Hi everyone,

After letting our backpacks gather dust for several years, we’ve decided to set off on another adventure—this time as a family, with our 10- and 12-year-old kids! We’re planning a trip from mid-June to the end of July, with two stops: Cambodia (2 weeks) and Indonesia (4 weeks). But before diving into the details, we’ve got quite a few questions and doubts.

About Cambodia: We know this period is the rainy season. Is it really a good idea to go then? And if so, is it better to start with Cambodia and then move on to Indonesia, or does the order not matter from a climate perspective? Here are the activities and sites we’ve shortlisted: · The Mekong and Irrawaddy dolphins: do we actually have a chance of seeing them? · The Mondulkiri Project (elephant sanctuary): is this an ethical project? We want to avoid any form of animal exploitation. · The temples of Angkor: are 2 or 3 days enough to fully enjoy them? · Floating villages: where should we go for an authentic experience? Is it possible to spend the night there? · Hikes with waterfalls, lakes, etc.: are there any must-do treks? · And most importantly, what activities or sites would appeal to kids?

For Indonesia: We were there 15 years ago and loved our itinerary: Yogyakarta / Borobudur → Bromo → Kawah Ijen → Bali → Gili Trawangan. This time, we’re torn: · Retracing part of that route to share it with our kids (even if revisiting the same places isn’t super appealing), · Or exploring new regions. What’s almost certain is that we’d like to spend about two weeks in Raja Ampat. For the other two weeks, we’re undecided. We’re looking for kid-friendly ideas for places and activities, while avoiding too many connections for budget and environmental reasons. Since we’ll already see temples in Cambodia, we’d like to mix things up.

And finally… On our last trip to the region, we traveled without kids and went super free-spirited: only the round-trip tickets were booked, and we improvised the rest day by day without any major issues finding accommodation, food, or accessing the activities we’d spotted. Do you think this style of travel is still doable with two kids? Or has it become too risky or stressful? Are there regions where the "backpacker" approach is still possible, and others where it’s better to book in advance? And for certain activities or sites, is it recommended to hire guides?

Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences!

Hi everyone!!

My wife and I are heading to Thailand in April 2025 with our two daughters, aged 4 and 7. I’d love to get your thoughts and some great tips on our itinerary (which isn’t set in stone at all!!). We’re planning to arrive in Phuket and head straight to Koh Lanta (4/5 nights). I’d love to visit another spot in the area, but nothing’s really grabbing us—so if you’ve got any ideas, we’re all ears! Next, we’re heading to Koh Phangan (the north) for about 4 nights. After that, we’ll head east to Ko Chang and Koh Kood, spending around 3 nights on each island. Then, Bangkok for 2 days and one night before flying back to France. We’ll have about 16-17 days there. Like most people, we’re looking for quiet spots, far from big resorts, with beaches, pools, and walks/activities for our young kids. From my research, the west has great beaches and views, while the east offers a bit more adventure and fewer crowds. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Quentin, Dune, Juno, and Marley

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, I’ve spent two solid months reading the Lonely Planet and pretty much every post about Thailand here, plus French and English blogs. Now I’d love to get your expert opinions on our itinerary. We’re heading off in August 2025 with our 7-year-old daughter. We only have a maximum of three weeks off, and I’m keeping an eye on flight prices before booking (1400 € per person really stings 😕). So here’s what I’ve planned—let me know if you spot any major issues or if I’ve been way too "optimistic."

