Broadening Children’s Horizons Through Travel

If your kids play computer games that take them to other worlds, exploit that interest by traveling to places which inspire them. Parents and kids can broaden their horizons through exposure to another culture, its cuisine and customs, and still have a ball on vacation.

travel-with-kids

Try Ancient Greece or Egypt

Bargain holidays could allow a visit to Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs awaiting new explorers. In Greece your child could experience the mystery behind myths and legends so many movies have plundered for their plotlines. Once here, the kids will find these lands anything but ancient.

Capture the Experience

Sweltering in outdoor heat, it becomes easier to appreciate the labours of slaves or the determination of heroes to cross seas and deserts. Immerse yourself in the scene. The taste of cool, clear water, the spicy fragrance that entices hungry appetites to a welcome meal, the texture of fresh hot bread all become part of an important experience which leads to further appreciation of our easy-buy society.

Understand the Past

Hikes along the paths trodden by those long ago will show the difficulty ancient tribes had in their everyday lives. With no cars, no trains and no planes, but just camels, horses or donkeys to help carry heavy loads and transport people and goods to new locations, the efforts made by those who built fabulous palaces and monuments become even more awesome.

Find out How and Why

With exposure to foreign customs and languages your child will get a feel for how and why certain practises dominate. In hot countries where electricity and refrigeration are limited, foodstuffs are preserved in salt, oil or sugar to prevent them going off. Try some new tastes recommended by locals. Rural areas don’t have the shops and malls commonplace back home and your mind-set has to adjust to new conditions.

Bring Back Souvenirs

Every sense can experience something new. Unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells in bazaars and market places offer a treat deserving of souvenirs to remind you of them when you return home. Museums and areas of local interest will invite questions, which is always a good thing to enhance education and understanding. Off the beaten path, with a guide to keep you safe, some of the more primitive areas will encourage self-sufficiency and creative solutions to problems arising in hostile environments.

Seeing how others live in different cultures will give kids a worldly view and appreciation of their home comforts.

Image by Jimmie, used under the Creative Commons license. 

Sending your kid on a teen service trip

This July, my 15-year-old son, Nate, will take his first trip out of the country without me. He’ll be flying solo to San Jose, Costa Rica, where he’ll meet up with a small group of like-minded teens and adult leaders to embark upon a two week teen service trip with Adventures Cross Country.

During the trip, Nate will be reporting for Pit Stops for Kids, taking video and recording his experiences. His first-hand impressions of his trip will be published here for other teens and parents to read. In the meantime, I’m experiencing the Adventures Cross Country process for parents: including questions to ask, paper work to fill out, and what to expect from the trip leadership.

adventures-cross-country

All parents feel some trepidation before sending their child on a trip without them, and I’m no exception. Nate won’t know anyone before he goes, will need to make an airline connection and navigate customs on his own, and will be relying on two years of high school Spanish. But I’m not worried about him–just jealous, really!–because I trust in the program and people we’ve selected for this adventure. On the Costa Rica Classic trip, Nate will help build structures in a mountain village, teach Costa Rican school kids English, and explore the country by way of a river rafting expedition and surf camp.

Nate’s trip departs in two months, and I’ve learned the following about selecting a teen service trip and the pre-trip process at Adventures Cross Country:

1. Shop around before you select a program.

Teen service trips are expensive and require a serious investment of time, too. There are many companies offering trips these days, and Adventures Cross Country encourages parents to shop around. What we looked for:

  • Proven safety track record
  • Long history working with kids
  • Well trained staff
  • Meaningful service
  • Good communication with the home office

We absolutely found all of the above with Adventures Cross Country. Before we’d selected which trip to send Nate on, we were able to join a live webinar with the president of Adventures Cross Country, Scott von Eschen, during which each type of trip offered was described in detail. After we’d selected the Costa Rica Classic trip, we were immediately assigned a regional director. Ours is Bridget Reynolds, and we’ve experienced frequent, consistent communication from her. Bridget makes sure we understand (and turn in) all our paperwork, is on-hand for any destination-specific questions, and basically holds our hand. She also orchestrates an additional webinar just for the families of our particular trip. Thank you, Bridget! Adventures Cross Country has one of the best safety records in the business and their leaders are carefully selected and highly trained. Of course, we’ll have first-hand knowledge of the latter after Nate returns.

