Original Travel Leads 'Last Family Holiday' Trend 

Original Travel reports an increase in big ticket family holiday bookings, designed specifically to entice teenagers, or even adult children, back to the nest for one more trip away 

Whether down to nostalgia, sentimentality or a desire to pause the passing of time, parents are increasingly asking luxury tour operator Original Travel to design a family holiday so good it will entice even the most truculent teen to come away on one last family trip. 

Big ticket adventures and far-flung destinations are popular requests for parents who want to convince their older offspring to come away en famille rather than with their friends, with diving, safaris and cool city breaks proving particularly popular. Even better, as trips with university-age (or older) children are generally no longer tied to the school holidays, parents are putting the money saved from travelling off-season towards epic activities instead, making these holidays a hard-to-refuse proposition.  

Tom Barber, Co-Founder of Original Travel says, 'Travelling with older teenagers and 20-somethings requires an original approach to locations, with every element carefully considered; so, the activities need to be fun, but out of the ordinary, and there's a balance between family time and time alone for them to just hang out. These trips could and should be about enjoying each other's company and creating memories you can all look back on together. They've been so popular that we are already getting requests from returning families to create another 'last' family holiday. Long may that continue!' 

Sample itineraries: 

Americas 

As an active and fast-paced continent with enough variety to keep thing interesting between vibrant cities, swathes of jungle and beautiful beaches, South America is the perfect destinations to visit with older kids. Consider Peru, which provides one adventure after another with white water rafting on the Urubamba river, hiking to Inca ruins and paragliding over Lake Titicaca. In Brazil, perhaps try another extreme with the rooftop bars of Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema and test the family's tolerance for dad-dancing in Lapa's samba clubs. The kids may not have realised you were young once too but meeting in the middle with adventure and care-free fun will provide enough laughter and memories to last a lifetime (and have them pestering you for another family holiday).  

Sample Package: Original Travel's thirteen-day trip from Lima to Lake Titicaca prices from £4,105pp including return flights, transfers, twelve nights B&B accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Europe 

With teenagers a holiday is not always going to be a low-key, relaxing affair, so why not jump into the deep end of adventure? Choose a holiday that embraces the variety Europe has to offer; perhaps a diving trip to Portugal's Azores. Combine diving with sharks and swimming in thermal pools with plenty of stops to refuel on local delicacies. Every bit as exhilarating as it is indulgent, it will be remembered as 'the best holiday ever'. 

Sample Package: Original Diving's fourteen-day trip Island Hopping in the Azores prices from £3,192pp including return flights, transfers, thirteen nights B&B accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Africa       

Let the kids take the wheel with a sandy, safari, self-drive to Namibia. Beginning in the country's capital, Windhoek, bump across the bush and soak up the stunning surroundings as you hop between luxury lodges and wilderness camps. Your safari begins in the Kalahari Desert where you may be lucky enough to spot zebras, springboks, lions and giraffes during your first sundowner game drive. Then, turn the animal sightings coastal and take a catamaran cruise for spottings of seals, sunfish and dolphins. This trip has so many adventures packed into one it will be hard to pick a favourite - who said family holidays were boring? 

Sample Package: Original Travel's fourteen-day trip Namibia Self-Drive Family Adventure prices from £4,140pp including return flights, transfers, thirteen nights B&B accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Asia 

India is a chaotic but charismatic nation where family is a fundamental pillar of society. The country's distinctive culture is best enjoyed by older children who can appreciate the beauty in the chaos. At any given time of the year, India holidays offer new wonders, whether it's your first trip or if you've visited countless times; the joyful disorder of cows, rickshaws and mopeds among brightly coloured buildings are a feast for the senses, making India the definition of a big-ticket destination. 

Sample Package: Original Diving's ten-day trip Rajasthan with Teenagers prices from £3,090pp including return flights, transfers, nine nights B&B accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk   

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Follow us on instagram @originaltravel for more travel inspiration and for more information contact: press@originaltravel.co.uk; 020 3582 4990  

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Notes to Editors: 

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”. 

Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. This insurance policy is only valid for travel to countries where there is no FCDO advice against all but essential travel.  

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit. 

Thirteen of our consultants were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2023 Travel Specialists list, including Co-founder Tom Barber as family specialist, Jacqui Brooks as Indonesia specialist and Oliver Rodwell as Mexico specialist, giving an excellent snapshot of our expertise. Also in 2022, Original Travel was named as one of world's Best Tour Operator's in Conde Nast Traveler's annual Reader's Choice Awards.   

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including: 

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.