In a nutshell
- A trip during parental leave is the perfect opportunity for many families to travel longer and spend real quality time together — we’ve done it twice.
- For us, a parental leave trip isn’t a classic vacation — it’s more like living somewhere else for a while, just with more sunshine and fewer obligations.
- We’ll show you the best destinations for traveling with a baby — from easy European options to long-haul adventures like South Africa and Australia.
- At the end of the article, you’ll find our FAQ with honest answers to all the big questions about parental leave travel.
Our Experiences
We took extended parental leave trips with both of our kids. With our first child, we spent three months in Australia, and with two kids we spent three months in South Africa.
Our kids were each ten months old when we flew out; on our second trip, our older one was three years old.
The flights were tough both times — especially the first time with a toddler. If you want to prepare for that, our tips for flying with toddlers will help you out. For the first few days after arrival, we gave ourselves about seven days to settle in on both trips.
During that time, we always booked a nice hotel, slept a lot, ate well, got used to the destination, and made plans for the weeks ahead.
Our team members have also gone on all kinds of parental leave trips themselves: from Copenhagen and Austria to road trips through France and Spain.
We’re sharing our experiences here, showing you the destinations we’ve traveled to and the places that were on our wish list for a parental leave trip.
Destinations in Europe
European destinations are the perfect starting point for many families looking to travel during parental leave. The journey is short, there’s no jet lag, and you can get home quickly if anything comes up. And yet Europe has an incredible number of beautiful options for a relaxed trip with a baby.
Germany
We know several families who used their parental leave to do a road trip through Germany. Even on a tight travel budget, this is a great way to get a taste of a shared parental leave adventure.
Maybe you have your own car, a camper van, or an RV — or you travel by bus and train.
You can turn it into a road trip visiting friends and family, and every now and then someone might even have a spare room you can stay in.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Spring through fall
- Flight time: N/A
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: low to medium
- Infrastructure: very good
- Medical care: very good
Pros
- super relaxed for first-timers
- no long journey to get there
- excellent medical care
- perfect for slow travel
Cons
- weather isn’t always reliable
- less of a “travel feeling”
Read also:
Austria
Many families use their parental leave for a quiet getaway in the mountains or by a lake in Austria.
The country is perfect if you want to spend lots of time outdoors, enjoy going for walks, and simply want to unwind. Especially with a baby, Austria tends to feel very relaxed and uncomplicated.
Our team member Julie spent her parental leave traveling around Austria — specifically in Innsbruck and the Defereggen Valley — and can’t recommend it enough. They had not only a baby in tow, but a dog as well.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Spring through fall
- Flight time: short
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: medium to high
- Infrastructure: very good
- Medical care: very good
Pros
- very quiet and relaxed
- lots of nature
- excellent infrastructure
Cons
- can be pricey
- a car is often necessary
Read also:
France
France is incredibly versatile as a parental leave travel destination — whether you choose the Atlantic coast, Provence, or Brittany. Many families stay in one place for an extended time and take day trips from there, which fits perfectly with the relaxed rhythm of life with a baby.
If we had spent our parental leave in France, we definitely would have spent a good stretch of time exploring Paris with kids.
You can also easily combine France with Spain and turn it into a longer route.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Spring through fall
- Flight time: short to medium
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: medium
- Infrastructure: good
- Medical care: good
Pros
- very family-friendly
- lots of variety
- perfect for slow travel
Cons
- crowded in summer
- a car is necessary
Read also:
Spain
Spain is one of the most popular parental leave travel destinations — mainly because of the weather and the laid-back atmosphere.
Many families stay in one place for several weeks and simply enjoy daily life between the beach, walks, and cafés. Spain is especially popular in winter.
In the south of the country in particular — for example in the Andalusia region — the weather in winter is really quite pleasant, and prices during the winter months are significantly lower than in summer.
And of course, don’t overlook the Canary Islands.
Fuerteventura has been our home since 2025, and there are quite a few families on the island who spend their parental leave here. Especially if you come with your own camper van, the cost of living on the island is very low — even lower than on the mainland.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Spring, fall, winter
- Flight time: approx. 3 – 5 hours
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: medium
- Infrastructure: good
- Medical care: good
Pros
- lots of sunshine — even in winter
- very family-friendly
- great mix of city, beach, and nature
Cons
- very hot in summer
- longer drives in some areas
Read also:
Portugal
For many families, Portugal is a truly wonderful first destination outside their home country. The climate is pleasant, the people are incredibly welcoming to families, and it’s easy to find a home base and take day trips from there.
Your trip could start in Porto, for example, and from there you can head south along the coast. You should definitely check out Cascais, Sintra, and Lisbon, before continuing on to the Algarve.
