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Holiday games are often the highlight of many family getaways. A time for everyone to gather together for some simple fun, away from the glare of phone and tablet screens.
Now more than ever, we are looking for a bit of escapism and board games are a great way of doing it!
To help you find the perfect games for your family holiday – plane or train, rain or shine – we’ve got in touch with the experts at Thomas Cook. Here, they give us their picks that’ll have kids of all ages and adults alike laughing along. Check out these top holiday games:
Best For - The Plane Journey
Skull is a game that’s all about bluffing. Players take it in turns to place their cards face down in a pile, until someone feels safe enough to declare they can turn over a particular number of cards and only get roses. Other players can then outbid them with a higher number – before the eventual highest-bidder goes ahead and turns the number of cards they pledged.
If they do get only roses, they win, but if they hit a skull card they lose. Simple, straightforward and easy to set up; it’ll keep the fun going in your aeroplane aisle.
Best For - The Beach
Dobble is a test of observation skills and reflexes for up to eight players. Symbols and images are spread across a deck, with participants challenged to find the lone matching image between any two cards. In a battle of wits and quick-thinking, only the sharpest minds will come out on top. There are also many editions for you to enjoy:
Easy to pack up and transport, Dobble is perfect for playing gathered around a beach towel.
Best For - A Rainy Day
Ticket to Ride: First Journey is a new version of the hit game Ticket to Ride, which has been slightly simplified to suit younger audiences. Promising hours of fun, players are challenged to build continent-crossing railways lines, connecting two cities they’ve been tasked with joining.
Its pan-European theme makes it perfect for your holiday, with young minds learning the names of national capitals between the fun of building lines and picking up tickets!
Best For - A Coach Trip
Whether it’s your airport-to-accommodation connection or a long-journeyed excursion, holiday coach trips can get a little dull, particularly since you just want to get out and enjoy yourselves ASAP.
When space is limited, you just can’t beat family classic Uno. Race to get rid of all your cards first by matching colours and numbers, all the while action cards cause mayhem.
Best For - Evening Entertainment
With over a million combinations up for a play, you’ll never get bored of Randomise. Take it in turns to pick cards that’ll spell out a random identity – which you must then choose to draw, act or describe to your teammate within a set time limit.
One minute you might be a ticklish turtle baking a cake, then a blushing robot scuba diving the next. It’ll keep everyone giggling well into the evening.
Now you’ve got the fun and games taken care of, start planning your next family getaway with Thomas Cook.
Editors note: This blog was originally published on May 2nd, 2018. Updated on May 28th, 2021 to improve the information available.