By choosing to spend a week of their summer holiday in Mexico, Tony Blair and his family are following a significant trend. Tour operators say more and more families are taking advantage of half-price airfares and 'kids stay free' offers at hotels in far-flung places that once were the domain of honeymooners and well-heeled couples.

British Airways Holidays says the number of children it carries to the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Far East has doubled in the last three years. It has responded by making its Worldwide brochure more family friendly. Children can stay free at most hotels when sharing a room with parents and under-12s are entitled to half-price BA airfares to the Caribbean, with prices from £269 for a return fare to Barbados. In addition, hotels such as the Wyndham Rosehall in Jamaica, increasingly offer half-price rates for children staying in a separate room.

The favourite destinations for families are Barbados and St Lucia but the fastest grow ing destination is Mauritius. Product manager Lesley Rollo said: 'The Indian Ocean has traditionally been a honeymoon destination but now hotels are becoming much more switched on to families' needs. At Le Coco Beach in Mauritius, for example, they are going all out to appeal to families with kids clubs and children's restaurants.'

Long-haul specialist Kuoni also tips the Indian Ocean as a growing favourite with families and has seen increased interest in Dubai, which is less than seven hours' flying time away and has a reputation for being clean, safe and sunny.

Families looking for more than a traditional beach holiday are also catered for. Travelbag Adventures this year introduced a programme of adventurous holidays for families with children as young as five. Options range from safaris in Tanzania to elephant trekking in Thailand. Managing director Mark Wright said: 'The demand for these holidays has been incredible and we are now having to lay on extra departures. I think their success is due to the fact that there is a learning aspect to many of the trips and they also allow parents to enjoy adventure travel the way they did before children.'

The operator has recently added an extra October departure for its Egypt tour which features sailing down the Nile in a traditional felucca, visits to the tombs and temples at Luxor, a donkey ride through the Valley of Kings and snorkelling in the Red Sea.