A family holiday in a megacity doesn’t have to be a family drama. The secret to keeping the entire tribe happy on an international getaway is to choose destinations that offer fun for all ages, from tots to teens and all kids in between. To help parents ensure their next overseas holiday in a big city is a winner, we’ve rounded up some top activities to keep everybody happy. So all you’ll have to worry about is keeping everyone together.
New York, USA
Any family trip to the bright lights of the Big Apple will leave you with a story to tell. They say New York has an energy all of its own, with a bustling street life and a rich cultural landscape that provides plenty for any family to discover.
For the kids: No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to the iconic Empire State Building. With panoramic views 1,050 feet above the pedestrian-packed streets below, the sprogs will love being able to spot famous landmarks and attractions. Help them to appreciate this famous cityscape by pointing out the Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry as it passes the Statue of Liberty. It’s a view that’ll stay with you for life, even if you’re only knee-high to a grasshopper.
For the adults: Parents looking for a romantic night out in NYC should opt for an evening of luxury with a Bateaux New York River Cruise along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and East River. With a gourmet menu, live jazz music and a glass or two of fine wine, there’s no better way to take in the the stunning Manhattan skyline.
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Tokyo, Japan
Families seeking a taste of Asia should look no further than Tokyo, Japan. In Tokyo, centuries-old traditions meet modern technology in this electric city, and it’s also a great base for exploring other regions too. High-speed trains great for group travel and depart from Tokyo’s mains stations south to beautiful cities like Osaka or north to some of the world’s best snowfields. This makes Tokyo the perfect destination for families hoping to mix sightseeing and culture with a little adventure on the side.
For the kids: To truly experience Japanese culture, put the rug rats on a traditional rickshaw ride through Tokyo’s Asakusa district. The knowledgeable tour guides provide fun and quirky insights about Tokyo’s various landmarks, including historic temples and shrines. Fashion-forward teens might prefer a walking tour of Tokyo’s famous Harajuku district, well-known for its wild and wonderful street style. To please all family members, young and old, there’s no better place than Tokyo Disneyland. Located just 25 kilometres from the city centre, there’ll be fun and games for everybody.
For the adults: Parents keen to try their hand at the art of sushi can take a class with a professional sushi master, following a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Renowned for its top-quality fish, meat, and fresh produce, there’s no better place to begin mastering the Japanese culinary art. For parents with zero interest in spending their holiday in a kitchen, book a table at Tokyo’s Robot Restaurant to experience Japan’s weirdest and wackiest dining sensation; a 90-minute robot show.
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Rome, Italy
With pizza, pasta and gelato on tap, a family trip to Rome is definitely one for the memory books and the tastebuds. A colourful city with vibrant inhabitants, Rome provides the perfect balance of history and culture; the many landmarks, relics and museums in and around the city can provide hours of fun – and maybe the kids will even learn a thing or two.
For the kids: A tour combining the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Capitol Square is a great way to bring Ancient Rome to life. Families curious to see it all should get on board a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour, which includes the Vatican, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Families with older children will enjoy the fun of hooning around on a Segway tour.
For the adults: Experience something out of the ordinary with a tour of Rome’s crypts and catacombs, including the Capuchin Crypt; lined with the bones of over 4,000 Capuchin Monks, although this sight may be a little too spooky for younger kids. Mums and Dads wanting to taste the best of Italy (and who wouldn’t!) can indulge in a private, three-hour tour with a local food guide. Try fresh buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, pachino tomatoes, pesto, eggplant meatballs and wash it all down with a glass of fine Italian vino.
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Singapore
An 8.5-hour flight from Sydney, Singapore is an ideal choice for families looking for an international experience that won’t leave everyone climbing the cabin walls. Singapore is known for being one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world, as well as one of the greenest, with more than 50 per cent devoted to parkland, it’s called the garden city for good reason.
For the kids: Singapore’s a great destination for families looking to get up close and personal with nature. Spanning 20.2 hectares, the city’s Jurong Bird Park is home to over 380 species of birds and has no shortage of things to see and do. Youngsters will particularly enjoy feeding the colourful lorikeets at the park’s Lory Loft. Singapore Zoo is one of the best in Asia and has a significant number of ethical breeding programs and spacious exhibits, including a free-ranging area for orangutans. The kids can traverse all the strata of a rainforest at the Fragile Forest Exhibit, from creeping with the crawlies on the forest floor to hanging with the lemurs up in the canopy.
For the adults: Hire a hotel babysitter, take the night off and ride the elevator to the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. There you’ll find the SkyBar is made for watching the sunset and the restaurant in the clouds, CÉ LA VI, offers some of Singapore’s best modern Asian cuisine. After the sun’s gone down, head off for a tour of Singapore’s nightlife. Take a Chinatown Night Tour, where travellers can cruise along the Singapore River in a bumboat.
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London, England
London offers families an endless list of fun activities and knowing where to start can be tricky. Like Rome, first-timers to London are best to invest in a hop-on hop-off bus tour; a quick and easy way to see the city’s most well-known sites, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Tower Bridge. Families looking to experience another view of England, take one of the many affordable day trips from London to nearby towns and landmarks such as Bath, Oxford and Stonehenge.
For the kids: For a tour of London that’s a little less conventional, take the kids on a Movie Hot Spot Walking Tour where they can see sites made famous by movies from Batman and Harry Potter to Bridget Jones’ Diary and James Bond. To catch a glimpse of their favourite movie stars, families can head to Madame Tussauds where they can take a selfie with life-like wax figures including Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, and The Royals themselves, Kate and Will.
For the adults: An evening at the theatre in the West End is a quintessential London experience. Start out with a romantic pre-theatre dinner at Clos Maggiore, before heading to Piccadilly Theatre to see Jersey Boys, the smash musical celebrating the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. At. For something a little more sinister, take the Gangster Walking Tour of London’s East End and find out all about the villains of London’s underworld, both fictional and real.
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*The hotel prices (including taxes and fees) for the above were found on KAYAK.com on 19 May 2016 for travel in August 2016 and are based on the total price per night for four guests, for the respective hotels mentioned in the release with a minimum 4 star rating. Prices may be subject to change and offers may no longer be available
**The flight prices (including taxes and fees, excluding baggage fees) for one round-trip economy seat given above were found on KAYAK.com on 19 May 2016 for travel in August 2016 from Sydney, Australia. Prices are subject to change and offers may no longer be available.
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