Intrepid Travel’s New Family Destinations

Intrepid Travel has just rolled out two amazing and new family tours, both culturally rich and budget-friendly. These small group adventures are capped at only 16 guests:

Finland Family Holiday
Imagine taking your family on a six-day journey to a true winter wonderland in Finnish Lapland. It all kicks off in Helsinki with a visit to the interactive Heureka Finnish Science Center. From there, board the Santa Claus Express overnight train to Rovaniemi – the official hometown of Santa Claus! Your children can meet Santa himself before you head into the snowy wilderness for three nights. You’ll explore the frosted forests with huskies, visit a reindeer farm, and warm up around the fire with hot berry juice. And if that’s not magical enough, there’s a chance to catch the northern lights in winter! This adventure is designed for children aged five and up, running from July through October, December in 2025, and also spring 2026.

Southern Thailand Family Holiday
This eight-day trip showcases the best of southern Thailand’s beaches, nature, and culture. Start with the stunning shores of Phuket, then venture into the lush wilderness of Khao Sok National Park. Here, you’ll cruise across Cheow Lan Lake in a longtail boat and enjoy lunch at a raft house. Next, experience authentic local life with a homestay in Phrom Lok District, where you’ll share home-cooked meals and learn traditional painting techniques from local families. Wrap up your adventure with a day in Krabi, where you can relax, snorkel, rock climb, or hop between islands. Finally, head back to Phuket for some final moments in paradise. Perfect for families with children aged five and up, this tour is available in April, July through September, December in 2025, and January 2026.

These trips are ideal for creating unforgettable memories, ease of travel and very well priced.

A British Countryside Getaway

Relax in the English countryside with a bit of French flair and cuisine for an ideal getaway!  The Family Time package at Belmond’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons near Oxford treats the whole family to a taste of luxury in their stunning Oxfordshire grounds.

Your stay includes:

• Daily English breakfast
• Complimentary beds for children under 12 (up to two per room)
• Children’s ‘Little B’ gift on arrival
• Children’s ‘Seed Explorer’ garden activity
• One seven-course seasonal dinner for two adults
• Two dinners from the children’s menu selection

Just book a Junior Suite, Garden Junior Suite, Studio Suite, One Bedroom Suite, Deluxe Studio Suite or and Garden One Bedroom Suite.  This 32-room property showcases a two-star Michelin restaurant from celebrated chef and inn creator Raymond Blanc along with his cooking school which offers family classes and gardening school.  Virtuoso benefits add $100 food and beverage credit (an extra $100 for staying 3+ nights) and early check in and out.

Expanded Family Destinations

National Geographic Expeditions and G Adventures have expanded their National Geographic Family Journeys with three exciting new destinations: Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain. These family-focused trips aim to combine learning and adventure, providing culturally immersive experiences that reflect National Geographic’s expertise in wildlife, photography, storytelling, history, and exploration. The addition brings the total number of family journeys to 19!

New Family Journeys:

• Ecuador Family Journey: Volcanoes and the Amazon – Discover the Amazon jungle with native wildlife encounters and biodiversity lessons, including a memorable three-night stay in a jungle lodge.
• Mexico Family Journey: Ruins and Cenotes of the Yucatan – Experience communal life with the Maya in Yaxunah, learn ancient culinary techniques, explore cenotes, go on a wildlife safari in Cozumel, snorkel near Chichen Itza, and more.
• Spain Family Journey: Vibrant Cities and Artistic Icons – Tour Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium, embark on a Barcelona scavenger hunt, visit Salvador Dali’s surreal house, take a paella cooking class, and dive into Spain’s artistic wonders.

Plus, with at least eight people, you can make your tour private—a perfect way to bring family and friends together!

For even more family fun, G Adventures also announced a new fleet of 57-ft. yachts, offering exclusive 7- to 14-night journeys through the Greek Islands beginning in 2025. These yachts accommodate up to 10 people, perfect for an unforgettable family travel experience.