2. Budget time and money.

We recommend making a plan at least one year in advance of a teen service trip in order to save money and allow your teen to earn money for the experience. Kids are encouraged to fund raise locally; the upside of a program that brings kids together from all parts of the US is that there’s no local competition for fund raising. Kids can also write letters to friends and family members explaining the trip and asking for donations.

The paperwork involved in applying for a service trip isn’t terrifying, but it is extensive. The good news: Adventures Cross Country makes it easy by giving parents (and teens) their own portal, where all paperwork lives. In the portal, you can upload documents, print them, and see which are still due. Here’s what ours looks like:

teen-service-trip

Kids will need to plan ahead to get letters of recommendation and a physical from their doctor. Depending on the destination of the trip, immunizations may be required. What I love about Adventures Cross Country: kids are required to write a short essay (within a form) explaining why they want to go on the trip. This process, sometimes combined with a phone call from an Adventures Cross Country leader, eliminates kids who are only applying because their parents want them to attend.

3. Study up before your child goes!

The preparation process is part of the fun and excitement: Nate and I have had a good time purchasing the clothes he’ll need, selecting what backpack to take, and making sure he has a good camera to use. But just as important are the books on Costa Rica that have been recommended to him by Bridget. During the first few weeks of summer, Nate’s Kindle will be loaded with guides on Costa Rica to add to his excitement and knowledge base.

4. Secure airfare based on your location and your child’s comfort levels.

With Adventures Cross Country, the trip officially starts when kids arrive at the destination airport. However, a chaperoned flight is offered from the US for those who want it. While we would have rather Nate take this accompanied flight, it departs from Miami, and doesn’t make sense for us from the West Coast. Instead, he’ll be flying to San Jose unaccompanied. Nate is well-traveled, and feels comfortable flying solo. However, we downloaded a map of the airports he’ll be in to help orient him before he goes, and we’ll be checking gate information more than usual to help him from afar. He’s never navigated customs in a foreign country on his own, so that gives me pause, but I know it will be part of this great adventure, and will boost his confidence in later travel.

A basic timeline for preparing for an Adventures Cross Country trip:

To use as a general guide, here’s the timeline we’ve experienced from first signing up with Adventures Cross Country to putting Nate (in a few short weeks!) onto the plane:

7-9 months out:

  • Select a program
  • apply
  • ‘meet’ your regional director via email
  • fund raise if you haven’t already
  • first payment will be due

4-6 months out:

  • get all paperwork in
  • order your child’s passport if he or she doesn’t have one
  • remaining payments will be due
  • join a live webinar on your destination
  • secure your child’s airfare

No more than 1 month out:

  • final call for paperwork
  • shop for packing list items
  • read up on the destination

1-2 weeks out:

  • double-check airline connections, prepare teen for any layovers, gate changes, etc
  • pack
  • make sure the passport arrived!

Disclosure: Nate will be attending this trip as a guest of Adventures Cross Country, for the purpose of review. He’ll be writing about his experiences for other kids at Pit Stops for Kids and Trekaroo.com.

A family-friendly road trip through Scotland

It may be small in size. But, what it lacks in stature, Scotland makes up in sheer variety. In just a short space of time, you can see rugged mountains, deep lochs, cosmopolitan cities and remote islands. Here are just a few of the best road trips in Scotland to see some of the most family-friendly attractions this small, but perfectly formed country has to offer.

road-trip-scotland

From Berwick to Edinburgh

If you’re travelling from England over into Scotland, then taking in some of the spectacular Northumberland cost line before heading north over the border is the perfect way to start your trip. From Berwick, driving along the east coast, you’ll find two of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring castles. Don’t stick to the main A1 road, but dive off onto the A198, which will take you to Dirleton Castle and Tantallon Castle. Dirleton Castle has a pit dungeon, which is horrifically fascinating for little ones who love Horrible Histories, while Tantallon Castle is a dramatic semi-ruined mid 14th century fortress. Kids will love to see the replica gun in the East Tower, which looks exactly like the one which was used to defend the castle against James IV and James V in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Drive time: 2 hours

Glasgow to Oban

It has a reputation as a grittier, more streetwise city than Edinburgh, but Glasgow also offers plenty to do with little ones. The Glasgow Science Centre, with its hands-on displays and interactive workshops, is a must-do, as is the Hunterian Museum, with its dinosaur, Egypt and meteorite displays. From Glasgow, the route along the A82 offers plenty of opportunities for breathtaking pitstops. Loch Lomond should be your first stop. You can cruise the loch on one of the ferries which take you to little islands and villages or you can hire your own boat to explore at your family’s pace, perhaps stopping off to enjoy a picnic. From here, head north and west on the A85 and the road winds dramatically through rugged terrain before you get to Oban and the surrounding coastal villages. Ganarvan beach is perfect for kids, with safe, shallow waters, swathes of sand and rock pools to search for sea creatures. From Oban, you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Mull, heading north to Tobermory, made famous by the television series Balamory. If you’re ready for a stop-off mid trip, then Parkdean’s Wemyss Bay site makes a great base for exploring Scotland’s west coast.

