Family Vacation Tips

Happy Coronaversary - Family Travel for 2021

[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 16, 2021 11:52:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in family vacations, family resorts, family group travel, Disney Vacation, Disney Vacation Planning, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas, celebration vacations, Family cruise vacation, travel tips, All inclusive resorts

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

Friday the 13th of March 2020, under a bright full moon, Vacationkids switched from being a travel agency into a crisis management center.

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

How Much Does A Family Dude Ranch Vacation Cost?

[fa icon="calendar'] May 28, 2019 6:00:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in Affordable Family Vacations, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

A family dude ranch vacation can be the perfect vacation choice for families looking for....

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Family Vacations That Help Others

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 22, 2019 6:09:00 AM / by Nicole Thibault posted in family vacations, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

John Steinbeck once said, “People don't take trips... trips take people.” My G Adventures trip to Belize definitely took me on a journey, and not the other way around.

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Taking The Kids to Costa Rica

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 8, 2019 5:48:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in Teen Vacations, Family Vacation, family tours, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

Your family is on the search for a warm and wonderful vacation spot. You've visited the Caribbean before and loved it. Mexico...been there and done that.  You're craving a new adventure but don't want to spend hours on a plane or drain your bank account.

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Educational Vacations for Families

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 1, 2019 10:24:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in Affordable Family Vacations, Family Vacation Destinations, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

Travel is the world's best teacher...period!

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Family Travel To Cuba

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 18, 2018 5:43:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in family group travel, Family Vacation Destinations, family adventure vacation, family cruise, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

Cuba is an ideal vacation destination choice for families who yearn for amazing adventures together. 

Traveling to Cuba feels more like "time travel" than a typical travel experience.  It's where you find strangers to greet you with a warm "Hola!". It's a place where families feel safe and welcomed. Vintage cars drive gritty streets lined with breathtaking ornate Spanish colonial buildings that harken back to a previous era of glory. Hike or horseback through the rolling hills of Viñales covered with organic coffee and tobacco farms.  From UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the music, the food to stunning white sand beaches with teaming reefs, the family adventures waiting for you in Cuba are endless.

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Finding A Family Cruise

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 16, 2018 6:00:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in Family Cruises, Affordable Family Vacations, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

If you're planning to take a fun-filled family cruise for your next vacation- Great choice!  The great news is that there are a huge number of ships, destinations and types of cruises that are all family friendly. With such a wide variety of choices, how can you confidently determine which is the right choice for your family?

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Family Vacations For Horse Lovers

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 4, 2018 10:32:12 AM / by Sally Black posted in Family Vacation Destinations, Family Vacation, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

If you are a horse lover, then you completely understand the need to be around them as much as possible.  A family vacation is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the company of equine friends.

I can't remember my kindergarten teacher's name but I can vividly remember the summer vacation my family took when I was 5.  We took a road trip to Mt. Snow Ski Resort in Vermont. My parents were looking for a long weekend of peace and quiet. As we drove up to our hotel, I immediately spotted a white pony roaming freely around the grounds.  The bellman noticed my fascination and introduced me to "Snowshoes". It was Snowshoe's job to pull the children's sleds in winter but he was given the summers off for good behavior.

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Croatia Vacation for Families

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 28, 2018 6:52:00 AM / by Sally Black posted in family tours, family adventure vacation, family cruise, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

Back in 2001 I had one of my first travel agency meeting with one of the national sales directors for Royal Caribbean Cruise lines.  She mentioned that she had visited almost all of the 250 ports that her ships call upon. Of course my natural next question was..."So which port of call was your absolute favorite?" Her answer was immediate, enthusiastic and a bit surprising..."Dubrovnik, Croatia!"

With an experienced recommendation like that, Dubrovnik was immediately put high atop my own personal "to-do" list.

Thankfully interest in families visiting Croatia has been gaining more popularity recently thanks to a little TV show called "Game of Thrones". A stroll around the walled city of Dubrovnik will reveal many familiar film scenes fans of the show will recognize as "King's Landing".  

Dubrovnik is actually located in southern  Croatia along the Dalmatian Coast. The Adriatic seas provides some spectacular beaches to enjoy.  Here your family will swim in crystal clear aquamarine waters. The coastline is spotted with 1000 islands, one more beautiful than the next.  In addition the Biokovo mountain range is just a few miles from the sea providing the backdrop for spectacular scenery.  

