When choosing a travel destination, firstly I think about how many days I can invest in the tour. The answer to this question will influence how far I can go and how much time zone difference I can accommodate. Specially if travelling with babies and toddlers, it might be unwise to have them coping with long hours flights or over 6h time difference just for a week holiday. Small children are particularly sensitive to time zone changes.

Then I discuss what can be interesting for us to do or see as a family. Do we want to have nature holidays, or sightseeing, or beach, or sports? I search locations which could offer the best experience for what we would like to do and the best fit to our requirements regarding the setting, activities, how to get there, accommodation, price, health and safety.

Setting

Even if you read about it in a magazine or a friend tipped you, it is worth investing some time researching about the setting. Is it really a good fit to your family? Is it the landscape that is jaw-dropping, or is it the culture, the food, the history, or the monuments that make it special? Check what other travellers say about the place, buy a good travel guide, browse online pictures. When you are convinced and excited about the destination, then move on to investigate which activities are available.

Activities

When you decide for a certain type of holiday, you have already a rough idea of what you would like to do there. From here, you can research about all kinds of activities on offer at the destination and make a selection of the ones that would be more interesting for your family. The next step is to learn whether there are any impediments for kids. Are there age restrictions? Are the activities safe? Are the activities suitable from a physical effort perspective? For instance, if you are hiking, your 4-year old maybe able to walk alongside you but you have to be realistic about the distance they can cover. The same is true for cycling or climbing. Always keep in mind what your children are able to do versus what you think they would like to do.

How to get there

Most of the time “how to get there” defines how I plan my tour. If it takes much longer than expected or it’s too complicated or requires several means of transportation, I change the plan. The time that it takes to get to my destination and how difficult it is to get there will determine how I design and plan for a multi-destination itinerary. Let’s say you’re going on a week-long holiday. You’ve found a great destination with exciting activities and setting. Price is ok and it’s safe. But it takes 2 days to get there. If you cannot extend the holiday and make 2 weeks, it would be better to select another destination. You will not have enough time onsite to fully enjoy and it will feel like you are constantly rushing which is not relaxing for you and your family.

Price

Before planning a trip, I define the budget. How much money do I want to spend in total? And out of that, how much goes into transportation or accommodation and eating versus activities? Be conservative about your budget because the likelihood is that you are going to spend a bit more than planned. There’s always something unexpected or unplanned during the journey and therefore it is worth keeping some buffer in the cost calculation. I call it “extras”.

Accommodation

Once you know the destination and you have a budget, it’s time to investigate what kind of accommodation is available and whether it meets your needs. You may want to choose only one type of accommodation or a mix. Important is to understand what is the standard in your destination and what are your expectations. For example, if you chose to rent a campervan, it is advisable to check camping conditions, whether the location has good infrastructure, if wild camping is allowed, what kind of campervans can be rented. On the other hand, if you opt for a hotel stay, it is a good practice to verify what services hotels offer, whether they have conditions for toddlers such as cribs or child seats.

Health & safety

Regarding health & safety it is worth spending some time researching about potential hazards that might make your destination of choice unsuitable for kids.

Usually, I read about the most common and most dangerous diseases present in my destination, especially if I’m traveling to tropical countries where it can be easy to get an infection or insect-borne disease. Don’t forget to check which vaccines are recommended or mandatory in your destination and make sure to take them at least 2 weeks before travelling to avoid dealing with potential reactions on the go. If your child is too young to take an important vaccine, consider a different traveling destination (check my post on health concerns). I recommend visiting the website of WHO for advice on the location you are traveling to.

When it comes to safety there are several aspects to consider. Firstly, check whether your destination of choice is safe in general, in terms of crime and violence, social unrest, political situation, infrastructure. Secondly, verify whether the setting and activities are suitable for your children’s age group. For instance, if you are planning to go on a safari in Africa, you should be aware of the dangers your kids will be exposed to. A small child can become easy prey to predators out in the wilderness. And even if you are in a protected lodge and take extreme care, it’s not possible to completely prevent animal encounters. After all, the savannah is not a zoo! Under the age of 12, a safari is not totally safe. And the same goes for other destinations where contact with dangerous wild animals cannot be avoided. Lastly, consider transportation safety. When planning your trip check which type of transportation you will need and how to make it safe for your children.