Age for trips

[Anonymous]

We are finally (!) getting passports for our 3 kids and want to start traveling internationally. Kids are 4, 7 and 9. Top countries to travel on our list are Ireland, Germany and Korea.

Are they good ages for these trips? Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

What is important to you? Is it important that the kids themselves remember the trip at all or in detail? If so, they (especially the youngest) may be too young for all of them. But if you are interested in going to these places to see them with your young children because you want to enjoy their experiences and have quality family time, then anytime is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are finally (!) getting passports for our 3 kids and want to start traveling internationally. Kids are 4, 7 and 9. Top countries to travel on our list are Ireland, Germany and Korea.

Are they good ages for these trips? Thoughts?

I think the secret to traveling with children that age is to seek out playgrounds and activities for children at your destination, instead of focusing on activities aimed at adults, and to recognize that the activities aimed at children are often beautiful and amazing.

Example: The most beautiful sites in New York are the playground. You can’t even legally go into them without small children.

Some of the nicest places in the Netherlands are the Amsterdam zoo; the playgrounds next to the Keukenhof (the tulip center); and the Madurodam miniatures park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are finally (!) getting passports for our 3 kids and want to start traveling internationally. Kids are 4, 7 and 9. Top countries to travel on our list are Ireland, Germany and Korea.

Are they good ages for these trips? Thoughts?

I think the secret to traveling with children that age is to seek out playgrounds and activities for children at your destination, instead of focusing on activities aimed at adults, and to recognize that the activities aimed at children are often beautiful and amazing.

Example: The most beautiful sites in New York are the playground. You can’t even legally go into them without small children.

Some of the nicest places in the Netherlands are the Amsterdam zoo; the playgrounds next to the Keukenhof (the tulip center); and the Madurodam miniatures park.

I agree with having the trips focused on activities your kids will enjoy. Playgrounds are great and we always had a list of ones nearby. Other activities can be dependent on your kid's interests. One of ours loved anything that moved - so being near airports, the canals of Venice thrilled for them. Another kid was not a great walker and so we had to find things close to the hotel and have plenty of time to sit. I don't agree with folks who argue "why travel with kids if they won't remember it". We began traveling with our kids at a very young age - it took plenty of patience and trials and tribulations to work out how to travel together as a family. And those early trips my kids certainly don't remember, my memories are vivid and bring me so much joy that I'm glad we took the effort. You grew together on the trips.

For the trips you mention - I would start by looking at itineraries that you are interested in. What do you and your kids like to do? We found for our kids one "big" event per day was enough - didn't have to be an earth-shattering event - just having a purpose for the day helped. What might interest you and your family. Start to pin down ideas. Talk to your kids, go to the library and find books on the countries to share with them. They might surprise you in what they find interesting. Build from there.

[Anonymous]

Pretty much everywhere is good for every age. It's what you DO in those places that's the issue. Your 3 yr old may not be able to stay quiet during the tour through Anne Frank's house and get kicked out, for example. It's what you do, not where you go.

[Anonymous]

Germany is a lot of fun with castles. I would do Japan v Korea - unsure if there was a specific reason for Korea? Japan is like OMG fun for any and all ages. Swear to god they seriously have everything - hiking/scenery, amusement parks, shopping, STEM related TeamLabs/museums, animals of every kind to see and cat cafes out the wazoo and whatever else you deem a worth experience incl all foods. It makes NYC look like the suburbs LOL

Italy would actually be my other favorite place just because every kid eats pizza/pasta LOL On vacation, I do not want to do deal with what to get my kids for any meal 7 and 9 would like the stain glass in Venice. (trying to) get lost (if you go off season) in Venice is great fun as is gondola of course.

Greece would be another cool place for the history and water esp summers if you go before it gets too hot ie earliest in June. Crete for one stop highlights or Milos for uniqueness.

I don't know - I personally would not take my kids to Europe until age 10+ - it's just a lot of money + time for travels. I went all over the world prior to 10 and do. not. remember. a. damn. thing. My 12 yr old who remembers everything still has fond memories of the islands, Mexico, Canada. Those memories really make her happy. She has said that our adventures in Europe the past couple years are also amazing but she got so much more out of it because she is older. All she really wants to do is have fun as a 8 yr old you know? She could care less about seeing anything gorgeous or eating French or Italian fare. She loved beignets in New Orleans - much closer and cheaper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much everywhere is good for every age. It's what you DO in those places that's the issue. Your 3 yr old may not be able to stay quiet during the tour through Anne Frank's house and get kicked out, for example. It's what you do, not where you go.

Anne Frank’s house isn’t in Germany, Ireland, or Korea.

[Anonymous]

I would do Ireland first, then probably Germany. They are young and will like to horses, green grass, castles etc.
But I would do the Asia trips while they are still young enough to miss an extra week of school. We really want to go to Japan but feel like we need more than a week and would prefer to avoid heat of summer — it’s just impossible to have high schoolers miss that much school.

[Anonymous]

The wonderful part about traveling with family - is you get to decide what you want to do. The ages of your kids mean they aren't 100% independent but can help with carrying bags, thinking about what they want to see and do. It's unlikely you are going to send them off to explore on your own. We traveled with our 4-year old to Tuscany Italy - we rented a car and a house and did day trips from the house. It was nice to have a central place to make meals like breakfast or lunch but there were plenty of options to eat out as well. Having the car allowed a break from all the walking we did in the cities. He still remembers the trip fondly - it was really hot so we found a beach and to this day that and chasing pigeons were his favorite memories. He didn't do as well in the churches and art museums so we took turns visiting those without him.

Any major city is going to have a ton of activities, being able to visit areas outside of cities can be rewarding as well. I imagine any of those locations will be wonderful with your kids.

[Anonymous]

Ireland would be a great option. Easy. Very friendly people.

We went to Italy over spring break with my son (10). It was perfect and I could imagine a younger child enjoying it as well. Most kids will eat pizza and pasta, and the Italians were very welcoming of children.

I wouldn’t worry too much about what your kids will and won’t remember. Travel gets tougher when they get older and it’s harder to take time off during the school year. I wish we’d done more trips abroad during the 6-10 years, but COVID hit right when he turned 6, so international travel was off the table for a while.

Have fun exploring the world with your kids! My family took a ton of vacations when I was a child, mostly to national parks, but I have very fond memories of those trips and the time spent with my parents and siblings.