Planning the perfect family vacation can feel like a project of Hoover Dam-like proportions – there are simply so many variables to factor into the formula before you can start having fun.
You’ll need to consider the right location to cater for the needs of kids of certain ages, decide whether long or short-haul trips are manageable, balance your budget, arrange leave with your employer and find dates within school holidays.
But you’ve got to dream big to propel those pernickety plans – so to provide some inspiration, here are five worldwide family vacays to add to your wish-list.
- See Santa in Lapland
If your young ones are still keeping faith in the jolly red giant with the world’s biggest festive credit card bill, then visiting Santa in Lapland might be a Christmas trip to treasure. With reindeer, snow and the real Santa Claus, this truly is a winter wonderland where the imagination takes flight.
2. Visit Mickey et al in Paris
Sure, taking a vacay to US Disney theme parks in Anaheim or Florida might be cheaper, but a vacay to Disneyland Paris has a certain je ne sais quoi – perhaps the fact that iconic attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur are close by adds an extra sprinkling of star dust?
3. Kid Friendly Wineries in Mornington Peninsula
You find the best kid friendly wineries in Mornington Peninsula and you’ve found the key to a relaxing holiday. You go do a wine tasting, they’re occupied because this resort is a part of the kid friendly wineries with playground, which means no screaming children while you’re enjoying the fruits of an abundant region; it’s a win-win situation. They’ve handpicked a quiver of wineries in Mornington Peninsula so you can switch off, kick back and enjoy a day without stress.
4. Hop to it Down Under
Australia’s an awesome place for family holidays and part of the attraction for kids is seeing unique animals in their natural environment – for instance, you can see kangaroos hopping free in locations like Lucky Bay, Hamilton Island and Bells Beach. Add crocs, kookaburras and koalas into the equation and it’s a fantasy land for nature loving families.
5. Balling in Barca
Catalonian capital Barcelona is one of the world’s coolest cities, so there’s plenty to amuse mums and dads. But it’s also home to Barcelona, one of the world’s most famous soccer clubs – if your kids love this sport, bagging Barca tickets allows them to see players like Lionel Messi in action in the amazing Camp Nou stadium. Be sure to book match tickets well in advance of travel to avoid disappointment.
6. Harry Potter magic
Harry Potter is probably the world’s favorite wizard – and if your kids have fallen under the spell of J.K. Rowling’s books and movies, taking them to The Making of Harry Potter attraction at London’s Warner Bros. Studio Tour will earn you enough brownie points to last a lifetime. They can step right into film sets for the Great Hall and Diagon Alley and see original costumes from the franchise up close.
Getting there
You’ll find reasonably-priced flights from most major US departure hubs on powerful comparison sites like Skyscanner.net.
And if you’re taking your tribe to departures in your own vehicle, don’t forget that it’s child’s play to book airport parking on Looking4.com for Ontario, LAX, JFK and every other US airport.
Any one of these five worldwide family vacays are sure to give your kids the travel bug – choose carefully and you’re set for the vacay of a lifetime.
What’s your dream family vacation? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
