Are you currently planning your next family holiday? Are you on a mission for sunny weather, sandy beaches, and turquoise seas? And would you like all of that without travelling more than a few hours’ from the UK? Then our selection of the best family holiday destinations from TUI are sure to tick all of these boxes, and more!

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The TUI Group is one of the world’s leading tourism companies, and with package holidays at TUI, you can rest assured that your flights and accommodation are all taken care of, and there’s even the option to go all-inclusive, too.

The MadeForMums team have selected holidays at destinations across Europe which will appeal to a range of tastes and budgets.

At TUI, there’s something for parents, teenagers, and little ones, with a plethora of waterparks, sports, and adventurous activities, as well as relaxing beaches and adults-only spa facilities (perfect for when the kids are entertained at TUI Kids’ Club).

Let's take a look at the range of benefits TUI offers such as Free Kids Places.

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What family-friendly features does TUI offer?

Free Kids Places

Family in the sea with children on parents' shoulders
TUI

TUI understands how expensive it can be to book a family holiday, that’s why the travel and tourism company offers benefits to keep the cost down, such as kids activities at no extra cost and a promise of no hidden fees. One of the most cost-effective features TUI offers is Free Kids Places.

Free Kids Places is where one child per two paying adults can stay for free at selected accommodations. But how does it work?

Firstly, head over to the ‘Deals’ tab on the TUI site and select Free Kids Place Finder. Step one, tell TUI how many of you are travelling, step two, select the month you’d like to go on holiday. Then, you can add filters such as destination, duration, more specific dates, board, rating and price.

TUI's family offering

Family in the sea
TUI

As well as the above destinations, we’d like to draw your attention to the family offerings at these destinations that TUI provides. We’ve mentioned Free Kids Places, which is where one child per two paying adults goes for free, but did you know TUI also offers TUI Blue, Splashworld, and Holiday Village.

TUI has plenty of family-friendly hotels with features such as TUI Kids’ Club and child-only pools. Plus, you can opt for Holiday Villages and SplashWorlds, too. Holiday Villages include Aerial Adventure courses, Total Wipeout-inspired inflatables, football pitches and waterparks, as well as entertainment in the evening. Similarly, SplashWorld resorts come with free access to a waterpark.

So, what locations are actually good for family holidays?

Where is good for family holidays?

The MadeForMums team are huge fans of Europe for a family holiday and this is mostly because of the convenience — travelling to Europe takes just a few hours from UK airports, and at TUI, you can choose which airport you travel from.

In terms of the perfect location for your family holiday, each European destination offers something different for everyone. If you’re looking for a more scenic and relaxing family holiday, you might want to try Menorca. The entirety of Menorca is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means the island is protected from overdevelopment with the aim of preserving nature. Menorca is fantastic for clear sea views, rolling hills, and wildlife.

If you’re after something a little more cultural, why not try Ibiza? Ibiza Town is a UNESCO world heritage site, with a cathedral and Gothic quarter, and its streets offer lively markets

Or perhaps you’d like to visit action-packed Gran Canaria? On the island you’ll find the Aqualand Maspalomas and Lago Taurito waterparks, and the Angry Birds Activity Park, which has trampolines, mini golf, a ball pool and plenty of slides. If your kids are into animals, head on over to the Poema del Mar Aquarium to visit 350 species of sea creatures, some of which will be visible from the panoramic 36-metre curved glass viewing tank.

Feeling inspired? Let's take a look at the best family holiday destinations.

Best and last-minute family holiday destinations to explore with TUI in 2024

Menorca

Family relaxing by a pool
TUI

In MadeForMums’ recent Family Travel Survey, the Spanish Islands were named the second most popular destination for holidays in 2023 (the UK being named number one), and the island of Menorca was the fifth most popular choice.

Although Menorca is more low-key than its neighbour Ibiza, it is by no means boring. There’s a plethora of Menorca packages on travel website TUI, but the hotel we would recommend is Club Hotel Aguamarina.

With its elevated location, Club Hotel Aguamarina boasts some fantastic views of the gardens and beach; you can walk along the Cami de Cavalls coastal trail beside the hotel, and stroll along the garden footpaths to the sand.

Plus, with two family pools, a waterpark, an adults-only whirlpool, and an activity zone, which includes activities ranging from zip-lining, archery and aerobics to mini-discos and evening shows, there’s something at Club Hotel Aguamarina to keep everyone entertained.

