Travel with children

Hi everyone,

We’re a couple with an 8-year-old daughter, and we’d love to head to the islands this summer (late July to early August) for 15 days to enjoy the beaches, beautiful landscapes, snorkeling, and see sea turtles.

We’re torn between Mauritius and Guadeloupe (where we went about ten years ago as a "just the two of us" couple).

We’ve read a few things about both destinations: - About Mauritius: July and August are during the southern winter, so temperatures are cooler, and the water isn’t always very warm (it’s all relative, though!). On the east coast, it can be quite windy and therefore cooler. - About Guadeloupe: July and August are the rainy season, but the rain is mostly at night and in the morning. That means warm, sunny days with nice warm water!

Of course, it’s impossible to predict the weather six months in advance, but we’d love to hear your thoughts on these destinations.

Thanks in advance for your feedback,

Gaëlle and Laurent (and Emma!)

Hi everyone,

We're heading to Hakone in April with two kids aged 6 and 11. We’ve decided to spend 2 nights in the area, but I’m struggling to pinpoint the best spots to stay. Is it better to stay in Hakone Yumoto? I’ve also seen Moto Hakone, which looks nice, or Gora. Since we’ll be using public transport, we need somewhere easily accessible (with restaurants and shops close to the accommodation if possible). We’d love to treat ourselves to a ryokan in this area—ideally with a nice view and a private onsen. Is it better to be near the lake and the boats, or does it not matter? If you have any tips or accommodation recommendations, I’d love to hear them! :)

Thanks in advance!!

Hello,

As part of a 10-month trip to explore and discover South America, we’d like to start our journey in northern Brazil since the timing is perfect for traveling up the Amazon. We’re traveling as a family of five with three kids aged 6, 9, and 18.

Our plan is to leave from Manaus and reach Yurimaguas in Peru via the Amazon, mostly by boat. Since we have plenty of time, we can take breaks to explore the different stops along the way that are worth it. The idea is to eventually head to Colombia via Ecuador later on.

So far, we’ve identified the following stops: - Manaus - Tabatinga - Iquitos - Sumiria Reserve (we’d like to stay there for a week) - Yurimaguas.

We’re thinking of traveling in a cabin/hammock for the longest leg (Manaus to Tabatinga) and just in hammocks for the shorter trips (max 3 days).

I have a few questions: 1. From a safety perspective, is the area we’re planning to cross safe, considering we’ll be with our three kids, the youngest being 6? 2. Isn’t this route a bit too ambitious for our kids? 3. We’re considering adding the Santarém/Manaus leg. Is Santarém a city worth adding to the itinerary? 4. Among the planned stops, which ones deserve a special visit? 5. Do the boat trips always include meals on board, or should we be careful when booking? 6. What would be a reasonable estimate for the duration of this trip to fully enjoy it?

I’ve read quite a bit—like trying to board early to get the best hammock spots, and that travel times can vary depending on currents, stops, and potential technical issues. But that’s not a problem since we have all the time in the world! :)

We’d love to hear from anyone who’s traveled in this area before!

Thanks so much in advance for your help in planning our trip.

Rémy, Céline, Antoine, Sacha, and Paul

Hi everyone,

We’re a family with two kids aged 5 and 7, and we’ve been dreaming of heading to Norway in winter to see the northern lights, the Lofoten Islands, and maybe even whales or orcas... I was thinking of booking flights to arrive in TROMSØ and then leave about ten days later from EVENES. We’ll be getting around by rental car, and if you’ve got any hotel or accommodation recommendations that you loved, activities that are off the beaten path, or other great tips to share, we’d love to hear them!

Thanks so much in advance for your help!

Have a great day.

Aurélie

Hi there.

We’re planning a trip to Lofoten in July 2021 with our two kids, who’ll be 11 and 8. We’ve already booked our accommodations (yes, we’re planners!): - the first week in Reine. - the second in Henningsvær.

The idea is to explore the southern part of the archipelago, which seems the most interesting based on all the research I’ve done.

