AFTER 26 years heading up The Sun’s travel team – while bringing up three children – there’s not a lot I don’t know about family holidays.
After hundreds of trips together, I’m sharing my guaranteed winners – from our favourite campsites to the best foreign cruises.
With three kids, I’ve had the same problems as anyone who doesn’t fit the ‘two adults, two kids’ rule that most traditional travel companies work within.
Finding ways around booking two separate rooms – or being in group rooms where us parents have to go to bed at 7pm with the babies – became a mission.
So here are my top tips for the best family holiday destinations where everyone gets to have a good time.
PORT AVENTURA
This fabulous theme park resort on Spain’s Costa Dorada offers up the best of all worlds for families.
You get the fun and excitement of thrill rides across six distinct worlds, plus great themed hotels and, of course, all that sizzling Mediterranean sunshine to enjoy.
There’s also a separate Ferrari World and a water park with 50,000sq metres of pools, lazy rivers, slides and rides, including King Khajuna, one of Europe’s tallest free-fall body slides.
The six on-site hotels are also themed and have a huge variety of rooms that sleep up to eight, ideal for big families.
And with a host of very well-priced restaurants in the park and at the hotels, it really is possible to have a traditional family summer holiday with the added benefit of all that theme park excitement.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Mexican-themed Hotel El Paso, including unlimited access to PortAventura park and a day pass for Ferrari Land, is from £429pp, based on two adults and two children sharing.
Price includes flights from Southend Airport on April 21, 2026. See easyJet.com/en/holidays.
EUROPEAN CAMPING
WITH three kids and a limited budget when they were young, camping specialists like Eurocamp and Siblu were the answer to our prayers.
With mobile homes, tents and even treehouses sleeping up to eight at campsites across Europe, we loaded the kids and as much luggage as we could squeeze into the car and drove south for guaranteed sunshine.
You can even break up the long journey with overnight camping stays en route.
A roof-box meant I could pack all the essentials from food and drinks, bedding and towels, to inflatables and toys, so we weren’t shelling out on holiday.
When we were young, having our own space was just perfect. We could wear the kids out by day in the park’s pools and on nearby beaches, and when they were tucked up in bed, we could relax with a glass of wine or beer on the verandah.
Favourites included Eurocamp’s La Baume on the French Riviera near Frejus with a huge pool complex and easy access to the glitzy towns of St Tropez and Cannes.
Also, a winner was Siblu’s Le Lac des Reves near Montpellier.
We always preferred heading south for the warmer weather, but other favourites for half-term holidays include Duinrell in South Holland, which comes with its own theme park and water park and La Croix de Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere, just an hour from Disneyland Paris and Park Asterix.
GO: Seven nights’ self-catering for up to six at Eurocamp’s La Baume is from £464 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See eurocamp.co.uk. Seven nights’ self-catering at Siblu’s Lac des Reves is from £294 in total, arriving May 23, 2026. See siblu.co.uk
ALTON TOWERS
Of course, no list of fabulous family holidays would be complete without the UK’s number one theme park. I love the fact that Alton Towers has something for every age.
The little ones will adore CBeebies land – watch out for the UK’s first Bluey ride coming in 2026.
All ages will love the fantastic water park between the Alton Towers and Splash Landings hotels, while tweens and teens will go straight for the thrill rides.
And mum? Well, I just love a stroll through the stunning grounds with quiet, landscaped gardens and tranquil lakes – they make you forget you’re even in a theme park!
For families like mine, the huge variety of accommodation makes stays a breeze.
Rooms at the hotels – including CBeebies Land Hotel – can sleep up to five with a double bed, bunk beds and a pull-out truckle bed. All have great theming that will keep the kids entertained.
The Woodland lodges are also great for larger families or those who want to bring the grandparents or team up with friends. To really push the boat out, the whimsical Treehouses sleep up to eight and come with their own hot tub.
But my favourite probably remains the original Alton Towers Hotel, with its epic Explorers theme that sees a magical balloon ship anchor the bar and restaurant space, giving parents the chance to relax with a drink while the kids are entertained.
