Inspiring adults only holidays – top destinations for child-free breaks
Every year Mr Tin Box and I try to get away for a few nights by ourselves. It’s so good to have time to reconnect without juggling the usual parenting tasks of wiping bums and cleaning baked beans off the walls. In the past few years we’ve had a weekend in Jersey, a few overnight hotel stays, and a couple of nights alone at home in Devon. We are very lucky to have parents who can babysit to help make these adults only holidays happen.
Last year it was our 10th wedding anniversary and we totally failed to do anything special. Some of it was down to disorganisation and a lot of it was about not being able to find the time. So when Mr TB asked how I’d like to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday, I knew we had to get our act together.
And we went for it big time; booking an Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard P&O Cruises’ Azura.
It was an awesome trip, and the childcare arrangements were equally epic. All the grandparents took it in turns to keep things in order. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I was so excited about the adventure as I love cruises and I’d never been to the Caribbean. Plus, we all need a little time to recharge our batteries. However, I also knew there would be last minute wobbles about leaving the girls.
It got me thinking about adults only holidays and the special trips parents do without their kids. They have to be worth it, right? It’s not like you can do or would want to do them all the time.
So, I asked family travel bloggers from around the world to tell me about some parent only trips they have taken.
Here’s the destinations they chose, their trip highlights, and importantly, their thoughts on whether they would they return with the kids.
Contents - jump to what you'd like to know
Adults only holidays to Oman
Karen – Mini Travellers
Where did you go and for how long?
We went to Oman for six nights.
Was there a special occasion?
It was to celebrate my 40th birthday.
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
We could use airmiles to travel business class.
What was the highlight?
Our stay up in the mountains. It was so incredibly special – remote and spellbinding.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
I’m not sure I would. The hotel – Alila Jabal Akhdar – was so quiet and serene. They did welcome children but I think I’d be too worried about them disturbing other guests.
Read more about Karen’s family holidays and adventures.
Read about the Tin Box family’s own holiday in Oman.
.Weekend breaks in Dutchess County and Bucks County, USA
Eileen – FamiliesGo!
Where did you go and for how long?
Was there a special occasion?
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
Long weekend in Belarus without kids
Where did you go and for how long?
My partner and I went to Minsk, the capital of Belarus for a luxurious three and a half days without the children.
Was there a special occasion?
At the time, we were still living in London close to my parents. An annual trip without the children was a treat my parents granted us every summer. We, also, visited Paris and Berlin without the kids.
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
We chose Belarus because we had never been there before and they had just relaxed their visa regulations. Under certain conditions, UK citizens are now allowed to visit Belarus visa-free for up to five days.
Also, we’re both really into WWII history so we planned to (and did) visit several WWII memorials and sites around the city. Intensely moving and sometimes harrowing for us, they were definitely not suitable for visiting with toddlers.
What was the highlight?
The Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War was fascinating and a real highlight. It was interesting to see history from a different (Soviet) perspective. Other highlights for us were affordability (dining in classy restaurants for less than a pub meal in London) and how walkable the city was (especially without a stroller!)
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
Absolutely. The whole time, we were in Minsk I never lost my “mum brain” and kept saying things to my partner like “wow, the kids would love this” and “did you see that they have baby-changing facilities here?”. I think that he was a little disappointed by my lack of romantic conversation!
In my defence, Minsk is an incredibly family-friendly city with Gorky Park and pedalos on the river. We had a spare day on our final day when our car rental fell through so we spent the day in an awesome indoor water-park! Sometimes the best thing about a break without kids is being able to act like kids yourself for once!
Adults only holidays in Vegas with friends
Ting – My Travel Monkey
More Vegas…without the baby
Stacey – Adventure By 3
Where did you go and for how long?
My husband and I went to fabulous Las Vegas in March 2017 for a week without the kids!
Was there a special occasion?
I hadn’t had a break from the kids in over five years! Plus we celebrated my birthday and reaching 10 years of marriage.
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
My husband was heading to Vegas to attend an expo related to his field of work, so we decided that I would tag along and extended the trip by a few days so we could enjoy some more time together.
What was the highlight?
An amazing birthday dinner in the Effiel Tower restaurant, overlooking the Bellagio fountains at night. The food and service was impeccable, and the kitchen prepared a decadent, chocolate-y dessert for my birthday! We also stayed at the Cosmopolitan and our room overlooked the Bellagio fountains.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
We took the kids to the US in December 2018, and Las Vegas was one of our stops for a night. I wasn’t sure about taking them there, however they surprised me with just how much they loved it! We walked the strip at night, watched the Bellagio fountains, and were mesmerised by Cirque de Soleil’s ‘Mystere’ performance (which they are still talking about!).
