Long Haul Family Holidays

Reunite your family with the rest of the world and venture further afield on the all important family holiday.  With overseas travel having been so limited for almost 2 years, now is the time to embrace the opening of borders and take advantage of the experiences that will enlighten your children to the world around them.  Here are a few of our favourite family holiday spots:

Oman

For families with babies and children

Oman offers luxurious beach holidays and some of the best appointed family hotels in the world. Gently lapping warm, clear water and golden fine sandy beaches as well as a gentle culture make Oman a perfect introduction to the Middle East.

Greenstar recommends Shangri-La’s Barr Jissah Resort and Spa, on the Sea of Oman for families travelling to Oman.  One of the three hotels in the resort, Al Waha, is specifically designed for children with a dedicated children’s pool, lazy river, adventure zone, aqua park and mini golf course. Babysitting and the children’s club are on hand to allow parents to take advantage of the adult-only areas of the resort.

For a dip into Omani culture, Muscat is only a short drive from the coast with a grand mosque and the city’s network of souks. For older children there are also some fantastic desert adventures to be enjoyed such as a night at Wahiba Sands complete with camel ride and star gazing.

The best time to visit Oman is between October and April but do avoid the scorching months of June, July and August.

South Africa

For families with children and teenagers

South Africa has so much to offer that one family holiday will undoubtedly not be enough.

If you are visiting South Africa for the first time, start with exploring Cape Town: flea markets, great beaches and gourmet tours give you a great insight into the diversity of the city.  Wherever you go, you can see the backdrop of Table Mountain and the views from the top on a clear day are astounding.  Older children will enjoy a trip to Robben Island and a chance to learn about the history of apartheid.  Include a tour down the Cape Peninsula to check in on the penguins at Boulders Bay and stand on Cape Point.  Venture along the Garden Route, watch the whales congregate in Walker Bay (subject to the season) and end your trip with a safari on the Easter Cape or slightly further up the country in Madikwe Game Reserve.

Between September and November and March, April and May are excellent times to visit South Africa making a break in the Easter holidays and October half term well worth some consideration.

Sri Lanka & the Maldives

For families with children and teenagers

Sri Lanka and the Maldives work well for a winter (between December and April) family holiday.  A week exploring the temples, tea plantations and wildlife of Sri Lanka ties in nicely with a relaxing time on a Maldivian island.  We suggest being organised and booking well in advance to ensure you get the accommodation you want, particularly over Christmas.

It is a good idea to tour the island in a private car with an English speaking guide.  This allows you to move at your own pace and your guide will work with you to ensure you get the best out of your trip.

The tea region of Sri Lanka is a web of walking trails and rivers which is ideal for biking as well as white water rafting for adventure seeking families.  Greenstar recommends Ceylon Tea Trails, a network of luxurious tea plantation bungalows, each booked on an all inclusive basis with pool, gardens and your own butler.

After a busy few days exploring Sri Lanka, a week in the idyllic Maldives is a great add on.  The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is ideal for families offering cleverly designed family villas with private pools and easy access to the beach.  Children will receive their own warm welcome from a member of the children’s club team and they won’t want to miss the Ice Cream Spa where treatments are designed with ice cream smelling products.

Costa Rica

For families with children and teenagers

Family holidays to Costa Rica merit a whole piece by itself however in a nutshell, Costa Rica, compared to other rainforest destinations is extremely accessible. For wildlife-loving children, Costa Rica is heaven and offers the opportunity to experience an exotic ecosystem with ease.

Costa Rica is well developed and offers an array of activities for families.  As well as exploring the rainforests and learning about the most incredible wildlife, rafting, canopy walkways, horse riding and many more activities are available.  The beaches are good too making Costa Rica an all round family holiday destination.

Whilst Costa Rica experiences rain all year round, most showers are tropical; typically short and sharp.  Easter is generally drier than between June and August.

We hope this has given you an idea of some destinations which work so well for long haul family holidays. There are of course many destinations which make fabulous family holidays spots and we are here to help advise and book the best option for you.