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.

Are you a surfer or a calm-sea swimmer? Do you want to be able to stroll to a few shops & restaurants in the evening or do you like complete seclusion & isolation? Do you prefer a house reef or are you happy to venture further for your snorkelling? Is the sea safe enough for your toddlers to paddle in? At that time of year, which coastline will be sheltered from the trade winds? These are all questions that we're used to answering and which, when taken care of by someone who appreciates that these details matter, can elevate a simple beach holiday from satisfactory to sublime.

The first stop for us is Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives...complete with underwater spa and lagoon-size infinity pool. Best months to be there? November-April.

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Next stop is Bali. Do you prefer the bustling beaches of Seminyak or the sheltered seclusion of Jimbaran Bay? And will you venture to the neighbouring island of Lombok? The Legian Sire is looking very smart ahead of its’ re-opening in May this year. Best months to be here? June-October

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Vietnam is very popular this year and for good reason. We love the island of Phu Quoc and the beaches around Nha Trang - still relatively unspoilt. Best months to be here? November-March.

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Closer to home? Some of our favourite European beaches can be found in Ibiza, Puglia, Sardinia, and the Greek islands. Ask us about the selection of villas we have within an easy drive of these beaches. Best time to be here? May and September are our favourite months. June-August are lovely too but hot, hot, hot.

Following a seven-month renovation, COMO Cocoa Island will be re-opening next week on 9th January. Conveniently located 40 minutes by speedboat from Male international airport, Cocoa Island is one of the most convenient Maldivian islands to access. This is an island better suited to couples in our opinion; facilities are low-key but perfectly orchestrated; a new, state-of-the-art Gym, a yoga studio with 360 degree views of the island, a dive centre, and the Como SHAMBHALA spa, which takes up one third of the island, is a destination in its own right. We love the calm, mInimalist style of all of the newly renovated rooms; in particular, the Loft Water villas, with their mezzanine bedroom overlooking the living area, are superbly spacious. Their fabulous ‘reopening package’, valid until mid- March, saves you quite a few pennies; speedboat transfers, usually US$350 pp, breakfast & a daily 3-course dinner.

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Nikoi is, hands-down, our favourite family island escape. Why? Well, the staff on Nikoi genuinely adore getting to know each child. 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. Easter is our favourite time here but you’ll need to book ahead as it’s popular with local expat families.

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For pure escapism and an authentic slice of Sicilian paradise, head to the Egadi islands off the west coast of Sicily. The largest of the three islands, Favignana, is ideal cycling terrain so ease into laid-back island living by exploring the island's secluded coves, quiet sandy beaches and savouring the freshest of seafood in one of the island's two piazzas. Pick up a picnic and hop on a ferry or charter a yacht to the nearby island of Levanzo - home to paleolithic cave paintings. Always leaving the best to last, spend your final days exploring the most remote and our favourite of the three Egadi islands, Marettimo. Accommodation here is low-key but stylish; choose between renovated fishmerman’s self-catering cottages or boutique hotels with lots of local character. May half-term is idyllic here or late August/early September for warmer seas.

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Nestled between Vancouver Island and the west coast of Canada is Sonora Island. If the idea of sitting on a beach doesn’t rock your world, perhaps the pristine forests & clear, still waters surrounding the Sonora Resort might appeal more. Activities on offer include: world-famous salmon fishing, guided eco-tours by rib boat, close-up views of grizzly bears, orcas, sea lions and dolphins, remote glacier tours by helicopter, and riding ocean rapids. There are some brilliant mountain-bike tracks and hikes directly from the hotel for more independent exploring. The resort is also Relais-Chateaux so foodies will be immensely happy.