We’ve been considering extending our trip by another week. What would you recommend? Staying an extra week in Lofoten? Heading to Senja Island? The Lyngen Alps? Or somewhere else entirely?

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Cyril

We’d like to visit Malaysia and Indonesia for 4 weeks with our 12- and 14-year-old kids at the end of July and beginning of August in 2025. We’re just starting to plan and would love your help. We’re thinking of spending 2 weeks in Malaysia and 2 weeks in Indonesia. We’ve already been to Bali, so a quick stop there is possible. We enjoy mixing cultural visits, nature outings, and relaxing beach time. We hope you can give us some tips. Thanks in advance for your replies.

Hi there,

We’re heading to Japan for 34 days next summer with our 5-year-old daughter. We’ll be arriving and departing from Tokyo.

I’m currently planning our trip, and we’re constrained to head quickly to Okinawa because afterward, the prices for domestic flights rise significantly.

Here’s the rough outline of the route I’m considering. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

1 night in Tokyo upon arrival. 7 nights in the Kyoto/Osaka area. 9 nights in Okinawa (+ Miyakojima or Ishigaki). 5 nights in the Kyushu region. 9 nights road-tripping through the Japanese Alps. 3 nights in Tokyo before departure.

Hello everyone, My wife Fanny and I, along with our three kids (ages 10, 12, and 14), are planning a two-week trip to Asia during the February break. This would be our first big family trip, and we’re looking to mix discovery, a change of scenery, some relaxation, and cultural immersion. We want to avoid overly organized tours or over-touristed destinations. Over 20 years ago, Fanny and I used to travel as a couple with backpacks, especially in India and Mongolia, but things have surely changed a lot since then. Now, we’re torn between: • Thailand: for its diversity (beaches, temples, nature) and accessibility for a first family trip. • Laos-Cambodia combo: for a potentially more authentic immersion, but we’re wondering if it’s well-suited for kids. - Sri Lanka: it seems amazing and family-friendly? Is the political situation stable enough? We have a few questions:

Which destination would you recommend for this kind of family setup? What itineraries might work for two weeks without feeling too rushed?

Logistics-wise: can we travel with a round-trip flight ticket, book a few basic hotels, and improvise the rest once we’re there? Or do we need to plan everything in advance (transport, accommodations, activities) for this time of year?

Thanks in advance for your valuable tips! Mathieu

Hi, We're traveling as a family with 2 kids (7 and 15 years old) in July 2025 for a road trip in South Africa. We have a round-trip ticket from Paris to Johannesburg and are considering taking 2 domestic flights: one between Johannesburg and Cape Town and another between Cape Town and Durban. Do you know when it's best to book the tickets to get the best fares and which airline to choose? I'm currently finding tickets on Safair for 300 € for 4 between Johannesburg and Cape Town. What do you think? Also, I have a slight hesitation. We're going for 18 days. Do you think it's better to focus on the northern part of the country, including Kruger, or is it worth visiting the Cape region as well (the kids dream of seeing whales!)? Thanks so much for your advice. I’d really appreciate it! Have a great evening, Sophie

Hi everyone,

I’m arriving in Phuket on March 1st until the 10th. We’ll have about 9 days there with two kids, aged 10 and 7.

We’d like to visit a few islands... Any ideas? We’ve looked at Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Similan Islands, Phang Nga Bay...

Based on your experiences, what could be a good mini-itinerary?

We’d like to do some diving or snorkelling, a bit of sightseeing (viewpoints, etc.), and some beach time...

Thanks everyone

Hi everyone,

We’re heading to Florida as a family from April 6 to 19, 2025, with our two daughters, aged 5 and almost 8. I’ve been working on our itinerary for a while now and would love to get your thoughts and/or recommendations on this road trip. Just to let you know, we’re traveling with our kids and have tried to adapt the activities so everyone can enjoy themselves. Thanks so much for your help!

