MAURITIUS | October is one of our favourite months in Mauritius on the west & east coasts. Due to reopen its borders to UK tourists from 1st March 2021, this Indian Ocean island is a fairly secure bet for guaranteed sunshine & unspoilt beaches. All of our preferred hotels are offering very flexible terms for October half-term bookings, refundable until 6 weeks prior to departure. And with early bird discounts offering 20-30% off their standard rates, Mauritius is a brilliant value option for the Autumn.

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BHUTAN | This small Kingdom bordering China to the north and India to the south closed its borders very early-on in the pandemic and has been widely applauded for its approach. Whilst there are no set dates for borders re-opening, we are optimistic that an Autumn break in this quiet Himalayan haven will be possible, and October is an ideal time of year to visit. Your mornings will be spent hiking, biking, rafting and visiting monasteries, with lazier afternoons spent by the pool, learning the skills of archery, camp craft, Bhutanese art techniques and fly fishing.

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BAWAH RESERVE | Private islands are very appealing at the moment and this Indonesian retreat is one of our favourites. Reached via a seaplane from the island of Batam, off Singapore, we’d recommend a few nights in the Garden City first assuming borders are open. Once you reach your island retreat, you’ll have five lush jungle-covered islands, three sapphire blue lagoons and thirteen brilliant white beaches to explore. Deposits are payable only 30 days prior to arrival. And did we mention that a daily spa treatment is included in your room rate?

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MEDITERRANEAN | If you prefer a short-haul flight and have a more relaxed approach to Autumn temperatures, the southern Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Crete are excellent options in October, as is Puglia in the heel of Italy. The adjacent sister properties, Annabelle & Almyra, are offering complimentary Half and Full Board upgrades for children under 12, for bookings made during the month of March. And Masseria Torre Maizza in Puglia is offering 15% off all stays and €150 in-resort credit.

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NEW YORK | A family trip to New York in the Fall makes a lot of sense to us. Central Park will be at its absolute Autumnal best and your packed sightseeing schedule will be that much easier in this temperate month. We love the stylish Ludlow Loft rooms offering a separate living/bedroom for the kids, and floor-to-ceiling views over Manhattan. If a pool is a must, the Park Hyatt just two blocks from Central Park would be another hotel to ask us about. To escape the city for a few nights, head north to the Hudson Valley - home to fabulous wineries, hip market towns and plenty of opportunities for a morning of river kayaking, forest hiking, pumpkin-picking or fishing.

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OMAN OR DUBAI | If a direct, short flight & guaranteed high temperatures are top of your tick list, you can’t go wrong with a quick & easy week on the beaches of Oman or Dubai. And if you want all of the above with an additional hit of adventure, a few nights in the Hajar Mountains & an Arabian night under the desert sky will create lifelong memories. As Four Seasons Preferred Partners, all of our clients booking suites at the Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach will receive in-resort credit for their stay.

#1 . Traditionally ‘last minute’ holidays have been synonymous with taking a punt on the unknown, but at My Native we strongly believe that there is no need to compromise on quality just because you’re booking the week or even the day before. Indeed, with an ever-changing world, a last-minute break may be your best bet and our team of experts will ensure that your holiday will be one to remember for all of the right reasons.

#2. For those of you who like planning ahead and having something to look forward to, we are in the process of helping a number of clients plan for 2021. Unlike instant purchase flight bookings that you make with an airline online, we are holding flights for our clients with later ticketing deadlines. This gives you flexibility to hold one or multiple destination options until nearer your date of travel. And we have been working hard with our hotel partners since March to offer you fully flexible booking terms for 2021, refundable right up until your travel date.

#3. And, if you care about sustainable tourism as much as we do, know that by booking holidays, you’ll be supporting local communities through this global pandemic; from drivers to fishermen, waiters to housekeepers, chefs to dive instructors.

So, where does it makes sense to book right now? Here are a few of our top picks based on our conversations with you over the past 6 months - what you’re asking us for and what you’re craving.

