The best 2019 summer holidays for families with tweens and teens
The best holidays for tweens
They’re robust enough to try out some new activities or travel a bit more off the beaten track, and yet still young enough to want to spend time with you. Here are some ways to make the most of these moments.
1. Trapeze in Portugal
Perched atop the red seas cliffs of the Algarve region in Portugal, Club Med’s Da Balaia resort offers flexible kids’ clubs for all ages, nightly shows and trapeze lessons for all. Other activities include tennis, football, archery and mini-golf, as well as music and arts and crafts for the kids. There’s also a beach, an adults-only “Zen Zone” with eco-pool, plus a spa.
Club Med (clubmed.co.uk) offers seven nights at Da Balaia in August from £1,516 per adult and £1,052 per under-12 including flights from Luton. Children under the age of six stay free.
2. Water sports in Turkey
Children (and adults) of all ages can learn to sail and windsurf at Mark Warner’s Phokaia Beach Resort, with kids’ clubs from four months through to 17 years. Other activities include wakeboarding, tennis and cycling, or you can simple laze on the Balinese beds on the beach.
Mark Warner (markwarner.co.uk) offers seven nights at Phokaia Beach for £1,599 for adults and £1,429 for children travelling July 20, including most activities, kids’ clubs (aged two plus) and most meals.
3. Active in Spain
Neilson Holidays’ Mar Menor Beachclub in Murcia, Southern Spain, is new for 2019 and boasts first-class facilities. Extras at the Mar Menor “Select Beachclub” include breakfast in bed, as well as kitesurfing and dinghy foiling, plus various other water sports, land sports, and kids’ clubs for ages four months to 17 years.
Neilson Holidays (neilson.co.uk/beach) offers seven nights at Mar Menor Beachclub from £6,156 for a family of four on July 19, including flights from Stansted, most meals, activities and kids’ clubs.
4. Stargazing in Tenerife
Beachfront property Bahía del Duque Resort is surrounded by acres of lush gardens. It has five pools and even boasts its very own observatory. During the day there’s also a kids’ club, a Californian surf-inspired teens’ lounge and plenty of water sports to keep everyone happy.
Kuoni (kuoni.co.uk) offers seven nights B&B at Bahía del Duque Resort in a junior suite from £6,399 for a family of four (with two children under 12 years of age) travelling in August, including flights from Gatwick.
5. Belize and Guatemala adventures
Starting in the jungle of Belize, this trip will take you to the Guatemalan ruins at Tikal before journeying deep inside the mountains to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. There will also be time to try some snorkelling and enjoy beach barbecues, plus relaxing on an idyllic island.
Stubborn Mule (stubbornmuletravel.com) offers a 15-day self-drive Belize Adventure Highlights tour from £12,000 for a family of four travelling in July or August, including flights, mid-range hotels, breakfasts, some meals and most activities.
6. Marine life in Mozambique
Set in a Marine National Park and hand-built by the local community, Azura Benguerra’s public areas open right on to the beach. Children aged 10 and up can learn to dive and guests can also enjoy a game of football with the locals.
Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights all-inclusive in a two-bedroom villa at Azura Benguerra from £6,645 per adult and £6,365 per under-12 including flights, transfers, a Land Rover island drive and a sunset cruise.
7. Yachting in Corfu
Hire the 60ft yacht Lunous, complete with skipper and chef, and either help to sail the boat or simply sunbathe on deck as you explore hidden coves, beaches and ports. Water sports equipment on board includes snorkels, stand-up paddleboards, windsurfers, and even a speedboat complete with giant ringo and water skis.
Fleewinter (fleewinter.com) offers seven nights on Lunous (sleeps 10) from £2,000 per person (£100 reduction per child) in July and August based on 10 sharing, half-board. Fly to Corfu.
8. Wildlife in Brazil
Whizz up the Sugar Loaf in a cable car, explore Corcovado Mountain in a Jeep, get up close to toucans and monkeys in the jungle, then meet giant guinea pigs in the wetlands of the Pantanal, finishing with some relaxation on the Emerald Coast.
Journey Latin America (journeylatinamerica.co.uk) offers a 15-day Family Brazil trip from £5,295 per adult, from £2,495 for under-12s, based on a family of four including flights, transfers, good hotels, plus most breakfasts and full board in the Pantanal.
9. Beat the weather in Brittany
Just 550yd (500m) from the beach and the local village of Brignogan Place, the recently renovated Villa Brise comes with an indoor pool, a hot tub and relaxation area so it doesn’t matter if it rains – everyone’s happy whatever the weather. With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an open-plan living area, there’s also plenty of room if you want to bring the grandparents.
