The best family holidays in the world to try this year

Best for: Adventure-seeking families who want to trade the usual resort routine for something a bit more wild

With exceptional biodiversity, lush jungle, stunning scenery, eye-catching orchids, white-sand beaches and exotic ocean life, Borneo tops the bill for the ultimate adventure-filled tropical family holiday. This island – split between Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia – has it all, from the white-sand beaches of the South China Sea to the ancient, steam-shrouded jungles of the Kinabatangan River. While the Indonesian section to the south is vast, it’s the northern Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak that serve up the most accessible ‘wild thrills’ for those travelling with a younger crew.

From cheeky proboscis monkeys to the iconic orangutan, the wildlife encounters here will fuel your family’s exploration of the third-largest island in the world – and the warm jungle air will revitalise you as soon as you step off the plane in Kota Kinabalu. Spectacular rainforests cover much of the region and, thanks to a network of river lodges and island resorts, are easy to enjoy even with little ones in tow.

Where to stay: Eco lodge Sukau has all the trimmings of a hotel including air-conditioned rooms and two outdoor swimming pools, and is both effortlessly welcoming and brimming with animal magic.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria on the north-west coast boasts two miles of soft-sanded beach, 400 acres of lush tropical forest, two pools, nine restaurants and bars. It’s the perfect balance of beachy chillouts and wilderness exploration, ensuring you leave with no doubt that you’ve spent your holiday somewhere very special indeed.

Best for: Families looking to combine big city vibes with theme park thrills

A twin city break split between Tokyo and Nagoya combines pop culture and joyous theme parks. When it comes to Tokyo, most of the clichés are true. This is a neon-wrapped, hectic playground where Hello Kitty is a deity, trains are never late, vending machines are everywhere, and your favourite ever meal awaits. It is also a fantastic base for families – incredibly safe, increasingly affordable and with a celebration of pop culture around every corner.

Nagoya, meanwhile, is a revelation. It is the gateway to Ghibli Park, a sprawling, immersive tribute to the animated masterpieces of Studio Ghibli that trades traditional white-knuckle rides for a slow-paced wander through beautifully realised film sets. Just across the city, Legoland Japan offers a high-energy, primary-coloured playground perfectly scaled for younger kids, while the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium provides a genuinely spectacular deep-dive into the Pacific’s marine life

Where to stay: For the perfect base in Tokyo, head ten minutes’ walk west of the Imperial Palace to the Hotel New Otani, a sanctuary that balances the city's intensity with a 400-year-old garden and a rare sense of space.

Best for: Big splurge final family holidays before the kids go their own way

There’s some changes afoot in paradise. The Maldives, for years a haven seemingly reserved exclusively for honeymooners, is opening up its pristine beaches to families. With fabulous weather almost the whole year round and all the palm trees you could wish for, its tiny coral reef islands have the relaxation element that appeals to adults down pat – and now a new breed of resorts and hotels are adding some excitement for the younger generation.

Where to stay: First choice for nature lovers should be the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, home to the Manta Trust. Nestled in the Raa Atoll, the resort manages to combine the luxury the Maldives is known for with a genuinely thrilling conservation programme that gets you up close and personal with the gentle giants of the sea. Joining one of the annual Manta Retreats will inspire kids and adults alike.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Kandima Maldives, which has its own electric go-kart track, is perfect for families who want their slice of paradise served with a side of fun. Between the two – both literally and figuratively – lies Ifuru Island Maldives, an all-inclusive resort that ticks all the white-sand boxes but at an accessible price point.

 🇲🇻 Discover the best Maldives hotels

Best for: Families with kinetic kids who have the energy to get involved

It seems odd to talk about Türkiye as an ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destination, given how popular the beach resorts of Antalya and Alanya have become in recent years. But this is a vast and beautiful country, much of it still little-explored, stretching from the snowy plains of Kars in the east, to the Aegean in the west; the wild Black Sea in the north, to the Mediterranean in the south.

It’s also one of the best travel destinations for families, with plenty of luxury hotel options, flight times of under five hours from the UK and Europe, and budget airlines servicing multiple destinations. Flying into Dalaman in the south-west of the country gives you access to the Turkish Riviera, a 1,000km stretch of pristine beaches and sheltered coves from Antalya, through Fethiye, all the way around to Bodrum and Izmir.