Christmas, February half-term and Easter are just lovely in the Caribbean and - with fewer visitors from the States this year - there are some great stay 7 nights, pay for 5 deals. Flight prices are also unsurprisingly low, even for a festive break before, after or whilst Father Christmas is doing his rounds. With direct flights, Antigua and St. Lucia are both on the travel corridor list and just required a negative PCR covid test within 7 days of your arrival. And if an onward flight doesn’t faze you, St Kitts, St Barts, St Vincent and the Grenadines offer a smaller-island, relaxed vibe. Similarly, many of our preferred private island resorts in the Maldives are offering fully flexible booking conditions so a Christmas or February half-term week is a good ‘wait & see’ option until our favourite Indian Ocean islands are given the green light.

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Social distancing is part and parcel of life in Scandinavia, particularly in Lapland where your very own private winter wilderness awaits. Flights are mainly direct and, unlike many Lapland tours, you’re not on a fixed itinerary - choose from ice-fishing, skidoo safaris (naturally, our lodges have skidoos for all ages and sizes), bonfires under the stars, snow-shoe treks in search of the Northern Lights, tobogganing, or even a private visit to meet Father Christmas and his wild reindeer. It goes without saying that hot-chocolate by an open-fire and a traditional sauna and hot tub are a must…

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For those of you who need a break from your home offices but unfortunately can’t escape your screens, workcations are a fantastic opportunity to combine work commitments with the opportunity to explore somewhere new. Many of you have been asking us to help choose a home-from-home for the long Easter or Summer breaks, and pictured above is one of our favourites in Galle, the Portuguese fort on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Expect a fully- staffed house, delicious home-cooked food, and easy access to beaches. And enjoy surfing breaks, calms seas, cycle paths through paddy fields, and galleries, restaurants and brilliant local markets within easy walking distance. At the weekend, we’d definitely recommend logging off for a few nights at a Yala National Park lodge on the trail of leopards.

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Ski enthusiasts are a determined species, and speaking to our partners based in resort, we are fully expecting many of our preferred hotels to have a strong 2020/21 ski season. The necessary changes have been made on the slopes to minimise the risk of infection - reduced numbers of people allowed in gondola ski lifts but running at their maximum speed, staggered ski pass times, and you’ll definitely need us to reserve your table ahead of time for any slope-side lunches during peak weeks. Based on the current travel corridor list, you can ski in Sweden and Italy. And we’ll be keeping a close eye on France, Switzerland and Austria as the ski season nears. So don’t disregard skiing this season; we particularly love the week before Christmas in Italy, and a New Year’s skiing weekend in Sweden is truly memorable.

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Cultural breaks have become very popular recently, perhaps because traditional classroom learning has been such a challenge this year. Having toured numerous European cities ourselves with children from three to eleven years old in tow, we fully appreciate the fact that attention spans are finite, and finishing off the day with a swimming pool is a must! The Four Seasons Astir Palace, just outside of Athens, is a brilliant base for visiting the Temple of Poseidon and the Acropolis. And Lecce - the Florence of the south - is such a gem of a Baroque city; take a Street Art and Graffiti tour in the morning and head to the beach for the rest of the day.

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Self-care has become something of a marketing buzz word of late, but taking the time to look after yourself has never been more important. So booking a break at a spa or yoga retreat is, in our opinion, a wise idea for the benefit of both yourself and those around you. But not all spas are made equal so please talk to us about what self-care means for you and if the definition of ‘time to yourself’ involves more action and adrenaline than rest and relaxation, we know plenty of ideal destinations for the more energetic amongst you.

If, like us, you haven't quite had your fill of blue skies, toes-in-the-sand and warm seas this summer, book ahead for an Autumn or early Spring 2021 break. A quick hop from London and currently on the UK's travel corridor list, we love this newly-opened Four Seasons just outside of Athens. 

For a pampering, long weekend away, it ticks every box. And equally, families keen to explore the Acropolis and the temple of Poseidon will be hard-pushed to find a better base for their adventures...