Day 1 - Sunday, April 6: Miami - Arrival in Miami at 8:55 PM local time - Pick up the rental car and night in Miami Beach

Day 2 - Monday, April 7: Miami Beach - Rent bikes and ride around Miami Beach in the morning - Beach at South Beach in the afternoon - Night in Miami Beach

Day 3 - Tuesday, April 8: Miami - Marathon (2.5-hour drive) - Stroll through the Wynwood neighborhood in the morning - Walk around Little Havana or downtown, or hit the beach in the afternoon, depending on the kids - Drive to Marathon for the night

Day 4 - Wednesday, April 9: Day trip to Key West (2-hour round trip from Marathon) - Fort Zachary Taylor State Park - Stroll through Old Town in the late afternoon and sunset at Mallory Square - Night in Marathon

Day 5 - Thursday, April 10: Marathon - Florida City (1.75-hour drive) - Bahia Honda State Park - If we’re up for it: Turtle Hospital or kayaking - Night in Florida City

Day 6 - Friday, April 11: Everglades - Fort Myers Beach - Start with the Anhinga Trail, then an airboat tour in the area—but where? Any recommendations? - Morning: Shark Valley? Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve? I’d love your input here. My youngest is too small to handle biking in Shark Valley on her own (unless there are cargo bikes available?). On foot, it seems tricky, and the shuttles don’t really appeal to us. Is it better to skip Shark Valley and focus on Loop Road? Is the day too ambitious with the drive back to Fort Myers Beach? I wanted to avoid Naples because I’d prefer to stay two nights in each place to avoid changing hotels every day. But if it’s too tight, we’ll do one night in Naples and one in Fort Myers Beach. - Night in Fort Myers Beach

Day 7 - Saturday, April 12: Sanibel Island - Day on the island with bike rentals to reach J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, then beach time (Bowman’s Beach?) - Night in Fort Myers Beach

Day 8 - Sunday, April 13: Fort Myers Beach - Crystal River (3.5-hour drive) - Beach at Siesta Key, then drive to Crystal River - If time and energy allow, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park upon arrival - Night in Crystal River

Day 9 - Monday, April 14: Crystal River - Weeki Wachee Springs for kayaking to see manatees if we’re lucky, plus the mermaid show (mostly for the kids ) Any other spots for manatees or kayaking? I know it’s not the best month to see them, but you never know! Anything else to do or see in this area? - Night in Crystal River

Day 10 - Tuesday, April 15: Crystal River - Orlando (1.75-hour drive) - A bit of a transition day—maybe Disney Springs and/or an outlet mall - Night in Orlando

Day 11 - Wednesday, April 16: Disney World - Day at Animal Kingdom - Night in Orlando

Day 12 - Thursday, April 17: Disney World - Day at Magic Kingdom - Night in Orlando

Day 13 - Friday, April 18: Cape Canaveral - Visit to the Kennedy Space Center - Night in Orlando

Day 14 - Saturday, April 19: Return - Flight departs Orlando at 1:05 PM

It was tough making choices for the Orlando parks. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was leaning toward Universal, but the girls have never been to Disney in Paris and are huge Disney fans, so skipping Magic Kingdom seemed tricky.

And that’s my long post! Thanks so much for reading and for your invaluable help.

Carole

Hi everyone,

We’re planning a week-long trip to Finnish Lapland in February 2026 with two kids aged 7 and 4.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time browsing websites and this forum, but I still have a few questions left.

We’ll be landing in Rovaniemi but won’t be staying there, so we’re planning to rent a car. Do you have any recommendations for rental companies? Is a Golf-sized car sufficient, or should we opt for something better suited to the conditions?

I found some nice accommodations near Akaslompolo. Is the area nice? Are there restaurants, shops, etc.? If it were just me, I’d go for total isolation, but I’m not alone 😎 If not, do you have any alternatives within a 2-hour radius of Rovaniemi? I’d also spotted Luosto.

We’re planning the classic activities: - Visiting a reindeer farm (but no sled ride); - A dog-sledding excursion; - Ice fishing; - A few evenings hunting for auroras using our car and a dedicated app; - A day in Rovaniemi for Santa Claus Village, the Arctic Museum, and the small Ranua Zoo; - An ice hockey game; - And maybe a day of skiing.