D1 - Arrival in Bangkok / rest, quick visit, overnight stay D2 - More temple visits, etc. D3 - Morning flight to Chiang Mai D4 - More Chiang Mai sightseeing D5 - Day trip to Chiang Rai (guided tour to book: blue and white temple), return to Chiang Mai late in the evening D6 - More Chiang Mai visits / Elephant Nature Park in the afternoon D7 - Morning flight to Koh Samui, sightseeing D8 to D10 - More Koh Samui visits D11 to D13 - Ferry to Koh Phangan D14 to D15 - Ferry to Koh Tao D16 - Return to Koh Samui, then flight to Bangkok D17 - Day trip to Ayutthaya, return to Bangkok in the evening D18 - Flight back to France :(

I know a lot of you recommend heading straight to Chiang Mai to recover from the international flight, but my partner and I NEVER sleep on planes (personally, I’ve been flying to Taiwan since I was little and have never slept more than an hour on a 14-hour flight...), so it’s essential for us to rest upon arrival . That’s also why I opted for domestic flights instead of the sleeper train—I know we’d lose over 10 hours and wouldn’t be able to rest properly in those conditions. And I’m sure you’ll also say BKK > North > South is too much for three weeks, but I really want to see as much as possible. Given how much the flights will cost, I’m not sure when we’ll be able to come back 🏴‍☠️.

So, questions: 1. Since we’ll only be in Bangkok for a maximum of two nights and need to easily reach the airport with luggage (and a child), which neighborhood should we prioritize? We’d love to experience the evening vibe of Asian night markets, ideally within walking distance of the hotel or just a few metro stops away. I’ve looked at Chinatown, but the BTS seems far... Should we go for somewhere near BTS Saphan Taksin or BTS Krungthonburi? But is the area lively in the evening with food courts, etc.? We’d also like to treat ourselves to a hotel with a pool.

2. Have we planned too many days in the south? Should I skip Koh Tao and just do Koh Samui + Koh Phangan? My partner and daughter aren’t strong swimmers, so we’re looking for beautiful beaches without too much current. Crowded beaches don’t bother us—we just want stunning turquoise waters without killer waves . Going all the way to Koh Tao and then back to Koh Samui to catch the flight to Bangkok seems too stressful. Is it still possible these days (I haven’t seen any recent posts on this) to head to Koh Samui in August and decide on the spot how many nights to spend in Koh Phangan or Koh Tao based on how we feel, booking hotels as we go? Or is that too risky?

If you have any better suggestions for fitting all this in while reducing internal flights, I’m all ears for your great tips

Hi there,

We’re a group of 14 (adults and kids), and we’re planning the following itinerary for next October:

- Day 0: Arrival and visit Fès - Day 1: Depart Fès for Midelt - Overnight in Midelt - Day 2: From Midelt to Merzouga - Overnight in Merzouga (camp in the dunes) - Day 3: From Merzouga to the Dadès Gorges - Overnight in the Dadès Gorges - Day 4: Excursion and hike in the Dadès Gorges - Overnight in the Dadès Gorges - Day 5: From Dadès to Marrakech (visiting Ouarzazate studios and Aït Ben Haddou) - Day 6: Explore Marrakech - Day 7: Return

Any tips or suggestions for this plan? Is quad biking or buggy riding in the dunes (for adults, obviously) worth it? Which spots are really worth stopping at—and which ones aren’t?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hi everyone,

I’d love to get your thoughts on these two routes I’ve planned to see the highlights of Paris in two days.

I don’t want to take any transportation.

I’ll arrive at the hotel by car on Saturday around noon and won’t pick it up again until the next evening to leave.

**First day:** I’m thinking of starting from the hotel, then heading to the Eiffel Tower - Trocadéro - Galeries Lafayette - Élysée Palace - Tuileries Garden - the Louvre (outside only) and finishing at Les Invalides.

12 km



(The route on the map is just for reference to show the places we’ll visit—it might vary by a hundred meters or so.)

**Second day:** Starting from the hotel, we’ll go to Montmartre - Sacré-Cœur Basilica - Pigalle - Notre-Dame Cathedral - Panthéon - Luxembourg Garden.



What do you think? Am I missing out on anything great with this route?

