Good Housekeeping’s 2025 Family Travel Awards

Vacationing with your loved ones is all about recharging, exploring, bonding and simply having fun together. But getting there can be a lot of work, from deciding where to visit to figuring out what to pack. For Good Housekeeping’s third annual Family Travel Awards, we reviewed hundreds of submissions — ranging from luggage and booking platforms to cities, resorts, experiences and much more — to find the best options for every type of family.

The best part is that your ultimate vacation doesn’t have to be complicated or out of reach. Whether you prefer traveling to far-away beaches, exploring new-to-you cities within driving distance or trying out fun adventures, these winners offer something for every trip preference and budget. You can learn more about how we test below, but first, here are the winners that will have you and your family creating core memories that will last a lifetime.

How We Tested

We take testing seriously at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and that applies to travel just as much as any other category we evaluate. You can rest assured knowing that the Family Travel Award winners have been thoroughly assessed with standardized methodologies and real-world experiences. Here are the steps we take when reviewing the submissions.

☑ Testing in the GH Institute Labs

To find the best travel gear, our scientists, engineers and analysts tested the products in our Labs. When we tested luggage, our analysts packed each one using a standardized load, dropped and scratched the cases to assess durability and rolled them through obstacle courses to check maneuverability.

Meanwhile, our engineers evaluated travel tech, chemists and registered dietitians reviewed health and wellness items, outdoor experts checked camping gear, fiber scientists weighed in on apparel and our culinary, cleaning and parenting pros contributed in their respective categories.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Labs served as the hub for product evaluations.

Our Lab’s drop tester helps evaluate luggage durability.

☑ Vacationers Try Products on the Go

This year, we had over 150 consumer testers use the gear and services during their real-world travels, including flights, road trips, train rides and cruises while visiting beaches, campsites, domestic destinations and international cities.

Our reviewers weighed in on aspects like ease of use, performance, comfort, appearance and more through a series of ratings and open-ended responses. When selecting the winners, our experts reviewed both Lab data and consumer tester feedback and considered attributes such as quality, innovation, value and convenience.

From travel gear to transportation, our testers used the items in real-world settings.

Testers brought luggage and travel accessories to destinations all over the world.

☑ Travel Pros Evaluate Experiences

Simultaneously, our group of seasoned travel writers assessed regions, resorts, attractions and more to find the best vacation destinations for every family size and trip preference. Our in-depth application form asked entrants to share everything from their typical guests and ideal times to visit to describing what made their destination award worthy. Hotels and resorts also specified in-room amenities, pool features, recreational activities and other offerings while providing details around diversity, accessibility and sustainability efforts.

Travel editors considered a wide range of locations, including easy-to-get-to spots to more exotic destinations.

We found options for every trip preference, from warm beaches for relaxing to active getaways in winter weather.

☑ Testers Go On Location

Next, we had more than 85 travel testers–many with their families—experience the destinations so we could evaluate them in real life. These reviewers shared insight on everything from dining options and cleanliness to the overall vibe of the destination. At hotels and resorts, each tester was given a thorough checklist of aspects we needed them to weigh in on, from the check-in experience and room layout to whether there was ample seating at the pool and feedback on the staff, crowds, WiFi reliability and many other considerations.

Families participated in unique experiences to give us firsthand feedback.

We reviewed offerings for the entire family to ensure everyone has their best vacation possible.

Meet the Experts

A robust team of judges, each one a seasoned pro in their respective field, make the annual Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards a reality. From managing the behind-the-scenes logistics and hands-on product testing to ensuring each applicant is properly assigned to the right consumer testers and providing expert consultations, our panel had to be thoroughly impressed before recommending the winners.

Karen is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage. Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!). She has spoken at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and was previously the senior editor at Parents. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 

Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.

Emma Seymour

Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director

Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute‘s Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.