Do you have any recommendations for activity providers?

What kind of clothing layers do you recommend for the kids at this time of year?

Is the amethyst mine in Luosto worth it? I think the prices are over the top and can’t figure out why… Maybe there’s a good reason?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Best regards.

I’d like to organize a family trip to Oman—could anyone recommend a French-speaking guide? Also, is it feasible to plan this trip in July or August? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! We’re spending a month in the Philippines from mid-December to mid-January. We’ll be taking a flight from Cebu to Boracay for some kitesurfing. After that, we were thinking of heading back to Cebu Island via public transport or taxi, crossing Panay and Negros, and then going to Moalboal, Bantayan, and Malapascua. Do you think it’s worth crossing Panay and Negros? We’ve heard there were floods on Negros, and Google Maps shows that the volcano on Negros is erupting, so I don’t think hiking it is an option. We have two kids with us, ages 10 and 7. Thanks for sharing your experiences! Magali

hi, I have two kids aged 12 and 7, and we’d love to visit Costa Rica, especially to explore the national parks and see the wildlife. I was thinking of going during the spring break in 2025. All-inclusive trips are *super* expensive, so I was wondering if it’s doable to plan this independently, even though I don’t drive. Has anyone had experience with this kind of trip? Does it seem realistic to get around using local transport? And what about safety? I’ve traveled alone with my kids before, but only in European countries close to France. Thanks so much for your insights! !

Hi everyone.

I’m planning our upcoming family trip to China in August 2025—two adults, two kids (11 and 13), and a one-year-old baby.

As I organize the trip, I’d love your advice. Here’s my itinerary: - Arrival in Beijing on 02/08, staying until 07/08 (five days) to visit the city’s must-see spots without rushing too much with the baby. - After that, either by train or plane, we’ll head to Shenzhen for four days to explore the city and enjoy some attractions with the kids. - Then, Yangshuo for three days to relax a bit from the city hustle and visit the Li River and its surroundings. I haven’t looked into transportation from Shenzhen yet, but I think it’s easily accessible. - Our last day in China will be in Guangzhou (Canton). If possible, I’d like to visit the Huangteng Gorge Skywalk on the same day, or add an extra day for it. I don’t want to do a private tour because it’s extremely expensive, so any great tips combining train/taxi are welcome.

Thanks.

Hello, we’d like to return to Thailand after having been there as a couple. We’d love to focus only on beach and island spots, especially Phuket, while avoiding Patong. Which area would you recommend for a rental? Best regards

Hi there! We’re heading to Thailand next February and will be stopping in Chiang Mai with our 4- and 6-year-olds, plus a couple of friends with a 6-year-old as well. We’re looking for a boutique-style hotel (we’re not big fans of large chain establishments if we can avoid them) with a pool. The tricky part is finding family rooms.

Any recommendations, please? :) Thanks so much for your help!

See you soon! !

Hello,

We’re heading to Hurghada for the end-of-year holidays—could you recommend some excursions for us (we’re a couple with our 14-year-old son)? Any trustworthy agencies you’d suggest? Do we need a visa?

Looking forward to your tips. Best regards

Hi, Is it better to get around Ko Lanta with kids by taxi, tuk-tuk, or by renting a car? I don’t want to use a scooter since I don’t have a motorcycle license. Thanks

hi everyone,

we’re heading to Thailand for 15 days at the end of February/beginning of March.

We haven’t booked our flight tickets yet, but we will soon... we’ve scoured quite a few sites to figure out where to start, but it’s still not clear.

We like to alternate between relaxation on beautiful beaches and sightseeing.

We’re thinking of landing in Bangkok and staying there for 2 or 3 days. Then, we’d spend a day visiting Ayutthaya. I’m skipping Chiang Mai on purpose—it’s too far north. After that, we’d head south (by plane?).

We love snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, or any water sports. We won’t have any means of transportation—no car rental, or at most, a bike! We’ve looked at Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao... and I’m already getting lost with all the options...

