If you’re planning a luxury family holiday we have just the list for you – the top five unique and indulgent family holiday experiences, as compiled by TravelManagers’ Adela Backhouse.
1. Lapland, Finland
You can’t go past Christmas time in Lapland – after all, it is the home of Santa. Finland’s Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is the perfect place to experience the Northern Lights, husky and reindeer safaris and they even have an ‘ice tank’. It’s the ‘place to be’ on your family Lapland adventure. You can even stay in an ice or glass igloo, or even a chalet and of course visit Santa’s Home. Once the kids are tuckered out from playing in the snow, you can settle into your chic but cosy villa and reward your exertions with a glass of red wine.
2. The Big Island, Hawaii
The Fairmont Orchid provides families of all ages and stages with the most amazing holiday experience because they understand the needs of travelling families and work hard to ensure you have everything you could wish for in a luxurious setting. The hotel overlooks a tranquil lagoon that is ideal for stand-up paddle boarding, turtle spotting (in their own turtle sanctuary on the beach), and the restaurants cater extremely well for children, with menus tailored specifically to appeal to younger appetites. Kids aged 5-12 years can join in the fun at the hotel kids’ program so that parents can relax and rejuvenate in the breath-taking ‘Spa without Walls’.
3. Vietnam
Vietnam is an increasingly popular family destination, and itineraries can be tailored to provide family-friendly experiences. You can choose from a wide selection of luxury, boutique-style hotels and resorts, indulge at fine restaurants where cuisine is prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, unwind in luxurious day spas and engage private guides to ensure that your day tours and transportation are seamless. Favourite luxury properties that cater to families include Saigon’s extravagantly-elegant The Reverie and Hoi An’s stunning Allegro Hoi An – Little Luxury Hotel & Spa.
4. Copperhill Mountain Lodge, Åre, Sweden
This luxury ski lodge is open year-round in the hills of Sweden, and transforms from a snowy wonderland in summer to a gorgeous base for hiking during summers. Its luxury villas and rooms comfortably accommodate even the largest of family groups, and they offer organised activities for children, a ski school, and sustainably-produced and beautifully-prepared local produce in their restaurant. Packages include family Christmas packages during the winter and hiking packages during the summer – they’ll even promise to wake you should the Northern Lights put in an appearance.
5. Aore Island Resort, Espíritu Santo, Vanuatu
This treasure in the South Pacific is the ideal place in which to unwind – a boutique luxury resort that offers beautifully-made bungalows constructed from locally-sourced materials, decorated with local art work and fabrics. Activities for the children include basket-weaving, collecting coconuts (and drinking the sweet, fresh coconut water inside) and guided walks. Child-minding services are available day or night so you can schedule an occasional child-free hour or two for pampering in the resort’s day spa or diving on one of the island’s many famed shipwrecks. The laid-back island atmosphere makes it a great holiday destination in which to treat yourself to a cocktail, indulge in the spectacular seafood tower and let the kids run free.
To book any of these amazing holiday experiences, contact personal travel manager Adela Backhouse here or visit her on Instagram
