The coronavirus pandemic changed the world. Side-stepping the major issues and focusing on travel, the lifting of successive lockdowns has led to a planet full of wary but eager travellers who have been told ‘no’ for far too long. Bucket lists of destinations are back on track. Travel journals can be dusted off. The magic is coming back. And families are looking forward to their next adventure.
The only question is: where to go next? One of the most natural assumptions for family travel is that the destination needs to be child friendly and scenic with plenty to do (in terms of on-site activities) in the evenings, which means many people instantly gravitate towards the classic caravan park getaway – check out Phillip Island Caravan Park, for example.
But what about other options? Let’s take a quick look.
City breaks
You can’t beat a good city break. Why? Because cities are ultimately familiar places. We know we can get a cab if we need one. We know there will be phone reception. We know there are food shops and drug stores and places to buy sunglasses just about everywhere. The convenience is an attractive prospect.
The best advice is to pick a city with things to see. That sounds like a basic requirement, but let’s take Paris, for example. Everybody wants to go to Paris. So much so that they probably don’t think to check what’s actually there. Then you arrive and think, “OK, Eiffel Tower over there, Mona Lisa over here, annnnnnd … oh yeah, Notre Dame Cathedral just there. Hmm. Is that it? I really should have paid more attention to the guide book.”
Plan your visit and squeeze the most out of a city break.
Beach holidays
Sun, sea, and sand. It’ll do for a few days. The kids will be happy. Typically unfulfilling after about day three, though. Make sure you choose a hotel near some attractions or you’ll live to regret spending your money on literally being sat on a beach with nothing to do on a cloudy day. Relaxing in theory. But usually a bit of a swing and a miss.
Cruise
Cruises are not typically the logical first choice for families with young children. Why? Because children are clumsy and boats have edges. But those edges have barriers to prevent even the most accident-prone children from falling off. We can look to the statistics for more reassurance.
Around 1.5 people fall from cruise ships and large ferries per month, but almost none of those falls can be attributed to people who were behaving sensibly. Which, in other words, means the people who fell were messing around.
Still. If you can get over the minuscule prospect of such an accident, cruise ships offer it ALL. An on-board water park. Restaurants. Live entertainment. Day trips to see an array of inland destinations. Spas. A full dance card of children’s daily activities led by trained staff. And the views are out of this world.
Cruises fill up fast – don’t be shocked if you have to book way in advance.