Where to stay: The best adventures can be found around Fethiye, like visiting the 2,500-year-old Tomb of Amyntas, built into the mountains high above the city. Hundreds of ancient Roman and Greek relics dot the coast. But the area is most famous for the endless parade of coves and beaches hidden along its dramatic coastline, not least Ölüdeniz, or ‘Dead Sea’, a calm, turquoise lagoon so spectacular it looks like a film set.

Here you’ll find the excellent Hillside Beach Club, a resort that has earned a cult-like following for its ‘feeling good’ philosophy. Tucked away in its own private bay (Kalemya Bay), it feels less like a hotel and more like a sophisticated summer camp for all ages.

Best for: Families with teenagers looking to create collective memories before they fly the nest

Currently enjoying a starring role in the excellent documentary series Big Cats 24/7, the Okavango Delta in Botswana is the largest inland delta in the world. Its vast water networks are home to crocodiles and hippos, while lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt on its plains.

Where to stay: Sustainable, locally-run safari company Wilderness runs a handful of luxury camps here. Each one caters to families keen to experience the joys of a safari both on land and on the water. With one of the best chances of seeing the Big Five in Africa, this is a once-in-a-lifetime, awe-inspiring destination that will become the stuff of family legend.  

Best for: Sun‑soaked, slow‑living family escapes where everyone can reconnect

Essaouira is a coastal city with a postcard-pretty blue and white medina and sandy surrounding walls. It is famous for the wild beach of Diabet village, where hippies settled in the 1970s after they were chased out of Ibiza, and the entire place retains a relaxed, let-it-all-hang-out vibe, meaning it’s much more chilled than Marrakech while still offering a buzzy souk and alleys to explore. The city is laidback and buggy-friendly if you’ve got young kids, while older ones will love the excellent surfing or a quad-bike tour – easily the most exhilarating way to see the wild beaches.

Where to stay: Twenty minutes from the sea,  surrounded by forests of argan trees, you’ll find Le Jardin des Douars. This boutiquey Moroccan hotel bills itself as a ‘ksar d’hôtes’, roughly translating as ‘guest fort’ – and within these walls it really does feel like a one-of-a-kind retreat: a holdout against the slog of everyday life. Kids are more than welcome, with a dedicated kids’ pool, fussy eater-friendly menus and rooms large enough to accommodate most families.    

Best for: Combining laid-back beach days with unforgettable island adventures

The Caribbean boasts seriously summery sunshine all year round, but which island is best for families? The teardrop-shaped St Lucia gets our vote. With its lush rainforests and iconic Piton Mountains, this island boasts some of the Caribbean’s dreamiest scenery. There are beautiful beaches filled with volcanic sand and serenity as far as the eye can see. The peace of the beach is juxtaposed beautifully with the adventure of the island, where hiking, biking, ziplining and diving are available in abundance. Throw in the freshest Creole cuisine served in delightful local restaurants, and a warm welcome the envy of destinations the world over, and you’ve got a very special little island indeed.

Where to stay: Climbing up a steep, rainforest-studded hillside on the island’s north-west coast, Windjammer Landing may well be the best family-friendly resort on the island. Accommodation options run the gamut from conventional rooms to palatial villas with private infinity pools and views out over the Caribbean Sea. The sprawling setting means that whatever option you go for, you get the privacy of secluded surroundings as well as access to Windjammer’s extensive facilities. There’s an in-house reef for snorkelling and water activities including water-skiing and paddleboarding. Or you could always take a cable car into the rainforest and zipline back out, if you and yours are feeling adventurous.

Best for: Small kids and their young-at-heart grown-ups

With sunny beaches, fantastic theme parks, and the world’s largest comic book convention, there's no such thing as bored children in sunny San Diego. Like a good Pixar flick, the best kid-friendly activities won’t leave adults gaping at their phones. Parents will love mingling with exotic animals, splashing through waterfront fountains and marveling at towering Lego sculptures right alongside the kids. Avoid rowdier crowds and embrace calm waves at Mission Beach, Coronado Beach or La Jolla Shores.

Where to stay: The oceanfront Hotel del Coronado is a National Historic Landmark, which has been welcoming fun-loving families since 1888. There are 757 rooms, beach cottages, a spa, shops, a pool and a lush tropical garden. 

🇺🇸 See other great places for a family vacation in the US