Holiday Festivities in Paris and London

Family Twist is now offering four-night winter festive packages to London or Paris. Or both! Your family can experience the holiday magic with their exclusive and private activities that engage children and adults alike. These experiences are combined with luxurious hotel stays complete with an abundance of holiday offerings. The four-night packages create a memorable short getaway or combine the two cities for eight nights of holiday excitement.  In Paris, your family will enjoy an enchanting Christmas walking tour and also craft your own French Bûche de Noël with expert chefs. Stay at the luxurious Castille near the Louvre or Esprit Saint Germain on the quaint Left Bank. In London, stroll through festive decorations on a Christmas-themed walking tour and create personalized Christmas stockings and decorations in a private craft workshop. Accommodations are at the renowned Athenaeum in Mayfair or the Milestone in Kensington. Family Twist also curates custom and upscale family getaways in other counties including Italy, Spain, and Belgium, offering experiences in iconic cities as well as more rural or less-visited destinations.  By combining luxury, education, and fun, they offer you a unique way to experience the best of European culture and history as a family.

Puglia Family Getaway

Looking for a relaxed Italian vacation for the entire family? Discover Masseria Torre Maizza, a luxury resort on the Adriatic Sea along the Puglia Coast. This charming retreat features 40 airy rooms and suites set in traditional tufa buildings with vaulted ceilings, all reimagined by Rocco Forte in 2019. The resort offers a relaxing pool with underwater music, a nearby private beach club, a nine-hole golf course, bikes for countryside exploration, a spa, and kids’ programming tailored to different age groups—babies (0-3), children (4-12), and teens (13-16).

Family activities in the area include horseback riding, watersports, cooking classes, and a variety of quaint towns. The resort’s Family Experience package is a fantastic value, offering:

• Up to 20% off when you book a Two-Bedroom Family Room
• €100 credit towards children’s activities for the Two-Bedroom Family Room
• Complimentary meals for children up to age 3
• 50% off meals and beverages for children ages 4 to 16
• Rocco Forte Kids’ amenities and services

Plus, enjoy additional Virtuoso benefits including full American breakfast, room upgrade upon availability at check-in, €100 food and beverage credit, and an early check-in and late check-out upon availability!

Parisian Hospitality

After enjoying a few weeks of Olympics coverage, a trip to Paris will be even more enticing! Virtuoso offers a special family package at the Esprit Saint Germain hotel, perfect for families planning their Parisian adventure. The hotel will guarantee connecting rooms (superior club to deluxe club) along with a plethora of fun amenities:

• One-hour river cruise
• Daily American breakfast
• Complimentary beverages in the lobbies
• Complimentary in room mini-bar
• Fresh fruits and flowers daily
• Choice of red or white wine with a plate of assorted French cheeses, baguette, and crackers
• A departure gift of butter cookies from the famous Poilâne bakery
• A bottle of mineral water
• Room upgrade, if available

Ideally located in the heart of Paris on the Left Bank, this 5-star boutique hotel, completely renovated in 2021, offers an authentic Parisian ambiance with 28 rooms, suites, and apartments. Please note that some blackout dates may apply.

New Zealand Adventure

Explore New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse natural habitations, and cultural offerings through a family-friend package at Treetops Lodge & Estate.  This resort, located near the geo-thermal wonders of Rotorua on the North Island, offers a compelling two-night Family Play package, available through the end of October. This offer features gourmet breakfasts, evening drinks with canapés, and four-course dinners highlighting the Estate’s locally sourced produce. Also included is either a 4WD Estate Wildlife safari or a guided hike with a gourmet picnic lunch amidst the native forests of the North Island.

