Worst and Favorite places you've visited with your kids

[Anonymous]

Not OP but Beaches is a zoo. I have no idea why people LOVE that place. I understand you can do a lot of stuff cause it's huge and they have everything but I can't relax where there's a zillion people there. Esp as Turks offers one of the most beautiful beaches - not sure why you'd be all over the pools and even on the beach - it just is crazy. It depends on what you like - lots of people love Disney World so if you don't mind crowds, you might enjoy it. There's other places in Turks that are family oriented resorts, Beaches specifically caters to families however. But for the same price you could go to Grace Bay Club or Seven Stars too - on a better beach location as well.

[Anonymous]

Can't say we've had a worst yet. We just got back from Puerto Rico and our trip to Culebra Island was everyone's favorite. Went snorkeling and saw sea turtles, stingrays, octopus, eels, a baby shark, got to hold a starfish and this crazy-looking white sea urchin. Exhausting but lots of fun.

[Anonymous]

Disney gets a lot of hate on here but we've actually had really great trips there (both at the parks and on a cruise). You know what I love? You walk SOOOO much that I don't feel bad about indulging at dinner with wine and dessert I usually end up losing weight even with all the extra calories I consume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but Beaches is a zoo. I have no idea why people LOVE that place. I understand you can do a lot of stuff cause it's huge and they have everything but I can't relax where there's a zillion people there. Esp as Turks offers one of the most beautiful beaches - not sure why you'd be all over the pools and even on the beach - it just is crazy. It depends on what you like - lots of people love Disney World so if you don't mind crowds, you might enjoy it. There's other places in Turks that are family oriented resorts, Beaches specifically caters to families however. But for the same price you could go to Grace Bay Club or Seven Stars too - on a better beach location as well.

Have you ever been there? Because it doesn't sound like it. We were just there a few months ago - stayed over Thanksgiving, the resort was fully booked (we tried to upgrade and found this out), and every day we sat on a stretch of beautiful, deserted beach. Tons of empty chairs all around us (we chose the beach that stretches to the left of Caribbean Village if you're facing the ocean). Drinks service was very prompt and the beaches were clean. The pools were more crowded in the morning but not by the time we usually swung by around at 3:30-4 before dinner. Never had to save chairs or wait in any lines, etc.

Now I will concede that the food isn't that great. It's decent. Not bad but not great. We liked it though because our kids genuinely enjoyed the kids' club, wanted to go, and left us to eat in peace. You can actually get great meals at Disney World depending on where you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but Beaches is a zoo. I have no idea why people LOVE that place. I understand you can do a lot of stuff cause it's huge and they have everything but I can't relax where there's a zillion people there. Esp as Turks offers one of the most beautiful beaches - not sure why you'd be all over the pools and even on the beach - it just is crazy. It depends on what you like - lots of people love Disney World so if you don't mind crowds, you might enjoy it. There's other places in Turks that are family oriented resorts, Beaches specifically caters to families however. But for the same price you could go to Grace Bay Club or Seven Stars too - on a better beach location as well.

Have you ever been there? Because it doesn't sound like it. We were just there a few months ago - stayed over Thanksgiving, the resort was fully booked (we tried to upgrade and found this out), and every day we sat on a stretch of beautiful, deserted beach. Tons of empty chairs all around us (we chose the beach that stretches to the left of Caribbean Village if you're facing the ocean). Drinks service was very prompt and the beaches were clean. The pools were more crowded in the morning but not by the time we usually swung by around at 3:30-4 before dinner. Never had to save chairs or wait in any lines, etc.

Now I will concede that the food isn't that great. It's decent. Not bad but not great. We liked it though because our kids genuinely enjoyed the kids' club, wanted to go, and left us to eat in peace. You can actually get great meals at Disney World depending on where you go.

+ 1

This was our experience as well. I don't know what the PP's are talking about with it being overly crowded. It's a very spread out resort. I never felt that it was crowded at all, like Disney World for example. Even if lounging by the pool is your thing (which, why fly all that way and miss the beautiful ocean? There have a bunch of different, large pools).

AIs are good for when you have really young kids (like 8 and under) but after they aged out of kids' clubs we preferred to do our own thing and find restaurants via Yelp, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but Beaches is a zoo. I have no idea why people LOVE that place. I understand you can do a lot of stuff cause it's huge and they have everything but I can't relax where there's a zillion people there. Esp as Turks offers one of the most beautiful beaches - not sure why you'd be all over the pools and even on the beach - it just is crazy. It depends on what you like - lots of people love Disney World so if you don't mind crowds, you might enjoy it. There's other places in Turks that are family oriented resorts, Beaches specifically caters to families however. But for the same price you could go to Grace Bay Club or Seven Stars too - on a better beach location as well.

Have you ever been there? Because it doesn't sound like it. We were just there a few months ago - stayed over Thanksgiving, the resort was fully booked (we tried to upgrade and found this out), and every day we sat on a stretch of beautiful, deserted beach. Tons of empty chairs all around us (we chose the beach that stretches to the left of Caribbean Village if you're facing the ocean). Drinks service was very prompt and the beaches were clean. The pools were more crowded in the morning but not by the time we usually swung by around at 3:30-4 before dinner. Never had to save chairs or wait in any lines, etc.