Driving time: 2 hours 15 minutes

roadtrip-through-scotland

The Scottish Highlands

Just about anywhere you drive through the Scottish Highlands is guaranteed to be stunning. But no road trip through Scotland would be complete without driving along the incredible mountainous route though Glencoe to Fort William. While the Glencoe Mountain Chair Lift was designed to carry skiiers and snowboarders in the winter season, it’s worth a diversion even if you’re here during the summer months as it stays open year-round, affording excitement for children and spectacular views for everyone. You soar high above waterfalls, admiring views across Rannoch Moor from 2200ft.

Driving time: 30 minutes

scotland-with-kids

 Around the Isle of Skye

There’s not really any right or wrong route around the Isle of Skye, the most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides. Try the A855 road, which loops around the Trotternish Peninsula. You’ll pass the Old Man of Storr, a rocky hill made famous through its appearance in the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus as the birthplace of the alien. From this otherworldly landscape, further north, you’ll find plenty of places to watch dramatic waterfalls tumbling into the sea. The best is the Kilt Rock and waterfall. Also worth a visit is The Skye Museum of Island Life, a quirky museum housed in a selection of thatched cottages, which gives an insight into life there in days gone by.

From the mainland and driving a circular route around the peninsula: Around 3 hours

scotland-road-trip

Tarbert to the Isle of Islay

The road from Tarbert to catch the ferry to the Isle of Islay gives you incredible views of the Arran mountains. The little fishing village of Carradale is worth a stop. Impossible pretty, the village has a harbour and a broad sweep of sand, with shallow, shelving water. Just south of the harbour, there’s a herd of feral goats, which has thrived on the rough grass and seaweed here as long as anyone can remember. From here, you take to A83 to West Loch Tarbet, where you can catch the ferry to Islay. Here, you can try pony trekking, kayaking and paddle boarding, or just meander around some of the single-track roads on the island. Try the Port Ellen to Ardtalla circular route, which will take you alongside the appropriately-named Seal Bay, where you’re likely to be lucky enough to see seals resting on the rocks. If you want to stay for a while and immerse yourself in island life, then the Ballygrant Inn is a good option when travelling with kids as there are two-and-a-half acres of grounds to let off steam in.

Driving time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Wherever you drive in Scotland, you’re sure to be met with incredible scenery. As the old Scottish saying goes, guid gear comes in sma’ bouk’, or good things come in small packages.

Photo credit: Flickr

Best family travel tour operators: what to look for

When deciding whether to spend vacation dollars on international family travel tour operators (or how much), it comes down to matching the correct operator to your family’s needs. Are you looking for a full-service provider, or not much more than a translator? Do you need all meals planned and activities planned, or do you want time on your own? No matter your budget, here’s what to look for while selecting the right tour company to show you the world.

international travel with kids

Experience with kids:

Well, obviously, right? But the fact remains that even tour companies advertising that they’re ‘not your grandmother’s guide service’ may still be just that. Look for a tour operation with youthful (in body or spirit) tour guides and active itineraries. Tour guides experienced in guiding families will also be well-versed in the nitty gritty of kid-centric travel: they’ll be aware of the need for frequent bathroom stops, snacks, and rest periods.

A client list filled with families:

Even if the tour operator you’re considering welcomes families, the other travelers on the itinerary may not. The fact is, more kids are joining their parents for international travel than in years past, and some long-term travelers on luxury international tours haven’t gotten the memo. Why be a pioneering family? Ask a potential tour company for a ratio of families to couples on a given itinerary, and find out if other kids will be present. Many luxury tour operators are now offering specialized family itineraries, designed especially to meet this need.

Evenly balanced itineraries:

To get the most of your international vacation, families will want their itinerary to reflect a mixture of cultural experiences, natural discoveries, and active fun. The best tour operators for kids list activities such as pizza cooking classes in Italy (with time for eating, of course!), hikes with local or native experts in South America, or kayaking excursions in Alaska. Kids learn best by doing (actually, all of us do), so the more activities that give your family hands-on experiences, the better.

