If you’re looking to take a luxury vacation with your children, there are some things to consider before booking your trip. Picking the location is probably the biggest decision you’ll make. But even after you choose a destination, you’ll need to do some research before finalizing your plans. This article will help you to cover all your basis when planning a luxury getaway with your family.
Location
Safety is one of the first elements to consider when it comes to luxury travel with children. Historically, there are some countries that offer a more welcoming environment for tourists and children.
Finland is actually one of the safest countries for travel with kids and here you’ll experience the Northern Lights. Santa Claus Village offers year-round Christmas fun. You’ll also find amazing ski resorts and even amusement parks.
If you’re looking for more of a beach-style vacation, the United Arab Emirates are growing in popularity. The UAE includes the countries of Dubai, Ajman, and Fujairah, just to name a few. Located along the Persian Gulf, there are plenty of opportunities to visit gorgeous beaches, alongside breathtaking architecture.
Italy is renowned for being an extremely kid-friendly destination. Small children are often welcomed at even the fanciest of restaurants and gelato is found on almost every corner. There are also countless guided tours available, outdoor parks, and even playgrounds.
Some other safe destinations to consider include Iceland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.
Travel
Once you’ve selected your destination, you’ll need to consider the distance and travel accommodations for you and your family. If you plan to fly, take time to research not only the duration of the flight but also the time change that your children will endure. Even as adults, adjusting to jet lag and time change can prove difficult. Children have an even harder time resetting their internal clocks. And this isn’t just for when they arrive, but also upon returning home. Your child may need a few days to adjust to life back in their native land.
Depending on the age of your children, choose a flight that isn’t exceptionally long. Most airlines offer in-flight entertainment and most kids have either tablets or other electronic devices to help keep them occupied. Be sure to bring enough snacks, books, and other forms of entertainment. Another tip when traveling with small children is to schedule the flight around their nap times. This will ensure that they sleep for at least a portion of the trip.
Weather
Researching the weather for your vacation destination is extremely important. Especially when traveling with kids. You’ll want to determine whether or not the conditions will be too extreme for your family. If you’re traveling within the United States, areas in the southwest such as Texas and Nevada can be unbearably hot during the summer months. Anywhere between the months of June and September, Las Vegas sees temperatures over 100 degrees. This may be too intense for small children, even if your hotel has a pool.
If you’re traveling overseas or considering a trip to the Caribbean, you’ll want to avoid hurricane season, which runs from June 1st until the end of November. Temperatures and climates in Europe can vary drastically by region, so be sure to research the specific area in which you plan to visit and what the average temperatures and weather patterns are.
Accommodations
When traveling with children, you’ll likely spend half of your time sight-seeing and the other half spending time at the hotel or resort. Because this luxury vacation is meant both for the kids and for the parents, finding a hotel that offers childcare services is a must!
Many luxury resorts both in the United States and abroad offer some amazing children’s programs for travelers. Be sure to check the age range that each program accommodates. Some resorts offer babysitting services for younger infants and toddlers and many have structured programs for kids over the age of five. Your children will participate in group games, activities, and programs under the supervision of trained employees. At some resorts, older kids have even more opportunity to participate in hands-on training programs alongside resort employees and parties or gatherings where they can socialize with other kids of the same age.
While the kids are busy having fun, parents can take advantage of the resorts countless adult accommodations. Most resorts offer spa services, a full-service gym, adult-only swimming pools, and daily excursions. If you’re looking to divide you luxury vacation between family time and some alone time with your partner, select a resort that offers these child-friendly services.
Activities
To ensure that everyone remains happy and entertained during the entire duration of your trip, research what local activities and events are available near your resort. When the kids aren’t splashing around in the pool, hitting the slopes, or engaged in activities on site, you’ll want to explore the local area. This goes hand-in-hand with choosing a safe location, as well.
