Suitable Vacations for Children

What constitutes a child-friendly vacation is not simple. Your own tastes and experience and the expectations of your children all need to be taken into account. So one family will not consider anything other than an all-inclusive resort specifically marketed to families. Another will take their children cycling in Nepal on a self-organized vacation. Effectively a child-friendly vacation is anything your children are happy to do.

Having said that, most parents will look for slightly different things to vacation with children than they did for themselves before they had children. So you may still travel to exotic countries, but there is a need to modify your activities to take into account specific health and fitness issues as well as ensuring the children are not bored. Also some countries are much more child friendly than others, and this makes taking care of children so much easier. If you are welcome to most restaurants and hotels and if people make it easy to take public transport then the whole process becomes much less stressful.

The extent to which you look for a vacation explicitly marketed to children depends on your tolerance and expectations.

You might find it easier to book self-catering accommodation rather than opt to stay in a hotel. The advantages are in terms of cost (you can buy and prepare your own food rather than having to eat out) and convenience. In this case, it is easier to organize the vacation to suit your family rather than fit around hotel meal times. The extra space is often welcome as is the greater degree of privacy.

Another thing to look for is whether or not child care arrangements are available. Creche facilities, nannies, nurseries, and day care centers can all make the vacation enjoyable for all. However, before going it is a good idea to check about language (nurseries etc are not always English speaking) and also the tolerance of your own children (some may not like being left with strangers, others will enjoy the experience).

Food is another possible problem. Children are notoriously faddy eaters and may not be too keen on exotic new options. If you opt for self-catering this is relatively easy to deal with but otherwise look for food they will recognize or approach eating as an adventure.

Finally, if you travel with teenagers, in many ways the problem is reversed. Does the planned vacation allow them time and opportunities to do the things they want to ... in other words can they escape you?