How to Plan a Honeymoon That Includes Children – The Ultimate Familymoon Guide

What Is a Familymoon?

A familymoon is a honeymoon that includes your children.  It’s that simple.

For many couples, especially those who already have children together or from previous relationships, a traditional honeymoon doesn’t reflect real life. Instead of travelling as a couple, you’re beginning married life as a family.

A familymoon is a way to celebrate that.

It’s not just a family holiday, and it’s not just a honeymoon. It sits somewhere in between - a trip that marks a significant moment, while including the people who matter most.

Done well, a familymoon feels:

• meaningful
• relaxed
• well thought through
• and genuinely special for everyone

But it does require a different approach to planning.

Why a Familymoon Is About More Than Just the Destination

Most people start by searching:

• “best honeymoon destinations with kids”
• “family-friendly honeymoon resorts”
• “where to go on honeymoon with children”

And while destination matters, it’s not the starting point.

A familymoon is about:

• celebrating your relationship
• creating shared memories as a family
• and designing a trip that feels different from an ordinary holiday

That might mean:

• choosing somewhere different that will be easily remembered in years to come
• choosing somewhere that feels special rather than just practical
• or building in moments that feel like a proper celebration

The destination supports that - but it doesn’t define it.

How Do You Plan a Honeymoon with Children?

Planning a honeymoon with children starts with a different question:

What do we want this trip to feel like?

Before looking at resorts or itineraries, it’s worth thinking about:

• Do you want total relaxation?
• A mix of experiences and downtime?
• Something adventurous and memorable?
• Or something simple and easy where everything just works?

Once that’s clear, everything else becomes easier.

Choosing the Right Destination for a Familymoon

Not every destination works well for a honeymoon with children.

The best familymoon destinations combine:

• ease of travel
• high-quality accommodation
• safe, family-friendly environments
• and a sense of occasion

Indian Ocean Familymoons

The Indian Ocean is one of the most popular choices for familymoons from the UK.

• Maldives – ideal for relaxation, with calm lagoons and villa-style accommodation
• Mauritius – a balance of beaches, culture and activities
• Seychelles – quieter, more nature-led and suited to older children

These destinations work particularly well for families who want to relax without compromising on quality or experience.

👉 Which Indian Ocean Island is Best for Families?

👉 Explore our family holidays to the Indian Ocean

Asia Familymoons

Asia offers more variety and is ideal for families looking for something more immersive.

• Thailand – accessible, flexible and family-friendly
• Malaysia – combines cities, rainforest and beaches
• Japan – unique, structured and ideal for multi-centre itineraries

These trips often involve more moving parts, but when planned well, they create unforgettable experiences.

👉 You can read more about what it’s actually like to travel in Japan as a family in our guide to travelling in Japan with children

👉 Explore our family holidays to Asia

Familymoons in Europe

For families looking for something closer to home, Europe can be a strong option for a familymoon - particularly with younger children or shorter timeframes.

Destinations such as:

• The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca)
• The Greek Islands (Crete, Corfu, Rhodes)
• Southern Italy and Sardinia

offer a combination of:

• shorter flight times from the UK
• high-quality family-friendly resorts
• warm weather in the summer months

These work well if you’re looking for something easy, relaxed and well set up for families.

But there are also some less obvious options that can work beautifully for a familymoon.

Austria, for example, is often overlooked in summer but offers exceptional family-friendly hotels, stunning alpine scenery and a completely different pace. Think lakes, cable cars, mountain biking, toboganning and luxury hotels that have climbing walls, VR rooms and family friendly spas.

Croatia is another strong alternative, particularly for families who want a mix of coastline, culture and exploration. With clear waters, historic towns and a variety of accommodation styles, it can feel more varied than a traditional beach resort holiday.

While Europe may not always have the same “once-in-a-lifetime” feel as long-haul destinations, it can still provide a relaxed, well-designed trip that allows you to celebrate this moment together.

For many families, it’s also a more manageable way to travel - especially with younger children - without losing that sense of it being something special.

Familymoons in the USA (Including Disney)

For something more experience-led, the USA offers a very different type of familymoon.

One of the most popular options is combining:

• Orlando (including Disney and theme parks)
• with a beach stay in Florida or California

This creates a balance between:

• excitement and shared experiences
• and time to relax afterwards

A Disney trip in particular can feel incredibly special for children - and for many families, it becomes one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” memories.

However, it’s important to get the balance right.

Without careful planning, these trips can become:

• overly busy
• exhausting
• and less relaxing than expected

The key is structuring the trip properly:

• allowing downtime
• choosing the right accommodation
• and not trying to do everything at once

When done well, a USA familymoon can be both memorable and manageable.

👉 Explore our family holidays to the USA

Choosing the Right Resort (The Most Important Decision)

This is where most familymoons are won or lost.

Many resorts describe themselves as “family-friendly”, but that can mean very different things in reality.

When planning a familymoon, the details matter:

• Room configuration – will you have enough space?
• Safety – particularly around water or balconies
• Dining options – flexibility for children
• Activities – enough to keep children engaged without overwhelming the trip
• Layout – how easy is it to move around the resort?
• Feel of the property – do you want something more “adult” where children are welcome, or do you want a full out family property complete with waterparks and entertainment?

Recently, I worked with a couple planning a familymoon to the Maldives. They had spent weeks researching resorts but in the end all the resorts started to blur, they were overwhelmed by the choices out there, and they couldn’t work how they could get everything they wanted within the budget.

We narrowed it down quickly and found them a resort in the Maldives, with an overwater villa big enough for their family of 5, with safety balconies outside, a playstation inside and enough activities to entertain 3 active boys as well a choice of restaurants and transfers that worked with the international flights. Everything they wanted, and within budget.

That’s often the difference. Not more choice - just the right choice.

Balancing Couple Time and Family Time

One of the biggest concerns with a familymoon is whether it will still feel like a honeymoon.

It can - but only if it’s designed that way.

This might include:

• choosing a resort with a high-quality kids’ club
• planning occasional childcare or babysitting
• building in moments that are just for you

At the same time, some of the most memorable parts of a familymoon are shared:

• watching the sunset together
• exploring somewhere new
• experiencing something for the first time as a family

It’s not about separating the two - it’s about finding the right balance.

Keeping the Pace Right

One of the most common mistakes when planning a honeymoon with children is trying to do too much.

Familymoons work best when they are:

• well-paced
• easy to navigate
• and not overly structured

That doesn’t mean doing less - it means choosing the right experiences.

Travel Logistics Matter More Than You Think

Long travel days, difficult transfers or poorly timed flights can quickly impact how a trip feels.

When planning a familymoon, it’s worth considering:

• direct flights from the UK where possible
• shorter transfer times
• arrival times that work for your children

These details don’t always show up in brochures, or online, but they make a significant difference to the overall experience.

When to Book a Familymoon

Most familymoon holidays are best booked 6–12 months in advance, particularly for:

• peak travel periods
• school holidays
• popular family-friendly resorts

Booking early gives you:

• better choice
• better room options
• and more flexibility in planning

Final Thoughts – Making It Feel Special

A familymoon marks the start of a new chapter.

It’s not just about where you go, but how the trip feels:

• considered
• easy
• and meaningful

Done well, it doesn’t feel like a compromise between a honeymoon and a family holiday.

It feels like something better - a trip that reflects your life now, and creates memories you’ll carry forward together.

Planning a Familymoon from the UK

If you’re starting to think about a honeymoon that includes children, the most helpful place to begin is often with a conversation.

👉 Explore our Familymoon Holidays
or get in touch for personalised recommendations.

Common Questions About Familymoons