Since I’m traveling with two kids, do you see any spots on these routes that might be a bit risky safety-wise? 🏴‍☠️

We’re not big museum fans, so we’re not planning to visit any—unless it rains, of course! 😄

One last little question: are there any protests planned in Paris on the weekend of August 16-17? 🙂 Thanks for reading! 😎

Hi everyone, We’re planning a trip to Florida during Belgium’s Carnival break, from February 14 to March 1, 2025. I’d love your help putting together our itinerary and getting ideas for family-friendly places to stay 😊 We’ll likely book a multi-destination flight, arriving in Miami and departing from Orlando. Here’s what we’d really love to do: - Visit beaches like Sanibel Island—we’re huge shell collectors 🐚 - See alligators in the Everglades and take a tour there - Spend some downtime in the Keys to relax a bit - Head to the Kennedy Space Center since my son is obsessed with astronauts and rockets - Maybe hit one of Orlando’s theme parks (we were leaning toward Universal, but the prices are just outrageous 😬) - Explore some cool spots in Miami.

We’d also prefer not to switch hotels too often—maybe at least two nights in each place? And no more than a 3-hour drive between stops.

Here’s our rough plan so far: Day 1–3: Miami Day 3–5: Keys Day 5–7: Everglades, Naples, and Sanibel Island Day 7–11: ??? Day 11–14: Orlando and Kennedy Space Center

As you can see, I’m not sure whether to add more days to the places we’re already visiting or if we should swing by Clearwater or somewhere else? Thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations!

Hello,

A few months ago, I posted a message in the Southern Africa section about a family trip in July/August. In the end, since I had too much trouble deciding on the destination and procrastinated too much with the planning 😎, I changed my mind and we’re going for a completely different trip—to Madagascar, a country we already know a bit since we’ve traveled there several times for 4 to 6 months each time, though our last visit was back in 2012!

The tickets are booked: 19 days on the ground (excluding arrival and departure days in Tana), spanning July and August.

We’re not looking to rack up landscapes (and kilometers). The kids really want to see lots of animals, while we mostly want to show them what daily life is like in Malagasy villages. So ideally, we’d like a trip split into two parts: - For 8/10 days, a hiking portion. The idea isn’t to do a tough trek in very remote areas but rather to walk from one village to another. Let’s say 3-4 hours a day. And when we arrive in each village, we’d have time to explore a bit, chat with the locals, let our kids play with the village children, etc. Stay with locals when possible. Move to a new village every day or every 2-3 days. - A few days visiting 1 or 2 national parks (with lemurs if possible to keep everyone happy!) - With the inevitable travel days, we’ll quickly hit 19 days.

Does this kind of trip sound doable (and fun) to you? Do you know of any villages that would fit our hiking plans?

I don’t have a preferred region yet, except that very dry landscapes appeal to me less. My real love from past trips was the highlands and their bright green rice paddies against red earth, but I’m a bit worried about the cold at this time of year.

After my initial research (thanks to this forum), I get the impression that the Ambalavao/Ambohimahamasina area might meet our criteria. I saw there are "accueil paysan" (farm stays) in that area, which could match what we’re looking for and would let us visit Andringitra National Park and Ranomafana on the way there or back.

But I’m open to all your more original ideas!

For logistical questions (transport, guides, accommodations, etc.), I’ll tackle those later—it’ll depend on the area we choose.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Hi there, I’m planning a 15-day trip to Vietnam from December 15th to December 31st. There’ll be 6 adults and one little one who’s 18 months old. Would you recommend staying in the North or trying to cover both the North and South? We prefer nature and areas that aren’t too touristy. Any great tips? Thanks for your help! I’d like to book the flight tickets soon, and I’m not sure if it’s better to change airports for the arrival and return. Thanks! 😊

Hello, I’ll be in Greece with my two daughters, aged 10 and 13, from July 6th to 27th. I’ve planned a route that seems fairly coherent, but I’d love to hear your thoughts:

