Best countries to visit as a family

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One of the questions I get asked the most is “What is your favorite country to visit with kids?” This is a very tough question, because truthfully, every single country we’ve visited as a family, has been the best country we’ve visited.

Every time we visit a new country, there is always an amazing memory we hold dear to our heart that leaves us feeling like it is the best country we’ve visited. And then we visit the next country and suddenly we are like, “Wait, it’s this one for sure! This is our favorite country.”

Contents

• The Best Countries To Visit With Kids In The World
  • What Countries Have We Been To?
  • Tips For Traveling Around The World
    • • • Below are a few blog posts to guide you as you plan your trips. In these blogs, you’ll find more of my top travel tips:
  • Benefits Of Traveling The World
    • Tons of family bonding time!
    • Promotes greater cultural education.
    • Teaches everyone in the family to become more adaptable and resilient.
    • Encourages positive and safe risk-taking.
    • Ignites imagination, creativity, and sense of adventure.
  • Continents
  • North America
    • United States Of America
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • Cuba
    • Costa Rica*
    • The Bahamas*
    • Panama*
    • Jamaica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Aruba
  • South America
    • Chile*
    • Colombia
  • Europe
    • France*
    • Denmark
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • United Kingdom*
    • Sweden*
  • Africa
    • Morocco
    • Nigeria
    • Ghana
    • Cameroon
    • Egypt
  • Asia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • The Maldives
    • China
    • Japan*
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Vietnam*
  • Australia
    • New Zealand

What Countries Have We Been To?

We have been to over 35 countries so far (July 2021) as a family and have really enjoyed visiting every single one of them.

We usually travel as a family of three (my husband, Aiden and I). Sometimes, I take Aiden by myself; like the time we spent a month in Asia and also the time when we visited Egypt.

We have also traveled as a family of two, three, four, five, six and even seven, including my sister and nieces and nephews; like that one time that we visited Paris, London and Stockholm for Christmas.

Tips For Traveling Around The World

There is no special formula for our trips, other than:

• We go wherever is cheap and only to places we can afford to visit.
• Usually, we wait till there is a fare sale or error fare, or search for the cheapest place to fly to using Skyscanner.
• We fly budget airlines or any airline as long as it is a good deal. We’ve flown Ryan Air from London to Italy for about $12 a person. Can’t beat such a price.
• We stay in hostels as need be so that we can stretch our dollars. YES – contrary to popular belief as well as the movie Hostels, there are plenty of family friendly hostels all over the world.
• If we decide to book a hotel room, it is usually super budget-friendly.
• We don’t always pay for excursions or tour guides so we can explore on our own and save money.
• Travel insurance is always a good idea for more expensive flights and trips, but not always necessary.
• When exploring international destinations, its important to keep your ID/passport, debit cards, and credit cards close. You don’t want to be stranded somewhere without these essential items.
• Traveling solo? No problem. Just keep in mind that groups (like families) tend to provide a bit more safety, so always take care.

“If people live there, then there will be something for us to do there”

Karen Akpan, The Mom Trotter

• How To Save Money On Flights
• Family Friendly Hostels Around The World
• How To Plan A Trip To Any Country In The World
• Best Websites To Find Cheap Flights & Error Fares
• Tips On How To Make Travel Affordable For Families

I have listed the countries below separated by continent so it is easy to find, and I have also linked each country to the blog post that corresponds with it so that you can read it an make an informed decision on where to take your children to.

Traveling with kids and looking for tips, then make sure to click the links below and read more:

• Best Travel Gear For Kids
• How To Travel With Kids Internationally Alone
• Best Countries To Visit In The World With Kids
• Top Must Have Items When Traveling With Kids
• How To Keep Your Kids Entertained & Happy On Flights
• Everything You Need To Know About Traveling With A Car Seat

Benefits Of Traveling The World

Tons of family bonding time!

