We are a same-sex couple and new parents — where should we go … – The Times

We are a gay couple and new parents — are there any destinations you’d recommend?
The well-regarded Asher & Lyric index that ranks the safest and most dangerous destinations for LGBTQ travellers looks at various factors, including same-sex marriage rights, adoption recognition and illegal same-sex relationships. The safest are Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands. Canada’s west coast is an amazing summertime adventure, with whale watching, stunning beaches, and epic scenery around hip Vancouver city. Sweden also offers the ultimate city-plus-coast combo; you could spend a weekend in Stockholm, then escape to its gorgeous islands. For city breaks, Europe is your oyster, particularly the Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium. The UK, where the Equality Act 2010 protects holidaymakers from discrimination on the basis of sexuality, comes in sixth. The countries deemed most dangerous include Malaysia, Oman, UAE, Maldives and Jamaica.

Is there a real adventure I can take toddlers and young kids on?
I used to be the editor of a family travel magazine where the running joke was: “Send them to Morocco”. That’s because Morocco provides the answer to every family travel conundrum. It really does represent holiday perfection, especially if you’re an avid traveller who still wants an adventure with kids in tow. Start in Marrakesh — only a four-hour flight away — where every sight, smell and sound will astound children. The souk gives kids a chance to spend their dirhams, while toughened tourist policing means you shouldn’t be hassled. Then the Djemaa el Fna main square comes alive at sunset — no time difference in summer so kids can stay up — for an evening of snake-charming, rooftop mint tea and fresh OJ squeezed at streetside cafés. After a couple of days, move on to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, where trekking with a guide and mule is easy to arrange and affordable, while stops at Berber villages are a welcome and wonderful experience. But this isn’t a trip you should build yourself — speak to a specialist at Families Worldwide who can put together an eight-day trip from approximately £450pp, excluding flights familiesworldwide. co.uk). I’d choose April to June or September to November to avoid the mountain snow and the searing summer heat.

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● How to travel with children

It’s my first holiday as a blended family — do you have any advice?
“Choose a destination that’s new for everyone — it’s important to please the most and least-travelled family members,” says Leah Greengarten, stepmum to Abi and mother to Raphael. Greengarten is also chief executive of the luxury travel consultancy Our Travel Curator, so she knows about building happy holidays for others. “Creating a sense of wonderment on a holiday — when families experience something new together — is a very bonding and gratifying experience.

“When planning, get everyone involved. If there is only one person organising the trip, you risk seeing a new country through the eyes of only one family member. It’s important to make it collaborative so that everyone feels invested from the beginning. Empower family members by giving them responsibilities, such as choosing restaurants or deciding what fun experiences you can try.

“The best bonds are formed through shared experience, so plan something that is challenging and rewarding, such as a cycling trip in France or origami in Japan (just a one-day class is enough). And avoid road trips — they can be challenging and stressful with a blended family. Confined spaces, conflicting taste in music and long periods of boredom can lead to clashes. No one needs the drama on holiday.”

I’ve got a mix of ages — toddlers and teens — so where can I go?
Iceland is great for a cross-age family trip. It’s a manageable size for under-fives, with a colourful, compact capital in Reykjavik and a spellbinding ring road — via lagoons, waterfalls, geysers and Game of Thrones locations; the best bits can be tackled as day trips. Discover the World can tailor-make a trip (discover-the-world.com).

Meanwhile, I’ve already declared Disney World Florida too pricey to be trialled on preschoolers, but — zip-a-dee-doo-dah! — this doesn’t apply to Disneyland Paris, which is far more affordable and, of course, closer to home. Teens will love it too because, in addition to the classic Disneyland park, you’ve also got the adjacent Walt Disney Studios, complete with its hair-raising Avengers Assemble ride and a creepy Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The whole estate is small enough that you can split up for a couple of hours if necessary, safe in the knowledge that they’re always only walking distance away (disneylandparis.com).

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