More adventurous holidays with young kids?

[ProfessionalPirate]

2 DC aged 3 (soon to be 4) and 7.5
We’ve done years of European beach holidays and I’m pretty sick of them. Went to Florida in October and found the longer flights fine. Can anyone recommend any destinations / trip itineraries that would be suitable for young children?

I keep looking into places and then talking myself out of them as I don’t think the children are old enough yet. Eg we’d love to go to Costa Rica but there’s no way DD3 would cope with the hiking or be old enough to do the zip lines.

TIA!

Thailand and Vietnam both easy with young kids -
jet lag the biggest challenge you will face!

We did Malaysia with similar age kids last year - 4 nights in KL and then flew to the islands and island hopped for 4 more nights. It was a great trip and the kids loved it. Considering Thailand or Sri Lanka for this October half term.

When DS was 5 and 6 we went to Peru and Namibia. Both were great trips. With Peru we organised everything ourselves, which was very easy. It was harder in Namibia so we used an agent. We travelled around both places so had quite a bit of variety.

Thanks, SE Asia sounds like a contender. Did you use a tour operator or book yourselves? Any particular sights or activities that you enjoyed? Sri Lanka also on the list.

Would love to go to Peru but after research concluded that DD would struggle with the terrain around Macchu Piccu etc. Similarly she’s a bit too young for proper safari, but these are definitely trips we would like to take a few years down the line.

We’ve been looking at Japan too. Also Mexico as DS is currently very into the Aztecs but get very mixed reviews for that!

Thailand is great with kids. Book yourself, super easy. No need to book any activities in advance, you can organise all that while there, will be a lot cheaper as well.

Singapore was good with young dc. It’s small enough to stay in one place and use taxis or public transport to get to the attractions. It feels fairly Western and there was always a pharmacy or child-friendly food close to hand. There are so many child-friendly attractions, everyone speaks English well and no extreme activities like swimming in waterfalls, caving, jungle trekking etc…

Europe is more than just "beach holidays." There are numerous threads on MN about holidays in the Austrian, French and Italian Alps and about childrens' holidays at Kinderhotels.

There are even places that have small beginner zip wires and ropeways for the very young kids, such as the one at the High Ropes park in Hinterglemm.

Oh definitely I agree, we’ve got a rail tour of Northern Italy booked for this July for a start and I love the Alps in Summer. I’m keen to get alternative suggestions for Europe as well as long haul. But I must admit I’m slightly craving that sense of culture shock and exploration that I seem to only get by venturing a bit further afield. It’s been a while!

We went to Goa and the golden triangle Delhi, Agra and Jaipur when mine were 5 and 8 - they loved it and were very well looked after in the hotels we stayed in. Alternatively we have taken the eurotunnel and driven around Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and France on a couple of road trips staying 1-3 nights in each place. This was easy when the kids were that age as we did just 2-3 hours driving between locations and just took what we needed from the car when we stopped. Last one we did we went to Neuschwanstein castle, Munich, Black Forest, Lake Constance and Europa park which was really fun and interesting- loads to do in summer around that area.

Safari!

Although I have to say, the kinderhotels that I’ve seen previously haven’t really appealed to me - just look like centre parcs or euro camp, or am I missing something?

Quality of accommodation is something I seem to struggle to find in Europe at times, the hotels for our Italy trip are ££££ but look decidedly average.

I’m desperate to take them on Safari but I think we’re a way off that yet. DH and I went pre-children and it was the best holiday, but there’s no way DD would cope with it currently. What age do you think would be ok?

These ideas sound wonderful, will look into them!

We went to cape town and nearby areas with young children (almost 2 year old twins and 5 year old). The flight was easy as overnight and they are on the same time zone so no jet lag. You don't really go out late at night (due to safety). But we found this fine for young children as either ate out early or ordered in (uber delivered anything you could want). We did table mountain (via cable car), cape point, penguins, boat trip, steam train trip, wine vineyard tours on the tram. And lots more

We did lots of holidays to Turkey when our children were young. Stayed away from the big tourist resorts, hired a car and did lots of independent exploring of Greek ruins off the beaten track. Also did gulet trips with swimming and snorkeling and visiting remote beaches, often with ruins to see underwater.

Thanks, Cape Town definitely appeals.

They were amazing holidays - in India if you book Taj or Marriott or similar standard hotels you won’t be disappointed and you will be well looked after - and in Delhi you can arrange a private car with guides etc very easily through the hotel for the other locations. My children were enchanted by the Taj Mahal, and loved exploring the palaces in Jaipur. Goa is a lovely introduction to the culture of India.

I'm looking at booking an Austrian hotel in the summer in the mountains - it's a lot cheaper than the Italian ones, so perhaps shift the areas you are looking for. The place we are looking at is 3500 EUR all inclusive with a kids club for a week, food is of an excellent standard, excellent reviews, and on site spa. It's not one of the heavily Instagrammed places but looks lovely. Located in an area full of things for kids to do but without being exclusively for kids (like child-friendly hikes and waterfalls). By contrast a place we were looking at in Ortisei was 6500 EUR and only half board. I thought I'd start with the cheaper Austrian resort (which looks lovely) and if we all like it we could do a more expensive Italian resort another year.

Japan would also be a good option for you, further afield. I have kids slightly older than yours but just not sure it's worth the expense yet. I'd rather save it for when they are teens.

Costa Rica was fun for us. Lots of wildlife, waterfalls, zip lines, rainforests and beaches.

Oh actually maybe they are a bit young.

At that age it doesn’t have to be exotic - centrepieces abroad, or even skiing is fun.

We moved to China when dd was 2 and ds 8 so had many holidays in south east Asia. Vietnam and Thailand are really easy to diy.
Had some great holidays in Borneo - orang utans, kayaking, long houses etc.
Cambodia was great for us, but dcs did get a bit fed up of all the temples in Siem Reap. Although they both loved travelling by tuk tuk.

It's a lot closer to home than some suggestions but we did Chamonix valley when kids were 5 and 7 and had a fab holiday. Went in the glacier, up the highest cable car in Europe, go ape type rope things, cable car + mountain huts, glacier train...there was a gorgeous spot along the valley you could bus to and sit outside a cafe/chalet while kids played all afternoon in the stream.

Would LOVE to hear you itinerary for northern Italy!

My pick would be Malaysia if you are thinking summer holidays. Thailand if you can go in winter. Not Vietnam IMO until they are older.

South Africa could also be great - spring or autumn ideally- there are non malarial game reserves and lots of other nature too.

Wherever you go, be prepared that their favourite bit will probably be the pool. Although animals will also be a hit.

I second black forrest in Germany, I did it with a 4 & 8 year old quite a few years ago on my own...
It was 3 weeks staying on a campsite with free access to the local pool and free local public transport. We did lots of different things hiking to a castle, visiting caves going to a theme park and zoo with local animals (deer, wild boar, linx,...) went on cable car and had a little lock cruise on the river Rhine... one of the things older DC still remembers is going to a local Italian restaurant (nothing fancy) that had white table cloth and people eat their pizza with knife & fork!
I don't think you need to fly long haul to have a special holiday with young DC. Keep the exotic places for when youngest is 9/10 and they are able to remember the a few more things about the holiday!

PS: the only true way to see Machu Picchu is by hiking the Inka Trail!