Our Blog

In today's post, we're thrilled to unveil something we've poured our hearts into for quite some time...

Disclaimer: your family holidays will be STRESS-FREE from now on!

Where it all started... The story behind...

Activities Abroad first launched in 2002 and our ethos has always been ‘FAMILY MADE, FAMILY HOLIDAYS’. We are incredibly proud of the exciting destinations, activities, and experiences we offer families looking to share memorable experiences.

As many of our own team have had children and started to plan their first holidays with them, it became a point of conversation how there were no travel companies specialising in holidays for babies, toddlers, and young children and how (despite working in the travel industry) booking our own holidays was, at times, a laborious and frustrating process.

WE DECIDED TO REMEDY THIS by applying our 20 years of experience researching destinations and creating holiday packages with our own personal knowledge of the specialised needs and wants when travelling with young children.

 Why choose to book your family holiday with Activities Abroad? 

YEAR-ROUND SUN DESTINATIONS 

Discover our year-round sun destinations designed to create unforgettable experiences for families with young children and toddlers. We are delighted to present Madeira, Cyprus, and Sardinia as our first wave of destinations with more exciting sun-soaked destinations coming your way very soon!

Imagine endless possibilities for your family as you escape to these paradises, where the weather is always on your side. Let your little one's relish in the joy of building sandcastles and bask in a constant supply of Vitamin D throughout the entire year.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS

We want you to make your journey stress-free from the moment you step out the door. So, we offer free UK airport transfer service* for most of our trips, ensuring a smooth and comfortable start to your family holiday. In-destination Airport transfers are a matter of course.

 *UK Airport Transfers: Return transfers to/from London or Manchester airports (within 50 miles). Regional UK transfer options may be possible, depending upon availability.

HAND-PICKED DESTINATIONS & CHILD-FRIENDLY AMENITIES

We spent a long time brainstorming exactly what it is we look for from hotels when we are considering them for our own family holidays. Of course, each family is different, but we quickly found very similar themes in our wants and needs from our holidays.

We have handpicked hotels in a wide variety of destinations with a family theme running throughout

Family friendly rooming options

Short airport transfers

Direct flights from the UK

Walking distance to a shop to buy essentials (snacks, nappies, sun cream, etc.)

Great facilities on site to keep kids entertained (including kids clubs or babysitting in many locations)

Space for kids to just be kids so everyone can relax

We have also compiled extensive lists of essential equipment (or those who go above and beyond for even more convenience!) but most importantly you know in advance which saves you buying (and then packing) any unnecessary child-related paraphernalia.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATION 

However, we've got a few delightful surprises in store for parents as well. Indulge in the culinary artistry of a Michelin-starred featured chef, and relish opportunities for relaxation at luxurious hotels that offer top-tier services, including spa experiences.

Over the coming weeks we’ll reveal more about these exciting destinations, but for now, you can see our first set of holidays released in Cyprus, Madeira & Sardinia at NEW FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Subscribe to our social media and newsletter to be the first one to know when we add new destinations.

Alison from Customer Services has recently been on our Marrakech and Essaouira trip and has written a blog about her experience...

Some places capture your heart. Morocco captures all of your senses. Intoxicating spices, vibrant, fresh herbs and smoking barbeques; every twist and turn of the souks brings a new aroma and a feast for the eyes.

Our trip began in Marrakech. Everything I had read in preparation was true; it really was a dazzling sensory smorgasbord. We meandered through the frenetic Jemaa el-Fnaa – the city’s famous square that bustled with street entertainers, fruit stalls and a craft fair. We balanced navigating the absorbing souks with their looming power to engulf you forever, with casual drinks on one of the many beautiful rooftop bars.

April is nearly upon us and the days are getting longer; with that, summer 2022 is fast approaching. This is the perfect time to book your next family holiday together which will help to make up for lost time. Summer 2022 is the perfect time to go on an adventure with your loved ones. So, we have picked six of our Family Travel Expert’s favourite summer adventure holidays to offer you some inspiration.

Portugal – Surf’s Up on the Alentejo Coast

The Alentejo coast is Portugal’s best-kept secret. With stunning scenery that ranges from dramatic, rocky cliffs to expansive sandy beaches, there is plenty of space for an amazing family getaway. This is the ideal location for surfing enthusiasts, with the gorgeous coastline creating the perfect conditions to achieve great surfing waves. It is an area known for its delicious local cuisine and extreme natural beauty, with the Mira, Europe’s cleanest river, running close by. The Alentejo coast offers a great combination of sun and activities that are perfect for a family adventure holiday.

Here at Activities Abroad, we treasure the magic of Christmas and believe it is something to be enjoyed by the whole family. Our Father Christmas holidays are thoughtfully chosen to offer every family member a truly genuine and authentic experience filled with festive fun. What better way to spend the holidays than with the big man himself? With so many exciting Christmas trips on offer, we can help you choose the perfect fit for you and your family. 

Our Father Christmas holidays are tried and tested by the families of our very own team, so you can be sure that these trips offer you the best of the season’s festivities, with both sophistication and fun so that there is always something for everyone. We’ve compiled this handy guide to help with the festive decision-making so you can choose an unforgettable Father Christmas break.

An Arctic escape to magical Lapland is normally at the top of every family's wish list. But with so many incredible winter wonderland experiences that the whole family can enjoy available, it can prove difficult to choose exactly what to do on your own winter break. Read on for our top three Lapland experiences to help you plan your dream Arctic itinerary:

From seeing the invisible to swimming for miles, these marvellous mammals are full of tricks. Find out some fun facts below!

Several weeks into lockdown and we don’t blame you if your lesson planning is starting to feel a little uninspired. So, we thought we would help…at least with a Science lesson (and maybe a dash of Geography, History and Art too!).

Introduce your young explorers to the wonder of the Northern Lights in our Mini Guide to Aurora Hunting.

We know Easter weekend will be a little different for us all this year and although our original plans will have changed, there’s no reason why we can’t make new traditions together as a family! 

Here is some inspiration from family traditions across Scandinavia...

World Book Day celebrates children's stories and the love of reading. Here at Activities Abroad, it is one of our favourite days in the school calendar! Not only is it a chance for parents to share their favourite books with their children and help develop their imaginations but we also believe that there is something magical about picking up a book and transporting yourself to somewhere else in the world with just the turn of a page!

After we received such a fantastic response to our #MyActivitiesAbroad competition that we ran over the Christmas holidays, we decided to run it again over February half term!