Traveling with kids

[Anonymous]

OP I think you can see that there are many different levels of risk people are willing to take for travel, especially with kids. You seem to be much more risk averse than many. Maybe you and your DH can find a compromise at least while your kids are young. You seem quite set on high risk or nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Op - because it is an easy and convenient way to get around some countries. And a typical mode of transportation. That or buses.

A car service just makes you stick out like a sore thumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That's just luck.

You do have to travel differently with kids, partly because you are in a bigger group and partly because kids have more needs. Buy a bus ticket or rent a car. Stay in a hotel instead of a hostel. Have more of a plan. It's not that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I think you can see that there are many different levels of risk people are willing to take for travel, especially with kids. You seem to be much more risk averse than many. Maybe you and your DH can find a compromise at least while your kids are young. You seem quite set on high risk or nothing.

Op - I am not high risk or nothing. I just find the type of trips DH wants to take boring. Fly into some random place, get picked up by a car, go to resort and never leave until it’s time to leave said place on a plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Op - because it is an easy and convenient way to get around some countries. And a typical mode of transportation. That or buses.

A car service just makes you stick out like a sore thumb.

You sound like you're stuck in the mindset of a 20 year old hostel backpacker. You can see the world in a fun and interesting way without putting yourself in potentially dangerous situations. There is a lot that exists between hitch hiking and a car service that just brings you around to places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

OP - I also want to teach my kids resiliency and the ability to figure things out when everything goes wrong. Bus doesn't show up? What do we do now? Don't know where you are going to be staying? Find a hostel, etc. Everything is always so planned and figured out when we travel - there is no spontaneity at all.

When I was in my 20s and traveling across Latin America I literally had zero plans, would get on a bus and find a hostel wherever I ended up and stayed there. Didn't even have a cell phone (pre cell phone days) and would just wing it, because I knew how. I want my kids to be able to do this too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

OP - I also want to teach my kids resiliency and the ability to figure things out when everything goes wrong. Bus doesn't show up? What do we do now? Don't know where you are going to be staying? Find a hostel, etc. Everything is always so planned and figured out when we travel - there is no spontaneity at all.

When I was in my 20s and traveling across Latin America I literally had zero plans, would get on a bus and find a hostel wherever I ended up and stayed there. Didn't even have a cell phone (pre cell phone days) and would just wing it, because I knew how. I want my kids to be able to do this too.

I did this in my 20s too and am taking my kids to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. But I still think you're nuts, OP. We have a plan and reservations for our trip because we're a group and I have kids with me. You can't travel like a solo traveler with a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I think you can see that there are many different levels of risk people are willing to take for travel, especially with kids. You seem to be much more risk averse than many. Maybe you and your DH can find a compromise at least while your kids are young. You seem quite set on high risk or nothing.

Op - I am not high risk or nothing. I just find the type of trips DH wants to take boring. Fly into some random place, get picked up by a car, go to resort and never leave until it’s time to leave said place on a plane.

There is a biiig middle between you and DH. We have only gone to like 2 resorts with the kids when they were tiny. The rest were exploring nature or cities etc. including public transportation and sometimes a car if there was not a good way to get somewhere. I don't hitchhike as I have had enough risk and adventure in my life as a woman. So pick a destination, plan a bunch of things and don't do a resort. If you go to costs rica for example, lots to see as you well know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

OP - I also want to teach my kids resiliency and the ability to figure things out when everything goes wrong. Bus doesn't show up? What do we do now? Don't know where you are going to be staying? Find a hostel, etc. Everything is always so planned and figured out when we travel - there is no spontaneity at all.

When I was in my 20s and traveling across Latin America I literally had zero plans, would get on a bus and find a hostel wherever I ended up and stayed there. Didn't even have a cell phone (pre cell phone days) and would just wing it, because I knew how. I want my kids to be able to do this too.

You don't need to go to a different country to have spontaneity. Take a train to middle of nowhere Pennsylvania and figure out how to get somewhere. Are your kids spontaneous already? Do you do weekend adventures all the time? I don't as that's not my style. But friend take their kids places planned and unplanned like every weekend. Including flights. They see a cool festival pop up and go. Or get last minute camping passes at a national park and go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I think you can see that there are many different levels of risk people are willing to take for travel, especially with kids. You seem to be much more risk averse than many. Maybe you and your DH can find a compromise at least while your kids are young. You seem quite set on high risk or nothing.