The kids might enjoy seeing elephants, but only if it’s done in a way that respects animal welfare.

That’s why I was thinking we could fly back from Bangkok instead of another city.

There are a lot of questions, but the biggest one is figuring out the route.

Thanks so much for your help!

Hi everyone! I’m slowly planning a 2-month trip to South India with my partner and our two kids (ages 5 and 9) this coming November, and I’ve been reading posts on this forum to get an idea of the budget. It’s tough to pin down because there are so many ways to travel, and every traveler has their own budget, but I’d love a clearer picture. We’re thinking of staying in guest houses or small, simple but clean hotels. We plan to get around by train or bus and hope to travel on a budget.

Do I need to multiply the prices I see by 4, or are there child rates? Is it common to find rooms with 4 beds?

A shout-out to traveling parents who’ve been to India—what budget should we plan for?

Another question: I keep reading that many travelers book their accommodation in advance online. Is that really necessary? Considering we’ll have kids, it might not be much fun to wander from hotel to hotel looking for an available room...

Same question for trains—is it possible to buy tickets last-minute, or just a few days in advance?

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Hi everyone,

Better late than never—I’m finally getting around to sharing our trip to Romania from last year.

Before I start, I have a personal history with this country: I lived there in 2004 for three and a half months during a student internship. I still have friends there and a decent grasp of Romanian. That helps. But more than anything, I’ve grown attached to the country. It’s well-deserved—Romania gives back just as much. That said, when I talk about it, maybe I see things differently than someone visiting for the first time.

This was my third trip to Romania. This time, I brought my wife and our two daughters. After years of wanting to take a family trip there, this was finally the right moment. My wife wasn’t exactly thrilled at first—she’d been hesitant for years. But she ended up loving it, and we’ll definitely go back together. For our 6- and 8-year-old girls, the trip was fascinating in so many ways: the sights, learning about communism and totalitarian regimes, the Roma community, how different religions coexist, the Saxon minorities...

We landed in Bucharest last July. We spent two and a half weeks in the country. We took off from Toulouse early in the morning and arrived at Bucharest airport around noon. We flew with Lufthansa because it’s a solid airline and the cheapest option we found.

We rented a car. I don’t remember the rental agency’s name, but we got scammed a bit. We’d booked insurance through Booking, but when we arrived, we couldn’t print a credit card receipt. The issue? We only had debit cards, not credit cards (or vice versa), and without one, we couldn’t pick up the car without buying their on-site insurance. It was buried in the fine print—I’d read it but naively assumed a gold card would work. So, we had to take extra insurance. Basically, we threw 120 € in insurance fees out the window. Still, we got a Dacia Logan, and it ran like a dream the whole trip.

Here’s our rough itinerary: - Bucharest Airport => Sinaia => Brasov - Brasov => Viscri => Sighișoara => Sovata - Sovata => Bicaz Gorge => Iași - Iași => Bucharest

**Sinaia** We started in Sinaia, in the Carpathians. It’s an old Romanian vacation spot from the country’s golden age. A really nice place with great hikes. The mountains are stunning, covered in tall fir trees. There are beautiful buildings and old houses—it’s all very charming. We took the cable car up to the summit (no time to hike with the kids). It’s an old 1960s cable car with two sections (there are also detachable chairlifts). The view from the top is amazing. Then, Peles Castle—a must-see.

