Family holidays with mixed-age children

There’s something wonderful about families where the children are a wide variety of ages; nothing warms the cockles like seeing a teen lose the scowl as they play with a younger sibling. And we’ve all seen the superhuman efforts that the youngest child can make to ensure they keep up with older brothers and sisters.

Of course when planning holidays with big age gaps between children, a bit of careful thought needs to be given to make sure it works. It has to be challenging enough for the older children, but accessible for the younger ones. You don’t want to indulge one group whilst the other sits on the sidelines feeling that they are missing out.

This is where we come into our own. Our team have travelled extensively with our own families, whether that’s stepfamilies, blended families or just families with big age-gaps between siblings, and we know what works. We can recommend not only the best destinations, but the right activities to do when you are there, to make sure everyone is happy.

Slovenia

Top 10 Best destinations for families with children of mixed ages

Here are some of our top recommendations for destinations that work well when the children vary significantly in age:

Vietnam – This is such a great destination for mixed age groups, with masses of variety and plenty to keep everyone occupied. There’s culture, history, beautiful scenery, sensational food and fabulous beaches.
South Africa – South Africa has so much variety that there’s always something for everyone. What works particularly well here is that you can do a bit of a taster safari (potentially in an area where you don’t need malaria tablets), but can then combine this with other things so that it’s not too much for younger kids.
Jordan – A holiday in Jordan is SO much more varied than you might think. There are just brilliant activities for all ages here, with camel rides, racing down sand dunes, incredible scenery and history, and both the Red and the Dead Seas, both of which are amazing for families.
Morocco – Morocco is fantastic for kids of all ages and a particular favourite amongst our travellers. Short flight times work well for younger kids, but there is masses to keep older ones entertained here too, from camel treks to markets to mountains and more.
Colombia – This might be an unexpected addition to the list, but in fact Colombia is one of the few South American countries that really works a treat for younger kids as well as teens. The cities are vibrant and lively with masses for everyone to do, but there are also lots of younger-child-friendly activities (like boat rides, beaches, cable cars and loads of wildlife).
Mexico – Mexico has a winning combination of culture, beach, history, (easy) activities and wonderful food. It’s absolutely perfect for all ages (particularly if you concentrate on the Yucatan Peninsula) and there are direct flights from London too.
USA – It’s a bit of a cliché, but the USA really is a continent in a country, and as a result there’s something for everyone. The classic California coastal route works superbly, but there are lots of options depending on what makes you tick. Wildlife, scenery, Disney, cities, beaches, bears and so much more!
Canada – One of our most popular destinations, Canada is an excellent choice for families with mixed-age children. The East and West offer two totally different experiences, but both are packed with accessible and fun activities.
Iceland – Iceland has so much to offer, and this applies whether travelling with toddlers, tweens, teens or all three! Although a few activities have a minimum age, there’s so much variety here that you can easily design a trip that works for everyone.
Sri Lanka – This is just perfect for families with mixed ages, as there’s so much variety but no real age restrictions on anything. Scenery, culture, lovely people and incredible food all make for a wonderfully attractive combination, which you can top off with idyllic beaches too!

Also consider: Greece, Oman, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Kenya and Slovenia

Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast

How we plan holidays for families with children of mixed ages

Parents often ask us how they can plan a holiday when their children are of completely different ages. It’s a good question but this is absolutely not an insurmountable problem. We’ve spent years mastering the art of balancing adventurous teenagers with younger siblings, so that everyone is happy (including the parents!).

These are some of the things we might take into account so that everyone has a holiday that they’ll love.

For some families, it works well to occasionally have different options for the younger and older kids; older children might head off white-water rafting with one parent, for example, whereas younger kids might go on a more gentle boat trip with the other. No rule says everyone has to do the same thing every minute of every day. This doesn’t work for every family, of course, who may prefer to be together at all times, or if they only have one adult travelling.
If the family prefers to stick together, we can often arrange an easy and a harder version of an activity. For example, we can include a hike for the older kids, but arrange a donkey to come along with you so that younger children can ride instead. Or for bike rides, we can often arrange tag-alongs and trailers so that the whole family can join in.
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years, it’s that swimming pools are the great family equaliser. Teenagers may dip in and then sit on a sun-lounger with AirPods firmly stuck in their ears, while younger kids splash around for hours. But everyone is happy.
Our guides are experts at reading the room. They’ll know when younger children need to let off steam and when older siblings are ready for a little more detail, naturally adapting the day so everyone stays engaged.
Pick your destination carefully (with our help); some countries have a wide range of adventure activities, but with minimum ages. These don’t suit families with varied age ranges, as the older kids feel that they are missing out and not necessarily able to do all the things they might want to do. It tends to be far better to travel to a country where minimum age restrictions seldom apply.

Mother with teenager and younger son, exploring Mayan ruins at Tikal, example of kids of different ages on a family holiday

Tikal, Guatemala

Planning a holiday for children of different ages?

No two families are the same, particularly when siblings are at very different stages in their development. Tell us about your children, their ages and the sort of holiday you’re dreaming of, and we’ll create a tailor-made itinerary that keeps everyone engaged, from the youngest to the oldest.

Start planning your family holiday.

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