Time To Yourself

If you’re desperate for some time to yourself, this would be our top pick. Marrakech is one of those destinations that has so many brilliant hotels, palaces & riads to stay at that you could literally pick one blind-folded and not be disappointed. This said, there is one new arrival to the scene which has us very excited…The Oberoi Marrakech. Ten years in the making, this is an architectural & design masterpiece, a haven of peace, set amongst 28 acres of olive and citrus groves with uninterrupted views of the Atlas Mountains. The Oberoi hotels are legendary in India for their serene interiors and slick, authentic service. As well as a traditional Moroccan hamman, the spa also offers Hatha yoga, meditation, and nutritional and ayurvedic programmes. Whether you stay with your partner, a friend or by yourself, a stay at this elegant retreat will undoubtedly give you space & time for yourself.

Our favourite times of year? March-May, & September-November

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Wide-Open Spaces

If you’re craving wide-open spaces, consider a 7-10 day break in Oman or Jordan. Situated towards the west coast of Oman, these desert camps are brilliantly run and combine well with a few nights in the breathtaking Hajar Mountains, finishing off with an easy few days on the shores of the Arabian Sea. You’ll find similarly serene valleys, rugged canyons, desert landscapes & star-gazing skies in Jordan where you can also indulge in two culture-packed days in Petra and Jerash.

Our favourite times of year? October-November, and March-April

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Time With Grandparents

Many of us are sorely missing seeing our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended families at the moment. This 4-bedroom Cretan villa provides the perfect holiday hang-out for all; an ensuite bedroom on the ground level for grandparents, an infinity pool for adults, separate kids pool, a large lawn for ball games, spacious lounge areas inside & out, and a housekeeper & chef if you want them, or total privacy for your family if you prefer. The nearest beach & village are a 5-minute drive away. The villas that we feature come in all shapes & sizes. They are all well taken care of throughout the year and come with the most brilliant of local hosts. Our carefully-selected portfolio of villas includes the Greek islands, Ibiza, Puglia, Sicily & Umbria. Here at My Native, we have extraordinarily high standards and expectations, and source only the best home-from-homes.

Our favourite months for a European villa break? May half-term, for a hit of early Summer sun & quiet beaches.

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Not Lifting A Finger

The ideal twin-centre holiday if you feel in need of a total break from domestic chores would be a stay at one of these exclusive-use houses in Madikwe Game Reserve and then the Beach Lodge at De Hoop Nature Reserve. Here you will have your own staff - a personal chef and butler, two housekeepers, a host, safari guide and, in Madikwe, a wildlife tracker as well. Moreover, the  ‘Morukuru Freedom Concept’ gives you and your party the opportunity to do “whatever you want, whenever you want”. Genius.

Our favourite months of year to go? This depends on your priorities.

For the best game-viewing: April to October but temperatures will be cooler, particularly during our summer months.

For the best whale-watching: August and September are the best months for whale-watching on the Garden Route (Ocean Beach Lodge has some of the best shore-based whale watching in the world).

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Freedom for your children

We love our children to be outdoors, and firmly believe that they should be seen AND heard on their holidays, and that’s why these three private island resorts are our favourites for families.

Play by COMO, the kids club at this brilliant Maldivian resort, focuses on social play over technology-driven games and kids can even snorkel with a marine-biologist. All three islands offer a wonderfully-safe, natural habitat for children to explore and let off steam, whether it be swinging on tarzan ropes, paddling in shallow house reefs, hiding in tree houses or jumping off jetties, there’s something for every child, not to mention the young at heart. And what better way to wind down the day than with cinema under the stars and marshmallow-toasting on the beach? We wish every day could be this good.

Best time to go? Maldives: November-March | Indonesia: March-September

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The Mountains

Many of you may have missed out on your ski break this year, so let’s make sure that 2021 is one to remember for all the right reasons. Why not consider venturing cross-Atlantic for the slopes of Whistler, Lake Tahoe or Colorado? Ski schools in the US & Canadian resorts take children from three years of age, and we’ve found the ski instructors across the pond to be particularly good with our younger learners. Service levels are second-to-none, queues for ski-lifts tend to be shorter and more organized, and, in general, your hotel suite or residence will be roomier than the equivalent chalet or room in the Alps. The ski-in, ski-out Ritz Carlton on the north-western shores of Lake Tahoe is hard to beat for young families, and we love Little Nell in Aspen for its central location, contemporary design and slick service.

