Travel was officially back on the map last year. After two years of staring at four walls, people were eager to explore and this year is shaping up to be even more adventurous. Travel agents are reporting a return to long-haul luxury travel, with Irish families willing to spend up to €26,000. “In 2022 85 per cent of what we sold was Europe,” says Brendan Breen, the managing director of the luxury travel agency Oroko. “Already we’re seeing a huge shift, with families looking to book that long-haul adventure holiday. Those kids that were 11 in 2019 are now 15, so many parents want that once-in-a-lifetime trip before it becomes ‘uncool’ to holiday with your family.”
As any parent knows, a well-executed family holiday can be difficult to get right, and after playing it safe for the past two summers, that run-of-the-mill beach break feels a bit boring, so we’ve rounded up some of the best luxury breaks to keep everyone happy, from mum and dad to sulky teens and tetchy toddlers.
The Maldives
Best for: budding marine biologists.
Since its first resort opened in 1972, the Maldives has been seducing visitors with bone-white sandy beaches, cobalt-blue waters, Bounty-ad sunshine, world-class diving and now more than 170 luxury resorts catering for every whim. The one-resort-per-island policy means you have your own patch of Indian Ocean paradise without the crowds. Many of the resorts, once honeymoon outposts, now cater for families. Activities include kids’ clubs, outdoor cinemas, treetop restaurants and the chance for wannabe marine biologists to help with one of the islands’ many conservation projects, including monitoring endangered turtles and reseeding coral reefs.
Go: Anantara Kihavah Maldives has family activities including marine biology programmes, as well as an underwater restaurant and an outdoor movie theatre. Six nights at a family beach pool villa for one adult and one child, including flights and transfers, from €15,890 with Scott Dunn; scottdunn.com
British Columbia, Canada
Best for: nature lovers.
Sandwiched between snowcapped peaks, lush forests and sandy beaches, Vancouver has an unparalleled blend of laid-back leisure and raw beauty. Summer or winter, you can get outside and experience all it has to offer, from skiing the peaks of the Coast Mountains or strolling through Stanley Park to sailing the coastline and exploring its untouched hinterland. Take the Rocky Mountaineer train through the glittering peaks of the Rockies or get up close with grizzly bears on a wildlife tour.
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Go: get a culture hit in Vancouver as well as a wildlife experience while staying in a luxury lodge on the Great Bear Nature Tour with American Holidays. Eleven nights, including flights, accommodation, transfers, tours, food and drinks, from €6,099pp; americanholidays.com
Sani Resort, Halkidiki, Greece
Best for: sun, sea, sand and survival.
If you’re after that ultimate luxury fly-and-flop, Sani Resort balances serious indulgence for parents with a whole lot of consideration for kids of all ages. The sprawling resort in Halkidiki revolves around five linked hotels bookended by pristine beaches and pine forests. Apart from a long list of activities to suit the entire brood, from diving to tennis, the hotel’s Bear Grylls Survival Academy might appeal to your adventurous charges as they learn how to build rafts and shelters while the adults decompress poolside.
Go: seven nights’ half-board for two adults and one child in May, including flights with Ryanair, from €2,716 with Cassidy Travel; cassidytravel.ie
Costa Rica
Best for: eco-conscious families.
You’re unlikely to hear the words “I’m bored” on a trip to Costa Rica — a destination that has it all for the outdoorsy family, with luxury bolt holes and plenty of eco credentials. The lush landscape hums with exotic wildlife and conservation here is a national cause, so expect activities to centre on protecting its ecology. Witness turtles laying eggs at night, go jaguar spotting amid rainforests, then loll on one of the country’s beautiful beaches.
Go: Oroko’s National Parks of Costa Rica family tour takes in San José, Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde and Tamarindo with guided hikes, canal tours and a visit to Selvatura Adventure Park. Fourteen nights for two adults and two children, including flights, transfers, accommodation and experiences, from €4,229pp; orokotravel.ie
Island hopping, Greece
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Best for: an authentic slice of Greece.
