Read the real experiences of trail blazing families
Are you worried about taking the family to distant continents for a really amazing adventure? Taking your family to far-flung destinations can be a daunting prospect, but whatever the make up of your family there are many who have blazed a trail before you. Read here some real and independent reviews from families that have taken the plunge and find out how they got on in Asia, Africa and Latin America and hopefully they'll put your mind at ease and get you excited about the experiences you can give your family.
Africa
Africa has always been a firm favourite on responsibletravel.com and it is no different for our family holidays. From the 'Big 5' to golden sandy beaches, luscious jungles and ancient cultures to tribal villages, Africa has more than a lifetime's worth of sights and experiences to offer that will inspire even the most easily bored youngster.
Egypt family holiday - Susan Wilson says: For a family holiday this has to be one of the best. None of our three male teenagers complained about being bored - a first in 15 years. I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone with older children. Read the full review here
...and don't let being a single parent deter you either, as Liz Murray points out about her Egypt family holiday, Feluccas and Pharaohs : As a single mum, taking my children abroad for the first time on my own, I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday - our guide was brilliant and took care of everything. The holiday offered a perfect balance - time for me, sightseeing, and time for the kids in the hotel pool and camel trekking. The best part for me was watching my children enjoying themselves so much and having an experience they won’t forget.
Read the full review here
Even babies and toddlers can have a great time in exotic locations as Katherine Kenyon tells us about her Baby friendly holiday to Morocco : The most memorable part of the trip was without doubt the mountain trek on the mules - the scenery was fantastic and our 2 boys had a most wonderful time with their donkeys and their guides who resembled Jawa's from Star Wars which is every boy's fantasy! Full review and pictures here
Luxury family safari in Tanzania - Denise Hughes says: The best holiday we have ever had. For our 15 and 13 year old boys it was an incredible experience and an education like no other. We all feel we have been on safari in the true Swahili sense of the word - an amazing journey. Read the full review here
South Africa family holiday - Dave Reece says: Have no fears about bringing children as this is a very safe holiday. The guides and drivers are so warm, helpful and charming that they make everyone's time happy. They interact well with children, involve them in everything, they take part in every activity and are a limitless pool of energy and knowledge. Read the full review here
Kenya family safari - Elaine Wilson says: Our holiday was one of the best. We encourage anyone who hasn't been on a safari to book one with this company. Overall, it was a great experience for all of us. My children didn't want to leave. Read the full review here
Namibia family safari - Nicola Pulham says: We had a brilliant time in Namibia; it's a fantastic country with an amazing variety of scenery, wonderful birds and animals and a great climate. Compared to many other countries in Africa it is well run, has a reasonable infrastructure and can be enjoyed without too much hassle, important when travelling with 4 children. I would certainly recommend the trip to anyone even with young kids (ours 9-13). We saw so much and travelled huge distances but it never felt that we spent too long in the bus and there were always things to see out of the windows so kids happy. Rate it 10/10 Read the full review here
Search all Africa holidays here
Latin America
Travelling to Latin America offers a great chance to not only reconnect with nature, but also with your kids. It’s important you choose something your kids are interested in too as this traveler highlights. Find the right balance between your and your children's needs and the rewards will be a great holiday which is enjoyed by all...
Galapagos family holiday , Vimty Muir says: There were 9 children in the party and our 2 very excited children, 8 & 6, and although they loved every minute, the equatorial sun was difficult to escape and we had to really keep on top of their hydration.