J1 – Arrive in Athens in the afternoon and head straight to Corinth for the night J2 – Relax (beach) and visit Corinth or nearby – night in Corinth J3 – Mycenae + Epidaurus + Nafplio – night in Nafplio J4 – Mystras + Olympia – night in Olympia J5 – Delphi – night in Delphi J6 – Meteora (monasteries and more) – night in Kalambaka J7 – Meteora (nature walk) – night in Athens J8 – Explore Athens – night in Athens J9 – Explore Athens – night in Athens J10 – Ferry to Santorini + visit – night in Santorini J11 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J12 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J13 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J14 – Naxos – night in Naxos J15 – Naxos – night in Naxos J16 – Naxos – night in Naxos J17 – Paros – night in Paros J18 – Paros – night in Paros J19 – Paros – night in Paros J20 – Paros – night in Paros J21 – Ferry from Paros to Athens (is this possible?) – night in Athens J22 – Departure late morning

I’d like to know if there’s a town in the Peloponnese where we can stay and visit everything from there—I’d prefer not to change hotels every night. Are there any stops I can skip? Any must-see additions? I’d love to find pools or beaches to cool off at the end of the day—with the heat and the kids, we’ll need to refresh after sightseeing! For the Cyclades, I’m thinking of spending just an afternoon and evening in Santorini before moving on. I’m looking for authentic, quiet, beautiful islands with few tourists and nice beaches. Should I book all our rooms before leaving, or can we improvise a little? Thanks for your tips!

Hello everyone,

So, summer 2025 is when I turn 40, and to mark the occasion, I had the idea of doing a road trip through Northern Spain. Since I’ll be traveling with my two kids (9 and 6½ years old), I’m tied to school holidays, but I’m hoping the northern regions of Spain are a little less crowded than the Costa Brava.

We’d leave from Lyon to reach the Atlantic coast, head down to the Basque Country, cross the Spanish border, and then visit: Cantabria - Asturias - Galicia. It’s not exactly around the corner—I’ve seen that it’s about 1,500 km (one way) from Lyon to Galicia. But for this adventure, I’ve got 3 to 3½ weeks. The twist would be doing it in an electric car, stopping for 2-3 days here and there before moving on (alternating between wild camping and hotels). Why electric? Because it’s my company car, and my employer covers the charging and toll costs. Over 3 weeks of vacation, that adds up to big savings.

Question: Do you think this plan is doable? Aside from the charging stops, does the route seem too ambitious for 3 weeks with two kids? And in July/August, are these regions not too packed?

Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

Hi there, I’d like to plan a family road trip (2 adults, 2 kids aged 14 and 11) next summer, starting in New York and ending in Montreal. Here’s my rough itinerary: Arrival in New York: 4 nights Train to Boston: 2 nights Car rental, then off to Cape Cod: 2 nights Head to Acadia Park: 2 nights On to Quebec City: 2 nights Tadoussac: 2 nights Saguenay region/Lac Saint-Jean: 2 nights Montreal: 2 nights Departure from Montreal. Could you share some ideas for places to stay, eat, visit, whale watching, lobster feasts, etc.? Also, about the car rental: picking up in the US and dropping off in Canada—any tips? Would it be easier to fly round-trip from Lyon to Montreal and drive to NY instead? Thanks for your feedback!

We’re planning a 4-month trip in spring 2027. We’re looking for a third destination that optimizes transport costs. Ideally, somewhere very different from the other two (Polynesia and Indonesia). Thanks

Hi there, We’re planning a solid six-week trip (July/August) to Sulawesi with our two kids, aged 5 and 7. I’ve been browsing various forums and have a lot of questions:

