My very good friend M, asks: “I have 7 nights resort stay anywhere in the world for $500 for my family and I (husband and 2 young boys both under the age of 5). Can you please give me ideas where to go?”
I love happy dilemas!!! 🙂 Now while I don’t have kids (yet!), I’ve got some pretty cool ideas for M and her troop!
Facts:
They live in California. Nearest International airport is SFO (San Francisco) or LAX (Los Angeles)
M has 2 boys both under the age of 5.
Duration of travel: 7 days
Type of accommodation: Resort, at any city in the world.
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Normally, if its just the type of travel that I do (2 adults), I’d spin a globe and go where my finger stops. But in this case there’s a lot of things to consider. Kids ( I hear it’s an entirely different ballgame when you travel with little people!) and time (1 week). Because they got a really sweet deal on accommodation, I would take advantage of this and go to a place where decent hotel rates are normally sky high. And because there are kids and a short time frame involved, I will also keep it within any city where Los Angeles or San Francisco has direct flights to and from. I’d hate for that 1 week to be wasted on missed or delayed connecting flights!
And more importantly, also a place where 7 days can be enough for you to see the city and place. I have also skipped cities and countries that M and her family have been to.
Suggestion 1: MOOREA (Tahiti)
I know it’s a honeymoon destination but hear me out: Air Tahiti Nui flies direct from Los Angeles to Tahiti. (8 hours and 35 minutes). Hotels in Tahiti are either 4-5 star resorts or backpacker/pensione places. You wouldn’t want to rough it out when travelling with kids. So given the “anywhere in the world for $500.00” resort deal, I’d take Tahiti. My suggestion, fly to Tahiti, then take the 20 minute ferry to Moorea, and spend the rest of your 7 days in a Moorea resort.
Moorea is not as ‘honeymooney’ as Bora-Bora, and I have seen families with young children there. The Intercontinental Moorea Resort and Hotel has a Dolphin enclosure and Turtle Sanctuary that the kids will love.
Suggestion 2: JAPAN
M also wanted a place where they can all experience a different culture as a family. I choose Japan because Japan Airlines offers direct flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo. While Tokyo won’t be my first choice for travel with kids, it still would be a good cultural exposure for the kids. Kyoto can be more laid back and has a richer culture and history that M, (who I know is a history and culture buff) will enjoy for the second time around (we were travelled to Japan long ago together!)
 Suggestion 3: a bold idea of EUROPE- London or Paris
There are several flights from Los Angeles to London direct, and Air France flies from Los Angeles to Paris direct. Paris may sound more like an adult destination but you can never be too young to explore! There’s lots of gardens around Paris which sounds delightful for kids to play at in summertime. I suggested Europe as M loves the idea, and if I had kids, and both under 5, I’d take advantage when they still want to go where Mom and Dad goes! 🙂
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Mmmmm. $500 anywhere in the world?! Wow! These are all great choices, but I would be worried about the impact of jet lag when they only have 7 days. They’ll spend the first 2 days completely wrecked if they’re in Europe, since kids don’t always play along with the jet lag cures, darn them 🙂 I like the Tahiti idea, but only because it sounds warm and lovely and it’s still raining here in London. Haha. Are they looking to relax, sightsee or both? Does it have to be a city?
What about South America! Culture, resorts and no jet lag! (My dh’s idea….he’s so smart)
Yes South America is a good idea 🙂 I think they’ve done the Caribbean I will suggest south america..definitely rich in culture. thanks again to you and your dh!
Hi Megan! Thanks for the very helpful suggestions! Why didn’t I think of jetlag? my , my that’s something i overlook as i am not travelling with children. I think M wants relax (as i think the deal she got was to stay at a resort) and culture also 🙂