2025 Family Travel Awards: Best Services, Cruises, Camps & Gear

2025 Family Travel Awards: Honoring Leading Services & Transportation for Families

The annual Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards spotlight the best-in-class services, transportation, camps, planning tools, and gear that transform family vacations. For 2025, our comprehensive evaluation process emphasized reliability, convenience, innovation, and the joyful experiences these solutions create for families—whether they’re planning cross-country adventures or quick weekend escapes.

Below, discover this year’s distinguished winners in services and transportation, along with top camps, cruises, trip-planning platforms, and gear designed to streamline your next family trip.

Inside the Family Travel Awards

• Expert Analysis: Products and services were assessed by Good Housekeeping Institute engineers, travel editors, and parenting specialists.
• Hands-on Testing: Families across various demographics participated in real-world travel trials—from road trips to cruising and outdoor adventures.
• Comprehensive Evaluation: Key factors included safety, ease of use, flexibility, entertainment value, and overall impact on trip enjoyment.

Top Services & Transportation for Family Travel in 2025

These standout brands, services, and transportation providers set the standard for seamless, enjoyable family journeys in 2025.

Best Travel Service: Viator

Viator, the world’s largest travel experiences marketplace, continues to win families over with its breadth of activities, simple booking process, and commitment to quality. Families enjoy:

• Over 300,000 experiences: Including tours, activities, and excursions for various interests and ages.
• 24/7 customer support: Reliable assistance for last-minute changes or questions at any hour.
• Flexible booking: Free cancellations and flexible payment policies keep plans stress-free.
• Trusted reviews: Millions of real traveler reviews ensure confident decision-making.
• Tailored itineraries: Family-focused travel guides and curated activity lists for destinations around the globe.

Viator’s ability to help families easily plan everything from theme park tickets to private tours—backed by robust customer support—makes it a repeat winner in this category.

Best Cruise Line: Sun Princess by Princess Cruises

The Sun Princess, Princess Cruises’ latest flagship, earns accolades for merging luxury, entertainment, and family-centric programming at sea.

• Innovative ship design: Spaces organized to foster connection among multiple generations.
• Wide-ranging activities: From pools and water parks for kids to fine dining and entertainment for adults.
• Diverse accommodations: Family suites, adjoining rooms, and accessible cabins meet various needs.
• Expert-led programming: Youth clubs, science workshops, and immersive cultural experiences.
• All-inclusive amenities: Simplify budgeting and planning.

Its emphasis on multigenerational experiences—blending relaxation and adventure—solidifies the Sun Princess as a go-to for unforgettable family celebrations and reunions.

Best Family Camp: YMCA of the Rockies (Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch)

YMCA of the Rockies offers unparalleled opportunities in Colorado for families to unplug, connect with nature, and participate in a vast menu of activities. Both the Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch locations were honored.

• Huge lineup of activities: Daily schedules featuring archery, rock climbing, crafts, mini golf, tubing, aerial courses, and more.
• Year-round programming: Options span summer camps, holiday events, dog-sledding, and tree-cutting experiences.
• All-inclusive model: Most onsite activities included with booking, limiting surprise fees.
• Versatile accommodations: Lodge rooms, multi-bedroom cabins, pet-friendly options, and a summer yurt village or campground.
• Unplugged environment: Most rooms are TV-free, encouraging authentic connection and outdoor exploration.

Families seeking affordable, memorable, and nature-filled vacations consistently praise the YMCA of the Rockies’ warmth and endless entertainment.

Best-in-Class Trip-Planning Tools & Apps

Effortless family travel begins with the right planning tools. These top-rated platforms and applications empower travelers to organize, track, and maximize their adventures with children in tow.

• Comprehensive Itinerary Builders: Intuitive platforms allow families to sync flights, hotel bookings, excursions, and restaurant reservations into a single, shareable plan.
• Collaboration Features: Multi-user access so family members can contribute, suggest, and vote on activities.
• Smart Recommendations: AI-powered suggestions tailored to children’s ages, dietary needs, and preferred activities.
• Budget Tracking: Integrated expense tools help families monitor and split costs efficiently.

By taking the stress out of coordination and logistics, these tools keep the focus on family fun and adventure.

Standout Transportation Solutions: Getting There with Ease

Transportation forms the foundation of any family vacation. The following winners made it smoother, more reliable, and more enjoyable across road, rail, air, and beyond:

• Family-Friendly Airlines: Recognized for clear policies, priority boarding, child-friendly meals, and entertainment options.
• Rail Services: Train operators with generous baggage allowances, family seating, and dedicated play zones for young children.
• Rental Car Companies: Those with a seamless booking experience, up-to-date safety features, and flexible pick-up/drop-off policies.
• Ride-Sharing Innovations: Services offering car seats, vetted drivers, and easy-to-navigate apps for safe intra-city travel with kids.

Must-Have Travel Gear for Families

The right gear can make or break a trip, particularly with young travelers in tow. These products—vetted for durability, portability, and kid appeal—shine in 2025:

• Lightweight Luggage: Easy-to-roll suitcases with built-in compartments for separating children’s clothes and snacks.
• Compact Strollers: Fold-flat models that fit in overhead bins yet handle diverse terrain.
• Travel Car Seats: Certified portable seats that are simple to install and satisfy all safety standards for planes and cars.
• Entertainment Devices: Kid-safe tablets loaded with educational games and parental controls.
• Health & Safety Accessories: Portable handwash kits, child trackers, and sun-protective clothing for outdoor adventures.

Our Institute’s experts tested each product in the field to ensure longevity, value, and hassle-free operation—whatever your destination.

Judging Criteria: How Winners Were Chosen

The Good Housekeeping Institute’s travel award process is recognized for its rigor and transparency. For 2025, the judging focused on the following pillars:

• Safety & Comfort: Products/services needed to meet strict health, safety, and ease-of-use metrics for parents and children.
• Real-World Feedback: Family testers provided hands-on insights based on experiences with infants, toddlers, tweens, and teens.
• Innovation: Priority was given to services and gear introducing creative features that address the evolving needs of traveling families.
• Affordability & Value: Winners offered significant benefits relative to cost, with an emphasis on all-inclusiveness or bundled savings.
• Universal Accessibility: Preference for solutions supporting families of all backgrounds, abilities, and group sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions about the 2025 Family Travel Awards

How are the Family Travel Award winners determined each year?

The awards are based on a rigorous process of expert evaluation, hands-on product and service testing, and family feedback, ensuring winners stand out for quality, innovation, and value.

Which services consistently win recognition for family vacations?

Brands like Viator for booking diverse activities, Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess for cruising, and YMCA of the Rockies for immersive camps are perennial favorites thanks to their family focus and robust offerings.

What travel gear is most essential for families with young kids?

Lightweight strollers, portable car seats, and durable luggage are highly recommended, along with kid-safe tablets and health accessories for on-the-go convenience, safety, and entertainment.

Are there savings opportunities for families choosing award-winning services?

Many winners feature bundled discounts, all-inclusive models, and free or flexible cancellation policies, helping families manage costs and reduce risk as they plan their vacations.

Is there a resource for curated, ready-made family itineraries?

Yes, platforms like Viator now offer curated family itineraries and expert travel guides tailored to destinations, ages, and special interests, streamlining planning for parents.

Planning Your Next Family Adventure?

Whether you’re dreaming of national park escapes, ocean voyages, city sightseeing, or unplugged mountain retreats, trust these 2025 Family Travel Award winners to deliver the features, flexibility, and joy that matter most. Stay tuned for future updates as travel innovations continue to shape brighter journeys for all generations.