The Best Destinations Around the World for Your Family Adventure

Taking a family trip is special – but we know that it can also be stressful. Traveling with a variety of ages comes with a variety of wishes and needs, and planning a trip to accommodate them all is no easy feat. We want to make your trip planning a breeze, and your family’s experience an unforgettable one. That’s why we’re here to share some of our favorite family havens around the globe, and let you in on what makes them even more exceptional when traveling with Kensington Tours.

First, your Destination Expert will work with you to create an itinerary that meets everyone’s wishes. Whether it’s alone time for mom and dad, something engaging for the kids, or fun for the whole family, we’ll tailor your trip exactly to your liking. Your vacation time is precious, so everything will be organized for you ahead of time. Once you arrive, you’ll be in the company of an expert local guide who works with your family one on one. You tell us your interests, and we’ll be sure to pair you with a specialized expert, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the world together.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica beckons the adventurous family with the dense jungles of Arenal, where the brave and daring can seek out howler monkeys and other flora and fauna atop the famed Hanging Bridges. Spend the morning at a local wildlife center as you learn about the orphaned and adopted animals, then roll up your sleeves alongside your guide to help prepare their food, and get set for a whimsical chance to get up close and feed them. After you work up an appetite of your own, learn how to prepare your own delicious homemade tortillas and indulge in refreshing tropical drinks – both alcoholic and non – as your shells are cooked over a wood-fire stove.

Then it’s off to one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful plummeting falls – the spectacular Llanos del Cortez Waterfall. Descending into a tranquil pond and adorned with a white sandy beach, it’s the picture-perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. More fun on the water ensues with a private catamaran charter to whisk the family away for the day, followed by an island-vibe and family-style beach barbecue. We’ll even send along a professional photographer to capture any experiences you like, so the memories last forever.

Your accommodations will include world-class resorts featuring spectacular hot springs, picture-perfect views of Arenal Volcano, superb restaurants, and fun activities for the whole family.

Japan

Enjoy an afternoon pop culture tour in Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara with your local private guide, as you explore three of Tokyo's vibrant centers of youth fashion and pop culture. Set off for Electric Town, the epicenter of otaku, where anime and manga fans will be delighted. Then stop at a pet café and befriend a few of Tokyo’s cuddly creatures as you experience kawaii – the culture of cuteness.

The future is Tokyo, and it’s time for the whole family to experience Odaiba, a man-made island featuring hypermodern and strange buildings, memorably described as the result of a “preschooler’s architecture class.” For the social butterflies, see the Instagram Museum, also known as the Mori Digital Art Museum, and encounter a life-sized robot on the rooftop garden of the Ghibli Museum.

For the princesses in the family, there’s nothing more enchanting than a day at Tokyo Disney Park, while for the deceptive ninjas it’s a trip to Iga Village to learn a range of clever tricks in the art of stealth. For the nature lovers, a trip out to the scenic town of Hakone for the best panoramic views of Mt. Fuji is in order, and for the foodies, there’s no better way to indulge in Japan’s cultural hub than with a privately guided evening walk around Osaka as you taste your way through the streets.

With convenient hotel locations in each city on your itinerary, those seeking even more of a thrill can dash off to the nearest allure calling their name.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, explore Arusha National Park, teeming with wildlife like giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and colobus monkeys. A birder’s paradise, you’ll be treated to a plethora of sightings of rare species, including the Narina trogon – or as the kids would say, a small red and green bird. As your park ranger leads the way, together you’ll discover Arusha National Park’s incredible slopes, second in height only to Kilimanjaro. Take to the grounds on a thrilling walking safari to gaze at the unusually shaped baobab trees, also known as the “upside-down tree.” Look up and you might find the tree climbing lions, leopards, and African pythons, a perfect spotting for the aspiring rangers in your family. Experiencing the raw wilderness of Africa’s plains as a family is spectacular – and getting up close and personal with these incredible creatures is sure to be awe-inspiring for those of any age.

In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, your first task is to see which member of the family will be first to correctly pronounce Ngorongoro! Then, explore one of the Maasai Villages in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll stop at a local boma along the way to learn about Maasai culture, history, and way of life as you interact with the welcoming locals.
At the end of each night, your green oasis and luxurious lodges amidst the vastness of the parks will – like the wildlife – leave you in awe.

