Traveling With Family

While I remember many fun family trips as a kid, the same trip can be a totally different experience for an adult. For starters, adults must ensure that the kiddos have fun, otherwise it’s almost guaranteed you won’t! Family travel comes with its own challenges. As a child, family trips are adventure-filled with new experiences and exciting discoveries. Children are free to explore and have fun, while adults balance their desire for fun, relaxation and leisure with their responsibilities, such as the budget. Additionally, family travel doesn’t only mean travel with children, but can also mean extended family including grandparents and so forth, resulting an even more complicated planning process. The adults in the group may have a greater appreciation for cultural and historical sites, while children will most likely be more interested in amusement parks or other kid-friendly attractions. Bottom line, family travel can be enjoyable at any age, but it will take a lot of careful planning and coordinating.

Tips for Booking Family Travelers

When booking a trip for a family, the first thing that comes to mind is that the destination must include family-friendly activities and excursions. A place kids and adults can enjoy or let’s just say kids of all ages. Disney Cruise anyone? Most cruises that are kid friendly will be a great choice for a family. Not all cruise ships are the same of course, but the larger lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have something for kids of all ages, whether you are eight or 80 years old. Families are a huge market for cruise lines, so they ensure that kids have plenty to do on the ship both indoors and outdoors with arcades, pools, kids’ clubs and more. Plus, there’s plenty of time for the adults to have fun while the kids are safely playing.

Safaris are a fantastic kid-friendly vacation. Not only do they offer a chance to see the incredible wildlife up close, but they also provide a unique and immersive educational experience for children. Kids can learn about different animals, their habitats and the importance of conservation efforts in a way that’s fun and engaging. Many safari lodges and camps also offer special children’s programs and activities like guided bush walks, animal tracking and junior ranger programs. With a wide range of accommodations and activities available, safaris can be tailored to fit the needs and interests of the entire family with children of all ages, making it an ideal choice for a memorable and educational family vacation.

Traveling Together Creates Lasting Memories

Traveling together as a family can be a wonderful and enriching experience. It provides an opportunity for families to bond, create memories and learn about new cultures and ways of life. When families travel together, they learn to work together to solve problems and make decisions, which can improve communication and strengthen relationships. Travel can provide a break from the routine of everyday life, allowing families to relax and enjoy quality time together. It can broaden children’s horizons and teach them about the world beyond their own community. Experiencing new foods, languages and customs can be a valuable learning experience for both parents and children. In short, traveling together as a family will impact the group in ways that few other activities can. Those memories will be shared for many years to come, after elderly parents can no longer travel as much.

If you’re planning an international trip for a family with kids, there are several kid-friendly countries that offer a variety of fun activities and attractions. Japan is a popular destination for families due to its theme parks, interactive museums and kid-friendly cuisine. Many cities in Europe such as Paris, London and Amsterdam have a variety of museums, historical sites and family-friendly attractions like amusements parks. Costa Rica is another great option, with its rainforests, beaches and abundant wildlife. Australia is a wonderful family-friendly destination with beaches and wildlife parks, and the opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef. Canada is known for its friendly locals and natural beauty. Theme parks such as Disney World or Universal Studios offer rides, shows and attractions for kids of all ages. And don’t forget camping and road trips … both of which come with their own fun and challenges.

There are so many options for family travelers that choosing a destination with something for everyone shouldn’t be too difficult. For the trip to have the best chance of success, I suggest that everyone is involved in the planning process. Let each family member have a say in the destination, accommodation and activities especially those that everyone can participate in and will enjoy. I would create a plan for each day to ensure travelers get to do everything they want to, but also leave time for exploring the unknown. You never know what you will discover on your travels and travelers may want to explore spontaneously as opposed to sticking to the plan. Make sure to allow some downtime and arrange entertainment to keep the kids busy while the adults enjoy some grown-up activities. Many hotels or resorts will have supervision for the kids which will allow free time for the parents. Remember, family-friendly travel is all about enjoying time together, having lots of fun and creating memories, for everyone!

About the Author

Travel has been a huge part of my life since the age of two and since my entire family is obsessed with travel, our vacations were often a huge family affair and so much fun!

I recall island getaways, ski trips, camping, luxe hotels and gorgeous mountain lodges, but camping, or glamping, as it’s called today was always our favorite way of vacationing. My parents were both wine aficionados and I was lucky to have my first wine tasting experience in Epernay, France. I loved it – not only the wine but the gorgeous wineries and fabulous landscapes which has become a niche in my business.

One of my favorite memories of all time is of my dad building a fire as the sun set, cooking for the family with mom, while we enjoyed a glass of outstanding wine. The sounds and smells of the bushveld, the warmth of the crackling fire and our family chattering about which encounter with the wildlife had us on the edge of our seats that day. Needless to say, African Safaris Adventures is another niche, and the ultimate experience is a wine tasting tour and safari combo.

Solo is my preferred way to travel but exploring new destinations with loved ones … a definite close second. Travel has enhanced my life in ways I cannot explain and I get antsy when I have not spent at least a week exploring a new destination. It truly is my medicine!