The best family holiday destinations

Lapland

Lapland’s a winner for families during the winter. Rather than hanging around the UK hoping for a white Christmas, why not fly to this Finnish spot where snow’s pretty much guaranteed? Little ones can see Santa, get involved with activities run by the elves, and even hop on a sleigh pulled by a reindeer. There’s plenty for grown-ups to enjoy too, though. Skiing, snowmobiling, and hiking are all on the cards, plus in certain resorts you might be able to spot the Northern Lights.

There’s a selection of resorts to choose from. Rovaniemi has plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as a lively nightlife scene. If you’re after snow-focused activities, Kuusamo , Yllas , and Levi are your best bet. And Luosto and Hetta are super quiet – the Northern Lights can be seen here at certain times of the year. The Snow Elf Hotel & Apartments in Yllas features an indoor pool, and little ones’ favourite Captain T regularly comes to visit.

Majorca

This Balearic island has been a hit with holidaymakers for over 50 years. It ticks off everything you’d want from a family holiday, with short flights and transfers, great family hotels and attractions, amazing beaches, and culture-packed old towns. You can take your pick from quiet, laid back resorts like Cala Bona, or Alcúdia, which has one of Majorca’s longest beaches and a historic old town nearby. Or, make a beeline for Palma Nova, which lines up a trio of beaches, its own tropical-themed minigolf course, and the Aqualand waterpark.

Protur Aparthotel Bonaire in Cala Bona has its own lazy river-style pool and a children’s splash park with chutes, slides and a giant pirate ship. There’s also a brand new Kids’ Club by TUI Family Life, which offers daytime activities five days a week for all ages, plus mini-discos in the evenings. Over in Palma Nova, the beachside Globales Santa Lucia lines up a sea-view pool with a separate section for little ones. Plus, it’s in a prime spot for accessing all of the resort’s top attractions.

Bulgaria

When we say Bulgaria, family holiday probably doesn’t spring to mind. But, Bulgaria’s an up-and-coming tourist hotspot, full of child-friendly hotels and activities to keep the whole family entertained. In fact, 8.8 million holidaymakers visited the eastern European gem last year alone. Budget-friendly Sunny Beach is the most popular family holiday resort, with spotless Blue Flag beaches, a lively promenade, and plenty of watersports on offer. It’s easy to take day trips to the UNESCO-listed Nessebar where you can explore temples, chunky fortress walls, and an Ottoman-style Medieval Basilica, too.

Our TUI FAMILY LIFE Nevis Resort in Sunny Beach features a kids’ splash zone, a beachfront location and big family-sized suites for up to six people. The evening entertainment also lines up family-centric activities like quizzes, and West End musical-style shows.

Spain

Millions of UK tourists choose the Costas in Spain for their annual holiday, and Costa Dorada is one of the best spots to take your clan. This resort boasts kid-friendly hotels, huge stretches of white sand, a lively promenade, and plenty of activities for all ages. If you fancy planning in some day-trips, Barcelona is just under two hours away, and you can reach the Aquopolis waterpark and the PortAventura theme park, home to Europe’s tallest rollercoaster, in just over 30 minutes by car. Our TUI FAMILY LIFE Avenida Suites is right in the centre of Salou, putting you in close proximity to all the attractions, plus it’s a 10-minute stroll from the Llevant Beach. The suites here are smart, modern and spacious, and there’s access to a huge pool, too. Or, if you want to be right in the heart of the action, pick the Hotel H10 Salou Princess as your base, which is close to both the beach and PortAventura theme park.

Over in Costa De La Luz, on Spain’s southern coast, you can enjoy a quieter family escape. The newly-refurbished TUI FAMILY LIFE Islantilla is right next to a 20-mile-long stretch of sand. Plus, the hotel lines up a packed activity programme, a lagoon-like pool, and has four restaurants to choose from. The Portuguese border is less than half-an-hour’s drive away from the resort, too. In fact, you can even take the family for a day out in the Algarve, which is littered with beautiful beaches, and tick off two countries in one trip.

Cyprus

Cyprus combines big beach resorts and waterparks with Ancient Greek ports and traditional harbour towns – so you can experience both authentic island life and high-octane activities. When it comes to resorts, the Larnaca region is a family favourite. Here you’ll find sandy beaches, waterparks and traditional restaurants. Or, you can stay in Paphos to experience traditional Cyprus, with temples, colourful mosaics and a Neolithic history to learn about.

The wallet-friendly Electra Village hotel in Lanarca comes with a huge pool, great entertainment, and a waterpark complete with loads of slides, a lazy river, and a splash area for little ones. While over in Protaras, the newly-refurbished TUI FAMILY LIFE Nausicaa Beach boasts two outdoor pools with views overlooking Fig Tree Bay, lush gardens and a sandy beach in close proximity.

Mexico

Treat the whole clan to a holiday on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast, and combine a tropical climate with white sand beaches and once-in-a-lifetime activities. It’s easy to switch between relaxing on powder-soft sands lapped by shallow waters with exciting days out to adventure parks, jungle trails and crumbling Mayan ruins. There’s Xel Ha, which is a natural aquarium and waterpark set among Mexico’s jungle scenery, where there are zip-lines, cenote pools and lazy rivers to keep you busy. And, there are the Mayan ruins – the famous Chichen Itza, and Coba, on the Yucatán Peninsula, which has a pyramid you can climb up. In the evening, you can take the Xoximilico tour, which is a colourful boat trip through a network of canals where Mexican mariachi bands entertain you along the way.

The resorts in Riviera Maya are pulled up next to white sand beaches, and include great kids' clubs and activities, plus restaurants to suit the fussiest of eaters. Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma boasts excellent kids’ facilities, with a club that takes up an entire floor of the hotel. Here, little ones can get stuck into cooking classes and chocolate making, and there’s a climbing wall, an arts and crafts centre, and a movie room with a popcorn maker.

Walt Disney World, Orlando

Could there be anywhere better than the 'happiest place on earth' for a family holiday? The best thing about Walt Disney World is that it caters to kids and big kids alike. There’s everything from white knuckle rides and sophisticated eateries in Epcot, to character meet-and-greets and toddler-friendly attractions in Magic Kingdom. Make sure to check out new rides like Disney's Pandora: World of Avatar's in Disney’s Animal Kingdom while you’re there.

Stay in one of Walt Disney World’s many family friendly resorts to be right in the heart of the action. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will give you a taste of the great outdoors when you’re not riding rollercoasters. It's set in a huge, deer-filled pine forest, and you'll stay in cosy log cabins and get stuck into outdoor activities like canoeing, archery, hiking and campfire sing-a-longs with Chip 'n' Dale. Or, if you want to nab a prime spot near the parks, pick Disney's Beach Club Resort as your base. This huge New England-style resort has a seaside theme throughout, and has its own three-acre wet-play area with a life-size shipwreck area.

Ready to get that family holiday booked?

Check out our full collection of TUI FAMILY LIFE hotels, or read about the best toddler-friendly destinations, and find out how to have a cheap family holiday.

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Author: Selina Akhtar