The results are based on analysis of various criteria, including flight times, availability and number of family activities, frequency and quality of hotels and so on. The top scoring destination was the Algarve, in Portugal, while Cornwall in the UK, Majorca in Spain, Corsica in France and Tenerife in the Canary Islands made up the rest of the top five.

“Booking a family holiday can be a challenge for parents as there are many different aspects to consider when finding the perfect destination,” said Columbus Direct’s Stuart Lloyd. “From choosing accommodation and restaurants to eat at that have experience in catering to children, combined with the need to choose a location that hosts plenty of activities that both children and the whole family can get involved in. It is great to see so many destinations provided by our European neighbours that cater to families on holiday and help make parents’ choice far easier and stress-free. It is also great to see Cornwall appear as one of the top places to go to as a family, with the rise of the staycation and also for those outside of the UK wanting to holiday here.”

The Algarve made it to the top of the list based on its 2,529 child-friendly restaurants and 275 hotels, and the fact that it is very close to the airport.

Columbus Direct has expanded its research into an interactive feature on its website, where customers can explore the various destinations included. Families will no doubt find this information useful, but travel insurers interested in charting where people are going and updating their risk profiles accordingly may also benefit. While a ‘family-friendly’ destination may seem on the face of it to be somewhere that a traveller would be unlikely to get into difficulty, this is no reason to forego travel insurance – after all, problems can occur on the way to the airport, before holidaymakers even get to their destination. Luckily, Columbus Direct is as keen to promote the importance of a good family policy as it is to show where families should go on holiday, as Lloyd emphasises: "Family holidays are often full of fun activities to entertain children and the whole family. Family travel insurance is a fantastic way to cover both parents and children during their holiday and the activities they take part in, allowing the holiday to be enjoyed without any additional worry."

Let's hope that families take note.