6 Alternative Family Holiday Ideas

Adventures

Travel with your kids? It’s going to generate memories like nothing else, but you want to know they’re going to have wonderful days packed with energy, adventure, and experiences that will help to enrich and excite them long after you’ve returned home.

Family holidays can be incredibly special, but planning them can also be a logistical challenge. Not only are you trying to cater to everyone’s interests and personalities, but you might also be looking for a travel experience that offers more than a typical resort package deal, beach break or family villa on the edge of a city.

Sound familiar? Panic not, because 360 Private Travel is here with suggestions of destinations and hotels that you’ll all remember for years to come. Dive into some of the best alternative family holiday ideas and start dreaming of your next adventure.

Peru

Peru is incomparable to any other place in the world. Here, your family is planted at the heart of Machu Picchu, which means you’ll be exploring in the footsteps of the Incas by horse, on bikes, in kayaks or trekking on foot. Maybe, even, taking to the skies in a tandem paraglider.

There’s also plenty of culture, local crafts and conservation to get involved in, so something not just for everyone but for every individual temperament. Unique family holidays in Peru are made even more special by the chance to introduce your children to the culture, people and way of life here, creating enriching opportunities as well as getting to explore the unspoiled wilderness together as a family.

Where to Stay with Family

When it comes to where to stay in Peru with kids, Sol Y Luna is our top recommendation, located in the stunning Sacred Valley. You’re surrounded by the snow-capped Andes even when you’re in the amazing outdoor pool, making this a hotel with some of the most spectacular views in the whole country.

Not only is this a hotel that caters to families, but it is run by a family who also supports a local Intercultural School, so staying here means you’re booking a holiday with a difference by also supporting this foundation. You’ll stay in a casita built from local stone and surrounded by a garden filled with native flowers, helping to create an authentic experience. Activities for guests also centre around authentic connection with the land and the Andean culture, including weaving, horse shows, and cooking classes.

Switzerland

Ditch your preconceptions: Switzerland isn’t just for winter ski breaks. It’s a tremendous summer playground where everything is done properly, dependably and beautifully, making it an ideal setting for alternative family holidays that provide plenty of opportunities for fun outside.

From scenic train rides for the little ones to glacier hikes, paddle-boarding, basketball and kite-surfing, and even dedicated sports clubs, Switzerland has a lot to offer families who are looking for summer holiday ideas. The pristine Alpine air will build up appetites and wear everyone out after a day of thrilling adventures, leaving time in the evenings for parents to relax together in the comfort of a chalet or alpine hotel after their kids have fallen asleep.

Where to Stay With Family

Badrutt’s Palace is an ideal place to stay with your family in Switzerland. Located in stylish St Moritz in the beautiful Engadin Valley, enjoy views out over the water of Lake St. Moritzersee and exceptional service in a hotel that certainly lives up to its palatial name.

Stunning alpine views provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor activities and stylish, comfortable suites are ready and waiting for you all to retreat back to at the end of the day. Relax in the extensive spa and wellness suite, choose from six restaurants to savour your meals, and experience the tranquillity of the water on a sailing or paddleboarding trip.

Kenya

For one of the most unusual holiday destinations for families, go wild in Kenya. Yes, we mean go completely wild, and sometimes pretty deserted, too, as there are tons of child-friendly holidays to be had here on the plains, on the coast and in the mountains.

Of course, these experiences include safaris and exciting wildlife experiences to be had in Kenya, but if you’re looking for more unusual family holidays there are also beach trips and even family cycling tours. Kenya is a lovely country, very accessible and with eye-widening excitement abounding. Accommodation across the country is well-developed, and alluring places like the Masai Mara and Amboseli are quite compact, so driving around isn’t too daunting.

Where to Stay With Family

At Ol Lentille, enjoy Big 5 game viewing in a very special and private part of the Maasai Mara. Combining all the freedom and comfort of a holiday villa with the beauty of an African game reserve, the luxury villas maximise opportunities to admire the Kenyan landscape whilst also enjoying peaceful privacy with your family.

When you’re not enjoying your spacious villa, Ol Lentille offers guests a wealth of cultural experiences, walks and off-grid adventures. Game drives and wildlife spotting are always available, but so are guided hikes, quad biking, beading workshops, archery and helicopter rides. Experiences are also curated to help create once-in-a-lifetime holidays for families, including a Morani youth camp where children can spend a day in the bush kingdom with a Maasai or Samburu warrior.

