Traveling with children is very hard. The younger the child, the harder it tends to be. But even if you’ve got kids old enough to entertain themselves on airplanes and have grown out of needing a stroller, it can still be challenging to plan a trip that balances your wants as an adult traveler with kids’ interests. (I mean, there’s always planning a Bluey trip to Brisbane.) But short of relying on the world’s most popular children’s show, there are other helpful tips and tricks for planning an international family vacation.
The first and most important factor is picking a great location. Go2Africa recently released its own study to determine which countries are best for children. The ranking was determined by the number of four—and five-star rated family-friendly hotels, attractions, and restaurants on Tripadvisor. “By calculating the percentage of family-friendly places relative to the total number of establishments, we determined the best destinations to visit with kids,” the study states.
So, which countries came in at the top? It might not be the lineup you’d expect. The Seychelles is the best country for families with children to visit, with the highest percentage of child-friendly hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Samoa, Costa Rica, and New Zealand come in second, third, and fourth place, respectively.
The study also broke down which countries were the best for family-friendly accommodation (Italy), family-friendly activities (Belize), and family-friendly restaurants (London).
“Choosing the right country for your family holiday is crucial because it ensures that every member, from the youngest to the oldest, finds joy and excitement in the experience,” said Liesel Van Zyl, Product Manager and luxury travel expert at Go2Africa, regarding the study. “A well-chosen destination caters to diverse interests, offers safe and engaging activities, and creates memories that bind families together in a unique cultural tapestry.”
Here are the top 20 countries overall for families to visit:
1. Seychelles
2. Samoa
3. Costa Rica
4. New Zealand
5. Luxembourg
6. Iceland
7. Belize
8. Montenegro
9. Vanuatu
10. Ireland
11. Greece
12. Barbados
13. Morocco
14. Malta
15. Sri Lanka
16. Austria
17. Andorra
18. Tonga
19. Argentina
20. Bulgaria