Recently, many of my friends have been asking me about traveling with kids during Spring Festival. As an experienced parent who has traveled around the world with my child, I have a lot to share. Having visited over 20 countries with my son, encountering numerous challenges along the way, I want to share these years of experience and lessons with everyone. These are truly hard-learned lessons! Before each trip, I do extensive research and study various travel guides to avoid problems when traveling with kids. However, after so many trips, I can now plan itineraries with ease.
When it comes to family travel, many parents think of Disney first. Indeed, Disney is a great destination, but there are many choices. You can plan based on your child's age and interests. For example, my child loves nature, so we often choose beach or lakeside vacations. Some children like history and culture, so visiting historical sites is suitable; others love animals, so safaris or national parks are good options. The key is understanding what your child enjoys.
Speaking of Disney, my child has visited Disney parks in several countries. Each Disney has its own characteristics - Tokyo Disney has particularly attentive service, Paris Disney has the most dreamy castle, and Shanghai Disney has the most innovative attractions. However, I must remind everyone to do thorough research before visiting Disney. For example, study how to use Fast Passes, which attractions are most suitable for your child, and when crowds are smallest.
Last year when I took my son to Mexico, we chose a resort particularly suitable for families. Why Mexico? Because the beaches have fine, white sand, crystal-clear water, and most importantly, the resort facilities are perfect for children. Cancun's beaches are truly beautiful, with suitable water temperature and gentle waves, ideal for children to play in. Also, Mexicans really love children, and the staff are especially warm towards kids.
My son had a fantastic time there, building sandcastles and enjoying water sports during the day, with special family activities in the evening. The resort organized different themed activities daily, like treasure hunts, bonfires, and beach movies. Most memorable was an evening when they organized a firefly release activity - it was truly magical.
Speaking of the resort's kids' club, it was a huge help. Professional childcare staff organize various fun activities like crafts, cooking classes, and clown shows. Children have fun there while parents can enjoy time alone. However, I must remind everyone to check reviews of kids' clubs when choosing resorts, as quality varies. Some resorts we visited had new facilities in their kids' clubs, but activities were monotonous. So I suggest checking other guests' reviews before choosing.
Another discovery in Mexico was finding some local activities particularly suitable for children. For example, visiting sea turtle conservation centers where children can get close to baby turtles and learn about marine life protection. Also, visiting Mayan ruins where guides explain history to children in an engaging way, sparking their interest in ancient civilizations.
If your children are a bit older, consider adventure vacations. Last winter we went to Costa Rica, which was truly unforgettable. In the morning we went jungle trekking with a guide seeing lots of wildlife, in the afternoon we tried surfing, and in the evening we ziplined over the rainforest - it was amazing!
During jungle trekking, we saw lazy sloths, colorful tropical birds, and adorable little monkeys. The guide would explain the habits and characteristics of each animal, letting children learn while playing. Most exciting for my son was seeing a volcanic eruption! Though it was small-scale, it was an unforgettable lifetime experience for a child.
The surfing lessons were specially designed for children, with very patient instructors teaching from the most basic positions. I still vividly remember my son's proud expression when he first stood on the surfboard. Although he fell several times, he persisted until the end - this spirit of not giving up easily was the best gift from traveling.
The zipline activity was conducted under professional instructor guidance with thorough safety measures. The feeling of overlooking the rainforest from above was truly breathtaking. My son was a bit scared at first, but with the instructor's encouragement, he not only completed the whole course but wanted to go again.
Besides these exciting activities, we also participated in some cultural experiences. Like visiting coffee plantations to learn the whole process from coffee beans to coffee; visiting local schools to interact with local students and experience different education methods; visiting chocolate workshops to make chocolate by hand. These experiences gave my child a deeper understanding of the country.
When it comes to vacation styles, I most recommend all-inclusive resorts. The biggest worry when traveling with kids is having to worry about everything, but all-inclusive resorts have arranged everything from meals to activities, so you don't have to worry about children going hungry or finding entertainment.
The most important thing when choosing an all-inclusive resort is looking at their children's programs. Some resorts have character meet-and-greets, while others provide dedicated children's playgrounds. For example, one resort we visited not only had indoor and outdoor play facilities but also a special children's restaurant with menus designed for kids' tastes.
Another advantage of all-inclusive resorts is high safety. All activities take place within the resort, so you don't have to worry about children getting lost. Also, most resorts are equipped with medical facilities, so if children feel unwell, they can get immediate medical attention.
However, when choosing all-inclusive resorts, you need to pay attention to some details. For example, check the resort's location, preferably choosing ones with convenient transportation; understand the difference between peak and off-season, as peak season can be very crowded and affect the experience; also look at the resort's hardware facilities, especially room size and configuration, as you need enough space when traveling with children.
Some all-inclusive resorts we've visited provide special services. Like 24-hour room service, so you don't have to worry if children get hungry at night; stroller rental services, saving you from bringing large luggage; some resorts even provide dedicated child butler services to help look after children.
