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When you travel alone, you can go just about anywhere in the world. Travelers who have families need to narrow down their destination options, though, particularly when they have young children. Safety and comfort are of utmost importance; remember that you may be okay with “roughing it” to travel to a particular country, but your kids deserve comfortable accomodations.
Here are some of the best destinations for families:
- Amsterdam. Despite a reputation for its red light district, Amsterdam is actually very safe, welcoming to foreigners, and full of wonderful things to do. Particularly great for kids are the popular houseboat hotels.
- Costa Rica. This tiny country is home to lush jungle, eco-tourism, bautiful and exotic wildlife, and friendly locals who often speak English. Costa Rica has high-tech hospitals, and is a very safe place for families to travel.
- Switzerland. Check out the world-famous Swiss Alps, have some genuine Swiss chocolate, and enjoy excellent public transportation. Swiss people speak an average of four languages fluently.
- Australia. Home to some of the world’s most friendly locals, Australia also offers your kids the opportunity to see animals like kangaroos, koalas and duck-billed platypuses in the wild. Australians speak English, and since Australia has a robust tourist trade, you can expect to meet other travelers.
- England: London in particular is a great place for families to vacation, because the locals speak English and the food is close enough to that at home that kids won’t turn up their noses at it.
When traveling with family, always remember to keep copies of everybody’s passports and IDs, even the kids’, for a smooth trip.
