Galapagos
Oman
New Zealand (esp Queenstown area)
Australia
Antarctica and/or Patagonia
Iceland
Peru/Bolivia (MP/Lake Titicaca/Rurrenabaque)
Japan with skiing in Hokkaido
Safari in Africa
Angkor Wat and then either Thailand or Vietnam
Northern Norway or Sweden like Tromso in winter

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind OP is that teens will a usually have ECs and school load that don’t lend themselves to taking every break to go travel.

Also factor in college apps and essays and SATs.

OP, you may be OK about missing extra days with ten year olds. You (and the school) will probably have a different view about 16 and 17 year olds who are doing IB or AP courses missing days. These are recorded as unexcused absences on the kids' school records.

Why are you writing off using the summer holidays for travel? Will your kids really want to spend the whole summer with relatives as they get older?

Remember, your kids have the rest of their lives to travel. My best trips were once I could travel without my parents

Yeah I think OP needs to be a bit flexible in their approach- for vacations where you are going to pull the kids out a few days, do that over the next few years while it's less of an issue. And do try to take a couple trips in the summer- the Alps and Nordic countries would be a good fit for active kids but unless you are skiing or doing other winter activities then you'd really want to go in summer.

Thanksgiving week can be a really good time for European city breaks- way less busy than the summer, in some cities christmas markets have even started. We lived in Europe a couple years and that was always a popular week for American expats to take a short getaway.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind OP is that teens will a usually have ECs and school load that don’t lend themselves to taking every break to go travel.

Also factor in college apps and essays and SATs.

OP, you may be OK about missing extra days with ten year olds. You (and the school) will probably have a different view about 16 and 17 year olds who are doing IB or AP courses missing days. These are recorded as unexcused absences on the kids' school records.

Why are you writing off using the summer holidays for travel? Will your kids really want to spend the whole summer with relatives as they get older?

Remember, your kids have the rest of their lives to travel. My best trips were once I could travel without my parents

Fun topic. I have a 12 year old boy that’s into outdoor adventure more than museums and culture. These are places I’ve been that l want to take him

Either Peru or Bolivia
Colombia but not Cartagena. Zona Cafetera is really beautiful for hiking
Estonia
Cambodia
Sarawak province of Malaysia
Turkey
Jordan

Pp here… we missed one day of school
in MS… never a good idea specially if you have to things to turn in. We were in Turks and wifi took forever.

We have done these trips with our now Senior.

Peru Macchu Picchu combine with trip to Iguazu Falls

Kenya Safari in Masai Mara/ Victoria Falls
Australia Great Barrier reef /see kangaroos
koalas etc
Japan -Tokyo and Kyoto
Switzerland so much to do-Bernese Oberland
Norway -Bergen and Lofoten Islands
Bali and Singapore.

Anonymous wrote:I forgot to mention we have actually been to Alaska before too as well. We have really traveled a lot in the US. We prioritized it over intl

New Orleans?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And before anyone asks why international, they have traveled extensively in the USA: Boston, NYC, LA, SF, Seattle, Moeb, New Mexico, Park City, Austin, Texas Dude Ranch, Texas Hunting Ranch, Vail, Breckenridge, Denver, Carmel, Big Sur, San Diego, Martha’s Vineyard, Jersey Shore, Keys, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Jackson Wyoming, Philly/Hershey Parks, Williamsburg

This isn’t the flex you think it is. And it certainly isn’t extensive.

LOL. The only one that thinks this is a flex is you.

Agree. I don’t think OP was “flexing.”

OP, I would just focus on a short-term trip or two. Our kids enjoyed a couple international trips, but some of their favorite trips have been simple trips to Outer Banks and out West, to National Parks.

Some families are much more ambitious with travel than we are. Nothing wrong with that, but I think going on too many far-flung trips dilutes the specialness of travel. Also, it’s nice to not see everything before you’ve 25.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you do 11 days over Thanksgiving without missing school?

I’m okay with missing a day or two before and after the break for a big trip like this.

You are right now, but come high school, you wouldn't want to do this, and your kids won't either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have my twins 7 more years until they graduate and they have not been abroad except for Costa Rica and Mexico.

We can usually only travel during Thanksgiving (11 days), Spring Break (11 Days) or Winter Break (17 days). Missing Christmas isn’t a big deal. No summer travel, we visit family out of state.

I’m trying to put together 7 trips you would want to take your kids on before graduating HS. Sporty, active boys, not particularly interested in art or museums. Somewhat interested in history and enjoy learning about different cultures, customs, etc. Where would you go? We plan to do one international trip a year until my sons turn 18 and graduates. They are 10.

