Traveling with kids

[Anonymous]

Do you only go to super “safe” places with your kids? Or are you willing to go off the beaten path?

I would love to take my kids to places like Nicaragua, Rwanda, etc but my husband refuses to let me. So we go to super boring “safe” places like the Caribbean or Canada.

I want my kids to see the world, not just nice resorts.

[Anonymous]

Everywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everywhere

My DH is very risk adverse. The most adventuresome he has ever been traveling is Greece. I have lived all over Latin America and traveled by bus, hitch hiking, walking, etc.

Kids are under 10 years old.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that there’s a ton of middle ground between “nice resort” and Rwanda, no? What are you wanting them to see/do/experience? If you articulate the specifics, you can probably find a compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that there’s a ton of middle ground between “nice resort” and Rwanda, no? What are you wanting them to see/do/experience? If you articulate the specifics, you can probably find a compromise.

Rwanda is actually very safe with lots of nice resorts. I wouldn't be worried going there at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that there’s a ton of middle ground between “nice resort” and Rwanda, no? What are you wanting them to see/do/experience? If you articulate the specifics, you can probably find a compromise.

Op - he doesn’t even feel safe flying into any of these countries.

I would like to do tours around, see real life, walk around the capital, etc. I posted above - I have lived all over Latin America. I hitch hiked most of the time. I have very little aversion to risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everywhere

My DH is very risk adverse. The most adventuresome he has ever been traveling is Greece. I have lived all over Latin America and traveled by bus, hitch hiking, walking, etc.

Kids are under 10 years old.

I did wait to go to countries with a high risk of gastrointestinal illness until they were big enough that I didn't have to worry as much about them being dehydrated. I wouldn't take a 4-year-old to India for instance where they can get dehydrated really quickly if they caught a bug. But I have no problem taking my 11-year-old there. She has enough body mass and will drink when I tell her to drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everywhere

My DH is very risk adverse. The most adventuresome he has ever been traveling is Greece. I have lived all over Latin America and traveled by bus, hitch hiking, walking, etc.

Kids are under 10 years old.

I did wait to go to countries with a high risk of gastrointestinal illness until they were big enough that I didn't have to worry as much about them being dehydrated. I wouldn't take a 4-year-old to India for instance where they can get dehydrated really quickly if they caught a bug. But I have no problem taking my 11-year-old there. She has enough body mass and will drink when I tell her to drink.

Op - that’s another thing DH dislikes. Eating street food. I love it. I love getting street food from a vendor while on a bus ride somewhere. It’s great! I have no qualms about that. No way would DH do that. He wants a restaurant.

[Anonymous]

My family is from a 3rd world country. I am very careful when I take my children. Kids and adults in my country die every year from lack. Even my cousin’s husband died from a simple infection that became bigger. When I visit home, I know how to navigate. In foreign countries, I do not. So I am careful.

[Anonymous]

Well, first of all, my kids have never been to a resort. But they’ve also never been to Rwanda.
They have been camping, hiking, and swimming in US national parks, to visit European & US cities, etc.

If you think the giant sequoias, the Hagia Sophia, and the Roman Forum are “super boring” just because they aren’t in countries people consider dangerous, that’s really a you problem. I’m sure you & your spouse can find middle ground if you try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, first of all, my kids have never been to a resort. But they’ve also never been to Rwanda.
They have been camping, hiking, and swimming in US national parks, to visit European & US cities, etc.

If you think the giant sequoias, the Hagia Sophia, and the Roman Forum are “super boring” just because they aren’t in countries people consider dangerous, that’s really a you problem. I’m sure you & your spouse can find middle ground if you try.

Op - I want to go see the gorillas in Virunga National Park in Rwanda. I want to take my kids to see the volcanic island of Ometepe in Nicaragua and go to Marrakesh and see the dessert. These are the trips I would love to take.

I would hitch hike with them and take them on buses instead did hire cars and guides.

[Anonymous]

It is downright insane to hitchhike in foreign countries with your kids. Or even in the US for that matter. I think you can do these trips safely on guided tours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is downright insane to hitchhike in foreign countries with your kids. Or even in the US for that matter. I think you can do these trips safely on guided tours.

Op - I literally hitch hiked all over Latin America in the back of pick up trucks for 2 years. Never once had a problem.

[Anonymous]

You want to hitch hike with kids? Why? Go wherever but hire a car or a guide. You'll see more and more efficiently in many cases.
Once you are a parent you are responsible for your kids safety and not just your own. Including if something happens to you.

[Anonymous]

Start small and work your way up. You've got time. We've traveled all over the world with DS, but you want to save more "you're probably only going to go here once" type trips for when they are older and will remember it more. So since they are under 10, work your way up. Go a a major city in Europe and then do some exploring outside the city.