Editor’s Letter: What Parents Really Want from a Holiday
In this honest think piece, Travelista Editor Jessica Ruth Gibson shares the epiphany moment when she realised what all parents really want from a holiday.
I have been a parent to one little boy for just over 6 years and I can honestly say that it has taken me all of those 6 years to truly figure out the winning formula for our family holidays. During those 6 years, we have been lucky enough to experiment with all types of family holidays; Spanish villa holidays, hotel breaks, UK self-catered staycations and even two Mediterranean cruises. Whilst of these holidays worked well, others just felt like genuine hard work. But it wasn’t until our recent family holiday to Turkey where all the stars aligned. It was on this trip that I had my lightbulb moment about what parents really want from a holiday. And here’s the spoiler; it’s completely different to what you wanted pre-kids.
This Editor’s Letter has been sponsored by Travelista partner Kuoni . All words are unique to the author.
I think many parents will relate when I say that having a child significantly changed the way I travel. However, pre-baby, I convinced myself that nothing would change. I was sure that I would continue to do all my adventure trips, but just with a baby ‘in tow’.
“My plans of delusion were scuppered when Covid hit and locked the world down. Along with a heavy dose of post-natal anxiety, it was safe to say we were going nowhere fast. My visions of intrepid travels with baby never came to fruition.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I have seen other adventurous modern women become mothers and do an incredible job of travelling the world with their babies in post Covid years – Wanderlust Chloe immediately springs to mind here. She first got on a plane with her son at 10 weeks old and continued to travel throughout his first year which I think is incredibly inspiring for other Mums. But as babies become toddlers and toddlers become children, they start to have their own voices, minds and let’s face it, meltdowns. They have their own opinions and want to go left when you really need to go right. This is the point that, as parents, our holiday requirements begin to shift.
Before I get into the truth about what I think parents really want from a holiday, I want to say one key thing, and I say this as a passionate traveller…
“Whilst you have young kids, the destination of your holiday actually becomes so much less relevant. It’s all about the infrastructure of that family holiday, that is going to make it an amazing experience.”
You could find yourself on a paradise island, but without an infrastructure of support, how much would you enjoy it as a family holiday?
Here are the things that I think parents really want from a family holiday – they might just not know it yet.
1. Parents want a holiday that lightens the mental load
The reality for most of us is that we are busy, working parents. We all know that being a parent alone is a full time job. A recent study from insure.com shows that the annual economic worth of a mother’s work is worth $140,315. Throw in the fact that we are also employed, running businesses and entire households, it’s no surprise that we are all feeling a little burnt out with the mental load of day-to-day life. This is why a top requirement of any family holiday for me is this; it has to lighten the mental load.
“Now that I am a busy working parent, a perfect holiday, for me, involves being totally catered for. Please, please, someone else just look after me. I don’t want to worry about having to shop for food supplies, think of things to cook, tidy up, wash up or clean.”
As it’s just me and my son at home, I do 100% of the domestic chores at home on a never-ending cycle. On my holidays, I want to step off the treadmill of daily life and free up the mental load in my brain. Hard working parents deserve this, for at least one week of the year. Surely?
Our recent stay at NG Phaselis Bay allowed me to do just that. As a 5 star all-inclusive resort in Antalya, Turkey, my son and I were fully catered for 24/7. The food was exceptional and it felt so easy knowing there would always be delicious and fresh meal options that he and I would both love. There was even a children’s section in the buffet with lots of children’s favourites as well as purees, plain pastas and formula for babies and toddlers. Both children and their parents are fully catered for at hotels like this and as everything was all-inclusive, I didn’t have to worry about going over budget at any point of the trip.
Another aspect of this holiday which completely lightened my mental load as a parent was having the whole trip planned by a Kuoni travel expert, which I documented both in an Instagram reel and within a Kuoni in store review. I went to the Kuoni Harrogate store for an appointment with a Kuoni Travel Expert, who really listened to our wants and needs as a family and showed me some tailored recommendations of hotels that she felt would suit us perfectly. I think in this fast-paced digital world it’s easy to forget that we can outsource the travel planning process to a professional, who may even be able to save you money in the process. Travel agents are still a great resource for overwhelmed and time-poor parents who need help to organise a family holiday.
“Lifting the mental domestic load freed up so much space in my brain, and I felt I had so much more capacity to be present with my son and just be the fun and silly Mummy he likes the best.”
We played in the pool. We jumped into the sea. We flew down waterslides together. We tried new foods. We ate ice creams on the beach as talked about the sea. We adopted a cat. We watched sunsets. We danced together at the children’s disco. We had so much fun on that holiday together and carved out some real quality time and special memories. My mind was so in the moment, as I wasn’t having to think of when to start the dinner or what I needed to pick up from the shops. My son had my full and undivided attention, and we both loved it.
I do want to make sure I convey the vast 180 I have done here. Pre-kids, I would have never, ever opted to stay at a large all-inclusive hotel. It would have been all too convenient. I would have wanted the independent boutique hotel with 10 rooms. I would have wanted to get out and roam the streets of my travel destination, reading reviews online, deliberating over interesting menus and trying a new restaurant every night. Doing that same experience with a hungry young child would not be enjoyable, so I just don’t do it.
“I know I will be able to return to a more adventurous and ‘off-the-beaten-track’ style of travel when my son is a bit older. I can’t wait to show him this, just like my parents did for me. But whilst he is young (and can go from zero to hangry in 10 seconds flat) I am now more than happy to accept this season of parenthood and embrace all of the conveniences that comes with an all-inclusive hotel.”
2. Parents want a holiday where their children feel safe, welcome and entertained
As our babies become children, we also realise the need for entertainment on a family holiday. Parents want access to facilities and experiences that will keep the kids entertained, engaged and ultimately, have a great time.
“As parents, we know that if our kids are happy, we are happy. Their joy is our joy. The beauty of a good family-friendly hotel is that so much entertainment is available in one place. This offers maximum entertainment for kids, and maximum convenience for parents.”
The NG Phaselis Bay in Turkey had a heated dinosaur-themed onsite water park, a spacious games room with unlimited arcade games, Playstation gaming stations, a modern kids club with indoor and outdoor spaces and an excellent program of daily kids entertainment. This was all on top of the main outdoor pool, the beach and a shallow kid’s pool which gave parents total peace of mind as their children played. Sun beds surrounded the kid’s pool with buttons to call for a drinks service, meaning I could sit and watch my son play whilst ordering an all-inclusive margarita straight to my sun bed. If that isn’t a well thought out set up for parents, I don’t know what is.
Beyond the wonderful onsite facilities, the staff were so friendly to children and always made us feel very welcome. My son was welcome in all the restaurants, including the premium a la carte restaurants, and they were happy to make menu adaptations for his needs. All these little touches makes things just that little bit easier for parents.
3. Parents want a holiday that allows them to take a break, with windows of relaxation
There’s a tongue-in-cheek statement going around on social media that going on holiday with children is simply just parenting in another country. I take this with a pinch of salt, as I do believe it’s so much more than that.
“But looking after children is a 24/7 job which doesn’t stop just because you go on holiday. Your chances of getting through a book or drifting off on a sun lounger whilst on holiday with young kids is slim to none – unless – you opt for a holiday infrastructure that allows you to take a break.”
It’s often a case of strength in numbers when travelling with kids, as parents and grandparents can tag team and offer each other windows of space and relaxation. But another great option is to pick a holiday with a brilliant kids club offering. You’ll pretty much find a kids club option in any hotel that wants to attract the family market and it’s becoming common place that access to the kids club is an inclusive benefit for hotel guess, meaning it comes at no extra cost.
Whether you’re dropping the kids for a full day or a couple of hours, kids clubs offer parents windows of respite to enjoy some solo relaxation, time with friends or some rare quality time as a couple. Many hotel kids clubs open til late, so couples have the option to enjoy a child-free date night whilst on holiday. If you’ve got young kids, you’ll already know how vastly different this dining experience would be…
The NG Phaselis Bay not only offered an excellent kids club, but it also had a big emphasis on wellness for parents and actively encouraged parents to take a break at the spa or at the hotel’s adult-only pool. Whilst I didn’t make it to the adult-only pool, I did manage to book in for a wonderful Balinese massage in the hotel’s luxurious spa. I took 3 hours one morning to do a workout followed by the massage. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the day playing with my son, feeling so relaxed and content having had a little time to myself. It felt so nice to be in an environment that acknowledged that parents need a break too, and empowered them to do so.
To conclude
One things for sure that when you become a parent, the goal posts are constantly changing. The same can be said for the type of holidays you will take, enjoy and prioritise for your family. After testing out lots of different holiday types with my 6 year old, I can honestly say ‘the all inclusive hotel’ has been by far the most enjoyable, joyful, carefree concept. Parenting is an absolute trip in itself, so for our family holidays, why not find the most gorgeous, comfortable and convenient place to do it in?
There’s a high chance you’ll find yourself in questionable ball pits, watching mental kids shows and dancing in Euro-pop mini discos (the type of settings that 21-year-old you would have run a mile from), but the years with young kids go by so fast and soon these types of family holidays will be a distant memory. So embrace this season of parenthood and all that comes with it. Fellow travel Mums, come and admit defeat with me, just for this season of life. I’ll meet you at the bar for an all-inclusive cocktail.
Search for incredible family holiday deals in the Kuoni January Sale – until 17th February 2025.
Chantal
This article is very presumptuous. Not all kids want to be cooped up in the all-inclusive hotel for a week, staying at the kids club while parents drink cocktails at the pool. Some children actually ENJOY exploring new countries and trying interesting local food at new restaurants. Maybe this way of travelling works for you, but its not what all parents -and children – want.