Op - I am not high risk or nothing. I just find the type of trips DH wants to take boring. Fly into some random place, get picked up by a car, go to resort and never leave until it’s time to leave said place on a plane.

There is a biiig middle between you and DH. We have only gone to like 2 resorts with the kids when they were tiny. The rest were exploring nature or cities etc. including public transportation and sometimes a car if there was not a good way to get somewhere. I don't hitchhike as I have had enough risk and adventure in my life as a woman. So pick a destination, plan a bunch of things and don't do a resort. If you go to costs rica for example, lots to see as you well know.

Yes, I've taken my kid on all kinds of public transportation in other countries. But hitchhiking with kids is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

OP - I also want to teach my kids resiliency and the ability to figure things out when everything goes wrong. Bus doesn't show up? What do we do now? Don't know where you are going to be staying? Find a hostel, etc. Everything is always so planned and figured out when we travel - there is no spontaneity at all.

When I was in my 20s and traveling across Latin America I literally had zero plans, would get on a bus and find a hostel wherever I ended up and stayed there. Didn't even have a cell phone (pre cell phone days) and would just wing it, because I knew how. I want my kids to be able to do this too.

You don't need to go to a different country to have spontaneity. Take a train to middle of nowhere Pennsylvania and figure out how to get somewhere. Are your kids spontaneous already? Do you do weekend adventures all the time? I don't as that's not my style. But friend take their kids places planned and unplanned like every weekend. Including flights. They see a cool festival pop up and go. Or get last minute camping passes at a national park and go.

OP - Thanks yes that is a good idea! I actually would love if I could send my older two on a plane by themselves (grandparents have asked if this could happen) but so far DH has vetoed it. They are 8 and 10 years old and pretty responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did a lot of things when I was younger that could have ended badly too. Just because I was fortunate nothing bad happened to me doesn't mean it wasn't dangerous. We've taken DS all over the world, but you've got to compromise a bit with your DH. You need to have some structure and responsibility with your kids. There is no need to hitch hike or put yourselves in potentially dangerous situations just because that's how you like to travel. If you want to go see the gorillas go (we have and it's a great trip) but you need to meet your husband halfway with his concerns.

OP - I also want to teach my kids resiliency and the ability to figure things out when everything goes wrong. Bus doesn't show up? What do we do now? Don't know where you are going to be staying? Find a hostel, etc. Everything is always so planned and figured out when we travel - there is no spontaneity at all.

When I was in my 20s and traveling across Latin America I literally had zero plans, would get on a bus and find a hostel wherever I ended up and stayed there. Didn't even have a cell phone (pre cell phone days) and would just wing it, because I knew how. I want my kids to be able to do this too.

You have to work up to this. What you should do is plan a trip to a major city in France, Germany, Switzerland, etc. Somewhere where the main language isn't English but enough people speak it where your husband will be comfortable. And then just....walk around. Have no plans. Decide you want to go somewhere and pull out the metro map and have your kids map it out. DS is 12 and absolutely loves getting to figure out the routes we take in different cities. And you can build things in like missing your stop or getting in the wrong train.

I get what you want OP but your kids are under 10. And, the world that existed when you did this doesn't exist anymore. I can't wait for DS to get to do all the travel he has thought up. But I'm glad he will be able to pull up a hostel on his phone and see if it's safe or not. Did you really never stay in one where you felt unsafe? I did and I'm sure if I had had the ability to Google it, I would have never stayed there.

I get that you think how you want to travel is the best way. But your husband doesn't agree. If you want to be able to get our of the travel rut you've found yourself in, compromise.

[Anonymous]

Maybe start with Japan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is a terrible argument. Even if the risk of a problem was 10% (which I think we could all agree would be unacceptably high) you could easily hitchhike around for two years with no problems.

If I were your spouse and you made this argument I would be really mad at you for making such a dumb argument about something important, aside from the actual question at hand.