Great family vacation deals to Thailand, Japan, China, Vietnam and more

Last summer I booked a custom private guided tour to Thailand with Kensington Tours.  It was everything a family vacation should be: fun, exciting, safe, and –yes!– modestly priced.

The highlight of the trip was Chiang Mai, but we saw a fair bit of Bangkok too.  Setting up the trip was a big part of the fun too — we just kept moving the puzzle pieces around until they fit our family (I was sad not to include beaches and a side trip to Angkor Wat, but they will have to wait until our next family vacation to Asia).

This could be your kid!

Now they’re offering $200 of per person on every family vacation to Asia if you book soon.  You should go!  Take the kids!

Here are some of the highlights:

Elephants, Tigers & Temples
Thailand Family Adventure
10 days from $3,595  -  Save $200 pp when you book before June 15th.

With an elephant safari, jungle ziplining, baby tigers, river rafting and beach time, this tour has all the necessary ingredients for a perfect family vacation. Tour Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands with the luxury of private guide and driver.  Complete with great kid-oriented hotels, all internal flights and more.

The Land Time Forgot
Myanmar Family Adventure
10 Days from $3,200 pp – Save $200 when you book before June 15^th

Traveling to this emerging destination is like taking a trip back in time.  Our Myanmar adventure will take you to Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan where you’ll bike, receive temple blessings, take a cooking cooking class, ride a hot air balloon, and visit a fortune teller.  This is the stuff family vacation legends are made of.

Sumo, Samurai & Sushi,
Japan Family Adventure
7 Days from $3,595 pp – Save $200 when you book before June 15^th

From samurai legends, life sized robots and dressing up in a kimono, to sushi lessons, sumo training and tea ceremonies, this family friendly adventure is thrilling for the whole family.  Travel from Tokyo to Hakone and Kyoto led by expert private guide. Unveil the secrets of origami with hands-on lessons, cycle through geisha districts, cruise on a Japanese pirate ship and much more.

National Geographic Traveler Award Winning China Family Adventure
12 Days from $3,995 pp – Save $200 when you book before June 15^th

This National Geographic Traveler Magazine “50 Tours of a Lifetime” showcases this mysterious land with private guide and plenty of fun family activities. Highlights include Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Terra Cotta warriors, Guilin and more. You’ll cook lunch with a local family, learn Tai Chi, cruise the Li River, visit villages, and bicycle along the Dragon River as you live the legends of China!

How to pack for a family vacation.  Or any vacation.

When Condé Nast Traveler asked me to join their Family Travel Bloggers Panel as an expert, I didn’t hesitate.  After all, it’s a subject I know inside and out.  Along with a handful of other family travel writers, I hopped on board.

The first topic we collectively tackled was packing.

Now, after you’ve been around the world a time or six, you start to develop a certain hubris about packing.  How hard can it be?  Take the things you need.  Put them in a suitcase.  Done.  Nothing to it, right?

Wrong.

In my experience, there’s always something simple you could have brought (but didn’t) that would make your life so much easier.  And there’s a lot of satisfaction in identifying those items and packing them.

Think you know how to pack for a family vacation?  Compare your list to Condé Nast Traveler’s.  Got a great idea?  Leave it in the comments.

In future installments, we’ll tackle other topics to make family travel easier and more fun.  Stay tuned.

Expert answers to family travel questions about Adventures by Disney and Scotland: A Brave Adventure

Have fun storming the castle!

Last month, my kids and I were invited to sample Adventures by Disney’s newest itinerary, Scotland: A Brave Adventure – a 9-day ramble around Edinburgh, Loch Ness, a couple of islands, and the Highlands.

When planning a family vacation, I don’t normally do luxury group touring.  I was shocked by how much I liked it.   In fact, I’m a total Adventures by Disney convert.

If you’re considering a family vacation in Scotland (or anywhere else) with Adventures by Disney, here are answers to all your questions as well as a slideshow.

>>See the Scotland: A Brave Adventure slideshow

GENERAL ADVENTURES BY DISNEY QUESTIONS

What are the trips like?

Practically perfect.  Disney researches and plans for 18 months before launching a new trip, and the hands-on experiences are just right for families.   You take archery lessons in Scotland.   Or visit a panda breeding facility in China.  Or make papyrus in Egypt.  Or tour the grounds of a French chateau by bike.