Some of the other children in the group found the walks on the islands quite tiring and the geology less interesting! Need lots of sun-block, legionnaire hats and clothes to cover up. There was obviously a lot of travelling, on road, by boat and plane so it's a good idea for the kids to have books and things to play & make e.g. cards, drawing stuff, friendship bands etc. ***** We loved the holiday - it was the whole family's favourite to date and was made special because of the other families and the guides, especially in the Galapagos where Pedro, the local guide, was intelligent, fun and great with the children. Read the full review here
Cuba family holiday - Sallie Robins says: Had the most amazing time and am finding too hard to get back to real work and the real world! Hmm probably the best holiday since having children - absolutely fantastic mix that allowed us to experience culture etc without children being in any way bored - our seven year old son had such a great time - I can't even recall him complaining about anything apart from having to get out the pool eventually and go to bed at some point and of course come home! Read the full review here
Tailor made family holiday to Costa Rica - Joyce Chin says: There were so many memorable moments, but I would say the high point was watching a leatherback turtle lay her eggs near Playa Tamarindo at 2am on Christmas Day. It was a full moon that night so we could see. The Park rangers handled the visit very sensitively, ensuring that we were not disturbing the turtle as she went about her business. This was our National Geographic moment. Read the full review here
Search all Latin America holidays here
Asia
Asia is a great destination for families, with many safe family locations which will stir the senses and re-awaken your sense of adventure. We have a whole range of holidays to Asia on our site designed with families in mind, and below you can read how people who have travelled on these trips felt about taking their family to Asia...
Family holiday in Sri Lanka, elephant heaven - Dinah Perry says: The most memorable part of the trip for me was seeing the enormous excitement and pleasure my 2 daughters (aged 16 and 12) derived from their holiday.
This was their first trip outside of Europe and Sri Lanka provided a fantastic backdrop, the people, countryside, wildlife (elephants galore!) and cultural visits provided an exciting mix, and ample time to relax by beautiful pools provided an oasis of relaxation. Read the full review here
China family adventure - Ann Galli says: We had 2 teens and a 10 year old with us, and this was a great, adventure filled vacation for them. While kids younger than 10 could do this, you wouldn't be able to do some of the more adventurous things that the teenagers enjoyed so much (like biking in Yangshou countryside and dipping in the cave mud baths, bike racing around the city wall in Xi'an, or even crossing the street in Xi'an!) The kids did more than "see" another country, they "lived" in another country for 2 weeks. Read the full review here
Family holiday to Vietnam - Gill Holland says: The holiday we booked with you to Vietnam was everything I hoped it would be and more! Perfect for families as there was something of interest for everyone. Highlights included the water puppet show in Hanoi for my daughter, the overnight stay on the boat at Halong Bay for my son and for me it was the bicycle trip around the countryside of Hoi An. Not once on the trip did I hear "Are we there yet?" as the kids were kept entertained by our leader who was teaching them some Vietnamese! Read the full review here
Family holiday to Thailand, jungles and islands John Caswell says: Firstly - do give this type of holiday a go. I was a bit concerned before travelling that some members of the family might find some of the activities a bit too difficult, or the accommodation a bit too basic. However the company had clearly done a lot of work to make sure that this holiday had just the right mix of activity and excitement in order to make this a family adventure that the whole family could enjoy. Read the full review here
Although we all occasionally appreciate advice, sometimes it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt as Laurie Cohen points out about her Southern India family holiday - We all ate vegetarian food all the time which I guess was probably a good thing because it was delicious and we never got very sick. The main thing is that the concerns I had about incessant hassle together with possible illness seemed pretty unfounded. I could've saved myself a certain degree of anxiety if I'd ignored these stereotypes. Read the full review here
Malaysia family holiday - Catherine Wightman says: We had a fantastic time on our holiday. Some highlights especially for the children were camping overnight and trekking in the jungle; staying on a beautiful tropical island; seeing turtles, reef sharks and beautiful fish while snorkelling and eating all kinds of local food. All in all it was the best holiday we have done for my 13 and 15 yr old boys. They would have loved it from about 8 or 9 upwards. My 7 yr old girl also loved it but got much more tired. I would recommend it completely to anyone with fairly active children who aren't too fussy about food and don't mind things like ants in the bathrooms! Read the full review here
Search all Asia holidays here
Are you still feeling nervous about taking your family to far-flung destinations? Then do not hesitate to get in touch with our help-desk at amelia@responsibletravel.com , who can help you plan your holiday and discuss any concerns you may still have. Happy planning!
