It’s our favourite time of year, when Scott Dunn reveals its line up of best places for family holidays in the next 12 months. Nothing makes us happier than new travel ideas!
Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Clubs in the French Alps
This winter’s best places for family holidays
Who’d have thought winter would turn out to be one of the richest holiday seasons? That’s certainly the way it’s shaping up as far as Scott Dunn is concerned.
Of course, this winter’s best places for family holidays have snow in the mix, with new chalets and Scott Dunn’s iconic Explorers Kids Club in the French Alps. There’s sun too, which naturally means beaches, but this winter is all about making the most of every minute, so pairing downtime by the ocean with big city breaks or even a family safari, is where the Scott Dunn thinking is right now. Even Caribbean getaways have an extra layer of excitement for active kids, obviously parents can join too, although guilt-free grown-up time all to yourself is also an option.
South Africa, one of the best places for family holidays in winter
Start planning your family’s winter escape from South Africa to Saint Lucia
- Ski-in-ski-out luxury with added freedom, thanks to its on-site Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club, are just two of the reasons we’re recommending Portetta in Courchevel Moriond 1650 for families this winter.
- Iconic Saint Lucia draws adventurers like almost no other small island in the Caribbean. In that spirit, gorgeous Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort has introduced a range of thrilling activities for older kids this winter, from volcano visits to days out at the legendary Diamond Falls.
- Making memories every second is the essence of Thailand with Kids. We like the idea of balancing energetic Bangkok with an island escape to Kho Samui. And a private, tailor-made holiday like this lets you weave in culture and wildlife as well as beaches and outdoor activities, depending on the ages of your children.
- A family safari in South Africa followed by a week of beach time in Mauritius might sound like a lot to fit into a winter break, but South Africa with Kids is another tailor-made Scott Dunn adventure. So all the practicalities are taken care of, fantastic kids clubs at both Madikwe Safari Lodge and Shanti Maurice in Mauritius mean parents get a holiday too, and you curate the experiences, so the holiday is a perfect fit for your family.
Sunrise, Mount Kirkjufell, Iceland
Where in the world to go during spring 2025
According to Scott Dunn, next spring should be all about fun and adventure. We have no arguments with that, in fact a bit of excitement is probably just what we all need at the end of winter. As usual the range is broad and packed with inspired thinking. It’s also covering a lot of bases, so you can look forward to early sun breaks in Europe, as well as sunshine further afield in Asia. Although wonderful weather is far from the only factor this coming spring, an incredible expedition into the wilds of Iceland is proof of that.
Chinese junk, Halong Bay, Vietnam
The best places for family holidays if you’re sun-seeking adventurers
- Spring is a magical time to explore Southern Iceland where the geography and weather is so dynamic you can practically feel the landscape waking after winter. Family Fun in Iceland takes you from hiking the Sólheimajökull Glacier to whale watching off the coast of Reykjavik and touring the Golden Circle. It’s a dream holiday for outdoorsy older kids or teens. And a mix of sleek, urban hotels and your own private turf house means no matter how rugged the adventure, every day ends in sublime comfort.
- The journey from north to south Vietnam is epic in experiences, but Family Fun in Vietnam has been meticulously curated so even younger kids find the travel almost as much fun as arriving. We say ‘almost’, because arrivals include glorious Hạlong Bay, as well as wildly exciting Hanoi and Saigon, romantic Hue on the Perfume River, and ancient, atmospheric Hoi An.
- How do you make the Maldives even more alluring for families? Ask that question of Niayama Private Islands and the answer is, give them an island all to themselves. Exclusive, even for the ultra-exclusive Maldives, it’s also an inspired bit of planning that means freedom for kids to roam, play and explore. Although, you can look forward to a little personal freedom too, as Niayama Private Islands is also home to an exceptional Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club.
- Closer to home, sunshine is as good as guaranteed in Cyprus as early as March, which is why Scott Dunn confidently recommend 5-star Parklane in Limassol for the easiest of spring breaks. Another resort with an Explorers Kids Club, this one comes with its own waterpark, castle and replica pirate ship: this you have to see!
