For sure do not go to Asia if you only have one week. You can pick one of the “starter” countries in the EU if you want an easy first trip: England or Ireland. No language barriers, lots of recognizable food. If you have picky eaters, lots of interesting things for their ages. Only a five hour time difference too which is nice.

Paris and Rome are two other “beginner” places to visit too. And just six hours time difference.

Save Asia for when you have a pocket of two weeks. The time zone changes are going to be a killer.

I took similarly aged kids to Asia for a week and somehow jetlag was a non-issue for any of us. I've had more trouble with jet lag in Europe but it may be due to relaxing activities versus rushing around. Asia is more child friendly IME but again it may have more to do with the hotels and activities we chose.

I love SE Asia and can't wait to take my pho-loving kids (similar ages to OP's) there someday. But waiting until they're older and we can devote at least 2 weeks. It just takes so long to get there. Definitely Europe for a first trip.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I don't want to do London ( i don't find it attractive) or France (concerned of theft or crime), but maybe I am fine with ireland or italy.

OP is worried about crime and theft, but is willing to go to Italy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to go to Asia pick one city (I would pick Kyoto). Only you know how your kids would do with the long travel and time change, but my kids’ first international trip was to Asia (to visit family) and they were totally fine. They slept on the plane and just woke up early for the first couple of days we were there. I actually think young kids adjust the easiest.

Was this trip 7 days? I flew solo w/ 8 & 5 yr olds to Kyoto and they were perfect. But we were there almost 2 weeks. Note: jet lag on the return is a harder adjustment.

We do not find this to be the case. In Tokyo, my kids were waking up at midnight for days because they were hungry for lunch!

I guess it depends on the kids. My kids have never woken up just because they were hungry. I think arrival time also makes a difference. We have flown to Taipei twice with our kids. First time when they were 4 and 7 and then when 8 and 11. On the second trip we arrived at 1am local time and I found that we adjusted a lot faster than the previous time when we arrived earlier in the day. I think because we were so tired we slept until 8am the next day and stayed busy all day so adjusted quickly. The biggest issue we had was waking up at 3am the first few days and needing to push through until a reasonable bed time. But still we found that our kids adjusted to the jetlag faster than the adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to go to Asia pick one city (I would pick Kyoto). Only you know how your kids would do with the long travel and time change, but my kids’ first international trip was to Asia (to visit family) and they were totally fine. They slept on the plane and just woke up early for the first couple of days we were there. I actually think young kids adjust the easiest.

Was this trip 7 days? I flew solo w/ 8 & 5 yr olds to Kyoto and they were perfect. But we were there almost 2 weeks. Note: jet lag on the return is a harder adjustment.

Yes, jet lag on return was harder for my kids too. For OP, we took my family of 5 to Europe a couple of times (my kids were around the ages of your kids the first time), and then we were just in Asia for about 2 and a half weeks. It's a long time to get to Asia but they just thought of it as going to Europe but double the flights. Hahaha... My kids adjusted to the jet lag very well but we're pretty good about reminding them to stay awake until bedtime for example. We also don't pack the schedule. We usually just do one touristy thing a day and then let the kids veg the rest of the day and night. It's a vacation after all!

Op here. I don't want to do London ( i don't find it attractive) or France (concerned of theft or crime), but maybe I am fine with ireland or italy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to go to Asia pick one city (I would pick Kyoto). Only you know how your kids would do with the long travel and time change, but my kids’ first international trip was to Asia (to visit family) and they were totally fine. They slept on the plane and just woke up early for the first couple of days we were there. I actually think young kids adjust the easiest.

Was this trip 7 days? I flew solo w/ 8 & 5 yr olds to Kyoto and they were perfect. But we were there almost 2 weeks. Note: jet lag on the return is a harder adjustment.

We do not find this to be the case. In Tokyo, my kids were waking up at midnight for days because they were hungry for lunch!

The easy decision for us was Europe, more specifically Italy. Every meal was pasta or pizza with gelato daily. My kids like some Asian food, but not for a week straight.

Our kids first international trip was to Asia to visit family, however, I would absolutely not do it for just a week. It takes 3 days just for travel (2 there and 1 back due to time changes) and it takes a while to adjust to the time change.

London is a good choice - direct flight and lots to do with kids there.

Anonymous wrote:Direct flight to your destination to Europe. Don’t do layovers. Don’t go to multiple cities that require flights. Just base yourself out of one place.

This is really good advice.

Definitely not Asia for your first long-haul flight and first time out of the country with the kids and for only one week. We started with London and Paris, which was easy but also super fun for the kids.

Direct flight to your destination to Europe. Don’t do layovers. Don’t go to multiple cities that require flights. Just base yourself out of one place.

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to go to Asia pick one city (I would pick Kyoto). Only you know how your kids would do with the long travel and time change, but my kids’ first international trip was to Asia (to visit family) and they were totally fine. They slept on the plane and just woke up early for the first couple of days we were there. I actually think young kids adjust the easiest.

Was this trip 7 days? I flew solo w/ 8 & 5 yr olds to Kyoto and they were perfect. But we were there almost 2 weeks. Note: jet lag on the return is a harder adjustment.