Help me make my daughter’s dreams come true!!

[Dungeonsandwagons]

My 8yr old is desperate to go to some far flung places, top of her list are America, Central America and Japan. I’m a single mum and I would LOVE to take her travelling and have adventures together. Currently we’ve only done European countries and I’m not dissing Spain etc but it’s not culturally massively different. She really wants to see something different.

However, I don’t have a never ending budget. Also as it’s me and her alone I don’t want to rough it too much / need to be aware of safety. Are there any tips on taking some more adventurous trips that satisfy her desire to see something different but that might not cost the earth?

any help appreciated!!!

Can you afford flights to these places? Or are you looking for cheaper but exciting destinations?

This isn't on your daughter's list that you've mentioned, but Marakech is like being in another world, culture-wise! You can get cheapish flights with Easyjet (and possibly others) and book local accomadation within the city. Lots of markets (souks) to wander round, hear the call to prayer, see completely different style of buildings and how they're built for the heat etc, very educational. I would say it's one of the cheapest places to get to from the UK to experience a truly different culture

There is no way ai would encourage two females to go alone to Marrakech.

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-turn-high-cost-japan-into-a-cheap-place-to-visit/

this might help

What about WOOFING. You get put up for free bed and board but you do have to work whilst you are there. It could me milking goats, picking fruit.

We went to Greece and did the jobs above for 6 hours a day, five out of seven days. Lots of spare time and and totally immersed in a different culture.

The Shetland Isles
Copenhagen
Try some European travel while you save

Yes to North Africa, also Jordan.

Flights to Central America can be expensive, but if you are not in prime tourist land the stay there needn't be. You don't get to experience the different culture in tourist land anyway.

America is a huge place, you used to be able to get some cheap flights with Norwegian but they no longer fly there. Again you can spend as much or as little as you want once there, depending on what you do. How much time off are you able to take?

That said, she is still very young. I'd save the more expensive trips until she's a teenager, she'll get more out of them then.

Any particular reason? I did and always felt very safe. You get some "badgering" to buy things but other than that I found it very respectful and safe

Have you watched Race Across the World? There’s been three series now, and a fourth celebrity one about to start.

Does this also present an opportunity for her to learn about saving for something important to her?

Marrakesh is fine. Very civilised and safe.

I agree with Marrakech, it's wonderful. I can highly recommend this absolutely beautiful riad owned by a French couple that we stayed at - very exotic and a good location so you can walk everywhere you might want to go from here.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g293734-d596796-Reviews-Riad_Yasmine-Marrakech_Marrakech_Safi.html
Istanbul is another city I couldn't recommend highly enough, so much to see and do. The other hugely under rated country that is very exotic and I loved travelling around as a solo female (and small enough to get a driver to take you from one end to the other) is Jordan. I stayed in the Rumman Hotel in Madaba which a a lovely town and then they did tours out all over the place. Petra and Wadi Rum are mind blowing.

I’d be saying… yes that’s lovely darling, but very expensive. Let’s watch some travel blogs / read about these cultures / looks at things on Google Earth.

In the meantime, there’s plenty to do in the U.K. and Europe. If it’s food, sightseeing, the travel itself etc. You can easily scratch that itch much closer to home.

Other than that… ferry and drive into Europe, cheap flights/trains/hostels… I would remind you that she’s 8 and that you’re the adult here?!

DS11 wanted to visit some more exciting places this summer, inspired by Race Across The World. We couldn’t stretch to Azerbaijan but Interrail tickets are an absolute bargain and we had a fantastic week in Hungary and Slovakia. Planning Estonia and Finland for next summer. It was so lovely spending a week with just him, away from our whole family holiday.

I agree about the importance of saving up and understanding a budget. We had a daily budget and he made sure we stuck to it (we did, easily). And each set of grandparents and his dad each contributed a night hotel stay as a birthday gift.

Bear in mind that, at eight, most places are exciting, it doesn’t have to be the other side of the world. I agree to save some of the more adventurous places for a couple of years, when they can be more involved in the planning and will remember more.

Random thought but it might be worth entering some competitions too to win trips? I won a trip to India from whittards a few years ago, and a friend won a trip to the Maldives from a national newspaper. Obviously it's luck but could be worth a try?

I would be looking at getting off the tourist track in European countries initially

Interrailing can be cost effective and can give more of a sense of travelling / adventure

You could take the train to Istanbul, might be an exciting trip?

These places are all going to be pretty expensive and you also have to factor in time as well. For example, Japan needs at least 3 weeks and even that isn't enough. Tokyo alone can easily take a good week/ 10 days. The only time you'd have would be the Xmas/Summer holidays and neither are particularly good times if year.

Why not turn it into a project? Get her to research places she'd like to go to including a rough itinerary and costs and she can present it to you (I've done this with my teenage students).
Then work out how you can both save this money. For example, putting change into a glass jar so she can see how it's increasing etc. My parents save £2 and 50ps for holiday extras... soon builds up.

I must be a misery, but I always told my children money doesn't grow on trees. We saved up and went on holidays we could afford. Still wonderful, but never cost more than 3.5k for four of us. I think it's best to have a parent sensible with money.

Love this show and it's made me want to do it!

I'd just tell her you can't afford it.

If you do all the exciting travel now, what are you planning for when she's a moody discontented teenager?

The idea of picking a place and saving together is a good one. Make a big inspiration board and a visual way to measure your savings towards it. Get her involved in the planning and the saving. Travel is a massive privilege and something she should learn to understand the value of.

I got the impression OP was asking for amazing trips she could actually afford?

Theres Tabernas in Spain that might scratch the America itch.
I had an amazing time in Marrakesh, and would recommend. Egypt and seeing pyramids, what about the alps in summer, if you stay at the refuges its really cheap, very pretty cities like Prague, Bruges, Dubrovnik?

I also agree I’d save the big travel for when she is a teenager

I like other posters ideas of European destinations off the beaten track.

Another option that friends have don't with their children is 'Passport around the world' where once a fortnight they do a theme night based on the chosen country. Music/Food/Dress and Decorations, you could even add a trip like the American Museum or an American style dinner. Your daughter could also make her own passport. www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/passports-for-kids-activity/

Maybe get your daughter to also plan a day out in the uk. You set the budget and travel contracts and she is in charge of the food and destination and mode of travel.
L

What a lovely post and lovely aspirations, OP!

https://travelynnfamily.com/

I follow this family on Instagram who travel often with their children and blog about it. They have spent a lot of time in Morocco and have recently spent time in Asia. Would definitely have a look, as there is loads of great child friendly advice!