Agent Selling Tips: Family Holidays
04-Aug-2026
Plan ahead for long haul to save money:
Best At Travel's Senior Product Manager & PATA Executive Committee Member, Sam Collins, gives his top tips for family travel in the Asia Pacific region:
There are rarely any last minute offers for school holidays, so aim to be booking 11 months ahead when flight seats become available. Remember these are the substantial fixed cost element part of your trip. Find out from schools about early finishing for exams, Inset Days or anything that will allow you to travel when the majority of the UK isn’t.
A prime example is that flight costs drop substantially from the middle of August from peak pricing, however it can be difficult to secure those critical return seat dates at the end of August / early September – but by booking 11 months in advance you can secure low season pricing during peak summer holiday dates.
As Summer & Easter tend to be predominantly leisure travellers the difference between economy and business class pricing can be significantly reduced – so if you are intending to treat yourselves, school holidays can be a key period of travel.
Kids Clubs: (print this if you dare!)
A familiar saying is that Asia is a great family destination for parents who like their own children… Children’s clubs are rarely ‘drop off your kids at 9am and pick up at 6pm’ like many destinations, and you’ll find a lot of hotels offer amazing family experiences that focus on local experiences – such as wildlife walks, or childrens cooking classes that include early morning visits to local markets.
All Inclusives
Pacific Asia destinations tend not to offer the same ‘All inclusive’ packages that you may be used to in Caribbean or Maldives. A core reason is that in many countries you are encouraged to explore local restaurants which tend to be very affordable – especially more local options in beach destinations. Most local restaurants are extremely happy for your kids to dine with you and will always adapt spice levels or be prepared to offer Western options whilst your children get used to local flavours.
Weather / seasons:
Check weather seasons carefully as many parts of the world are in monsoon. However, even within each country you will find areas that can be fine during the summer months – notably the East Coasts of Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka which experience far less rainfall during July & August and also are less touristy than other destinations. However, on the flipside, summer months can be amongst the cheaper times to visit the West Coast of Thailand & Malaysia – so you will tend to get far higher quality hotels for your pound – worth considering if your key focus is quallity of hotel.
However if you want certainty most destinations within Indonesia like Bali and Komodo are perfect in July & August!
Selling tips
• Families are looking for more than just a beach holiday now. Lead with experiences, adventure and memories rather than just the hotel.
• Focus on ease and reassurance as parents want holidays that work for everyone, with a good balance of activities and downtime.
• Multi-centres are a great opportunity, especially destinations like Sri Lanka where you can combine culture, wildlife and beach.
Recent booking trends
• Families are still prioritising holidays and are prepared to spend, but they are looking harder at value and what they get for their money.
• More interest in destinations offering more than just sun and sand.
• Strong demand for experiences, wildlife, adventure and educational elements.
• Longer booking windows are becoming more common, with families planning further ahead to secure availability and better value.
Forward booking predictions
• I expect family travel to remain strong, with demand continuing for destinations that offer variety and good value.
• Experiential family holidays will continue to grow, combining touring, culture and beach.
• Destinations such as Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan-style itineraries should benefit from families wanting something different.
• The key will be selling the experience and overall value, rather than competing purely on price.
