Family travel: 30 destinations tested with kids

A good family trip comes down to three numbers: flight time, jet lag, and the age of your youngest child. Under 6, stay within a 4-hour flight and a 2-hour time difference (Morocco, Italy, Portugal). From age 6, long-haul becomes workable (Thailand, Costa Rica). This page cross-references those criteria with our 50 covered destinations.

Three families, three recommended routes

The right pick depends less on the destination than on the shape of your crew. Here are our calls, from easiest to most demanding.

• First real trip (kids 3 to 8): Morocco, Italy, Portugal. Direct flight under 3h30, reliable pediatric care, supervised beaches.
• Long-haul family (kids 6 and up): Thailand’s Khao Lak coast, Costa Rica, Mexico’s Yucatán. Wildlife and warm water that make the flight hours disappear.
• Teens who get bored fast (12 and up): Peru, Western Canada, North Vietnam, Norway. Physical activity and a real change of scene, not a beach club.

One honest note: a resort kids’ club has never saved a trip on its own. What actually works is an easy-access pool, a buffet breakfast, and days that never stretch past one real outing.

Choose your destination by kids’ age

Your youngest child sets the perimeter. The smaller the child, the heavier flight time and jet lag weigh on the decision.

With a baby (0 to 2)

Stick to European short-haul for the first 18 months. Time-zone shifts wreck sleep cycles more than most parents expect, and an infant has no way to adjust on its own.

• Coastal Italy (Puglia, Tuscany, Sicily): zero jet lag, direct flight 2 to 3 hours, healthcare close by.
• Portugal: stable pediatrics, shallow Algarve beaches.
• Morocco: riads with private pools, mild climate outside summer.
• Spain (Andalusia, Catalonia): 2-hour flight, pediatricians everywhere.

With kids 3 to 6

The radius widens. Add Greece and its Ionian islands (Corfu, Lefkada), Cape Verde, Senegal, and the UAE as a stopover. Still steer clear of flights over 8 hours and time differences above 4 hours.

With kids 6 to 12

The golden age of family travel. Kids walk, swim, understand, and sleep on the plane. Long-haul opens up: Thailand around Khao Lak and Krabi, Costa Rica, the Yucatán, Sri Lanka south coast. Snorkeling works from about age 8, as do kayaking and moderate hikes.

With teens (12 and up)

Everything opens up. North Vietnam, Peru, Western Canada, the US West, Australia. The one move that changes everything: let the teen plan a full day of the trip themselves. Buy-in follows, and the sighing stops.

Compare the 12 best family destinations

This table boils down the four data points that decide a trip: when to go, flight time from Paris, the time difference, and the recommended minimum age.

Our pick for a first long-haul family trip is Costa Rica: sloths, turtles, and volcanoes keep kids hooked, and health safety beats Southeast Asia. The catch is a 7-hour time difference, so plan for two slow days on arrival.

Match the trip to the time you have

Trip length sets the sensible radius. Under a week, long-haul makes no sense: you would spend half the holiday recovering from the flight.

One week

Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia. Direct flight 2 to 3h30, and every saved hour gets spent on the ground rather than in transit.

Two weeks

Extended short-haul, or a first long-haul with kids 6 and up: Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, Sri Lanka. Block at least two quiet days at the start to absorb jet lag before any big outing. See our two-week trips guide.

Three weeks

The format for far-flung combos: Thailand and Cambodia, Peru and Bolivia, Australia and New Zealand. The US East Coast and West Coast in one trip stays a teens-only option because of the internal travel.

Family travel on a budget: the real numbers

For a family of four, two weeks, flight from Paris included, expect anywhere from €3,500 short-haul economy to over €14,000 far-flung premium. The gap is driven mostly by destination and season, far less by comfort level.

Four levers cut the bill without spoiling the trip:

1. Shift by one week. The last week of August on the Mediterranean empties out and prices drop, while the sea stays at 24°C.
2. Book the flight 8 to 10 weeks ahead for long-haul. Past that window, family fares climb fast, especially over school holidays.
3. Stay somewhere with a kitchenette. One home-cooked dinner with groceries from the local market easily saves €40 to €60 a day for four.
4. Fly from a secondary airport. A departure from Brussels, Geneva, or Basel-Mulhouse often runs 30% cheaper than the same route from Paris.

Size up your own budget with our travel budget calculator.

Field-tested practical tips

Surviving a long flight with kids

The night flight is your number-one ally: on a 10 to 12-hour leg, kids actually sleep for part of it. A few habits that change everything:

• Request kids’ meals from the airline at least 48 hours before departure; otherwise they are never guaranteed.
• Aim for seats at the rear of the cabin, usually less booked, so more room to spread out.
• Pack a charged tablet and Bluetooth kids’ headphones: seat-back screens break down more often than you would think.
• Slip savory snacks (cheese sticks, crackers) into the carry-on; sugar winds little ones up mid-flight.

Managing kids’ jet lag

Daylight is your best tool, free and unbeatable. On arrival, head out for a walk that first morning, tired or not.

• First night: bed at 9 p.m. local time, protests notwithstanding.
• First three days: slow days (hotel pool, nearby beach), zero intense sightseeing.
• Baby and toddler: keep the usual routine on the plane, then switch to local time the moment you land.

Picking the right place to stay

For a family with teens, connecting rooms beat a single family room (one big bed plus a sofa nobody likes). A buffet breakfast rescues picky eaters, and a pool or beach at the hotel is not a luxury but a necessity on rest days.

Family travel FAQ

Where should we go as a family for the first time?

Italy (Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany), Spain (Andalusia, Catalonia), or Portugal. Direct flight 2 to 3 hours, little or no time difference, reliable pediatric care, and supervised beaches. These are the safe bets for a first real trip with young kids.

Which destinations work for family travel with a baby?

European short-haul only for the first 18 months: the Mediterranean, Morocco, Tunisia. Look for a flight under 4 hours, a 0 to 1-hour time difference, and pediatricians on hand. Infant sleep copes poorly with big time-zone shifts.

What budget should we plan for a family of 4?

Over two weeks, flight from Paris included: €3,500 to €5,500 short-haul economy, €5,500 to €8,500 short-haul comfort, €7,500 to €12,000 long-haul comfort, €14,000 to €22,000 far-flung premium.

How do we travel as a family more cheaply?

Shift your dates a week past peak, book flights 8 to 10 weeks ahead, stay somewhere with a kitchenette to cook some meals, and compare departures from a secondary airport (Brussels, Geneva, Basel). Stack those four levers and the bill drops 25 to 40%.

How do we keep a teen engaged on a trip?

Hand them the planning for one full day, line up a shared sport (surf, kayak, bike), put a well-covered eSIM on their phone, and avoid back-to-back sightseeing. A teen needs downtime as much as activities.

What age is right for a first long-haul flight?

Six is the comfortable threshold: the child walks, follows instructions, sleeps on the plane, and genuinely enjoys what is on offer. Before that, a flight over 8 hours and a time difference over 4 hours often turn the first days into an emotional rollercoaster.

Which family travel insurance should we choose?

Aim for an unlimited or minimum €1,000,000 medical cap, activity coverage (snorkeling, skiing, riding), and 24/7 multilingual family assistance. Details in our travel insurance comparison.

Continue elsewhere

• Couples travel
• Two-week trips
• Europe hub
• Asia hub
• Travel budget calculator
• Best travel insurance

Page written by Laura P., family travel lead. Last updated: May 22, 2026.