The pace balances sightseeing with relaxation, so you almost never feel rushed.  Also — and this is big when you’re crossing time zones with kids — there aren’t many really early starts.

What else?  Two adventure guides, luxury accommodations, local experts, all internal flights and transportation, and most meals.

Aren’t they kind of expensive?

Yes and no.  These trips definitely aren’t cheap, but they offer good value when you consider the high quality of pretty much… everything.  You could almost certainly cobble together a DIY version of their itineraries for less, but you wouldn’t get front-of-line access everywhere and exclusive activities.

Also, do you know how to find the best camel rides, pasta-making classes, fishing guides, and sea turtle nesting areas.  I don’t, and I’ve tried.

The cuteness of Scottish Highland Ponies cannot be overstated.

Do I have to do all the activities?

No, but you’ll probably want to.  I know I did.  Usually when an activity has height, weight, or fitness restrictions, an alternative will be provided.  For example, on our trip, a few people strolled around a village in the Scottish Highlands instead of going mountain biking.

Will I have any free time?

Yes, plenty.  On a typical 10-day trip, you can expect three dinners on your own (at your own expense) and at least two afternoons to explore (these are scheduled in interesting places — usually big or medium-sized cities).  Additionally, not every morning is an early one.

Is it weird taking a family vacation with a group?

This is the biggest variable on these kinds of trips, but it’s up to you how close you get to your fellow travelers.  You can travel parallel with them (sharing excursions and transportation, but not much else) or really get to know them.

On our trip, there were at least four other families that we really hit it off with.  Our kids played together, and we explored and ate together in our free time.  There are always odd ducks, of course, but usually no jerks.

What are the hotels like?

Usually 5-star, and always well located, comfortable, and family friendly.  Families of four or more will usually be in connecting rooms, while families of three or fewer will squeeze into one room with a rollaway bed.

What are the meals like?

This gourmet picnic was just one of the many perfect meals we were served.

Delicious, varied, and local.  As with the activities, an incredible amount of research goes into finding the best places to eat.  There are plenty of kid-pleasing choices on most of the menus, as well as options for vegetarians and guests who have food allergies.

What are the guides like?

Completely perfect.  Out of 1,200 applicants a year, they hire 12.  It’s easier to get into Stanford University or the Astronaut Candidate program.  Okay, I totally made that up.  The point is, the guides are the best I’ve ever met.

What if my kid is younger than the recommended minimum age?

In my opinion, you’d be wasting your money.  A younger child can certainly tag along, but if she can’t snorkel, ride horses, drive a dog sled, or learn Tai-Chi when everyone else is doing it, she’s going to get impatient fast.  Wait a few years if possible.

What if I’m not a huge Disney fan?

This is a huge concern for many people, including me.  It’s not that I don’t like Disney.  It’s more that I don’t want Donald Duck to meet me at the airport.  Rest easy on this front, because these trips aren’t about characters at all.

While Adventures by Disney doesn’t offer a completely authentic, local experience, it offers an enriching and high quality experience.  And anyway, do you really want a completely authentic experience when traveling in Cambodia with your young children?  Of course not.

So what is Disney about these trips?  The entertainment, the quality, and the storytelling.  Other than that, not much.  There will probably be a Disney film on the kids’ movie night, and you will be gifted with collectible Disney pins every day… and that’s it.

Why are you raving so much?  It’s making me suspicious.

Sorry!  Here are the “cons” of the luxury group touring experience.  First, as mentioned, these trips aren’t cheap.  Second, you’ll trade freedom and spontaneity for convenience.

We weren’t willing to completely sacrifice our independence, so we arrived early and toured Edinburgh on our own for four days before our trip started.  Many people on our trip did the same.  It’s a good compromise if time and money permit.

SCOTLAND: A BRAVE ADVENTURE QUESTIONS

>>See the Scotland: A Brave Adventure slideshow

What should I pack?

You will need at least two pairs of shoes per person (in case one gets wet), both comfortable.  Casual, comfortable clothing.  A rain coat for everyone.  Swim suits for hotel pools.  A comfortable day pack.   A few U.S. to U.K. converters, since you’ll probably need to charge lots of things at the same time.  A book light, so you can share a room with your kids without having to share their bedtime.

Don’t bother bringing snacks or water bottles, since your guides will keep you well supplied with plenty of both.

