Published 7th Aug. 2024
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Put one foot wrong during the planning stage, and holidays with under fives could quickly turn from utter bliss to utter chaos. Too hot, too cold, too tired, too bored... who’d have guessed a toddler knew so many adjectives? But with the help of children’s party planners Sharky & George, we can tailor-make the perfect stress-free escape, whether it’s a malaria-free safari in South Africa or a serene stay in a beach resort outside of peak season. Ready to discover more of our favourite holidays for families with under fives? Read on…
Small-sized youngsters love super-sized creatures – and don’t just take our word for it. During our recent family event with Sharky & George, we heard firsthand that 45% of your little ones want to see wildlife while away, and you can’t beat an African safari, where you can encounter the beloved Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos) alongside a whole cast of other creatures. But what about malaria? Fear not. We can recommend the best malaria-free safaris so you can leave the pesky pills at home. In South Africa’s Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, spot Simba during the coolest hours of the day, get messy with arts and crafts at the lodge and learn how to cook the perfect South African braai (BBQ) in the evening. It’s a wild – and safe – adventure your family will remember for years to come.
They say never meet your heroes, but the risk is worth the ho-ho-holiday for Father Christmas. Step into the festive spirit with a family trip to the Finnish Lapland and wow your under fives with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Santa’s Grotto. After tearing open presents, bundle up and hit the slopes on a husky safari (with plenty of time for petting, of course). Spend the evenings searching the skies for the magical aurora borealis, a spectacle that will likely leave your youngsters speechless.
Image by Visitfinland.
The beauty of having children under five? Holiday planning isn’t tightly bound by school schedules (at least not for another few years). Skip the crowds and escape the peak-summer heat with a trip to a destination typically chock-a-block during the school holidays. Costa Brava beckons with its shallow waters and family-friendly resorts, while the Algarve’s calm waters are ideal for sneaking in arm-band-clad swimming lessons.
Image by Faustine Poidevin.
We wouldn’t blame you for not jumping at the idea of a train ride with a tiny tot. But stick the word free before it, and train journeys become as appealing to you as Thomas the Tank Engine is to your toddler. When travelling with Eurostar, if your under-five explorer can sit on your lap, you can introduce them to Paris’ pastries, Amsterdam’s art or Brussels’ beauty at no extra cost. And being reachable in just a few hours, they make for the perfect fuss-free weekend break.
Header Image by Claire Guarry | Written by Evie Buller.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
With four teenagers in or entering sixth form, my family have noticed firsthand that A Level study demands not just recall but interpretation. The jump from GCSE to A Level is substantial; essays are longer, critical thinking matters much more and independent evaluation is rewarded. Several experts suggest that examiners across AQA, Edexcel and OCR consistently reward students who demonstrate awareness of competing perspectives, real-world examples and a confident grasp of context.
26th March 2026 - Family Travel
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
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