7 kid-approved vacation ideas
Travelling with the kids? We’ve got some kid-approved vacation ideas your little ones will love. From meeting dinosaurs to racing in an F1 simulator, with these vacations your kids are in for an unforgettable trip. Check out our list of vacations your kids will be sure to fall in love with (and don’t forget to share these ideas with the kids to get them excited for your getaway!)
Ahoy matey! Little ones will love the chance to become a pirate for a day on this cruise along Saint Lucia’s beautiful coastline that takes place on a life-sized replica of the 16th century galleon, Black Magic. They can practice their best Jack Sparrow moves while parents relax with a drink and snap photos of the island’s signature Pitons that soar majestically from Saint Lucia’s southern shoreline. You can enjoy this excursion while staying at Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa. Along with an extensive pool complex and splash park, the resort also offers an exciting interactive Kids’ Adventure program so the children can continue to let their imaginations run wild after their boat trip.
Take your little ones to the lush rainforests of Costa Rica where they can pretend to be king of the jungle while swinging and swaying like Tarzan on a treetop adventure. If you add a Sunwing Experience to your vacation package at Riu Guanacaste resort, you can tackle tons of adrenaline-pumping activities at Diamante Eco-Adventure Park: from riding zipline circuits that will show amazing views of the canopy and the sea to crossing a narrow hanging bridge and discovering colourful marine life while snorkelling. At the resort, your options for fun are plentiful with three refreshing pools to jump in, nature-oriented programs such as observing nesting sea turtles and lots of activities and sports such as kayaking, sailing and more.
With water cannons, tiny chutes for little splashers and numerous waterslides for thrill-seeking teens to zoom down, the water park at Royalton White Sands Montego Bay in Jamaica has plenty of fun to keep junior travellers entertained. As a bonus, this resort has a lazy river, connecting to neighbouring Royalton Blue Waters. So, while the children are enjoying supervised activities at the innovative ClubHouse Kids Club, parents can float the afternoon away, enjoy a treatment at the spa or take advantage of numerous complimentary non-motorized water sports from the beach.
Who knew that you could drive an F1 race car on famous racetracks from around the world, all while at sea? On the MSC Seaside cruise ship, you can hop into its F1 race simulator and leave the competition in the dust while you speed along simulated tracks in Macao, Dubai, Montreal, or wherever you want to. But that’s not all, this ship’s entertainment is also home to a 5D theatre (where cinema goers can be splashed, smell smoke and even move around in their seats as part of the audio-visual experience). The ship also offers free Master Chef classes just for kids and has one of the largest and most-interactive water parks on a cruise ship. While the kids play, parents can take advantage of the many signature dining experiences on board.
Mexico’s Caribbean coast is home to migrating whale sharks all summer long, so children can be treated to living zoo experience on a whale watching tour. Older kids can even snorkel with these stunning creatures (don’t worry, whale sharks only eat plankton). Whale shark tours depart from Cancun and Riviera Maya and head to the islands of Isla Mujeres and Holbox. Don’t forget your waterproof camera and snap some pics of these immense creatures that reach up to 10m long and weigh up to 15 tonnes. You can easily meet some whale sharks with a stay at Riu Dunamar, where you’ll be picked up for the excursion right from the hotel lobby. When you’re not watching whale sharks you can enjoy endless splashes at the resort’s newly-opened Splash Water Park.
Home to all your favourite Nickelodeon characters, younger guests will never get bored at Sensatori Azul Beach Resort in Mexico. No visit here is complete without being slimed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle style in the water park. Don’t worry the green goo washes off your swim suit easily! Other must dos include starting your day over a pancake breakfast with SpongeBob SquarePants or Dora the Explorer, being ‘papped’ on the orange carpet together with your favourite characters or pampering little hands and feet with customized beauty treatments at the Vassa Spa.
Feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the Jurassic era as you encounter animatronic versions of the dinosaurs that roamed the planet over 65 million years ago at Jurassic World in Bavaro Adventure Park that is home to over 40 full-scale dinos that look, feel and sound like real dinosaurs. Families can easily embark on this dino experience while staying at Majestic Colonial Punta Cana, where they can get picked up for the excursion right from the resort. Outside the park, the family fun continues with an interactive splash kids club and plenty of activities including snorkelling, windsurfing and beach volleyball.