A white raincoat wasn’t my smartest idea, but it looked good with my black boots.

How dressy are the dinners?

Dinners are somewhere between dressy and casual, but it will be dark inside, so you can totally get away with black jeans and a cute top.  I wouldn’t bring heels or sandals at all, but some people will.   Definitely wear good walking shoes to the dinner at Edinburgh Castle, because it’s cobblestones all the way.

What are the trip highlights?

The day at picture-perfect Rothiemurchus Estate picnicking near the fields of heather, trotting around on Highland ponies, and riding mountain bikes to one of the prettiest lochs in Scotland was everyone’s favorite day.

We also loved exploring Urquart Castle on the banks of the Loch Ness, while the kids rolled down a soft, grassy hill over and over and over.    We didn’t canoe on Loch Ness (we chose the guided boat tour instead), but other guests claimed that was their favorite.

Isn’t British food kind of… yucky?

I lived in the U.K. for two years, and no matter what Jamie Oliver says, the food isn’t usually the highlight of any vacation there.  Having said that, I have never eaten better food in Great Britain than I did on this trip.  We had delicious salmon, lots of yummy banoffee pie, and the best veggie curry I’ve ever tasted.

We also sampled haggis and venison hot dogs.  While they weren’t really up our alley, it was hugely fun to try new things.  Speaking of which, the adults-only whisky tasting was great — don’t skip it even if, like me, you’re not a fan.

What if it rains?

It often rains in Scotland, but it seldom rains hard.  Bring two pairs of shoes, so you can rotate (you can speed dry damp shoes at night by stuffing them with newspaper).  Pack long hooded raincoats and wear baseball caps.  It’s unlikely to be cold or rain unrelentingly.

Will we get time to explore on our own?

For about a week after I got home, I kept thinking car horns were bagpipes.

Yes.  You’ll get free time in Edinburgh, Inverness, and the Isle of Skye.  If you are a foodie, I have some important advice for you.  Ready?  Make dinner reservations as soon as you arrive in Scotland.

Your guides will be able to give you an idea what time you’ll be free on those days.  If you don’t feel like messing with international calling, ask the concierge at your first hotel (probably the Balmoral in Edinburgh) to do it for you.

Are the bus rides long?  Is motion sickness an issue?

Do bring motion sickness meds if anyone in your family is susceptible to carsickness.  Also, be first to the bus every day so you can grab a seat near the front.

The guides have lollypops, which really help, but not an unlimited supply.  I say bring your own.  I also like to bring ginger chews, which are available at Trader Joe’s.

Will my kid get bored with all the castles and museums?

Surprisingly no!  The guide at Glamis Castle told our kids age-appropriate ghost stories, showed them suits of armor, and told them interesting tidbits about the royal family.  The other castles we visited (Dunnottar and Urquart) were self-guided tours, so the kids were free to run around and follow their interests.  Their primary interests were hide and seek and tag, but hey, they loved it.

Isn’t the whole “Scotland: A Brave Adventure” movie theme kind of weird?

Yes, but in a good way.  It’s less of an exploration of the film itself, and more of an immersion into the making of the film.  Every day (on the bus, where you are a captive audience), you watch a short documentary feature on some aspect of the making of Brave.

These are all narrated by the academy award-winning director Mark Andrews, who is both funny and easy on the eyes.  The videos follow the crew as they travel around Scotland (on the same itinerary you are on, more or less), and they discuss the challenges of animating hair, tapestry, and moss.

We all ate it up — this is Disney after all, so they know how to tell a good story.  At the end of the trip, we had a whole bus full of aspiring filmmakers.

>>See the Scotland: A Brave Adventure slideshow

Disclosure:  Adventures by Disney paid for most of our expenses on this trip, including accommodations, meals, and airfare.  They did not request that I express any particular point of view, and all opinions are my own.

A lot more luxury that you’d expect, and way less… mouse

“So, what do you think so far?” whispered my fellow travel writer.

It was a perfect spring day with Adventures by Disney and the two of us were exploring Dunnottar Castle, a ruined medieval fortress on Scotland’s Aberdeenshire coast.   Our children were playing a rowdy game of tag on the lawn, as if they’d known each other all their lives.  They hadn’t.

“I really like it,” I whispered back.  “I thought it would be more… rah rah.”

“Exactly,” she replied.  “And the access is…”

“Incredible,” I finished.

