Top 10 family summer holidays

With school holidays fast approaching and desert temperatures rising, now is the time to start planning your much-anticipated family summer getaway. To make it easier, here's a selection of our favourite family-friendly places to stay. So choose from a private villa on an island in the Indian Ocean, or elephant trekking in Thailand, to soaking up some European culture and cuisine, or the jungles of Ecuador.

Family holidays should be as much fun for the parents as they are for the children and these locations have plenty to keep li'l minds and bodies busy and active.

1. Villa living in Mauritius

The tropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is an ideal getaway for families from the UAE to escape the hot summer months, as temperatures on the island fall to a cool 22 degrees between June and September. Set in the unspoilt south of the island in the beautiful Domaine de Bel Ombre, Heritage - The Villas is perfect for active kids, from teenies to teenagers.

The villas are spread out over 200 acres of tropical gardens, overlooking the Heritage Golf Club and turquoise lagoons, and come with private pools, a five-star concierge and butler service, daily cleaning, and an optional chef and babysitter to give mum a proper holiday! The Timomo Kids' Club and Cool Teens' Club can entertain the children all day long, as well as organise exciting activities from quad biking, horse riding and mountain biking in the surrounding Frederica Nature Reserve, to lessons on the championship 18-hole golf course (unlimited free green fees are included in the villa). All the watersports are available too, from kite surfing to catamaran sailing, snorkelling and diving to swimming with dolphins. Kids, and grown-ups, won't have a chance to get bored! Other activities include crab-hunting at sunset on the beach or making Mauritian musical instruments.

This June also marks the first ever Shopping Fiesta in Mauritius, which will run for a month until the end of July, so mothers and daughters can shop 'til they drop in the markets.

In the evenings, families have 11 different dining experiences to choose from, or they can simply relax in the privacy of their own villa with a BBQ prepared by their very own chef.

Book the ‘Your villa, your way' package, which includes the cost of your accommodation at Heritage - The Villas, a daily breakfast in the comfort of your villa, as well as dinners of your choice in the à la carte restaurants of Le Domaine de Bel Ombre, a dinner served in the intimacy of your villa, unlimited free green fees at the Championship Golf Course and complimentary use of your own private golf car on the resort.

Prices start from $727 (Dh2670) for a two-bedroom villa accommodating four people for a night.

Valid from June 1 to September 30, 2012. See www.heritagethevillas.mu.

2. Magical marine life in the Maldives

Located in the Maldives, just a 45-minute seaplane flight from the capital Male, newly opened Niyama is a natural playground for all families, especially those with young children.

Through a dedicated programme of stimulating daily activities, kids are encouraged to discover the island's natural environment, learning about its protection, as well as trying their hand at a host of exciting activities.

Designed for children between the ages of five and 12, the Active Kids Programme offers the perfect combination of education and enjoyment. Activities include a visit to the island's Marine Lab to learn about the underwater flora and fauna and Niyama's conservation project, nature walks, photography and movie-making sessions, water awareness, face painting and a chance to learn more about the country they are visiting.

There is never a dull moment on the sports front with kayaking, sailing and windsurfing lessons (for over-eights), beach football, treasure hunts through the island, traditional Maldivian games and remote-control speed-boat races.

For gadget-obsessed kids there are the latest Wii and Xbox and even multi-sport and golf simulators.

Meanwhile parents can simply sit back and relax in their sumptuous villas, or if feeling restless, there's everything from zumba, kickboxing and sports yoga to botanical tours, as well as endless snorkelling and diving in the crystal-clear waters. And in the evenings, families can come together and enjoy the island's private open-air cinema under the stars.

Beach Studios with pools at Niyama start from $850 (Dh3,122), subject to taxes and charges. See http://niyama.peraquum.com.

3. Turtles and wild elephants in southern Sri Lanka

Opened in late 2010, Maya is a new villa sanctuary set within Sri Lanka's unspoilt countryside, ideal for families of all ages. With just five suites, book Maya exclusively as a home away from home this summer. The villa is a beautifully restored 19th-century Sri Lankan Manor House by internationally acclaimed interior designer and owner of Maya, Niki Fairchild. Captivated by the property and its undisturbed private setting, Niki embarked on a personal quest to rejuvenate and protect the heritage building. The result delivers a new standard of villa accommodation in Sri Lanka set within supremely comfortable surroundings, with contemporary interiors alongside Dutch and British period features.