Sounds like a great plan, if you ask us.
Many people also combine Portugal with Spain and turn it into a relaxed extended trip.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Spring and fall
- Flight time: approx. 3 hours
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: medium
- Infrastructure: good
- Medical care: good
Pros
- pleasant climate
- lots of beautiful beaches
- perfect for a home base + day trips setup
Cons
- very crowded in summer
- tricky without a car
Read also:
Scandinavia
Many families choose to do a road trip through Scandinavia during parental leave.
Sweden and Denmark are the most popular road trip picks for a parental leave trip. Both countries are extremely family-friendly, peaceful, and perfect if you want to spend a lot of time in nature.
Traveling by camper van or rental car here is wonderfully relaxed. If you’re on the road for a longer stretch, you can also combine Scandinavia with Great Britain.
Our team member Natalie took a road trip through southern Sweden with her two kids and absolutely loved it.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Summer
- Flight time: medium
- Jet lag: none
- Cost level: medium to high
- Infrastructure: very good
- Medical care: very good
Pros
- extremely family-friendly
- perfect for camper vans
- lots of nature
Cons
- expensive
- unpredictable weather
Read also:
Long-Haul Destinations
These destinations are especially worthwhile if you’re traveling for several months. The journey is long and the jet lag is more intense, but you’ll have plenty of time to settle in and find your rhythm.
If you’re dreaming of a big trip, parental leave is often the best opportunity to make it happen.
South Africa
A parental leave trip to South Africa might sound like a wild idea — but we can tell you from personal experience: it’s anything but.
Before our three-month trip with two kids, we’d never been to South Africa at all. We went in completely fresh.
Many families who’ve already visited South Africa without kids choose to go back during parental leave because it’s an incredibly diverse country that’s still very manageable to travel. And honestly, South Africa is one of those long-haul destinations that feels surprisingly uncomplicated with a baby.
You can easily turn it into a road trip — for example along the Garden Route.
We spent about eight weeks of our time in Cape Town and on the Cape Peninsula, but we also explored the Garden Route with kids, visited the Addo National Park to see elephants, toured the Cape Winelands, and even made it to the West Coast of South Africa.
If you’re willing to commit to the long journey, you’ll be rewarded with an incredibly relaxed trip.
Facts
- Best time to visit: European winter
- Flight time: approx. 11 hours
- Jet lag: minimal
- Cost level: low to medium
- Infrastructure: good
- Medical care: good
Pros
- minimal jet lag
- incredibly diverse
- perfect for a road trip
Cons
- safety can be a concern depending on the region
- longer drives
Read also:
Australia
Our first parental leave trip with a baby took us to Australia.
Yes, the flight was long and exhausting, and the first few days dealing with jet lag were the hardest. But it was absolutely worth every bit of effort.
We spent the first week taking it easy in Sydney — sleeping off the jet lag, getting our bearings, and planning the weeks ahead. After that we headed to Melbourne, then Adelaide, and from there to the west coast of Australia. We then spent several weeks driving south from Perth in a camper van.
We really can’t recommend a parental leave trip to Australia enough. It was so wonderful that we would have gladly stayed forever.
Australia is perfect if you truly have time and are dreaming of a big adventure. Many families travel here by camper van or rental car and spend longer stretches at individual spots. Commit to the journey, and you’ll be rewarded with an incredibly relaxed trip.
- Best time to visit: European winter
- Flight time: very long
- Jet lag: severe
- Cost level: high
- Infrastructure: very good
- Medical care: very good
Pros
- perfect for a road trip with a camper van or RV
- excellent infrastructure
- very safe
Cons
- very long journey
- expensive
- severe jet lag
Read also:
New Zealand
New Zealand is a dream destination for a peaceful parental leave trip with lots of nature. New Zealand was also very high on our wish list — in the end, we chose Australia instead.
We know several families who traveled through New Zealand on their parental leave trip. Most of them used a camper van, though some opted for a rental car road trip instead.
You can take all the time in the world between stops and really soak up the country at your own pace.
If you’re up for the long journey, it’s absolutely worth it.
Facts
- Best time to visit: European winter
- Flight time: very long
- Jet lag: severe
- Cost level: high
- Infrastructure: very good
- Medical care: very good
Pros
- perfect for a road trip
- very relaxed
- pure nature
Cons
- very long journey
- expensive
Read also:
Thailand
Thailand is one of the most classic long-haul parental leave travel destinations — and for good reason.
Many families stay in one place for an extended time, enjoying the warm climate and the easy pace of daily life. Especially with a baby, a lot of things here feel surprisingly uncomplicated.
Popular spots for a longer stay with a baby or young children include the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, and the coastal region of Khao Lak.