France

Discover Paris in a truly unforgettable way, as you meet your private skipper at the bank of the Seine River and enjoy an exclusive Venetian boat ride along the water. Embark on an exhilarating treasure hunt and race against the clock at the Louvre, the largest art museum in the world, with oh so many places to hide. Let the three ladies of the Louvre – Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Nike of Samothrace – guide your way.

At the 16th century château of Meung-sur-Loire, it’s time to suit up and try your hands fencing: a Renaissance activity pioneered in Italy that was later adapted and improved by the French. Don your helmets and stand at the ready before you step up for a friendly duel. Then embark along the Loire River Valley on an entrancing cruise, discovering the last truly wild river in France aboard a traditional wooden boat. For the wine connoisseurs, this one’s for you, as you sit back and relax with a glass of local wine on your leisurely sail.

Apartment-style accommodations throughout your itinerary will make you feel right at home.

Italy

Mamma mia, what a place for the famiglia. There’s no place quite like Italy for the family, with familial traditions being the fabric of the nation. And where does it all begin? With food of course. Start with a private gelato-making class led by an experienced chef, who will give you all the secrets to making the best tasting gelato you will ever eat. On your privately guided food walking tour, let your nose and stomach guide you as you discover famous delights of Italian delicatessen, from pizza bianca and mortadella to the indulgent gelato – we recommend taste-testing for yourself, but our personal favorite is nocciola (hazelnut). Then the fun really begins as you’re outfitted with helmets and electric-assisted mountain bikes and head out of the city and deep into the underground of Rome's famous Catacombs. Explore the narrow, cavernous, subterranean passageways lit just enough to maintain a spooky aura.

In Florence, a walking tour in the footsteps of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci will be tailored to the members of your family, ensuring an exciting day for all – perhaps even a contest to see who can make it to the top of Giotto's Bell Tower first – no easy feat at 277 feet high. A game booklet featuring challenges and riddles will be provided for the little ones as you explore, and they’ll have to pay close attention to your private guide to complete their mission! Then it’s off to the Galileo Museum with your private guide, home to one of the largest collections of scientific instruments in the world. From telescopes and thermometers to globes and mathematical objects, you’ll bathe in a world of impressive discoveries and inventions.

After Florence it’s off to Venice to meet your Gondolier, who will sing to you as you glide through Venice’s famous canals. But don’t get too comfortable, the fun continues at your Venetian mask-making class with an experienced art teacher, as you compete to create the fanciest papier-mâché carnival mask at a private atelier in the heart of Venice.

All around Italy you’ll stay in family-friendly hotels in the heart of the action, so you have the chance to wander off on a post-tour adventure should you wish.

England

The pearl on the River Thames is a family wonderland with enchanting facets for every age. London calls the family to take to the skies on the London Eye for a bird’s eye view of the city, followed by a quintessentially British, privately guided Black Cab tour of the metropolis. Visiting more than just the highlights, drive down narrow, forgotten streets and visit odd and quirky spots around the city to make the whole family giggle, like Henry VIII's cow shed and the smallest house in London.

"Disapparate" from the city to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, uncover closely guarded magical secrets, taste butterbeer, and walk right through Diagon Alley. See Dumbledore’s office, the floating candlesticks of the Great Hall, and take a stroll down Privet Drive – the most awe-inspiring experience for those whose lives were touched by JK Rowling. And if Hogwarts isn’t castle enough, enchant in the magnificent Warwick Castle set in the beautiful and rolling Warwickshire hills. With your private guide, step through its 1,000-year history as you enter over the footbridge to a bygone world of banquets, battles, and ceremonies – the sheer magnitude will delight the whole family. Then, head out to the Cotswolds with thatched medieval villages and historic markets waiting to be explored. And of course, for the young at heart, walk across miles of shingle beach in hip and trendy Brighton, and delve into the city’s eccentric shops.

Your castle for the night? We recommend resting your heads in studio rooms at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, situated in London's South Bank and within walking distance of the city’s most iconic attractions.