Is it worth traveling abroad with your children, especially with so many good options in the USA? Short answer: yes. That's especially true when considering one of these family-friendly destinations our writers have visited in recent months. They've traveled with their kids to the UK, Japan, Tanzania, Greece and Swedish Lapland and found some great family-friendly spots for 2024. Just try not to think about flying there (and especially on the return flight). ) . . .
Osaka, Japan
Theme parks and mouth-watering street food are among the highlights of a visit to Osaka.
Photo by Usa-Pyon/Shutterstock
While strolling through Osaka's neon Shinsekai district with my son, a hard-to-impress teenager with a thirst for photo-worthy culinary creations, we passed by takoyaki stands advertising their octopus products with 3D displays covered in tentacles and a conveyor belt sushi joint adorned with a huge rotating roller. nigiri flat. Eventually we were drawn into Giant Tsurikichi Tsurikichi, a restaurant with large pools of fish that you can catch with the provided bait and rods. Here they will cook and serve whatever you eat, which in our case was a beast big enough to feed a family twice the size.
Memorable experiences like this are just the beginning here, where maximalist signage lures hungry travelers at every turn. And despite rising food prices across the world, affordable meals are still easy to find in Osaka, making it an attractive choice for anyone looking to test their taste buds without breaking the bank. Even the most discerning foodies will find what they're looking for in this dynamic destination, and fun-loving families will find a variety of unique restaurants. Dine alongside Pikachu at the popular restaurant Pokémon Café or enjoy incredibly cute Mario-inspired meals at Super Nintendo World has Universal Japanwhich will soon offer even more options in its new Donkey Kong themed landscheduled to open in 2024.
Where to stay
For an immersive experience, families can sleep on traditional tatami mats at Ryokan Ukiyoe. THE Hotel Cross Osakameanwhile, offers comfortable accommodations located within walking distance of the bustling food stalls of the Dotonbori area.—Amanda Adler
Tanzania
“I spy” becomes much more interesting when there are leopards, hippos and warthogs to observe.
Taking a toddler on safari is not for the faint of heart; I knew that if I was going to do this, I needed serious help. Enter Go2Africa, a seasoned tour operator staffed by specialists who have traveled extensively with young children throughout East and Southern Africa. These experts knew exactly which camps were best for families and how to travel safely between them. They organized private safaris for us in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site with Africa's densest population of large animals and a quiet corner of Serengeti National Park. On several safaris in both regions we spotted lions, leopards, hippos, ostriches, flamingos, warthogs and about billions of wildebeest, but it was a dazzle of zebras lingering within range. hand of our 4×4 which really made my son applaud. a storm.
Where to stay
Check TAASA Lodgea boutique bush camp in a 15,000-acre concession in the northern Serengeti, and Gibb's Farm, an 80-acre organic farm and coffee plantation less than an hour from Ngorongoro Crater. Both properties hire guides, trackers and staff who love children, instead of just tolerating them. Both also have swimming pools, a fantastic way for children to spend time between game drives.—Ashlea Halpern, editor-in-chief
Athens, Greece
Ancient history comes to life in Athens.
Photo by Sven Hansche/Shutterstock
Although the history and ancient ruins may seem boring to little ones at first, Athens is actually an entertaining and educational family destination. Before you even leave, introduce your children to Greek mythology and history: there is the graphic novel series Olympians which reinterprets mythologies and a funny and engaging podcast from National Geographic called Grecage which my eight year old son loves. Once you land, the kids will be eager to see the sights that otherwise might look like ruined land. When visiting last summer with my husband and two young children, I booked a private tour with Be Greek specifically aimed at families. Our guide kept my two kids (and my husband and I) engaged in a scavenger hunt, quizzes, games, and dynamic storytelling as we wandered around the city, checking off sites like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic stage and Syntagma. Place to see the changing of the presidential guard.