Are you a new parent? Have your kids grown up and gone on to take their own adventures? Let us know your trail-blazing family experiences by leaving a comment on our blog .
Africa Africa has always been a firm favourite on responsibletravel.com and it is no different for our family holidays. From the 'Big 5' to golden sandy beaches, luscious jungles and ancient cultures to tribal villages, Africa has more than a lifetime's worth of sights and experiences to offer that will inspire even the most easily bored youngster.
Egypt family holiday - Susan Wilson says: For a family holiday this has to be one of the best. None of our three male teenagers complained about being bored - a first in 15 years. I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone with older children. Read the full review here
...and don't let being a single parent deter you either, as Liz Murray points out about her Egypt family holiday, Feluccas and Pharaohs : As a single mum, taking my children abroad for the first time on my own, I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday - our guide was brilliant and took care of everything. The holiday offered a perfect balance - time for me, sightseeing, and time for the kids in the hotel pool and camel trekking. The best part for me was watching my children enjoying themselves so much and having an experience they won’t forget.
Read the full review here
Even babies and toddlers can have a great time in exotic locations as Katherine Kenyon tells us about her Baby friendly holiday to Morocco : The most memorable part of the trip was without doubt the mountain trek on the mules - the scenery was fantastic and our 2 boys had a most wonderful time with their donkeys and their guides who resembled Jawa's from Star Wars which is every boy's fantasy! Full review and pictures here
Luxury family safari in Tanzania - Denise Hughes says: The best holiday we have ever had. For our 15 and 13 year old boys it was an incredible experience and an education like no other. We all feel we have been on safari in the true Swahili sense of the word - an amazing journey. Read the full review here
South Africa family holiday - Dave Reece says: Have no fears about bringing children as this is a very safe holiday. The guides and drivers are so warm, helpful and charming that they make everyone's time happy. They interact well with children, involve them in everything, they take part in every activity and are a limitless pool of energy and knowledge. Read the full review here
Kenya family safari - Elaine Wilson says: Our holiday was one of the best. We encourage anyone who hasn't been on a safari to book one with this company. Overall, it was a great experience for all of us. My children didn't want to leave. Read the full review here
Namibia family safari - Nicola Pulham says: We had a brilliant time in Namibia; it's a fantastic country with an amazing variety of scenery, wonderful birds and animals and a great climate. Compared to many other countries in Africa it is well run, has a reasonable infrastructure and can be enjoyed without too much hassle, important when travelling with 4 children. I would certainly recommend the trip to anyone even with young kids (ours 9-13). We saw so much and travelled huge distances but it never felt that we spent too long in the bus and there were always things to see out of the windows so kids happy. Rate it 10/10 Read the full review here
Search all Africa holidays here
Latin America Travelling to Latin America offers a great chance to not only reconnect with nature, but also with your kids. It’s important you choose something your kids are interested in too as this traveler highlights. Find the right balance between your and your children's needs and the rewards will be a great holiday which is enjoyed by all...
Galapagos family holiday , Vimty Muir says: There were 9 children in the party and our 2 very excited children, 8 & 6, and although they loved every minute, the equatorial sun was difficult to escape and we had to really keep on top of their hydration.