Majorca

Couple on a train in Majorca
TUI

Looking for a fuss-free foreign adventure for you and your youngsters? There are few destinations more suitable than Majorca with its warm, clear waters, regular boat trips, water activities, and two-hour flight time from the UK.

While there are plenty of hotels in Majorca that are sure to tick all your boxes, we’ve highlighted Club Mac in Alcudia, predominantly for its waterpark!

Club Mac has eight pools on its doorstep (three of these being kids' pools), an ornamental lake, a beach just 15-minutes’ walk away, and a waterpark next door, which you’re guaranteed unlimited entry to.

There’s also plenty of activities available to make use of the clear sea and sandy beaches, such as volleyball and pedalos. Plus, if you’re looking for something a little more sporty, there’s also the opportunity to book things such as tennis, archery, football, badminton and more.

Spain

Children at a kids' club in Spain
TUI

Since Spain created its first waterpark in the 1980s, the European country has become an epicentre of water-based fun, with around 100 water parks up and down the country. Whether you’re taking part in aqua adventures or watching at the side-lines, being at a waterpark or by a pool is a brilliant way to cool down under the warm Spanish sun.

It seems the waterpark fun has made its way to hotel pools, too, which is particularly the case with this next TUI pick.

At Protur Roquetas Hotel and Spa, children can enjoy two kids pools and a long, lazy river, too.

For parents, there’s a laid-back pool scene, a relaxing beachfront setting, hot tub suites, and spa. Plus, there are plenty of spots to eat and drink at, with Protur Roquetas Hotel and Spa hosting a trio of restaurants.

Greece

Couple kayaking in the sea
TUI

If you’re planning a family holiday for teenagers (or children who have already started acting like teenagers) we recommend checking out the action-packed facilities Holiday Villages have to offer. Namely, at Holiday Village Atlantica Rhodes in Greece.

With six bars, seven pools (including a kids' pool), four restaurants, Holiday Village Club, waterpark, and an exciting entertainment program, you’ll wonder if you could live at Holiday Village Atlantica Rhodes forever!

For families who like an adventurous holiday, there are plenty of activities to choose from. There are high ropes courses and raft-building sessions which offer a truly unique experience, and sports such as tennis, football, basketball, swim academies for swimming, and trampolining, just to name a few. We agree with TUI that Holiday Village Atlantica Rhodes is more like a giant playground than a hotel.

Turkey

Child abseiling in Turkey
TUI

At AQI Pegasos Royal in Turkey, get ready to experience a family holiday of a lifetime. The main draw to this all-inclusive hotel is the pool area which boasts two main pools and two children’s pools, with the children’s pool housing a huge 16 slides.

As well as the pools, AQI Pegasos Royal is located against the sandy shores of Incekum Bay. Plus, it’s worth noting that the all-inclusive banner covers meals and drinks, and you can use the pools and facilities of the two neighbouring hotels, too.

Ibiza

Ibiza Town
TUI

Ibiza is the third largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, after Majorca and Menorca, and it’s blessed with sunny days, warm temperatures, a wide range of accommodation and activities to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as around 130 miles of safe beaches along its Mediterranean coastline.

If you’re looking for something which is a little more self-contained — perhaps it’s your first family holiday or maybe your little ones are prone to wandering — then a holiday village is a fantastic idea.

Holiday Village Seaview Ibiza has everything you could want in accommodation; the holiday village has a buffet restaurant, Aerial Adventure course, a beach, spa, entertainment program, and a huge waterpark. Youngsters will love the waterpark with heart-racing slides and a pirate-themed splash area.

Canaries

View of the beach at Gran Canaria
TUI

There are seven islands which make up the Canaries: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Each island varies in size and has its own distinct features.

Gran Canaria is the third largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, and there’s plenty to explore, such as beaches, waterparks, villages, caves, mountainous trails, and even dunes. So no matter what type of family holiday you’re keen to experience, you’re sure to find it in Gran Canaria.

TUI has plenty of accommodation options in this Canary Island, but we would like to highlight Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito.

It’s hard to imagine you could find a better spot than the one Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito occupies. The hotel is located on a beachfront, and it offers an on-site pool with children’s splash pools, a nearby waterpark, and the beach is brimming with watersports. Plus, the Puerto Rico centre is just a short taxi journey away.

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