The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands is an ideal winter sun family holiday destination with sun, sea and golden sand and plenty of family friendly hotels. If you are travelling from the UK and Ireland, you will stay in the same time zone which is great when you are travelling with little ones as jet lag is avoided. The Canaries are a 4 hour flight from the UK and Ireland and this can be tough with busy little toddlers so make sure you bring plenty of distractions for the plane or better yet, book an evening flight so they can sleep. Temperatures in the Canaries reach 23-26 degrees Celsius during the day and dip to around 17 degrees at night during the winter months. This is ideal for babies and toddlers as it is not too hot. There are also some great family friendly accommodation options and almost all restaurants will have high chairs and changing tables.
Family Friendly Hotels in the Canary Islands
The Princesca Yaiza is a luxury hotel has a number of selling points including a prime seafront location, fantastic pools and the option of two-bed family suites connected to the main hotel with their own facilities. The hotel is set on a beachside location and is very family friendly. There is a kids club called Kikoland where kids aged 3 up can enjoy entertainment and activities. Younger kids will be required to have parental supervision. Kikoland features swimming pools, mini-clubs, playhouses, sports courts, an amphitheatre for shows, musicals and parties, and a soccer school.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai, located in the Emirates has great winter weather, with plenty of sunshine (January has temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius by day and 14 degrees by night) and beaches, making it an ideal winter sun destination for families. Locals love children and Dubai has long attracted expat families, so the young are well catered for – many hotel crèches and clubs, for instance, are used by non-guests. There are loads of fun filled activities here also such as water parks the Atlantis The Palm and the Arabian-themed Wild Wadi where there are gentle wading pools and shaded areas. There are also loads of parks in the city and Dubai Mall is a perfect air conditioned place for toddlers where the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo features the world’s largest aquarium viewing panel. There are so many other amazing things to do in Dubai with little ones. All in all, the perfect sun holiday destination.
Family Friendly Hotels in Dubai
The Atlantis Palm is the pinnacle in luxury offering a selection of fantastic restaurants (including seafood, Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese and more), a marine and waterpark and a spa and fitness centre. There are also loads of kids activities including a little pirate’s playground, an underwater theatre at the aquarium, a kids camp for the over 3s and a Creation zone where little ones can get involved with arts and crafts and cookie decorating. There is also nanny and babysitting services.
Malaysia & Singapore
For something different, why not visit Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore is an island located at the southern tip of Malaysia and is connected to the Malaysian peninsula by causeway making it easy to travel between the two. Singapore is a large, modern hub with all of the amenities you would expect in a Westernised country. Malaysia is also very modern however, many of the tourist locations will not have the changing facilities and high chairs in restaurants that you will find in Singapore. Malaysia has some incredible scenery and beach resorts making it an ideal winter sun destination. The weather in both places is warm/hot and humid during Winter (average temperatures in January from 26 – 30 degree celsius) but there are loads of museums, department stores and restaurants with air conditioning.
Family Friendly Hotels in Malaysia and Singapore
The Mandarin Oriental which has hotels in both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is a great toddler friendly option. Both hotels are centrally located with loads of eating out options close by. The Mandarin Oriental is a luxury hotel and provides complimentary cots for babies and toddlers. It also provide buggies, bathtubs and bath products on request. Three are also babysitting services provided through an experienced service and 24 hours’ notice must be given. Younger guests can enjoy a dip in the special children’s wading pool.
Orlando, Florida
Florida, also known as ‘the sunshine state’. It is one of the UK and Ireland’s most popular long-haul family sun holiday destinations and it is easy to see why. Orlando is famed for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Seaworld. There are also a number or beach resorts dotted along the coast line and the everglades in the south with its wildlife and stunning scenery make it a diverse and intriguing holiday destination. Temperatures range between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius in January making it a great time to visit. There are some fantastic family friendly hotels and restaurants and you will never be short of fun places to take little ones.
Family Friendly Hotels in Orlando
The Hard Rock at Universal Studios Orlando is excellent for families. Guest extras include early park admission, express access to jump the regular queues, free transfers around the resort and priority restaurant seating. The hotel also has a kids’ camp, character dining, kids suites that feature an attached kids room with TV, table and chairs and a 12,000 foot pool complete with sandy beach and pool slide.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort is close to Universal and the Islands of Adventure. Almost all baby equipment can be borrowed from the hotel including strollers, baby swings and toys. The restaurant also provides meals for babies. The Royal Bali Water Pool in the hotel is also perfect for babies and toddlers. There is a babysitting service and cots are available on request. A water taxi can also take you from the hotel to Universal Studios.
The Bahamas
You are sure to experience a magical vacation with the entire family when you’re in The Bahamas. The average temperatures in January range from between 17 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius making it an ideal place to take little ones. There are plenty of family friendly restaurants and hotels ranging from budget to mid-range to budget and you will be spoiled for choice with toddler friendly activities. From checking out marching flamingos and exotic birds to exploring the history behind real-life pirates and splashing around with dolphins, the fun never stops!
Family Friendly Hotels in the Bahamas
The Atlantis Hotel, Bahamas is a toddler’s paradise. In addition to its shark lagoons, river rides, water slides and underground aquariums, Atlantis offers parents traveling with toddlers or small children a slate of innovative kid’s entertainment and edutainment opportunities—that take advantage of the resort’s spectacular natural habitat. There’s also a kids club for children aged 3 and upwards and nanny services are available at short notice. Family rooms and interconnecting rooms are also available.
