Family holidays can be chaotic and frustrating, but they also have the power to bring families closer together. Five writers share their most memorable trips, from Interrailing to Turkey to Vespa rides in Naples.
Exploring Finland with a Baby
Finland has been named the world's happiest country for nine years running, but arriving in Helsinki with a nine-month-old baby, Sian Lewis was more interested in a nap. However, Finland's family-friendly culture made exploring a delight. Finnish parents benefit from generous parental leave, affordable childcare, and free healthcare and education. In Helsinki, the Hobo Hotel provided travel cots and highchairs, and the bar Holiday allowed the family to enjoy paloma cocktails in the long July evening light. The law of jokaisenoikeudet, or Everyman's Right, allowed them to hike through forests to Lake Kukuljärvi, where they cooked sausages and boiled coffee over an open fire. They stayed in off-grid cabins at Majamaja, perched on rocks on the Baltic Sea, and visited Lonna island for a wood-fired sauna overlooking the sea. Sian's baby Sylvie enjoyed the sauna, and locals declared her Finnish.
Naples with a Teenage Son
Jill Mead took her 13-year-old son Ned to Naples, booking a small apartment in the centro storico. She struck gold with a Vespa tour from NeaTour, which took them through the city's hidden corners. They visited Bar Nilo to pay homage to Maradona and saw a towering mural of the icon. Michele gave Ned a cornicello charm, and they explored the Quartieri Spagnoli, where a family invited them in for wine and Pepsi. Climbing Vesuvius in midday heat was a mistake, but Capri offered a beautiful contrast, though expensive. They swam through the Blue Grotto, and Ned called it the best thing he had ever done.
Glamping with Granny in Norfolk
Tracey Davies took her twin daughters, mother, and dog to north Norfolk for glamping at Sandringham estate. The safari tents from Experience Freedom provided a wholesome setting. The family enjoyed early morning walks, full English breakfasts, and afternoons on the beach. The twins entertained their grandmother with TikTok reels, and a game of Cards Against Humanity ended with the grandmother winning. Despite tensions over bickering and language, the holiday was a success, especially the visit to Sandringham House, where the twins and their grandmother walked arm in arm.
Interrailing to Turkey with the Boys
Sam Wollaston took his wife and two sons on an Interrail trip from London to Turkey. They used passes for 10 days of travel within two months, starting with the Eurostar to Paris, then Stuttgart, Budapest, Brasov, and through Romania to Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. The trains were a highlight, from sleek western European trains to older, clankier ones in the east. Overnight trains offered memorable moments, including a rude awakening at the border. Despite disagreements, the family felt closer than ever, enjoying games, dinners, and the clickety-clack of the rails.
A Healing Family Trip to Norway
Ailsa Sheldon took her two sons to Norway after being widowed. Inspired by her son's excitement about a Viking ship museum, they explored Oslo, visiting galleries, the opera house, and Hovedoya island. They walked around Sognsvann lake, picking blueberries, and visited the Viking Ship Museum. From Oslo, they took a train to Myrdal, then the Flamsbana line to Flam, and a boat along the Naeroyfjord to Bergen. They stayed on a berthed yacht, and the host took them fishing. The trip reminded Sheldon of her capabilities as a parent and the kindness of strangers, helping to heal her broken heart.
