When it comes to holiday season, you deserve to make the most of your special family vacation! As a new parent, you may struggle to make the time to cherish your family being together, therefore with help from Babythingz – a leading UK supplier of cute cosytoes for prams and buggies — we’ve discovered the top child-friendly holiday destinations for you to choose from, as well as a selection of tips for travelling with youngsters.
Portugal’s most popular region – The Algarve!
In around two-and-a-half to three hours by plane, you can reach The Algarve – Portugal’s most popular region. If you think your little one can handle the journey, why not treat yourself to a holiday to such a renowned destination?
The Algarve region has plenty of child-friendly resorts, hotels and activities that will suit kids from newborn to toddler. There are lots of waterparks around the area featuring sections for babies, although we recommend choosing some of the calmer towns that may better suit your young family — such as Praia de Luz, Cascais and Alvor.
The west coast of Scotland
The safest bet when it comes to child-friendly destinations is to stay within the UK to cut down your travelling times — beneficial if your little one is fussy or easily aggravated. Many people all over the globe believe that the Scottish coast is a stunning place to enjoy a holiday — although, it may offer a slightly cooler climate than Cornwall! Visit here, and you’ll have your choice of child-friendly hotels and quiet chalets to choose from.
If you have an infant as well as older kids, the Scottish west coast is perfect. You don’t have to head abroad for beautiful beaches — the Scottish west coast is peppered with gorgeous coastlines. Head to Sanna Bay, which features white sand and turquoise water, or take a family cycling trip to take in the incredible landscape of Glencoe.
Cornwall
Similar to the Scottish coast, the Cornish coast in south-west England has a pleasantly warm climate and is one of the country’s most beautiful, peaceful and exciting spots.
Try and go for accommodation that offers you and your family space but is still within walking distance to activities to keep children entertained — like the beach. In Cornwall, you can visit Newquay Zoo and the Minack Theatre, which is based in Porthcurno and features comedy puppet shows for kids. You’ll have a choice of relatively-secluded cottages to book, which is ideal for young families that have crying babies or playful and loud toddlers!
Tenerife
After a four to five-hour flight, you’ll land on one of the most popular islands in the Canaries – Tenerife. A place where there’s no time difference — no need to spend time and effort getting your little one adjusted to a normal sleeping pattern!
Tenerife has a fantastic climate for children as well — not too hot, little rain and practically no humidity, which will make sleeping easier. With many hotels offering on-site childcare should you and your partner want to head out alone at some point, you can all take a scenic walk up Mount Teide or give a few organised water sports a go.
Disneyland Paris
Although this destination may be best suited to kids around three years old and over, What youngster doesn’t love Disney? All children will enjoy the colours, lights and characters of Disneyland Paris. Plus, you have a collection of great, family-friendly Disney hotels to stay in, which will make travelling to and from the park much less stressful!
Luckily, the capital city of France is only a short air journey away from the UK, which makes it a great holiday choice if you’re travelling with babies or excitable toddlers. At Disneyland Paris, you have a wide selection of shows, rides and attractions designed to captivate and entertain babies, toddlers and adults. Wander through Wonderland at Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, go up in the air on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, enjoy the bouncing Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin ride, or book to meet Mickey Mouse himself!
Tips on travelling with kids
What can you do to make travelling on holiday less of an ordeal? Even getting to and from the car can be a challenge when you have a baby or toddler in tow. Here are a few tips:
- Give yourself plenty of time: if you’re late, you’ll stress yourself out and a fussy child will only add to the anxiety. So, start your holiday on a positive note by setting off early.
- Check your booking: make sure you verify that the hotel is child-friendly with plenty of amenities for kids.
- Be careful with baby food and milk: you can carry baby milk and baby food through airport security in containers over 100ml, so make sure you prepare this before setting off.
- Think luggage: packing all the essentials for a baby or toddler can add a lot of extra weight to your luggage, so cut down where you can by opting for a lightweight buggy and travel-sized toys and sanitary products.
- Check in online: minimise the airport hassle by checking in over your laptop or phone prior to your day of travel.
- Comforts: don’t forget the little things that soothe your baby, like their favourite soft toy, blanket or even type of food. They may just help calm them down during long car rides.
- Have plenty of toys on hand: from the car ride to the airport to the plane journey itself, make sure you pack your child’s essentials — toys and games. Preferably, opt for quiet games that are best suited for public transport.
- Discuss the journey: if this is the first time your child is taking a long-distance journey, make the event seem positive and exciting by chatting them through what will happen — this may make them less apprehensive, especially if you’re flying.
Hopefully, this has inspired you to take that family holiday you’ve always wanted to go on this year! Bear the above tips in mind to help make the journey just as good as the destination, too.