Disney-inspired holidays the whole family will love

From Frozen to Sleeping Beauty, we look at the best family holidays inspired by Disney classics.

The Lion King, South Africa

Make like Simba and Nala in the Kenyan wilderness with African Wildlife Safaris (AWS), with their family-friendly ‘Highlights of Kenya’ tour.

Over seven days and six nights, the tour takes you into the beautiful semi-arid wilderness of Samburu National Reserve with its unique dry-country species, the forests around Mt Kenya, Lake Nakuru with its millions of flamingos, pelicans and other wildlife, and the Masai Mara grasslands, renowned for its huge migrating herds such as the wildebeest (as spectacularly showcased in the Disney classic), as well as large numbers of predators, namely lions and hyenas.

Accommodation is provided at quality safari lodges, which all promise modern facilities and special kids programs for travelling families.

Safari tour in Kenya, Africa. — Make like Simba and Nala in the Kenyan wilderness with African Wildlife Safaris (AWS).

Brave, Scotland

You can see Scotland’s greatest sights and delights made famous in Brave, with Absolute Escapes’ Legends of Scotland tour, inspired by the Disney Pixar blockbuster.

Beginning in Edinburgh, the 11-day itinerary takes you to Scotland’s longest and deepest lochs, highest mountain and shortest river, as well as incorporating castle visits, insights into clan culture, plus wildlife encounters along the way.

Brave buffs will especially love visiting the Calanais Standing Stones, an archaeological wonder dating back 5000 years, which features in the movie as a mysterious ring of stones that heroine Merida encounters on her quest to change her fate.

Calanais Standing Stones, Scotland. — You can see Scotland’s greatest sights and delights made famous in Brave.

Sleeping Beauty, Germany

Step back in time to Neuschwanstein Castle, a nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival palace in southwest Bavaria, which is said to be the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and was finally completed in 1886.

The best way for families to explore the castle is on a private tour, so you can skip the lines and customise your itinerary to your family’s own preferences.

The full-day tour included a historic recount of Ludwig’s life and untimely death, as well as a private transfer to the nearby village of Oberammergau where lunch will be arranged, followed by a visit to Ettal Monastery, where you can further explore the surrounds.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany — Step back in time to Neuschwanstein Castle.

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Frozen, Norway

Taking tiny travellers to the homeland of Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff, Disney Cruise Line now operates Frozen-themed cruises through the Norwegian Fjords.

The seven-night expedition departs from Copenhagen, visiting some of the biggest local attractions along the way such as Pulpit Rock in Stavanger, art nouveau city tour of Ålesund, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Geirangerfjord and Bryggen.

Frozen fans will also have the opportunity to meet Anna and Elsa, who’ll be posing for photos at a Norwegian Village museum in Ålesund and a visit to a Viking village to meet with a chieftain and Norse families.

So if you’ve ever had second thoughts about a cruising holiday with kids, it’s high time to “let it go"!

Frozen Disney cruise through Norway. — Taking tiny travellers to the homeland of Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff, Disney Cruise Line.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Disney-inspired holidays the whole family will love

From Frozen to Sleeping Beauty, we look at the best family holidays inspired by Disney classics.

The Lion King, South Africa

Brave, Scotland

Sleeping Beauty, Germany

Frozen, Norway

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