Hotspots for family sailing vacations include the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean Islands, the coast of Florida, Brazil and Argentina and European countries such as Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Families usually prefer lonely cays and beaches for their sailing vacations and avoid crowded waters.

Many tourist agencies provide packages for family sailing vacations. The first step is in finding a properly sized yacht or catamaran to accommodate the entire family. A big enough yacht will also have rooms or cabins for the people on board. Food and drink is provided on board. There may also be provisions for live music and orchestras if the families so prefer. Some sailing vacations also hire emcees who coax the people to dance aboard in the style of cruises.