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Away with the kids: Family holidays in Europe

Blog· Europe· Travel

11 Feb

There are so many wonderful places to visit with children in tow. If you want to discover Europe with your family, I have selected some of our best family destinations in Europe, including a selection of toddler friendly European cities. There are some of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe, yet there are also so many child friendly beach holidays to relax, unwind and explore. Here are a few family holidays in Europe to inspire you.

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Family holidays in Europe: child friendly destinations

  • Family holidays in Europe: child friendly destinations
  • France
  • Spain
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Iceland
  • United Kingdom
  • Croatia

If you fancy a luxury family holiday in Europe, travelling on a budget, a European road trip, or are searching for the best city break with kids, there are so many options and wonderful places to visit for families.

France

We are no stranger to visiting France. Last year we spent May half term in the Dordogne region, and then returned in the Summer holidays for a road trip travelling along the west coast of France and into Spain. We took the ferry from Caen and travelled to the Dordogne region – We fell in love with Beynac, Sarlat and Limeuil. France is so beautiful and diverse. You may fancy a city break in Paris, a family ski holiday, a Summer holiday on the coast or a retreat in the mountains – we love that France has something to offer everyone.

france a great family friendly holiday in Europe
Dordogne, France

Spain

Last year we headed to the beautiful Asturias and camped for three nights at the end of our Summer road trip. Our campsite has the most stunning ocean views and the mountains behind us. It was a lovely end to our trip before heading back to the UK from Santander by ferry.

Spain offers scintillating cities, complex cultural history and island hangouts, and is a wonderful family friendly destination. The Canary Islands are also a great option for some February half term sunshine. If you are looking for a top city break in Spain you can try Bilbao, Granada, Malaga, or Valencia.

Asturias, Spain

Finland

This has been on my list for years and it is not hard to see why. Finland is quickly becoming one of the top travel destinations for families. Head to Lapland and it can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Father Christmas, go on a reindeer safari, chase the Northern lights, visit the ice hotel, or try out skiing!! It is not just for Christmas though and there is so much more to Finland than Father Christmas…you can arrange a whole host of outdoor adventures from skiing, husky rides to snowshoeing to snowmobiling, splash in lakes and rivers or visit the capital Helsinki.

photo credit Mummy Travels

Italy

We have a real love for Italy. Last year we visited Italy with the kids and fell in love with Lake Maggiore, the second largest lake in Italy. It is breathtaking beautiful, offering stunning beaches, towns (Cannobio is our favourite!) and a chance to visit the Borromean Islands. Having visited Tuscany just a few months before, I was blown away by the beautiful Volterra, Florence and Venice. Italy is incredibly family friendly and a great place to visit all year round.

Iceland

We visited Iceland a couple of times pre kids and it is an incredible destination. We definitely would love to return with the children.

There are some really amazing, adventurous, family friendly activities on offer here, making Iceland not only a brilliant choice for older families, but for younger children too. You can travel to Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, or take a road trip and explore what Iceland has to offer! Our wonderful friends over at Travelynn Family enjoyed a brilliant road trip last year. Take in caves and waterfalls, go snowmobiling, horse riding, visit the black lava beaches or geothermal baths. There is literally something for everyone here.

Photo credit Travelynn Family

United Kingdom

We spend so much time travelling around the UK. You could consider the Scottish Highlands, a quintessentially English village, or one of the incredible city breaks on offer including Bath, London, Edinburgh or York. Alternatively there are some beautiful beach escapes. You won’t be disappointed with a coastal break in Cornwall, North Wales, Northumberland or Brighton, The UK really has some of the best beaches to relax, try out watersports, or watch the kids run wild. Add in Roman ruins, an ancient cathedral or castle or two, or even a trip to the oldest street in York; The Shambles – and there is something for everyone. Staycation anyone?

A great family holiday in Europe is Cornwall with beautiful seaside towns and villages, and stunning beaches including Carbis bay beach in St Ives
Carbis bay beach, St Ives

Croatia

Last year we headed to Croatia for a week with the kids and we would return in a heartbeat. I almost don’t want to shout about Croatia so that we can keep it all to ourselves, but it is absolutely beautiful. We stayed on the Makasrka Riviera and found this an excellent base to explore Split, and Krka National Park.

Croatia is incredibly family friendly, with beautiful beaches, seaside towns and a relaxed dining scene with plenty of family friendly restaurants.

We travelled to Podgora in May and the weather was perfect for young children, not too hot and the sea warm enough to swim. There are some beautiful beaches in Makarska. Krka National Park is a must see aswell as Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia is a top family holiday in Europe with medieval cities, beautiful rocky beaches and the incredible Krka National Park
Krka National Park, Croatia

So what are your best family holidays in Europe to share?

Disclosure: This is a paid collaboration with Original Travel. All opinions are my own.

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

📸 credit @canonuk

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