Now I will concede that the food isn't that great. It's decent. Not bad but not great. We liked it though because our kids genuinely enjoyed the kids' club, wanted to go, and left us to eat in peace. You can actually get great meals at Disney World depending on where you go.

+ 1

This was our experience as well. I don't know what the PP's are talking about with it being overly crowded. It's a very spread out resort. I never felt that it was crowded at all, like Disney World for example. Even if lounging by the pool is your thing (which, why fly all that way and miss the beautiful ocean? There have a bunch of different, large pools).

AIs are good for when you have really young kids (like 8 and under) but after they aged out of kids' clubs we preferred to do our own thing and find restaurants via Yelp, etc.

[Anonymous]

I honestly can't think of a worst vacation.... we travel twice a year (both domestic and internationally) and while some vacations haven't been home runs we haven't had any truly bad experiences. Our best was San Francisco... there was so much to see and do. Our kids are pretty far apart in age and at the time they were 5, 10 , and 20 so finding activities everyone enjoys is sometimes a challenge.... In San Fran everybody loved every minute.

[Anonymous]

Our least favorite trips have always been the ones that are too crowded/hot (Disney, etc.). Our best family trips have been to the Amalfi Coast in Italy and Banff & Whistler in Canada. Gorgeous, scenic, great food, nice people and lots to do.

[Anonymous]

The beaches people are probably going at a busy time of the year. Summer vs. Thanksgiving or Christmas.

[Anonymous]

best: Riviera maya (playa del Carmen, mexico). easy transfer from airport, beautiful beaches and great food.
runner up: Lancaster, PA. easy drive, inexpensive, so much to see for the little kid set and so relaxing.

worst: Disney World. We went because other family members were taking their kids, but I won't be going again til our kids are much older and beg us. It was $$$, I needed a vacation to recover from that vacation and I don't think my 5 year old appreciated it anymore than he appreciated Sesame Place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best was Spain.

Worst was Disneyworld. It wasn't terrible, and I am glad we did it once, but I just don't get why people rave about it. It was nothing special, and we have had more enjoyable vacations at a much cheaper price.

I was going to post worst was WDW. It was special... ONCE. I don't understand why people go back every year.

So you don't understand why people enjoy different things than you do? We go every other year and wish we could go more frequently. All 4 of us love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly can't think of a worst vacation.... we travel twice a year (both domestic and internationally) and while some vacations haven't been home runs we haven't had any truly bad experiences. Our best was San Francisco... there was so much to see and do. Our kids are pretty far apart in age and at the time they were 5, 10 , and 20 so finding activities everyone enjoys is sometimes a challenge.... In San Fran everybody loved every minute.

This sounds fun. What did your kids enjoy doing there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly can't think of a worst vacation.... we travel twice a year (both domestic and internationally) and while some vacations haven't been home runs we haven't had any truly bad experiences. Our best was San Francisco... there was so much to see and do. Our kids are pretty far apart in age and at the time they were 5, 10 , and 20 so finding activities everyone enjoys is sometimes a challenge.... In San Fran everybody loved every minute.

This sounds fun. What did your kids enjoy doing there?

We did a mix of super touristy stuff and not so touristy stuff. Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, bus tour of the city, 49ers game, walked Golden Gate Bridge, biking at Venice Beach, Coit Tower and Lombard Street, Exploratorium, we walked in neighborhoods and found great little restaurants (we even found someone who let us go inside their painted lady), SFMOMA, Sausalito. We ate tons of Ghiradelli chocolates and lots of great seafood, pizza, chinese food.... some of the best food I have had in my life we had on that trip. Another reason we really enjoyed the trip is it was our first time getting and VRBO and we loved the convenience staying in the city and being a part of a neighborhood. We have since done VRBOs on almost every vacation we have had since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly can't think of a worst vacation.... we travel twice a year (both domestic and internationally) and while some vacations haven't been home runs we haven't had any truly bad experiences. Our best was San Francisco... there was so much to see and do. Our kids are pretty far apart in age and at the time they were 5, 10 , and 20 so finding activities everyone enjoys is sometimes a challenge.... In San Fran everybody loved every minute.

This sounds fun. What did your kids enjoy doing there?

We did a mix of super touristy stuff and not so touristy stuff. Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, bus tour of the city, 49ers game, walked Golden Gate Bridge, biking at Venice Beach, Coit Tower and Lombard Street, Exploratorium, we walked in neighborhoods and found great little restaurants (we even found someone who let us go inside their painted lady), SFMOMA, Sausalito. We ate tons of Ghiradelli chocolates and lots of great seafood, pizza, chinese food.... some of the best food I have had in my life we had on that trip. Another reason we really enjoyed the trip is it was our first time getting and VRBO and we loved the convenience staying in the city and being a part of a neighborhood. We have since done VRBOs on almost every vacation we have had since.

Thanks!,

[Anonymous]

Hawaii was probably our worst, sadly. Everyone was up at 2 and couldn't sleep and screaming at each other by 6 they were so tired and irritable.
I love Hawaii but the first few days were so awful...