Generations game for new style getaway
More and more families are opting for a three-generational – or ‘3G’ – break, where children, parents and grandparents go away together. ANNA MELVILLE-JAMES looks at destinations sure to please all ages
Take an epic road trip through the supersized scenery, sights and star-filled skies of the American West, exploring at your own pace from the comfort of a home-from-home on wheels. Pick up a family-sized RV and hit the road together on a 10-day trip in search of adventure.
Fun for all ages can be found en route at attractions such as Anaheim’s theme parks and San Diego’s USS Midway (a converted aircraft carrier museum) and in the great outdoors – hiking in Joshua Tree National Park or the lunar-esque landscapes of Arizona’s Monument Valley or rafting in the Grand Canyon.
Along the way, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains and marvel at the mighty redwoods (the world’s tallest trees) in Yosemite National Park before gathering around the campfire at the end of the day.
Bon Voyage offers tailor-made trips from £1,649 per adult (£1,399 per child) including flights, one-night’s hotel accommodation in LA, RV sleeper rental and pre-booked campsites. bon-voyage.co.uk, 0800 316 0194.
THE DEAL:
No one ever really grows out of Lego, do they? And a trip to Billund in Jutland, southern Denmark, where it was invented, is a great way to build some family memories. The big attractions of this tiny town are the Lego factory and the original Legoland.
Both are fewer than 15 minutes from the small and remarkably stress-free airport, as are Lalandia waterpark and the newest attraction, the Lego House educational centre, opened in 2017.
This area isn’t all about the plastic bricks though – the South Jutland coastline is full of places to picnic and paddle and birdwatching is excellent on the west coast’s intertidal wetland, the Wadden Sea.
Further afield you can experience Viking life at the evocative Ribe VikingeCenter or buy Danish pastry by the traditional half-foot measure in the historic cobbled town nearby. Best of all, most places of interest are fewer than 40 minutes’ drive from Billund on empty roads – so cries of “are we there yet?” will be blissfully absent.
Family rooms at Hotel Legoland (legoland.dk, 0045 7951 1350) start at £280 B&B per night, including two-day Legoland entry. British Airways has flights from Heathrow to Billund from £98 return. ba.com, 0844 493 0787
THE DEAL:
Even with the arrival of no-frills flight routes to the Azores a couple of years ago this archipelago of nine volcanic islands still qualifies as one of the last “great mysteries of Europe”. Lying west of the Iberian Peninsula in the North Atlantic, these wild islands, still unspoilt by mass tourism, offer an adventure the whole family can go on.
Basing yourself on the capital island of São Miguel you can head out to wander around Portuguese colonial architecture, or explore the dramatic, tectonically sculpted landscapes. Snorkel in a volcano crater lagoon before enjoying lunch cooked underground by the volcanic heat of the geothermal valley of Furnas.
NATURAL BEAUTY: Take in sights such as Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf waterfall while holidaying in the Brecon Beacons, Wales
You can go hiking along plentiful trails – the Faial de Terra takes you all the way to a waterfall, while looking out for one of Europe’s most endangered birds, the Azores bullfinch, known locally as the Priolo.
Slightly easier to spot are the whales and dolphins breaking the frothing Atlantic waters as you bob beside them on a boat ride – go in spring and you might even see majestic blue whales migrating past the islands.
THE DEAL:
Families Worldwide offers seven nights B&B from £1,699 per adult and £1,649 per child, plus six lunches, activities and transfers. Flights extra. familiesworldwide.co.uk, 01962 302062 You can pack up your family in one place and let the world come to you on a cruising holiday, with enough distractions to keep even the most eye-rolling teenagers on board.
Modern cruise ships have the lot – restaurants, bars, spas, evening entertainment and activities from waterparks and cinemas to surfing and skydiving simulators.
Children’s clubs for little ones allow parents and grandparents time to relax at the spa or by the pool or to try a wine-tasting or dance class.
Royal Caribbean’s newly refurbished Independence of the Seas will transport your brood from Southampton around Europe, taking in Gibraltar, Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Cagliari, without any need to fly or repack.
It’s maximum holiday with minimum stress – and the ship has outstanding facilities for passengers with accessibility needs, ensuring everyone in the family can enjoy their time at sea.
THE DEAL:
Royal Caribbean International has a 14-night Italian Mediterranean Cruise from £1,599pp, full board (excluding alcoholic drinks). royalcaribbean.co.uk, 0844 417 0290 Children love the excitement and adventure of a camping holiday but