Long Haul Family Holidays – Ultimate Guide 2026

Long haul with kids gets a bad reputation.

Yes, being trapped in a metal tube for 10 hours with a toddler who believes sleep is for the weak isn’t necessarily anyone’s idea of a relaxing start to a holiday. But don’t automatically write off long haul just because you’re travelling as a family.

Some of our favourite family trips have involved long flights, big time differences and destinations that initially sounded far too ambitious with children.

And weirdly, long haul can sometimes feel easier than a European holiday (Bear with me!)

If you fly overnight you basically get from A to B while the kids are asleep. We have found 10 hour night flights easier than 4 hour flights in the middle of the day. You can get fantastic food-inclusive hotels for your money. And if you’re travelling during the UK’s miserable winter months, stepping off a plane into 28°C sunshine makes the journey a bit easier to forgive.

The difficult bit is choosing the right destination.

Because “family-friendly” can mean anything from incredible kids’ clubs, splash parks and family rooms to we have one highchair somewhere in the building.

So here’s where we’d actually consider for a long haul family holiday, who each destination suits and, importantly, what you need to know before booking.

Quick guide: which long haul destination is best for your family?

Dominican Republic

Best for: Affordable Caribbean all-inclusive
Great with: Toddlers upwards
Why go: Gorgeous beaches, big family resorts and generally better value than other Caribbean islands
Watch out for: Rainy/hurricane season between May – November and resorts with long airport transfers

Florida

Best for: Theme park obsessed families
Great with: School-age children, although we’ve done Orlando with babies and toddlers too.
Why go: Disney, Universal and an almost ridiculous amount of family entertainment
Watch out for: The holiday price doesn’t stop at flights and accommodation

Maldives

Best for: A special beach holiday that parents will enjoy just as much as the kids
Great with: Surprisingly, almost any age
Why go: Incredible beaches, warm winter water and family resorts where you barely need shoes for a week
Watch out for: Transfer costs and choosing an island with enough to entertain your particular children. Choosing an island that doesn’t need a seaplane transfer can save you a lot.

Thailand

Best for: Families wanting more than a fly-and-flop holiday
Great with: Children who enjoy exploring
Why go: Beaches, wildlife, markets, temples, brilliant food and fantastic value once you’re there
Watch out for: Weather varies massively depending on where and when you’re travelling.

Abu Dhabi

Best for: Your first long haul holiday with kids
Great with: All ages
Why go: Relatively short flight, easy infrastructure, beaches and loads for children. Yas Island is one of our favourite places to visit for winter sun.
Watch out for: Summer temperatures can be brutal, but, this does mean a cheaper holiday. You can experience luxury for a lot less in the summer, and most attractions are indoors with air con!

Barbados

Best for: Families wanting Caribbean beaches without staying permanently inside a resort
Great with: All ages
Why go: Beautiful beaches plus plenty to actually get out and explore
Watch out for: It can be significantly more expensive than destinations such as the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic

If your dream is Caribbean beach + all-inclusive + kids entertained + not remortgaging the house, start here.

The Dominican Republic can offer much better value than some of the Caribbean’s more famous islands, particularly if you’re looking for a big family resort.

Punta Cana is the obvious choice. Think huge palm-lined beaches, warm sea, sprawling all-inclusive hotels and enough pools, slides and kids’ activities that you don’t necessarily need to leave the resort every day. And that’s worth considering when travelling with younger children.

There are holidays where you want to explore from breakfast until bedtime. There are also holidays where everyone has been running on fumes for six months and you want to put the kids in a splash park while someone brings you food.

Both are legitimate forms of travel.

Who is the Dominican Republic best for?

I’d particularly consider it for families who:

• Want a proper all-inclusive
• Have younger children
• Want Caribbean beaches without Barbados prices
• Prefer resort facilities over constant sightseeing
• Are travelling during the UK winter and want reliable warmth

If your family loves independent restaurants, wandering around towns every evening and exploring somewhere different every day, I’d probably look at Thailand or Barbados instead.

Which Dominican Republic Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Florida

Florida is probably the least relaxing holiday on this list.

It’s also one of the most fun.

If you’ve got children who are obsessed with Disney, Harry Potter, superheroes or theme parks generally, Orlando is difficult to beat.

But this is one destination where I think families can be caught out by a cheap-looking package.

You see a decent flight-and-hotel price and think you’ve found a bargain.

Then you add:

Park tickets.
Food.
Car hire.
Parking.
Tolls.
Resort fees.
Souvenirs.
The inevitable $14 snack shaped like Mickey Mouse.

Suddenly your bargain is not bargaining anymore.

Disney or Universal?

Ideally both, but if your budget won’t stretch that far, think about your children’s ages and interests before automatically buying everything.

Younger children will generally get more from Walt Disney World, whereas Universal becomes increasingly brilliant as children get older, especially if they’re Harry Potter fans or meet more of the ride height requirements.

