A great family holiday brings everyone's needs into alignment — parents want relaxation and good food, younger children want pools and beach, teenagers want activities and independence, and everyone needs enough space to decompress from each other in the evenings. The good news is that in 2026, there are more excellent family holiday options at more price points than ever before.
The key decisions are: how long can you fly (younger children have a clear limit), what activities do your children actually enjoy, and what does "value" mean for your family — the cheapest resort or the one where children are entertained while you read a book in peace?
👨👩👧👦 Book early for school holidays: UK school holiday periods — especially the six-week summer break — are the most expensive time to travel. Prices rise sharply in early January for peak summer. Book by February for the best availability at reasonable prices.
Best Family Holiday Destinations 2026
Majorca (Mallorca)
2h 20m from UK
The best all-round family destination from the UK. Alcúdia Bay has the calmest, shallowest water in the Mediterranean — perfect for small children. Resorts like Cala Millor and Port Pollensa offer calm bays, waterparks and excellent facilities.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
4h from UK
Year-round sunshine makes Tenerife the best winter family destination from the UK. Playa de las Américas and Los Gigantes offer calm swimming, Siam Park is Europe's best water park, and whale-watching trips are unforgettable for children.
Turkish Riviera
4h from UK
Turkey's all-inclusive resorts represent exceptional value for families. Belek and Kemer have massive resort complexes with kids' clubs, water slides and endless food — all included in the price. Excellent choice for families with 3–12 year olds.
Cancun & the Riviera Maya
11 hrs from UK
The Caribbean on a semi-accessible budget. Cancún's hotel zone has the best all-inclusive family resorts outside the US, with calm lagoon beaches, kids' clubs, water parks and easy access to Mayan ruins (Chichen Itza) and cenote swimming.
Florida — Orlando & Miami
9 hrs from UK
Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND — Florida is the ultimate theme park family destination. Combine with Miami's beaches or the Florida Keys for a complete holiday. Best in October or November to avoid peak crowds and summer heat.
Cyprus
4h 30m from UK
A long-standing British family favourite — English spoken everywhere, UK plug sockets, calm sea, long sandy beaches and excellent family resorts around Paphos and Limassol. Ayia Napa has a good waterpark and busy beach scene for older children.
Malta
3h from UK
Perfect for school-age children with an interest in history — Malta is a living history lesson with Crusader fortifications, ancient temples and a stunning capital in Valletta. Calm Blue Flag beaches and year-round sunshine complete the picture.
Rhodes & Kos, Greece
3h 30m from UK
Two of Greece's most family-friendly islands — calm Med beaches, warm water, good family resort infrastructure and excellent food. Rhodes Town's medieval castle delights older children. Great value compared to Santorini and Mykonos.
Family Holiday Tips
- Prioritise calm, shallow water for young children. Mediterranean cove beaches and lagoons are far better for under-8s than open Atlantic beaches. Alcúdia in Majorca, Kemer in Turkey and Ayia Napa in Cyprus all have calm, shallow water that small children can safely play in.
- Kids' clubs transform a family holiday. A well-run kids' club — where children are genuinely entertained for 3–4 hours in the morning — is the difference between a holiday where parents can actually relax and one where they can't. Read recent reviews specifically about kids' clubs before booking.
- Flight time is everything under age 5. Under 5s have a practical flight limit of around 4–5 hours. This points to Mediterranean Europe — Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey — and makes sense financially anyway since these are also the best-value destinations.
- Self-catering gives families more flexibility. An apartment with a kitchen eliminates the stress of restaurants with tired toddlers and allows flexible mealtimes. Many families find a self-catering apartment near a good beach more relaxing than a full resort hotel.
- All-inclusive works extremely well for families. Knowing the food and drinks bill is covered eliminates a major source of holiday stress. Turkey's all-inclusive resorts offer the best value in this category for UK families.
👨👩👧👦 Our Family Holiday Pick 2026
For under-10s, Majorca and Turkey offer the best combination of calm beaches, kids' facilities and value. For older children (10+), Cancun delivers an extraordinary experience. For the ultimate family adventure, Florida remains unmatched — plan 12–14 days and do it properly.