Best months to go? Early January-end of March

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For more details on any of the above breaks, or to chat through other travel ideas you’re considering, do get in touch at julie@my-native.com, or 0203 371 7203. We’d love to hear from you.

And in the meantime, stay safe & stay home.

If your children, like ours, are already budding eco-warriors, look no further than Ibiza for a holiday with an eco-conscience. We’ve teamed up with a brilliant local foundation to offer our clients the opportunity to clean up the ocean themselves whilst discovering local coves, the neighbouring islands of Tagomago and Formentera, dolphin-spotting and all on an emission-free, solar-powered catamaran! The villas we represent in Ibiza are superb, as are the hosts that look after them; and can be fully hosted for the week with chef & housekeeper or you can choose to have a guest chef in on a few nights. On other days, take a guided walk along Ibiza’s beautiful coastline and we’ll provide a locally-sourced, fresh picnic to keep those energy levels where they need to be! We love Ibiza during the May & October half-terms, but the summer months are also sublime.

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For footie-mad girls & boys, a week at Rocco Forte’s Verdura resort in Sicily will see them training every morning with Juventus players. Having tried & tested this resort in May half-term a few years ago, we know that it works; the interconnecting rooms provide enough space & privacy for all, complimentary bikes of all sizes make for fun journeys to breakfast each morning, there are golf clinics for the little ones & tennis lessons for those who want to hit some balls, and enough variety of restaurants to keep you brilliantly fed. For Chelsea fans, Forte Village in Sardinia runs training academies for 4-14 year olds through May half-term and the summer months. Ask us which hotel in this resort would suit you best as there are seven to choose from. We love the private villas as you have the benefits of the resort and the privacy of your own pool, garden & home-from-home.

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There can’t be many better places in the world to learn to ride than Montana; nor are there more authentic places to stay than on a working cattle ranch. After a few private lessons in the riding arena, venture out on a guided horseback ride through Yellowstone National Park seeking out their big five - elk, grizzlies, black bears, bison, and wolves. When you fancy a day off the saddle, try your hand at fly-fishing for trout in some of Montana’s Blue Ribbon rivers - the Gallatin, Yellowstone & Madison. The quiet stretches of these rivers are also ideal for family canoe trips, or rafting further downstream on the white waters. Sundowners, toasted marshmallows, and a roaring campfire will bring your evenings to a close.

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To experience one of the world’s finest outdoor playgrounds, consider a week on Hawaii’s second-largest island, Maui. Learn to surf, paddle an outrigger, swim in the island’s seven sacred pools (& waterfalls), snorkel, dive, join the ‘Morning Ocean swim clinic’ if you’re an early-riser! We’re excited about the brand-spanking new Auberge Maui Lani; their 2 bedroom beachfront bungalows with private pools are hard to beat for families. The keiki-only explorers club is an outdoor base camp designed like a rustic tropical hideaway with tree swings, hammocks and a big sandbox for shell hunting. Young kids will spend their days involved in sandcastle-building contests, beach bonfire storytelling and s’mores. For older children, there are fabulous mountain bike tracks, hikes, kayaking, and beach yoga & cross-training for the fitness fanatics. We’d recommend spending a few nights in Vancouver on the way out (a direct, 9-hour flight from London) and San Francisco on your way home.

And a final, festive point…if you missed this week's top pick of Christmas presents for wanderlusters, consider these new travel cosmetic cases from NotAnotherBill; a stylish way to glide through airport security and a brilliant alternative to plastic. With leather edging and matching personalisation patch accompanied by a contrasting coloured zip tape, the black & navy is My Native's favourite. For a 10% discount, use NATIVE10 at checkout.

Starting where the sun rises, the Eastern Cape is home to Shamwari Game Reserve - the longest-running private reserve in the Cape, stretching across 25,000 hectares. It now not only boasts the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, Cape buffalo), but also has wild dog, cheetah, hyena, hippo, giraffe and zebra. At 22,000 hectares, Kwandwe Reserve is the second largest of the Eastern Cape reserves, known for excellent cheetah sightings. Ask us about Addo Elephant Park too….particularly as an introduction to African wildlife for young children. Two of our top lodge picks in the Eastern Cape are:

Riverdene Lodge, Shamwari

‘Overlooking the magnificent bushveld of the Eastern Cape, Riverdene Lodge is a beautifully restored original frontier home. With just nine spacious inter-leading rooms, there is a relaxed, calm vibe. The Kids on Safari Adventure Centre includes a rock-climbing wall, zip line, treehouse playground and maze.’

