dsdsad
Summer’s well and truly over and the kids are back at school (phew!). While we’re making the most of the first autumn swells and eking out after-school surfs while there’s still enough daylight, our thoughts are shifting to Christmas breaks with waves and sunshine. After all, isn’t it better to share the gift of surf travel than throw money at presents that’ll be forgotten in a few weeks?
Flicking through our family photo albums from the last decade, we’ve spent more Christmases with surfboards, sarongs and just a fridge magnet from Santa, than we have at home. And every one of those trips has been unforgettable – unlike the presents we’ve shared.
So, with some new destinations up our sleeve and some old ones we’d choose again and again, here are our top locations that still have availability for a family surf holiday this Christmas.
LION’S REST, SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka was one of the first destinations we travelled to with young children – where they learned to surf on the beach breaks, while we tag-teamed dawnies on the reefs. With its mellow waves, tropical beaches and warm family welcome, teamed with days out to see elephants, whales and tea plantations, it really does deliver for all ages.
Stay at Lion’s Rest on Coconuts Beach, and you’ve got a surf break right out front (see above) where little ones can play on the green and in the rockpools, a beach break in nearby Weligama, and an ISA-certified instructor to show you the ropes. When you’re not at the beach or off exploring the island, enjoy family days by the pool, fresh Sri Lankan and Western food, yoga, and movie nights.
There’s still limited availability at Lion’s Rest over Christmas. Festive stays include a Christmas morning paddle out, banquets on 24 & 31 December, and Santa hats.
A minimum 7-night stay applies over Christmas.
Take me there >>
PARADIS PLAGE, MOROCCO
Sun, surf and African culture – Morocco beckons families on a real surfing adventure, whilst also offering five-star luxury beside the beach. Beyond the waves you can explore bustling souks, traditional villages and the Atlas Mountains, ride camels along the beach or sandboard down mighty dunes. Sound like your sort of Christmas?
The beachfront Paradis Plage has over 18 world-class spots on the doorstep, four restaurants, a hammam spa and a kids club. Here you can wake up, check the swell, and decide: dawn patrol at Anchor Point, a beginner lesson on the beach break, or a slow morning with coffee and the Atlantic spread out in front of you. There’s a reason families come back here year after year.
ESENCIA NATIVA, EL SALVADOR
There are many reasons we’ve been back to El Salvador for Christmas two years on the trot: the waves, the beaches, the culture, the food, and the ease of the whole family slipping into the surf, eat, sleep lifestyle. In El Zonte you’ve got a choice of a point break and a beach break, as well as sea caves and a buzzing seaside culture from sunrise to sunset. There’s also plenty to do when you want to break away from the beach and hammock, with adventures to waterfalls, Mayan ruins, volcanoes and the famous Punta Roca.
Esencia Nativa really does have family surfing life dialled in, from its beachfront location with a swimming pool, a terrace and restaurant overlooking the waves, a gym, and its very own surf school run by owner Alex and Nette Klement. With big breakfasts, table tennis and family-friendly atmosphere, we love it here – and we’re sure you will too.
Take me there >>
RIPJACK INN, COSTA RICA
If you’ve got the time and budget for an all-out bells and whistles type surfing holiday in winter, then Costa Rica is the place to head to. This family-friendly paradise boasts waves and wildlife, offering a back-to-nature surfing experience from the lap of eco-luxury.
Kick off your shoes at RipJack Inn, where you can pad to the peaks of Playa Grande out front, put your feet up in a hammock by the pool, and tuck into traditional Tico cuisine in the treetop restaurant. Expert surfing instructors can teach children as young as four, or you can hire a babysitter and sneak out for a grown-up surf session.
ROSTREVOR HOTEL, BARBADOS
Is it your first foray into family surfing holidays? Or do you have a family split between surf-keen and those who want to lounge on paradise beaches with a rum punch in hand? With a direct flight from the UK, Barbados is our top pick for a Christmas family holiday that has it all: palm-fringed beaches, waves galore, water parks, beach bars, tropical gardens and stylish places to stay. It’s laidback and it’s luxurious.
And if you’re looking for somewhere for families that want it all, we love Rostrevor Hotel, bang on a white-sand beach and within easy reach of the best south coast surf breaks in Barbados. All rooms come with self-catering kitchen facilities (ideal when you’ve got a hungry tribe in tow), there’s a pool, restaurant and seafront garden, and the concierge service can help arrange your island adventures.
memmo baleeira, PORTUGAL
The Algarve for Christmas? Why not. It’s easy to get to, warmer than the UK, and the surf can be pumping in December – with sheltered south coast breaks and swell-magnet west coast beaches to choose from. One for serious surfing families to consider, it’s a cinch to bag a cheap flight to Faro and spend Christmas in Sagres.
Bag a sea-view family suite at memmo Baleeira and you can enjoy a sauna, swimming pool and spa treatments between surf sessions, choose between the swanky restaurant and self-catering, and enjoy all the trimmings of yoga, gym and bike hire. There are plenty of options for surfing nearby and they can tee you up with the local surf school if you need kit or lessons.
Book your family surf holiday for Christmas
Explore the rest of our website and book your surfing holiday direct with the best family surfing accommodation in the world.
Tag us @familysurfco on your travels and sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with new destinations, accommodation and the latest inspiration in family surf travel.
About The Author
Comments