Your Ultimate Monthly Guide to Memorable Family Travel and the Best Family Friendly Destinations.
A Year of Family Adventures: Where to Go Each Month
Planning a family holiday can be overwhelming. The world is too big, too much choice. Let us inspire you with the right destination for each month. We’re here for all the family adventure and we’ve put together our own tried-and-tested picks for the best family-friendly spots all year round. Here’s your personal month-by-month guide—packed with sunshine, fun, and family joy!
January – Thailand
Kick off the year in Thailand, where the weather is gloriously dry and sunny, absolutely perfect for island hopping from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta. You can enjoy golden sand and sea fun by day, and family-friendly night markets. January is ideal, not just for weather, but there is also a huge worldschooling community.
Our kids loved splashing in the crystal-clear waters and making friends on the beach every day. Thailand’s beaches are less crowded if you head out to the islands. We recommend avoiding Phuket, and heading further south of Krabi and towards Malaysia. And don’t forget the wonders of Bangkok – no visit to Thailand is complete without it. You could even take the sleeper train from Bangkok to the south – it’s an experience we will never forget.
February – Nicaragua
February 2025 brought us to Nicaragua, where lush landscapes and laid-back surf towns come alive under blue skies. Granada’s colourful colonial streets are a hit with everyone, and boat trips on Lake Nicaragua and around Las Isletas are both peaceful and thrilling. This month offers the driest weather, making volcano hiking and wildlife spotting in cloud forests both comfortable and unforgettable – Mombacho is an educational day out.
We enjoyed chocolate-making workshops in Granada, surfing in Remanso, kayaking on Omptepe and beach fires on Playa del Coco. February is a great time to visit before the Spring heat hits you hard. If you’ve got Costa Rica on your radar, then swap it out for Nicaragua. The people and wildlife are as amazing, it’s so much cheaper and safer, and we loved the rusticness. It’s also humpback whale migration season and you can see them just off the beach.
March – Taiwan
Forget Japan – Taiwan is where you need to go. March in Taiwan offers so much. You’ll visit just as cherry blossoms begin to bloom, painting the parks in beautiful pink hues. The weather is mild, perfect for cycling around Sun Moon Lake and wandering night markets without the crowds. Taiwan’s high-speed trains made it easy to hop between cities or hire a car and head into the mountains for incredible hiking.
The seas of the south are also warmer for swimming with the sea turtles at Turtle Island. Taiwan is affordable, family-friendly and small enough to experience it all in a few weeks. There’s also masses of culture with ornate temples and rainbow villages. From Taipei in the north to arty-Kaohshiung in the south, we can’t recommend a visit to Taiwan with kids enough.
April – Guatemala
April in Guatemala is warm and festive, especially during the Semana Santa (Easter) celebrations in Antigua. We marvelled at colourful processions, then trekked through lush jungles to spot howler monkeys near Tikal’s dramatic Mayan ruins. The weather is also perfectly dry and temperatures manageable – although watch out for potential heat waves in Flores where it can reach 40degrees.
Lake Atitlán was a highlight, where we kayaked on calm waters and visited local villages by boat. San Juan de la Laguna offers education, community, culture and a mass of colour – this is a must visit destination in Guatemala. Guatemala delivered us a worldschooling community, time with friends, marshmellows on a volcano, limestone lakes and a roadtrip that we will genuinely never forget.
May – Spain
May is the perfect time for Spain, with sunny days, gentle breezes and less crowds. We loved the south of Spain and exploring Andalucia properly could easily take you a whole month. It’s a great time for a campervan adventure along the Costa de la Luz, or a city break in Malaga or Granada.
You’ll still find snow on the tops of the Sierra Nevada offering great hiking opportunities. The mild weather means you avoid the summer crowds, making sights like the Alhambra more enjoyable for everyone. Beaches aren’t packed but yet everything is still open for business as the summer season arrives. Visit hill top towns such as Mijas and Frigiliana, and beaches and caves in Nerja and Almunecar. Exploring Southern Spain in May is a great idea!
June – Bali
In June 2019 (and May 2024), we travelled to Bali, where the dry season is in full swing and days are bright and balmy. Balinese culture comes alive with temple festivals, and there is so much to do for the kids. Consider crafts and waterfalls in Ubud, bike riding in Sanur where there is also a brilliant worldschooling community. Sanur might just be the best family friendly destination in Bali. The beaches are perfect for safe swimming and surfing lessons, while lush rice terraces create brilliant backdrops for family photos.