The Greek islands are a shoo-in when it comes to a family beach holiday. Always sunny, laid-back charm with top-notch tavernas, and culture and history to boot. And with more than 200 inhabited islands, you can cherry pick your Greek adventure depending on what suits the clan. Dip into mythology on Delos, hike the hills on Andros or take to the waters for windswept fun on Lefkada. A glut of five-star resorts dotted across the islands means it’s a one-size-fits-all solution for families needing sunshine and five-star service and everything in between.
Go: Oroko’s Island Hopping package includes Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Ten nights for two adults and two children, including flights, transfers, accommodation and experiences, from €4,799pp; orokotravel.ie
East Africa
Best for: multigenerational bonding.
Some dream of the “big five” safari experience, others the culinary highlights. Either way, Africa tops a lot of families’ bucket lists. What could be more exciting than seeing a real-life Simba or cartoonish fish dancing in the Indian Ocean? Multiple national parks and family-friendly lodges mean safari is accessible and appeals to all ages. It’s worth looking at camps that offer special activities for children, such as shorter game drives, nature walks and bushcraft.
Go: a seven-night Tanzanian luxury safari, including accommodation, flights, tours and transfers, from €6,599pp with Sunway; sunway.ie
Portugal
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Best for: laid-back beach-city luxury.
Lisbon packs a punch when it comes to city breaks. There’s the coastal location, rich history, castles and a vibrant restaurant and social scene. Martinhal Resorts has just launched its Martinhal Residences in the city offering a home from home for families. Bolt on a few days at its sister property in Sagres, a child-orientated luxury resort on the Algarve, where children go from beach to pool to games room, trampolines and football pitches, enabling parents to steal some time at the spa or chill at the slick villas.
Go: Lisbon residences from €148 per night for a studio apartment (self-catering). Martinhal Sagres from €414 per night in a hotel room with breakfast, and from €518 per night in a two-bedroom villa self-catering; martinhal.com
Mexico
Best for: adventure and culture.
Mexico is a long-haul destination that’ll deliver in spades. With its windswept beaches, charming towns and rich culture, it has been drawing the crowds with a slew of cool family-friendly hotels that have opened across the country, from the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya to One&Only Mandarina in Puerto Vallarta. If you’re after snorkelling and diving, head for Cozumel, while for adventurous fun visit the eco-parks Xcaret and Xel-Há. If those don’t steer teens from the screens, a visit to the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve to spot dolphins, sea turtles and crocodiles might do the trick, followed by the spectacular Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.
Go: fourteen nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa from €2,149pp, with flights departing June 12. Save an extra €250 on this hotel with Tui; tuiholidays.ie
Japan
Best for: curious minds and culture.
Currently topping the travel trend polls as Asia’s most-wanted destination is Japan, not somewhere traditionally high on families’ wish lists. There’s sushi and skyscrapers, high-speed rail and robots, temples and tea ceremonies. The country’s big two, Tokyo and Kyoto, will take up a chunk of your itinerary. About an hour and a half away from Tokyo is Hakone, where kids can ride on gondolas over a volcanic crater and sail across a lake in a pirate galleon under the gaze of Mount Fuji. Boredom is a kid’s true nemesis but there’s no fear of that setting in here.
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Go: Trailfinders’ Absolute Luxury Japan package has the highlights of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Miyajima and Osaka, with transfers on the bullet train and overnights in five-star luxury. Ten days from €7,141pp; trailfinders.ie
California
Best for: theme-park addicts.
California is a natural playground with clement weather, golden stretches of sand, rolling surf, craggy mountains, cool museums, exhilarating cities and theme parks. Road tripping between San Francisco and Los Angeles serves up some of the best of the state, from whale watching in Monterey Bay to walking among giant redwoods in Muir Woods and surfing in Santa Cruz, with the promise of rides at Disneyland and Universal Studios in Hollywood at the end.
Go: Trailfinders has a range of family breaks in California that tie in outdoor adventure, theme parks and ranch ride-outs from €4,249 per family; trailfinders.ie