Planning the trip, however, filled me with apprehension. Our boys were no longer little travelers content to trail along behind us through forts and museums. They were teenagers now-15 and 13-with strong opinions, independent streaks, and a finely tuned radar for boredom.
When booking a seven-day cruise on Carnival Legend for my family of five, I decided to split us into two rooms. On past vacations, we've all stayed in the same hotel room. Once, we all crammed into the same tiny cabin on a cruise. This time, though, I had reserved two 185-square-foot staterooms on the Carnival Legend's Riviera deck for more space and privacy.
My wife and I are about to take our two kids to Disneyland ... and I'm absolutely terrified. Not because I don't want to go. My nearly 3-year-old carries his Mickey Mouse stuffie everywhere. He sleeps with it. Eats with it. When he sees Mickey in real life, he'll lose it. I can't wait for that. Here's the problem: I'm really worried about how much it's going to cost.
If I'd told my parents 10 years ago that they'd have the opportunity to stand on top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps, they wouldn't have believed me. For most of their lives, they operated a small family dairy farm in rural Wisconsin and were tied to its constant responsibilities. Because of this, their vacations were limited. So, last year, when I learned my parents were ready to book their first trip to Europe to celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary, I was beyond excited.
As summer school breaks stretch longer and childcare becomes harder to secure, some families are turning to an unexpected solution: hotels offering full-day, structured kids' camps that allow parents to travel, work and keep routines intact.
Scary Mommy can exclusively reveal that for just 24 hours, starting February 6, 2026, families of four staying in a standard room can snag a price point of just $26 per person, per night. Using the promo code 2626, all you have to do is log on February 6 and reserve an overnight stay at any Great Wolf Lodge vacation (all U.S. locations are participating), with the offer valid through June 18, 2026.
On the approach to Arosa in the Graubunden Alps, the road is lined with mountain chapels, their stark spires soaring heavenwards; a portent, perhaps, of the ominous route ahead. The sheer-sided valley is skirted with rugged farmhouses and the road twists, over ravines and round hairpin curves, to a holiday destination that feels like a well-kept secret. On the village's frozen lake, young families ice skate, hand in hand.
"I liked our last holiday house better," announces my niece on arrival at Gairnsheil Lodge's Laggan Cottage in the Scottish Highlands. The thing about six-year-olds is that they famously have very little taste, and this isn't the first thing we've disagreed on (other topics include bedtimes, what constitutes 'dinner' and how often you should brush your hair). You'd think for someone who was being treated to a bucket list holiday she'd have a little more respect.
Playfulness is at the heart of the Art and Play holiday, based on a farm outside the Bay of Kotor. A family-friendly retreat designed to reignite joy and reconnect with the inner child, it's one for solo travellers and couples as well as parents with kids. There are creative sessions on everything from dance to painting, as well as time to enjoy the farm feeding the animals, collecting eggs or helping harvest vegetables for farm-fresh meals.
"Mexico has a culture where family is at the heart of everything, and you really feel that in how resorts are designed and in how staff welcome family travellers," says Meagan Drillinger, founder of boutique travel planning business Good Horizon. "You can have five-star luxury and still feel like you're actually in Mexico, as opposed to other destinations where the luxury tends to feel cookie-cutter."
It's official: The White Lotus is taking up residence in the French Riviera's grande dame hotel: Château de la Messardière. Crowning a hilltop between the Bay of Pampelonne and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the 19th-century palace is cinematic in every sense. Originally an aristocratic wedding gift, it was later restored by Jean-Claude Rochette, architect-in-chief for France's historic monuments, before joining the Airelles Collection in 2021.
Children's museums have evolved from rainy-day backups into stand-alone destinations, and the U.S. is home to some of the best in the world. Size can help-yes, some of these museums are enormous-but it's far from the deciding factor. What really sets the best children's museums apart, however, is how intuitive they feel: The focus is on learning through fun as opposed to text-heavy exhibits that tend to fall flat.
Many folks think Ooty is just for newlyweds chasing romance in the hills. But that's not the full story. This spot in the Nilgiris shines for families too, with its calm vibes and spots full of nature that let parents unwind while kids play. You can mix tender couple moments with fun group times here. If you're a parent craving a getaway that feels like a honeymoon but includes the whole crew, this guide fits right in.
For someone whose job is seeking out the new and notable in travel, 2025 was a year when the old guard came out on top. Why? Hotel prices remained sky-high, leading us to look for places delivering maximum value. Established hotels often have deeper ties to their destinations, making them more solid conduits for local experiences so long as they aren't resting on their laurels. They've also had time to figure out how guests move through their space, what they want from their experience and how best to deliver.
As a family of five who travels a lot, I'm always looking for the best deal because air travel can get expensive very quickly. When we planned a recent trip from Portland, Maine, to Pittsburgh over the holiday break, low-cost flights from Breeze Airways caught my eye. They were also the only direct routes available, yet I was hesitant to book with the low-budget airline after reading negative online reviews that mentioned frustrations about delayed flights and hidden fees.
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service - as well as serious sustainability credentials.
When people don't give grace to their fellow passengers, it drives me nuts. When I see somebody traveling with a young kid, and they're not only worried about their baby's experience of this flight and trying to make sure that it's a good memory for them, but also then having to worry about the adult the row over who is huffing and puffing and rolling their eyes? Have some grace!
If you've ever fantasized about packing up your family and spending the holidays hopping around Europe by train (*raises hand*), Christina Milian has a message for you: Yes, it's as dreamy as it sounds, and 100%, you should do it. As someone who didn't need much convincing, hearing that from Christina - forever that girl - has me already digging into how I can get my family across the Atlantic next Christmas.
It's when our close-knit extended family gets together to celebrate, feast, and spend time with one another. However, my husband, two young kids, and I spent last Christmas sitting in our caravan on a remote beach in South Australia, just the four of us. It was a far cry from the holidays before. But after years of deliberating, we'd just recently packed up our lives and belongings and headed toward the Australian outback for a yearlong adventure in a small caravan.
Well, you actually don't have to spend a load of cash - or any at all - to keep the young'uns active and occupied. There are a ton of ways to do with kids in New York for free that'll wear them out enough to conk out when you get back to your hotel room - and buy you an hour or two to work in a tipple at the bar, finally.
When I was 10, I remember preparing for the most exciting adventure of my life - so far. My family and I were going on a cruise from Mumbai to Lakshadweep Island. I could hardly stand the anticipation. My father, in those days, was still an up-and-coming businessman, and paying for our travels didn't come easy. But he always made sure to prioritize travel.
Since I met my husband in 2005, we've built a life on the move. Both of us work remotely - him as a software engineer and me as a travel writer - and we've lived in many parts of the world, including Singapore, US, UK, Netherlands, Bali, Spain, and Mexico. As a digital nomad family, we set up temporary home bases in each country and travel from there.
I get it: traveling with teens can be overwhelming. For parents, family trips can feel high-stakes. All parents want to create lasting memories, but it can be tricky to chase those golden moments of connection amidst mood swings and screen time battles. As a professional travel advisor for over 20 years and a mom to a 15-year-old, I've witnessed every side of the struggle, but I also know just how magical a well-planned trip can be.
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