GO: Overnight breaks at Alton Towers start from £42pp and include room, breakfast, parking and evening entertainment. See altontowers.com.
DISNEY CRUISE LINES
IT’S fair to say no one does family cruises quite like Disney – and Sun readers agree, voting them their favourite cruise line in our Sun Travel Awards.
I’ve sailed with my kids on Disney Wonder, one of the line’s original ships, and this was definitely a treat for both adults and children.
I loved the Art Deco vibes and the fact that the ship was first and foremost a beautiful, luxury ship with plenty of places to enjoy adult-only time.
The kids could not get enough of the fabulous kids’ facilities – it was hard to drag them away from the clubs – and endless opportunities to meet their favourite characters.
While cruising with Disney could never be seen as a cheap option, for those who want to experience the magic without the theme park slog, it is definitely worth every penny.
The latest Disney ship to set sail will be the Disney Destiny. As the cruise line has grown ever more popular, it has grown more confident in making its incredible entertainment legacy a bigger part of the ship.
With Destiny, there’s a fabulous Heroes and Villains theme alongside the chance to enjoy some West End-style entertainment and even a water coaster across the top deck that pays tribute to some of its most feared baddies.
Combining a three or four-night sailing on any of Disney’s ships with a stay in Orlando must surely be the ultimate family bucket list holiday.
And with the Disney Dream returning for multiple sailings from Southampton next year, there’s the chance to get on board for all the magic without the pricey flights.
GO: Three-night full-board sailings from Southampton from £881pp with iglucruise.com. Or sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas with three nights from £1,044pp. See https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-gb/
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
ROYAL Caribbean was the first cruise we did as a family when my youngest was just 18 months old, and from then on, we were hooked on life on the open sea.
As my kids have grown, so has Royal’s incredible roster of family-friendly ships. And with the launch of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, last year, they reached peak family fun.
The new Surfside neighbourhood is a game-changer for parents with small children, a stay-all-day area with Splashaway Bay aqua park, and Water’s Edge, a kid-friendly infinity pool.
And parents can relax while their kids play with casual family-friendly dining and places to grab a drink.
The area features a beach-themed carousel, arcade and playground and it’s close to the ship’s superb Adventure Ocean kids clubs.
Older kids will love Thrill Island, the largest water park at sea, with a host of slides as well as Crown’s Edge, the hybrid ropes course and thrill ride that dangles you 154ft above the ocean.
And Royal have spent just as much time designing cabins that work for families, including the Surfside Family Suites, with balconies overlooking the neighbourhood and a ‘kids’ nook’ with bunk beds and a split bathroom to make getting ready easier.
Topping it off with multiple family-friendly shows and activities as well as their family-friendly private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal is the perfect starting point for family cruises.
GO: Seven nights’ full-board on Icon of the Seas is from £534pp, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Miami on September 19, 2026 and calls at St Maarten, St Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
BUTLIN’S MINEHEAD & BOGNOR
I don’t believe there’s a kid in the country who wouldn’t love the heady mix of family fun on offer at Butlin’s.
With live shows, perfect pools and even a traditional fairground, youngsters will find a host of great activities for all ages from tots to teens.
We loved our stay at the West Lakes chalets at Butlin’s Minehead. Great for multi-gen holidays or for families sharing, the light, bright chalets sleep up to eight.
Working with online parenting forum Mumsnet, they have a nod to the traditional Butlin’s chalet, but with all the modern touches for today’s families.
There’s an open-plan lounge and diner with a high-spec kitchen as well as an outdoor veranda or Juliet balcony.
Also, fantastic value are the term-time midweeks for tots.
Perfect for the pre-schoolers, breaks start from just £39, which works out to £2.50pp a night, and include live shows with Peppa Pig and her new baby sister, Mister Maker and Fireman Sam, splash zones and soft play areas as well as unlimited rides in the Little Stars Fairground.
There’s also another reason to visit in term time, the chance to enjoy all-inclusive breaks that include alcoholic drinks, coffee and three meals a day.
