Last minute family holidays

Most families travel in the summer holidays. Europe is always a top choice then – but if you’re thinking of a climbing, hiking, biking sort of holiday, it can often be too hot in many places to make the most of it. So if you are going for late availability on this one, consider the kids’ age ranges and whether they can be active in the heat. A lot of family holiday activities, such as in Lake Skadar, Montenegro, or on the island of Vis in Croatia, take that into consideration by starting your day a bit earlier to avoid the hottest part of the day. Inland Croatia, such as Velebit National Park, doesn’t get as much attention as the coast, but family holidays here are superb.

Other last minute summer holiday places to consider during the long break include Finland, where it is a bit cooler, but with long days for really squeezing every moment out of the holiday. And if you head to Canada, Colorado, or some of the northern national parks in the USA, you can still find snow in July sometimes – along with glistening lakes and rivers to kayak down. It’s also still warm in Vietnam at this time of year, so on a family adventure kayaking along Halong Bay or swimming in Hoi An, you won’t worry about the odd splash.

Ali Käräjäoja, from our Finnish friends Routa Travel, recommends a winter warmer:
“The dog sledding season starts in December and ends in early April, but for this and other winter activities, February and March are the best times, as there’s more daylight. If you come to Finland at the end of December it has its own mystical feel, as it’s dark all the time, which can be really great – but I prefer the sunshine.”

Rachel Blech is the co-founder of our holiday specialist SheherazadVentures, which runs tailor made family adventure holidays in Morocco. She explains why spring blooms are her bag: “If you go in low season (early December to mid-February and July or August), you avoid the crowds and high prices, but risk unpredictable weather when it can rain. In my view, the best times to visit Morocco are late February, March or April, when the almond blossom is filling the valleys on the road to Toubkal National Park and the Atlas Mountains. And also the Ounila Valley from Telouet to Ait Benhaddou, which is totally unspoiled as yet – the valleys are unreal emerald green and the road has little traffic.”