Reasonable expectations and flexibility amid guides:

If you bring kids on an international vacation, there will be moments of culture shock, jet-lag, stress, and fatigue. As parents, you may be well-equipped to deal with these realities as they arise, but if your tour operator is not sympathetic, you may miss itinerary stops, or worse, feel pressured to carry on with miserable kids. A good tour operation will build in downtime and be ready for spur-of-the-moment changes in itinerary as needed. As parents, don’t be afraid to request breaks, and be ready to go with the flow.

Specialized, regional experts:

Not all guide operations are experts in all regions. Once you know where your vacation is taking you, spend some time researching the best tour service in that particular country or continent. These operations will have built-in contacts with local attractions and experiences that you cannot find on your own, and have the ability to give you better than a ‘cookie-cutter’ vacation experience. You’ll want to learn more about travel planning in Ghana from Africa tour and safari specialists, for instance.

The right match:

International tour operations range from budget guides to get you from Point A to Point B in countries or regions where a guide is crucial to luxury services that take care of your every need from the moment you touch down. Figure out as a family what you are looking for in your international travel experience, and find the company to match your needs. There’s no need to pay for more than you want, nor any reason to build your vacation a la carte if you’d rather leave it in other capable hands. Ask yourself the following: Will we want lots of freedom to explore on our own? Do we want our meals taken care of? Do we want a highly active trip with lots of hiking and outdoor touring, or a more cultural experience, with ample time in museums and landmarks? 

The above post includes sponsored material. Photo credit: flickr/lifeoftravel

Book Review of The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money is Worth a Fortune

Approximately 90 percent of content on Pit Stops for Kids is U.S. and Canadian-based, written to help families find the best destinations, tips, and experiences in North America. We consider ourselves experts in domestic road trip and outdoor travel, and if you’re here, it’s probably because you’re planning a domestic trip with your kids. But that doesn’t mean we don’t recommend crossing additional borders.

world's cheapest destinations book reviewOne of my goals as a parent who loves travel is to help my kids get as many or more stamps in their passport as I have. So far, my kids are far behind. This is partly due to spending so much of our vacation time exploring North American destinations for this site, but it’s also because I’ve long held onto a common misconception: that international travel is more expensive than domestic travel.

Turns out, I’m dead wrong. Tim Leffel, accomplished travel writer, world traveler, and my editor at Practical Travel Gear, put the fourth edition of his well-received book, THE WORLD’S CHEAPEST DESTINATIONS: 21 Countries Where Your Money is Worth a Fortune, in my hands, and I am not too proud to admit I’ve been educated.

I’m pretty adept at frugal family travel, often writing tips on how to eat on the cheap on vacation, set a vacation food budget, and road trip for less, but my vacation dollar (and yours) can only stretch so far in expensive North American countries. The World’s Cheapest Destinations doesn’t focus on how to travel, but rather where to travel, and for those of us who are budget-savvy travelers already, this makes all the difference.

What The World’s Cheapest Destinations will teach you:

If you’re considering international family travel, but assume you can’t afford it, pick up this book. The World’s Cheapest Destinations lists just what it advertises: the cheapest safe, stable countries to visit for as little as $30-40 per day per couple (only slightly more for a family of four). I know what you’re thinking, and no, this type of budget isn’t just for bare-bones hostels, third-class bus rides, and food stands only the most hard-core of world traveling backpackers could endure. In most situations, it represents comfortable travel in areas with reliable transportation, stable infrastructure, and an operating tourism industry. Tim offers no guarantees–there are no guarantees in travel, after all–but instead offers information gleaned from first-hand experience.

Expect to find general information about how to travel frugally in each country: what transportation is best, whether to eat restaurant or street food, how much you can expect to pay for tourist hot spots and museums, and–my favorite–a listing of things you can get for a buck or less. For example, in Thailand, travelers can expect to pay $1 or less for a whole pineapple (chopped up for you), a kilo of season fruit, a coconut with a straw in it, pad thai from a street stall, three local bus rides, or a kilo of your clothes washed and dried (and this is a partial list). Take that, McDonald’s dollar menu.

