7 Myths about Active Family Holidays

Exploring the town of Les Baux de Provence | Philip Wyndham
Exploring the town of Les Baux de Provence | Philip Wyndham

7 Myths About Family Holidays

As a former child, I thoroughly recommend family holidays

As parents, we understandably worry about the 'what ifs', especially when we are travelling away from home exploring the great outdoors. What happens if someone injures themselves? What if we can't keep up with the group? What if there's no downtime for us to relax? 

In reality, active family holidays are unforgettable for all the right reasons, with plenty of unique opportunities to play and learn with your children along the way. So, instead of booking a stay in a campsite or holiday resort for your next family holiday, why not opt for a more adventurous, exploratory, engaging and educational kind of holiday that will allow your kids to immerse themselves in nature. Here are seven of the most common myths about active family holidays, debunked. 

active family holidays_walking in France - Utracks

#1 My kids only like water parks

 
When the sun is shining and the weather is warm it may seem that there is nothing better for kids than to spend the day at a water park, but there are many more water-based activities out there. What could be more exciting, for example, than a bike ride to a cool mountain lake or waterfall? 
 
If your kids are comfortable swimmers, why not consider a bike or boat holiday on one of Europe's famous waterways or in the Mediterranean. On one of these trips, your kids will enjoy a winning combination of walking or cycling and swimming during the day and sleeping in a floating hotel at night. 
 

#2 Active holidays are expensive

 
Active holidays are foot-powered, and involve hiking or cycling from place to place without much need for expensive equipment or inclusions. Because our trips only include what you really need - a range of accommodation to suit your budget, most meals, luggage transfers, maps and guidebooks for self guided trips and bikes for cycling trips - they truly represent great value. 
 
On guided trips you also have the added benefit of an experienced guide who takes pride in keeping the kids engaged and interested in the region they are walking or cycling through. Take a look at our family friendly walking and family friendly cycling options.
 
active family holidays - mountain walks - UTracks
 

#3 Active holidays are dangerous

 
Cycling or walking on busy roads or along narrow lane-ways can seem a tad daunting with kids in tow. This is exactly why we have dedicated active family holidays, which keep the use of busy tracks and trails to a minimum. Where possible, all of the tours in our family range use quieter routes so you can get on with enjoying the views without having to worry about traffic. 
 
If you are already comfortable with active holidays but want the peace of mind that comes with booking a fully supported trip, we have trips designed to suit families with children as young as two. Or, if you're looking to test the waters, why not try one of our centre-based walking or cycling tours, which will see you return to the same accommodation each night so you only have to unpack once?
 
active family holidays - cycling - UTracks
 

#4 Active trips take a lot of planning

 
We take care of the nitty-gritty for you, making all arrangements and organising the finer details so you can concentrate on the fun stuff, like looking forward to your upcoming trip and getting fit for it. With 10+ years of experience in tailoring unforgettable active trips, we've adopted some of our favourite and most popular itineraries to suit families. 
 
We're happy to assist with any queries you may have in the lead up to your trip because we've sent the parents in our global team to test them. The time you will save by not having to research and plan your trip can be redirected towards taking your family out on some day walks or cycling trips in preparation for your upcoming holiday. 
 
walking in Corsica with the Family - UTracks
 

#5 I won’t have any quality time with my partner

 
With all the cycling, walking and other activities going on, you may be worried that there won't be much time left over to spend with your partner. However, this is not generally the case on a UTracks active family trip. With your offspring busy playing with other children, you will have plenty of time to relax together and enjoy watching them grow and change. 
 
Also, after an exciting day of exploring nature and learning about native flora and fauna and new cultures, you won't have much trouble getting your kids to bed at a reasonable hour, leaving you more time to enjoy the local wine and delicacies with your partner and other like-minded parents on the same trip or in the same handpicked accommodation.
 
family cycling holidays in Europe - UTracks
 

#6 Active holidays are too inaccessible 

 
Some may think that a holiday in the outdoors means venturing to the remoter parts of Europe. But you don’t need to travel very far from civilisation to appreciate some of the most stunning mountain vistas, forests and rivers that Europe has to offer. Often, good road connections are closer than you might think in case of an emergency. 
 
All of our self guided trips come with a local support number that you can call 24/7, and the guides on our small group tours have been trained to handle emergencies and will look after you from start to finish. 
 
family walking holidays in Europe - UTracks
 

#7 There won't be any other kids for my kids to play with

 
A traditional holiday in a hotel or campsite often comes with lots of opportunities for your children to make new friends, whether it's by the pool, at the ping pong table, or during organised activities. Active family holidays come with just as many opportunities for your kids to make new friends. 
 