Vintage Travel (vintagetravel.co.uk) offers seven nights at Villa Brise from £1,346 to £3,858. Sleeps 10. Fly to Nantes or take a ferry to Roscoff.
10. Waterpark in Calabria
Tui is offering a new route to Calabria this summer, as well as Italy’s first Magic Life Hotel. It will feature all-inclusive 24-hour dining, three pools, a splash park and an adults-only area. As well as sports, fitness, well-being and entertainment programmes, there will also be kids’ clubs for ages three to 12.
Tui (tui.co.uk) offers seven nights for a family of four sharing at the 4T Tui Magic Life Calabria from £1,019pp all-inclusive, departing Gatwick July 20.
11. Cornish cottage
Just 72 steps from the beach and a five-minute walk from St Mawes’s harbour, shops, pubs and restaurants, Shellseekers is a two-bedroom cottage featuring an upstairs living room with bi-fold doors which open on to a balcony with a 180-degree sea view. It also has its own, small, private parking space – a rarity in the village.
St Mawes Retreats (stmawesretreats.co.uk) offers seven nights at Shellseekers for £1,699 in July and August. Sleeps four.
12. Geocaching in Dorset
Set among hundreds of acres of lakes and heathland, Silverlake offers kayaking, paddleboarding and wild swimming plus, new this year, geocaching. GPS units can be rented on-site allowing you to explore the area on foot or by bike while treasure-hunting. Sailing, climbing and coasteering are also available nearby.
Habitat Escapes (habitatescapes.com) offers seven nights in a two-bedroom cottage from £1,275 per family in July. GPS units and trail guides cost £15 per day.
13. Make friends with the Maasai
Cycle through rainforest on the slopes of Mount Kenya, camp in the Ngare Ndare Forest, track game around the Aberdares, explore the Loita Hills and Plains accompanied by a Maasai warrior and enjoy a full day of game viewing in the Maasai Mara.
Gane and Marshall (ganeandmarshall.com) offers its Discover Kenya Family Activity Safari from £9,550 for a family of four (£8,560 if both children are under 12) in the school summer holidays, including flights, all meals, a driver/guide, entrance fees and four-wheel drive transportation.
The best holidays for teens
Make the most of these last family holidays with extra adventure or simple relaxation, with a little bit of independence thrown in.
14. Canadian glaciers and springs
This outdoor adventure can include white-water rafting on Canada’s Kicking Horse River, a walk on the Athabasca Glacier, soaking in the hot springs in Banff, and exploring the waterfalls of Wells Gray Provincial Park. There’s also the option of ziplining, canoeing, mountain biking and more.
Grand American Adventures (grandamericanadventures.com) offers its Canadian Family Discovery Tour from £1,279 per person excluding flights (10 per cent discount for under-16s) in August including eight camping nights, two ranch cabin nights and a hotel night, most meals, transportation and a guide. Fly to Vancouver.
15. Ship ahoy!
Set on a cliff edge, this Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottage has a real working lighthouse (minus the foghorn). As well as six bedrooms, there’s also a games room, a walled yard with a picnic table and a large balcony. Complimentary fly-fishing on the East Lyn is available and Woolacombe Beach is a 40-minute drive away.
The National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk) offers seven nights at Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottage at Lynston, Devon for £2,499 in the school summer holidays. Sleeps 10.
16. Giant pandas and Terracotta Warriors
Starting in Beijing, this 15-day tour includes the chance to see the Great Wall, Forbidden City, plus the Terracotta Warriors. You’ll also travel by bullet train, visit the giant pandas at Chengdu Panda Research Base, discover the countryside of Yangshuo by bike, learn to make dumplings and play mah-jong with a master in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.
Audley Travel (audleytravel.com) offers its Family China trip from £4,940pp travelling in July or August including flights, transfers, excursions and some meals.
17. Active Algarve
Vila Vita Parc Hotel offers kids’ clubs for all ages, plus a teens’ programme including surf lessons and Jeep excursions. Activities on the resort’s sandy beach include stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, diving and boat trips, plus a spa.
Destinology (destinology.co.uk) offers a week at Vila Vita from £5,199 per family based on a family of four travelling between May 28 and Aug 24, sharing an Oasis Family Suite B&B, including return flights and private transfers.
18. Log cabin in Slovenia
Enjoy rafting, kayaking, canoeing and hiking in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, staying in a village of eight log cabins and five rooms. Ride a Lipizzaner horse, or rent bikes to head out to swim or fish. Then spend two nights in the Grand Hotel Toplice on the edge of Lake Bled.