Visiting the Acropolis is a little more difficult, so be sure to go early in the morning or evening when it's cooler and less crowded, and leave the stroller behind (way too many steps!). Children will also enjoy the Acropolis Museum (ask for a “family backpack” for educational resources, puzzles and more); riding the bright red Athens Happy Train; go up Lycabettus Hill by cable car; and stroll through the picturesque Plaka district. When you need to escape the heat, head out of the city center to the Athens Riviera for some time at Astir Beach or the still-in-progress project. Elliniconwhich already presents an incredible Playground and park, with more to come.
Where to stay
To be in the center, stay in the new boutique Apollo Palm Hotel, which offers triple rooms perfect for a family of three (or four if a child is in a cot, which can be provided) whilst boasting chic design, a wonderful rooftop bar and a delicious buffet breakfast. For a resort experience, with a kids' club, beach and pool, the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Athens has spacious rooms and incredibly friendly and helpful staff who clearly love children.—Devorah Lev-Tov
Jokkmokk Market has been around for hundreds of years.
Photo by Tommy Alven/Shutterstock
Swedish Lapland
My children were just toddlers when we visited Swedish Lapland. Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, where I pushed them in strollers as they swung across snowy floors in rooms carved out of river ice by artists from around the world. (We slept soundly in the warm accommodations on site.)
During a personal visit last winter, I found several more reasons to plan a return trip soon with my now older crew. The best winter adventures in this part of Sweden come with experiential elements that go beyond chasing the Northern Lights. HAS Arctic Bath In the small hamlet of Harads, I watched a British family of school-aged children brave the cold together after a sauna session, descend a metal ladder straight into the frozen Lule River and scream before heading towards outdoor hot tubs. .
Nearby, the fanciful diversity of the cabins on stilts of the Hotel in the trees— including one in the shape of a bird's nest and another in the shape of a UFO — were pure fantasy fun, with ice fishing and snowshoeing among the activities. Sapmi nature camp offers three-night packages to stay with Sámi hosts privately lavvu tents on family pastures for reindeer while discovering their modern way of life. And if you're here in early February, the excitement of the annual party Jokkmokk Winter Market attracts hundreds of Indigenous people from across the Sápmi region of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia for an open-air festival with live music, silverware and traditional clothing shopping, and many other activities .
Where to stay
All the stays mentioned above are a treat worth planning a trip for. But I dream of a multi-generational winter adventure Fjellborg Arctic Lodge, where you can arrive by dog sled from nearby Jukkasjärvi. Families stay in a luxurious four-bedroom cabin with its own sauna and outdoor hot tub overlooking Lake Väkkärä. (Smaller cabins can accommodate more people just nearby.) The lodge's wilderness guides lead all kinds of excursions, including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.Terry Ward
London, United Kingdom
With seemingly endless musicals, green spaces and restaurants, no two days in London are the same.
From an incredibly funny Yeoman Warder guide at the tower to a cycling tour with London bike and a visit to Harry Potter Studios (where all eight films were filmed), my family's week-long trip across the pond proved to be both educational and fun. We also loved the Mathilde musical, based on Roald Dahl's beloved book, in the West End, with all four of us singing along to its catchy tunes as we left the theater. The city's many green spaces (Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens, with the Princess Diana Memorial Playground; Battersea Park) also allow little legs to stretch, run and stop to smell the roses. With a legendary food scene, eating at an Indian street food chain Mess and herbal Mauve at Borough Market were also must-sees and did not disappoint.
Where to stay
London has lots of big hotels. I liked the elegant room of 101 An Aldwych in the heart of Covent Garden, just blocks from theaters, restaurants and museums, like the fantastic London Transport Museum (where kids can see double-decker buses and adults can marvel at the history of the Underground) . In addition to the spacious suites, thoughtful touches like the free minibar restocked daily (with cookies and chips to keep little ones happy) and a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”-themed afternoon tea make The hotel is truly perfect for families.Tanvi Chheda
