When you?ve got older children, or those of the teenage variety, it can be a real challenge to find something to keep you all interested and having a great time away. Why not try something completely different? Here are a few ideas to fire up your imagination.
A City Break
It?s all very well taking a trip to the Algarve or the Canary Islands, but the best experiences are had in the less well-trodden paths of British family holidaymakers. Try out somewhere more interesting.
European city breaks are also great on the wallet; with further to travel from home, airfare and other modes of transport won?t take up nearly as much of your budget. Cities like Gdansk, Berlin, and Prague are cheap to fly to from most UK airports, and offer a cultural aspect that you won?t find with a package deal.
Adventures with the Family
Extreme sports may win the hearts of adventurous children. If you?re looking for something motorsport based, the AA has this phenomenal list of motoring events taking place worldwide that could be once in a lifetime trips for your kids.
The UK is ideal for water sports like surfing, wakeboarding, kite surfing, and windsurfing; the best destinations are located on the UK’s South Coast. Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall is particularly famous for its water sports culture and young and buzzing atmosphere, teens will love the place. If you’d rather do some watersport activities abroad, there are lots of great places to visit. Australia is famous for surfing, and Portugal has companies like Kite Control Portugal that facilitate kite surfing activities. Water sports are a great idea for a family holiday, whether you’re going abroad or staying local.
Home Away From Home
If you?re looking for a more holistic and traditional holiday but want to avoid hotels wherever possible, there are a number of ways you can try. Making friends on holiday and having new experiences can be formative in children?s development; a host family in a far flung corner of the globe can be really grounding and rewarding.
The popularity of sites like AirBnb has skyrocketed in recent years, which means services like it are more highly regulated and reviewed, making it much easier to get this kind of experience as a family without any worry. You can also look into staying with host families.
Holidaying on the Road
Camping and caravanning are great in their own right, but how about something more exotic? Excursions on the Trans-Siberian Railway could be that wild-card holiday option that you?re looking for as a well-travelled family.
If it?s within your means, a road trip across Europe, the US or Australia make excellent choices for extended travels with your family, with loads to see along the way, and relatively little hassle with visas compared to other destinations.
Taking a holiday doesn?t mean having to follow the crowd, so forge your own path and create memories that will bring you even closer as a family.