Amanda PhillipsTeenagers are the hardest family member to please. This is especially true when it comes to organising a holiday – pick the right one and you’ll have a great time; pick the wrong one and, well, you’ll probably get told straight up it the was the wrong choice…
Thankfully there are lot of destinations, resorts and cruises that cater to the teenage demographic. Whether you have a 13-18 year old who craves adventure and theme parks, or one that wants to be left alone to chill, there is a holiday out there for them. Have a look at the following options for some inspiration.
Beaches Resorts
While the Caribbean as a whole conjures up mental images of honeymoons and couples retreats, Beaches Resorts brings family-friendly holidays to this sunny climate. There’s three resorts (two on Jamaica and one on Turks and Caicos) and on-site activities and features include a waterpark, scuba diving, championship golf, Scratch DJ Academy, Xbox Play Lounge, the teen-only Club Liquid, and a plethora of land based sports including volleyball, pool tables, and tennis. Perfect if you have two teenagers with conflicting interests!
Orlando
Did we need to tell you that Orlando is great for children of all ages? The choices are virtually limitless, with iconic theme parks, first-class shopping, great beaches less than an hour’s drive away, and night-time entertainment – there’s plenty to keep teenagers from boredom.
Royal Caribbean Cruise
Long gone are the days when cruises were for your grandparents. Royal Caribbean are leading the way in proving that cruising can be for all the family with on-board activities including surf-simulators, climbing walls, basketball, mini-golf, Scratch DJ Academy, and a dedicated teen venue with a nightly teen disco.
MSC Cruise
If your teenager prefers to keep it low-key and wouldn’t get on a surf machine even if it would save their life, try MSC Cruises as a calmer but teen-friendly alternative. The on-board spa has its own dedicated teen menu and parents can top up a spare band with spending money – so their teenager can do their own thing, but still within a budget set by their parents.
Hard Rock Hotels
Hard Rock Hotels boast excellent facilities for children and teenagers, and with locations all over the globe your destination won’t be limited to your teenager’s temperament. Amenities differ from resort to resort but examples of what you can expect are mini-golf, several pools, climbing wall and private beaches.
New York City
If your teen isn’t warming to the idea of a beach holiday or cruise – maybe they would like a city break? And there’s no better city break experience than New York City. Rent a cool Brooklyn apartment, then spend your days shopping at trendy outlets, seeing some of the world’s most famous landmarks and taking the best holiday selfies for the family album.
Safari
A safari is a great choice for adventurous families. There’s definitely no chance of boredom and for image conscious teenagers, there’s no doubting they’ll have the best holiday stories out of their friends.
PortAventura and FerrariLand
For teenagers who love a theme park thrill, treat them to a holiday at Europe’s newest park: FerrariLand. Built within the PortAventura World Resort, rides include the Thrill Towers, where one free falls and the other bounces back! Younger siblings will also love the main PortAventura Park and its Sesame Street characters, while all the family will love the Caribe Aquatic Park. It’s also within easy distance of Barcelona!
French Alps
The French Alps is not the only ski destination in Europe, but the alpine resorts found here offer amazing facilities for all the family. And during the summer months they turn into a different kind of adventure playground including mountain biking, bungee jumping and canoeing.
Dubai Parks and Resorts
With four theme parks and one waterpark, Dubai Parks and Resorts offers something for all the family. Teenagers especially will love MOTIONGATE™ Dubai and the rides based on films such as Zombieland, The Hunger Games and Ghostbusters.