Anonymous wrote:I found a really nice itinerary for The Amazon Rainforest with kids on Travel Babbo. Has anyone done a similar trip before? I was absolutely intrigued by rainforests as a child so this would be a special trip for me too. It could potentially be combined with Galapagos. Is Galapagos interesting for children? I’ve always wanted to go but I wonder if it would keep my kids interested. I think they would enjoy the cruise portion because we have never been on one. I know they are nothing like the big cruise boats but I think they would find the experience exciting and fun.

We did an amazing 2.5 week trip to Peru, including time in the Amazon, valle sagrado, machu picchu, etc. when our kids were 5 and 7. We did a private tour through Kuoda, which was awesome. The kids and we had a great time. With $60k you could go super high end and extend your trip to include lake Titicaca, the sand dunes, etc.

Just came back from NZ (two week trip). Highly recommend it, kid friendly, amazing scenery and your dollar goes much further. You can hike, zipline, go to the beach, cruise in fjords. Food is amazing

Anonymous wrote:I'm with the private catamaran in the Caribbean. 1000%. It's 100% about you and your family. You're not tied to one particular place. I the weather is bad you can easily move. You'll have a chef to do 100% of the cooking and you have access to amazing places/activities. If $30k gets you one week do 2! Or 10 days but spend some time doing activities/exploring some of the islands. That's absolutely what we would do.

Wouldn't the kids get bored on a boat on travel days with hours of sailing and scenery on a relatively small boat, and no other activities or friends to make.

The high end safari stays inside the park tend to be pretty intimate places with high end food etc. We've done the cheaper safari options in South Africa, staying at Sun City and secured family camping parks and doing game drives. More fun things for the kids, but yeah it won't be what you are used to at all.

I'm with the private catamaran in the Caribbean. 1000%. It's 100% about you and your family. You're not tied to one particular place. I the weather is bad you can easily move. You'll have a chef to do 100% of the cooking and you have access to amazing places/activities. If $30k gets you one week do 2! Or 10 days but spend some time doing activities/exploring some of the islands. That's absolutely what we would do.

For age 6 an amusement park counts as a trip if a lifetime! Hahaha. Seriously every age is different and I would never take my family if a Disney cruise but would shell out for best rooms and go Disney for sure. That will cost you a pretty penny I promise!

At age 6 be careful about doing something too exotic. You may love it but not your kids!

I tend to agree that lifetime =fun. So think of the one that's most fun for your kids. That's the one!

Disney cruise to Alaska is fun but not a trip of a lifetime- I wouldn’t attribute it as such. If you are thinking Disney cruise for a trip- and want it to be a celebration - do what a few others suggested- take your kids on a Disney cruise ( only you know if they’d rather Alaska or warm locations). Have a great time. With your remaining money, go away with your husband - pick a beautiful hotel for some r and r. Just enjoy!!

If you want to do one big trip- Galapagos. 60k you can do it with Quasar and it will be amazing. Seven is on the younger side but by the time you book it, and get to go it he will be closer to 8.

Disney cruise to Alaska is fun but not a trip of a lifetime- I wouldn’t attribute it as such. If you are thinking Disney cruise for a trip- and want it to be a celebration - do what a few others suggested- take your kids on a Disney cruise. Have a great time. With your remaining money, go away with your husband - pick a beautiful hotel for some r and r. Just enjoy!!

If you want to do one big trip- Galapagos. 60k you can do it with Quasar and it will be amazing.

Anonymous wrote:omg a Disney cruise to Alaska? How droll!!!

Why ?

omg a Disney cruise to Alaska? How droll!!!

With kids that age I would do :
Australia, feed the kangaroos, hold a Koala, loads of activities/ sights.
Make a side trip to French Polynesia where kids can be in water as well.

A Disney cruise to Alaska.

I havent been to Galapagos but that sounds like a good spot.

I would stay away from Maldives Seychelles Bali Zanzibar unless no-one likes to get in the ocean only pools. Always a strong current.Also an African safari is good when kids are atleast 10.

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Anonymous wrote:Please stop touring in Antarctica. Leave it be.

Agree.

If people don't see Antarctica, what are you preserving it for?

Whales and penguins and icebergs?

How many thousands and millions of years has it been around without people with cameras and egos needing to confirm its existence?

You gotta admit, Antarctica is the ultimate IG and Bragbook, err Facebook, post

I’m not even on FB or IG. I just want to take the one big trip we would never consider otherwise because of budget. We hit a financial milestone and want to celebrate it without worrying about the cost, something we have never done in the 15 years we have been married. Our kids have traveled a lot in the US but most of it is with points and had some other reason for going, like a family or a family friend’s wedding or visiting family out of state. Our kids already go to sleepover camp and as I said we do small trips to Disney every year we tag onto a trip visiting family and they seem content with the 2 days in the parks and have never asked to stay longer. The point is to take a big family trip we otherwise would not even consider since we don’t usually spend an outrageous amount on travel. Traveling without the kids isn’t an option because we don’t have any family that can help with overnight sitting and I don’t want to leave the country with my DH while they are in overnight camp.

I’m definitely open to spending much less, but some of these bucket list trips do really add up, like taking a family of 4 to South Africa. I like the ideas of the chartered catamaran, South Pacific trip, Disney cruise in Europe, and Amazon rainforest.

Anonymous wrote:We've chartered a catamaran twice in the BVI with kids. The first time our friends' kid was only 5. If your kids can swim, I wouldn't worry about their ages. We had an amazing trip both times. Both boats had water toys (stand up paddle boards, kayaks, motorized underwater explorer), snorkeling (and scuba) gear, and a dinghy that the captain used for tubing the kids. Make sure you select a captain and chef who are kid friendly. The cost was about $30k each time for a boat that held 8 guests, so you'd have an additional $30k for another trip down the road when your kids are older.

For how long?

If I were you, I’d take a nice luxury romantic vacation just with my husband then take another week to go to the beach with the kids. At 7 and 9, your kids are way too young to remember a major trip and won’t appreciate it much. At that age, my kids mostly wanted to be anywhere with a nice pool, beach and playground.

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Anonymous wrote:DH’s company is having a very large exit and to celebrate with our kids we want to take a really special once in a lifetime type trip. Something we wouldn’t normally even consider. Kids are 7 and 9. Budget is up to $60k for the right trip. I was thinking Antarctica might be a great option, New Zealand/Australia or an African Safari, although it would have to be the right lodge for this age. Another idea is chartering a catamaran and island hopping in the Caribbean or Europe. Give ideas please!

These are you "once in a lifetime" trips? I've taken my family on these types of trips every 3 years. They love the safaris. Europe is so over done.

Like I wonder what you felt like you added to the discussion by saying this to the OP? Do you realize that the vast majority of people never take these trips period? It’s actually sad that you apparently have enough money and opportunity to do these trips every 3 months but still need to diss other people to feel good about yourself.

PP is trolling on several travel threads with this fake bragging.