We peered down into the vault, which has seen its share of dark plot twists over the centuries, and decided to explore the sunnier stables instead.

We were on a media preview trip for Adventures by Disney’s newest itinerary, Scotland: A Brave Adventure.  It’s not the kind of family vacation we would have chosen on our own.   As experienced travelers, we don’t normally go in for luxury group touring.  Here’s how Adventures by Disney won us over.

A pleasantly spooky private tour of Edinburgh Castle at twilight.

Friction-free travel

It’s a little-discussed fact that the typical family vacation is an uphill slog for mom.  For every hour I’ve spent relaxing on a tropical beach, I’ve spent 16 organizing the trip, renting a car, finding the right hotel, and feeding my family.

On our Scotland family vacation, Disney took out all the hard parts.  They handled all the transportation.  They carried my luggage to and from my room.  They picked restaurants I would have chosen myself.  They provided water and snacks on board our luxury coach.

When we rolled up to a hotel at the end of a long day, they handed us envelopes with our hotel key cards inside.  No waiting in line to check in on an Adventures by Disney trip.

Only-for-you experiences

To save money, you could try to duplicate their itineraries on a do-it-yourself family vacation, but many of the best experiences are exclusive.  As Adventures by Disney regional manager Bruce Austin puts it, “The Disney name opens doors.”

Archery lessons. Not pictured: the kilt-clad instructor who was easy on the eyes.

That’s putting it mildly.

We took archery lessons at Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the late Queen Mother.  We also launched canoes from the grounds of Urquart Castle on Loch Ness.  You know who else gets to do those things?  No one.

On the last night of the trip, we were led by a bagpipe player through the gates of Edinburgh Castle at twilight.  After the portcullis clanked down behind us, we were all alone on the castle grounds, where we enjoyed a private viewing of the crown jewels  at our own pace and a banquet dinner by candle light.

Good luck booking that on your own.

Five-star…everything

Adventures by Disney usually spends 18 months figuring out the best hotels, restaurants, guides, and activities on their trips, and it shows.

Where available, you’ll always stay in four and five-star hotels.  The food is first-rate too, as well as local and sustainable.  Since these trips are family-centric, children are well taken care at mealtimes (though it’s not all french fries and pizza).

Food safety obviously isn’t an issue in Britain, but it can be in other parts of the world, like in China or Egypt.  For all destinations, Disney does unprecedented and ongoing due diligence, evaluating every restaurant not just from the point of view of a diner, but as a health inspector too.

This pony’s dad? Belongs to the queen. Yes, that queen.

Speaking of safety, it comes first for all activities, with fun right behind.  How good were our mountain bikes and helmets?  Brand new.  What about our Highland Ponies?  Let me put it this way: not only were they healthy and sure-footed, my daughter’s pony was sired by a stallion that belongs to Queen Elizabeth II.

Not much mouse

Whether we admitted it or not, everyone on our trip was nervous that we’d be greeted at Edinburgh International Airport by Donald Duck.  Or forced to wear mouse ears on the bus.  None of these things happened.

In order to keep the trips as authentic as possible, the Disney angle is downplayed.  You’ll get Disney pins every day — which many people collect and love — and the kids will get Disney on movie night, and that’s pretty much it.

(Scotland: A Brave Adventure is the exception, since it’s based on the making of the movie Brave.  You learn about the places, people, and animals that inspired the filmmakers, as well as more technical animation topics.  It sounds weird, but it’s fascinating and unobtrusive.)

The bottom line

Okay, here’s the bad news: this is a premium product.  Disney doesn’t even try to compete on price.  You get two amazing guides.  How good are they?  Of 1,200 yearly applicants, 12 are chosen for their intelligence, temperament, and personality.  Also, they’re unbelievably good with kids.  Once hired, they undergo extensive and ongoing training.   In countries with language barriers, there are local guides too.

A close up view of Urquart Castle on Loch Ness with Adventures by Disney.

For the price, you also get well-located 4 and 5-star hotels.  Almost all your meals included, though on a typical itinerary, you’ll have a few free nights.  There are also adult-only events (like whiskey tasting) and kid-only events (baking scones).

It’s not a cheap family vacation, but it’s an easy and high quality one.  You show up, turn off your brain, and have a good time.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Disclosure:  Adventures by Disney paid for most of our expenses on this trip, including accommodations, meals, and airfare.  They did not request that I express any particular point of view, and all opinions are my own.

