Julie Ann Hargett, Travel Advisor and Founder of H Luxury Travel, joins us to discuss Luxury Family Vacation Destinations, including Spain, Portugal, the Galapagos Islands, and Africa. She was recently recognized as a Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist for the third year in a row.
For more family vacation inspiration, check out all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!
Tell us about yourself & your company.
My name is Julianne, and I own a small, bespoke travel company called H Luxury Travel. We started in 2019 and have grown since then. We mainly focus on luxury family vacations. I have two sons and a husband, and we love to travel the world.
Our main focus is providing clients with things they can’t Google because that’s what people want, especially post-pandemic. We’ve just found our niche in being bespoke and custom. Most of our clients are executives—people who are super busy in their daily lives and want someone to provide them with an amazing experience.
We only work with partners with 24/7 in-country concierge because, like I said, I’m a mom. If you’re in Marrakesh, it’s not going to be the same time as in the U.S. This takes a huge load off us and gives clients comfort, knowing they have someone in-country they can reach out to at any time of the day while they’re traveling.
We like to provide our clients with unique experiences. So, it’s not just a visit to the Vatican or the Colosseum. It’s a private evening at the Sistine Chapel or Gladiator School for the kids.
Why are Spain & Portugal great Family Vacation Destinations?
I love Spain. Spain and Portugal are both right next to each other, and they are very family-friendly, which is a big part of their culture. It’s like Italy; they love kids. The people are warm and welcoming, making it easy, especially for clients who may not have traveled much with their kids. It’s a place you can go and know that they are truly warm and welcoming to families.
Where should Families go in Spain?
There’s so much to do in Spain. A couple of clients have suggested covering the whole country, but I advise that unless you have three weeks, it’s better to break it up.
Madrid, Sevilla, and the coast down to Marbella are all truly beautiful areas. You could easily spend two weeks there. Then, of course, there’s Barcelona, which is rich in history. Additionally, jumping over to Mallorca is an entire trip on its own. Therefore, it’s about breaking the country down into a few different sections and selecting what works best for your family. All these locations are very family-friendly.
Marbella is a wonderful place to end your trip because it offers beautiful beaches, world-class golf, and everything you need to relax before you head home.
And honestly, depending on how much you love history, it’s really nice to get outside of Barcelona and explore some of the smaller villages that are beautiful. They have some lovely beaches in that area as well. Most people want to see Mallorca; they want to visit the island if they’re going to be in the Barcelona area.
10 to 12 days is a really nice timeframe. Typically, we have our clients fly into Madrid, where there are many wonderful family hotels, such as the Four Seasons and the Rosewood. There are also fantastic opportunities to experience history and flamenco dancing, which is something fun for the kids.
From there, you move south. Sevilla is the next major destination. There’s a wealth of history to explore, ranging from the Christian Crusades to the various layers of the buildings. There are numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, abundant food options, cooking classes, and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. Pottery and other unique experiences that attract children’s attention are also available. Kids enjoy hands-on activities; they love being outdoors and engaging directly with their surroundings.
When we travel, my kids are not allowed to take devices because we are visiting amazing places, and I want them to experience it fully. I aim to strike a balance between relaxation and exploration.
Most people head to Marbella because of its beautiful beaches and family-friendly resorts. It’s a really nice place to end your trip since you’re close to Malaga, which is the airport you would fly home from.
What are the best ages for kids to enjoy these trips?
I believe it really depends on the children and their travel experience. Honestly, for most places, we have many clients who may have never left the country. They often see London as their first trip abroad because they speak English and it’s a short flight. For Spain, if your kids are well-traveled, they can go at any age. However, if your focus is on helping them remember this and create core memories, then I would suggest ages nine and up.
Where should Families go in Portugal?
The nice thing about Portugal is that if you spend two weeks there, you can see almost everything because it’s a small, narrow country. Many European or American expats have moved there.
It’s one of those places that has gained more attention in recent years. It’s very family-friendly, much like Spain, where the culture is also family-oriented, though they tend to eat quite late. But it’s beautiful.
Lisbon has trolleys that remind me of San Francisco. There’s a lot of history, but there are also many hands-on activities for kids. We had a large family that went last year, and they absolutely loved it. They ended up visiting Spain and Portugal together, but they were away for three weeks, so they had a bit more time. They’re back in Lisbon, enjoying cooking schools, and there are plenty of arts and activities. Additionally, they have beautiful Christmas markets that many people don’t know about.
From there, you can head toward Cascais, which is near the coast. If you’re really into surfing, they offer some amazing opportunities and world-class waves along the Portuguese coast. Coimbra is another area featuring a beautiful, somewhat hidden beach that is becoming increasingly popular due to the rise of boutique and sustainable travel properties in the region.
Then, you can pass through Duoro Valley. You can do a boat day out there. There are cooking classes and wine and cheese pairings, and they can always pair juice and cheese for the kids. But that area is hilly and really beautiful.
From there, you travel north to Porto, the origin of Port. Again, there’s a rich history there, along with abundant sailing and boating opportunities. You’ll find many beautiful colors, art markets, and food markets, somewhat reminiscent of what you see in Marrakesh, where you can purchase spices. It’s also a fantastic family option.
And of course, there’s the Algarve too, which some people like to visit, which is a beach destination.
It really depends on how much time you have. I would say that in 10 days, you can explore Lisbon and its surrounding areas, then travel through the Douro Valley, stay there for a few nights, and afterward head up to Porto for a few nights before returning home.
The food in Portugal is incredible. It features a lot of seafood, but they are excellent at accommodating children, ensuring they feel comfortable and happy.
You mentioned the Galapagos Islands on your 2025 List.
It’s been one of those places that has definitely seen more demand in recent years. For the Galapagos, I would suggest that your kids be a little older, around 6 to 9, since there’s much more exploring involved, whether by foot or by boat. There are many different options available.
Most people think you can only go there by boat, by going on a cruise, whether it be a small cruise, a larger cruise, or a yacht. But there are also some amazing properties where you can stay in the Galapagos. One of our favorites is Aya Lodge.
It’s quite small, but they do allow children. Everything is tailored to the guests there. The maximum number of people is 14, creating a really intimate atmosphere. Everything is very high-touch and luxurious, catering to whoever is on the property at the time. They create a schedule, so you might take the yacht out to explore a section of the Galapagos one day, and on another day, you can enjoy the property, just relaxing by the pool or hiking around. Then, the next day, you could spend half a day on their private yacht that ventures through the Galapagos, allowing you to see all the marine life.
You can explore everything they offer in the Galapagos, but you won’t be on a boat the entire time, as some people prefer not to stay on a boat all the time.
What about an African Safari?
That’s one of my family’s top trips we’ve done. We took our kids in 2022, so they would’ve been seven and 11 at the time. We did Kenya and Tanzania in 17 days. Some people were like, I can’t believe you’re taking a 7-year-old. And I’m like, he’s old enough. He still talks about it to this day.
We did the Giraffe Manor, which is right there in Nairobi. Everybody knows it from the social media posts of the giraffe sticking their windows. We absolutely loved it. I wouldn’t change anything about that trip.
We also took our kids to visit a school. We did a lot of conservation discussions and we visited several different places.
Then we stayed in Kenya at Bateleur Camp. We enjoyed several safaris before traveling to Tanzania. After that, we flew to the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Zanzibar, to end the trip on a truly relaxing note.
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You can find out more about working with Julie Ann at their website and contact them directly via email. You can follow H Luxury Travel on Instagram and Facebook.
For more family vacation inspiration, tune in to all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!
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