country/countries for young children (hotel, vacations, reservations, France)

[shazzer]

Would love some advice! DH & I have a 10 Dau & 6 Son and have traveled around the US and would now would like to plan a 2010 spring or summer trip outside of the US. We are at a stand still as to what we want to do and what we think our kids will enjoy! Our budget is about $6000(not including air travel) for about 7 days. Any ideas would be great!

[StealthRabbit]

I'd suggest a Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong loop. Lots of hrs on the plane, but those societies like kids, have a large variety of international exposure and are each cheap.

South America might be good too. (but winter there in our summer!)

Try to avoid tourist stuff and experience what the 'locals' do. Stay with host families with kids. (very cheap and fun too) We used a Homeschool guest home directory, but others exist.

These larger cities (Singapore and Hong Kong) are very ez for language and they have nice Zoo's and authentic cultural areas. The zoo without noticeable fences / cages in Singapore was delightful. They didn't get to do 'night safari' there, but I think they would enjoy that too + the 'laser Light show' at Sentosa was a hit. Just eating at the local food courts in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand was CHEAP entertainment enough for the day.

Another choice could be the ethnic areas of Vancouver BC.
Montreal or Quebec City is also fun. For Europe I would do Denmark and The Netherlands.

What do you like?, what do your kids like? What are your best experiences and goals for the travel?

We had our kids do planning and make reservations (assisted and approved, of course), as well as run the budget and exchange money and buy goods in each country (that ends up being a real 'opener' for getting to know the locals. They (boys) loved the great military museums in foreign destinations. Public Transit was harrowing for our Red-head, everyone in Buddhist countries had to rub his hair (word would spread for car to car on subways), monks would come running towards him with outstretched arms! Pretty intimidating for a 6yr old!

Have fun, should be a blast

[Chava61]

Israel is another country/society that likes children. Israelis take their kids with them everywhere.

[therewego]

Originally Posted by shazzer

Would love some advice! DH & I have a 10 Dau & 6 Son and have traveled around the US and would now would like to plan a 2010 spring or summer trip outside of the US. We are at a stand still as to what we want to do and what we think our kids will enjoy! Our budget is about $6000(not including air travel) for about 7 days. Any ideas would be great!

I would suggest France, Switzerland like Geneva, or Italy for the culture, and the food. Switzerland also has an amazing train excursion that the kids would love. I envy you and hope one day to do the same with my kids.

[vlorak]

oh greece hands down. i was raised spending my vacations in greece (i am not greek). my kids will be 6 this summer, and that's where i plan on taking them.
switzerland is ok IMO but it isn't a place i think kids go nuts over. italy, well have never been there, but i think it would be too touristy for young kids.

[southdown]

It also depends whether you wish to stay in a hotel, or in self-catering accomodation, and if you want to be in a holiday resort with pools and sports facilities - do you want to be in the countryside, at the beach... or in an apartment in a town...???

Eurocamp might be worth looking at - they have camps all over Europe and you can mix it up, staying at lots of different spots. They are all family-oriented, with pools and on-site facilities for kids' fun.

Eurocamp - over 160 campsites in Europe, USA and Canada