Planning a summer holiday for an entire family is a daunting task! Particularly when you have multiple distinctive personalities to consider. For some, the thought of relaxing under a parasol on a hot beach sipping cocktails sounds like heaven. Whilst others would rather be dangling from a rope on a rocky cliff, or jumping mid-air from a plane with nothing but a fabric canopy packed into a bag to break the fall. We are all different creatures wired to respond pleasurably to different things, wouldn’t the world be boring place if we were all the same?!
The fact that people are all so different, usually leaves most of us considering holidaying in the same places that either we’ve visited before, or friends or family have recommended. It’s comparable to ordering the same dish that you order every time you eat at your favourite Thai restaurant. You know that you like it as you’ve ordered it many times before, therefore you are pretty sure what to expect. But when it comes to planning summer holidays, by repeating this process, we are denying ourselves the true freedom of really exploring and experiencing this beautiful world we live in.
With this in mind, I’ve created a list of 5 examples that will demonstrate to you exactly why family summer holidays don’t have to be a mindless, repetitive trip filled with beach days, quiz nights and karaoke by the pool.
#1 The Hidden Gem of Morocco – The Mazagan Beach Resort
Sitting within a beautiful oasis near Casablanca, and costing £274 million to build, the Mazagan Beach Resort opened in Morocco in 2009. It is a 500 room resort boasting its own 7 mile private strip of beach. The resort also offers arched marble courtyards to stroll through, beautifully stunning water features surrounded by inspired mosaics and flourishing, well-manicured gardens.
The Mazagan Beach Resort has a large focus on golf. The resort’s golf course was designed by professional golfer Gary Player, one of the world’s best golfers. For further entertainment, Mazagan also boasts Morocco’s largest and most exclusive casino.
Don’t worry if gambling and golf holidays to the Mazagan Beach Resort aren’t quite your thing, there is a spa at the resort, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean whilst you lay-back and experience a unique Moroccan beauty treatment. There’s also plenty for the kids to do too. Day trips, other sporting events and special themed evenings are all part of a busy schedule that has been designed to keep the kids smiling! Making it a great place to take a family holiday!
#2 The Hidden Gem of Iceland – ION Luxury Adventure Hotel
For those holidaymakers looking for something enticing yet far away from hot sandy beaches, this hidden gem of Iceland could be the perfect choice for you. The ION Luxury Adventure Hotel is set against a backdrop of mountainous lava fields looking out onto snowy expanses, located right near to Iceland’s famous ‘Golden Circle’, which is a popular tourist route in South Iceland that covers approximately 300 km, looping from Reykjavík into central Iceland and back again.
Visitors to the hotel are able to try all sorts of fun iced-based activities, such as hiking, fishing or even diving between two of the earth’s tectonic plates! If that doesn’t strike a chord with you then you can always hole up in the warmth of the hotel, where the hotel spa offers relaxing facials and massages.
Because the ION Luxury Hotel is located in an open expanse of land far from the Icelandic city lights, it is a perfect spot for Northern Light sightings. In fact, the hotel has a beautifully furnished ‘Northern Lights Bar’ that regularly hosts art shows and concerts. The bar boasts floor-to-ceiling windows which allow for extraordinary views. When the Northern lights make an appearance, the hotel alerts it’s visitors with a phone call or announcement and everybody, staff included, flock to watch the majestic Aurora Borealis in action.
#3 The Hidden Gem of Borneo – The Kinabatangan Jungle Camp
Number three on the list is a hidden gem for animal and wildlife lovers. Established in 2004, the Kinabatangan Jungle Camp forms part of the lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary near the village of Bilit, in Borneo, Malaysia. The sanctuary has the reputation of being one of the most accessible places to visit the local wildlife of South-East Asia.
The Kinabatangan Jungle Camp is home to some of the largest and most diverse concentrations of wildlife species in Borneo today. The diversity of this area is unimaginable. There are a recorded 1000 plant species, 250 bird species, 90 fish and reptile species and around 50 mammal species in the area. Natural habitats for these creatures include freshwater swamp forest and lowland dipterocarp forest.
Activities at The Kinabatangan Sanctuary include a river cruise, bird watching, wildlife discovery, jungle treks and wildlife photography. There are also plenty of excursions available away from the camp including sunset wildlife cruises, guided night walks, cooking classes and visits to Poring Hot Springs and ‘Survivor Island’, the first ever secret location for the hit reality series ‘Survivor’.
#4 The Hidden Gem of Croatia – The Isle of Lopud
The Isle of Lopud is one of the Elaphiti Islands, which are located about 17km from the coast of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The island, one of three, became a popular tourist destination after the turn of the 20th century when it was visited mostly by the aristocratic Austrian holidaymakers.
Nowadays Lopud Island is an up-and-coming tourist destination for those that are drawn to sandy beaches and a relaxed way of life. The bay of the island has a narrow entrance and the water deepens very slowly, making it an ideal holiday spot for children.
The Isle of Lopud is rich in greenery, including palm trees, and has it’s own freshwater wells. There is a relaxing park filled with plants such as bamboo and cacti, which was formerly the garden of a villa in the 19th century. You can also find many old Greek, Roman and old Slavic buildings and ruins, churches, chapels and monasteries. For a quiet vacation surrounded by beautiful scenery, Lopud Island is a must.
#5 The Hidden Gem of Australia – Coober Pedy
If you’ve ever fancied holidaying in an inhospitable subterranean environment, Coober Pedy might just be the place for you! Located 846 kilometres north of Adelaide in Australia, Coober Pedy is an opal mining town set in the outback, and is the world’s largest producer of the gem.
There’s lots of things to see and do in the underground world of Coober Pedy including the Desert Cave Gallery and Bar, the mines and catacombs, Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest, and The Dog Fence which claims to be the longest continual construction in the world. Coober Pedy celebrated its centenary last year and also makes it onto CNN’s list of the top 10 destinations to visit.
Hayley Reeve is a digital content marketer for Casino Tours Abroad. A junket specialist offering travel tours to the Mazagan Beach Resort as well as trips to Sofia, Bratislava and Malta.