Maya welcomes children and offers a fantastic choice of activities to keep kids and parents happy. The villa comes equipped with bicycles for rides around the paddy fields and, with no cars on the roads in sleepy Tangalle, kids can explore safely. Kite-flying is very popular in Maya's huge and breezy garden, and children can learn to make their own hand-made kites. The friendly staff are always keen for a game of cricket, or happy to play pétanque (a form of lawn bowling), croquet, badminton, volleyball or football.

The pool is fully equipped with lilos and pool toys, and the house is stocked with board games and DVDs.

There's plenty of wildlife to explore in Maya's gardens, including monkeys, monitor lizards and giant squirrels, peacocks and a huge variety of birds. Trips to Udawala National Park to see the wild elephants and Rekawa to see the turtles are also very popular for family outings, as well as a visit to the Kudawella Blow Hole. Surfing lessons, fishing trips and snorkelling can also be arranged.

Double Rooms start from $190 (Dh697) or $825 (Dh3,030) per night for exclusive use during low season (May, June, October, November). In high season (March, April, July, August, September) double rooms are priced at $280 (Dh1,028) or $990 (Dh3,636) per night for the whole villa. All rates include a full breakfast and all taxes. Maya does not charge for extra beds for children under the age of 12, and driver accommodation and meals are also offered at no extra charge. See www.mayatangallesrilanka.com.

4. Tropical escape to Thailand

The Tamarind is a magnificent family holiday retreat on the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand, just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok's new international airport and two hours from the centre of bustling Bangkok. Nestled within the exclusive gated Buraran community on the foothills of Kao Krating and surrounded by lush gardens filled with mango and tamarind trees, the ultra-private Balinese-style villa boasts magnificent views overlooking the picturesque Bangsaray Village coastline and islands dotting the horizon.

With 12 dedicated, full-time staff, parents can truly relax from the moment they arrive. Enclosed within its own secluded compound and with plenty of spacious accommodation for up to 20 guests, sharing nine beautifully designed bedroom suites, The Tamarind is the perfect solution for families seeking privacy, luxury and highly personalised services, with enough space so kids, parents, and guests can still escape and have some downtime.

For active families, The Tamarind has a floodlit tennis court, huge swimming pool, state-of-the-art gymnasium with yoga and Pilates deck, ping pong and pool tables. With the villa's very friendly and knowledgeable driver on hand, guests can also explore the local area. Secluded and full-activity white-sand beaches, water sports, golf courses, horseback riding, polo, elephant safaris, a tiger zoo, a crocodile park, a water park, go-karting and paint-balling, traditional Thai cultural shows, national parks, botanical gardens, mountain bike trails, eco-tourism areas - you name it! - are all within a short drive. Personalised professional instruction in golf, tennis or swimming and private tour guides are also available at any time on request.

The Tamarind can be booked for 45,000 Thai Baht (Dh 5,270) per day, including daily breakfast, airport transfers, the services of 16 full-time staff members (including drivers), the use of three vehicles, as well as exclusive use of all the available facilities. For details see www.thetamarindthailand.com.  

5. British beach break in Devon

With the London Olympics coming up, all eyes are on England this summer. For a quintessentially English family getaway, check out the beautiful south coast of Devon.

South Sands is a 22-room boutique hotel in Salcombe and makes the perfect family beach retreat. Designed using natural materials such as driftwood, stone and glass, and locally crafted furniture, this coastal-chic hotel has a breathtaking location and its Beach Suites are perfectly equipped for families. Each sleeps up to six people and has huge private entertaining and dining areas and plenty of space for children to run around freely, all with panoramic views across the sea. South Sands will happily stock the suites in advance of your arrival with all your family's favourites. Or you can book a table at the beachside restaurant, serving delicious fresh seafood dishes.

South Sands is perfect for walkers - the hotel is close to Bolt Head Coastal Walking Paths, which offer scenic coastal routes. The hotel also offers an exciting range of water sports activities. Beach Suites start from £375 (Dh2,208) per night, inclusive of full English breakfast. See www.southsands.com.

6. Island hopping around Croatia

Sailing around the almost 1,300 islands of Croatia makes a wonderful family adventure, discovering empty bays, exploring ancient cities and eating delicious fresh fish at quaint seaside cafés. Dalmatian Destinations specialises in highly personalised sailing itineraries, from chartering a yacht, motorboat or traditional gulet, to VIP access to the best restaurants and beach clubs on the islands.

