Kids tips

While my 2-year-old daughter and I were vacationing in Riviera Maya, Mexico, our hotel concierge informed us that Cirque du Soleil had a residency in the area called JOYÀ.

As a travel writer, one of my greatest loves is experiencing a new country, region, or city with my son. But one place has always been our favorite: London.

I've spent the past three years jetting my family — my wife, daughters (12 and 16), and son (11) — around the world pretty much full-time.

I've been visiting Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando with my kids for a decade, so I know how quickly little ones can become exhausted on theme-park days.

"Are you guys sure you don't want to ride the roller coaster with me?" I asked my parents, my heart skipping a beat as the screams from the mega drop faded into the background.

The most common question you’ll hear when traveling with kids in the USA? “When can we have a snack?”

Costa Rica is one of the most stable countries in Central America, with welcoming Ticos, lodgings to suit every style and budget, and long-established operators offering an array of family friendly activities, from easy wildlife encounters with sloths and toucans to adrenaline-fueled adventures. 

The supreme nature of Montana sets the stage for a holiday full of unforgettable childhood experiences and encounters.

If you haven't already started planning your family's 2024 Disneyland trip, now is the time. The new year is quickly approaching, and you need to get a head start if you want to score a hotel room near the parks, get the best dining reservations and have enough time to learn how to navigate Disney Genie+ and all the perks (like free Disney PhotoPass attraction photos) that come along with the skip-the-line service.

Piling onto a tractor-trailer, an assortment of Luxor youngsters leaned into a conversation with a pair of retirees from Europe. "We’re learning English," the youngest said, unabashed by any lack of formal introduction. A tumble of questions followed: "Where you from? You like Luxor? How many kids you have?"

Colombia's magic is not just a tale to be heard, but a reality to be experienced. From the beaches of the captivating Caribbean coastline to sweeping Andean vistas to awe-inspiring emerald jungles, South America's northernmost country offers unexpected surprises for families. Significant improvements in security and tourism infrastructure have rendered travel safe in the majority of Colombia, offering parents some peace of mind when visiting family-first cultural attractions and planning unforgettable escapades. Colombia holds plenty of space for children to let their imagination run wild and free and for the enchantment to reveal itself naturally. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Cruz, a 25-year-old cruise-goer who went on the Disney Cruise for the first time. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Burgundy (“Bourgogne” in French) is home to world-famous vineyards, chateaux and abbeys, and many strong cheeses – the kinds of things that generally appeal to adults more than kids.

Steeped in American history and culture, Philadelphia is a popular destination for kids and families from all over.

What could be more exciting for a kid to see than puffing volcanoes, crackling glaciers, dense rainforests and blinding white salt flats?

My daughters were 3 and 7 the first time I traveled alone with them. As I loaded our bags into the back of the car and headed for the airport, I wondered if I was making a big mistake. Their dad was very hands-on and helped a lot in those early parenting days, and here I was, heading off on a weeklong trip with two small children without him. What was I thinking? 

Mongolia is a very special place. Families who don’t mind stepping outside the familiar can explore nomadic lifestyles, see pristine nature, and try all sorts of adventurous activities with children.

It appears some people just get to start their vacations earlier than others, like the one dad TikTok is taking to task.  In early September, TikTok user One Tough Mother posted to the platform with a quick snippet of a flight from Las Vegas to Vancouver, Canada, and a tale that had everyone up in arms. «I was seated next to a mom who had a baby in her lap and a toddler beside her. It was a lot,» Kristine Sostar McLellan, the woman behind the account, wrote in a now-viral TikTok video. «I offered to switch seats with the dad, who was a few rows up, so he could be with his family. He says 'Great, thanks' AND SENDS OVER ANOTHER SMALL KID TO SIT WITH THE MOM. He enjoyed a kid-free flight.»

Benin is a fun-filled country that has a lot to offer traveling families: stunning beaches, fascinating history, incredible national parks, and more. If you have children and are considering of an affordable, family friendly African country to visit that's off the beaten track, Benin is the best bet for you. 

Moving abroad was freeing at first, as if I'd finally gotten out of a relationship that just wasn't working.

Sometimes called "the Paris of North America," Montréal is a captivating city that straddles two worlds: there’s a hint of old Europe, with French accents, Québécois cuisine and cobblestone-lined neighborhoods, but plenty of familiar North American food and shops as well. Montréalers tend to have a soft spot for kids, and families are generally given the royal treatment.