Can we "improvise"? We love traveling without planning every step, going with the flow based on fatigue, encounters, and discoveries. So, can we book NO accommodations in advance (except maybe our arrival in Makassar)? On the Togian Islands—is that possible? Same question—can we "improvise" local transport like buses, taxis, or scooter rentals, and book flight tickets (e.g., Makassar-Luwuk) or ferry tickets just a few days ahead? Is it safe enough to travel by scooter for day trips with the kids? Do they generally have child-sized helmets available? We’re struggling to map out an itinerary. Our priorities are hiking (trekking) in the Mamasa Valley and Toraja region, and seeing at least one volcano. Then, of course, we’d love to enjoy the water—easy snorkeling. The Togian Islands look dreamy, but are they the best for "easy" snorkeling (from the beach) with young kids? The journey there is long, too. The Banggai Islands look amazing—could they be a good alternative to the Togian Islands (where finding accommodation might be trickier)? Any feedback?

Other questions: My oldest is crazy about crystals and geology. Has anyone explored the karst region north of Makassar? I also just learned there’s a volcano in the Togian Islands—Una Una (Colo Volcano). Any feedback on that?

Thanks so much for your insights!

Hi there, it’s been a good 15 years since I last set foot in Thailand.

Back then, I spent 6 weeks there with my partner, traveling backpacker-style without ever booking anything in advance, and we always managed to find a guesthouse. Now we think our son is old enough to travel the same way.

Do you still find it just as easy to snag a guesthouse room everywhere?

What’s the average price range these days in the north and the south?

For our route, we’re thinking roughly BKK / Koh Tao / Koh Samui / Krabi, then the Chiang Mai area. Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi everyone, We’re two families planning a trip to Egypt with our kids during the autumn 2025 holidays. Our youngest will be 5 1/2 at the time. Do you think this is a good idea? Is a guide absolutely necessary? We were hoping to travel independently (4 adults and 4 kids).

Here’s what I had in mind—let me know if this seems doable or if I’m way off 😉 - Day 1: Cairo (Khan el Khalili souk, Saladin Citadel, and maybe a museum if possible) - Day 2: Saqqara necropolis - Day 3: Giza Plateau - Day 5: Fly to Luxor and visit Luxor Temple in the evening - Day 6: Visit Karnak Temple early in the morning, relax in the afternoon, and a felucca ride in the evening - Day 7: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple - Day 8: Hot-air balloon ride and Medinet Habu Temple - Day 9: Bus to the Red Sea for diving and chilling until our return flight.

I tried to leave some downtime for the kids, but I’m not sure how realistic the visiting times are. Thanks so much for your thoughts!!

Hi, We’re traveling as a family to Qawra at the end of February, from Sunday the 16th to Wednesday the 19th of August. I’ve got a few questions about the area—what there is to do during the day and in the evening. There are two adults and three teens aged 12 to 16 in our group. I know the trip is short, but it’s an opportunity we got. If any forum members are familiar with the island, I’m all ears 😉 . Also, I’m planning to rent a car—good or bad idea? Thanks in advance, and looking forward to your replies.

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!)

I’m starting to plan our summer 2025 holiday. Yes, I know, I’m getting a head start 😄, but since I’m pregnant, I’d rather have as much ready as possible before baby arrives at the end of March 👶. We’re a family of 5, and this year, we’d like to visit Brittany (not too hot—perfect for us! 🌡️). We already know the southern area a bit, as well as the Saint-Malo region, but this time, we’d like to explore the north of Finistère. We’re looking for an area that’s still quite wild, away from the crowds. We’d also like to find some fun activities to keep our two older kids (4 and 7) busy 👧🧒. We’re good walkers, and we’ll have a baby carrier for the youngest. Which area would you recommend? Any ideas for places to visit, beaches, or family-friendly activities? Thanks in advance for your recommendations! 🙏 Elise

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 there,

I’m planning a trip to Indonesia between June and August 2025. I’ll be traveling solo with my two daughters, ages 9 and 13, for 7 weeks, and then solo without them for another 3 weeks.

