Where to Travel with Kids Outside of the School Holidays
As a working mum, you’ll understand the value of taking the time to go on holiday with your children. Not only does it give you a chance to take a breather from the pace of your day-to-day life, but it’s also an important opportunity to make memories together as a family and enjoy new experiences together.
Planning a trip that coincides with the school holidays can be tricky however, especially when you consider how busy popular destinations always get outside of term time. Not only do you need to make sure you plan your trips well in advance, but you also need to reckon with the fact that peak season prices will probably make your holiday quite expensive.
Travelling outside of the school holidays is a great way to avoid the busyness of peak times and also get the best value for the money that you spend on your trip. This is obviously easier to organise if you have very young children who aren’t yet at school, but you also have the option to travel over weekends and make the most of bank holidays.
In this article, we’re sharing our recommendations for some of the best places to travel with kids outside of the school holidays.
Table of Contents
Tenerife
The Canary Islands have always been a popular holiday destination thanks to their wonderfully warm weather and beautiful beaches. This Spanish archipelago is a great place to visit outside of the school holidays as you can still expect temperatures to be high and the sun to be shining without also feeling overwhelmed by crowds.
Holidays to Tenerife are a great family holiday destination not only because of the wonderful beaches and temperate weather but also because of the things to do on the island. There are some truly incredible waterparks as well as museums, animal parks and the opportunity to take your children on a snorkelling excursion or a boat trip.
The great thing about staying in villas in Tenerife outside of the peak season is that you can take your pick from some truly stunning properties, giving you and your family the space to really relax. A villa is a great choice for a trip with children as it means you have the space to unwind and the facilities to cook for yourselves, which is ideal with younger family members.
Malta
Another island travel destination that is great for family holidays is Malta, which you’ll find south of Italy in the Mediterranean. It’s another European country with a wonderfully warm climate for a lot of the year and has the advantage of being English-speaking, making it easy to explore.
Despite Malta’s small size, the archipelago packs in a lot of variety which is ideal for sightseeing and gives you quite a few child-friendly attractions to choose from. You can visit an aquarium, enjoy large public gardens, and explore historic towns like Valetta and Mdina, all whilst enjoying the country’s incredibly safe reputation.
Switzerland
If you’re looking for an outdoorsy travel destination to take your children outside of the school holidays, Switzerland is a wonderful choice. It’s a country on the pricier side to visit, but if you travel outside of the peak season you’ll be able to get the best deals and enjoy exploring the cities or getting out and about in the countryside.
Switzerland is renowned for being safe, clean and organised, with an impressively multi-lingual population that means you won’t have to worry too much about learning the local language to get by. It’s easy to get around the towns and cities on public transport, and once you’re out in the mountains you can enjoy incredible views of the idyllic alpine landscapes without any interruptions.
You can spend your holiday in one of Switzerland’s ski resorts whether you visit the country in summer or winter, as both seasons have a lot to offer families in terms of things to do. Snowsports in smaller resorts like Val d’Anniviers is great outside of the Christmas holidays, or you and your kids can enjoy a picturesque stay in a chalet filled with good food and gentle walks in the spring or summer.
Turkey
Turkey is rising in popularity as a holiday destination for families thanks to its incredibly welcoming attitude towards visitors and the wonderful beaches along the country’s coast. Whilst the popular resorts can feel very busy during the peak of the school holidays, it’s a fantastic place to visit during term time if you have pre-school-aged children and are looking for an all-inclusive option where everyone can relax.
Bodrum is a classic option for a beach holiday in Turkey, which also has the advantage of several great cultural attractions and the option to visit nearby Kos or Rhodes for a day. You’ll find some of the best beaches in Antalya, which is a little less glamorous but better suited to families with older children who want a wider range of things to do.
Cornwall
Our final suggestion for where to travel with kids outside of the school holidays is a UK destination. The south coast of the country tends to get absolutely flooded with visitors over the summer holidays. But if you visit outside of this peak season then you’ll be able to enjoy the Cornish coast when it’s tranquil and perfect for laid-back exploration.
You’ve got so many incredible places to choose from when it comes to holidays in Cornwall, from the surfer’s haven of Newquay to glamorous St Ives or artsy Penzance. It’s easiest to get around Cornwall if you have a car, as this allows you to visit the coast’s wide variety of beaches and attractions without having to rely on the sometimes limited public transport.
Cornwall in the spring offers an absolutely stunning holiday experience, where you’ll be able to stroll down deserted beaches, explore quaint art galleries and independent shops, and make the most of the sunshine when it appears. Whether you’re taking some time off with very young children to explore the region, or looking for a weekend break destination, Cornwall is a fantastic choice.
Summary
Travelling outside of the school holidays for every trip that you take with your children might not always be possible. But if you are able to then it does open up a lot of possibilities to visit destinations that might otherwise have been too busy or expensive, giving you plenty more options when it comes to planning a trip that everyone will enjoy.