With lively beach communities, charming seaside regions, and abundant natural wonders, use this handy guide on where to go in Bali to discover your best fit for an idyllic vacation.
Family Friendly
Family tours: how to choose and plan the perfect family trip
Planning a family holiday? Discover how to choose the right family tour, compare itineraries, understand inclusions and prepare for a stress-free trip with kids.
Planning a family holiday can be exciting, but finding an itinerary that suits everyone from toddlers to teenagers and grandparents isn't always easy.
Organised family tours take much of the stress out of travel by handling accommodation, transport and sightseeing, allowing you to focus on spending quality time together. But whether you're considering a guided coach tour through Australia, a cultural adventure in Japan or a wildlife safari in Africa, choosing the right family tour requires careful planning.
From selecting age-appropriate activities to understanding what's included in the price, here's how to choose a family tour that creates lasting memories for everyone.
Get the most out of your stay with deals for RACV Members on family-friendly tours and cruises, family holiday packages and travel insurance.
Why choose a family tour?
Travelling independently offers flexibility, but organised tours can simplify logistics and reduce the planning burden, particularly when travelling with children.
Many family-focused tours are designed with younger travellers in mind, balancing sightseeing with interactive experiences, regular breaks and child-friendly accommodation. Some also offer activities tailored to different age groups, helping keep everyone engaged throughout the trip.
For parents, having transport, accommodation and many meals organised can make travelling significantly less stressful. Local guides can provide valuable insights into the destination, helping families experience places they may not have discovered on their own.
Family tours can also be a great way for children to meet other young travellers, especially on departures specifically designed for families.
Discover amazing family tours, with discounts for RACV Members.
Family tours can make trips much less stressful for parents. Image: Getty
10 tips to help you choose the best tour for your family
Consider your children's ages
Age is one of the most important factors when choosing a family tour.
Young children generally cope better with shorter travel days, frequent rest stops and flexible itineraries. Long coach journeys or packed sightseeing schedules can quickly become overwhelming.
Older children and teenagers often enjoy more adventurous experiences, independent free time and opportunities to learn about different cultures.
If you're travelling with multiple generations or children of different ages, look for tours that include optional activities so that everyone can participate at their own pace.
Many operators also have minimum age requirements, while some specialise exclusively in family packages.
Decide what type of family tour suits you
Not every family holiday looks the same, so consider your family's interests before booking. Travel agents can help you decide on the best holidays for your family.
Adventure tours
Families with older children may enjoy active holidays featuring hiking, cycling, kayaking, ziplining or wildlife experiences. These tours often involve early starts and physical activity, so check minimum age requirements and fitness expectations.
Cultural and sightseeing tours
History, food and cultural experiences can appeal to multi-generational families. Look for itineraries that mix museums and landmarks with hands-on activities such as cooking classes, traditional craft workshops or cultural performances.
Wildlife and nature tours
National parks, safaris, marine encounters and rainforest adventures can be ideal for families who love the outdoors. Consider seasonal wildlife experiences if seeing particular animals is high on your wish list.
Beach and resort tours
Families wanting a more relaxed holiday may prefer resort-based tours that include day trips while allowing plenty of downtime by the pool or beach.
Consider your children's ages when deciding on the type of tour to book. Image: Getty
Think carefully about the destination
The best destination depends on your family's interests, budget and travel experience.
For a first overseas family holiday, destinations with reliable transport, family-friendly infrastructure and minimal language barriers can help make the experience smoother.
If travelling during Australian school holidays, remember many popular destinations experience their own peak tourism seasons. Booking early can improve availability and often secure better prices.
Also consider:
- flight duration and jet lag
- climate and weather
- local transport
- health requirements and vaccinations
- entry and visa requirements
- food options for children or dietary needs.
If you're unsure, chat to a travel agent, who can help research and answer questions about your potential destinations.
Check what's included
Tour prices can vary significantly, so always compare inclusions rather than simply choosing the cheapest option.
Look closely at what's covered, including:
- accommodation quality
- daily breakfasts or other meals
- airport transfers
- entry fees to attractions
- internal flights or train travel
- guided activities
- free time
- tips or gratuities.
