The best exotic luxury destinations for young families
Traveling with younger kids is not easy, but it’s worth it. Nothing beats the joy of seeing your kids exposed to new cultures and trying out new activities. The key to a stress-free and exciting family holiday is proper planning. Of course, the destination is also a huge factor.
If you need tips on where to go, check out this list of the best exotic luxury destinations for young families.
beautiful ocean view
Luxury destinations for young families
Seychelles
An archipelago of more than a hundred islands spanning several miles of the Indian Ocean and home to gorgeous beaches and luxury resorts, Seychelles is more suited for couples on a romantic break. But for families looking for a new place to discover, you’ll find Seychelles has plenty to offer. From rugged peaks to lush vegetation, turquoise blue seas and incredible wildlife, your family holiday to Seychelles is guaranteed full of adventures.
The beaches are the biggest draw in Seychelles. You will find that some beaches have gently sloping sands and shallow waters, safe enough for your kids to swim in. The most popular among these beaches is the Anse Source d’Argent on Praslin, and it’s truly fabulous. In fact, it’s hailed one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and rightfully so. Featuring a beautiful mix of crystal-clear waters, golden sands, and impressive boulders, the Anse Source d’Argent will make your family holiday truly unforgettable.
Take your kids to the Anse Forbans on Mahé to observe turtles happily laying their eggs. The other beautiful beaches you should visit in Seychelles include Port Launay, Anse La Mouche, and Anse Royale. These beaches also offer fun water activities for adults and kids, where you can go snorkelling, kayaking, diving, and more!
The Maldives
Blessed with sapphire-blue seas, powdery-white sands, colourful underwater marine life, and some of the world’s most sophisticated resorts, the Maldives is the ultimate destination for an island getaway with the family. Spend your days playing with your kids in the waters, surfing off the lagoon, marvelling at the dazzling coral reefs on a snorkelling excursion, or kayaking in a glass-bottomed boat.
If your kids are interested in snorkelling or diving, the Maldives is the best place to introduce these activities. The atoll formations that make up the archipelago are so stunningly beautiful, making them an ideal spot to scuba dive. Most resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools, offering diving lessons to kids of all ages. Some even have a house reef, just a short distance from the beach!
But if your kids are still too young to go diving, take them on a kayaking tour onboard a glass-bottomed boat – an exciting way to see the stunning marine life the Maldives is known for. You can also ask your resort to organise shark and whale watching excursions, where you will have the opportunity to see whales, different sharks, dolphins, and more! You can read more about the Maldives here.
Barbados
Barbados is the perfect destination for a family holiday in the Caribbean. It has beautiful beaches, fascinating wildlife parks, and historic sites. In addition, the island has an excellent portfolio of luxury villas that cater to families with kids. You can even rent a luxury villa at the beachfront with child-friendly facilities, including a kiddie pool.
The southern and western coasts are the best areas for families in Barbados, as it’s home to fine beaches with calm waters, perfect for your little ones. Meanwhile, the rugged coast in the eastern part of the island is more suited to surfers. If you or your kids are into surfing, check out Bathsheba, the best surfing spot on the island. The waters of Barbados are also home to some incredible marine life. Here, you can swim with leatherback and hawksbill turtles as they feed amongst the colourful corals. You’ll also spot some turtles while diving or kayaking.
Families with active little kids should explore the Harrisons Cave. These crystallized limestone caverns have incredible stalagmites, stalactites, waterfalls, and emerald pools.
Barbados beach
Mauritius
Mauritius is a picturesque volcanic island that can be a perfect destination for an epic family holiday. Lying along the Indian Ocean, the island is home to idyllic beaches with powdery white sands and a varied landscape of lush sugarcane fields, dramatic mountains, and beautiful lagoons. There’s also a rich culture to discover on this fascinating island which makes it one of the perfect luxury destinations for young families.
Hop on a catamaran for a day trip to the nearby islet, the Île aux Cerfs, which lies off the east coast of Barbados. Here, you and your little ones can spend the day relaxing, snorkelling, swimming, or enjoying a pedalo ride in its turquoise waters. Back to the main island, book a guided walking tour along the sea floor using diving helmets. It’s an incredible opportunity to get up close to the fishes and corals without the need to go diving.
Take your kids to the Black River Gorges National Park in the southwest part of the island. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it has magnificent hiking trails that adventurous families can conquer.
Thailand
Thailand is the perfect destination for families looking to visit somewhere exotic. While most families would come here for its beautiful beaches, there is plenty to explore in this incredible country. It has majestic temples and palaces, bustling markets, and gorgeous caves.
Bangkok is the perfect base for your family trip to Thailand. It’s also where you’ll find most of the beautiful temples and palaces, so you should stop by the city before venturing to some other places. While in Bangkok, take your kids to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Temple of Wat Pho, which has the massive reclining Buddha.
If you want to visit Thailand’s beaches but don’t want to travel far from Bangkok, head to Pattaya, which is only two hours away. But for the best beaches, it’s worth taking an hour’s flight to Phuket, the largest island in the country. The tourism infrastructure of Phuket is well-developed, and many resorts cater to young families. The city of Chiang Mai is also worth a stop if you still have time. It’s home to lush jungles and some beautiful temples.
