Research undertaken by Original Travel has revealed what children want most from a family holiday – and it’s simpler than you think.

A bonding holiday with just Mum or Dad, staying in a beach cabin and spending time swimming and building sandcastles – that's how children described their ideal holiday at Original Travel’s recent research event. 

At the Original Travel family party run by event planners Sharky & George, a select group of children were asked whom they would most like to go away with, to where, where they’d like to stay and what they’d like to do. Simple pleasures won over more expensive options every time.  

29% would rather have one-on-one time with just their Mum or Dad with over a third saying the best thing about going on a family holiday is spending time together. Four times as many children chose a beach holiday over a city break, with adventure holidays coming a close second and wildlife holidays nabbing third spot. 

Over a third of the children interviewed wanted to stay somewhere fun like a beach cabin rather than a standard hotel – as long as there was also a decent breakfast buffet; this topped the charts of kids’ favourite thing about food on holiday with 39.6% of the votes – twice that of those who chose daily holiday treats.   

Most would like to spend the time simply swimming, building sandcastles and burying someone in sand, the three most popular activities chosen over and above the likes of surfing or snorkelling. Parents can also try and sneak in some stealth learning; nearly a quarter of respondents said they were interested in learning about the country’s history or geography while away on holiday and over 45% want to see wildlife of some sort (the bigger the better!). 

Just make sure you get a play date lined up as soon as they’re home – seeing their friends is what they most look forward to after being away.  

But given the company’s name, simple pleasures don’t need to mean unoriginal holidays. Original Travel’s family tour of Norway offers all the best elements of this dream family summer holiday, including beach cabins, gory Viking history (the very best kind), plus adventure and a very big beastie indeed; the Musk Ox.  

After exploring the city of Trondheim - a former Viking capital - you’ll move on Hosnasand, one of Norway’s most beautiful beaches. You’ll stay in a beach cabin (on a B&B basis of course, so the kids can make the most of the delicious breakfast buffet) with plenty of time to play in the sand, plus lots of adventurous activities to choose from, including kayaking, paddle boarding, deep sea fishing and inflatable dinghy rides. End the trip with a chance to see some spectacular wildlife on a Musk Ox Safari, where you’ll hopefully spot one of the enormous shaggy beasts, as well as reindeer. 

From £1,710pp based on two sharing and including return flights, five days’ car hire and four 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. Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the company has created over 50,000 itineraries since its launch in 2003, each one unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

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

• 11 of our consultants are recognised as Conde Nast Traveler’s 2024 Travel Specialists – more than any other tour operator for the 2nd year running. Our specialists are: Co-founder, Tom Barber (family travel and sabbaticals), Jacqui Brooks (Indonesia) and Oliver Rodwell (Mexico), Ben Williams (Egypt) Kate Little (Romania), Isabel de Galleani (Morocco), Frances Mavor (India), Harriet Harford (European Wine Regions), Holly Barber (Cambodia), James Back (Tanzania), Lucy Bailey (Oman). 

• 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 city break, or a multi-destination sabbatical, is checked in on all flights – outbound, domestic and inbound - with boarding passes uploaded to the Original Travel app; will have UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. Thoughtful details include wifi routers or e-sims, destination specific book and music lists and children’s activity packs. 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).  Clients can also be advised on which flight options have the lowest levels of emissions, thanks to an industry-leading and world-first carbon calculator which can compare the levels of emissions generated by each flight, using data compiled from flight plans, aircraft type, the cabin class, direct versus indirect flights and the target occupancy rate. 

• 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.