**On the road to Brasov** We stayed in a homestay in the village of Purcareni (15 minutes from Brasov by car) through an association called "L’Arbre de Joie." We spent a few days there. The association was founded by a French woman in the 90s and runs local projects. The family we stayed with was Hungarian. The price was around 90 € per day, including breakfast and dinner. The host spoke a little French, and her 16-year-old daughter spoke English fluently. We had great conversations. This family lives like a typical French family—they work at a clinic and a factory, own a car, and have a small chalet in the nearby mountains. From Purcareni, we explored: - **Bran Castle**: The iconic castle. There are way more tourist stalls now than when I first visited in 2004, but it’s still charming and worth seeing. - **Zărnești Bear Reserve**: Interesting—you learn a lot about bears. But it’s expensive, and it’s sad to see these beautiful animals in captivity. - **Râșnov Citadel**: Right near Zărnești. We did Bran, the bears, and this citadel all in one day last year. It’s pretty—you hike up a trail to get there. The view is gorgeous, but the site feels a bit neglected (or not fully restored yet). Some people love it, others don’t, but at least it’s authentic and not some Disneyland with fry stands everywhere. - **Brasov**: Of course! We went twice. It’s beautiful and nothing like what you’d imagine Romania to look like. We hiked up the hill overlooking the city—about 45 to 60 minutes with the kids. The view from the top is incredible, especially over the medieval rooftops. I wasn’t expecting much—I thought we’d see rundown buildings, but the "new" part of town is built farther to the right, so you barely notice it. - One day, we took a horse-drawn carriage (a touristy thing to do for the kids) to our hosts’ second home. It was still really fun. The area is super wild—just a few kilometers from the village, so close to Brasov. We ate *amazingly* with them. Traditional Romanian food is best enjoyed in people’s homes, not restaurants. So, I’d recommend eating at small guesthouses or homestays as much as possible.

**On the road to Viscri** No stops—just straight to Viscri. I found Viscri just as I’d left it in 2004. Maybe a few more tourists, maybe one or two new restaurants. The road still isn’t paved in the village. Viscri is my favorite place in Romania—a simple village with colorful houses. We found a reasonably priced Airbnb and had a great evening with our hosts. They were fascinating people, and we talked about Romania, Saxon minorities, Europe... The next morning, I went for a run and found a trail in the nearby forest. I followed it for a while before turning back. We also visited the fortified church.

**Sighișoara** I’d been there in 2004 and wasn’t particularly moved or impressed. I felt the same way in 2019. But that’s just our take.

**Sovata** In Sovata, we traveled the way I love—arriving around 5 PM with nothing booked and finding a place to stay by asking around. We ended up in homestays for two nights, and both were great. It’s a Hungarian-Romanian thermal spa town. The place is nice but nothing extraordinary, except when you get closer (but not too close) to the thermal complexes. There, you’ll find beautiful mansions and hotels from the early 19th century. It’s touristy, but only Romanians go there. We visited a warm-water lake—it was fun for the folklore, though the water wasn’t exactly inviting. Apparently, there’s another lake higher up that’s so salty you float in it, but we didn’t go. In the afternoon, we took the tourist steam train ("mocăniță" in Romanian). It was a blast—we chatted with people in the carriage. The train covers about 20 kilometers, then turns around (the locomotive detaches, spins, and reattaches). Everyone gets off at the halfway point, where people grill corn on the cob. Then the train heads back. The scenery isn’t breathtaking, but the fields were full of flowers, and the ride was lovely.

**Toward Bicaz Gorge** The next day, we headed to Bicaz Gorge and the Ceahlău Massif in Neamț (pronounced "Nyamts"). We passed through Corund, a village known for local crafts. Whether it’s actually made there or not is always up for debate in a society where cutting corners is common. Still, we found some nice plates, dishes, and souvenirs to bring home. Funny story: I was chatting with a young saleswoman in Romanian and was shocked to realize she didn’t understand me—not because my Romanian was bad, but because she *didn’t speak Romanian at all*. She only spoke Hungarian. Mind-blowing: you’re Romanian and don’t speak Romanian? We crossed a mountain (or big hill) before reaching the Gheorgheni plain—a small town nestled in the mountains, feeling like the end of the world. Was it the season? We saw *so many* storks, and they were *so close*. It was adorable.

**Bicaz Gorge** We stopped at "Lacul Roșu" (Red Lake) to take a boat ride with the kids. (Yeah, we did things we don’t usually do—gotta keep everyone engaged! And maybe that’s why they have such great memories of the trip.) Then, the Bicaz Gorge—one of my favorite spots in Romania. We stayed at Pensiunea Paleu in Bicazu Ardelean, a place I already knew. I think the price for four people, half-board (with delicious home-cooked meals), was around 90 € per day. The rooms are clean and simple, and there’s a big garden with a vegetable patch, a cow, and a pig. Most of the food served comes straight from the garden.