Read more about Stacey’s family travels.
African adventures
Anna – Twins and Travels
Where did you go and for how long?
Kenya – I have been out to Kenya several times from two weeks to six weeks. I used to go at every opportunity.
Was there a special occasion?
I’ve been out for birthdays and Christmases. The last time I went to Kenya, I cycled from Nairobi to Mombasa with friends I had met out there so that was a special occasion in itself!
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
I didn’t have children at the time but I would go without them! I just think it is a magical country and would urge anyone to go that hasn’t. It is definitely one of those destinations that you fall in love with. It has a special place in my heart.
What was the highlight?
I love African sundowners. Watching elephants gather at a waterhole or lions awakening from their lazy day with a glass of champagne is just so special!
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
YES. I am already planning a trip for 2020. My girls will love it, it will be so enriching for them. I am sure they will get the bug, just like me! The twins will be four, and toddler one and a half, and I just think this is going to be a great age for them all – you are never too young to travel and there is nothing not to love about Africa.
Read more about Anna’s adults only holidays in Africa.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
https://youtu.be/N4uDcQJXsMk
Child-free in Noosa, Queensland
Karen – Smart Steps to Australia
Where did you go and for how long?
Two nights in Noosa, Queensland, Australia.
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
I love travelling with my family. We take a lot of trips together as I’m a family travel writer and blogger. When I was commissioned to write a travel feature about things to do in Noosa for Australia and New Zealand magazine, my husband decided to stay home with the kids while I went to explore with a friend of mine.
What was the highlight?
I’m a mum of three and the friend who came with me on the press trip is a mum of four, so you can imagine the excitement of having two nights child-free in Noosa in a resort.
We got to eat out in all of the beach-front restaurants, we shopped til we dropped on Hastings Street and we did activities that would have been really tricky with little ones like going on a beach ride on electric bikes and going paddleboarding on the river!
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
Noosa is one of those places that works for families, couples or friends as it has so much to offer. We had a blast and are hoping to do it again soon! Maybe next time we’ll build in some time for a spa session too.
Read more about Karen’s top things to do in Noosa on adults only holidays.
One week in Cambodia without the kids
Keri – Our Globertrotters
Where did you go and for how long?
Otres Beach, a remote coastal beach town that still retains its rustic charm on the western coast of Cambodia for one week.
Was it a special occasion?
No, just a long overdue anniversary/birthday/parent time out trip that we were able to time in to other long-haul plans and babysitting cover. Flight timings on odd days meant a planned few days had to become a week stay, or it’s a very long drive to the next nearest city Phnom Penh.
Why did you choose this destination?
We had visited the same beach two years earlier, with three very small children. Cambodia had long been a bucket list destination for me, and lets just say that trip was one of our most challenging with children and the memory was tainted! As adults alone, we could appreciate the serenity and rustic nature of the place that is more difficult to appreciate with children in tow.
What was the highlight?
Doing absolutely nothing. If you want no timetables, no curfews and no wild party life, nothing but serene waves crashing and budget bar prices with no limits on lying in or how long you spend reading in your hammock, this is it.
Wifi was available in places so it wasn’t a total forced unplug, but used sparingly it was the first time in years we had felt truly switched off and able to operate with no timetable and no commitments other than making our flight home.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
Absolutely, our last trip was challenging due to the children’s ages more than anything (three under five). We would definitely visit again, though I’m not sure they could handle the whole week of “nothing” quite as well as we can!
In the stimulated world our kids are accustomed to, we find they can only handle say three days of camping or rustic before the moaning outweighs the joy.
Read more about Keri’s week in Cambodia.
Two weeks on the US West Coast
Margie – DQ Family Travel
Where did you go and for how long?
We had two weeks in the summer and grandparents available for babysitting, so we planned a trip to the West Coast of the US.
Was it a special occasion?
Our kid-free trip was for our ten year anniversary.
Why did you choose this destination?
Since we love the Pacific Northwest, we booked a flight to San Francisco with a return from Seattle. This would give us plenty of time to explore different towns along the way.
What was the highlight?
There were so many highlights on this trip. We went kayaking through sea caves in Mendocino, zip lining, biking, and white water rafting in Oregon, hiking around Crater Lake, and we rode ATV’s on the Oregon coast sand dunes. In addition, we visited some great restaurants, wineries, and breweries.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
We are hoping to take the kids in a few years to do a similar itinerary, but adding more of California’s national parks and other areas of Oregon.