Nestled within a private 2500-acre reserve, the resort offers spacious villas ranging from 1400 to 1600 square feet, with connecting options available for larger families. As an added bonus, children aged 12 and under stay and dine for free! At the resort, your family can unwind under the stars in outdoor hot tubs, explore glow worm caves by torchlight, or tackle over 40 miles of adventure trails that offer hiking, mountain biking, archery, and horseback riding. This resort truly has something for everyone: fly fishing and kayaking are also available on-site, with opportunities for fly fishing lessons, Additional activities include junior cooking classes, photography safaris, helicopter tours, and Maori cultural experiences such as poi making and flax weaving. Treetops Lodge & Estate offers the perfect blend of luxury accommodation and immersive nature experiences, and is ideal for families seeking both relaxation and adventure in the heart of New Zealand. 

Sicilian Beach Getaway

Sicily’s top beach resort for families is Rocco Forte’s Verdura, which is located on the Italian island’s southwest coast.  A great way to experience this superb property is to take advantage of their Family Experience package with a stay of at least two nights by November 11.  This package includes a 20 percent discount off a two-bedroom Family Room or Family Suite, 100-200€ credit for children’s activities, half off meals and beverage for children ages 4-16 (younger ones eat free), plus Rocco Forte’s famous kid’s amenities and service.  Some blackout dates apply.  The property also offers added Virtuoso benefits!

This self-contained resort showcases 203 rooms, suites, and villas spread around the 507-acre property.  It features two golf courses, gorgeous spa, indoor and outdoor pools, calm beaches with watersports, tennis, paddle (like pickleball), cooking classes, bikes, children’s programming for babies through teens, excellent dining, and more.  Summer sports camps abound for all ages.  If your family wants to leave the resort, you can explore nearby Grecian temples, go island hopping by yacht, take a day trip to Mt. Etna, and more. 

An Alps Getaway

From June 14 to September 8, 2024, children are invited to experience a Wunderland of activities at the luxury Kulm Hotel St. Moritz in Switzerland.  This supervised program is available for children ages 3 to 12 who can enjoy a plethora of activities such as treasure hunts, pizza-baking, mocktail mixing, flower arranging, and more.  On several nights, there are supervised dinners at the hotel restaurant if parents want a quiet meal. For your teens, there is a hangout lounge and new teen evening activities. Activities abound for children and teens including an indoor/outdoor pool and free tennis and golf.  For added adventures, the resort also has a partnership with a local sports camp with multi-sport or single sport options (tennis, climbing, soccer, biking and even a tech camp!). This mountain resort doesn’t just cater to your children: the parents can enjoy the resort’s and area activities such as a spa, gym, fitness classes, miles of hiking trails, mountain biking, watersports, carriage rides and more.  Stay at least two nights and your family will also receive free train travel in the Engadin St. Moritz region, along with bus service around the valley to explore this gorgeous region.  Take advantage of a free night with a 3- or 4-night stay!

Tauck Bridges Adds Japan

Japan is a travel hotspot! In 2025, Tauck Bridges is making it easier than ever to explore this unique island country with a new 10-day itinerary, “Journey Through Japan…A Family Adventure. The trip is chock full of cultural experiences and the some of the country’s top highlights. It begins with a three-night exploration of Japan’s capital of Tokyo. Your family will visit the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple and enjoy a rickshaw ride before learning the ways of the ninja.  Also visit the famous Ginza shopping district, Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Shrine, teamLab Planets interactive museum and also enjoy a sushi-making lunch. Then you will travel by high-speed bullet train to Hakone for a one-day stay, where your family will take a pirate boat cruise across Lake Ashi and a trip to the city’s Open-Air Museum. Hop on the bullet train again to Hiroshima for a two-night stay. Highlights include the city’s Peace Memorial Museum and Park, the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and a hands-on traditional okonomiyaki demonstration and dinner. The trip ends with a three-night stay in Kyoto.. Visit Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market and the city’s geisha district. Your family will have the chance to participate in several traditional Japanese cultural traditions, such as a formal tea ceremony, drumming and taking a calligraphy lesson.