Updated October 2026: The resort list below dates from 2018, is mostly in the US and Caribbean, and its booking-site tips no longer apply. For families travelling from Gujarat, other decisions matter more, and we have added them below: the 2026–27 school-holiday dates, rooms for three generations, veg and Jain food, pacing and current costs.
Going on a family holiday is not really shabby, yet that doesn't mean you can't cut a few expenses on your accommodation, cruise ship, or airfare. If you book at the right time at vibrant holidays, you might also be able to save money. No matter where you intend to go, there are family holiday resorts situated all over the globe.
One thing you need to look for is a hotel that offers free meals and activities for kids. When you're traveling with kids, the cost of meals can really add up day after day. At a hotel where kids get to eat for free, you can save a lot of money. If the hotel itself does not offer free meals for kids, you could at least look for a restaurant nearby that does. Ideally, this restaurant should be easy to get to from the hotel so you won't have to spend money on cab fare or use up gas in your rental car.
Resorts that offer free, fun activities for the entire family will help you save money since you won't have to go out as much. Don't forget about your own enjoyment. The best comprehensive family get-away resorts have programs that will give the grown-ups a touch of room too. They offer more than just standard daycare, but fun camps tailored to kids in various age groups, each with its very own facility.
Don't forget about airfare when looking for family vacation deals. While airlines usually let kids fly for free or at a discount rate, you don't want to spend a fortune on your own airfare. Check and see if there are any airfare + hotel combo discounts available. Also, if you need to rent a van or SUV, look for vacation packages that include a discount on car rentals.
Want to stay in warm weather near an exotic beach? Or visit snow capped mountains at a ski lodge? There are some really fun ranches that offer horseback riding and hiking activities. A lot of cruise lines offer fun programs for kids. If you can afford it, an African Safari will be both a fun and educational experience for both you and your children.
Ideas for Family Vacation Resorts
Here is a list of some of the best family vacation resorts in the world: • The Ranch - Emerald Valley, CO • Skytop Lodge, PA • Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa in St. Lucia • Ocean Blue and Sand, Punta Cana • Rancho de los Caballeros, AZ • Lewa Safari Camp, Kenya • Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch, WY • Snowshoe Mountain Resort - Snowshoe, WV • Wyndham Reef Resort - Cayman Islands • Club Med Pragelato Vialattea, Italy
These are just some of the best - there are many other great resorts and hotels out there that offer fun for the entire family.
Do a bit of research on all of the family vacation resorts you are interested in and compare prices.
Your search for the cheapest family vacation resorts should begin online. Discounts are available with this travel company that can't be found anywhere else. There are around 300,000 properties all around the world, and you can easily search or browse through them. Be as specific or as flexible with the dates and locations as you want. Get best deals at Vibrant Holidays on airfare and car rentals as well.
Plan around the Gujarat school calendar (2026–27)
- Diwali vacation: 5 to 25 November 2026 (21 days) for Gujarat board schools. The second term starts on 26 November.
- Summer vacation: 3 May to 6 June 2027 (35 days).
- Board exams for Std 10 and 12: 25 February to 17 March 2027, so families with a board student usually travel only after that.
CBSE and international schools follow their own calendars. Flights and hotels cost the most in the first days of the Diwali vacation and the last two weeks of May, so leaving a few days after the holidays begin usually helps.
Choose the trip around the youngest and the oldest traveller
A trip that suits a 4-year-old and a 70-year-old looks different from a couple's holiday:
- Flight time: keep it under about five hours. Dubai is about 3 hours non-stop from Ahmedabad and Bangkok about 4½ hours, and both work well for a first trip abroad with grandparents.
- Road time: avoid days with more than five or six hours in a car. On the Shimla–Manali circuit, for example, break the drive from Chandigarh with a night in Shimla.
- Altitude: Leh is about 3,500 m high. Elders with heart, blood-pressure or breathing conditions should consult their doctor first, and very young children often struggle there. Kerala, Kashmir's Srinagar and Gulmarg, or Manali are gentler choices.
- One big outing per half day: a morning activity, a rest after lunch and an easy evening.
Rooms for three generations
- A standard room usually takes two adults and one or two children, or three adults with an extra bed. Hotels price an extra bed and a child without a bed differently, and each hotel sets its own age limit.
- Ask for interconnecting or adjacent rooms for grandparents. Hotels confirm this only at check-in, so get it noted on the booking.
- A two-bedroom apartment or suite (common in Dubai, Bangkok and Bali) can cost less than three hotel rooms and gives you a kitchen for a child's milk or khichdi.
- For elders, ask for a lift, a walk-in shower and a room near the restaurant. Request airport wheelchair assistance when the ticket is booked, not at the counter.
Veg and Jain food: what to expect
Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket and Bali's tourist areas all have plenty of Indian and Gujarati restaurants, and Kerala, Rajasthan, Manali and Kashmir hotels cook pure-veg meals routinely. Jain food (no onion, garlic or root vegetables) is possible almost everywhere if the hotel or restaurant is told in advance, and harder to find on the spot. Europe outside the big cities, Vietnam and long road days are where families most often go hungry, so carry thepla, khakhra and ready-to-eat packs for those days. Australia requires you to declare all food on arrival.
What a family trip costs (as of October 2026)
As two examples, a 5-night Shimla–Manali trip with return flights to Chandigarh, 3- or 4-star hotels, breakfast and dinner and a private car costs from ₹24,000 to ₹45,000 per person. A 5-night Dubai trip with an Abu Dhabi day, return flights and the UAE visa costs from ₹53,000 to ₹91,000 per person. Prices vary by date. Children sharing their parents' room usually cost less than an adult, and infants mostly pay only the airline's infant fee.
A sample pace: Dubai with children and grandparents
- Day 1: Morning flight from Ahmedabad, hotel check-in and rest. The Dubai Fountain in the evening.
- Day 2: Half-day city tour, rest after lunch, Burj Khalifa in the evening.
- Day 3: A slow morning, then the desert camp in the afternoon. Skip dune bashing for elders and take the direct road to the camp.
- Day 4: Abu Dhabi and the BAPS Hindu Mandir. Entry is free, but registration is required, and the temple is closed on Mondays.
- Day 5: A theme park or Global Village for the children, shopping for the elders. Fly home on Day 6.
Our team in Ahmedabad plans every family holiday as a private trip, so the pace above can bend around a child's nap or a grandparent's knees. You can see a fuller version on our Dubai trip page for Ahmedabad families.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Diwali vacation in Gujarat schools in 2026?
For Gujarat board schools, 5 to 25 November 2026. Schools reopen on 26 November. CBSE and international schools may differ.
What is the best first trip abroad with grandparents from Ahmedabad?
Dubai is usually the easiest: about 3 hours non-stop, a small time difference, plenty of Gujarati food and short drives between sights.
Can a family of five stay in one hotel room?
Rarely. Most hotels cap a room at three adults, or two adults and two children. A family suite, two-bedroom apartment or two interconnecting rooms usually works better.
