Oliver James, one of Britain’s leading experts on child psychology, has really understood the effect that travel has on children, and why it is so important to their development. Adults have long regarded holidays as not only a way to relax and get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life, but as a way to learn, build bonds and create life-long memories. Children are no different in this respect, but what stimulates them is distinctive from their parents.
“The first and simplest mistake that an awful lot of parents make is confusing what they find exciting about a holiday with what their children will,” says James. “So many of the ‘interesting’ things about a new place are deathly boring to the vast majority of children—high culture, for example, in almost all forms. So, your child, if at all typical, will grumble at the ghastly business of being dragged round.”
We all remember being dragged kicking and screaming around museums, country houses and places of culture as children, but finding pleasure in the smallest of things around the edges, from Coca Cola coming in a glass bottle on the Continent, to the differing names of chocolate bars. The little things that were interesting to us in our own lives at that moment.
It’s also about spending time with parents and reconnecting, playing, learning, discovering and bonding. This isn’t about packed itineraries and trying to keep them occupied every moment of the day. Instead, the focus of family trips should be on exploration—wandering the streets and discovering things together, from a new-fangled ice cream flavour to a pair of colourful trainers.
So, how do you persuade parents to put children first? In our experience, it’s all about the destination. Find them a city that is equal parts enigmatic, exciting and different—one that both parents and children can explore together for the first time, rather than reliving past memories. Provide a couple of ‘life experiences’ that offer a loose structure to the trip and choose a hotel that is as memorable as it is beautiful, with staff that will enable children to relax into their environment and allow them to laugh, run and play. Faced with such an engaging family experience, they’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.
Along the Mediterranean, food is intrinsic to daily life. Mornings begin with fishermen hauling in their catch, while market stalls brim with sun-ripened produce. Meals unfold slowly, often outdoors, with dishes meant to be shared. No rush, no excess - just ingredients at their peak, prepared simply and enjoyed in good company.
Verdura Resort is home to two of Europe’s finest championship links courses, where rolling fairways and manicured greens stretch to the rugged shores of southern Sicily. Designed by acclaimed golf architect Kyle Phillips, these courses embrace the island’s dramatic beauty, offering sweeping Mediterranean views and an exhilarating golfing experience. Now, with an ambitious investment programme enhancing every element of play, the resort welcomes a new season of golf.
In 1925, a world still shell-shocked from the ravages of World War I found renewal in a burgeoning artistic movement: Art Deco. It reflected motion, progress, the future. Immediately embraced by famed Belgian architect Victor Horta, he laid the foundations for Art Deco in Brussels with his plans for the Centre of Fine Arts (Bozar). This marked the inception of a radically modern approach to architecture and art in the city. Now, as Brussels marks a century of Art Deco style, it’s the perfect time to explore this distinctly walkable city with your own budding artists.
