Desired Spots

Reykjavík, Iceland
This landscape of rare geological youth feels utterly alive – the earth belches out gasses, waterfalls cascade as if bursting forth for the first time, and the Northern Lights dance around the skies. You can easily experience much of the wonder on day-trips from the pint-sized, child-friendly capital, Reykjavík – the “Golden Circle” circuit is well established, while the otherworldly Blue Lagoon is also a simple excursion. Bathing in the latter’s warm waters, steam rising all around, and children will feel like they’ve entered another realm. You can remind them, too, that Iceland is home to the Huldufólk, or “hidden folk”, magical creatures invisible to the human eye. Local residents believe in them so strongly that building projects have been diverted to avoid their supposed habitats.

Toronto, Canada
Toronto is a-buzz with kid-friendly activities, from cheap thrills – marvelling at the slick skyline and crisscrossing town aboard a streetcar – to splashing out on a ticket to ascend the famous CN Tower and seeing dinosaur bones and Native Canadian headdresses at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). To make the most of your time in Toronto, book your entrance ticket ahead of time and receive preferred access to the ROM. Chinatown and nearby Kensington Market are great browsing and wandering territory, and the Toronto Islands are only a ferry ride away, but a world apart from the city's hustle and bustle. With time on your hands, you can venture south to spectacular Niagara Falls or north to the rocky islets of Georgian Bay. For children over 7 years of age, check out the adrenaline-fuelled zipline experience from Niagara Falls.

Florida, USA
Of course Florida can't be beat on theme parks, but even if Orlando isn't your idea of a holiday, don't discount the Sunshine State. In the Northeast you can drive on the beach at Daytona, or have your bones rattled on the Shuttle Launch Experience at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (don't forget to pre-book your skip-the-lines fast track access). For something a little more serene, kids will be fascinated by gators in the subtropical wilderness of Everglades National Park, or you could head further up the coast to Tampa Bay and the northwest to swim with manatees in the Crystal River, like on this 3-hour tour.

Athens, Greece

Ancient sites, creative neighbourhoods, a deep-dive into fun Greek mythology and all within easy reach of the beach makes Athens the perfect family city break.🌸🌸

Marseille, France

Calm waves, a warm breeze and the sound of seagulls in the distance - that is what you hear when you wake up in Marseille. It is the perfect spot for a mix between a city break and beach holiday.

Seoul
Seoul constantly upgrades with new trends – in fact, it is the trending holiday destination.

The city is a youth-driven hub, luring in K-pop fans, and fashion gurus with promises of cultural activities, idol sightings, and shopping.

But don’t just spend your time browsing the shops and feasting on midnight snacks; Seoul has plenty of heritage sites for you to see.

Sight-see its palaces in traditional hanbok and delve into dated markets for another piece of the puzzle.

Istanbul
Istanbul is a historical trove, its strategic location having witnessed many ruling empires.

Tracing back to the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, and finally the Ottomans, the city is adorned with Byzantine churches and imperial mosques.

Recent decades have seen sharp spikes in the skyline as galleries, museums, and tall office towers grew alongside the old.

Visitors also praise Istanbul’s culinary diversity which is a mix of Asian and European flavor; but local kebab and mezze is the go-to.

New York
New York, or the city where dreams are made!

Following the city’s grid-like design, trawl the streets for private art galleries and world-famous the Met, MoMA, and Guggenhiem. Indie bookstores, brightly lit Chinatown, high-end boutiques and hipster cafés lead into grand office buildings and huge Central Park.

Enjoy lavish performances in Broadway or eat your way through rooftop restaurants and hole-in-the-wall eateries. New York is THE metropolitan city that will get you buzzing in excitement.

Picking the most beautiful Greek island is like picking the most big-headed Gallagher brother: virtually impossible. But if we were forced, Naxos in July just might be the answer. The largest of the Cyclades, its sandy beaches run the gamut from family-friendly frolickers in the west (Agios Prokopios), to the south’s hidden wildlings, where you can ride horses over dramatic dunes (Plaka) or brave powerful winds on a kiteboard (Mikri Vigla). And though not exactly a hidden gem, the pace remains pleasantly drowsy, whether kicking back in beach bars or supping at mountain village tavernas. At the latter, you’ll be drowsier still after generous sloshes of homemade wine and local citron liqueur.

The Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles, with their sweeping white beaches, clear blue waters and diverse wildlife, must be the most sought-after holiday spots in the world. North Island is sensational, a VIP destination, with everyone from George Clooney to honeymooning royals staying in the thatched tree houses suspended on a hillside between forest and ocean. On Frégate Island Private, guests share the space with aldabra giant tortoises and rare magpie robins. If you're visiting the World Heritage Site Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, the Raffles Praslin hotel is a beautiful spot to stay nearby.

Swedish people do summer well. The warm weather practically begs you to jump off your bicycle and take off your clothes for some city-centre swimming, or go further afield for a dip off one of the lo-fi islands nearby. Jump in at Norr Mälarstrand, on the sandy beach of Kungsholmen, or, for the daring, the waters in front of the City Hall. Stockholm's Sofo neighbourhood is buzzing with a young crowd hanging out in the cafés and artisan shops and a food scene that's finding its way into the spotlight.

Within kissing distance of each other, these Mediterranean islands are lovely in July, when they get around 11 hours of sun a day. French Corsica is an island you'll want to explore in full - from the secluded northern fishing villages of Cap Corse, where the new Misíncu hotel sits overlooking the rugged coast, to a windsurfers' paradise in Bonifacio and the beautiful sandy beaches near Porto-Vecchio, where Design Hotels' Casadelmar overlooks the bay. To escape the crowds, rent a house on the beach-fringed Domaine de Murtoli estate. Italian Sardinia's Costa Smeralda is sensational, although busy in July. Our tip: head to La Maddalena, a wild, protected archipelago off the coast with the best beaches, turquoise seas and sandy coves. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

Canggu, a formerly quiet bit of Bali is now buzzing with casual cafés serving vegan breakfast bowls to sun-bleached digital nomads, all of them designing, writing, coding or consulting with only a MacBook and a glittering sea view. Hot hotels have quickly followed: The Slow offers retro-modernist suites and a soundtrack by LA-based Reverberation Radio. And newest opening Como Uma Canggu has just upped the ante with duplexes packing their own rooftop pools. By night, Canggu hipsters head for The Lawn, a laidback, barefoot beach club serving up old-school hip-hop and hibiscus cocktails. They pair best with a temperate July evening, when Bali is in its sunny, surfie prime.