What it won’t:

This book is not meant to replace a country or city guidebook. You won’t find specific hotel ratings or restaurant listings. Nor does The World’s Cheapest Destinations offer advice specifically to travelers with kids. If you’re considering a frugal international vacation with kids, you’ll have to do as I did: read with your particular family’s needs and limitations in mind. One parent’s comfort level may be vastly different than the next’s. Tim does offer this advice (paraphrased): families traveling with kids should expect to pay a bit more than adults traveling solo or in couples, primarily in the form of upgraded hotel rooms, for safety and comfort.

Pick up THE WORLD’S CHEAPEST DESTINATIONS: 21 Countries Where Your Money is Worth a Fortune – FOURTH EDITION on Amazon for $15.95 for a paperback or just $8.99 for the kindle edition.

Fun family hostels for an international stay

Wake up in a Turkish cave, a rainforest treehouse, or aboard a 747 airplane that never flies when you check into one of these unusual hotels the adventurous folks at Hostelbookers recommend for families. Besides being easy on the purse strings, these off-beat kid-friendly hotels add a playful, relaxing atmosphere to your vacation that you won’t find at pretentious resorts!

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Kadir’s Tree House, Olympos, Turkey: Tarzan would feel right at home in the jungle-style accommodations at Kadir’s Tree House where your family is invited to “go native.” For the ultimate back to nature experience, claim your territory at their campsite and enjoy the rugged life while having access to a real-life pizza hut, hot showers and bathrooms. Get a taste of life in the canopy snuggled in a tree house hut perched among the branches with cozy bunks and hammocks. If you prefer more civilized comforts, opt for the air conditioned bungalows with private bathrooms and mosquito-proof windows.

Designed like a tribal village around a central courtyard, the friendly staff welcomes guests to join in fun activities like the daily volleyball game or take the half hour walk to the coast and spend the day at the beach. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the delicious meals included in the price served buffet-style three times a day. Dance the night away at their swinging lounge with two bars or swap stories around the firepit.

Aydinli Cave Hotel, Göreme, Turkey: Treat your family to the Flintstone experience at the Aydinli Cave Hotel carved into the hills surrounding a pre-historic looking Turkish city. This family-run hotel doesn’t have Stone Age facilities though–all six rooms have free Wi-Fi and family suites include stone fireplaces and jacuzzis. The Turkish-style bathrooms with hamam basins and walk-in showers make getting clean as much fun as getting dirty!

Enjoy complimentary breakfast in the on-site restaurant and savor your Turkish coffee on the rooftop terrace overlooking the honey-colored walls of the city below. Your helpful hosts can arrange a rental car or guided tour exploring such wonders as the Fairy Chimney Rock Formations in the Göreme National Park.

Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden: For what may be the best night’s sleep your family ever has on an airplane, check into the Jumbo Stay, a cleverly converted–and permanently grounded–747 jumbo jet. The kids will love exploring this massive plane that’s as much fun as a ride–but seat belts aren’t required!

Live it up in the cockpit suite with a private bathroom or opt for the more budget-conscious dorm-style rooms with single or double beds complete with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs that even display the airline schedules. The eight compact bathrooms are wheelchair accessible and include efficient showers. Downstairs in the Jumbo Lounge you can enjoy airline-style drinks, snacks and a hot breakfast.

When you’re planning your next family vacation, consider these unusual hotels where the accommodations make your trip twice as much fun while costing even less than boring hotels!

Written for Pit Stops for Kids by HostelBookers, a leading authority on family-friendly hostels.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

Photo courtesy of MSP International

Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport

Travelers through Minneapolis-St Paul are lucky enough to have not one, but two airport play spaces available to them (although we all know the truly lucky depart on their planes without any airport waiting with small kids at all!). Both play spaces feature a great play area with a huge plane, slide, and climbing area in addition to an air traffic control tower and beautiful murals of the Minneapolis skyline. The first is located by gate C12 (right by the tram stop to the other concourses). There is an A&W, Godfather’s Pizza and bookstore right next to it. If you have over an hour to kill in this airport it is definitely worth seeking it out.

The second play space is located on Level 2, inside security, at the Humphrey Terminal and includes a giant suitcase designed to educate young and (parental) travelers alike.

Date last visited: February 2010

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open during concourse hours.

Bathrooms: Nearby. Also: a Nursing Mothers Room is located at the Lindbergh Terminal on Concourse C near the play space. To obtain access, nursing moms should go to the Travelers Assistance desk across from Gate C12. The assistant will provide you access to the room, located at the north end of the Concourse Connector above the C rotunda food court and near the elevators.

Food Services: Several choices (see description above).

Website: http://www.mspairport.com/