Travelling with teens

If it’s unique selfie spots and Tik Tok backdrops you’re after, you may be travelling with teens.  Teenagers have been kept inside for much of the past 3 years so have had their sense of adventure and desire to explore somewhat curbed. We’ve come up with some family holiday ideas to satisfy even the most curious and active teenagers and may just encourage them to put their phones away and soak up some incredible experiences.

Costa Rica

Make memories amongst the evergreen forest, towering volcanos and pristine beaches of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is incredibly biodiverse and offers a land of discovery and tropical wilderness for families with older children.

Pick produce and make dinner with a local family during an agricultural homestay, look for three-toed sloths in the thickets of the Manuel Antonio National Park and walk through the canopy of Monteverde’s cloud forest on a suspended bridge. Take a break from active adventure by soaking in springs heated by Arenal Volcano and lying beneath swaying palms on pristine beaches. A Costa Rican adventure takes you and your family into the wild heart of a country many visit but few truly know.

Bali

What about a volunteering holiday?  As family holidays go, this could be a life changer.

Take a two to four week trip to Bali and give something back whilst discovering the country you are in.  Engage with the local community through teaching, childcare or perhaps helping with marine conservation. There is still plenty of time to snorkel, take a surf lesson, cycle through rice paddies.  Or perhaps you may want to hire a fisherman to take you dolphin watching.  This is a true meaningful adventure.

Iceland

Take a week long adventure to Iceland where even the most screen hungry teens will want to put their phones away. Highlights include swimming and soaking in the thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon, snowmobile across Iceland’s beautiful natural landscape at Langjökull Glacier and descend into Vantnshellir’s 8000 year old lava tube.

Cuba

Havana is the ideal place for creative phone use.  It’s an ideal destination for families with teenagers looking for adventure and immersive travel. Go to a baseball game, roll a cigar in a cigar factory or visit the Museum of Revolution with its mannequins of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Teens will love taking a taxi ride in a 1950s Cadillac along the Malecon seawall too.

Japan

Japan is captivating. The pastimes of the people of Japan, such as anime, kawaii culture and gaming are fascinating to teens. Neon and noise are everywhere in Japan and so too are temples, teahouses and traditions of the country.  Travel to Kyoto from Tokyo by bullet train and hopefully you’ll get a clear view of Mount Fuji en route.

St Lucia

St Lucia may be a laid back Caribbean island but an array of adventures pursuits and watersports make it a great destination for the adventurous traveller, as well as for active families looking for more than just a beach holiday.  And if you can’t decide between a villa holiday or a fully inclusive resort, Windjammer Landing in St Lucia offers the best of both worlds.

Teenagers will love the independence and freedom of the resort as well as the endless activities on offer including a secluded beach, 6 swimming pools (including 2 for children), 2 floodlit tennis courts, games room and fully equipped gym.  Complimentary watersports are also available: sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling and tube rides. Waterskiing, knee boarding and wake boarding are also included for guests staying on an all inclusive basis.

The in-water hammocks just off the beach are the perfect spot for some downtime and Toppers Ice Cream Shack will be a hit with the entire family; young or old.

Windjammer is the ideal spot to explore, be active and to make friends.

South Africa

There is nothing quite like a South Africa for a wildlife adventure.  Whilst some lodges will accept children under the age of 12, many lodges and rangers say “Never before their 12^th birthday”. So, once your children reach the grand old age of 12, take them to South Africa. The fact that much of South Africa is malaria free and the time difference is only one hour between March and October, makes South Africa and even more attractive option.

Travel through South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland), combining cultural and wildlife experiences. Visit South Africa’s most famous township, Soweto, before heading out into the wilderness. Once on the road stop at a Zulu village and experience activities such as hiking, kayaking and rafting before arriving at Kruger National Park for unbelievable wildlife watching.

We hope this has given you some inspiration for your next family adventure.  The truth is, the options for family voyages of discovery are endless.  If any of these destinations appeal or if you would like to chat through any other ideas, do get in touch. We always love to hear from you.

Inspired by an article in The Sunday Times, 8^th January 2023.