Would not typically travel internationally over Thanksgiving and not clear how you have 11 days for that. We have traveled many times domestically for Thanksgiving (i.e., Las Vegas, NYC, Orlando, etc…). Here is a rundown on international stuff we’ve done with our kids over the other breaks:

Spring Break: Australia (Sydney), Japan, Morocco, France, Turkey, Greece, United Kingdom, Germany, Peru, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Mexico

Winter Break: Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, South Africa, India, Australia (Tasmania), New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong

If you can break free during the summer, then I would also recommend the following places that were a hit with our kids: French Polynesia, Zanzibar, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Denmark, Iceland, Ireland

Brazil in November is shoulder season. I would think it is a perfect Thanksgiving trip.

I’m going to recommend Ecuador over Peru if you do one Andean country. Much smaller, easier to get around from place to place (although the coast is not the best place to go right now, Galápagos Islands would be fine), and easier travel since they use the US dollar.

London. Can easily spend a week and do a short side trip from there—Edinburgh and York woild be good.

Sicily - do the Greek ruins at agrigento and Taormina and the old city at Siracusa.

Switzerland with hiking — look at the Austin adventures family tour for ideas.

Japan including Kyoto.

Have you already been to Mexico City? It’s so cool and with 11 days could combine it with someplace like Oaxaca.

Belize — snorkeling the reef, Mayan ruins, rainforest animals.

Spain is phenomenal nad has something for everyone — great biking, beaches, hiking, history of different sorts (Moorish, Christian, Jewish. Roman, etc.)

That’s only 6 but those would be my top ones.

Also note that spring break gets tough into HS — if they do spring sports there are often games and if they take APs, spring break can be uncomfortably close to the exam dates.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind OP is that teens will a usually have ECs and school load that don’t lend themselves to taking every break to go travel.

This. If I had been more aware of this, I would have front-loaded travel in middle school and set low expectations for high school.

Anonymous wrote:I have my twins 7 more years until they graduate and they have not been abroad except for Costa Rica and Mexico.

We can usually only travel during Thanksgiving (11 days), Spring Break (11 Days) or Winter Break (17 days). Missing Christmas isn’t a big deal. No summer travel, we visit family out of state.

I’m trying to put together 7 trips you would want to take your kids on before graduating HS. Sporty, active boys, not particularly interested in art or museums. Somewhat interested in history and enjoy learning about different cultures, customs, etc. Where would you go? We plan to do one international trip a year until my sons turn 18 and graduates. They are 10.

Would not typically travel internationally over Thanksgiving and not clear how you have 11 days for that. We have traveled many times domestically for Thanksgiving (i.e., Las Vegas, NYC, Orlando, etc…). Here is a rundown on international stuff we’ve done with our kids over the other breaks:

Spring Break: Australia (Sydney), Japan, Morocco, France, Turkey, Greece, United Kingdom, Germany, Peru, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Mexico

Winter Break: Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, South Africa, India, Australia (Tasmania), New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong

If you can break free during the summer, then I would also recommend the following places that were a hit with our kids: French Polynesia, Zanzibar, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Denmark, Iceland, Ireland

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, 17 days over winter break you can do some further places that are warmer like Thailand, India, Vietnam, UAE, Morocco, Egypt (all placed we've gone and enjoyed).

For shorter periods like spring break, it'll be extremely expensive but Europe / South America / Caribbean. Thanksgiving would be a less expensive time to do these places as well. I've been with kids and enjoyed Istanbul, Paris, Italy, Greece, Croatia, England, Ireland, etc.

Oh, Morocco is a good one! I would love to go to Egypt but heard so many mixed things about the safety of the trip. Would you consider taking teens? Did you prefer Morocco or Istanbul? Which is better for kids/ teens. My kids are pretty easy going and like doing excursions over sightseeing. We are limited by the breaks and would prefer to find good destinations for Thanksgiving break because we often ski for Spring Break but are flexible. Obviously saving a lot on flights is a big benefit for going over Thanksgiving, I’ve found it’s inexpensive to go to places like Europe that week but weather isn’t always great that time of year either.

When you have school-aged kids and won't travel in the summer you can't really be picky about weather lol! I've been to Europe in the winter a lot and still very much so enjoyed it. As the Danish say, there is no bad weather just bad clothing.

My husband is military and works in the middle east so security wasn't a concern, but we used tour companies with ties to the US embassy so they were well versed in the security needed in Eygpt. At times you might have an armed guard. When we went no guard was needed. Hands down, this was the most amazing trip for my 9 year old. He still talks about it today. So I would not skip on Egypt.

Morocco was fun as well - we stayed and toured with friends that were stationed there. Morocco was a bit more shopping-forward with the Medinas. My son lost his mind over the camel butcher lol.

That’s so cool you got to experience that with him! Do you know how to find US embassy tied tour agencies?

There is no such thing. That tour operator lied.

There was only one tour operator that is booked by embassy employees and military. This is my husband's job, so we know first hand.

Sammi is the owner and he lists this fact on his website; https://www.americanstartravel.com/