Family travel destinations trends change every year and it is not easy to choose a vacation spot, especially if you have little kids. But if you stick to several simple rules and visit recommended places, you summer vacation won’t be a nightmare. It will turn into a fun and exciting adventure with a little something for everyone to see. But first, see the best family travel destinations for this summer.
Planning ahead is the key to having great time on your trip. When taking the kids, you should prepare for everything, including allergies, food poisoning, diarrhea, sleep deprivation, and so on. But you should also allow them to play games and have fun as much as they can. Lonely Planet’s list of the top 10 places for family travel in 2014 includes perfect locations for the summer, where relaxation, adventure and the experience of meeting a new culture will hold the interest of every family member. We’ve picked up five children-friendly destinations which promise joy and care-free time during your summer vacation.
Belize
This beautiful Caribbean country offers families affordable vacations with great beaches, rich wildlife, mystic Mayan ruins and attractive reefs and lush, exotic jungles. The hurricane season starts from June, but rains and hurricanes are still rare in July, so it’s perfect if you want to save on your booking. This is the only place in the region where English is the official language, so you won’t have any difficulties if you are coming from Dubai or elsewhere in UAE. Kids will love the sea turtles, the growler monkeys and the crocodiles, or they can learn the drums on the beach.
Hawaii
Another great beach destination is Hawaii. Prices are reasonable, the weather is warm all-year round, and there is much to do and see here. It doesn’t matter which island you will choose – the Big Island is home to one of the largest volcanoes on Earth, while the Maui Ocean Center will be the favourite spot for the kids. In fact, you can see extraordinary sites and explore this great culture through wildlife journeys, trips to national parks, museums, and hiking trails.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and your children will certainly notice the fairy tale-like atmosphere – fantastic architecture, horse carriages at the main square, the largest ancient castle in the world, the Old Town with its historical buildings. Wooden toys are on sale almost everywhere for the little ones, while teens will like the several museums, dedicated to modern art, culture and architecture. Both, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways offer special rates to Europe this summer.
Kerala, India
Typically, India isn’t the best place for families as it is colourful, chaotic, and intense. But Kerala is slow-paced, beautiful and offers elephant rides, beaches and jungles, wildlife parks, as well as mystic ruins and brilliant castles – everything a kid would dream of seeing. Even the food here is less spicy than in the rest of the country. There are spa resorts and tree houses, so it’s really a great adventure for everyone.
Iceland
If you are looking for a real adventure, Iceland provides great opportunities for hiking, whale watching, visiting geysers, volcanoes and glaciers. Even in the summer, the country provides some of the most unearthly and surreal sights you can imagine. Its strange and desolate landscapes are extremely beautiful, but the best thing is that there aren’t many tourists who can ruin the vacation. And Iceland is the only place on Earth where you can see authentic Vikings who still speak old Norwegian language.
The most important thing to remember when travelling with children – don’t expect a perfect vacation, just try to have fun!
