Holidays are all about spending quality time as a family, making memories you’ll treasure forever as you explore new countries. Whether your idea of a dream holiday is lounging on the beach or getting stuck into cultural activities and tours, there are numerous destinations you can discover when traveling as a family. Here’s a round-up of the best family holiday destinations for 2019.
Jamaica
With its laid-back vibe, glorious sunshine, beaches, and theme parks, Jamaica has something for everyone. There are many family-friendly resorts and parishes on this island such as Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay, and Negril, where you are sure to feel right at home. Jamaica has it all – beach clubs, theme parks, island tours, and local markets.
Visit the largest waterpark in Jamaica, Kool Runnings, which has a variety of activities for guests, including waterslides and tubing, as well as go-kart racing and paint-balling. Or take a trip to see one of the many national parks on the island boasting beautiful waterfalls and gardens (we recommend Reach Falls, Konoko Falls and Park, and Turtle River Falls and Gardens).
You’ll also find plenty of day trips on offer to suit the entire family – take a morning horseback ride on the beach before tucking into some jerk chicken for lunch, hike to the Blue Mountain peak, discover more about Jamaica’s history at the island’s various museums and heritage sites, or attend a reggae festival.
Mexico
Holidays in Mexico are all about colorful cuisine, culture, white-sand beaches, and year-round sunshine. With coral reefs, Mayan ruins, local markets, festivals, and rainforests to explore, there will be plenty on offer to create memories of a lifetime for you and your family. Cancun boasts palm-lined beaches with plenty of water sports on offer, as well as a zoo and child-friendly museums and outdoor activities, while one of the largest barrier reefs in the world can be found in Riviera Maya. Resorts in Puerto Vallarta are perfect for sun-worshipers of all ages, with sports, lively entertainment, and luxurious spas all within easy reach.
Want to be a little more adventurous? Charter your own private Catamaran in Cancun. Find a luxurious Moana Catamaran for rent and take an unforgettable trip to Isla Mujeres. You won’t regret it!
Menorca
This little island is much quieter than Ibiza and Majorca, making it a perfect holiday destination for parents who want to relax while their kids are having fun. The biggest draw of Menorca is its impressive beaches, with many top spots to choose from featuring soft white sand and turquoise waters. Son Saura has two sandy beaches (Banyul and Bellavista), which are popular with locals and don’t get too busy.
Those into wildlife will love the Lloc de Menorca Zoo, home to many native species. It also features wetland areas and a lemur forest and gives young visitors lots of opportunities to touch and hold animals. Water babies will be satisfied with the island’s Aquarock Waterpark in the resort of Cala’n Bosch. The complex is small compared to other resorts but features many waterslides, a large pool with a wave machine, a splash pool for younger kids with water jets, and a relaxing whirlpool for parents. Older kids will appreciate the trampolines and go-karting track, too – Holiday Hypermarket offers great deals to this beautiful island.
Zante, Greece
This beautiful little island is home to some of Greece’s best beaches (including Smuggler’s Cove and its shipwreck Navagio), with so much for families to see and do. Visit the Water Village, a water park full of slides and rides for the kids, and places for the grown-ups to relax and sunbathe. Thrill seekers will enjoy attractions such as the beastly Black Hole, Sinkhole, and the many kamikaze slides, while those who want a more serene pace will enjoy a float along the Lazy River. There are also plenty of bars and cafes available.
Kids will love the resort of Kalamaki and its crazy golf course and FZ Go Karts. Get the whole family involved as you race each other around the twists and turns on this long circuit in well-maintained 300cc karts. If your kids are more animal lovers than petrolheads, why not treat them to a horse-riding tour along the beach? Or even a visit to Kalamaki Beach where locals are trying to protect loggerhead turtles and consider the shore a conservation area. There’s still plenty of room for you to sunbathe, but when the sun goes down, you might just catch a glimpse of these rare and beautiful creatures.
We hope you’ve now got some serious travel inspiration for your 2019 family holiday. There are plenty of choices, so get planning, packing, and booking – your dream 2019 family holiday awaits!
I am sad to see a picture using Thailand for this and then for the Kingdom to not be mentioned in the article. Obviously never been, but it is a great place for family vacations, and I’ve been to a few on the list for comparison. I genuinely hope you are able to one day visit, its truly peaceful a paradise on earth.