School holidays are easier and happier for everyone when it’s sunny. If our changeable weather has got you planning a family trip abroad this summer, we’ve got some great recommendations from some of the best family travel bloggers in the UK.

This is the second of our posts on keeping the kids entertained over the summer. Part 1 was full of ways to keep children happy at home. Here we’ll dive into the best family holidays abroad.

Bon voyage!

Otis and Us

Have campervan, will travel. And as the proud owners of Otis the camper, Katy and her family certainly enjoy plenty of camping, glamping and vanning adventures. If you’re looking for family camping tips, Otis and Us is the blog for you. Follow the family’s adventures around the UK and Europe. We particularly enjoyed reading their campervan tour of Brittany and want to stay at every single one of the family-friendly campsites they visited.

As well as holidaying in Otis, the family also love to travel further afield. We can guarantee that Katy’s review of Podgora on Croatia’s Makasarska’s Riviera, with its “laid-back vibe, sparkling turquoise waters, colourful sunsets and beautiful beaches”, will have you checking out available flights from your nearest airport.

Five Adventurers

Family travel is Nisbah’s number-one priority. The mum behind the Five Adventurers blog explains: “I want to make the world a classroom for my children and share the magic family travel can bring.” And with so many adventures under her belt, this blog is a great resource for families wanting to explore farther afield.

As well as reviews of wonderful destinations like Istanbul and the Maldives, Five Adventurers offers practical advice on getting the best out of any family holiday. There’s a great post on managing a strong-willed child on holiday that will take away a lot of the stress. And Nisbah’s advice on showing your emergency medical information on an iPhone lock screen is a stroke of genius.

POD Travels

“It’s funny how being a parent changes perspective” writes Charly of POD Travels. “While exploration continues to remain at the heart of all our holidays, the journey to a destination” has become really important. We can all identify with the journey juggle. For a less stressful way to reach some European resorts, check out her post on why cruise ferries are such a great option for families.

And if you haven’t had a city break since before the kids came along, take inspiration from Charly’s family weekend in Prague and snatch yourselves a couple of days away.

Extraordinary Chaos

Travelling with teenagers brings a whole new set of considerations to family holidays. Yes, they might be a lot more self-sufficient, but they also need activities that are fun, interesting and relatively cringe-free. Luckily, Sarah Christie has masses of experience with this and she shares her wisdom over on her Extraordinary Chaos blog.

Check out her post on things to do in Florence with teenagers - including a couple of hours making (and eating) gelato. And to entice them into the great outdoors and away from their devices, Sarah has a post packed full of active holiday ideas for the whole family.

Cruising With Kids

“Cruising with kids is a minefield for new cruisers: What to pack? Which ship should I book? Is cruising safe for my children? Can you book 5 berth cabins?” write Sarah and Donna of Cruising With Kids. The pair (both cruise fanatics) started their blog to answer all of these questions and more. It’s a go-to site if you want to make the most of a family cruise trip with your gang.

There’s practical advice such as packing lists and reviews of the best travel strollers to suit cruise ships as well as destination and cruise-line reviews. And if you’re cruising with teens, check out Sarah and Donna’s tips on everything from alcohol and family time to kitting them out for formal night.

North East Family Fun

Sam, the Geordie mam behind North East Family Fun knows how to holiday on a budget. Follow her family’s recent trip to Holland to see how she saved money on the journey, food and accommodation without scrimping on the fun.

They may have had a wonderful trip to the Netherlands, but the family’s preferred holiday spot is Spain: “it’s probably our favourite place to visit in the world. I love the laid back vibe, the wonderful cities, beautiful beaches, friendly people and of course, the tapas and sangria.” Sam’s guide to visiting Spain with kids is essential reading for any fellow Hispanophiles.

Dais Like These

For many of us, having children puts an end to the freedom of pre-parental travel. But for Daisy of Dais Like These, motherhood has done the opposite. When she quit her uninspiring council job to become a full-time mum of three she also rediscovered her passion for travel - kids and all.

Daisy’s blog has the answers to many of your family travel questions, like how best to travel to France with kids and a dog. And if you’re wondering if you can take a kid’s scooter on as hand luggage, the answer is a resounding yes! “I found the whole airport navigation with kids to be much easier with the scooters, especially when our gate turned out to be one of the ones a 15-minute walk away. And we actually had a few people comment on what a genius idea it was!” writes Daisy.

Adventures of a Mum

If you’re flying long haul with a baby this summer, Lara from Adventures of a Mum has some expert advice: “Give them as much daylight [as you can] during the day time hours, this adjusts their internal body clock most effectively if they are back to front.” And Lara should know - she and her husband handled 6 flights and 4 time zones in just 6 weeks when their little boy was only 10-months old.

This blogger and her young family love travelling the world. If it’s your first time away with young kids or you need some advice to make this holiday more joyful than your last adventure, check out Lara’s hacks for travelling with children.

Ana Mum Diary

Planning a trip with grandparents this summer? Amanda of Ana Mum Diary can offer advice: “Whilst a multi generational holiday can strengthen bonds, it can also pose a challenge and particularly if one of your parents has mobility issues.” Amanda has some gentle, helpful ideas to make your family holiday a happy one for everyone.

And if you’re looking for a family-friendly destination just a quick hop across the Channel, Amanda’s review of what to do in St Malo will give you tonnes of ideas.

Tin Box Traveller

“The challenge with self-catering holidays is to find a balance between having to use the onsite store for essentials you could have brought from home and packing so much that you have to dig the kids out of the car,” writes Claire of Tin Box Traveller. Check out her ultimate packing list for self-catering holidays.

Claire loves holidays with her young family and has the lowdown on must-have items for travelling with children. And if you’re pining for your footloose backpacking days, take inspiration as Claire recreates the four-week European adventure she and her hubby enjoyed in their younger days as a family-friendly European road trip to enjoy with the kids.

We hope you’ve found destination inspiration, travel tips and holiday help to make this summer your best one yet!

Lead image: NadyaEugene