5 Short-Haul Destinations for Family Holidays

Booking a family holiday can feel like a minefield. When travelling in school holidays, or with restless young children, all of those little details like favourable flight times, and comfortable transfers to your hotel are crucial. You also want to make sure your holiday ticks all of the right boxes in terms of fun, quality, value for money, and safety. As parents, we lead busy lives so holidays should be a relaxing experience (and that includes the planning!)

To help you begin planning your next family holiday, we have listed 5 short-haul destinations that are ideal for a family escape.

Turkey
Flight time from UK - 4-5 hours 

Lively, colourful, and packed with history, Turkey is a much-loved short-haul destination for family holidays. With stunning coastlines and buzzing resorts, there is something to satisfy children and teenagers alike.

Where to stay - The buzzing city resort of Antalya is a popular year-round choice, with a wide choice of resorts with plenty of luxury and fun-packed all inclusive hotels to entertain the whole family. 

Antalya is known as the Turquoise Coast, and one of the most popular beach destinations in the Mediterranean, but away from the beach, you will find plenty to entertain the kids. 

Where to take the kids - The Land of Legends Theme park in Belek boasts a water park, a 5D cinema, and a 4265 feet-long Hyper Coaster, making it a sure-fire win for the kids! The world’s biggest tunnel aquarium is in Antalya - wander through the 131-metre sea tunnel and visit the Fear Trophy reptile house. It’s also right next door to The Antalya Aquarium with it's own Snow World and Ice Museum! As well as the new, you can also explore the beautiful old town of Antalya, including the Aspendos Theater, one of the world’s largest intact Roman amphitheatres.

Find inspiration for holidays to Turkey here.

Crete
Flight time from UK - 3-4 hours 

The sparkling blue waters of the Aegean Sea are home to this jewel in the Greek Islands. Crete’s relaxed way of life, and pleasant Mediterranean warmth are made for family retreats.

Where to stay - Although the entire island of Crete is family friendly, the area of Hersonissos is a great option for families. Just 26km from the Cretan capital of Heraklion and 20km from the airport, making it a great base for your holiday - this area also has many family-friendly resorts to suit all requirements.

Where to take the kids - If you love water parks, Hersonissos has several to choose from. Star Beach is very popular with a range of slides for grown ups down to attractions like the Lazy River for children. The Dinosauria Park will also be a big hit with your Dino loving little ones.

Find inspiration for holidays to Greece here.

With its warm climate and beautiful shallow beaches, Croatia is a short hop from the UK and perfect for a family escape.

Where to stay - Dubrovnik & Southern Dalmatia offer pretty beaches, and charming car-free towns to explore safely while Istria is a great base for exploring the nearby dinosaur parks and more gorgeous, child-friendly beaches.

Where to take the kids - Most of the beaches are very child-friendly with soft sands and shallow waters. On none beach days, you can head to the spectacular Sea Organ - a waterfront monument with giant stone stairs descending into the sea, within which lies a system of pipes and whistles which play the music of the sea as the waves push in and out.  

Eating out with kids in Croatia is welcome and you will find plenty of choices for even the fussiest eaters. 

Find inspiration for holidays to Croatia here.

Balearic Islands
Flight time from UK - 2-3 hours 

A perfect slice of Spanish island life awaits in the Balearics. A short flight from the UK, chilled out vibes and a whole host of resorts and activities that are ideal for families looking for some quality time in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Where to stay - the largest island is Mallorca (Majorca), a firm family holiday favourite with endless options for you to enjoy with your little ones. While Ibiza showcases its calmer side with a selection of stunning resorts offering glistening sandy beaches and a lively nighttime scene (that doesn’t have to involve any super clubs!)

Where to take the kids - Away from the pool and the many fun-filled water parks are many attractions to entertain young families. On Mallorca, the Palma Aquarium is home to a variety of rays, turtles, sharks and starfish. The sea turtles tank sits alongside a Caribbean theme beach, and there’s even a splash park to cool off on those hot afternoons.

On Ibiza, you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Old Town and Dalt Villa with winding cobbled streets and the stunning harbour - book a family themed catamaran day trip to enjoy some time out on the sparkling blue waters.

Find inspiration for holidays to Spain here.

For all round sunshine, award-winning beaches and charming culture, Cyprus is a firm favourite with families and it's easy to see why. 

Where to stay - charming Paphos offers a quieter, more traditional Cypriot experience with a varied choice of beachfront hotels, and a charming harbourfront to explore. While Protaras promises beaches that would not be out of place in the Caribbean, nearby water parks and a fun-filled nightlife too.

Where to take the kids - Fig Tree Bay and Nissi Beach in Protaras are made for families. With powder soft sands, and gentle warm waters, you can relax while the little ones play. The WaterWorld Themed Waterpark is an action-packed day out with nail-biting slides for adrenaline seekers and super fun play areas for smaller children, all built within luscious gardens and mythical statues.

Find inspiration for holidays to Cyprus here.

Planning your family holiday can be daunting, with so many elements to consider but as parents of young children, we have been there ourselves! We can help you choose the perfect location to suit all of the many requirements a young family may have. Please get in touch with any questions or start planning today.