The Most Family Friendly Destinations to Holiday In

Just because you are a family with young children doesn’t mean you can’t travel and it doesn’t have to be stressful. If you choose your destination wisely and do some good planning then the whole family will have a fun filled break away. Check out these family friendly destinations before you book your next family adventure.

Algarve, Portugal

Portugal has been a firm favourite for a family friendly holiday for a long while now. On top of the endless golden beaches, gorgeous sunny climate and the abundance of nice places to eat and sleep you’ll find extremely friendly locals and many great opportunities for little ones to explore and discover.

Choose a family friendly hotel complete with toddler pools, water slides and fun and games for the kids if you want ultimate peace of mind that your whole family will get some chill time. Aside from that the kids will love splashing around in the rock pools, jumping in the waves at the beach, hitting the awesome water parks, searching for dolphins on a boat trip and making friends with the many other children who head this way for a holiday.

Florida

You will have undoubtedly heard about the insane theme parks in Florida including Universal Studios, Disney Land’s Magical Kingdom and Seaworld and if you do make a trip to them you are going to have some seriously excited children!

Aside from the obvious attraction of these pretty magical places you’ll find Florida amazing for beautiful beaches, buzzing cities and so much to explore.

With great family friendly facilities and hotels geared up for families it will be an amazing and stress free break.

Sri Lanka

If you are a family of explorers then Sri Lanka could be an excellent option for you. Sri Lanka has grown and grown as a holiday destination over the past few years and is a really great, family friendly option.

The beaches are really special, the beautiful mountains, the tea plantations, the many giant Buddha’s and the gorgeous and very interesting towns and villages.

A highlight for families has to be the safari experiences where you’ll see all kinds of beautiful animals from elephants to giraffes and leopards.

Mexico

Mexico itself is such a beautiful place with the white sandy beaches that the Caribbean is famed for, simply delicious food and so much sunshine.

Children can play safely and freely on the beaches and the abundance of great hotels have so many facilities for children that they probably won’t even want to leave the site that you choose to stay on!

Cancun is a fantastic part of Mexico for families, with the American influence in this area all bases have been covered to make holidays really easy for those with little ones.

There are some amazing historic Aztec sites to visit such as Chichen Itza and once you’ve finished exploring then why not head to Wet n Wild water park for some serious fun!

Ireland

Ireland is a great choice for a family friendly holiday if you love getting out into nature and getting some beautiufl fresh air into your lungs.

Ok so you may not get the sunshine (you could get lucky but definitely don’t rely on it!) but your children can run wild and free in the beautiful countryside or on the gorgeous beaches and you can even head for the vibrant cities when you’ve had your outdoor fill.

There are also loads of brilliant family friendly pubs with outdoor space for the kids to play whilst you enjoy a nice pint.

5 of the Most Luxurious Hotels in Ireland

We all want to get the most for our money and read about bargain hotels and how to travel on a budget, but sometimes you might just want to splash out on a bit of luxury - perhaps you’re celebrating an anniversary or have been saving hard for an exciting trip. Ireland has many a magnificent luxury hotel to offer if you are looking for that really special experience and we’ve listed our five favourites below.

1. Dromoland Castle, Hotel and County Estate, Clare

Dromoland Castle Hotel is a stunning, majestic castle which was previously home to the O’Briens of Dromoland who were the Kings of Thomond. This luxury hotel is everything you would want from a stay in a castle; think antique chandeliers, sweeping staircases, huge welcoming log fires and luxurious plush sofas. The castle boasts a 400 acre estate that you can spend time exploring, with a lake to wander around and activities on offer like archery or a falconry experience. The luxury hotel has its own Golf and Country Club and beautiful Spa for some proper rest and relaxation. Located Conveniently close to Shannon International Airport if you are flying in and don’t want to waste precious time travelling then this is ideal.

2. The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney

This is one of the most popular 5 star luxury hotels in Ireland. Located in Killarney overlooking the beautiful lakes with the McGillycuddy Reeks mountain range as the backdrop, it is really breathtaking. The Europe Hotel has a real elegance, with modern meeting warm and welcoming. There are a range of activities on offer here including golf, horse riding, boating and fishing, walking and hiking, tennis, swimming, gym activities and spa treatments. You will certainly have enough to fill your time, that’s if you don’t just want to spend it sipping wine in the panorama restaurant with views that are out of this world.

3. The Marker Hotel, Dublin

The Marker Hotel is a modern, luxury hotel in the lively and wonderful city of Dublin with views out across the city. With a stunning rooftop bar and terrace serving locally sourced ingredients with innovative ideas and excellent service. If your looking for a luxury hotel in the city you can’t go far wrong with The Marker. The rooms are light and fun with fantastic views. Bespoke armchairs and sofas create the perfect space for chilling out while long console desks provide loads of space for catching up on some work if you feel inclined.

4. Hayfield Manor, Cork

If traditional, beautiful elegance is your thing then you’re going to love this  family owned, boutique luxury hotel in Cork. This is  an oasis of calm in the vibrant city of Cork nestled in private walled gardens so you really feel away from the hustle and bustle. With a number of places to dine on delicious food you can be sure you’ll eat well. They also cater for vegan and vegetarian diets. The Spa has treatment rooms for total pampering, plus an indoor heated pool with a relaxation room overlooking it. Thi hotel has luxury and relaxation at the heart of it and you can really feel that during your stay.

5. The Savoy, Limerick

This is a boutique, luxury hotel in the heart of Limerick. Situated at the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way there are some great places to visit nearby including the Cliffs of Moher and King John’s Castle. The hotel itself is elegant and luxurious with varying room types, if you fancy splashing out a little more you could book an Executive King Room which has access to the superior executive lounge on the 7th floor. Here you can enjoy complimentary light snacks, tea and coffee. Ayurvedic spa treatments are on offer if you’re looking for some pampering and they also offer an extensive list of laser light treatments.

Ireland is abound with many a luxury hotel, please get in touch if you’d like any further information. Whatever your taste we’re pretty sure we’ll find a luxury hotel for you. From castle’s in the middle of the countryside to luxury city break hotels, Ireland is a fabulous place to visit in the winter months. Log fires are lit, hearty meals are on offer and the locals are so welcoming and friendly you’ll probably not want to go back to the daily grind.