How to Travel Abroad With a Family
by Jennifer Thayer
Smart moms know that the best time to start planning a family vacation is well in advance. That’s especially true if your vacation dreams are a little bigger than Disneyland or Six Flags. International travel with a family is obviously going to be more complex than going abroad sans kids, but planning a cultural vacation doesn’t have to be so difficult that the whole thing stops feeling like a vacation and starts feeling like a second job.
There are lots of great reasons to travel abroad with your kids in tow. A road trip on Iceland’s Ring Road, an African photo safari, a European odyssey by train or a Machu Picchu hike will create lasting memories that will change your children’s perspective on life and on the world now and into adulthood. An international vacation broadens your whole family’s horizons. And the best part is that thanks to exchange rates and tourist economies, an international trip may not even cost you much more than a week in Orlando.
The key to creating a fun and memorable experience (versus a stressful one) is forethought and plenty of it. First, if you know you’re traveling out of the country with your kids in the coming year check to make sure all your passports are up to date now. That way if you need to renew your own or get the new baby’s all squared away, you’re not rushing. Next make a travel budget and check into whether your family’s health insurance will cover illnesses and accidents abroad. There are several options for travel medical insurance depending on your trip.
And then when you’re actually getting ready to go, pack as lightly as you can. Some international destinations are more kid-friendly than others – maybe you’ll need to bring your own car seats or the pack and play or maybe you can rent them once you’ve arrived. An all-inclusive resort that specifically advertises family-friendliness is more likely to have things like cribs, activities and even on-site babysitters. For instance, the all-inclusive Barcelo resorts in Latin America have mini clubs for the little ones, kid-size water parks and entertainment for whole families.
Once you arrive, give your kids the gift of broadened horizons by immersing yourself in the local culture. Don’t speak the language? A translation app like iTranslate can help you navigate off the beaten path. Visit the most popular landmarks, parks, museums or nature reserves, of course, but earmark some time for exploring, too. Try one or two of the restaurants where the locals eat. Stroll down avenues and visit beaches where tourists seldom go. You may find your children pick up some of the country’s language or develop a fondness for new foods.
And that’s what makes vacationing abroad with kids so special and worth the time it takes to do it right. Explore the world with your children now and you’ll raise sons and daughters who have a greater appreciation for everything the world has to offer, near and far.
About the Author: Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer from Southern California. She is passionate about exploring new ways technology can be used to make day-to-day tasks easier. Follow her on Twitter
Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo