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge….

‘Included with each Family Suite at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a private vehicle, ranger and tracker.  This lodge sets the standard in offering innovative ‘live green’ activities including: planting Spekboom (a type of thick vegetation native to the Eastern Cape, and one of the top five carbon-storing plants on the planet!), or Kwandwe’s ‘Knit a Bit’ where kids are taught to knit squares to make blankets for the local communities.’

‘If you prefer to decide what time you go on your game drives each day, and for no minimum age restrictions, take one of the three private-hire lodges at Kwandwe - Fort House, Uplands Homestead and Melton Manor - and design your own safari!’

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Madikwe Game Reserve at 75,000 hectares is one of South Africa’s largest reserves. It is a three-hour drive from Johannesburg and a non-malaria area making it very popular with families. On a 23,000 hectare private concession within the Big 5 Marakele National Park, Marataba is approximately four hours driving time from Johannesburg. Whether you decide to fly or drive, combining these two reserves makes for a varied, top-notch, family safari. Ask us about the brilliant FLYMORE packages which save you money on flights to both camps…

Madikwe and Marataba MORE Safari Lodges

‘Lelapa lodge at Madikwe Safari Lodge has four Family Suites; each includes a second children’s bunk bedroom, giving your kids (and you) their own space. For those wanting alternatives to Big Five excursions beyond vehicle drives, Marataba offers a walking safari and a must-do water safari, where guests navigate the Matlabas River in search of hippos, lions and much more while on the lodge’s pontoon, Miss Mara.’

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Located to the west of Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands is widely considered to be South Africa’s finest reserve. For families who are unphased by taking anti-malarials, it is hard to beat, and is particularly famous for incredible leopard and lion sightings.

Chitwa Chitwa

‘In addition to the six one bedroom suites, the Charlsy suite has two inter-connecting rooms ideal for families. Chitwa House Villa has two exclusive en-suite bedrooms and includes a dedicated ranger, private vehicle, butler and large pool. Located on the largest lake within Sabi Sands private reserve, you may even spot hippos and crocodiles from the sunset deck pool!’

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Grootbos

‘And for a chance to spot South Africa’s ‘Marine Big 5’, spend a few nights at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, just outside of Hermanus and a short drive from Cape Town. Between June and December, hundreds of Southern Right Whales gather in the shallow waters of Walker’s Bay to mate and calve their young. The Garden Lodge suites and The Villa are brilliantly suited to families but they do book up early so you’ll need to plan ahead for this unique eco-property.’

Booking ahead now for Easter 2020 makes a lot of sense. And we're thrilled that so many of our clients are doing exactly that.

Flights have just been released so fares are very competitively priced and you'll have the best choice of accommodation to choose from.

This family Costa Rica itinerary has given us itchy feet (again)...pristine beaches, waterfall and rainforest hikes, zip wires & Tarzan swings, world-class diving and snorkelling, and wildlife that will blow your mind. These photos are taken at the Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo...unquestionably the best place to finish off this Central American adventure.

Of the 100+ kids clubs I’ve inspected over the fifteen years I’ve worked in travel, Nikoi’s Scallywag club is, hands down, my absolute favourite.

Why? Well, the staff on Nikoi genuinely adore getting to know each child, bringing the quiet ones out of their shells and sharing a cheeky joke with the gregarious ones. And the creative activities on offer each day inspire kids of all ages to try something new…whether it be jetty jumping, snorkelling, catch-the-flag, flying dragon (code name for their zip wire), treasure hunts, or woodcraft. Paddle-boarding, kayaking and diving are popular past-times amongst the teenagers and as the sun sets over the South China Sea, a beach bonfire is lit, BFG-proportioned marshmallow sticks appear and a movie under the stars ensues. Add to this peanut-butter cookies & bananas on the bar for that essential morning snack on-the-go, a kids menu which brings local dishes to their radar without shocking young taste buds, and giant monitor lizards lazily sloping around the resort & you've got a pretty spectacular family holiday. 