A slightly higher-priced tour may represent better value if it includes attractions or meals you'd otherwise need to pay for separately.
Travel agents can often access exclusive deals on holiday packages and tours.
Choose accommodation that works for families
Accommodation can have a major impact on your holiday.
Before booking, check whether hotels offer:
- family rooms or interconnected rooms
- swimming pools
- laundry facilities
- breakfasts included
- child-friendly dining
- cots or high chairs (if required).
If you're travelling with babies or toddlers, confirm room configurations before departure rather than assuming family rooms are available.
The best travel destination depends on your family's interests. Image: Tourism Fiji
Don't overlook the itinerary
An itinerary might look exciting on paper, but it's worth asking whether it's realistic for your family.
Look for a balance between organised sightseeing and free time. Children often appreciate opportunities to explore playgrounds, relax in parks or simply have time to swim.
Avoid tours that involve changing hotels every night unless your family enjoys fast-paced travel. Fewer accommodation changes usually mean less packing and more time enjoying your destination.
Understand the group size
Smaller tour groups generally offer a more personalised experience and greater flexibility, while larger coach tours can provide better value and more opportunities for children to make friends.
If travelling with young children, consider whether a smaller group may better accommodate unexpected delays or changing needs.
Travel agents can help you pick holidays based on the perfect group size for your family.
Book early for school holidays
Family travel is often limited to school holiday periods, making demand particularly high.
Booking several months in advance can provide:
- better availability
- more choice of departure dates
- access to early-bird offers
- greater selection of family room types.
Early booking also provides more time to organise passports, visas and travel insurance.
More: How to protect your passport while travelling overseas
Prepare before you leave
Good preparation helps ensure your family holiday runs smoothly.
Before departure:
- check passport validity
- confirm visa requirements
- purchase appropriate travel insurance
- discuss the itinerary with children so they know what to expect
- pack entertainment for flights and longer travel days
- bring any required medications and copies of prescriptions
- keep important documents easily accessible.
Downloading maps, airline apps and translation apps before travelling can also make navigating unfamiliar destinations much easier.
More: Travel planning and packing checklist
Consider travel insurance
Travel insurance can offer a sense of security and reassurance, helping you enjoy your journey with added peace of mind. It's an option worth considering for many families.
RACV Travel Insurance provides flexible cover for overseas and domestic holidays, with 15 per cent off for RACV Members.* Plus, RACV Travel Insurance policies insure your children and grandchildren for free.++ Add them to your policy before you travel.
Check minimum age requirements on any family tours you're considering. Image: Visit Victoria
Family tour FAQs
Yes. Many guided tours are specifically designed for families and include child-friendly accommodation, age-appropriate activities and experienced guides who understand the needs of travelling families.
Minimum ages vary between tour operators and itineraries. Some tours welcome infants, while others require children to be at least five, eight or 12 years old, particularly for adventure-based holidays.
For travel during Australian school holidays, booking six to 12 months in advance often provides the best choice of departures, accommodation and pricing.
Look for balanced itineraries that combine sightseeing with free time, avoid excessive travel days, include family-friendly accommodation and offer activities suitable for your children's ages.
* RACV Member discount applies to the premium only (not applicable taxes).
++ Dependant means any of your children, stepchildren, foster children or grandchildren who are 25 years of age or under at the time you purchase your policy, financially dependent on their parents or grandparents, not working full time, travelling with you for your entire trip and listed on the Certificate of Insurance as your Dependant. Dependants can be covered at no extra cost if they have not disclosed any medical conditions requiring assessment. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Refer to PDS for full details.
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Limited (ABN 44 004 060 833, AR No.1243563) (RACV) is an authorised representative of the RACV Travel Insurance insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL246 548) (Tokio Marine). Tokio Marine Management (Australasia) Pty Ltd (ABN 69001 488 455, AR No. 1313066) is an authorised representative of Tokio Marine, and administers RACV Travel Insurance as the managing agent on behalf of TokioMarine.
Terms, conditions (including eligibility criteria), exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Any advice is general advice only, and does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you purchase, please consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) / Financial ServicesGuide (FSG) and Target Market Determinations (TMDs) available on RACV’s website, or on request from RACV.