Canada

Canadian family holiday recommendations are certain to be unforgettable because it’s probably the most outdoors-y country on earth. Whether you’re taking the family into natural wildernesses, staying in one of the country’s surprisingly quirky cities, or hitting the road in a motorhome, adventure awaits.

Canada is a great alternative holiday destination for families with kids who love to explore. Animal encounters can include bears, beavers, moose and dinosaur ghosts, and you’ll love to see your children’s eyes sparkling around a night-time campfire. Whether you experience its cool, crisp waters from a canoe or while gazing at Niagara Falls, you’ll still be drenched in Canada’s natural wonders.

Where to Stay With Family

At Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, 25 luxury glamping tents at this opulent forest outpost take you and your children away from all modern distractions. Only accessible by seaplane or boat, it’s a chance to feel like you’ve all stepped into another reality, perhaps back in time, as you sleep under canvas in spacious comfort and style, inspired by the prospectors who explored the area at the turn of the century.

With sustainable local food served at every meal, you’ll be well-fuelled to take on the range of activities available at Clayoquot. Not only are 600 acres of the reserve available for you to explore, but guests can also try their hand at rock climbing, archery, horse riding and fishing. If being surrounded by nature isn’t enough of a wellness reset for you, there are also daily stretch classes on offer and a spa on the waterfront.

Vietnam

If you’re seeking alternative family holiday ideas, you should definitely consider Vietnam for a trip with your clan, whether young ones or those often-surly teenagers. The people are super-friendly, the weather good, the food tasty even for fussy young palettes, and there are lots of interesting ways to get around – from boats to bicycles and even overnight trains.

Best of all, the sights and experiences in Vietnam are like a school library book coming to life, with temples, pagodas, palaces, zoos, national parks, old towns, speedboat trips through tunnels, paddy fields, museums, floating markets, water puppet shows and even waterparks. You’ve got all kinds of interesting holidays on offer depending on where you visit, from cultural sightseeing to incredible outdoor adventures.

Where to Stay With Family

For an incredible Vietnamese beach holiday, you’ll want to stay at the Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. An opulent oasis with family-sized villas on Vietnam’s rich, if little-known, central coast, you can explore a beach one way and three UNESCO World Heritage sites the other, providing plenty of options for how to spend your time here.

Staying in a family villa means your kids can play or relax in a private garden and a dedicated playroom complete with a television and games console. Connect with local culture through a range of experiences curated by the hotel, exploring the ancient town of Hoi, cruising the river at sunset or visiting a rice farm.

Maldives

If busy itineraries and energetic activities are not what your family are looking for, the Maldives are the best place for your older children to fully understand why mum and dad just need to unwind in the most indulgent way possible. The dazzlingly blue water and soft sand force everyone to slow down and chill, with the odd bursts of adrenaline when snorkelling or swimming.

There’s a lot to learn and absorb about marine life and also the huge efforts being made to conserve and cherish the islands, lagoons and atolls in the face of global warming. For any antsy offspring who need more energetic alternative family holiday ideas, they can play tennis all day to really justify that non-alcoholic cocktail or extra dessert at dinner!

Where to Stay With Family

A true haven of calm where you can relax with your family, Ozen Life Maadhoo on Maadhoo Island has plenty of kid-friendly features that will keep every member of your party happy. From larger rooms to a dedicated kid’s pool and kid’s club along with a host of activities, relaxing family holiday ideas don’t get much more special than this.

Family villas offer direct access to a private beach, so you can start your day with a paddle or a swim before retreating to fuel up for a day of relaxation and exploration. Delight in the different aquatic life you can spot whilst snorkelling around nearby reefs, ride a jet ski through the waves, or travel at a leisurely pace on a stand-up paddle board.

Our Final Thoughts…

Travel allows us to uncover new experiences and embrace a different side of ourselves. These opportunities can be incredibly impactful for children as they grow up, and can also create unforgettable moments of family bonding that you’ll all remember fondly for years to come. So why waste your time on a typical holiday, when there is so much more on offer from these alternative holiday ideas?

So… time for a ‘family meeting’ to decide which destination to head for? If you’re inspired by our suggestions for unique family holidays, why not find out more about our membership? Your 360 Private Travel Designer can help plan your perfect family getaway, tailored perfectly to your needs.

6 Alternative Family Holiday Ideas