This trip has a special meaning for me—I’ve got a break between my soon-to-be former job and launching my business. It’s my first big solo trip outside Europe with just my girls, and I’m heading to Indonesia because I’ve dreamed of discovering Bali since I was 12 (though I’m *terrified* of mass tourism!). Also, five years ago, I decided to limit myself to one flight every 10 years—this is my "big 40" trip, and it’s really important to me. I’ll probably never return to Indonesia after this.

Beyond that, I’d love to immerse myself in Balinese culture. For the rest of the trip, I’m especially drawn to nature and its grandeur. Basically, outside of Bali, I’d love to see breathtaking natural landscapes that are totally different from what I can find in Europe. I’d also love to spot some endemic wildlife (which my girls would find exciting too!). And if I can squeeze in a few "chill" days to just relax or go snorkeling in a nice, quiet spot, I’m all for it.

I’d love your advice, especially since I’d like to start in Bali (we’re arriving around June 20th—I’m hoping to avoid the peak tourist crowds from the Northern Hemisphere summer break).

Thanks!

Hi everyone! We’re so excited to be heading to Italy for the first time this April with our two kids for a week. We’ve booked our round-trip flight, and we’ll be arriving and departing from Pisa. Our rough plan so far includes visiting Pisa, taking the train to Florence, and exploring the Cinque Terre. Last night, a friend also suggested adding Siena to the list. Our kids are 12 and 9 and are used to walking, but we’re not looking to rush around too much. We’d love any advice, especially about accommodation. Should we stay in Pisa and take day trips by train, or split our nights between a couple of different places? We’re just starting our research, so any tips would be amazing! 😉 Thanks in advance!

Hi there,

We’re a couple traveling with our 2.5-year-old baby. We’re heading to Patagonia in March or April 2026. We don’t have exact dates yet because this will be the start of a long trip around Latin America. We’ll be traveling by public transport, with our backpacks and a baby carrier for support. We’ll take a domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and the rest will be by bus.

Here’s the itinerary we’ve planned: - Buenos Aires (5 days) - Ushuaia (5 days or more) - El Calafate (3 days) - El Chaltén (5 days) - Los Antiguos + border crossing at Chile Chico - Puerto Río Tranquilo (Chile) (5 days) - Coyhaique (Chile) (3 days) - Chiloé Island (Chile) (10 days) - Puerto Varas (Chile) (3 days) - Bariloche (5 days) - San Martín de los Andes (3 days) - Mendoza (5 days)

After that, we’re thinking of spending a few days in Córdoba, then a month in Salta. We plan to head back down to Santiago (Chile) and then head north along the Chilean side toward Peru.

What do you think of this itinerary (especially the Patagonia part)? Is it doable with a young child just over 2.5 years old? I’d also love to include Esquel and El Bolsón in Argentina, but I’m not sure how to fit them in or if they’re really worth it. The durations are approximate, depending on what there is to do in each place... Do you have any suggestions for improving it or any tips?

We want to do some easy hikes or half-day walks since we won’t be able to carry him all day. That’s why we’ve intentionally left out Torres del Paine National Park (very expensive and not very baby-friendly, I think). Do you know of any hikes that are accessible with a little one?

Thanks in advance! !

Hello everyone, We’ve decided to head to Quebec next year—it’s been a dream for the whole family (after watching so many travel shows and the like...). There’ll be five of us: 2 adults, 2 teens (16 and 13), and a child (8 years old). We’re all pretty good walkers, though maybe the teens a little less so—it’s just that age, you know? 😊 That said, they’ve got no problem doing 15 km hikes, just not every single day.

We’re planning to go from July 23 to August 14, arriving and departing from Montreal, so almost 3 weeks. I’ve started looking into logistics and accommodation prices, but before I dive into bookings, I’d love some advice on the itinerary. I’ve read a few threads here and there. Our idea is to visit between 3 and 5 different places over the 3 weeks, so that means the same number of accommodations. The goal is to optimize travel as much as possible—I’ve realized that getting around can take a long time. I think the first two days will be in Montreal to adjust to the time difference, and the last two in Quebec City, though that’s not set in stone.