Some of the other children in the group found the walks on the islands quite tiring and the geology less interesting! Need lots of sun-block, legionnaire hats and clothes to cover up. There was obviously a lot of travelling, on road, by boat and plane so it's a good idea for the kids to have books and things to play & make e.g. cards, drawing stuff, friendship bands etc. ***** We loved the holiday - it was the whole family's favourite to date and was made special because of the other families and the guides, especially in the Galapagos where Pedro, the local guide, was intelligent, fun and great with the children. Read the full review here
Cuba family holiday - Sallie Robins says: Had the most amazing time and am finding too hard to get back to real work and the real world! Hmm probably the best holiday since having children - absolutely fantastic mix that allowed us to experience culture etc without children being in any way bored - our seven year old son had such a great time - I can't even recall him complaining about anything apart from having to get out the pool eventually and go to bed at some point and of course come home! Read the full review here
Tailor made family holiday to Costa Rica - Joyce Chin says: There were so many memorable moments, but I would say the high point was watching a leatherback turtle lay her eggs near Playa Tamarindo at 2am on Christmas Day. It was a full moon that night so we could see. The Park rangers handled the visit very sensitively, ensuring that we were not disturbing the turtle as she went about her business. This was our National Geographic moment. Read the full review here
Search all Latin America holidays here
Asia Asia is a great destination for families, with many safe family locations which will stir the senses and re-awaken your sense of adventure. We have a whole range of holidays to Asia on our site designed with families in mind, and below you can read how people who have travelled on these trips felt about taking their family to Asia...
Family holiday in Sri Lanka, elephant heaven - Dinah Perry says: The most memorable part of the trip for me was seeing the enormous excitement and pleasure my 2 daughters (aged 16 and 12) derived from their holiday.
This was their first trip outside of Europe and Sri Lanka provided a fantastic backdrop, the people, countryside, wildlife (elephants galore!) and cultural visits provided an exciting mix, and ample time to relax by beautiful pools provided an oasis of relaxation. Read the full review here
China family adventure - Ann Galli says: We had 2 teens and a 10 year old with us, and this was a great, adventure filled vacation for them. While kids younger than 10 could do this, you wouldn't be able to do some of the more adventurous things that the teenagers enjoyed so much (like biking in Yangshou countryside and dipping in the cave mud baths, bike racing around the city wall in Xi'an, or even crossing the street in Xi'an!) The kids did more than "see" another country, they "lived" in another country for 2 weeks. Read the full review here
Family holiday to Vietnam - Gill Holland says: The holiday we booked with you to Vietnam was everything I hoped it would be and more! Perfect for families as there was something of interest for everyone. Highlights included the water puppet show in Hanoi for my daughter, the overnight stay on the boat at Halong Bay for my son and for me it was the bicycle trip around the countryside of Hoi An. Not once on the trip did I hear "Are we there yet?" as the kids were kept entertained by our leader who was teaching them some Vietnamese! Read the full review here
Family holiday to Thailand, jungles and islands John Caswell says: Firstly - do give this type of holiday a go. I was a bit concerned before travelling that some members of the family might find some of the activities a bit too difficult, or the accommodation a bit too basic. However the company had clearly done a lot of work to make sure that this holiday had just the right mix of activity and excitement in order to make this a family adventure that the whole family could enjoy. Read the full review here
Although we all occasionally appreciate advice, sometimes it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt as Laurie Cohen points out about her Southern India family holiday - We all ate vegetarian food all the time which I guess was probably a good thing because it was delicious and we never got very sick. The main thing is that the concerns I had about incessant hassle together with possible illness seemed pretty unfounded. I could've saved myself a certain degree of anxiety if I'd ignored these stereotypes. Read the full review here
Malaysia family holiday - Catherine Wightman says: We had a fantastic time on our holiday. Some highlights especially for the children were camping overnight and trekking in the jungle; staying on a beautiful tropical island; seeing turtles, reef sharks and beautiful fish while snorkelling and eating all kinds of local food. All in all it was the best holiday we have done for my 13 and 15 yr old boys. They would have loved it from about 8 or 9 upwards. My 7 yr old girl also loved it but got much more tired. I would recommend it completely to anyone with fairly active children who aren't too fussy about food and don't mind things like ants in the bathrooms! Read the full review here
Search all Asia holidays here
Are you still feeling nervous about taking your family to far-flung destinations? Then do not hesitate to get in touch with our help-desk at amelia@responsibletravel.com , who can help you plan your holiday and discuss any concerns you may still have. Happy planning!
Are you a new parent? Have your kids grown up and gone on to take their own adventures? Let us know your trail-blazing family experiences by leaving a comment on our blog .