Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

You don't have to sightsee in Europe. There's plenty of beaches for relaxation and water sports.

Sure, but their beaches aren’t as good. They are ridiculously small, crowded, and oftentimes littered with trash.

Once you’ve vacationed on an empty Caribbean beach, it’s really hard to sit on a crowded beach.

Agreed. Why fly twice as far and deal with time zone changes for worse beaches, if beaches are all you're looking for?

At this point I’d only take my oldest to Europe. The younger two wouldn’t appreciate it and would rather be at a beach or anywhere with their friends. When we visited DC for the first time since we moved away when my oldest was a toddler my oldest stayed at the museums with me in the afternoons while DH and the younger two went back to the hotel pool.

There’s a 5 year age gap between the first and second kid so the differences are age appropriate. But if I’m spending $$$ to go to Europe we’re not hanging out a the pool or shopping every afternoon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

You don't have to sightsee in Europe. There's plenty of beaches for relaxation and water sports.

Sure, but their beaches aren’t as good. They are ridiculously small, crowded, and oftentimes littered with trash.

Once you’ve vacationed on an empty Caribbean beach, it’s really hard to sit on a crowded beach.

I dunno, We had a long stretch of the unittered Meia Praia to ourselves this past July.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have always hated the beach and love European cities. I bet they would like Mexico City though.

Are you and your partner beach people?

I’m always baffled by kids (and people in general) who don’t like the beach. Who doesn’t love swimming in the Caribbean?

People with sensory issues, people who burn easily, people who get migraines from bright sunlight..really it’s not difficult or baffling at all.

Anonymous wrote:My kids have always hated the beach and love European cities. I bet they would like Mexico City though.

Are you and your partner beach people?

I’m always baffled by kids (and people in general) who don’t like the beach. Who doesn’t love swimming in the Caribbean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

You don't have to sightsee in Europe. There's plenty of beaches for relaxation and water sports.

Sure, but their beaches aren’t as good. They are ridiculously small, crowded, and oftentimes littered with trash.

Once you’ve vacationed on an empty Caribbean beach, it’s really hard to sit on a crowded beach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

Anytime you go somewhere not for work or family is a vacation to me. I don’t see the difference.

My kids notice the difference between playing on the beach, swimming, fishing, chilling on a boat, etc. vs sightseeing, museum hopping, etc.

Vacation vs trip

They consider our Caribbean trips vacations and I think they worry that our upcoming trips to the Mediterranean won’t be as relaxing.

Anonymous wrote:It’s threads like this that make me realize I do not belong on DCUM.

I think that when I read about people with $20K vacations.

If you stick to Southern Europe, it's really no more expensive than a domestic vacation that involves flying.

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

You don't have to sightsee in Europe. There's plenty of beaches for relaxation and water sports.

We prefer Europe, the kids prefer Mexico and request it every time. They have warm memories of the people, food, pool and activities which were are a bit more familiar to them. I feel bad they haven't been in years but not bad enough to book it again just yet.

It’s threads like this that make me realize I do not belong on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:DSs vote is for Europe, coastal Spain and France are his favorite places.

Which cities in Spain and France did he enjoy?

DSs vote is for Europe, coastal Spain and France are his favorite places.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids prefer beaches and water sports.

But they don’t like Mexico…because the Caribbean is far better in terms of beaches, water, vibe, etc. Plus, you can drink the water.

We are trying the Mediterranean and Adriatic next, but I’m worried they won’t enjoy as much as the Caribbean.

Caribbean is a vacation. Relaxing.

Europe is a trip. Sightseeing.

Anytime you go somewhere not for work or family is a vacation to me. I don’t see the difference.

I see the difference. On a beach in Mexico, you can relax. A vacation in Paris is go-go-go, and takes almost as much energy (if not more), than work. I don't feel rested after traveling in Europe. I do usually prefer it, though. But yeah, there is a big difference.

Interesting. I guess I’ve never considered “vacation” to be synonymous with relaxing. A vacation can be whatever you want it to be. But whatever!

My kids have always hated the beach and love European cities. I bet they would like Mexico City though.