BOSTON
There are so many small-person-friendly attractions to choose from: the Museum of Science, the epic New England Aquarium and a Boston Children's Museum to name a few. For sporty families, there’s also a bundle of sports grounds to catch a match, from Harvard Stadium to Fenway Park, home of the famous Red Sox.
PARIS
Number one attraction is that it’s so close! The flight is only 40 minutes and is often cheaper and quicker than the Eurostar. Our testing family commented: ‘We opted to get the train in from CDG airport as the taxis were on average €100, compared to the €20 we spent on the train. We’d recommend getting a “Navigo” metro pass each: we topped it up with 10 rides on both cards and that covered our travel for three days.’
Paris has almost too many attractions to mention: the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Tuileries Garden are just the icing on the cake. The Seine River trip is a great way to get an overview of parts of the city without tiring little legs – or older ones! Eating out can be a problem with kids, but even faddy eaters are generally enticed by child-sized steak frites which can look temptingly like burger and fries. A visit to Paris also facilitates a trip to Disneyland, just a 45-minute train journey from the city centre. As our parent tester said: ‘Yes, it’s expensive and yes, you will queue a lot (unless you can afford the fast pass) but you don’t do it every day, so we didn’t mind!’
BARCELONA
A stand-out attraction of Barcelona from a family’s point of view is that it is a seaside destination as well as a city break, with a beautiful beach nearby and easily accessible. The magic of the city itself lies in the eye-catching buildings like Gaudí's colourful and whimsical creations, including Casa Batlló and Park Güell. These are sure to fire any child’s imagination. The food is simple and varied, so fussy eaters are well catered for and there is something for most palates, including tapas, churros and paella which usually go down well with kids.
TOKYO
‘You might think it’s a bit ambitious with kids, but it’s very family
friendly,’ commented our parent testers who took their five-year-old
daughter there. ‘The language barrier can be tricky, but now we have
Google translate, it’s a doddle! You can speak to people via your phone
and use your phone to read menus as well.’
For activities and things to do, Tokyo has it in spades! Kids are
particularly enthralled by the 20m robot that towers over Tokyo Bay! The
city is also home to several rabbit cafes which are all the rage with
kids. Foodwise, you can even order rainbow cheese toasties which go down
a treat with most family members. ‘Everywhere is so clean, tidy and
family-friendly,’ commented our tester. Finally, there is always
Disneyland and DisneySea to choose from!
EDINBURGH
‘The city offers so much to see and do,’ enthused our tester family.
‘It’s a very quick flight – wherever you are based in the UK – so you
can avoid any jetlag which is great when you have little ones. The
National Museum of Scotland is amazing for kids and even granny and
grandad. Edinburgh Castle is fun for exploring and is one big history
lesson, and Edinburgh Dungeon is an absolute scream too.’ The city is
also a hotspot for up-and-coming restaurants which will appeal to kids,
parents and grandparents.
BORDEAUX
This stunningly beautiful city also has the advantage of short haul,
affordable flights. It’s easy to hop around via tram and bus, so no need
for hiring cars and worrying about car seats. The city is packed with
spacious parks and outdoor spaces to play in. ‘We especially enjoyed the
vintage carousels, and splash-worthy Miroir d’eau,’ said our testing
family. ‘Our top tip: hop on the tram out of the city to chill at the
manmade lake with its shallow waters and shady pine trees. It’s perfect
for a day of paddling and ice cream.’
FLORENCE
Italy is well known for being super family-friendly and very tolerant
of kids. Food and drink is a no-brainer – which kid won’t eat spaghetti
or pizza! Our testing family commented: ‘The Duomo square is amazing
with lots of musicians, and if you’re feeling energetic you can climb
the tower or enjoy a gelato as you walk round. For older kids, some of
the coveted retail brands are in the city centre and much cheaper than
their UK counterparts.”
Travelzoo is the club for travel enthusiasts and sponsors of The
Travel Stage in London and Food & Travel Stage in Manchester which
is back at Manchester Central from 16 – 19 January 2025 and Olympia
London from 30 January – 2 February 2025.
Visit Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show and www.travelzoo.com
