If you want to whisk the family away from it all – avoiding the heaving airport terminals and packed out beaches, and leaving behind the gridlocked motorways and crowded cities – then a boating holiday is the way to go. From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, we’ve got the best family boating holidays covered here…
Santa Eulalia – Ibiza
If you’re a seasoned sailor, and want to take your family on the boating holiday of a lifetime, then a trip to Santa Eulalia in Ibiza is a must. While Ibiza Town is where the main A-list celebrity super yachts are moored, and San Antonio is a party town where charter boats and smaller vessels dock, Santa Eulalia is a quieter town to the east where you find a more family-friendly mix of locals and tourists in both brand new and used yachts of all sizes and descriptions.
With a whopping 755 berths for boats of between six and 22 metres, the marina at Santa Eulalia is large and has plenty of facilities, including a popular shopping area, which features a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops and other essential amenities.
Cote d’Azur – France
If you’re looking to get the whole family involved, then the Cote d’Azur, off the southern coast of France is the perfect destination.
Yachting off the south of France is no longer the sole preserve of the rich and famous, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take in some of the most prestigious coastal resorts along the way. In just over a week, you can comfortably sail between Nice and Marseille, while taking in exclusive hot spots such as Cannes and Saint-Tropez along the way.
Orkney and Shetland – Scotland
A little closer to home, and a little colder – but no less picturesque – are the islands of Orkney and Shetland off the northern tip of Scotland. Sail out from Inverness and into one of the UK’s truly unspoilt sailing destinations around the Moray Firth, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland.
Alternatively, you can try some of the world’s most diverse sailing waters off the west coast of Scotland, which vary from the relatively sheltered routes around the Inner Hebrides and Oban, to the more challenging waters of the Outer Hebrides and St Kilda.
And a visit to the remote island of Eigg is a must – this completely self-sustainable island is home to around 100 locals and even has its own microbrewery, the Laig Bay Brewery, which specialises in US-style IPAs and Pale Ales, in seasonal saisons and European-style beers.
Norfolk Broads – England
If it’s a tranquil and quintessentially English boating holiday you’re after, a trip to the Norfolk Broads is ideal – miles of connecting waterways meander through beautiful countryside, home to some of Britain’s rarest plants and wildlife and flanked by picturesque villages, pubs and restaurants.
And because there are no locks, you’ll have no trouble sailing along the length and breadth of the Norfolk Broads, even if you are a novice behind the tiller.
