Dreaming of that ideal beach vacation with the kids this summer?
While there are plenty of fantastic beaches around the world, not all are brilliant for family vacations. Popular beaches can be intensely crowded, whilst off-the-beaten-path and remote beaches may lack family amenities. Is there a “just right” solution for family beach vacations?
Phuket, Thailand
There’s little wonder that Phuket is a popular beachside family holiday destination with a plethora of family-friendly resorts located all along the white sandy beaches of the Andaman sea; from Kata beach in the south through bustling Patong and 30 minutes north to Kamala, Bang Tao Bay and Surin beaches.
Blåvand, Denmark
Blåvand in Denmark is home to one of the best beaches in Northern Europe, a 40 kilometre long, clean and beautiful beach. Here you can enjoy nature, wild dunes and many birds while playing with your kids. Our daughter loved building sandcastles and running in the wind.
While swimming in Denmark is limited to the short summer months there is plenty to do the rest of the year. On the south beach of Blåvand are the remains of several bunkers dating back to the 2nd World War. They are part of the Atlantic Wall, a defensive line built by the Germans in order to prevent an invasion. Instead of demolishing everything, the English artist Bill Woodrow transformed them into horses.
The town is also home to a small zoo and Denmark’s oldest candy shop.
Devon, UK
The great thing about visiting Devon in the UK is that you are never more than an hour from one of its 99 beaches. We love the beaches here for the sheer variety of shorelines. They range from rugged seascapes with rock pools and caves, to secluded coves with sheer cliff faces and others with miles of fine yellow sand.
Devon has two coastlines – one facing into the English Channel and the other out on to the Atlantic. This makes for very different conditions, with the north coast being popular with surfers. In the south, there’s family beach resorts and sheltered waters – ideal for letting little beachcombers explore.
Praia dos Alemães, Albufeira, Portugal
Praia dos Alemães in Albufeira is one of the best beaches to take your family on the Algarve coast. The sheer beauty of the beach is one of the main reasons as well as it’s family-friendly atmosphere.
The beach is the most easterly beach in Albufeira and is a Blue Flag beach which is perfect for families. The gold stretch of sand and the natural rocky backdrops make it a beautiful beach in Albufeira. In the peak summer months, the beach is very popular as it has an array of water activities for families and children including an inflatable playground right off the beach.
There are plenty of sun umbrellas for families to use as well as lifeguards that keep watch over the visitors. There are also several bars and restaurants that line the beach and concession stands as well as shower facilities, which are not very common on the coast. The beach itself has two beaches on either side of it making it easy for families to hop from one beach to another to explore more of the Algarve’s magnificent coastline.