Family Travel Dream Destinations

Where to?

Every now and again I like to poll our Have Baby Will Travel Facebook community to see what their dream destinations are. I’ve been criticized in the past for suggesting the only options for family travel lie in The Caribbean and Mexico – and while those destinations are easy ones for me and most of my readers, I kind of love how “easy” is relative for my readers in other parts of the world. What’s on the other side of the globe and a trip of a lifetime for me might be markedly more doable for family holidays in Europe or Australia, so I loved having the opportunity to learn a little more about places that are on my bucket list but definitely a few years away.

Aloha from Oahu – Image courtesy Hawaiian Tourist Authority/Tor Johnson

Hawaii
Hawaii was my husband’s usual family vacation destination when he was growing up – and for those on the West Coast the flights are way less intimidating than from where we are. Ten to twelve hours solid on a plane is daunting for a solo flight, never mind with a baby or toddler, so I’m not surprised Hawaii is listed as a “dream” for many families in my neck of the woods. It looks so awesome, though, but you wouldn’t want to head out that far for just a few days. With all Hawaii has to offer, I think you’d need at least two weeks to take it all in. Am I right? The Hawaiian Islands’ official tourist board’s website has loads of information on planning your dream family vacation to Hawaii.

courtesy Mauritius Tourism Office

Mauritius
I had to look it up, and Mauritius looks so teeny out there in the Indian Ocean, way (way) off the coast of Madagascar. The pictures look too stunning to be believed, and by all accounts if you can get there, Mauritius looks to be a wonderful spot for a vacay. The U.S. State Department says on their website that, “Mauritius has a stable government and a diverse economy. Its 2012 per capita GDP of US $8,850 is one of the highest in Africa. Facilities for tourism are well-developed.” But getting there is the trick! It’s roughly 12 hours from Sydney, Paris, and London – with shorter legs from different gateways throughout Africa. Both Johannesburg and Nairobi are about 4 1/2 hours away. Once you’re there, though, you should stay a while! The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority’s website is really wonderful and easy to navigate, with lots of trip planning ideas for your dream vacation in paradise.

Bora Bora – courtesy Tahiti Tourisme

Bora Bora
This is another destination that I, of course, have heard of, but had to consult a map to determine exactly where this island paradise is located. Yet another excuse to run away to Tahiti is to escape to Bora Bora. The pictures don’t even look real. It’s almost smack dab in the middle of the South Pacific, and Tahiti Tourism claims that, “Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world.” This is the place of huts in the water, and outrigger canoe rides. It does seem like a blissful spot for a vacation with baby and Bora Bora is uber family-friendly, but this to me feels more like a babymoon kind of trip. It doesn’t get more romantic than this!

photo courtesy South African Tourism

South Africa
Before we were married my husband and I were scheduled for a work trip to Ethiopia and South Africa. We’d booked  a three day safari for before returning home. Naturally the trip fell through at the last minute and the money paid for the safari was lost, so part of me feels like we need to get there to make amends! There are plenty of family-friendly safari options these days, including stays that include family safaris and then supervised kids’ activities so parents can do grown up stuff too. Best of both worlds, really. South African Tourism has lots of great info on visiting Kruger National Park and beyond

Photo Courtesy: visitlondonimages/ britainonview/ Pawel Libera

London
This stop may seem a little removed from the others, but trust that The Big Smoke belongs on a bucket list – possibly for different reasons. My princess-obsessed daughter would be all over the castles, and I’m certain we would not be able to veer away from Buckingham Palace unless she’d caught a glimpse of Her Majesty – preferably Kate but really any royal will do. I want to visit London for the culture, for the history, and for the food. While I might be craving chips and a cheese and onion pie from the chippy, London is also a culinary hub, and boasts better curry than what’s available in India. Just thinking about double decker buses and palace guards is making me weepy – yes, it’s time to finally get across the pond with my kids this year. Just putting it out there 🙂

Many thanks to Cosmos Holidays for supporting this post.