The Wanderlust guide to the best of family travel

You don't have to stop travelling just because you've had kids. Our experts reveal how to see the world with children with less hassle and more fun.

3 mins

Childhood is where wanderlust begins. Whether your first forays are to Margate or Mongolia, the discovery of life beyond your home town can fire a lifetime of adventures.

On the other hand, travel with kids can be undeniably hard work, pricey and tantrum-inducing – and ultimately every family has to find what works for them.

Our experts are on hand to help you navigate your way...

Boy volunteering (Gretta Schifano)

Looking for inspiration?

Having kids doesn't mean you have to stop travelling. Nor does it mean you have to start taking the kind of holidays you spent your travelling days avoiding. You love travelling adventurously – surely you want to pass that passion on to your kids? Justin Egli reveals how his father inspired him to travel. And why he is forever thankful.

Melanie Gow, on the other hand, has put together a list of ten rock-solid reasons why you should travel adventurously with your kids. You may not need convincing, but maybe the in-laws do.

Guy Grieve sailed around the world with his young family. While you may not be considering something as ambitious as that with your clan, his experiences offer valuable insights on the long-term benefits of families travelling together. And some useful tips on keeping it as painless as possible.

Gretta Schifano extols the benefits of a family volunteering trip. Your kids get to see the world and learn how they can help make it a better place.

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10 reasons to keep travelling adventurously with kids – Melanie Gow

Guy Grieve: Why I took my family sailing around the world – Rosie Driffill

How my father inspired me to travel – Justin Egli

Family travel: volunteering trips – Gretta Schifano

Canopy walk (Wanderlust Magazine)

How about some bright ideas?

Whether you're considering taking the family on an African safari or a cruise around the Galapagos Islands, or maybe something less ambitious like a short break in Paris or Amsterdam, our family travel experts are on hand to share their experiences and give advice. With the right preparation and proper mindset, anything is possible – including a rail trip around India or a longhaul trip to New Zealand to watch whales.

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First time travel: Safari with kids – William Gray

Cruising the Galapagos with kids – William Gray

Riding the Indian rail with kids – William Gray

Having a whale of a time – William Gray

Paris for jaded teenagers – Sally Gascoigne

6 places every family should visit in Amsterdam – Peter Moore

Family boat adventure (Guy Grieves)

Practical, first-hand advice

Just as your style of travelling changed from your gap year to your days of being gainfully employed, so too will your adventurous travel with your kids. As Melanie Gow and Will Gray will both tell you, travelling with a toddler is very different from travelling with school-age kids and teenagers. Peter Moore also shares the 8 things he has learned travelling with children that have changed his travelling habits for the better.

For more practical tips, take a look at William Gray's piece on how to pack lightly with kids and how to save money on family trips. Both are essential skills, as any well-travelled family will tell you!

More information

How to travel with kids at different ages – Melanie Gow

Toddler travel – William Gray

8 things I've learned about travelling with children – Peter Moore

How to pack lightly with kids – William Gray

Five ways to save money on family trips – William Gray

Boy with elephant (Will Gray)

Capturing it all on film

Forget photos of sullen kids standing reluctantly in front of tourist sights around the world. William Gray provides a selection of simple, fun tips to make the photos you take as exciting as the trip they were taken on. From creating a story and capturing unexpected moments, to simply handing the camera to your kids for a while, his tips will invigorate your family albums.

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Tips for snapping a family trip – William Gray

Melanie and sons (Melanie Gow)

Everything you need to know

Ready to start planning your trip? Our Family Travel Guide is the place to start. Our list of Family Travel Recommendations is also worth checking out if you're still having trouble deciding where to go.

If you have a particular question about family travel, pop over to the myWanderlust Forum where our knowledgeable community are ready to spring into action and share all that they know. Or check out the questions that have already been asked about family travel. The answer to your might already be there.

More information

Family travel guideWanderlust Team

Family travel recommendationsWanderlust Team

MyWanderlust Forum

Forum posts about family travel

Watching seals in the Galapagos (Will Gray)

Ready to go?

Here's a selection of fantastic family-oriented tours offered by our partners. You may also want to check out our specific suggestions for last-minute family trips during the busy holiday seasons of Christmas and Easter.

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