Everyone remembers their childhood family holidays. Whether it’s fun and games in the pool or that special destination that took your breath away, looking back on those treasured memories never fails to put smiles on faces.
Here are our favourite reasons why you just can’t beat a family holiday.
There’s nothing quite like having a laugh with your family to bring you all together, and family holidays can give you plenty to laugh about: pretending to be octopuses in the pool, watching the kids deliver one-liners at the weekly show, or seeing grandad’s face when he tries durian for the first time. Laughing helps release endorphins that make you feel good, that’s why giggling together as a family is so important.
Family holidays are a time to relax, reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. At home, your family may be busy working, heading off to school or spending time with friends, so it’s easy to forget to find that all-important down time with each other. By taking a well-deserved break you can focus on reconnecting and being together, without any intrusions.
Remember the trip where you first jumped into a pool? Or learned to ride your bike without stabilisers? Or when you saw a monkey for the first time? Taking a break with the family gives you the time and opportunity to discover new memorable moments. Whether it’s teaching your kids to swim, playing games on the beach, or watching the sunset together, you’ll be creating lifelong memories for you and children.
We’ve all got funny photos from holidays with family and friends. Photographs are a great way to capture your favourite holiday moments, ready to look back and remember all the fun you had together. When you return home, you can share your favourite photos with your friends or even put them in a photo album to celebrate your trip and create a special keepsake the whole family can enjoy for years to come.
Take your family holiday to the next level by booking with another family. Not only will your children have playmates to run about with all day, but also you’ll have some adult conversation to enjoy while you laze together around the pool. You could also save money by splitting the bill on extras such as car hire and group outings.
As creatures of habit, we often return to places we’ve enjoyed before. However, travelling as a family is the perfect opportunity to explore and give your children valuable insights into different cultures. Whether it’s trekking through the desert in Tunisia, discovering the world-renowned cuisine of Italy, or learning to surf in Bali, family holidays can enrich your family and widen your horizons.
Family holidays offer the perfect chance to try new activities, especially if you choose to stay at an all-inclusive resort. If you’re taking to the mountains, for example, ski holidays often come with free ski lessons for family members of all ages, meaning kids can start to hone their talents from an early age. If you’re on a beach break, try water sports. Scuba diving, canoeing and windsurfing are great family favourites, or you could have a go on something new like stand-up paddle boards or electric surfboards.
If you feel like your household is on the cusp of a technological overload, a family holiday is the perfect way to get away from it all. As parents it can be tempting to give your children a phone or a tablet to keep them quiet, but on holiday there’s plenty of in-resort activities, games and new friends to play with instead. You can plan ahead and organise an itinerary of fun things to do, or keep it simple by just talking and playing throughout the day.
Family holidays are a wonderful way to get the creative juices flowing, for both parents and kids. We recommend writing a holiday diary to remember your travels and preserve all of your favourite memories in one place. Write one as a family, with sections for kids’ drawings, and inspire your family to share their thoughts and memories. Or simply write one for yourself, documenting your favourite sights, sounds and tastes, so you can look back in years to come.
Only being able to travel within school holiday times can be frustrating, but believe it or not you can save money with a family holiday. By planning ahead and travelling as a big group, you could find a group discount depending on the particular time you jet off. For example, October half term is a good time to save money on your travels, as many families only book trips in the summer holidays. You can also sign up to newsletters to help you find the best bargain for your group before anyone else, too.
With a plethora of holiday destinations available for all the family, where will you be jetting off to with your loved ones this year?