Most popular cities offer guided tours of major local attractions. See if there are any interesting museums nearby or outdoor parks or gardens. If you’re visiting a tropical paradise, there will be plenty of opportunities for daily excursions including scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports, and even wildlife sightseeing. Aquariums make a great rainy day activity. Schedule a few of these experiences ahead of time, to break up the days and help diversify your trip. This is also a great way to make sure you don’t miss any of the “must-see” highlights in the area.
Research, research, research
Your best bet when traveling with kids is to do plenty of research beforehand. If your heart’s set on a specific location, find out when the best time of travel to the area is. This is often based on both weather conditions and the size of crowds. Choose a hotel or resort that accommodates all of your family’s needs and interests. Be sure the resort offers some type of childcare services, which help keep everyone happy! Safety is always a key component of traveling with children, so make sure you factor this into the decision making process.
April Sutphen is the Creator and Editor of Honest Mom. Honest Mom is where April shares beautiful moments and experiences from her travels as well as other challenges, successes and stresses of being a busy mother and wife.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
April is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NJ. She lives here with her son and husband. April has her MFA in creative nonfiction and over 10 years of writing experience. April currently contributes to several parenting forums and loves communicating and networking with other mothers. She prides herself on saying what other mothers are often thinking but feel too guilty to admit. Parenting can be challenging – let’s do this together!
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2 Comments
Very nice stuff that you have shared as traveling with kids can be a challenge.
From experience I would agree that jet-lag can be quite a problem when travelling with kids and I would definitely agree that you need to consider jet-lag when booking flight times.
For those of us in Britain taking the kids to Florida’s theme parks is almost a rite of passage but of course you’ve got a big problem with time differences.
As an insomniac I was happily swimming all on my own in the hotel swimming pool at 5 o’clock in the morning when a British family turned up.
“We’re trying to keep the kids on British time as far as possible,” explained the mother before I could even ask.
Finland is actually one of the safest countries for travel with kids and here you’ll experience the Northern Lights. Santa Claus Village offers year-round Christmas fun. You’ll also find amazing ski resorts and even amusement parks.
If you’re looking for more of a beach-style vacation, the United Arab Emirates are growing in popularity. The UAE includes the countries of Dubai, Ajman, and Fujairah, just to name a few. Located along the Persian Gulf, there are plenty of opportunities to visit gorgeous beaches, alongside breathtaking architecture.
Italy is renowned for being an extremely kid-friendly destination. Small children are often welcomed at even the fanciest of restaurants and gelato is found on almost every corner. There are also countless guided tours available, outdoor parks, and even playgrounds.
Some other safe destinations to consider include Iceland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.
Travel
Once you’ve selected your destination, you’ll need to consider the distance and travel accommodations for you and your family. If you plan to fly, take time to research not only the duration of the flight but also the time change that your children will endure. Even as adults, adjusting to jet lag and time change can prove difficult. Children have an even harder time resetting their internal clocks. And this isn’t just for when they arrive, but also upon returning home. Your child may need a few days to adjust to life back in their native land.
Finland is actually one of the safest countries for travel with kids and here you’ll experience the Northern Lights. Santa Claus Village offers year-round Christmas fun. You’ll also find amazing ski resorts and even amusement parks.
If you’re looking for more of a beach-style vacation, the United Arab Emirates are growing in popularity. The UAE includes the countries of Dubai, Ajman, and Fujairah, just to name a few. Located along the Persian Gulf, there are plenty of opportunities to visit gorgeous beaches, alongside breathtaking architecture.
Italy is renowned for being an extremely kid-friendly destination. Small children are often welcomed at even the fanciest of restaurants and gelato is found on almost every corner. There are also countless guided tours available, outdoor parks, and even playgrounds.
Some other safe destinations to consider include Iceland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.
Travel
Once you’ve selected your destination, you’ll need to consider the distance and travel accommodations for you and your family. If you plan to fly, take time to research not only the duration of the flight but also the time change that your children will endure. Even as adults, adjusting to jet lag and time change can prove difficult. Children have an even harder time resetting their internal clocks. And this isn’t just for when they arrive, but also upon returning home. Your child may need a few days to adjust to life back in their native land.