For the ultimate sailing holiday, charter hotelier and designer Anouska Hempel's boat Beluga, a beautifully designed Turkish gulet. Her crew includes a chef from London's Blakes Hotel and a steward to provide guests with immaculate service. Beluga accommodates seven guests and is available to charter from €35,000 (Dh164,500) per week on a full-board basis, exclusively through Dalmatian Destinations. For more details see the website: www.dalmatiandestinations.com.   

7. Great migration in the Maasai Mara

Taking your children on safari, be they tots or teens, will be the adventure of a lifetime for the whole family. Experience the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Maasai Mara - a truly unforgettable Lion King moment when you can see millions of animals crossing over from the Serengeti from June to September.

The Safari Collection, a stunning range of luxury lodges totally geared up for families, offers young travellers many exciting activities to choose from, including archery with the local Maasai, casting animal tracks in plaster, bug-collecting, and star-gazing while roasting marshmallows on the camp fire. Enjoy breakfast with giraffes at Nairobi's Giraffe Manor and see the big cats from Sala's Camp in the Maasai Mara. Get up close to Solio Lodge's East African rhinoceros and experience the Samburu's Special Five, including the Somali Ostrich and Grevy's Zebra at SaSaab. Owned by the Carr-Hartley family, who have young children of their own, families are welcome at each lodge.

The five-night ‘safari teaser' costs $3,520 (Dh12,929) per person per night including full-board accommodation, game drives, return transfers to and from the airstrip and all taxes (excludes park and conservation fees). Visit: www.thesafaricollection.com.  

8. Adventure in the French Alps

Located in the heart of Megève, Les Fermes de Marie is a collection of traditional farmhouses and chalets converted into a 70-room hotel, with accommodation across nine interlinked chalets. The hotel offers something unique for families with the opening of Le Hameau des Enfants, where rules are determined by the children! Complete with a kids' concierge and an activity coordinator, this magical children's house offers a range of activities to keep even the most energetic entertained all day. A dedicated chef serves nutritious meals. Outside the hamlet, families can enjoy mountain walks and a range of sports or spa treatments; or for golf enthusiasts, the nearby 18-hole Mont d'Arbois Golf Course is open from May to October.

Classic rooms start from €200 (Dh939) per night. For details see www.fermesdemarie.com.  

9. Jungle exploration in Ecuador

Discover wildlife in the tree tops, trek along nature trails and listen to animal calls at Mashpi Lodge, a pioneering new eco-lodge in the heart of the Ecuadorian Rainforest. Located in the middle of a 3,000-acre nature reserve that is teeming with monkeys, snakes, peccaries, even the odd puma, butterflies and over 500 different species of exotic bird, the Lodge boasts breathtaking views of the forest as well as high standards of comfort and service. Also experience Latin America's first hydro-electric-powered aerial tram, which whizzes through two kilometres of jungle canopy. There's even a spa offering massages using natural forest ingredients.

Mashpi Lodge offers two-night programmes from $1,296 (Dh4,760) per person. See www.mashpilodge.com.

10. Castaway in the Caribbean

A fashionable and family-friendly hideaway, Parrot Cay is full of pristine white-sand beaches and unspoilt reefs, and forms part of the stunning Turks and Caicos islands in the north of the Caribbean. As well as being wonderfully relaxing, the private island resort offers mountain biking, kite-surfing, and mangrove paddle-boarding, as well as a huge range of activities for families of all ages. Children can enjoy the fishing excursions and all the watersports on offer, as well as kite-making, cookery classes, tie-dying and jewellery-making with shells and fossilised shark teeth.

Mothers can check into the award-winning Como Shambhala Spa for holistic treatments and complimentary yoga classes, or enjoy some celebrity-spotting by the pool - both Bruce Willis and Donatella Versace have villas on the island! The colonial-style beach villas and houses located right on the beach are perfect for families, boasting huge living rooms and spacious dining areas, heated swimming pools and outside dining pavilions. There is also the added support of a private butler service. Como's family package includes luxury accommodation, airport transfers, daily breakfast, lunch and three-course dinner, daily afternoon tea, butler service, and a complimentary schedule of activities (yoga, Pilates and non-motorised water sports, among others).

Parrot Cay family package prices start at $2,314 (Dh8,499) for three nights (excluding tax and service charge). See www.parrotcay.como.bz.