April to July are our favourite months to be there so consider it for your Easter or Summer holiday. With prices starting from £2,850 for 7 nights in a 2-bedroom family beach villa in July, it offers great value for money and a brilliantly-authentic Asian escape.

Considering sharing a holiday with friends? A large villa for a few families makes good financial sense and, assuming you choose those families carefully, kids and adults alike will be entertained from dawn to dusk! Hosting up to 12 people, this villa is one of the oldest fincas (farms) on the island and has been beautifully restored, while remaining in the same Ibizan family for 200 years.  Showcasing gorgeous Sabina (native wood) beams, traditional whitewashed walls and an earthy colour palette, the open-plan living spaces flow seamlessly out to the beautifully manicured lawns, infinity pool and shady summer kitchen and dining area. This villa is also near to some of the best beaches on the West coast, such as Cala Gracio, Punta Galera and Cala Tarida. 

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to make sure you don't miss out on more 2019 holiday and honeymoon ideas. And if you'd like to receive our monthly newsletter or My Native Kids brochure, go to my-native.com/contact-us.

Are you thinking of sun or snow for your Easter holidays? We're going with snow but one of our clients is considering Jordan for some early spring sun and we think it's a brilliant choice. April is the ideal month to visit and it's a fantastic location for families with older children who are ready to explore. Float on the Dead Sea, walk along the streets of the Roman Decapolis in Jerash, star-gaze from a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, even learn how to make baba ghanoush in Amman's finest cookery school. All this before you've even arrived in Petra! As this is the third most water-scarce country in the world, our superb guides will be sure to drop the topic of sustainability into the conversation...

Jordan features in our Native Kids brochure out later this month, sign up here for a copy, or if you're ready to chat now, call us on 0203 371 7203.

Our daughter is a social animal and so her definition of a “good holiday,” is “I made a friend, and have a new penpal!" With this in mind, we started to look at European resorts with a kids’ club for our summer holiday. There are some truly excellent ones out that there that would have ticked all of our demanding boxes, but the price tags were hard to justify for a room with four of us bundled in together.  Our usual camping week in the Pyrenees would have afforded us more space & privacy!

So we looked further afield this year to the Indian Ocean and found direct flights – tick, kids clubs – tick, pristine beaches – tick, reliably good weather without it being 40+ degrees – tick, less expensive than Europe - tick, new destination & experiences - tick, tick. Booked.

So, what’s the verdict? The kids have loved feeding giant tortoises, taking a 12-seater plane to get to a remote island, spotting turtles on snorkelling trips, our nine-year-old has got her PADI seal certificate, a conservationist has shown us how sustainable tourism works in practice, and how important it is to protect an island’s indigenous species. And between my husband and I, we’ve slotted in six dives, a spa treatment, morning yoga, our first game of squash in 10 years and finished three books…so definitely feels like we’ve had a holiday. And, one of the key elements of a holiday for me, the food, has been divine. In particular, the farm-to-table experience at Denis Island – one of the most remote places I’ve visited – is an inspiration, and wonderful for the children to experience too.

Our advice? Book ahead to ensure a good fare on your flights, choose your resort carefully as not all kids clubs are made equal, and split your time between at least two islands. If you do this, the Seychelles can work brilliantly for your Easter or summer family vacation. 

Take Note | The Seychelles sits 4-11 degrees south of the Equator, and as such enjoys a tropical climate. Expect the odd tropical storm at all times of year.

Book a slice of guaranteed autumn sunshine for October half-term. Since for most of us, the holiday is only a week long we've selected our favourite short-haul destinations which deliver on temperature, but don't leave you exhausted for your Halloween celebrations. For those families lucky enough to have a longer holiday, we've got some alternative long-haul destinations up our sleeve.  Here are just a few of our fall favourites...https://www.my-native.com/october-halfterm

Contact us at info@my-native.com.