The best baby-friendly vacation destinations in the world
Everyone dreams of the perfect family vacation, with warm weather, idyllic beaches, and activities for all to enjoy.
Airports like Orlando and Chicago O’Hare are often flooded with vacationing families in the summer, but are these popular destinations really the best places to visit with kids?
We rounded up the best locations in the world and in the US for vacationing families, to find the ultimate spots for baby-friendly travel.
The top baby-friendly travel destinations in the US
1. Nevada | Baby-friendly travel score: 7.06/10
Nevada ranks in first place on our list, crowned the best baby-friendly travel destination in the US. Nevada is home to amazing food, scenic landscapes and a rich history so it is often a popular choice for vacationing families.
Around 36% of all hotels in Nevada offer family rooms designed for parents and children. Similarly, Nevada has 426 baby-friendly activities, including the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, providing endless opportunities for family fun. The average temperature in Nevada is 10.6°C (51.1°F), and it receives an average of 164mm of rainfall each year.
2. New York | Baby-friendly travel score: 6.86/10
Skyscrapers, nightlife, and history make New York one of the most visited states in the world. A haven for vacation lovers of all ages, New York is an amazing destination for baby-friendly travel, and so ranks in second place.
Of all the hotels in New York, 44% have family rooms designed for children and adults. The destination is also home to 1,768 baby-friendly activities, including numerous iconic parks and museums. With an average annual temperature of 7.8°C (46.1°F), New York has perfect mild weather conditions for traveling with a baby.
3. Utah | Baby-friendly travel score: 6.86/10
Known for its National Parks, Great Salt Lake and popular hiking spots, Utah has something for everyone. In joint second place on our list, the Beehive State is one of the best locations in the US to travel with kids.
20% of all hotels in Utah offer rooms for families, which is ideal when traveling with younger children, and babies. Utah’s safety index is 62.48, surpassing the US average of 50.56. Utah’s average annual temperature is around 9.6°C (49.3°F) and the destination sees just 530 mm of annual precipitation. Utah also has 686 baby-friendly activities for families on vacation, like the Bryce Canyon National Park and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
The least baby-friendly travel destinations in the US
1. Mississippi | Baby-friendly travel score: 1.71/10
Mississippi is popular for its history, road trip routes, and southern culture, making it a favorite amongst tourists from around the world. For families traveling with kids, however, Mississippi is the least baby-friendly state to visit.
In Mississippi, around 30% of all hotels have family rooms. Yet it is the state’s safety index score that proves most disappointing at 33.11/100, the lowest on our list. The average temperature in Mississippi is 17.9°C (64.3°F), and the state receives around 1,271mm of precipitation per year. Despite good weather, Mississippi is home to the fewest number of baby-friendly activities out of our bottom three, at just 187.
2. Alabama | Baby-friendly travel score: 2.21/10
An Alabama vacation is characterized by a warm southern climate, Gulf Shores beaches, and stunning natural beauty. What could be a paradise for adventure-loving travelers, is however one of the least suitable destinations in the US for a baby-friendly vacation.
13% of hotels in Alabama offer rooms designed with families in mind, however, the safety index in Alabama is 39.91, which is significantly lower than the US state average of 50.56.
3. Arkansas | Baby-friendly travel score: 2.25/10
Ranking as the third least baby-friendly US travel destination is Arkansas, home to the Ozark mountains. Around 22% of hotels in Arkansas offer family rooms, which can be essential when traveling with babies and children. However, Arkansas ranks in the bottom five states for safety, with a safety index of just 38.49. The state is also home to only 297 baby-friendly activities, which is significantly lower than Florida, the state with the greatest proportion of baby-friendly activities totaling 4,678.
The top baby-friendly travel destinations in the world
1. Greece | Baby-friendly travel score: 8/10
Greece is an idyllic vacation spot, known worldwide for its crystal-blue waters, amazing cuisine and gorgeous beaches. Ideal for families, Greece is the best baby-friendly destination in the world.
In Greece, around 60% of the hotels offer family rooms, which can be essential when traveling with younger children or in groups. The country’s safety index is 59.68, higher than the 57.43 average of all the countries we looked at. Greece’s climate is ideal for traveling with families, with an average temperature of 15.4°C (59.72°F), and only 378mm of precipitation a year. With no shortage of things to do, there are 3,491 baby-friendly activities in Greece, including the Acropolis of Athens and Tsambika beach.
2. Turkey | Baby-friendly travel score: 7.65/10
Turkey is one of the most exciting places in the world you can visit, from its unique architecture to its shopping scene and amazing food, but it also ranks as one of the best places for a vacation with kids.
We found that 62% of Turkish hotels on Booking.com offer family rooms, designed for parents to share with their children. Turkey furthermore has a safety index of 60.51. The climate in the country is great for families seeking a mild weather holiday, with an average temperature of 11.1°C (51.98°F) and around 451mm of precipitation a year. There are also 2,143 baby-friendly activities in the country, including visiting the Anitkabir museum and Kleopatra Beach.
3. Portugal | Baby-friendly travel score: 7.45/10
Portugal is one of the most popular vacation spots in the world, famous for its beaches, cuisine, and cultural history. In third place, Portugal is also one of the most ideal places to visit with children.
49% of all Portuguese hotels offer a family room option for those traveling with children, and Portugal’s safety index is 70.37, which is higher than the average of the countries studied. The average annual temperature in the country is 15.2°C (59.27°F), and there is around 591 mm of precipitation each year. Portugal has 2,589 baby-friendly activities, including the fascinating Oceanário de Lisboa and the gorgeous Praia São Rafael.
Methodology
We wanted to find the best baby-friendly travel destinations in the US and in the world. We looked at all 50 US states, and ranked them based on:
- The percentage of hotels with family rooms, sourced from Booking on 25th July 2022.
- The safety index was sourced from World Population Review.
- The average annual temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit for each state was sourced from World Population Review. States that scored higher in this category have temperatures closest to the national average.
- The average annual precipitation of each state’s capital city, sourced from Climate-Data on 20th July 2022. States that scored higher in this category have the lowest precipitation.
- The number of child-friendly activities sourced from Tripadvisor on 20th July 2022.
We gave each state a normalized score out of 10 for each factor, before taking an average for each location.
We ranked each country based on:
- The percentage of hotels with family rooms, sourced from Booking on 25th July 2022.
- The safety index of each country was sourced from Numbeo on 20th July 2022.
- The average annual temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit for each country was sourced from World Population Review. Countries that scored higher in this category have temperatures closest to the average of all locations on our list.
- The average annual precipitation of each country’s capital city, sourced from Climate-Data on 20th July 2022. Countries that scored higher in this category have the lowest precipitation.
- The number of child-friendly activities sourced from Tripadvisor on 20th July 2022. We looked at every country in the world with at least 300 child-friendly activities on Tripadvisor.
We gave each country a normalized score out of 10 for each factor, before taking an average for each location.
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