Besides glorious beaches, mountain trails and island hopping, adventurers will love exploring the 8 national parks.  Plitvice  National park with its waterfalls is one of 10 UNESCO World Heritage sights found in Croatia.  It's no wonder Hollywood loves filming the history and beauty here.  Foodies may be surprised by the farm to table freshness of the food here, not to mention the wines and coffee. 

Croatia is very family friendly.  Because it's so popular with European families, there are many easy flight connections to Croatian airports from most major European airport hubs.

So what are the best vacation options for American families?...it all depends on what is best for your children's ages and the particular wants, needs and wishes of your family....

 

Family Cruises to Croatia

Most of the major family friendly cruise lines offer cruises that visit ports in Croatia and other stops along the Dalmatian coast.  Many leave from Venice, Italy and go on to visit Greek ports of call too.   A family cruise means your family unpacks once and your cruise ship conveniently sails at night while you're asleep. It's a great option for families with younger kids or for larger families of all different ages traveling together.

Family All Inclusive Resorts in Croatia

American families are familiar with all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico.  Did you know that Croatia offers plenty of family friendly all inclusive resorts in their most popular tourist areas? This means all of your family's food, drinks, daily activities and even kids camps are included in the price of your hotel room.  Just like in the Caribbean, resort options run the gamut from actual kid-themed hotel rooms to luxury accommodations.  Of course local sightseeing to "must see" sights can be arranged as additional day trips.

Guided Family Tours of Croatia 

 For families with older children who enjoy a more active style vacation this is a great choice.  You'll have a professional guide that will be with you every step of the way. Your guide enhances your experience by pointing out local history, cultural points of interest and facts you may not know. In addition, having a guide takes worry off the shoulder of parents so they can enjoy their own vacation. Generally these tours offer activities like hiking, biking and kayaking.  Pricing usually includes the services of your guide, hotels certain meals, activities and sightseeing. Escorted tours likes this usually come minimum age requirement so again, guided tours are a good fit for families with school age children, tweens and teens.

Private Guided Tours and Ship Charters

This is a great choice for groups traveling together.  Private land tours can be arranged and organized so that you can do and visit the exact places you want to go. You'll have a private tour guide just for your group.  If budget is not an issue then no worries.  Private tours generally become comparable in price to regular tours when there is a minimum of around 10 people traveling together (but every company is different).  With a private guided tour there is no age limit for children.  This is a wonderful experience for when Grandparents, Parents and Grandchildren want to create family memories together.

Croatia offers so many islands and gorgeous beaches to explore.  Private, small ship charters can also be arranged for families and friends traveling together.  This is a really fun option for families who love to explore and love the water.  Pricing is determined by the size of the ship and the size of the group. It's recommended to make your plans far in advance, especially for popular family travel times and school holidays.

Private Villas Rentals

Another great option, especially for families and friends who like to vacation together. Not only are city apartment stays available, Croatia offers many small private island rentals.  This is a wonderful options for traveling families looking for fun, sun and plenty of togetherness.

 

Combination Vacations

Remember, your travel agent can help you combine options to create the perfect vacation experience for your family.  Perhaps it's a short cruise combined with an all inclusive resort stay?  Maybe it's a guided tour followed by an apartment city stay for a few extra days?  There are so many great vacation options to choose!

Over the years, Vacationkids has built our list of contacts in Croatia.  Whether you're headed to Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Split or a private island paradise, we look forward to helping your family discover one of the most beautiful and fascinating spots on the planet.

Talk To A Family Travel Agent

 

 

 

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

How Much Does It Cost To Take The Family To Europe?

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 13, 2018 12:32:54 PM / by Sally Black posted in family vacations, Family Cruises, Family Vacation Destinations, Teen Vacations, family tours, family adventure vacation, family vacation ideas

[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments

EDITED Jan 2023- Taking the family to Europe is the dream of many parents.  Of course, when you’re talking about a family vacation, budget is always a top consideration.

Parents googling this question are trying to plan and budget. You’re looking for a “ball park” to see if a trip to Europe is affordable for your family. 

Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts