Last updated: May 2026 · By Simone Riches
The best package holiday destinations for UK families in 2026 are the Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria) for year-round sun, Greece (Crete, Rhodes, Corfu) for ancient history with beach time and Finland for a magical winter break.
Each offers short flights from the UK, all-inclusive options and proper kids’ clubs, making them the easiest “book it and forget it” family holidays.
If you’re a parent, you don’t need another travel article that tells you to “consider your needs”, you need to know where to actually go. This guide covers the destinations my readers (and my own family) come back to year after year, with honest notes on who each one suits, when to book and what to expect when you land.
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👉 Browse current package holiday deals on Booking.com →
Why a package holiday makes sense for families
Booking a package holiday means flights, transfers and accommodation are all sorted in one go and often the price comes in lower than booking each bit separately. For families especially, the appeal is:
- No juggling 5 different booking confirmations at the airport
- ATOL protection if anything goes wrong with the operator
- Kids’ clubs and child-friendly amenities are the default, not an afterthought
- All-inclusive options mean no daily “what are we eating tonight?” stress
- Clear, upfront pricing — useful when you’re budgeting around school holidays
It’s not always cheaper than going DIY, but it’s almost always easier and when you’re travelling with kids, easier is worth a lot.
I’ve taken my own family to four of these destinations below and tested the rest through years of reader feedback.
Top Tip: Don’t skip travel insurance — even on a package. Here’s why holiday insurance matters and what to check before you book.
1. Lanzarote — Best for stress-free sunshine year-round
- Best for: Families with toddlers and primary-age children
- Average flight from UK: 4 hours
- When to go: Any month — winter is mild (low 20s°C), summer is hot but not stifling
Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote’s biggest resort and a brilliant first family holiday spot. The volcanic landscape feels properly different (kids think they’ve landed on Mars), but the resort areas are gentle, walkable and used to British families.
What to actually do there:
- Playa Grande for sandy beach time, jet skis and paddle boards — browse Lanzarote water sports
- Rancho Texas Park for sea lions and dolphin shows — book Rancho Texas tickets
- Timanfaya National Park — the volcano coach tour is a hit with older kids — Timanfaya tour options
If you want the excitement of Lanzarote holidays before you book, scroll a few resort reviews, Costa Teguise tends to suit younger kids, while Playa Blanca is calmer and a bit more upmarket.
Our Lanzarote trip taught me that Costa Teguise’s beach has natural breakwaters, which made it way easier with a nervous swimmer.
2. Tenerife — Best for water park lovers and active families
- Best for: Families with kids aged 5–12
- Average flight from UK: 4.5 hours
- When to go: Year-round, though September shoulder-season is a sweet spot
Tenerife is the Canary Islands’ all-rounder. The headliner is Siam Park, regularly voted one of the best water parks in the world — and yes, it really does live up to the hype. Beyond the slides, there’s serious variety:
- Loro Parque for orcas, penguins and a proper full-day animal park — book Loro Parque tickets
- Mount Teide cable car — book the Teide cable car experience
- Whale and dolphin boat trips off the south coast — browse whale watching tours
- Siam Park — book Siam Park tickets
When we went to Tenerife, the queue at Siam Park was brutal by 11am — go straight to Tower of Power first thing and work backwards. Tenerife works brilliantly for families who want a holiday with options, beach days, big attractions and easy excursions all in reach.
👉 Compare family-friendly Tenerife hotels on Booking.com →
3. Gran Canaria — Best for teens and active families
- Best for: Families with teens or older kids
- Average flight from UK: 4.5 hours
- When to go: October–April for cooler hiking weather, summer for full beach mode
Gran Canaria has a slightly more grown-up feel than the other Canaries — which makes it ideal for families with teens who’d rather not be surrounded by inflatables.
- Roque Nublo for a hike that even reluctant teens will admit was “actually quite cool”
- Maspalomas dunes — yes, you can ride camels here, and yes it’s still magical
- Las Palmas capital city for shopping, history and proper Spanish food (try Las Palmas for cultural day trips)
- Puerto Rico for snorkelling and water sports
4. Fuerteventura — Best for laid-back, slow-paced family time
- Best for: Families who want to genuinely relax
- Average flight from UK: 4.5 hours
- When to go: April–October for warm sea, year-round for sun
Of all the Canaries, Fuerteventura is the one I’d pick if I wanted to do less. The beaches are vast, the pace is slow and there’s just enough to keep kids entertained without anyone pretending to be a tour rep.
- Beachfront villa stays for families who want privacy over resort buzz
- Corralejo dunes for proper “look at us” beach photos
- Oasis Park combines a zoo and a botanical garden — book Oasis Park tickets
- Catamaran sunset cruises — browse Fuerteventura boat trips
5. Greece — Best for history-loving, beach-loving families
- Best for: Families with curious kids aged 7+
- Average flight from UK: 3.5–4 hours
- When to go: May, June or September (avoid July–August heatwaves with kids)
Greece is the destination I’d recommend most often when families want their holiday to feel a bit more meaningful — not just a pool and a buffet, but actual stories and places that stick with the kids.
- Crete: Palace of Knossos — book a Knossos guided tour
- Rhodes: Medieval Old Town — book a Rhodes Old Town walking tour
- Faliraki Water Park — browse Rhodes attraction tickets
- Corfu: Boat trips, snorkelling — browse Corfu boat tours
The all-inclusive resort scene in Greece is excellent — kids’ clubs, evening shows, the lot — but you also get easy access to actual culture if you want it.
6. Finland (Lapland) — Best for once-in-a-lifetime Christmas magic
- Best for: Families with kids who still believe (and parents who want the photos)
- Average flight from UK: 3.5 hours
- When to go: December for Santa, January–March for Northern Lights and quieter prices
Lapland is the holiday parents talk about for years afterwards. It’s not cheap, but if you’re going to splurge once, this is the one.
- Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi — proper Santa, official Arctic Circle crossing (visit here)
- Husky sled rides and reindeer safaris — book early, the good operators sell out
- Northern Lights — best chances late December through March
- Snowshoeing, ice fishing or tobogganing for daytime activities
Tip from experience: book your thermal gear hire through the resort — don’t try to kit a whole family out from Mountain Warehouse before you fly.
If you love the festive feel, you’ll probably also enjoy these Christmas cities in Europe and a little inspiration from Christmas in Switzerland.
7. Norway — Best for nature-loving families and older kids
- Best for: Families with kids 8+ who like the outdoors
- Average flight from UK: 2 hours
- When to go: June–August for fjord cruising, October–March for Northern Lights
Norway is for families who’d rather hike than waterslide. Fjord cruises are the headline experience — gentle, scenic, and surprisingly engaging for kids who think they don’t like “boring scenery holidays”.
- Fjord cruises from Bergen — book a fjord cruise
- Northern Lights further north (Tromsø)
- Viking museums in Oslo
- Wildlife spotting along the coast — sea eagles, whales, reindeer
8. Berlin — Best for teen-friendly city breaks
- Best for: Families with teens 13+
- Average flight from UK: 1.5–2 hours
- When to go: May–September for warm weather, December for Christmas markets
City breaks aren’t always associated with family holidays, but Berlin is the exception. It’s flat, walkable, brilliantly served by public transport, and packed with the kind of history teens actually find interesting.
- The Berlin Wall, Holocaust Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie — heavy but important
- Tiergarten park for downtime and bike hire
- Spree river boat cruise — a brilliant orientation on day one
- Christmas markets in winter — properly magical, no commercial overload
For more on European cities, have a browse of these unforgettable European city breaks — Berlin pairs nicely with a few of them.
How to actually book a great family package holiday
A few honest tips after years of doing this (and a few I’ve learned the hard way):
- Book 4–6 months ahead for school holidays — but check last-minute deals 2 weeks before if your dates are flexible
- Compare the package price against DIY on Booking.com and Skyscanner — sometimes packages win, sometimes they don’t
- Always check the kids’ club age range — some are 4+, some are 6+, and there’s a big difference
- Read the most recent reviews, not just the top-rated ones — hotels change ownership and standards drift
- Pay the deposit on a credit card for additional Section 75 protection on top of ATOL
- Don’t pack everything before checking baggage allowance — package allowances vary wildly
Want a wider lens? These ways to add more adventure to your travels and tips on how travel improves mental wellbeing are worth a read before you book.
Make the holiday feel proper memorable
Whichever destination you pick, the difference between a “fine” holiday and a “remember when…?” holiday is usually the small stuff:
- Let the kids help plan one full day each
- Bring a cheap travel journal (or a Polaroid camera if you’re feeling fancy)
- Eat at least one local meal you can’t pronounce
- Don’t over-schedule — leave space for the unexpected
Here are more ways to make your holiday more memorable, and if you’re after something more grown-up next time, these Instagrammable honeymoon spots are gorgeous.
And on the practical side — wardrobe planning is half the fun. The post on cute beach day outfit ideas to pack covers easy looks for any kind of beach trip.
FAQs about package holidays for families
What is a package holiday?
A package holiday is a single booking that bundles flights, accommodation and usually airport transfers — and sometimes meals, kids’ clubs and excursions too. UK package holidays are typically ATOL-protected, meaning if the operator goes bust, you’re financially covered.
Are package holidays cheaper than booking separately?
Often, yes — especially in peak family seasons (July, August, October half-term). Tour operators buy flights and hotel rooms in bulk so they can offer lower bundled prices. That said, for off-peak trips or unusual destinations, DIY can sometimes win. Always quickly compare the package price against booking flights and hotel separately before committing.
Which Canary Island is best for young children?
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the easiest for under-5s — calmer beaches, gentler resort vibes and shorter walks from hotel to sand. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are better once kids hit primary school age and want more variety.
When should I book a package holiday for the best deal?
Book 4–6 months ahead for school holidays for the best choice and price. If your dates are flexible and you’re prepared to gamble, last-minute deals (1–3 weeks before departure) can be excellent — but you’ll have less choice of resort and flight times.
Do package holidays include meals?
It depends on the package. Most family package holidays offer four meal options: room only, bed and breakfast, half board (breakfast + dinner) or all-inclusive (all meals plus drinks and snacks). For families, all-inclusive is often the most stress-free choice and helps with budgeting.
Are there good winter package destinations?
Yes — Finland (Lapland) for Santa and Northern Lights, Norway for fjords and aurora, the Canary Islands for winter sun (still 20°C+ in December) and Berlin or Vienna for Christmas market city breaks.
Is it better to book a package holiday or all-inclusive separately?
For most UK families, package + all-inclusive together is the easiest combination — one booking, one price, ATOL protection, and no daily food decisions. Booking flights and hotel separately gives more flexibility but adds admin and removes the financial protection ATOL provides.
What’s the cheapest family package holiday destination?
Currently, Costa del Sol (Spain), Algarve (Portugal) and Lanzarote consistently come out cheapest for UK families — short flights, lots of supply, and competitive operator prices. Greece can also be very affordable in May or September.
Ready to book? Find your family package holiday
The best family holidays aren’t the ones with the longest itinerary, they’re the ones where everyone actually unwinds. Whether that’s husky-sledding through Lapland, paddling in Lanzarote or wandering Berlin’s Christmas markets, the destinations in this guide are the ones British families come back from with stories rather than stress.
👉 Compare family-friendly hotels and packages on Booking.com →
Happy travels, and don’t forget the snacks for the flight.
Written by Simone Riches, sharing 15+ years of family travel honesty at Sim’s Life.
