2020 - a year of travel

Notebook – and passport – at the ready – Jo Gardner finds the best places to go with kids this year, month by month

January - Norway
With winter in full swing, now is the best time to catch a glimpse of the elusive – but incredibly beautiful - Northern Lights. While it’s true that you can see this natural phenomenon in several countries until April, darkness is key - and nobody knows black skies more than Norway where the sun makes an appearance for just an hour a day. Wrap up warm (we mean proper cold weather thermals not just more layers), look up and keep your fingers (and toes) crossed). Bucket list ticking, here we come…

February - USA
If you want to get your children into skiing (while fear is just a dot on their horizon), you’ll need plenty of snow to cushion their fall. The best powder tends to arrive early in the season – when temperatures are low and the threat of rain is negligible – making February a good month. Head stateside and the choice of resorts is endless; Colorado’s iconic Aspen, Breckenridge, Frisco and Vali will already be in full swing.  For beginners, ski schools and gentle runs, try Deer Valley Resort (Salt Lake City), Key Stone Resort (Colorado), Bretton Woods (Washington) and Diamond Peak (Nevada).

March - Europe
For skiing later in the season, when the slopes are quieter and prices keener, Europe is your best bet. From Austria to France and Poland to Switzerland, the choice is endless. If you fancy combining skiing with some time on a beach, try Cyprus and Spain, which both have ski resorts and regular snow fall – although you’ll have to check the weather reports closely to ensure snow is forecast. If you have some non-skiers in the group, book a holiday to Innsbruck (pictured below) – the beautiful Austrian city surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Shopping and lunch for you; skiing nearby for them. Win-win.

April - Japan
Japan’s annual display of baby pink and white cherry blossom is a sight to behold and can be admired in most major cities - including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka - in early April. But blossom is just the icing on the cake for holidaymakers: Japan is a fascinating place to visit. Safe and easy to travel around, the country is a riot of colour, noise, smells and quirky culture that will keep children wide eyed (and quiet) for the whole trip. Don’t miss a trip on the iconic bullet train, a karaoke session, a traditional tea ceremony and a dip in an Onsen (a traditional bath heated by hot springs).

May - The Caribbean
Nothing spoils a beach holiday more than rain – you’re there to bask in the sunshine not wring water from your clothes while hiding indoors. Avoid the monsoon season by arriving in May when temperatures hover at around a gentle 25 degrees, perfect for young children. May is also that delicious in between stage, when the winter sun-seekers have left and the summer holidaymakers not yet arrived.  Accommodation costs significantly less too. If you have children of school age, consider the May half term when prices will still be much keener than other times of the year. With 700 islands to choose from, all you need to do now is plan.

June - Cornwall
Beaches that could easily resemble The Caribbean, Michelin-star restaurants, award-winning boltholes, five-star spas and family attractions… it’s little wonder celebs and holidaymakers head to Cornwall in their droves. Head to Carbis Bay or St Ives in July or August and you will barely be able to walk down the narrow, cobbled streets without having to move aside for another family with the same idea as you. With UK temperatures on the rise, and school not yet out for summer, June is the perfect month for a staycation. And if Cornwall proves too popular (even in June – damn you Delicious and Doc Martin), try neighbouring Devon.

July - Alaska
Polar bears, penguins, iridescent blue icebergs… Alaska certainly has a lot going for it, but if there’s one thing that puts people off (other than the cost – this really is trip of a lifetime type fodder), it’s the cold. Book for July, however, and temperatures will be much less frostbite inducing making it the perfect time for families. The best way to see Alaska is on a cruise where there will be opportunities to walk on a glacier, admire the northern lights (a slimmer chance than Norway in January but still possible) and see grizzly bears in the wild. Not too shabby.

August – The Scottish Highlands
International airports during school holidays: no thank you. Head to your local, domestic airport; drive; or take the train to the Scottish Highlands, where 17 hours of daily sunshine and the lowest level of rainfall will guarantee you a great holiday filled with majestic mountains, shimmering lakes, deserted beaches, fascinating cities and whisky distilleries for a wee dram. Families can expect a warm welcome, a wide choice of accommodation and a bounty of fresh produce, too. From kayaking and walking to bird-watching and dolphin spotting, active days in the fresh air will ensure they sleep like babies.

September – Morocco
Hot, heady and with an incessant humdrum, Morocco can be a bit much in the height of summer. Come in September – when the backpackers have left and the whole country breathes a sigh of relief – and you’ll find a welcoming breeze, lower prices and calmer streets. Even shopping in the souks of Marrakech will feel less bombastic – hawkers more relaxed after a busy period of selling. Shun the chain hotels and book a family-friendly Riad (pictured below) – ornate, family-owned houses with central courtyards and glorious architecture – before heading off to explore beachy Essaouria, with its rustic beaches and whitewashed buildings.

October - New England
New England is the first place people tend think of for pretty autumn leaves, and it’s easy to see why: shades of russet, ochre and gold dominate the trees in a kaleidoscope of colour so bright it can stop the traffic. No matter where you are in the state, there you’ll find picture-postcard scenery - historic lighthouses, steeple-topped churches, wooden covered bridges and rows of classic clapboard houses add yet more ‘quaint’ to an already photogenic New England. Autumn is also when the air is crisp, apple cider is for sale and pumpkin pie is being cooked in ovens all over the state.

November - South Africa
November is a strange month – winter is on the horizon but not quite here, and all thoughts turn to Christmas. Escape the C word with a trip to South Africa, where direct flights, zero jet-lag (there’s no time difference), reversed seasons (hello, sunshine) and a favourable exchange rate make it a no-brainer. Pretty, trendy, arty, friendly and a dab hand in the kitchen, if Cape Town was a woman, she would almost certainly be the envy of all her family and friends - spend a week here before heading along the glorious garden route, to the wine regions or off on safari.

December – Finland
Got small children? A trip to Lapland will be better than any plastic-clad Christmas present – and will stay longer in their memories, too. Visit a local Finnish family, allow a husky to pull you across the snow, see reindeer in their natural habitat and visit Santa in his workshop. There’ll be another chance to see the Northern Lights here, too.  Trips run from one night to seven, with several flights available from local airports, prefect for non-Londoners. Book now and not only will you benefit from massive savings (up to 50% with some companies) but you’ll have Christmas 2020 all sewn up.