Can you really have a relaxing family holiday with kids in tow?

Travel has always been a huge part of how I connect with the world and we have been fortunate enough to experience this with our children at all stages and ages. From babes on laps to toddlers in the aisle, we've tackled it all. But let's be honest: the idea of a “relaxing family holiday” can sound like a contradiction when you’re packing sun hats, snacks and an entire pharmacy just to make it through the airport.

So can you still have a relaxing break with kids in tow? Surprisingly, yes—but it might look a little different.

Redefining Relaxation

Before having children, holidays were often about rest and escape. Now, they’re about connection. That early morning beach walk, hand in hand with your toddler as the sun rises? That’s a new kind of peace. Watching your children try new foods, hear a new language, or play with local kids despite not sharing a word—that’s the magic. Not to mention the right of passage of kids learning to swim on holiday- what is with their new found water confidence they discover abroad?

Parenting Abroad: The Pros and (Few) Cons

Travelling as a parent brings challenges. You trade light packing for buggy or car seat logistics, spontaneity for schedule. Hotel rooms for apartments. But what you gain far outweighs it. Parenting abroad forces you out of routine and into presence. It offers your children rich, diverse experiences—ones that shape their curiosity and empathy.

Yes, jet lag is real. Yes, you’ll probably forget something vital. But you'll also watch your child marvel at mountain goats in the Alps, or make sandcastles with kids from three other countries. Those moments linger.

Take the Leap

If you’re on the fence about taking your kids abroad, do it. Whether it's hiking the Jurassic Coast or navigating a bustling Mediterranean market, travel teaches resilience, adaptability, and wonder—not just to our kids, but to us, too. Top parenting travel tip from me to you? Choose accomodation with a washing machine and return home with a suitcase full of clean clothes- if you know you know!

There’s no perfect time to take the trip. But from experience, you never regret it. Maybe learn from it, but regrets? Never.

This blog is part of my journey exploring life outdoors, on screen and off. If you're a casting director or researcher interested in natural, family-focused storytelling with an adventurous edge—I'd love to connect.