Top 5 Family Destinations for 2025: What to Expect and How to Plan

As we look ahead to 2025, the travel industry is gearing up for a boom in family tourism, particularly multi-generational trips. Yes, again. In 2024, around 35% of families have a trip planned with multiple generations (children, parents, grandparents). In 2025, that number is expected to be 55%. Based on industry news, trends and my experience planning trips for my clients, I listed below the top 5 destinations I expect to see the highest influx of family visitors. Keep reading for some essential information that will help you plan your perfect family getaway.

The Top 5 Family Destinations for 2025

1. Orlando, Florida, USA
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Bali, Indonesia
4. Costa Rica
5. Rome, Italy

Now, let's dive into what you can expect when planning a trip to these destinations in 2025, with a focus on multi-generational family travel.

1. Orlando, Florida, USA

Best time to visit: January-April (except Spring Break), October-November (except Thanksgiving week) Book in advance: 8-10 months Estimated cost for a family of 4 (1 week): $5,000 - $8,000 Busiest months: June-August, December Slowest months: September, January (except New Year's week)

Orlando continues to reign as the ultimate family destination, with its world-famous theme parks and attractions constantly evolving. I live in Orlando, as many of you know, that’s where our travel agency is located. Most of my tips below come from personal experience (like near-death experience trying to power through the July heat waves in the parks).

My 2025 Highlight:

A whole new Theme Park coming up, the Universal Epic Universe

Top tips:

• Consider staying at on-site hotels for early park access and transportation benefits. Don’t get me wrong, vacation homes may be the perfect choice for some families. But they have not been the no-brainer cheapest choice for everyone for a long time now.
• Look into multi-day, multi-park passes for better value. The total price might be higher but the per day price decreases considerably and you don’t have to tackle every attraction in one day like a maniac. Let’s be mindful of the young and elderly family members.?
• Plan "rest days" between park visits to avoid exhaustion, especially for grandparents and young children. I’d go even further and say plan “rest hours” in the middle of your day.

Cruise option: Combine your Orlando trip with a 3-4 day Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral for a land-and-sea adventure. You will most likely finish your visit to Orlando physically exhausted and nothing like sailing the Bahamas to rest your body after cheering your soul.

2. Tokyo, Japan

Best time to visit: March-May (Cherry Blossom Season), September-November Book in advance: 6-8 months Estimated cost for a family of 4 (1 week): $7,000 - $10,000 Busiest months: March-April, August, December-January Slowest months: June (rainy season), January-February (except New Year's week)

Tokyo's unique blend of traditional culture and cutting-edge technology makes it an exciting destination for families of all ages. I visited Tokyo in 2017 and it was one of the most eye-opening travel experiences I’ve had. Learning about Japanese culture goes way beyond what we know about their cuisine and traditions. Watching Tokyo slowly wake up, burst into action and light up at night is really an experience that I recommend to everyone.

My 2025 Highlight:

More family-friendly ryokan experiences (yes! Japanese hospitality at its best).

Top tips:

• Invest in a Japan Rail Pass for cost-effective travel around the city and country. Especially because you will most likely get lost once, twice or ten times and will need those extra tickets.
• Visit during school festivals (usually in November) for a unique cultural experience. This is officially on my bucket list.
• Book a private guide for a day to help navigate the city and cultural nuances. Local guides are one of the most significant recent travel trends for a reason. They bring a unique perspective on the place you are visiting and bring meaning to things and places that wouldn’t otherwise have paid much attention to.

Excursion idea: Take a day trip to nearby Hakone for hot springs, scenic views of Mount Fuji, and a ride on the Hakone Ropeway.

3. Bali, Indonesia

Best time to visit: April-June, September-October Book in advance: 4-6 months Estimated cost for a family of 4 (1 week): $4,000 - $7,000 Busiest months: July-August, December-January Slowest months: January-March (rainy season), November

Bali's beautiful beaches, rich culture, and warm hospitality make it an ideal destination for multi-generational family trips. Depending on where you come from, though, flights can be easily over 20 or 30 hours. So, plan for a longer stay or combine Bali with another Asian destination. A travel agent can help you and make the journey smoother by combining different transfers, hotels and excursions at multiple locations that will fit your family’s needs.?

My 2025 Highlight:

Increased number of villa accommodations suitable for large families. Even though Bali is still a romantic destination, demand for larger villas has been increasing.

Top tips:

• Rent a private villa with a pool and chef for a comfortable family stay. We have so many luxury villas that offer amazing housekeeping and cooking services that make the Bali experience even more special.
• Participate in a family cooking class to learn about Balinese cuisine. I cannot say how happy clients usually are about these experiential culinary experiences.
• Visit water temples early in the morning to avoid crowds and heat. Usually, families with kids wake up early anyways. Take advantage of that.