Depending on the age of your children, choose a flight that isn’t exceptionally long. Most airlines offer in-flight entertainment and most kids have either tablets or other electronic devices to help keep them occupied. Be sure to bring enough snacks, books, and other forms of entertainment. Another tip when traveling with small children is to schedule the flight around their nap times. This will ensure that they sleep for at least a portion of the trip.
Weather
Researching the weather for your vacation destination is extremely important. Especially when traveling with kids. You’ll want to determine whether or not the conditions will be too extreme for your family. If you’re traveling within the United States, areas in the southwest such as Texas and Nevada can be unbearably hot during the summer months. Anywhere between the months of June and September, Las Vegas sees temperatures over 100 degrees. This may be too intense for small children, even if your hotel has a pool.
If you’re traveling overseas or considering a trip to the Caribbean, you’ll want to avoid hurricane season, which runs from June 1st until the end of November. Temperatures and climates in Europe can vary drastically by region, so be sure to research the specific area in which you plan to visit and what the average temperatures and weather patterns are.
Accommodations
When traveling with children, you’ll likely spend half of your time sight-seeing and the other half spending time at the hotel or resort. Because this luxury vacation is meant both for the kids and for the parents, finding a hotel that offers childcare services is a must!
Many luxury resorts both in the United States and abroad offer some amazing children’s programs for travelers. Be sure to check the age range that each program accommodates. Some resorts offer babysitting services for younger infants and toddlers and many have structured programs for kids over the age of five. Your children will participate in group games, activities, and programs under the supervision of trained employees. At some resorts, older kids have even more opportunity to participate in hands-on training programs alongside resort employees and parties or gatherings where they can socialize with other kids of the same age.
While the kids are busy having fun, parents can take advantage of the resorts countless adult accommodations. Most resorts offer spa services, a full-service gym, adult-only swimming pools, and daily excursions. If you’re looking to divide you luxury vacation between family time and some alone time with your partner, select a resort that offers these child-friendly services.
Activities
To ensure that everyone remains happy and entertained during the entire duration of your trip, research what local activities and events are available near your resort. When the kids aren’t splashing around in the pool, hitting the slopes, or engaged in activities on site, you’ll want to explore the local area. This goes hand-in-hand with choosing a safe location, as well.
Most popular cities offer guided tours of major local attractions. See if there are any interesting museums nearby or outdoor parks or gardens. If you’re visiting a tropical paradise, there will be plenty of opportunities for daily excursions including scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports, and even wildlife sightseeing. Aquariums make a great rainy day activity. Schedule a few of these experiences ahead of time, to break up the days and help diversify your trip. This is also a great way to make sure you don’t miss any of the “must-see” highlights in the area.
Research, research, research
Your best bet when traveling with kids is to do plenty of research beforehand. If your heart’s set on a specific location, find out when the best time of travel to the area is. This is often based on both weather conditions and the size of crowds. Choose a hotel or resort that accommodates all of your family’s needs and interests. Be sure the resort offers some type of childcare services, which help keep everyone happy! Safety is always a key component of traveling with children, so make sure you factor this into the decision making process.
April Sutphen is the Creator and Editor of Honest Mom. Honest Mom is where April shares beautiful moments and experiences from her travels as well as other challenges, successes and stresses of being a busy mother and wife.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Very nice stuff that you have shared as traveling with kids can be a challenge.
From experience I would agree that jet-lag can be quite a problem when travelling with kids and I would definitely agree that you need to consider jet-lag when booking flight times.
For those of us in Britain taking the kids to Florida’s theme parks is almost a rite of passage but of course you’ve got a big problem with time differences.
As an insomniac I was happily swimming all on my own in the hotel swimming pool at 5 o’clock in the morning when a British family turned up.
“We’re trying to keep the kids on British time as far as possible,” explained the mother before I could even ask.