We do recommend exploring the lesser known parts of bali such as Munduk and Lovina in the north, and Sidemen and Amed in the east. The traffic is calmer, the beauty more magical and the people are so grateful you ventured here.
July – Malaysia
July is ideal for Malaysia, when many families flock here for the school holidays. The weather is mostly sunny, and places like Penang and Langkawi offer fantastic outdoor activities for all ages. We explored colourful street art trails, sampled tasty street food, and snorkelled on Tioman island which is just magical. We have never seen sand as golden as here and its hands down one of our favourite beaches ever.
We also ventured to Malaysian-Borneo in July with a trip to Kuching. Wildlife sanctuaries gave us the chance to spot orangutans, which was both educational and awe-inspiring for us all. The Irrawaddy dolphins and proboscis monkeys are also great fun to watch. We much preferred Kuching to Kota Kinabalu, although you may need to visit KK as a gateway to Sandakan.
And let’s not forget Kuala Lumpur – definitely a top 3 favourite city from our travels.
August – Denmark
August took us to Denmark, where summer family festivals fill the cities with music, laughter and family-friendly activities. Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen was a favourite spot, with its gentle rides and fairy-tale atmosphere. The weather is warm but not scorching, perfect for cycling along the coast or picnicking on the beautiful beaches of Jutland. Museums and playgrounds are plentiful, and everywhere is so geared up for families.
Denmark is so much more than Copenhagen and Legoland, and we encourage you to see for yourselves. Added bonus is that Danish schools return in mid-August so time it right and you’ll have places to yourselves. It’s a perfectly sized country for some serious family roadtripping adventures and we think Denmark in August is just brilliant.
September – United Kingdom
In September, it’s worth making the most of the UK, taking advantage of mild weather and fewer crowds after the school holidays. Cornwall’s beaches were still warm enough for paddling, while the Lake District offered gentle hikes with stunning views. You can grab some very affordable family friendly accommodation via the YHA.
Obviously, London is the top of most people’s list, but we recommend exploring Wales for beautiful beaches and campervan adventures. Nottingham is a great city for families to explore – follow in Robin Hood’s footsteps. And Yorkshire, England’s largest county, offers stunning walks and city fun at much more affordable prices than the Capital.
October – New York, USA
October in New York is a family adventure like no other, thanks to the city’s spectacular autumn colours and Halloween celebrations. Manhattan is a must visit with kids at some point in your life. Central Park’s leaves are fiery and vibrant, but without masses of crowds getting in your way. The weather is mild and dry, with epic sunsets but glimmers of winter round the corner.
And within 2 hours of Manhattan are some amazing places. Visit Long Island for pristine beaches, breweries and quaint towns. Or head north towards the Catskills and Woodstock for autumn foliage, hikes and waterfalls. Or even better, visit all 3 and do a New York trip roadtrip.
November – Phu Quoc, Vietnam
We found November sunshine on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, where gentle seas and golden beaches are perfect for family fun. The weather is warm and dry, ideal for snorkelling over coral reefs and taking boat trips to nearby islets.
This is an island full of family fun. From water parks, to night markets, to incredible beaches and Vietnam’s version of Disney, you can easily spend a week here. It’s budget friendly and also has a great worldschool hub. It’s very different to the rest of Vietnam but don’t dismiss it – arrive by a short flight or even via ferry!
December – Philippines
December 2024 2brought us to the Philippines, where the festive atmosphere and tropical weather offer the ultimate Christmas escape in Asia. We celebrated on Palawan’s beaches, enjoying Christmas lights strung through palm trees and the hotel at put on light shows and Christmas craft sessions. The weather is sunny although you are on shoulder season so may get unlucky and have some mega downpours. It doesn’t stop you being in the pool though.
Go island hopping, explore the lush inland islands and white sand beaches. The Philippines epitomises family adventure and if you avoid the main tourist spots, you’ll really enjoy its rustic charm. We can’t wait to go and explore more islands in the Philippines. Bohol and Panglao gave us a taste for more.
Conclusion: Plan Your Family Travel with Confidence
With a bit of planning and inspiration every month can hold a unique family adventure. Each destination is chosen for its welcoming atmosphere, exciting activities and perfect timing for family fun.
There’s other places we couldn’t even fit into this list such as Madeira, Singapore and the Seychelles all of which would be perfect any time of the year.
Start planning now and create a year of cherished memories with your loved ones!