Cruise option: Consider a 7-10 day Southeast Asia cruise that includes Bali as a port of call, allowing you to explore multiple destinations. Luxury cruise lines will offer airfare credit and pre/post cruise stays from time to time.?

4. Costa Rica

Best time to visit: December-April (dry season) Book in advance: 5-7 months Estimated cost for a family of 4 (1 week): $5,000 - $8,000 Busiest months: December-March, July Slowest months: May, October (rainiest months)

Costa Rica's diverse ecosystems and focus on sustainable tourism make it perfect for nature-loving families.

My 2025 Highlight:

Improved accessibility to national parks for older travelers. I am originally from Brazil and as a travel enthusiast, I am truly happy to see countries like Costa Rica recognizing this need and investing in becoming accessible to all.

Top tips:

• Stay in eco-lodges that offer on-site nature activities and guides. Sustainable travel is an important trend and these eco-lodges bring a bonus of connecting kids with nature through fun activities.
• Book a private transfer between destinations for comfort and flexibility. Even though attractions are generally close to each other, traffic can become an issue in Costa Rica.
• Look for hotels that offer kids' clubs with educational activities about local flora and fauna. Extra tip: planning your trip with us means that we’ll do the research for you so you don’t have to worry about that, just go and have fun.

Excursion idea: Take a guided night walk in the cloud forest to see nocturnal animals and learn about the ecosystem. Just keep in mind that not all age groups might like this activity.

5. Rome, Italy

Best time to visit: April-May, September-October Book in advance: 7-9 months Estimated cost for a family of 4 (1 week): $6,000 - $9,000 Busiest months: June-August, December Slowest months: November, January-February (except Valentine's Day)

The Eternal City continues to captivate families with its rich history, art, and cuisine. In 2023, Rome had approximately 15.2 million visitors. It is expected to have 16.5 million visitors in 2024 (8.5% increase from 2023) and 18 million in 2025 (9% increase from 2024). And I can absolutely see why Rome is this popular and continue to encourage clients to visit and bring their kids too.

Note: These figures are estimates based on pre-pandemic trends and projected recovery rates. Actual numbers may vary.

My 2025 Highlight:

Since Rome is Rome, super popular and top on the list of many families, I chose two relevant factors to highlight for anyone planning to visit Rome in 2025. First is the increased number of skip-the-line and early access options for popular attractions. Anything that can save you time and keep you and your family minimally off of the crowds is worth the money in Rome. Secondly, I will definitely highlight the family-friendly food tours and cooking classes. Experiencing Italian food with your family, I don’t think it can get any better.

Top tips:

• Book apartments or connecting hotel rooms for more space and comfort. Hotel rooms in popular European cities can be very small and will often fit only 2 people.
• Use Roma Pass for public transportation and museum entries. I can understand travelers that don’t really want to brave through the touristic attractions for their whole time in Rome, but the pass will give you peace of mind and almost certainly save you money. Then, you can add your private experiences individually. Or your travel agent will put these together for you and create an amazing experience.
• Schedule relaxation time in parks or piazzas between sightseeing activities. The most special moments of your trip might come from sitting down and watching this beautiful city. Extra tip: the price of food and beverage is usually higher if you sit down at an Italian restaurant. So, that relaxation time at the park just became more interesting.

Cruise option: Combine your Rome trip with a Mediterranean cruise departing from Civitavecchia port for a comprehensive European family adventure. My personal preference is to begin with Rome and finish with the Med Cruise. Go back home planning your return to Italy.

When deciding on the best time for your family to travel, consider the trade-offs between peak and off-peak seasons. While busy months often offer the best weather and full range of activities, they also come with larger crowds and higher prices. Slower months can provide a more relaxed experience and better deals, but may have some weather-related challenges or limited seasonal activities.

Your ideal travel time will depend on your family's specific needs, preferences, and constraints. Factors to consider include:

1. School schedules and work commitments
2. Budget considerations
3. Tolerance for crowds and wait times
4. Desired activities and events
5. Weather preferences
6. Special needs or mobility issues of family members

As your travel advisor, I can help you weigh these factors and find the perfect balance for your family trip, whether you're traveling as a family of two, four or with multiple generations. I can also assist in scaling the trip for larger groups, helping you find accommodations and activities that cater to extended families.

Regardless of where you are at in the process - ready to decide or just browsing - I would love to help you create lasting memories for your entire family!

Our email is contact@ezfamilytrips.com or feel free to message me!

Let's Travel!