And don’t feel like you need to do a theme park every day.

You absolutely do not. You can get one day tickets to experience the parks, without sacrificing your entire holiday to them.

Build in pool days, shopping days and slower mornings. Trying to “get your money’s worth” from expensive tickets by marching exhausted children around theme parks for 14 consecutive days is a surprisingly efficient way of making everyone hate Orlando.

Who is Florida best for?

Families who:

• Love theme parks
• Have school-age children or teenagers
• Don’t mind a busy holiday
• Have budgeted for the whole trip, not just the package
• Want a big once-in-a-lifetime style family adventure

Where should families stay?

You’ve basically got two choices.

Stay on-site and pay more for convenience and selected resort perks.

Or:

Stay off-site and potentially get far more space for your money.

For larger families, villas can be brilliant. Having bedrooms, a kitchen, washing machine and your own pool can make a two-week Florida holiday considerably easier.

And being able to make a piece of toast without paying theme park prices for it feels increasingly luxurious by day seven.

Which Florida Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Maldives

People often assume the Maldives is somewhere you go before having children. Which is great, but a bit late for us!

You just need to choose the right island.

A tiny romantic resort with nothing but an overwater restaurant and couples drinking cocktails in silence? Maybe not.

An island with a kids’ club, shallow lagoon, family accommodation, snorkelling, water sports and an food-inclusive package?

Completely different holiday.

There’s also something gloriously simple about the Maldives with children.

There aren’t 47 attractions you feel guilty for not visiting. You aren’t spending half the holiday getting everyone in and out of a hire car. You wake up, walk onto the beach and that’s basically the agenda.

What should families look for in a Maldives resort?

This is where I’d spend more time researching than I would choosing the fanciest-looking room.

Check:

• How do you get from Malé to the island?
• Is the transfer included?
• How long does it take?
• What ages does the kids’ club accept?
• Is there a children’s pool?
• Is the lagoon shallow and suitable for younger swimmers?
• What’s included in your meal plan?
• Are drinks included?
• Are there family rooms rather than needing two rooms?
• What activities cost extra?

Transfer costs in particular can turn a good Maldives deal into a very different number.

Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?

For families, I’d seriously consider it.

You’re on an island. Popping down the road because the hotel wants £6 for a Coke isn’t really an option.

Work out what meals and drinks would cost separately before deciding B&B looks cheaper.

Also consider doing a DIY trip and visiting the local Maldives islands. We did this a few years ago and wrote about it here.

Which Maldives Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Thailand

If you want long haul holiday filled with adventure, culture and amazing cheap food, Thailand is one of my favourites.

It’s a particularly good option if your family wants a mixture of proper exploring and beach time.

You can visit temples, wander around night markets, take boat trips, see incredible wildlife, eat ridiculously good food and then spend several days doing absolutely nothing beside the sea.

And once you’re there, your money can go a surprisingly long way.

Where should families go in Thailand?

This depends enormously on the time of year.

Thailand isn’t one of those destinations where you can simply Google “best time to visit Thailand” and apply the answer to the entire country.

Different coasts have different weather patterns.

So before falling in love with a hotel, check the expected weather for that specific area during your travel dates.

Phuket

Phuket gives you loads of choice.

There are countless hotels, restaurants and excursions, and it’s easy to find family-focused resorts.

The downside is that some areas are very busy. If you’re picturing deserted Thai beaches and hammocks, choose your location carefully.

Khao Lak

I’d look here if you want something calmer.

It’s generally more relaxed than Phuket while still giving families access to beautiful beaches and excursions.

Krabi

Another great option if boat trips and dramatic scenery are high on your list.

Which Thailand Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Abu Dhabi

If the idea of taking your children “long haul” makes you slightly nervous, Abu Dhabi is a good gateway option.

The flight from the UK is around seven hours, so it’s significantly less daunting than Thailand or the Maldives, but you still arrive somewhere that feels properly different.

You get beaches, sunshine, enormous family hotels, theme parks and excellent infrastructure.

Why Abu Dhabi works particularly well with kids

Yas Island does a lot of the heavy lifting.

You’ve got attractions including Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld, so it’s easy to combine resort days with big family days out.

You can also experience the desert, visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and spend time on the beach.

It’s one of those destinations where you can make the holiday as lazy or as busy as you want.

When should families visit?

I’d favour roughly October through April.

Summer can be extremely hot, particularly with younger children. Yes, everywhere has air conditioning, but if you actually want to enjoy beaches, pools and outdoor sightseeing, the cooler months are much easier.

Abu Dhabi or Dubai with kids?

Dubai has more attractions and that enormous, everything-turned-up-to-11 feeling.

Abu Dhabi can feel calmer and personally is my favourite.

