Ideas for a big holiday with a 4-year-old

[GinnyBee]

We have a few big celebrations coming up in 2026 so are thinking about doing a big holiday to celebrate all occasions in one. It will be my 40th, our 10th wedding anniversary and the year our son starts school so last opportunity to go away outside of school holidays.

We have three years to save for it, but even with that much time we can’t go super duper luxury. Not keen on Disney crowds, but up for all inclusive. With kids club ideally. Can consider long haul. The actual anniversaries are in August and September, but the holiday can be anytime before schools start in September, so probably looking at spring before summer holidays start.

Skiing? Beach resort? Cruise? All ideas welcome! And recommendations for travel agents would be great too! We’ve used Audley before for our honeymoon but I’m not sure if they do young families.

Disney is the obvious one, but I took my DS when he was about 6 and he hardly remembers it now he’s in his 20’s. Choose something you want.

An Ikos resort if you want beach / all inclusive?

I have a 4 year old and am eyeing up Bilund - Legoland, Lego house and the WOW park which I think my son would actually like more than Disney.

The other thing I would consider is a cruise - would give you kids clubs, kid suitable stuff like swimming but also feel a bit special

Definitely a cruise. Some cruise lines make life so easy for families with small children - round the clock childcare, children's dining times, family excursions etc…. And you get to see a lot of places without having to pack up each time.

I’ve never been but I’d love to try a Neilson holiday in Sardinia or Greece: https://www.neilson.co.uk/beach/sardinia/baia-dei-mori-beachclub

Thanks everyone so far! Will look into Legoland definitely. Cruise sounds tempting too, I remember loving cruises myself as a kid. Neilson is a good call too, for some reason I thought they only do ski holidays, but as that's also on the list of options will keep them in mind!

I’m like a broken record on this forum but Thailand is fantastic for young children, and a lovely destination. Depending when you want to go different parts have the best weather. We’ve taken DS twice, once at 18m and once at 5yo.

With a 4 year old I would look at what you like with something for him. If you don't want to do Disney/Universal I wouldn't do it and maybe start saving again for another trip.

We didn't do long haul until DD was nearly 8 as I suffer badly from jet-lag for at least 2-3 days and didn't want to deal with a younger child when tired, grumpy and often down with dizzyness thanks to low blood pressure if we are going to a different climate.

I would look for a really good resort with things to do, kids club, serviced villa/appartment instead of rooms.

If your child can travel well, a road trip with 3-4 larger stops in a country you like.

Cruise - I think that depends on your personal view on them. For me they aren't a holiday, I don't like the concept but luckily for me, with 2 out of 3 in our family getting sea sick they aren't an option anyway.

What about a Disney cruise? You get some Disney and some fun cruise stuff.

Disclaimer I’ve never been on one, so it’s a suggestion not a recommendation!

I would go to South Africa. It's long haul, but no meaningful time difference so you recover quickly. Incredibly beautiful, very child friendly etc.

The only thing is if you want all inclusive etc, it's not really set up for that except in the most luxurious and OTT resorts that are crazy expensive.

But depending on how long you had, I'd go for at least 10 days and if you went around April, the weather is still great (just avoid the easter holidays as flight prices will go through the roof). March will be cheaper and even more lovely weather.

I'd focus on Cape Town and surrounding areas. You could do some city beach time, some family time on one of the lovely wine farms (which are often exceptionally kiddy friendly - great holiday clubs, facilities that are for children etc) and if you really want to, could also do a bit of a safari - there are a few places closer to Cape Town or you can do an internal flight.

Another vote for a cruise - Disney cruise line was amazing when mine were that age, but all the lines offer good children's activities now - depending on your dc's personality they may prefer a trip with lots of kids on board or one with fewer.

I was looking at Finnish Lapland until very recently. Obviously it’s great for young believers, but I was mainly looking at Husky’s and sledging, reindeers, tobogganing, northern lights.
canterbury travel are highly recommended. Levi looked ideal to me.

The Heritage Awali in Mauritius is great. We had an amazing family holiday there when my youngest was five.

The best bit was the kids club which was just a drop in you didn’t need to book (unless you wanted them to eat there, and even then you could book that day). They have a list of activities published each day and we’d just take the kids to the ones they wanted to go to. Activities run into the evenings too, including late night movie nights so you can eat in the adults only restaurant.

It made things so easy as it wasn’t like a kids club you feel like you are forcing them into. They did things like glass bottom boat trips, crab racing, henna, treasure hunts, Olympics etc.

Food was excellent with lots of dining choices (it’s AI), accommodation great, wonderful spa, fabulous beach.

@Kapalika I'm actually Finnish haha! Will definitely go one day, I love Lapland! We're going to northern Finland next week to visit my mum, but it's not quite north enough to be in Lapland, although not by much.

@DibbleDooDah that sounds amazing! Will check it out!

Thanks also @GingerIsBest safari holiday is definitely on our list to do one day, but we will probably wait until he is a bit older.

Disney cruise is a great idea! Will look into it. Thanks @Lizzieregina and @gotomomo

I wouldn’t take a 4yr old skiing unless you’re really keen ski types and want to do it every year as a family. You’ll spend half your time in different ski school lessons and they might hate it. It’s also really hard work as a beginner.
id go independent travelling somewhere (but then the idea of a cruises fills me with fear!)

Disney cruise

Hi OP - what did you decide to do?? Thinking up trips for us this year and would love to know what you ended up doing?

Following as same!!

The Disney parks would be a bit of a nightmare with a little one the age yours will be, but a cruise might be fun. They can enjoy the shows and character without the queues and general overstimulation. I think that’s what I’d do.

Haven’t decided anything yet! It’s not for another year, and I truly have no idea. I’m sure tempted to go to some far away paradise on AI and kids clubs but unsure if I want to do a long haul flight just yet. Cruise seems like it would be really fun for LO but I’m personally not so keen.

I would do Disney as separate to The Big One.

I'd just go to Disneyland Paris, no it's not as good as America but a 4 year old doesn't know that and it is just as magical for them. We went in February half term when DD was little and just took ski wear but it wasn't even that cold but was a bit drizzly. Rides we could walk on and off in the morning and the longest we waited was 45 mins but we ate our lunch in the queue, all character meals so didn't have to wait in line for photos around the park either. February is perfect for little ones as the day is shorter so the fireworks etc are earlier

I sense you're not keen on Disney but we did Disneyland when DS was 4.5 as part of a bigger California road trip and he loved it. So much so we went back this year when he was 6.5. We only covered LA, Disney and Palm Springs (because we have friends in LA and PS and have done multiple California road trips before DS was born). But you could definitely do more - San Diego is kid friendly and there are other nice stops up the coast. The thing I like about Disneyland is there are only two parks so we stayed 3 nights and did a park per day so the focus of the trip wasn't Disney, but it was a good add on.

My dream has been to do Japan with our DC - there is so much to do that kids would love! But I am also worried that a 4.5 year old just wouldn’t be able to cope.

friends have recommend the Maldives as an AI option

For my 40th I stayed in LA and went to Disney there for a few days and then went to a cruise to the Pacific side of Mexico. It was a great holiday. Another year we went on a Disney cruise around the Med and that was one of favourite family trips.
We also enjoyed all inclusive holidays in St Lucia and a twin center holiday in Cuba when the DC were between 5 and 8.
I just pick where I want to go and then google stuff for the DC to do.