Travelling with children, without losing the adventure

Start with pace, not places

The most common mistake is trying to fit in the itinerary you would have planned before children. A useful rule of thumb: halve the number of places and double the time in each. Two or three bases over two weeks usually work far better than six, because every move costs more than the journey itself – packing, settling in, finding where breakfast is, getting used to a new room.

Think in days that have one main thing in them. A morning walk to a waterfall, a boat trip, a visit to a market – then time back at base, a swim, a long lunch and an unhurried afternoon. Many families find that the best moments arrive in the spaces between plans: a game on a beach, a conversation with a stallholder, a lizard on the terrace wall.

Fewer places, longer stays – and one main thing a day.

What tends to work at different ages

Every child is different, and you know yours far better than any guide does. Still, some broad patterns tend to hold.

• Babies and toddlers are often more portable than people expect. Short transfers, one comfortable base and a predictable daily rhythm matter more than the destination itself.
• Roughly four to seven: curiosity is high but stamina is short. Animals, water, trains and boats tend to win; long museum visits and midday sightseeing in the heat rarely do.
• Around eight to twelve is often the golden age of family adventure. Children can walk further, try snorkelling, cycling or a gentle trek – and remember what they saw.
• Give teenagers a real stake. Let them choose an activity or a whole day, build in some independence and look for experiences with a genuine edge: a first surf lesson, a night in a mountain hut, a street-food evening.

Mixed ages are the real puzzle. The answer is usually a base with range: somewhere the youngest can potter happily while older ones try something more demanding, sometimes with one parent each.

Flights, transfers and the hidden hours

Long-haul flights are often less daunting than the connections around them. A direct flight, or a well-timed overnight one, can save a whole day of recovery. Where a stopover can't be avoided, a night in a hotel near the connecting airport can turn an ordeal into part of the adventure.

Give the ground transfers just as much attention. A four-hour drive on winding roads after a long flight is a very different thing with a car-sick six-year-old. Breaking a long journey with an overnight stop, choosing a train where one exists, or simply starting somewhere close to the arrival airport can change the tone of the first days.

Jet lag affects children in unpredictable ways. Plan an easy first day or two, and resist booking your most anticipated experience for the morning after you arrive.

Rooms and downtime

With children, where you sleep matters more than almost anything else. Two connecting rooms, a family suite, a villa or an apartment with a separate living space means the adults aren't sitting in the dark at eight o'clock. A kitchen, or at least a fridge, helps with early breakfasts and fractious moments. Outdoor space – a garden, a veranda, a pool – gives everyone room to breathe.

Facilities vary widely, so it's always worth checking what a particular place genuinely offers rather than assuming: cots, childcare, age limits on activities or pools, and whether young children are welcome at all. Some beautiful lodges and boutique hotels have minimum ages; others are wonderfully relaxed.

Downtime is not wasted time. Build at least one unplanned day into each week, and a quiet hour into most afternoons. Children take in a great deal on a journey – new food, new sounds, new rules – and rest is part of how they absorb it.

Destinations that suit different families

There is no single list of 'family destinations', but some places make the practical side easier while still feeling like a real adventure.

Costa Rica often suits families whose children are old enough to enjoy walks, boats and wildlife: distances are manageable, and rainforest, volcanoes and coast can sit within a sensible route. Japan works surprisingly well with children of most ages – trains are punctual, food is varied and cities feel orderly – as long as you slow the pace. Portugal and Italy are within easy reach of Lithuania, with easy days and no shortage of beaches, villages and food to share.

For older children, South Africa can combine wildlife, coast and Cape Town in one journey; some reserves welcome younger children on game drives while others set age limits. Iceland suits families who love being outdoors: waterfalls, black-sand beaches and hot pools, long summer days – and weather that changes quickly. Sri Lanka packs beaches, tea country and wildlife into a compact island, though road journeys often take longer than the map suggests.

Keeping the sense of adventure

Adventure with children is rarely measured in distance or difficulty. It lives in small firsts: the first time they order food in another language, the first night under a different sky, the first animal seen outside a zoo, the first long train journey watching an unfamiliar country slide past the window.

Involve them before you go. Look at maps together, read about the places you're heading to, and let each child choose one thing to do. A journey they have helped to shape becomes their journey too.

If you're wondering whether a particular idea is realistic for your family, tell us about your children, how they travel and what you'd love them to see. We'll help you explore what's possible now – and what might be worth saving for a few years' time.