Costa Rica, one of the best places for family holidays in summer
Summer is the season for unforgettable experiences
Adventure continues into summer but with a refreshing eco-slant and an eye on giving children a living experience of conservation both in the iconic national parks of Costa Rica and in Kenya; where game reserves remain amongst the most forward thinking in terms of community conservation and sustainable practices. Also, we’re delighted to see summer mountains making it into Scott Dunn’s top recommendations with twin centre holidays combining the drama of the Dolomites with the spectacular Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. And would summer be summer without a hint of the Algarve’s surf beaches, soaring cliffs and seemingly endless hours of sunshine, just a few hours from the UK?
Pride of lions, Masai Mara, Kenya
Where to go exploring with your kids from Costa Rica to the Dolomites
- Costa Rica outpaces almost everywhere on earth for sheer diversity and it’s still the destination that tops all wish lists for wildlife experiences. Scott Dunn recommend Costa Rica for Kids in summer because it’s one of the best times to witness turtle hatching in Tortuguero National Park, and just right for whitewater rafting, and pacific coast surfing. Also, summer is green season, so a lot less busy than later in the year.
- Pine Cliffs sits on the clifftop above world famous Praia da Falésia. It’s one of the Algarve’s leading resorts, and families love it for its warm atmosphere, children’s activities and the outstanding Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club. If effortless is your mood for next year, Pine Cliffs should be on the summer shortlist.
- Fitting Italy, Greece and everything from biking and hiking in the Dolomites to exploring the sun-drenched Peloponnese Peninsula into one summer holiday takes a bit of planning. Fortunately that’s what Scott Dunn does best, so Dolomites & Greece for Families lets you focus on the adventure not the organisation.
- Reasons to safari in Kenya with kids are too many to list, but during summer, the Great Migration is the one that beats all others hands down. It’s also the event that draws crowds, which Kenya with Kids lets you avoid thanks to Scott Dunn’s family safari holiday expertise. This is another twin-centre adventure, so once you’ve witnessed the wildlife, you get to splash around on Kenya’s beachy southern coast.
Waterpark, Saadiyat Rotana, Abu Dhabi
The best places for family holidays all autumn
Fitting in a holiday before winter hits makes autumn the season with a high demand for sunshine, cool cultural experiences for older kids, and some welcome guilt-free time for parents. That might sound like a lot to ask, but that’s where Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Clubs and tailor-made holidays really come into their own. And the fact that you’ve the personal services of master planners, destination experts and – more often than not – very experienced parents with Scott Dunn means you can really stretch your autumn horizons next year.
Mount Fuji, Japan, one of autumn’s best places for family holidays
Guilt-free time for parents and once-in-a-lifetime memory makers
- Guilt-free time for parents and sunshine come together at Saadiyat Rotana in Abu Dhabi and Daios Cove in Crete. Both are incredible luxury resorts with the added advantage of Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Clubs for children aged between four months and 11+ years. Saadiyat Rotana even features after-dark childcare, so you’ve the chance to be a grown-up in the evening too.
- Wildlife and luxe log cabins in Yosemite; road-tripping the iconic Pacific Coast Highway; whale watching in Monterey, and time spent in LA and San Francisco; that’s just the bare bones of Ultimate California, it’s up to you how you refine the details. Plus, it’s a Scott Dunn escorted holiday, so you’ve local expertise helping you make the most of every minute.
- Autumn in Japan qualifies for the once-in-a-lifetime holiday description, no questions asked. Family Fun in Japan is all about discovering this extraordinary – and complex – country in your own way, with the help of local guides. Naturally, Tokyo and Kyoto are in the mix, but how you design the rest of this big adventure is up to you and your kids.
Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club, Daios Cove, Crete
Why families trust Scott Dunn with their dream holidays
Scott Dunn allow you to Escape The Ordinary any time of year, and that inspiration definitely chimes with families, but that’s not the only reason they trust Scott Dunn with their holiday plans.
For over 30 years, Scott Dunn have been creating dream family escapes from scratch: getting to know parents as people, finding out about kids’ likes and dislikes, paying attention to the practical details and going above and beyond to make sure everything is exactly as you wanted.
And even when you don’t know exactly what you want, Scott Dunn are born travellers and parents too. There’s practically nowhere on earth one of the team hasn’t visited, so if all you have is a simple desire to go somewhere extraordinary with your kids, that’s the perfect time to start talking to one of the travel experts at Scott Dunn.
Now visit Scott Dunn to find more family holiday inspiration for this year and next