Milestone birthdays in New Orleans
Parents only weekend in Paris for a special birthday
Catch the sleeper train to Verona
Laura – Have Kids, Can Travel
Where did you go and for how long?
Verona; the entire trip was five days, but we did it by overnight sleeper train from London, so we had just three days in Verona itself.
Was there a special occasion?
Yes – it was for our 25th wedding anniversary, though that was in July and we didn’t go until September. We’re romantic – but not so much that we’ll pay £1,000 more for the same trip in peak season!
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
It had to be accessible by train (non-flying husband), and we’d always said we’d love to do the sleeper train. Verona was simply the first city on the Paris-Venice sleeper train schedule which we really wanted to stay in.
What was the highlight?
Oh, so many! Our hotel was perfect – we spent WAY too long hunting for a genuinely romantic hotel room, with little success until we stumbled across this one, and it was heavenly.
We took a train to Lake Garda, and journeyed all the way up the lake on the ferry – standing on the top of Castello Scaligero di Malcesine was astonishingly beautiful.
A day visit to Venice meant a late walk through the streets back to the station after dark – it felt a totally different city by night and away from the main tourist streets. Older and harder – amazing.
A tip from a local lead us to a fab little unprepossessing ice cream shop at the foot of the funicular in Verona; straightaway with headed up to the top and watched the sun go down across the city as we ate the amazing gelato.
That was perfect. And actually, the simple joy in long, slow evenings in restaurants together with nowhere else to be, no need for any other company, sharing the best food and wine in the city.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
Yes, but it would be a different visit as they’re less happy with a day spent gently sauntering city streets! Verona has lots to offer, but I’d need a tighter schedule and more planned activities. And there’d be much less Italian Wine!
Adults only holidays Ontario
Erin – Little Miss Kate
Where did you go and for how long?
Couples Resort in Whitney, Ontario.
Was there a special occasion?
Celebrated our five year wedding anniversary!
Why did you choose this destination for a kid-free trip?
We choose Couples Resort as it is a local Ontario Resort that allows only adults, so parents have time to focus on being a couple again. Couples Resort provides a relaxing and romantic atmosphere as all rooms have king size beds, jacuzzi and hot tubs to allow parents to unwind. Couples will enjoy 5 star resort amenities and high end dining during their stay.
What was the highlight?
My favourite part was sitting in the hot tub overlooking the beautiful lake and enjoying the sound of silence as being early spring no one was using the lake yet so it was quiet and beautifully still.
We also enjoyed that Couples Resort is located nearby to Algonquin parks which has over 15 trails to hike, and promotes outdoor adventure through hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. Algonquin is home to many species of wildlife as we were able to see turtles, chipmunks and a deer during our stay.
However if you’re lucky you may see a moose or a bear in their natural habitat.
Would you take the kids to this place if you had a chance to go again? Why?
No kids ALLOWED! Couples only.
Read more about this trip to Couples Resort in Ontario.
Have you left the kids at home and taken an adults only holiday? Or are there any here you’d like to try?
Have you got reason to plan a holiday without the kids? Pin this post about adults only holidays for future reference.
These all sound great – child-free breaks are a brilliant thing fro parents, if you can make it work!
Gretta – Mums do travel recently posted…Highlights of a 3-day trip to Tunisia
Oh lush – we’re currently trying to decide where to spend a few nights child-free in October. Decisions Decisions! This post will help x
Ooohh, can’t wait to hear were you decide to go!
We’re heading on a weekend away together at the beginning of July. Destination still to be decided! Thanks for these suggestions. I think we might be pushing it a little to head to Australia, the US or Oman, much as I’d love to! Paris might be nice, though…..
Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) recently posted…The Pigeons’ travel list. Our favourite travel accessories, cool gadgets, good books and fun games for May 2019
Yep, maybe a bit far for a weekend 🙂 How about Prague, Berlin or Barcelona?
It’s a definite must for all parents to have a break. I find even a few days can make all the difference!
Ah, you trip for your 40th sounds amazing! All of these trips are such an inspiration for me as I really want to do something like this. Just waiting for my youngest to be a tad older!
LOVE all these ideas. I really need a sans-kids break!
if you can do a big trip, good for you. But if you can even do one night away, 36 hours it’s a realy break. When kids hit school age and have sleep-overs or scout camping or school trips it gets easier. it’s also easier to have the GPs stay for a night or two when the kids have a school routine if you want a midweek break (cheaper). My feeling is it doesn’t really matter where you go. It’s just the chance to be on your own!
Yes, we’re big advocates of those short breaks. We do these maybe once or (if we are lucky) twice a year. The cruise will be a very special case in our kid-free travels since becoming parents.