Travelling with children: a halal family trip that actually works

A family trip fails in predictable ways: dinner at ten at night, a four-hour transfer with nothing to do, and a hotel that puts you in two rooms on different floors. All three are avoidable, and all three are things we plan around rather than apologise for.

Which routes suit which ages

Turkey and the UAE suit younger children best: short transfers, plenty of food they will actually eat, and hotels with pools. Morocco is wonderful from about eight upwards and harder with a toddler, because the medina is not buggy-friendly.

Bosnia is the surprise hit with teenagers. The history lands differently when it is recent and the people telling it lived through it.

Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will tell you honestly which routes work — including when the answer is 'not this one, not yet'.

Food

Halal is guaranteed, which removes the usual holiday argument. The harder problem is finding food a seven-year-old will eat at nine at night, so we build in earlier dinners and keep at least one plain option on every table.

A family trip fails in predictable ways — and every one of them is avoidable at the planning stage.

Seafood and vegetarian fallbacks are available on every route, and we book rather than hope.

Prayer stops with children

The pattern that works: a stop that has a mosque and something for children within a few minutes of each other — a square, a fountain, a park. Prayer does not have to eat the afternoon.

On our family departures the day is paced around this rather than fitted around it.

Rooming and transfers

Family rooms or connecting rooms, confirmed in writing before you pay. Not 'subject to availability' on arrival.

Car seats: bring your own if your child needs one. We can arrange them in most destinations but the standard varies, and your own is the one you trust.