Last minute family holidays
We all know them. The families who have booked their summer holidays a year in advance, or their breaks before most of us have even put Easter in the diary. In the real world, often getting kids to school, a day’s work done and dinner on the table is enough. If you can plan in advance, fantastic. But if you can’t, you aren’t alone – our Travel Team is here to help. We’ve put together some places and activities to consider for a last minute summer holiday getaway, along with some top tips from family holiday experts.
Tobago beach accommodation
17 beautiful accommodations in unique eco resort
From
£117 to £390
per accommodation per night
Morocco family holiday with teenagers
Exciting Moroccan adventure for teenagers and parents
From
£595 to £649
8 days
ex flights
Morocco family adventure holiday
Kasbahs & bustling cities to mountains & oases
From
£745 to £850
8 days
ex flights
South African safaris for families with teenagers
Visit the famous Kruger National Park and Zulu villages
From
£1602 to £1865
12 days
ex flights
Catalonia family mountain biking & activity holiday, Spain
Family MTB & activities in the Catalan countryside
From
€670 to €820
8 days
ex flights
Catalonia family activity holiday, Spain
Family fun with scenic bike rides & adventure activities.
From
€670 to €820
8 days
ex flights
Last minute summer holidays
Most families travel in the summer holidays. Europe is always a top choice then – but if you’re thinking of a climbing, hiking, biking sort of holiday, it can often be too hot in many places to make the most of it. So if you are going for late availability on this one, consider the kids’ age ranges and whether they can be active in the heat. A lot of family holiday activities, such as in Lake Skadar, Montenegro, or on the island of Vis in Croatia, take that into consideration by starting your day a bit earlier to avoid the hottest part of the day. Inland Croatia, such as Velebit National Park, doesn’t get as much attention as the coast, but family holidays here are superb.
Other last minute summer holiday places to consider during the long break include Finland, where it is a bit cooler, but with long days for really squeezing every moment out of the holiday. And if you head to Canada, Colorado, or some of the northern national parks in the USA, you can still find snow in July sometimes – along with glistening lakes and rivers to kayak down. It’s also still warm in Vietnam at this time of year, so on a family adventure kayaking along Halong Bay or swimming in Hoi An, you won’t worry about the odd splash.
Other last minute summer holiday places to consider during the long break include Finland, where it is a bit cooler, but with long days for really squeezing every moment out of the holiday. And if you head to Canada, Colorado, or some of the northern national parks in the USA, you can still find snow in July sometimes – along with glistening lakes and rivers to kayak down. It’s also still warm in Vietnam at this time of year, so on a family adventure kayaking along Halong Bay or swimming in Hoi An, you won’t worry about the odd splash.
Last minute family holiday tips
We’ve chatted with our travel partners for the best last minute family holiday travel tips, covering everything from spring break recommendations to why you should swap home for huskies in winter.
Dog sledding through the snow
Ali Käräjäoja, from our Finnish friends Routa Travel, recommends a winter warmer:
“The dog sledding season starts in December and ends in early April, but for this and other winter activities, February and March are the best times, as there’s more daylight. If you come to Finland at the end of December it has its own mystical feel, as it’s dark all the time, which can be really great – but I prefer the sunshine.”
“The dog sledding season starts in December and ends in early April, but for this and other winter activities, February and March are the best times, as there’s more daylight. If you come to Finland at the end of December it has its own mystical feel, as it’s dark all the time, which can be really great – but I prefer the sunshine.”
Moroccan mountains
Rachel Blech is the co-founder of our holiday specialist SheherazadVentures, which runs tailor made family adventure holidays in Morocco. She explains why spring blooms are her bag:
“If you go in low season (early December to mid-February and July or August), you avoid the crowds and high prices, but risk unpredictable weather when it can rain. In my view, the best times to visit Morocco are late February, March or April, when the almond blossom is filling the valleys on the road to Toubkal National Park and the Atlas Mountains. And also the Ounila Valley from Telouet to Ait Benhaddou, which is totally unspoiled as yet – the valleys are unreal emerald green and the road has little traffic.”
Cycling through Spain
Vivian Campbell, from our holiday specialist Cycle Catalan, tells us why she’d avoid family activity holidays in August: “Personally speaking, the best time to visit Catalonia is late spring. May and June are absolutely fantastic. July and August can be very hot and August is very busy. To really enjoy a cycling and walking holiday, I would say that May in particular is lovely, as we have so many wildflowers. That’s a really nice time for walking. We give people a flower fact sheet and wildflower book so that they can identify all the wildlife and flowers when they’re on their walks.”Our top trip
Tobago beach accommodation
17 beautiful accommodations in unique eco resort
From
£117 to £390
per accommodation per night
Accommodation
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Last minute or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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