adventure travel with kids
Travel With Kids…why?
This may seem like a stupid question – but lot’s of people have asked us just that. And to be completely honest after some bad days/daze we have asked ourselves the same. But after the tranquilisers have kicked in – theirs 
really the question better asked is why wouldn’t you? After all kids get so much out of exploring the world in way’s adults cannot imagine. They are able to explore the differences and similarities between environments, cultures, societies etc honestly, unaffected. They ask real questions and respond honestly to what they see – which can be both good and bad. It can often be much easier when many of the locals do not speak the same language… anyway. And kids join – they don’t watch reservedly from the sidelines making judgements on what they think they understand – the get right in the middle of things and do it Kids learn by participating in life in ways that no text book or video can ever show them. OK – so without even trying we can come up with great reasons why to travel with kids…So why the question: Why travel with kids?
Before we address this question please let me give you a bit of background. Around 5 years ago we decided to give our kids the opportunity to live in Bolivia for a year to spend time with their family (I was born in Bolivia and raised in Australia), learn Spanish and more importantly have the experience of living in another culture (with hindsight exposure to ‘the culture’ is completely naive and completely problematic – particularly in this context. That topic deserves an article in its own right.) We knew the trip would be challenging but we did not realise the full extent of the task ahead of us. And the work began the minute we decided to do it.
So for the past 5 years we worked, saved money, worked more and saved more to fund the trip. We used a number of fund raising tactics that worked well which we will discuss in a future article. As we approached the departure date we re-priced flights etc to make sure our calculations were right and boy did we get a shock. Not only had the prices increased but we discovered a whole raft of hidden fees and charges – by definition not anticipated. What made it worse was that most of those charges and fees offered minimal discounts for kids (if any).
We knew that most airlines charge kids 75% of the adult fare – OK better than nothing. However surfing for accommodation and tourist attractions shows the travel market targets ‘couples’ or ‘adventurers‘. The only place where families were featured in their web site were in resorts and themes parks etc and that included Bolivia. In general we found it very hard to find accommodation for a family of 5 as most hotels have triplet options at best. Staying in a hotel necessitates two rooms or someone has to sleep on the floor or share a bed – and it’s usually us – fun.
After discovering the raft of hidden travel costs couples with minimal accommodation/sightseeing packages for families we are clearer than ever why a lot of families cannot afford to travel. At home (Australia) most places offer some sort of discount for families eg at the movies, on trains, etc. But we found it hard to find such discounts when traveling and in some places kids over 11 pay adult prices!!
It was clear that this was going to be a very expensive exercise and we decided to go ahead as we believe the benefits far out weighed the costs. However, we had to find ways to reduce and cover the spiralling costs of the trip. Over the next series of articles we will be discussing some of the ways we managed to do just that. In addition we will also be discussing other issues that will help you and our kids get the most out of your trip including:
- travel with kids and education;
- sanity (yours);
- the ‘will they remember’ question;
- sickness/health;
- keeping in touch/homesickness;
- travel and the unexpected;
- how to cope with culture shock and much more.
When we left Australia our kids were 9, 8 and 5 years and all with very little Spanish. This was their second trip to Bolivia. In 2002 my grandmother was very sick. We wanted her to meet the kids and for them to know their great grandmother. Happy to report she is still with us today. Anyway, 5 years later they were very reluctant to leave family and friends – we all were. Makes you spare a thought for immigrants and refugees… and am happy to say we are over half way through our trip with lots more adventures (and hidden costs?) to come.
We are all having a ball, despite the unexpected, and we know that we made the right decision. Though it would be interesting for us to us to know your views – what do you think about travelling with kids and why?
Enjoy :>
What stops a man from reaching the next level in a relationship?
We’ve been together almost a year and a half. We are both 51 & both been divorced for at least 4 years. We have told each other how in love we are, we have a great friendship, the best sex that either of us has ever had, we play golf together, enjoy the same music, love adventure, travel and everything seems perfect. I have expressed to him that i would love to take it to the next level (i.e. live together or get married). I have 2 teen aged daughters; his kids are grown and off on their own. The last couple of months he has spent less and less time with me. Our regular every other weekend together has not happened; just a day here a day there. I have brought up to him that i am feeling pushed away. He is kind of a work-aholic kinda guy and very driven. I feel that his work is more important to him than our relationship. He knows how i feel and what i would like. He says he’s not ready. Should I pull back?
At this point in your life, what is the next level? Appreciate the fact that you both have found each other and you can be happy that you have someone to share hopefully the rest of your life with, we need to accept each other for who we are , the good ,the bad, the ugly, and don’t try and change others before they are ready…you need to communicate, this is very important, respect, consideration, honesty, all important aspects of what you all should be working on together, not rush things let things take a natural and steady course….
Linked and lovin 'it – The opening of Highway 17 North a source of sweet memories f the last link along Highway 17 North was finally forged. For the residents in the region, this crucial development spelled the ability to north or south of the engine on the 17th Highway And for many, she opened the door to a long-awaited adventure .[...]
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