If it’s your first trip to the UAE and you’ve got children, I’d happily consider either. I’d choose based on the hotel deal and what you actually want to do.

Which Abu Dhabi Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Barbados

Barbados is one I’d choose if you want the Caribbean experience without spending your entire holiday behind the gates of an all-inclusive resort.

The beaches are obviously gorgeous, but there’s enough going on that you can hire a car or head out for the day and feel like you’ve actually experienced somewhere.

You can explore different beaches, visit Bridgetown, take boat trips and generally combine relaxing with seeing more of the island.

Which coast is best for families?

The west coast is famous for calmer Caribbean water and beautiful beaches, which can make it particularly appealing with younger children.

The south coast tends to have more going on, with plenty of restaurants and accommodation choices.

As always, I’d choose the specific location over simply choosing the hotel with the fanciest photos.

A brilliant family hotel in completely the wrong location for the holiday you want isn’t actually a brilliant choice.

Is Barbados expensive?

It can be.

This isn’t necessarily the destination I’d choose if getting the absolute most holiday for your budget is priority number one.

Food and eating out can add up, so compare self-catering, B&B and all-inclusive properly rather than assuming one will automatically be cheaper.

Which Barbados Hotels Are Recommended for Families?

Is long haul actually harder with kids?

Not necessarily.

The flight is longer. There’s no getting around that.

But I think parents sometimes focus so much on the number of hours on the plane that they forget to look at what happens at the other end.

I’d rather do a longer overnight flight followed by ten days at a brilliant family resort than take a four-hour daytime flight at an awful time, land at midnight and then spend another two hours transferring to a hotel.

Look at the whole journey.

Choose your flight times carefully

A cheap flight isn’t always a bargain with children.

If spending another £100 means flying overnight rather than entertaining a toddler for ten waking hours, I am at least opening that calculator.

Equally, think about arrival time.

Landing at 6am with children who haven’t slept when your hotel room isn’t available until 3pm can be savage.

Don’t plan much for day one

Especially if there’s a significant time difference.

Pool. Food. Explore the hotel. Early night.

Screens are not the enemy at 35,000 feet

This isn’t the time for proving yourself with wooden toys and books (although they will be helpful too!)

Download programmes and games before leaving home. Take headphones the children are comfortable wearing. Bring chargers and a power bank. If they watch six hours of Bluey while crossing the Atlantic, society will recover.

Take more snacks than seems reasonable

Then add some more.

Airline children’s meals can be unpredictable, children can refuse perfectly acceptable food for reasons known only to them, and hunger at 35,000 feet is nobody’s friend.

Think about the transfer

This is one of my biggest things when choosing long haul with younger children.

A ten-hour flight followed by a 20-minute transfer?

Lovely.

A ten-hour flight followed by immigration, baggage collection, three hours in a minibus and a boat?

That destination needs to be spectacular.

How to find cheaper long haul family holidays

Long haul doesn’t automatically mean unaffordable.

In fact, once you start comparing the total cost of a holiday rather than just the flight and hotel, some destinations can surprise you.

Compare packages AND DIY

We do both.

Sometimes booking flights and accommodation separately saves a fortune.

Other times a package holiday absolutely wipes the floor with DIY pricing, particularly when luggage and transfers are included.

Never assume one method is always cheaper.

Search both.

Be flexible with airports

This can make a huge difference for long haul.

If you can reasonably reach several UK airports, check them all. It will nearly always be cheaper from the big city airports.

Four people saving £200 each is suddenly £800. We’ll drive quite a long way down the M1 for £800.

Check school holiday dates outside your area

Different councils sometimes break up on slightly different dates.

Those few days can create surprisingly large price differences. Flying from Edinburgh in late August can be significantly cheaper than London.

Look beyond the headline price

Before declaring you’ve found an incredible deal, add:

• Luggage
• Transfers
• Resort fees
• Visas/entry requirements
• Meals
• Car hire
• Attraction tickets
• Airport parking
• Any compulsory hotel charges

The cheapest package isn’t necessarily the cheapest holiday.

So, where would I choose?

It depends entirely on your family.

For affordable Caribbean all-inclusive: Dominican Republic.

For the ultimate kids’ excitement holiday: Florida.

For a special fly-and-flop: Maldives.

For adventure, food and value: Thailand.

For an easy introduction to long haul: Abu Dhabi.

For Caribbean beaches plus exploring: Barbados.

And that’s really the point.

There isn’t one “best family destination”.

Most places can work brilliantly with children if you choose the right area, the right hotel and the right style of holiday for your family.

Don’t ask whether Thailand, Florida or the Maldives is “family-friendly”. Ask whether the specific holiday you’re looking at works for your children. As they are all so different.

A toddler who wants a shallow splash pool, a seven-year-old who wants waterslides and a teenager who considers being seen with their parents a human-rights violation all have rather different definitions of the perfect holiday!