What Kids Really Want From the Winter Holidays

What happens when you ask over 7,000 children around the world what they truly want from a holiday? You realise they’re longing for a different kind of luxury.

The luxury of spending time in places where they can imagine freely, connect deeply and live out stories they’ll retell long after the suitcase is unpacked.

According to global research commissioned by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, today’s young travellers are dreaming of experiences that feel like stepping into their favourite games or fantasy worlds. They want to become astronauts, pirates, or safari guides – even if it’s just for a day – and they crave chances to make new friends along the way.

In short? Kids are after connection, creativity and adventure (and lots of it!).

BON Hotels has taken these kid-powered insights and matched them with real-world BON stays where you can turn dreams into itineraries (and maybe even sneak in some grown-up R&R while you’re at it).

Ready to see South Africa through smaller, more curious eyes?

1. Make-believe made real: For future rangers and animal whisperers

Where to go: Shishangeni by BON Hotels, Kruger National Park

Nothing fuels a child’s imagination quite like safari life. At Shishangeni by BON Hotels, the line between real and magical blurs in all the right ways.

Here, kids can:

• Step into living stories – a lion sighting becomes a real-life “Circle of Life” moment.

• A bush walk? Suddenly they’re junior rangers tracking wildlife signs in the sand.

• Enjoy cuddles around the fire that lead to bedtime tales about ancient African legends under star-lit skies.

The lodges themselves are intimate and unfussy, giving families space to breathe (and kids room to roam). Plus, because each camp is slightly different in vibe (Shishangeni Private Lodge vs Camp Shawu vs Camp Shonga), you can choose what suits your family best.

BON tip: Bring walkie-talkies so siblings can ‘radio’ each other across rooms or trails. They’ll feel like field agents in their own wildlife documentary.

2. Water worlds and harbour hangouts: For little mermaids and pirate captains

Where to go: BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal

BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay sits right on the Tuzi Gazi harbourfront, where sailboats drift by like floating castles and the sea breeze whispers of pirate treasure.

Here, kids can:

• Start the day with breakfast overlooking yachts.

• Watch cargo ships roll in from across the globe and wonder what’s inside them.

• End their day with poolside mocktails and stories about buried treasure… or maybe a dolphin spotting or two.

Rooms are spacious enough for families travelling with kids of all ages, and parents will love that everything they need is within arm’s reach, from sea-view dining at Ship to Shore Restaurant to easy access to beautiful beaches just minutes away.

BON tip: Pack eye patches and bandanas. A simple dress-up moment turns an afternoon stroll along the harbour into a full-blown pirate expedition.

3. Urban explorers wanted: For canal adventurers and city sleuths

Where to go: Majorca Apartments by BON Hotels, Century City, Cape Town

Not every family holiday needs sand between toes or lions on the horizon. Sometimes, all it takes is a new cityscape and a maze of canals to spark serious imagination.

At Majorca Apartments by BON Hotels (tucked inside Century City’s Island Club), you’ll find exactly that. It oozes Venice vibes with South African soul: palm-lined walkways, bridges over water, and endless corners for kids to explore safely (with grown-ups in tow).

Here, kids can:

• Race ducks along the canal paths (real or imaginary… both work!).

• Pretend they’re detectives on a case as they navigate garden trails.

• Live like locals in apartment-style suites with space for sprawling Lego castles or makeshift forts.

Majorca Apartments by BON Hotels is ideal for longer stays too: you’ve got your own kitchen, lounge area, gym access (for energetic teens), indoor heated pool for rainy days – and, of course, an outdoor pool for sunny ones.

BON tip: Create your own “Amazing Race” challenge across Century City – clues at shops, tasks at playgrounds… winner picks dessert!

4. The great family adventure basecamp: For ‘together-time’ that’s never boring

Where to go: BON Hotel Rustenburg, North West

Set amongst rolling lawns and wildlife-dotted gardens (if you’re lucky, you might even spot a zebra or monkey on your morning walk), this hotel is like a ready-made basecamp for easy-going family fun (where kids can explore safely and even make new friends along the way).

Here, kids can:

• Meet fellow adventurers at breakfast or in the gardens.

• Run wild in open spaces while spotting buck or birds between games.

• Feel like explorers on safari-like strolls right outside their room.

The vibe is laid-back but lively enough that families don’t feel isolated. With spacious rooms for group stays, an onsite restaurant for no-fuss meals, and conference facilities that double as event venues (birthday trip potential!), there’s plenty of flexibility built into your stay.

BON tip: Bring a frisbee or soccer ball. It’s an instant connection tool when there are other kids around. Add marshmallows to the mix if there’s a braai happening… and you’ve got instant holiday friendships a-brewing.

5. Slow Days in Small Towns: For storybook streets and quiet magic

Where to go: Queen’s Hotel by BON Hotels, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Not every holiday has to be high-energy to be memorable. Often, it’s the slower moments (the ones that feel different from everyday life) that kids remember most.

At Queen’s Hotel in Oudtshoorn, days unfold at a gentler pace… but with just enough intrigue to feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook. It’s South Africa’s oldest four-star hotel still in operation – a real-life time capsule, where history echoes through the corridors.

Here, kids can:

• Pretend they’re time travellers staying at an old palace.

• Explore cobbled streets and quirky shops like they’re on a secret mission.

• Listen to tales of ostrich feather empires and Karoo legends over hot chocolate at Café Brûlé.

The hotel is central enough for you to walk everywhere, and family rooms mean everyone gets space (and proper sleep).

BON tip: Start your own family travel journal here. Capture stories about “the day we met an ostrich called Kevin” or “the ghost we think lives on floor two”. The smallest towns often inspire the biggest imaginations.

So, here’s what we know: Children want stories they can live inside of. New friendships waiting at breakfast. Wild animals just beyond the window. A city where canals feel like secret passageways or a hotel that looks like it belongs in their favourite book.

BON Hotels’ properties across South Africa are full of these unexpected moments. Imaginative, connection-rich springboards for memory-making family holidays.

This winter holiday season, maybe skip the usual checklist. Instead:

• Let them pack the pirate hat

• Say ‘yes’ to another game drive

• Write your own family adventure

When we see travel through children’s eyes (full of wonder, curiosity and play) we’re all reminded why holidays matter in the first place.

Get yours sorted – stay with BON Hotels. Check out our deals and specials, or contact the team directly today.