Red Savannah (redsavannah.com) offers a week in Slovenia from £1,182 per person for a family of four B&B in July, with car hire and a horse ride per person.
19. Beach club in Greece
The family-run Peligoni Club in Zakynthos features a beach shack “teens only” bar, with daytime and evening activities such as kayaking, snorkelling and mocktail making, designed to let them have fun in a relaxed, join-in-or-not-as-you-want kind of way. There’s also a kids’ club available for the younger children, water sports, plus a spa.
The Peligoni Club (peligoni.com) offers a two-bedroom villa with club membership and windsurfing and sailing upgrades from £4,900 for a family of four travelling in July or August.
20. Seaview in Sicily
Terzetto is an unusual villa constructed of three cubes – ideal for families with older children as it offers some independence. There’s a private pool plus a summer kitchen with wood oven. The village of Sant’Ambrogio and a small beach are two miles down the hill, with a sandy beach at Caldura and the medieval town of Cefalù a 15-minute drive away.
Vintage Travel (www.vintagetravel.co.uk) offers a week at Terzetto from £2,930 to £4,934. Sleeps eight. Fly to either Palermo or Catania.
21. Totally Turkey
Korsan Guney is a seafront villa with everything needed to keep several families happy – there’s an infinity pool, plus a private bay with beach platforms. It’s a half-hour paddle to Kalkan’s harbour and its chichi beach clubs – plus there’s an activity “PA” to help organise any activities.
Fairlight Jones (fairlightjones.com) offers seven nights at Korsan Guney based on 10 sharing from £1,250pp in July and August, including flights to Dalaman, transfers, Jeep hire and daily cleaning service.
22. Thailand tour
Starting and finishing in Bangkok, this tour includes longboat tours in the capital, meeting hill tribe communities in the north, temples and a cookery class in Chiang Mai. There is also a visit to the Erawan Park and the bridge over the River Kwai, as well as some time to relax on the beach or go surfing at Ko Chang.
G Adventures (gadventures.co.uk) offers a 12-night Thailand Family Adventure from £899 per person in July and August, excluding flights.
23. Beach life in Cornwall
On a cliff top overlooking Fistral Bay, the Headland Hotel offers rooms in a grand Victorian building as well as cottages, ideal for families. The whole family can learn to surf, kite surf, coasteer or stand-up paddle board at the hotel’s Surf Sanctuary, plus there’s an outdoor pool, putting green, buckets and spades and a spa with a Cornish sea salt steam room.
The Headland Hotel offers two-bedroom seaview cottages for four from £470 per night in July.
24. Game of Thrones
Canoe along the coast, hike to the Giant’s Causeway and learn about the Titanic on this guided tour of Ireland’s northern edge, which inspired The Chronicles of Narnia, Game of Thrones and countless folktales. Search for puffins on Rathlin Island and take a family-friendly whiskey distillery tour.
Wilderness Ireland (wildernessireland.com) offers its Giants, Myths and Legends Tour from €1,850 per adult and €1,520 per child B&B in July/August plus six meals, a guide, transfers and activities. Fly to Belfast.
25. Lake and mountains
Enjoy the beaches and water sports of Lake Annecy in France then head into the nearby foothills and mountains for adrenalin-fuelled activities such as white-water rafting and paragliding – plus those with a head for heights can scale the almost-sheer via ferrata at Thônes. Gentler activities include hiking and electric mountain biking.
CGH Residences (cgh-residences.co.uk) offers a seven-night stay in a two-bedroom apartment (sleeps six) at Le Village de Lessy with a communal indoor pool and spa from £704. Fly to Geneva.
26. Ranch riding
Satisfy all your cowboy cravings in one fell swoop in Idaho. Enjoy daily horseback rides, take horsemanship lessons, learn to catch and saddle a horse and play cattle-sorting games in this hands-on holiday at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. In the evenings there’s music round a campfire, billiards, wagon rides and a dinner cruise on Lake Pend Oreille.
Ranch Rider (ranchrider.com) offers six nights at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch from £1,889pp (£1,219pp for those aged six to 12) including most meals and activities. Fly to Spokane.
27. Surfing in Denmark
Pack your wetsuit and head to Klitmoller, sometimes referred to as Cold Hawaii, for surfing or windsurfing, plus hiking, biking, kayaking and horse riding. Klitmoller is also home to the huge surf festival Surfjoint on July 20, visited by more than 1,000 people with DJs, bands, barbecues and free surf lessons.
An en-suite room for two at the Klitmoller Kro & Badehotel (klitmollerbadehotel.dk) costs from around £232 per night in July and August, including breakfast. Fly to Aalborg.