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If one island is just not enough for you, consider a week at the Legian Bali with a 7-night cruise of the Indonesian Komodo National Park and Gili islands. Aqua Blu is equipped with diving and snorkeling gear, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and two zodiacs so plenty to keep you entertained between stops. There are 25 crew members for 30 guests, interconnecting cabins for families (note that there is a minimum age of 7 years old) and Indonesia-inspired cuisine including the freshest seafood and alfresco barbecues. Our summer months are the best time to visit and there is still some availability for July & August.

Taking a sustainable approach to travel is definitely on our minds as we go into 2020. If it's important to you too, ask us about hotels, lodges & villa operators that have a sustainable mindset. The impact on the local community is so important; there are some brilliant practices out there so if you'd like to explore these as you decide where to go & where to stay in 2020, talk to us. Greenwashing is rife in the travel industry so don't just think that 'eco' ticks the box.

Nihi Sumba in Indonesia has local communities at its core; funding water projects, primary schools, nutrition, malaria vaccinations and training & employment opportunities through The Sumba Foundation. Ideal in our summer months, this villa-only resort provides privacy and space for families and a wonderfully-original choice of activities from surfing to cocoa-making in the island's chocolate factory, yoga and beach horse-riding. If you're lucky, you might experience a turtle release.

If, like us, you love your hotels to have lashings of local flavour, consider The Warehouse Hotel the next time you’re passing through Singapore. A conversion of three adjacent Spice Trade warehouses, built in 1895, (known locally as ‘godowns’), the hotel combines its heritage quite brilliantly with contemporary interiors & an innovative, fresh & personal approach to hospitality; a unique offering in Singapore. A member of the Design Hotel group, the lobby will undoubtedly take your breath away, and the 37 rooms, impeccably designed, have wonderfully high ceilings and the cheekiest approach to room amenities we’ve ever seen! Intrigued? You should be…

Last but not least, the dining at in-house restaurant, ‘Po’, will make you want to return again & again; serving local Singaporean hawker classics and elevating them to refined, restaurant-worthy dishes is their USP, and they do it brilliantly.

Combine with Bawah Reserve in Indonesia, during our summer months, and Iniala Beach House in Thailand, during our winter months, for a unique South-East Asian experience.

We're excited about this property in Brazil....and think it works particularly well for families with children who have outgrown the kids club. You'll sleep in stylish, beachfront bungalows - some with private pools, and if the kids are no longer kids and prefer to have their own space, there is even a separate 'bunk bedroom bungalow'...Kite-surfing, 4x4 dune riding, and dune lagoon swimming are popular past-times here; the cookery school, gym & spa are also sublime. Food is locally sourced and daily menus depend on the catch of the day and what's in season.

August is a brilliant month to be here so consider it for next summer...& if you have time, combine with Rio, Salvador & the Pantanal. 

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Who doesn't love toes-in-the-sand-dining? We do! If this appeals, we know you'll want to try out this Indonesian private island family paradise. The resort supports a community-based foundation which, as guests of the property, you can actively participate in. There's a chocolate factory with cocoa-making courses, and for the most sublime swim, trek to Lake Weekuri - nature's saltwater pool - separated from the ocean by a rugged cliff. Stand-up paddle-boarding, fishing, diving & surf lessons are also on offer, and outdoor yoga if you're so inclined... You might even get lucky with a turtle release.

July and August are ideal months to be there…

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Tried & tested…

“My family holiday in Jordan was an incredible adventure. I feel like I saw everything from north to south: walking through ruins, scuba diving in the red sea, fighting with crusaders in their castles, staying in hotels in the middle of nowhere – including camping in the desert. It took 2 hours to get there on a camel, which was sore but fun!! it was the best holiday ever. Petra was especially amazing - walking through the siq you turn a corner and the sight you see takes your breath away. I thought in Jordan there was going to be a few amazing things but actually you discover a whole new culture. It was outstanding!!”

Lucy, 9 years old | My Native Kids Easter holidays 2019

Contact us at info@my-native.com or on +44 (0)203 371 7203 for details on these destinations, and for more Summer 2020 inspiration…

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.