GO: Four-night all-inclusive midweek breaks are from £399 for two adults and two children. See bultins.com
DUBAI
It may be known as a mecca for reality TV stars and influencers, but Dubai is actually a brilliant destination to take the kids.
With theme parks, desert adventures and even a snow slope to keep them busy, you’re guaranteed to find something to delight every age.
A great option for families is the Centara Mirage Beach Resort with its five restaurants, beachfront pool, water park and kids clubs.
But little ones are also spoiled with their own sweet-themed spa with edible treatments, gaming zone and an outdoor playground.
My kids adored the chance to visit the original Kidzania attraction where kids can role-play 40 different jobs from firefighters and pilots to doctors and dentists.
But most magical was the trip into the desert, where after a thrilling 4×4 dune ride, we watched an amazing falconry display and enjoyed dinner after dark.
GO: Four nights’ B&B at the Centara Mirage Beach Resort is from £717pp including flights from Heathrow in June 2026. See onthebeach.co.uk
TUI VILLAGE TURKEY
A holiday where you don’t have to set foot outside the hotel – heaven or hell? In the case of TUI’s flagship Holiday Village AQI hotel in Sarigerme, Turkey – pure bliss.
The huge resort on the country’s west coast has everything from Stage Academy drama classes, Football Academies and a Go Ape-style high-ropes course, to overwater, inflatable obstacle courses, chocolate parties and archery.
Then there’s the massive amphitheatre with a packed nighttime itinerary, video arcade, bowling alley and seven pools – including a mini waterpark.
Little wonder the hotel’s own sandy beach, with bath-warm sea water was empty most days.
Breakfast was enormous, with every taste catered for and lunch by the pool was equally impressive, with a huge 40-dish mezze selection.
But the best meal was dinner, with themed nights, when the entire menu was changed — our favourites being the Turkish and Asian evenings. Plus a separate kitchen for kid-friendly (and often healthy) food.
And finally, the almost guaranteed sun.
With prices from £673pp next May, including all-inclusive board, a family room and flights from London Gatwick.
BILLUND, DENMARK
An action-packed weekend break just over an hour from the UK, with creativity, wildlife and thrill-seeking all wrapped in sounds like a unicorn of a holiday – but Billund in Denmark truly is the perfect family short break.
The town Lego built, carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen invented the famous building bricks in the 1940s from his workshop in the town, and many of the global company’s offices are still there.
Yes, the two million annual visitors usually go there for the awesome Legoland and Lego House – easily two full days of building and rollercoaster fun.
But there’s also Aquadome, Scandinavia’s biggest waterpark, and Wow Park (tickets from £26.50), a huge treetop adventure in woodland spanning the size of 40 football pitches.
The town is so small that almost everything is walkable, it’s super clean and practically designed with families in mind.
Plus the flights take just 1 hour and 35 minutes currently from London Gatwick, and 1hour and 41minutes from Edinburgh to Billund on the newest flight route launching next year.
HUNTERS LODGES, CELTIC MANOR
IF it’s good enough for American presidents, it’s good enough for the kids!
My lot thought they had hit the big time when we stayed at the gorgeous Hunters Lodges at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.
This is top-tier self-catering accommodation with each lodge sleeping up to eight in four stylish en-suite bedrooms.
There’s a vast open-plan kitchen, living, and dining room with vaulted ceilings and a wall of glass looking out onto open countryside. The outdoor hot tub was used constantly by both adults and kids.
A great option for kids as they get a bit older, the resort itself has some fantastic outdoor adventure activities, including adventure golf, laser combat, ropes courses and archery as well as a large adventure playground.
Explore the 2,000-acre estate’s family-friendly woodland trails on a free, self-guided treasure hunt.
When rain stops play, there’s swimming in the resort’s two health clubs as well as a games room and indoor play area.
The resort can offer babysitting services and a day nursery as well as kids’ clubs in the peak summer holidays, allowing parents time to enjoy the championship golf courses or spas.
GO: Two-night stays in a Hunters Lodge start from £636per lodge, for up to eight adults plus two additional children, including a round of Adventure Golf and 25per cent off all indoor and outdoor activities. See hunter-lodges.com.