From taking turns leading donkeys on our Mont Blanc Family walks, to learning about food and cultural traditions on the Sardinia Family Cycle Adventure or playing a board game on a boat on the Croatia Family Adventure. What better way to bond and make new friends? 
 
mont blanc family holidays - UTracks

 
>> Find out more about our range of Family Walks
>> Prefer cycling? Check out our Family Cycling itineraries
>> Get more information about our popular Family Bike & Boat trips 
 
Have you taken the kids on a family vacation yet? How did it go? Or do you have fond memories of a walking or cycling trip when you were a child? Let us know in the comments!
 
Family, Children, Centre Based

Comments (2)

UTracks

Thanks for your enquiry. Please let us know which trip you are interested in. Some of our trips have this option, or you could book an additional room.

5 years ago
helgastuff

Hi we’re a family of 3 (me, my parter & our 7 year old) . However my partner snores really loudly so we always have to stay in an apartment or hotel room with a separate living room area, so we can put a wall in between him & us! Do your family hols have anything like this?

5 years ago
Your comment will be visible after the administrator's approval.







b i u quote


Save Comment
Join Newsletter
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/ADS.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Adventures South"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Adventure South</div>
Adventure South NZ is unrivalled in their geographic coverage, originality and overall quality of adventures holidays in New Zealand. Choose from walking, cycling, winter or multi-activity holidays, on either the North or South Island.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/AWH.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Australian Walking Holidays"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Australian Walking Holidays</div>
Australian Walking Holidays specialises in small group guided walking adventures. Since 1982 we have been guiding small groups of travellers on Australia's finest walks across our tropical, coastal or red centre landscapes.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/GCT.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Great Canadian Trails"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Great Canadian Trails</div>
Great Canadian Trails specialises in active holidays in Canada. With both guided and supported self-guided options available, our unique itineraries draw upon some of Canada's most inspiring parks, trails and landscapes from coast to coast.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/HUM.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Humac Challenge"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Huma Charity Challenge</div>
Huma enables those with adventurous spirits to challenge themselves and make a difference for a cause close to their heart. Travel, fundraise and meet life-long friends on one of Huma's meaningful and unique challenges around the world.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WB.jpg?v2' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Walkers’ Britain"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Walkers' Britain</div>
Walkers' Britain (formerly Sherpa Expeditions) have specialised in walking and cycling trips in the United Kingdom and Europe since 1973. Explore iconic trails and destinations on a self guided or small group active holiday with Walkers' Britain.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WB.jpg?v2' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Walkers’ Britain"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Walkers' Britain</div>
Walkers' Britain (formerly Sherpa Expeditions) have specialised in walking and cycling trips in the United Kingdom and Europe since 1973. Explore iconic trails and destinations on a self guided or small group active holiday with Walkers' Britain.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/TAS.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Tasmania Expeditions"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Tasmanian Expeditions</div>
Tasmanian Expeditions is the most experienced operator of treks and adventure travel holidays in Tasmania. We own and operate the most comprehensive range of adventure holidays available across Tasmania's varied landscapes.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/UTX-new.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Utracks"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>UTracks</div>
UTracks are the active European holiday specialists. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2-star or 4-star, small groups or self guided, land, river or sea – UTracks can help you to explore Europe exactly the way you want.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WYA.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="World Expeditions Schools"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>World Expeditions Schools</div>
World Expeditions Schools is our specialist division dedicated to organising tailor made overseas school group adventures. Specialists in Service Learning projects, choose from more destinations than any other school group provider.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/YOM.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Yomads"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Yomads</div>
Yomads offers adventures for the 20s and 30s on six continents. Designed as a way to bring young and likeminded travellers together, Yomads caters to those interested in lightly structured and active trips that allow freedom to roam and explore.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/ACT.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Australian Cycle Tours"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Australian Cycle Tours</div>
Australian Cycle Tours specialises in high quality self guided and guided cycling experiences in a selection of the most beautiful regions in Australia.
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/WEX.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="World Expeditions"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>World Expeditions</div>
The pioneers of original, worldwide adventure travel holidays since 1975
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/TJX.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Trail Journeys"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Trail Journeys</div>
Self-guided cycling experts on New Zealand's Otago Rail Trail and more
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/BMAC.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Blue Mountains Adventure Company"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Blue Mountains Adventure Company</div>
The original Blue Mountains canyoning, hiking, climbing and abseiling experts
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/GWNZ.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="Great Walks of New Zealand"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>Great Walks of New Zealand</div>
Explore New Zealand's most spectacular wilderness regions with the self-guided hiking experts
<img src='/portals/World%20Expeditions/Icons/brands/small/NAA.jpg' class='brandPopoverIcon' alt="North America Active"> <div class='brandPopoverBrandName'>North America Active</div>
USA Canada hiking & cycling tour specialists, choose from self-guided or guided trips