Anyway, I’m not really sure about the route. I’ve got time to plan everything, but I know the longer we wait, the more expensive and scarce accommodations will get. Same goes for budget—we’ve set aside a mid-range budget, flights included: 3k per person (1k for the flight). So if you’ve got any great tips or advice, we’re all ears!

I was thinking of going up the St. Lawrence River, but I’m not sure how long that takes or where to stop. Maybe there are other places worth visiting farther away...

Anyway, thanks for reading this far! If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate.

Thanks, everyone.

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

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 everyone,

I’ve read the forum a lot and found a wealth of information. I’ve tried to compile all of it into our itinerary and would love your feedback to finalize the bookings (we’re planning this *very* last-minute).

Here’s what we’re thinking of doing: 22 July: arrival in Johannesburg Night of 22–23: Johannesburg Nights of 23–26: Marloth Park (with Kruger visits on the 24th, 25th, and a crossing visit on the 26th) Nights of 26–28: Graskop (visiting the canyon and Panorama Road on the 27th and 28th) Nights of 28–30: Hoedspruit (visiting the central area of Kruger on the 29th?) Nights of 30 July–1 August: Balule Park (private reserve with safari) Nights of 1–5 August: flight from Hoedspruit to Cape Town, then 2 days in Cape Town, 1 day on the peninsula, and 2 days for wine (just the route) or something else based on your advice (we don’t know where to stay—whether to stay all 5 nights in Cape Town and where in the city, or do 2 nights in Cape Town and 3 nights nearby—but where?) Night of 5–6 August: Kelders for penguins and whales Nights of 6–8 August: Tsitsikamma (what is there to do/see?) Nights of 8–10 August: Addo Park on the 9th 10 August: flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg and back home

What do you think? Is there a lot of driving time?

We’d really appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thanks!

Nadia

hi, I had planned to take a gap year with my 4-year-old daughter starting this fall. A happy but unplanned event is changing the plans: a new baby arriving in just a few days. So now I’ll be waiting until she’s 5 MONTHS old. Which countries would you recommend for traveling in Southeast Asia where I’d have adequate healthcare infrastructure in case of any issues? What travel insurance do you suggest? What itineraries have you done? thanks

Hi there, we’re heading to China for 3 weeks in a few days, and our youngest daughter is 2 years old. I can’t seem to find any info on a crucial question: is it easy to find baby diapers in China? I’ve read articles about split pants and all, but Chinese society is evolving fast. And I’m not quite ready to try that eco-friendly tradition—it’s a bit too out there for me! When I say "easy," I mean like in neighborhood 7/11s, without having to trek to out-of-the-way hypermarkets. Our itinerary includes Hong Kong, Sichuan, and Shanghai. Thanks for your replies—this’ll help us pack lighter!

Hi everyone, okay, here’s the scoop: I’ve been dealing with a pretty serious illness, but I’m determined to recover by the end of this year. I want to take my partner and my two little ones (7 and 4 years old) for a ten-day vacation in February 2026 or April 2026. The goal? To help them forget this tough year—let’s be honest—and give us all (and yes, I deserve it too 😉) some fantastic holidays.

Considering the budget for round-trip flights, cost of living on-site (hotel with pool and beach, all-inclusive or half-board meals), and food quality, which would you choose between Mauritius, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic? Heads up—I’ve been a globetrotter in another life, and all-inclusive hotels aren’t usually my thing, but this time, it’s different: I need REST and a family-friendly vacation. Of course, we’ll still do some excursions and sightseeing, so the scenery matters, but I’m really looking for the best value for money between flights, hotels, and a change of scenery :) Is Cuba too Americanized / full of junk food in the hotels?

Any family-focused travel agencies you’d recommend?

Thanks for sharing your experiences—I know this is a long message, but hopefully, it’ll keep the advice focused 😎 And thanks for this forum 😇