60k for one trip?!?!? Even if money isn’t a concern, and I guess it’s not, why spend so much? Also, what six-year-old is interested in Antarctica and what exactly is there to do there? I’m sure the landscape is breathtaking and seeing penguins would be cool, but it seems like most of the appeal for a lot of Antarctica is being able to say “I went to Antarctica.”

You have lots of great ideas already.

We did a trip a few years ago (it was something my dad really wanted to do) which I think would be great for your family - we hired a yacht and went around the Greek islands. It was a super luxury yacht, so maybe more than you want to spend (ours was more like 100 EUR for a week but we had to accommodate more people than you), but it was really incredible for all ages - 6 to 75 - involved. Water activities and swimming off the side of the boat for kids (hours of banana boats and water skis, etc), amazing food onboard and on the islands, historical tours on the islands, beaches, etc. It was amazing. If it fits in your budget to do this (there are cheaper yachts, of course!) I’d recommend at least a week elsewhere in Europe first so you are acclimated to the time zone before you set off.

Japan and South Korea?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m gonna rain on your parade.

I wouldn’t plan my trip of a lifetime for kids that young. I’d wait until they’re older. They’re not going to appreciate it and it won’t be worth the money.

We’ve gone on several “trips of a lifetime“, including our entire family on a luxurious safari, but we waited until everyone was older.

+1, they will not remember it in a few years and would probably like disney more.

I’m okay with them but remembering everything. Also open to domestic but we have visited a fair number of places in the US. As a family we have gone to Costa Rica, Hawaii, Southern California including San Diego and LA, Vail/Beaver Creek/Denver, Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, NYC, Boston, San Francisco/ Carmel/Monterey, Grand Canyon, Utah Arches, Taos NM, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Amelia Island and St Augustine, Charleston, New Orleans, Seattle + San Juan Island, Coeur d’Alene Idaho and Philadelphia. Stand out trips for the kids have been skiing, Southern Cal, Costa Rica and NYC. They liked Disney but didn’t love it and don’t ask to go back much.

You are clearly raising children of privilege. Nothing you do with them is going to be the “trip of a lifetime” because you’ve already bombarded them with experiences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg - these trips all sound like nightmares for your kids. Can they stay home?

I agree. The trip of a lifetime with kids is going to be Disney, OP. That’s what they’d love, the trips you’ve suggested are adult trips.

My kids go to Disney every year. We visit grandparents and then stay overnight in a Disney hotel for 2 nights and do 2 parks each annual grandparent trip. They like Disney but they NEVER talk about it when we aren’t there and they always seem ready to leave after 2 days.- OP

So for a big blowout trip with kids

You can't do Antartica during the northern summer. Not happening, and you wouldn't want to be there anyway during the Southern winter.

Wouldn't bother with Australia and New Zealand. It's a long ways to go for places that feel quite familiar.

Safari is good, but not for two weeks. And it really doesn't have to be expensive. I rented a car in South Africa and did the national parks. And it was great. And very cheap. Saw everything. Wouldn't choose that though with young kids for an extended period. But there are some good multi-day trips through Kruger with campsites that would be interesting and exciting.

If I was going to drop 60 grand on a trip with two young kids, I'd consider a few things.

Thailand.

India. Definitely a full on trip. But if you do things with Taj or Oberoi, it'll be very comfortable. Nicest hotels in the world. And there is so much to see - from Kerala to Rajasthan to the Himalayas.

French Polynesia. Not a resort. But the Aranui. It's a ship that departs once a month from Papeete. Used to be just a freighter. Much more comfortable now. It goes from Tahiti to the Tuamotu Islands and then the Marquesas. Think it's about three weeks. Very cool trip.

Tonga if you want to charter a sailboat. Vava'u is a good place to sail.

My 7 and 10 year olds loved loved loved Australia and New Zealand! Keep in mind it will be winter in the Southern hemisphere when you plan to go. Skiing in New Zealand is awesome, if that appeals

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20+ trips for your 7 and 9 yo.
Riiiight.

Why is that hard to believe? My parents took us everywhere that they wanted to go, right from when we were babies.

Exactly, it’s not a list of far flung places. Everything on the list is family-friendly and easy to travel to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg - these trips all sound like nightmares for your kids. Can they stay home?

I agree. The trip of a lifetime with kids is going to be Disney, OP. That’s what they’d love, the trips you’ve suggested are adult trips.

Disagree. NZ/Australia would be amazing if they can have 3-4 weeks to do it and have it planned out really well

My kids are 7 and 9 and they would rather spend 2-3 weeks in Hawaii, Vancouver BC, New Zealand, or Ireland than Disney. And my kids are not super adventurous!

Anonymous wrote:I agree with all re: Antartica. Being stuck on the boat for so long with kids that young sounds like torture. A good friend did Antartica and had terrible seasickness do the violent rocking of the ship. It is not a calm cruise many times. I also believe that many of the Antartica tours have age cutoffs - being 14+. You may have to look into that because 7 is way to young.

We did a safari in South Africa this past summer with the kids and they loved it. Our youngest is 10 and the long days in the jeep were a bit much for her after day 3. The kids LOVED South Africa, though, so definitely consider that. We did Cape Town, coastal towns, Stellanbosch, Kruger and some others over 2 weeks. If you have $60K, you can do some really high end safaris which are lovely, and enjoy the lux resorts in Cape and on the coast.

It's a great spot for families.

PP here. Sorry typos re: prior post. There are many.
I did want to say that at 7 and 9 my kids loved Zion, Grand Canyon, and other national parks. We had a ton of fun hiking at that age through NPS and I'm glad that we've saved some "big" trips for when they were older - SA for one. They got far more out of it. I did a blow out trip to Italy when youngest was 6 and she remembers nothing - except the gelato.

I'm a big fan of traveling with kids but just an FYI on our experience with the ages.

My kids are the same ages and we are waiting a few more years for my husband’s bucket list trip to Alaska. Our kids are decent at kayaking and hiking, but we want them to be a bit larger and stronger to do some of the excursions we want to do - more like 10/11 and 13/14.

I agree with all re: Antartica. Being stuck on the boat for so long with kids that young sounds like torture. A good friend did Antartica and had terrible seasickness do the violent rocking of the ship. It is not a calm cruise many times. I also believe that many of the Antartica tours have age cutoffs - being 14+. You may have to look into that because 7 is way to young.

We did a safari in South Africa this past summer with the kids and they loved it. Our youngest is 10 and the long days in the jeep were a bit much for her after day 3. The kids LOVED South Africa, though, so definitely consider that. We did Cape Town, coastal towns, Stellanbosch, Kruger and some others over 2 weeks. If you have $60K, you can do some really high end safaris which are lovely, and enjoy the lux resorts in Cape and on the coast.

It's a great spot for families.

OP, look at Tauck’s website. They have plenty of destiny and you will easily fill your budget.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg - these trips all sound like nightmares for your kids. Can they stay home?

I agree. The trip of a lifetime with kids is going to be Disney, OP. That’s what they’d love, the trips you’ve suggested are adult trips.

Disagree. NZ/Australia would be amazing if they can have 3-4 weeks to do it and have it planned out really well

Anonymous wrote:Omg - these trips all sound like nightmares for your kids. Can they stay home?

I agree. The trip of a lifetime with kids is going to be Disney, OP. That’s what they’d love, the trips you’ve suggested are adult trips.