Published 28th Jun. 2021
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The summer holidays may feel like a world away now but come June they'll be a veritable beacon of hope amidst the (organised) chaos of early morning wake-ups, school runs and vain attempts to prevent toothpaste from finding its way onto every single item of school uniform. Frankly, it's exhausting. Which is where we come in, because when it comes to organising your summer holiday getaway you can just sit back, relax and leave the hard work to us. We've even handpicked a selection of our favourite family-friendly experiences to get you started...
The Dolomite mountains transform in summer from ski heaven to lush green valleys and thick forests - perfect for some family fun. Enjoy bike rides, hikes and long lunches in the mountains. All that fresh air combines perfectly with a few days in Venice where we can arrange all kinds of family-friendly tours, from historically based symbol hunts to Renaissance tours that focus on what it was like to be a child during this time.
The best way to see Croatia's stunning Dalmatian coastline is from the sea, and one of our favourite family experiences is to kayak your way from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands over the course of a week. Fear not, this is a very gentle expedition with children as young as eight able to take part and kayaking is restricted to a couple of hours a day. The rest of the time will be spent swimming, walking, cycling and, most importantly, relaxing on the various islands you'll visit.
With a global centre for art, gastronomy and culture in Paris and the picturesque old fishing villages and beautiful coastline of the French Riviera, it's never too early to introduce the kids to our Gallic neighbours. We can organise everything from treasure hunts in Paris to perfume making in Grasse and lessons at a golf academy.
Head off the beaten track in Portugal with this perfect combination of city, beach and island living. Lisbon is one of Europe's most laidback cities while the nearby beaches of Comporta remain relatively wild and undiscovered (perfect for learning to surf) compared to their Algarvian associates. Then there's the Azores, an archipelago way out in the Atlantic Ocean, where you will find beautiful volcanic landscapes ripe for exploration, fantastic whale watching opportunities and the best diving in Europe.
Seville is something of a pocket rocket in the European city rankings, making it perfect for little legs that tire easily. Introduce the kids to some cultural learning with a flamenco show, a tour of the iconic Real Alcazar and the best helado (ice cream) outside Italy. Combine with a few days of relaxation on the coast and you've got the perfect family escape.
Despite some recent political turbulence, Turkey remains one of our favourite family destinations and there are few more civilised modes of transport than the gulet - designed with a wide hull for maximum stability and comfort. Spending a week lazing on a spacious deck, enjoying a full range of watersports and exploring charming harbours, temples and ancient tombs to land is pretty much dictionary definition idyllic holiday territory.
Mention of Swedish Lapland generally conjures images of snow-covered landscapes, husky dogs and the Northern Lights but the region is also wonderful for families during the summer months. The pristine landscape and sense of solitude makes for a seriously relaxing environment in which to walk, cycle, kayak and fish. Or to simply do nothing at all.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
With four teenagers currently moving through the GCSE and A Level years in our household, we have become mildly obsessed with the idea of the ‘incremental gain’. Not in a hot-housing sense. More in the way that any decent sports coach knows that small, cumulative advantages often show up where it matters – in the final scoreline. Because one thing becomes very clear very quickly when you have children doing GCSEs and A Levels across AQA, Edexcel and OCR:
24th March 2026 - Family Travel
It’s no secret that we’re strong advocates of a family sabbatical, so amid the downpours of February, we were delighted to host an event at the Royal Academy discussing just that. Bringing together Thomasina Miers of Wahaca, Walter Kerr of Oppidan Education and, of course, our very own Tom Barber, the event opened the floor for a practical and frank conversation about the best way to take a sabbatical with your children.
26th February 2026 - Family Travel
This blog is a love letter to a type of holiday I can't recommend enough – the Bonding Holiday. At its heart is a simple belief: shared experiences strengthen relationships. These are trips where just two family members travel together – parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, godparent and godchild. The best ones revolve around a shared interest – art, music, wildlife, food, history – and the aim is beautifully straightforward:
15th December 2025 - Family Travel
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
