Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-30
For many families in Norway, the big question is whether to choose Mallorca or Crete for the next sunshine break. Both work well with children, but the experience can feel quite different depending on flight time, accommodation and where your trip falls in the school year. From airports such as Oslo OSL, Bergen BGO, Trondheim TRD, Stavanger SVG and Tromsø TOS, direct flights often make the journey much easier. When flights and accommodation are booked separately, you also get more flexibility to shape the trip around your family.
Mallorca or Crete: which suits your family best?
Mallorca is often the easier choice for families with young children who want the shortest possible transfer, easy holiday areas and plenty of child-friendly beaches. Crete works well if you want more variety, a bit more space and the option to mix beach time with simple day trips. With older children, Crete can feel more adventurous, while Mallorca is often more practical and predictable. Both islands offer a strong range of family hotels and apartments, so the real difference is your travel style.
All-inclusive or a holiday apartment
All-inclusive makes everyday holiday life simpler when you travel with children. You do not have to think about every meal, and it is easier to keep a steady rhythm with pool time, breaks and food close at hand. A holiday apartment suits families who want flexibility, their own kitchen and the chance to stay more independently. It can also help with picky eaters or different sleep routines. The downside is that you organise more yourself, so think first about how hands-on you want the trip to be.
How to plan around winter break and autumn break
School holidays in Norway shape demand in a big way, especially during winter break and autumn break. Winter break weeks vary by county, and autumn break timing is not identical everywhere either. That is why you should always check your school or municipality’s official calendar before booking. If you can travel outside the most popular holiday weeks, the selection is often calmer and easier to piece together. If you must travel during school breaks, it helps to track prices early and stay open to more than one departure airport.
Why direct flights matter even more with children
With children, it is rarely just the flight time that matters, but how many moving parts the journey includes. A direct flight from OSL, BGO, TRD, SVG or TOS means fewer transitions, less stress and a lower chance that a long travel day will disrupt the first part of the holiday. That matters even more with small children, strollers, checked baggage and late arrivals. When comparing options, do not only look at the destination itself, but at the full logistics from home to the hotel door.
How to build a smarter family holiday
Start with the flight schedule that works best for your children, then choose the area and accommodation around that. In Mallorca, short transfer times are often a clear advantage for families with younger kids. In Crete, it is worth checking the distance between the airport, the beach and the nearest town before you book. Always read what is actually included at the hotel, and whether an apartment has what your family genuinely needs. Building the trip step by step makes it easier to match budget, energy and the children’s ages.
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