Regardless of age, I think people have very different abilities to do travel. I remember how much easier it was in my younger years to be able to roll with it, how much more energy I had and my body not hurting if I slept wrong on any given night! I think the same is true for kids. Different personalities mean different ages are easier. My kids are now 11 and 13 and we are just going on our first European summer vacation next June! But they have gone to Vancouver, Montreal, a ton of domestic locations, Mexico, Caribbeans. So it's not like they've never flown or stayed in a hotel room but my little one is very very particular with what she needs for good rest, and with opposite genders, it's hard to ask my kids to split a bed. So it's expensive unless we do Airbnb/VRBO. We started with Mexico when the youngest was age 5 and have taken a ton of road trips since then as well. I can't say my kids are "hard" to travel with but I also know where we are going to have an easier time of it - I'm not going to drag them to a place where it's going to be hard for them and for us logistically. So they are easy to travel with because I take care to take them on the vacations we are going to enjoy.

Ultimately however, I agree with the premise that if you have kids, it's not really a vacation, it's a trip.

No matter how well you get along with your kids and love them, for sure, you can't take them and expect it's going to work out in a high maintenance situation like a really nice fancy restaurant, do an Italian wine tour or take them to a hotel where it's so nice hey it's adults only! LOL

I can't imagine travelling internationally with kids under age 5 - between the gear and nap times - not sure how people are enjoying themselves!!! Unless you brought your nanny with you, what would you actually do, I mean even if you did camping, it's not like they can walk that far?!

Currently in Europe with my 4&7 yr olds. My 4 yr old is the most difficult but my 7 year old can still be really difficult at times!

We had a few really busy days sightseeing in Paris and eating lots of treats and they are VERY out of sorts. 4 yr old has gone feral. Sugar, refusing to eat anything but pastries for 2 days and OJ & hot chocolate have turned my sweet natured child into a very challenging one!! Despite it all, he’s still super cute and has LOvED traveling, they both have! I would not dream of eating in a restaurant right now in Paris with my kids but they are still fun to travel with; just realize there are hard moments but precious ones too!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Permanently improve?” Trust me, teens can be sulky and obnoxious.

Just plan vacations that meet their developmental needs, abilities and interests; you should be fine.

Well this gets to the other issue - when you have other kids and are trying to juggle the developmental needs, abilities and interests of all of them. Traveling with elementary, middle and high schoolers is like putting together a challenging puzzle and hoping it looks good in the end.

I took my four kids on very long road trips (6 weeks to 10 weeks long) with a 9 year age difference between oldest and youngest a number of times. There was really never any problem with everyone being engaged at museums, national parks (do Junior Ranger, etc.) But we weren't doing fine dining or shopping. Lots of living history museums, specialized art museums where we prepared in advance (Getty, etc.), outdoor activities, etc.

Oh, and month long trip to Europe ages 9-18 was really fun! But my kids love history.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Permanently improve?” Trust me, teens can be sulky and obnoxious.

Just plan vacations that meet their developmental needs, abilities and interests; you should be fine.

Well this gets to the other issue - when you have other kids and are trying to juggle the developmental needs, abilities and interests of all of them. Traveling with elementary, middle and high schoolers is like putting together a challenging puzzle and hoping it looks good in the end.

I took my four kids on very long road trips (6 weeks to 10 weeks long) with a 9 year age difference between oldest and youngest a number of times. There was really never any problem with everyone being engaged at museums, national parks (do Junior Ranger, etc.) But we weren't doing fine dining or shopping. Lots of living history museums, specialized art museums where we prepared in advance (Getty, etc.), outdoor activities, etc.

Anonymous wrote:25-30

Great! Only 5 more years to go before I get there!

18 months was the hardest time for us. Everything else has been very doable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 was the hardest age. Kid thinks they know everything, won't help wtih anything, only wats to do what they want to do.

Kid is 15 now, and ven they will tell you they ruined the Hawaii vacation.

Teens can be threatened and bribed. Toddlers hands down. Teens you can also leave. Don’t want to go to Haleakala, fine stay here we’ll go without you.

Wowee that sounds like a healthy household!

Wowee you sound like you have zero experience with teens.

^and btw the teen meltdowns are pretty bad to the point where I refuse to do any major flights at the moment.