Plenty of the hotels have family facilities including crèches, kids’ clubs and interconnecting rooms with cots.
Despite being a small island, Cyprus has loads for kids (and grown-ups) to see and do, including a Dinosaur Park and the Parko Paliatso Fun Fair, both in Ayia Napa. Meanwhile, in Paphos, you’ll find the Aphrodite Waterpark and Coral Bay Watersports where you can hire inflatables or try paragliding and jet skiing.
Italy
Italy is a fantastic holiday destination with great beaches, a rich history that kids can get involved with and breathtaking natural wonders to see and explore. Family holidays in Italy work well at any time of year, with the February half term and Easter holidays being a great option if you want to avoid the hotter, busier summer months. Many cities also hold special Easter festivals and carnivals during these times too.
There’s no shortage of sightseeing excursions and family-friendly Italian cuisine that includes kid-pleasing pizza, pasta and gelato. Flights from the UK take around two-and-a-half hours and accommodation options in Italy include hotels, villas, apartments, campsites and farm stays (agriturismo.) You can make your time in Italy even more memorable with a guided tour of Mount Etna, a gondola ride in Venice or a day at Gladiator School in Rome.