For Babies…
LONDON
Under 2s are actually quite good everywhere, and very transportable in different timezones (not to mention free to travel on flights). Take advantage of the buggy years and use this time to go on city breaks – London, Paris, Amsterdam or New York City.
Stay at The Clova Road Residence in East London for the cutest baby and kids rooms!
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Long haul flights can be daunting with a baby, but if they’re still napping (or not yet walking) this is probably a great opportunity to take a long haul flight. In Thailand the locals love little visitors, and you can take advantage of traveling at any time of the year for winter sun before they start school.
Stay at The Villa Sand in Thailand for heaps of handy baby equipment on site
THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
European islands love little kids and they’re well set up for regular tourists in the beach towns. The Balearic islands are small, meaning wherever you stay there will be lots to do within walking distance and plenty of safe, sandy beaches to visit. Many of the larger towns will also have paved boardwalks on the beach so you can try naps in the buggy while you walk.
Stay at The Mar Suites Residence in Mallorca for stroller access to historic Palma
Kid & Coe Tip:
Avoid anywhere with lots of long distance internal travel, such as India or South Africa, as you might find that long car journeys and slow train travel are quite exhausting and you’re probably already feeling pretty wiped out by the sleepless nights.
For Toddlers…
ITALY
The ultimate spot for fussy eaters. Restaurant owners love doting on toddlers and plying them with pasta, grissini or pizza. The country is small enough to hop from a rural villa with a pool, to a day out in the city or a sandy beach, so you can keep them entertained with different activities each day.
Stay at The Piegaro Residence in Umbria for the most amazing soft play room
FRANCE
Villas and in France are perfect for family breaks and often have everything you need to create a home-from-home without leaving your door. Get a place with its own pool, where toddlers can nap indoors during the day and you can snooze outside. Even better, find somewhere within walking distance to a restaurant or a village for daily bakery trips.
Stay at The Fontvielle Residence in the South of France for naps on the Bali-style pool beds
COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen is so good for toddlers – there are manned playgrounds where they can just hang out and play in, or ride in cargo bikes around the city. There’s also plenty of family-friendly things to do in the city, such as children’s museums and the summer harbor swimming, plus lots of culture for parents too.
Stay at The Madvigs Alle Residence for a quick trip to Copenhagen Zoo
Kid & Coe Tip:
Think twice about long haul flights because traveling with a toddler can be tricky. They don’t have the concentration to watch a film or use an iPad, but IT CAN BE DONE! Check out our guide to Traveling Internationally with Toddlers.
For School Age…
COSTA RICA
This is the perfect age for an adventure! Think hiking holidays, wild swimming or cycling in the forests – it’s a great time to explore the outdoors. A trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica would be a wonderful experience for the whole family and you could combine it with surfing or beach days on the Pacific coast.
Stay at The Ocotal Beach Residence for the bunk room and howler monkeys nearby
CALIFORNIA
A wonderland of entertainment options for kids! Here you can follow whatever they’re into: aquariums, amusement parks, surfing, beaches or the more cultural sights of LA if they’re interested in films or museums.
Stay at The Rustic Canyon Residence in Santa Monica for the exotic garden play areas
GREEK ISLANDS
One of the big hitters for European family holidays. The islands are fully geared up for tourists in summer, so you’ll find plenty of restaurants to cater for (sometimes fussy) international visitors, heaps of sandy beaches to choose from and loads of great villas with pools where kids can jump on inflatables and run around the garden all day.
Stay at The Elounda Villas in Crete for the garden playground and watersports at the nearby beach
Kid & Coe Tip:
Unless they’re in love with learning, this might be the age to avoid a long stay in a city. A one-day museum trip will be great, but day-after-day pounding the streets without a buggy will take its toll on young kids who might just be longing for a day at the beach.
For Teenagers…
PARIS
City breaks could be back on for this age group – they’ll be into shopping trips, visiting art galleries and up for trying different foods. Paris will have a certain glamor for teens, along with London, Rome or more of the adventurous cities around the world like Japan.
Stay at The Leopold Bellan Residence for great teen bedrooms
CENTRAL AMERICA
Even teens will be impressed with the laid-back vibes of Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil. Adventurous types can swim in cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula, try out the surf on the Pacific coast or seek out whales and turtles. Families will also love the fantastically easy food and sandy beaches all around.
Stay at The Casa Dos Chicos Residence in Mexico for a short, independent stroll to the beach
AMSTERDAM
Artistic and creative teens will appreciate the design aesthetics in The Netherlands (think of the Instagram-worthy street scenes) and the cool cafe culture. It’s also small enough for older teens to get around on foot or by bike so they can have some independence too.
Stay at The Palenstrinastraat Residence for bikes and activities ideal for tweens and teens
Kid & Coe Tip:
Countryside vacations are not going to be as successful or pain-free as they are for younger children at this point. Being somewhere buzzy helps! They need to be plugged in to stay in touch with their friends (or if you can invite a friend along too, even better).
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/museumkwartier/the-palestrinastraat-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/santa-monica/the-rustic-canyon-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/guanacaste/the-ocotal-beach-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/frederiksberg/the-madvigs-alle-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/arles/the-fontvieille-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/umbria/the-piegaro-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/phuket/the-villa-sand