Vacation in Costa Rica and scream your head off

A few years ago when families started emailing me for the best place to take their 8, 5, 3 (!) year-old kids ziplining in Costa Rica, I thought they were crazy and surely it was a fad that would soon pass.  I couldn’t imagine wanting to send my babies hurtling through space hundreds of feet above the rainforest floor attached to a thin cable.  I know I had no desire to do it myself.

One excited child and one conscientious objector.

Sadly for me, the requests have only become more common over time, so on our most recent trip to Costa Rica in April, I decided to bite the bullet and try three out so I can make some intelligent referrals.  The first thing I learned: you cannot send your kids on a canopy tour without a parent.  I asked.

1.    Selvatura near Monteverde Cloud Forest

Selvatura is probably the most popular and one of the largest canopy tour in Costa Rica.

The stats: 3 km of cables, 15 cables and 18 platforms, one Tarzan swing over gorgeous primary and secondary cloud forest.  Longest cable is 1km (3280 ft).  Total tour 2.5-3 hrs including safety talk, gearing up, waiting in lines.

My take: We should have done this one last, not first.  It was hard core with the longest and fastest rides.  I did (unexpectedly) have fun even though we were squashed between two large groups of high school students and professionally and efficiently shunted from one zip to the next.

Annelies (8) was taken ahead of us with a guide as she wasn’t heavy enough (70 lbs) to ride alone.  She did tandem zips with the guide and then was left to wait for us (for nearly 30 minutes) clipped on to a platform on the ground several zips later.  She was not happy when we finally caught up.  Best views of all 3 locations!

The kids’ take: Max (10) who did all the zips except 2 alone says, “It was awesome!  This was my favorite because the cables were so fun.”  Annelies (8) says, “First they said I could do one or two by myself but then when we started I did them all with a guide.”  

The bottom line: Felt very professional and safe.  Find out how busy it is before you pay; we waited in lines at the start and periodically along the way. Better for kids 9 and up (depending on weight) who can do most of it on their own.  Allows kids as young as 6 to tandem with a guide according to staff I spoke to but their website says age 4.  Tandem zips with a parent are not allowed.

Kids who don’t meet the weight requirement will have to go tandem, which is still fun.

2.  Canopy tour at Ranario (also known as the Frog Pond) in Santa Elena, near Monteverde Cloud Forest

My husband, Ruurd, was kind enough to take the kids on this one, whew!  This place started out as a frog exhibit (great in it’s own right) and has since added a butterfly garden and a small canopy tour with 9 cables and platforms, a few rappelling lines and a Tarzan swing. Tour: 1.5-2 hrs including safety talk, and tour.

Ruurd’s take:  “Fun tour but the Tarzan swing was a mistake for my back.  We were the only ones there- nice to have a private tour.”

The kids’ take:  Annelies says “I could do everything myself!  I loved the Tarzan swing and rappelling!”  Max says “The rappelling was fun and the guides were nice.”

The bottom line: Great for younger kids and anyone who doesn’t need their zips to be a kilometer long.  Some grandparents have enjoyed this one too.  Age 3 and up can participate.  Age 6 and up can do all but 2 zips alone.

Rappelling is fine as long as you don’t look down.

3. Hacienda la Linda Canopy Tour operated by Aventuras del Sarapiqui near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

Quiet canopy tour crosses the Rio Sarapiqui twice and zips through lowland rainforest and open pastures and gardens.  Most of the cables are fairly short and not very fast so you can relax and not worry about braking.

The stats: 14 cables.   Total tour 2.5 hrs including hotel pick up, safety talk and snack.

My take: I liked this one better than Selvatura.  Although it provided less adrenaline, it was plenty for me.  It was just us and the two guides so we could go at a relaxed pace and enjoy the scenery.

The kids’ take: Annelies says, “I liked the last long zip that I did together with my brother and we both screamed!”  Max says, “Some of the lines we could do tricks like go upside down- that was fun!  I liked that the guides talked to us.”

The bottom line: Kids 8 and up can do all but the last zip alone.  Bonus snack and bottled water at the end!

Another satisfied customer.

Jenny Jensen of Global Family Adventures plans affordable guided family trips to Costa Rica.  We highly recommend her!  Got more questions about Costa Rica vacations with kids?  Jenny has answers.