If budget allows, I especially recommend trying customized itineraries. When we went to Peru, we found a reliable local travel agency to customize our itinerary. They not only arranged a pace suitable for children but also arranged some interactive archaeological site visits based on my son's interest in archaeology.
The biggest advantage of custom tours is flexibility. You can arrange the itinerary according to children's routines, neither too rushed nor too leisurely. Also, guides for custom tours are generally experienced and know how to interact with children and stimulate their interest.
In Peru, the guide took us to Machu Picchu, but instead of following the regular route, they specially designed an exploration route suitable for children. Along the way, the guide would tell interesting Inca legends and pose small questions for children to think about. This way of combining education with fun sparked children's interest in history.
Besides visiting ruins, we also experienced some local special activities. Like going to a small village in Cusco to weave alpaca wool and make traditional textiles with locals; visiting the Sacred Valley to see terraces and understand Incan agricultural wisdom; going to Pisac Market to let children bargain with locals using their pocket money, developing independence.
Although custom tours are more expensive, they can bring truly unique experiences. However, I must remind everyone to compare several travel agencies, look at their reputation and previous cases. It's best to talk with other families who have chosen this travel agency to understand their real experiences.
After talking about so much, you're probably worried about the budget? Actually, there are ways to save money when traveling with kids. First is choosing off-season travel, when flights and hotels are much cheaper. Second is choosing combination itineraries - like when we went to Tahiti, we chose a combined package of Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora, which was much cheaper than booking separately.
Choosing off-season travel not only saves money but also provides better experiences. With fewer people, there's no queuing, and service is better. However, note that when choosing off-season, check local weather conditions. Some places are off-season due to bad weather, which needs careful consideration.
Combination packages are another good way to save money. Many travel agencies or airlines offer package products including flights, hotels, and transfers. These packages are usually 20%-30% cheaper than booking separately. When we went to Hawaii, we chose a four-island tour package, which not only saved money but also had a well-arranged itinerary.
Also, booking in advance is a good way to save money. Many hotels and airlines offer early bird discounts. I usually start monitoring prices for target destinations half a year in advance and book when discounts are highest.
Using points is another way to save money. You can accumulate airline miles and hotel points during regular life to use when traveling. We've used points several times to redeem flights and hotels, saving quite a bit.
Another money-saving tip is choosing accommodations with kitchens. This way, you can prepare breakfast and some simple meals yourself, which is both economical and healthy. When we went to Japan, we rented an apartment, making breakfast ourselves every morning, eating out for lunch, and cooking simple noodles for dinner, keeping the budget within reasonable range.
When traveling with kids, the most important thing is flexibility. Don't pack the schedule too full; give children enough rest time. My experience is that arranging 2-3 main activities per day is enough, leaving time for free activities and rest in between.
Schedule arrangements should consider children's biological clock. For example, my child is used to early sleeping and rising, so we usually arrange main activities in the morning, with a more relaxed afternoon. For long-haul flights, it's best to give children a day or two to adjust to jet lag.
Packing when traveling with children is also an art. Besides basic clothing and supplies, pay special attention to bringing emergency medicines like fever reducers, cold medicine, motion sickness medicine, etc. If going to tropical regions, mosquito repellent and sunscreen are essential.
Accommodation choice also needs special attention. Best to choose hotels with convenient locations and complete surrounding facilities. If traveling with infants, check if hotels provide cribs and heaters. Some hotels provide children's welcome packages - these small details can make travel more enjoyable.
Regarding food, it's recommended to let children try local cuisine while also preparing some snacks they usually like. If worried about adjustment to local conditions, can bring probiotics. When going to countries with very different dietary habits, better understand local restaurant situations in advance to see if there are suitable choices for children.
Regarding transportation, if self-driving, must prepare child safety seats. If flying, better choose direct flights as transfers are tiring for children. For long flights, prepare some toys or games that can keep children interested.
Looking back on these years of family travel experiences, I deeply feel that travel is very important for children's growth. It not only broadens children's horizons but also cultivates their independence and adaptability. Children who travel frequently often better understand how to take care of themselves and are more accepting of new things.
Through travel, children can learn things not found in textbooks. Like cultural differences, geographical knowledge, historical stories, etc. Most importantly, travel can bring children confidence and courage. I remember once in New Zealand, my son overcame his fear of heights and completed skydiving - that sense of achievement is indescribable.
Travel is also the best way to strengthen parent-child relationships. During travel, parents and children have more time together, can experience various interesting things together, and create shared memories. These beautiful memories will become the most precious wealth on children's growth path.
So, rather than wondering whether to travel with kids, better start planning now. After all, companionship is the best education, and travel is the best form of companionship. While children are still young, take them out more to see this wonderful world!
Do you have any special places you want to visit? Welcome to share your family travel wish list in the comments. Let's plan our next exciting journey together!
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