When you’ve just had your first child, it’s often out of the question to travel just for fun. But as your family expands and the kids grow older, making travel a part of your children’s lives – and bringing it back into your life – is a great idea. Not only will going on family trips create some great memories, but travel is often one of the most engaging learning experiences that you can give your children.
When it comes time to hit the road with the little ones, it might seem a bit daunting. There are a lot of things to consider: kids’ attention spans, their energy levels, their eating habits and what kind of activities they’ll be interested in (and for how long). It’ll take a little planning, but when done right, family travel can be easier – and a better value – than you might have imagined.
One of the simplest ways to give your kids a fun and exciting introduction to travel without having to stress too much is to go on a cruise. Cruise lines take many of the disparate planning tasks that come with travel and combine them, making your job infinitely easier. Your accommodations, transit, food and activities are all bundled together – all you have to do is get to the ship.
Keep in mind that not all cruises are kid-friendly, so explore the options that will be the best for a family experience. It doesn’t get more family-friendly (or exciting for the little ones) than Disney cruises. And since they go to ports of call all over the world, they’ll be just as exciting for mom and dad as they are for the kids.
Making smart destination selections is another key element of successfully introducing your family to travel. Consider your kids’ ages and interests (as well as your own). For example, trekking on Peru’s Inca Trail is a thrill – but one that should wait until the kids are at least in their teens and have traveled a bit. However, you can still introduce foreign destinations by choosing places and activities that won’t take kids too far outside their comfort zones.
Costa Rica vacations offer beaches and fun rainforest activities that are great for kids, and a visit to the capital of San Juan can be an exciting cultural exploration (and maybe an opportunity for fans of Dora the Explorer to use some of their Spanish). You can still make the process of planning and booking easy by relying on travel websites like Travelocity.com. You can compare flight prices, hotel rates and car rental costs, and often purchase “bundled” services at a lower price.
When you give your kids the gift of travel, you’re literally opening the world up to them. And though it’s wise to wait until the kids are at the appropriate age, you don’t want to miss out on the experience of traveling with them, so take advantage of family-friendly trip options when the time comes to hit the road.