In the afternoon, after much hesitation, we headed to Ceahlău National Park. About 30 minutes by car, we entered the park (after waking up the park ranger, who reeked of booze and was napping). We drove to the end of the road, and then—against all odds—the four of us made it to the summit of Toaca Peak. This peak towers over the surrounding mountains. It was a great hike—starting in the Carpathian fir forests, then crossing a plateau covered in flowers (mid-July). We stopped for a drink at Cabana Dochia before heading up. The summit is a bit unusual because they’ve installed a big metal staircase. It’s steep in places—straight up, and I wouldn’t want to fall. There’s a sturdy railing, though. Even if the "normal route" doesn’t seem too hard. The view from the top is stunning—you can see the entire Carpathian region, vast forests, and the Bicaz Lake below.

**Iași** I used to live in Iași. We stayed with my former internship supervisor and his family. It’s not the first time we’ve crashed at people’s places. In Iași, we visited: - **The Opera House**: A beautiful building from the early 20th century, if I’m not mistaken. Our friends arranged a tour with the firefighters, who let us in and showed us around. It was fun. - **The "Hall of Lost Steps"**: You enter a massive room with stunning woodwork. It’s a huge university library, home to around a million books. The whole place is meticulously decorated. Visiting this room makes you wonder how Romania could have such a grand image. This country, in its golden age, had universities and thinkers. When you build something like this for knowledge and science, you’ve come a long way. - **The Palace of Culture**: This building was completely run-down in 2004 but has since been fully renovated. Where it was once gray, dull, and dirty, it now shines in the sunlight. It’s magnificent.

Beyond these three sights, we explored parks, wandered the city, went treetop climbing, and spent time with friends. Sure, Iași is way over in the east on a map of Romania, but it’s worth the detour.

After Iași, we headed back.

**In conclusion**, we spent three weeks in Romania. Here’s a rough breakdown of expenses (in €, all taxes included): - Flight tickets: 660 € - Car rental for 2.5 weeks: 250 € - Everything else (accommodation, food, activities, etc.): around 1,500 €

All in all, the trip wasn’t exactly cheap—around 2,500 to 2,800 € total. But we had a blast, and that’s what matters.

I had tons of great photos and wanted to share some, but I couldn’t upload them. If anyone’s interested, I can send them along.

Hi everyone,

We’re planning our 2-week trip to Thailand for December 2024 with our two teens! We’d like to visit Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Khao Sok National Park, and finish on an island. Which island would you recommend to wrap up our stay? Thanks for your help

Hello,

I’m Bruno, and I need some advice for planning a long, amazing trip (at least 1 month) to the United States. I want to show my kids the incredible places I visited nearly 30 years ago! 🤪

How do I travel with 3 teens, who should I call, and what do you recommend?

Things have changed so much since then, and it’s way easier to travel at 20 with just a backpack! ^^

Thanks in advance! 😏

hi, I’m heading to Guadeloupe in December for 12 days with my family—teenager, younger child, and my wife. I’m looking for folks who can help me plan this trip. I already have accommodation in the hills of Saint-François. Still need to map out daily outings and budget for meals. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I’m planning to take the ferry from Ancona to Patras with my kids (4 and 8 years old) and I’m torn between a cabin and seats for budget reasons. Has anyone here had experience with reclining seats with kids—is it doable? I remember ferries to Ireland where you could kind of set up however you wanted, with mattresses and sleeping bags—is that the case on this route? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, due to my partner’s work training abroad, he can’t join us for our week-long trip to Morocco in early November. So I’ll be alone with my 3-year-old daughter. My in-laws live in Marrakech, where we’ll be staying with my little one, but I’ve never actually met them. I’m feeling a bit stressed—should I cancel (and lose my flight tickets) or go ahead and travel alone? We’ll be in Marrakech, but I still don’t have a car either. Are there others in the same situation—traveling with kids? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, We're heading to Portugal for two weeks in July (arriving at Porto Airport) with two kids (4 and 6 years old). I don’t want to rent car seats from the rental companies because it’s way too expensive, and on top of that, they only offer backless boosters. I’d like to buy some locally instead. Do you know if there are any stores near the airport? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone,

We’re heading to Java and Bali this coming July/August with our daughters, aged 9 and 6.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our itinerary. There are as many possible trips as there are travelers, and everyone will have their own preferences, but the goal is to get a general feel and see if there are any major incompatibilities or mistakes that could prevent us from making the most of this exceptional trip.