If you’ve never been to Southeast Asia before, you might hesitate to choose Thailand for your parental leave trip — but don’t let that stop you. And if you’ve already been, the decision should be easy.
After our first parental leave trip to Australia, we actually planned to spend a few more weeks in Thailand and Singapore, but unfortunately the global situation in 2020 got in the way.
Facts
- Best time to visit: Winter
- Flight time: approx. 11 hours
- Jet lag: yes
- Cost level: low to medium
- Infrastructure: good
- Medical care: good
Pros
- very family-friendly
- everything you need is available locally
- good medical care on the larger islands
Cons
- jet lag
- heat and humidity
Read also:
Why a parental leave trip is worth it
We hear this all the time: “Life with a baby at home is already so exhausting — we can’t imagine traveling for an extended period with a baby.”
Honestly? That concern is understandable, but it’s mostly unfounded.
Of course, planning a trip with a child, putting together a packing list for babies or toddlers, and the journey itself are more demanding than traveling without a child — but once you’re on the road, it’s often even more relaxed than everyday life at home.
And whether you’re on a parental leave trip or at home not sleeping much and dealing with a crying baby — does it really matter where you are?
Why a longer trip with a baby is worth it:
- Intense quality time as a family.
- Memories you’ll never forget.
- Often easier now than later, when school and schedules take over.
- Many people see a parental leave trip as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
What exactly is a parental leave trip?
Definition: parental leave trip
Parental leave simply means: you take time off from work to care for your baby. In many countries, this can last anywhere from several months to a few years per child — giving you a real window for extended travel.
Good to know: During parental leave, you typically don’t receive your full salary from your employer. Instead, many governments offer some form of parental allowance or paid leave benefit. The exact rules vary by country, so it’s worth checking what applies to you before you start planning.
Many families use exactly this time for an extended trip, since you suddenly have the opportunity to be on the road for several weeks or even months at a stretch.
Most families travel during their child’s first year of life, because many parents return to work once their child turns two.
How do you find the right destination for your parental leave?
Here’s what was on our checklist:
- Travel season & climate
- Flight time & jet lag
- Travel style (slow travel, road trip, tour)
- Infrastructure & medical care
- Your gut feeling
How we chose our destinations:
In the end, what mattered most to us was the travel season, the climate, and the infrastructure and medical care.
And honestly: our gut feeling swung back and forth for a long time between “Do we really want to do this?” and “Of course we can pull this off.”
At some point we just decided that only long-haul destinations would cut it for us — and we went for it. Looking back, we’re really glad we did.
Our message: Go for it.
FAQ — Parental Leave Travel Destinations
How long should you travel during parental leave?
From our experience, a longer trip is absolutely worth it.
We ourselves traveled for about three months and found that to be the sweet spot. You have enough time to settle in, find your rhythm, and don’t have to “check off” something every single day.
Shorter trips work too — but especially for long-haul destinations, staying longer really pays off.
What's the ideal age for a parental leave trip?
You can travel with a baby at pretty much any age.
In the first few months, many babies still sleep a lot and are often very relaxed on the go. Between six and twelve months, they become more curious and active.
Once children can walk, traveling often gets more tiring because they constantly want to be on the move.
In our experience, the first year of life is the most relaxed time for a parental leave trip.
Long-haul trip or stay in Europe?
That depends mostly on how you’re feeling.
Long-haul travel means longer flights, jet lag, and a different climate — but it’s also an incredible experience. Europe is easier, closer, and often more relaxed to plan.
If you’re not sure, Europe is a great way to ease into traveling with a baby.
Is a parental leave trip really as relaxing as it sounds?
Sort of — it’s relaxed in a different way than most people expect.
You travel slower, plan fewer activities, and go with the flow more easily, because your baby sets the pace.
Breaks are simply part of the deal. If you know that going in and embrace it, the trip usually ends up being much more relaxed than you’d expect.
What kind of parental leave trip is right for you?
That depends a lot on how you like to travel.
With slow travel, you stay in one place longer and quickly settle into a routine. A home base with day trips is perfect if you want to take it easy but still see some things.
A road trip can be really great if you’re flexible — for example, with a rental car, camper, or RV. Multi-destination trips offer more variety but can also be a bit more tiring.
Do you have to travel far for a parental leave trip?
Not at all. Many families travel within Europe or even within their own country during parental leave.
What matters isn’t the distance, but that the trip feels right and doable for you.
Is a parental leave trip expensive?
That depends a lot on your destination, travel style, and how long you’re going for.
A long-haul trip can be more expensive, but it doesn’t have to be — especially if you stay longer and travel slowly. A trip within Europe can also be really affordable.
In the end, it’s less about the destination and more about how you travel.
