28.07.2025
Family holidays with the kids are unforgettable experiences. But whether you return well rested from your trip or exhausted and stressed all comes down to careful planning. We’ll give you some tried-and-tested tips for your holiday with all the family.
Babies and young children have very different needs to adults. First and foremost, you need to provide them with a safe, comfortable and stimulating environment. You also have to take into account the additional effort involved with luggage – and not least the available budget. Depending on the type of trip, you should bear the following in mind.
Package holidays are very convenient for families. There are many family-friendly hotels (catering included), and it’s very easy to plan your trip. One drawback, though, is that package holidays are often extremely popular during the school holidays.
Many children love the beach, the sea and the pool. But make sure you take safety into account – from safe bathing beaches to protection from the sun. A tip if you’re flying to a beach holiday: buying beach toys when you get there is fun for children and saves luggage space. However, it’s more sustainable and cheaper to bring toys with you when travelling by car.
A holiday flat or holiday home where you can arrive when you want offers plenty of flexibility and privacy for a family holiday. It does require a little more planning though. You can eat out or have a nice breakfast in your holiday flat and cook for yourself in the evening. For longer stays, you may need to do a clean or some laundry.
Many cities have great things for children to do. Do your research beforehand in popular travel destinations and book tickets to attractions, child-friendly museums, etc. in good time to avoid wasting hour upon frustrating hour in queues. You should also make plans for rainy days.
It’s important to reserve suitable seats on the plane in good time. For babies and young children, there are carrycots that can be attached to the seat in front. You can request this with your booking from some airlines. Certain airlines also allow extra luggage for prams. Many smaller children also have problems with ear pressure during take-off and landing. Dummies, chewing and drinking can all help during these times. A decongestant nose spray can also provide relief.
And, lastly, keeping your kids occupied on long flights is very important. Besides on-board entertainment, some airlines offer activity/colouring books, puzzles and soft toys on request. You should also come up with ways to keep your children occupied for longer periods of time.
Travelling by car gives you plenty of freedom when it comes to luggage, the route you take, food and drink and flexibility during your trip. But it requires good planning. Some children get travel sick. In these cases, travelling by train rather than by car may be a better option. Unlike cars, trains have toilets on board and allow you to get up and move around a bit. You can also give your kids more attention as you don’t have to drive. However, you should book ahead of time and reserve seats or a compartment, especially during peak travel times and on busy connections.
When camping with toddlers, a lot depends on your own camping experience. Many campsites have good facilities. You and your family can enjoy particular comfort if you opt for a caravan or motorhome. As a rule, you should look out for family-friendly and age-appropriate options.
Planning carefully can save you a lot of stress during your holiday. Sort out vaccinations and travel medicine well in advance. Choose a destination that’s suitable for the whole family and look for suitable accommodation with good reviews. Booking early pays off, especially during school holidays. You should also consider travel insurance in case someone falls ill.
If you are the sole parent travelling with your child, a travel authorization may be required. If you have different last names, you must also have a document with you to prove you are related, such as a birth certificate. You can find more information as well as a downloadable travel authorization at The link will open in a new window tcs.ch (in German).
The perfect length of a family trip depends on your destination. Travelling long distances by plane is not necessarily the best option for one-week family trips due to the time difference, the change in temperature and the strenuous journey. What matters most is what you actually want from a holiday: many families are quite content to spend all of their summer holiday at a campsite.
Depending on type of travel and destination:
If you’re going on holiday with children for the first time, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Preparing properly and remembering a few tips can save you a lot of problems. Ask the airline about extra luggage for prams. A changing bag can also be used to store nappies and a change of clothes for children. Also allow a little more time than usual for getting through security, for example. Ride-on suitcases, which kids can sit and be pulled on, make life easier for parents of younger children.
For flights and long car journeys, it’s a good idea to make sure the kids don’t get bored. You can get erasable drawing boards to keep them occupied. When travelling by car, looking out the window can help prevent your kids getting travel sick. In traffic jams, games like “I spy” can help make the journey go quicker.
Want to stay in Switzerland for your family holiday? Switzerland Tourism’s Family Hotels and Lodgings offers family-friendly accommodation at myswitzerland.com.
Food and drink on the go or at your destination can be a challenge if you have allergies or intolerances. There may also be a language barrier if you want to learn more about the ingredients. Apps such as Google Translate (The link will open in a new window translate.google.com), Microsoft Translator (The link will open in a new window microsoft.com) and “DeepL” ( The link will open in a new window deepl.com) make it easy to translate menus with photos. Self-catering is also a safe choice. You can check for allergy options at the hotel when you eat. Unfamiliar spices or tap water can sometimes cause discomfort, especially in tropical countries. In many countries, young children should avoid drinking tap water, or using it to brush their teeth.
On a beach holiday, it’s important to have fun and relax in the water – but you also need to stay safe. Can your children swim? Do they need floating aids such as armbands? Flat sandy beaches with very few waves and currents and a lifeguard are ideal for family holidays. Besides water-related risks, you also need to consider the sun: even strong, factor 50+ sunscreen does not protect you from sunstroke. A cap and plenty of shade are essential for younger children.
Younger children always love playgrounds. This is where they get the exercise they need. Travelling is always associated with long periods of patiently sitting still, such as when travelling or commuting between the hotel and excursion destinations. Treat your children to half an hour of fun in the playground from time to time.
Many family travel packages also offer professional support – from childcare and hotel entertainment, to tour guides to help you plan your activities. Their experience can be very helpful in deciding what family-friendly excursions and experiences to choose.
A successful trip is all about the shared experiences and adventures that you have as a family. For children, the little things are sometimes what matter the most. Helping your kids to build a sandcastle may be more valuable than an expensive visit to an attraction where you have to queue for several hours.
A Swiss consulate may be able to help if you encounter problems when travelling abroad. For example, if you’ve lost your passport or your child’s passport while travelling, apply for a new passport from a consulate at your destination.
Many more practical tips – from life hacks for family accommodation to legal information – can be found in various travel blogs. You can use them for a bit of inspiration and to help with planning. Here are some interesting examples:
There are lots of child-friendly destinations around the world – for a range of travel budgets. These usually offer plenty of activities for kids, a high level of safety and a welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere.
With natural forests, clear lakes and the sea, and many options for travelling independently, the child-friendly Scandinavian countries have been a popular family destination for many years.
Sunny Thailand is the perfect destination for a beach holiday, especially during the winter months. While the flight is a little bit longer, this country, with its beautiful landscapes and fascinating culture, is known to be child-friendly.
The Seychelles is a dream destination for unforgettable days on sunny beaches. Other advantages include the many protected, gentle beaches and the small time difference with Switzerland, just three hours in winter.
Gorgeous beach holidays without the long journey: the countless bathing lakes in northern Italy and the wide selection of fun amusement parks make the region an ideal choice for a more active family holiday.
The numerous Greek islands are a true holiday paradise. As a family destination, Greece also has calm water at many beaches and offers a warm welcome.
As you can see, when it comes to family holidays with small children, the most important thing is to plan and prepare properly. If you take the most important factors into account beforehand when it comes to getting there, where you’ll stay and activities while you’re there, you’ll be able to relax even more and enjoy some great experiences together.