Here’s our plan:

Day 1: Arrival in Jakarta at 7 PM, overnight in Jakarta Day 2: Flight from Jakarta (8 AM) to Karimunjawa for rest and adjusting after the journey and time difference Day 3: Karimunjawa – beaches, snorkeling, boat trip to a deserted island Day 4: Karimunjawa – beaches, snorkeling, boat trip to a deserted island Day 5: Morning flight from Karimunjawa to Semarang, transfer to a guesthouse in Borobudur for rest and early night Day 6: Borobudur sunrise visit, transfer to Prambanan for a tour, then to a guesthouse in Yogyakarta Day 7: Train from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo, transfer to Cemoro Lawang for the night Day 8: Bromo sunrise hike, then trip to Kawah Ijen (Brondowoso or Banyuwangi depending on the tour, ideally arranged through our Yogyakarta guesthouse) for the night Day 9: Early morning hike up Kawah Ijen to avoid the heat (no blue flames with the kids), boat to Bali, transfer to Pejarakan for rest after three early mornings Day 10: Pejarakan/Menjangan – beach, snorkeling, boat trip to an island, diving, turtle arch (details to be confirmed) Day 11: Pejarakan/Menjangan – beach, snorkeling, boat trip to an island, diving, turtle arch (details to be confirmed), transfer to the Munduk area in the late afternoon Day 12: Munduk – lake and Ulun Danu Temple Day 13: Munduk/Jatiluwih, transfer to Amed in the late afternoon Day 14: Amed/Jemeluk – details to be confirmed, including sunrise at Mount Agung Day 15: Amed/Jemeluk – details to be confirmed, transfer to Keliki painting school in the Ubud area in the late afternoon Day 16: Keliki painting school activities/rice terraces/Tirta Empul (details to be confirmed) Day 17: Keliki painting school activities/rice terraces/Tirta Empul (details to be confirmed) Day 18: Ubud – Monkey Forest, overnight in Ubud Day 19: Ubud, transfer to Nusa Lembongan Day 20: Nusa Lembongan Day 21: Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida/Manta Point (details to be confirmed) Day 22: Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida/Manta Point (details to be confirmed) Day 23: Transfer from Lembongan to Gili Asahan via Gili Gede (1h20 + 30-minute boat ride) Day 24: Gili Asahan – beach, snorkeling, boat trip to a deserted island Day 25: Gili Asahan – beach, snorkeling, boat trip to a deserted island Day 26: Transfer from Gili Asahan to Serangan via Gili Gede (30 minutes + 2h15 boat ride), then from Serangan to Denpasar Airport, flight from Denpasar to Jakarta Day 27: Jakarta, then return flight at 7 PM

We chose Gili Asahan over the "other three Gili islands" based on recommendations from Lonely Planet and these sites: - www.onedayonetravel.com/...secrete-bali-lombok/ - petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/...i-asahan-ile-lombok/

Our goal is to end the trip in a beautiful, less touristy spot (only three accommodations on the island) known for its tranquility as of 2017, so it’s recent. With accommodation and boat transfers costing 950 € for three nights, we really don’t want to make a mistake!

Starting with Karimunjawa was a deliberate choice—it’s a quieter island, and we wanted a calm place to acclimate, rest after the long trip and work, before heading straight to Borobudur from Jakarta to avoid wasting time "in the city."

Given the events of the past two years, the distance, and our non-extendable vacation budget, we had to rule out Lombok, Flores, and Sulawesi, despite their many attractions.