If you know me, then you know I LOVE spending quality time with my family. After all, that is one of the main reasons we moved into our RV – to spend more time together. When travelling the world with your family, there are so many opportunities to spend quality time together and make those forever type of memories. Travelling the world is also a great opportunity to meet new people, and bond and learn from other families travelling.

Promotes greater cultural education.

As a parent, one of the things I try to instill most is cultural education. And travelling the world is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons, as well as the horizons of your children. There is something about actually seeing and living within other cultures that does so much more for children than simply reading or watching a cultural book or movie (although those things are important as well.)

Teaches everyone in the family to become more adaptable and resilient.

Family vacations don’t always go exactly to plan, amiright? And, depending on the country you’re visiting, sometimes we don’t have all the luxuries that we are usually provided in the United States. A quick change of plans and/or a lack of some amenities provide a great opportunity for EVERYONE in the family to learn how to be more adaptable and resilient. Both of which tend to breed more empathy, patience, and knowledge about the world in general. Especially in children, but in adults as well.

Encourages positive and safe risk-taking.

There are few places you can get in life without taking at least few risks. Travelling, experiencing new cultures, stepping out of your comfort zone, and learning to navigate new places encourages risk-taking, but in the best way. Through these experiences, children can learn how to take positive and safe risks, and learn to better navigate this crazy thing called life. The better your children are at making safe and informed risks, the better off they will be!

Ignites imagination, creativity, and sense of adventure.

One of the best benefits of travelling the world is that feeling you get…you know the one! The one that inspires you, motivates you, and reminds you what life is all about. And sharing that feeling with your children is one of the best feelings in the world. More on creativity in children, and how this type of mental growth can be a health benefit, here.

Continents

There are 7 continents in the world; North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and Antarctica.

So far, we have been to five continents, so we have two more to go to be able to say that we have officially visited every continent.

Below, I will only be listing the countries that we have visited. I plan to add to this list as we continue to travel the world. If you see an * by the country, that means that we’ve been there, but I haven’t written a blog post on it yet.

North America

North America is made up of 23 countries and 9 dependent territories. You can read more about each country here.

The most visited countries by tourists in North America are the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.

United States Of America

• Family Goal To Visit All 50 US States
• 26 Best Things To Do With Kids In The USA
• Utah National Parks Road Trip + Southwest Road Trip

Canada

Mexico

• Los Cabos – Mother’s Day Trip
• Los Cabos – Baecation / Couples Trip
• Los Cabos – Best All Inclusive Resorts in Baja Del Sur
• Puerto Vallarta – Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta With Kids
• Puerto Vallarta – Best Restaurants In Puerto Vallarta
• Cancun – Things To Do In Cancun
• 5 Reasons I Will Never Visit Mexico Again

Cuba

• Things To Do In Havana
• How To Get A Cuba Tourist Card or A Cuban Visa
• Can American’s Travel To Cuba

Costa Rica*

The Bahamas*

Panama*

Jamaica

• Things To Do In Jamaica With Or Without Kids

Dominican Republic

• 5 Reasons To Visit Royalton Punta Cana Dominican Resort
• Things To Do In The Dominican Republic With Or Without Kids

Aruba

South America

South America is compromised of a total of 12 independent countries, and 3 dependent territories. You can read more about South America here.

The most visited countries by tourists in South America are Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

Chile*

Colombia

• Things To Do In Colombia With Or Without Kids

Europe

Europe is compromised of 44 countries and 4 dependencies also known as territories. It’s also divided into Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Europe. You can read more about each country and territory here.

The most visited countries by tourists in Europe are France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.

• Best Countries To Visit With Kids In Europe

France*

Denmark

• How To Visit Copenhagen On A Budget

Italy

• Pisa – Things To Do In Pisa
• Florence – Things To Do In Florence

Spain

• Barcelona – Things To Do In Barcelona

United Kingdom*

Sweden*

Africa

Africa is made up of 54 countries and 4 dependencies also known as territories. You can read more about Africa here.

The most visited countries by tourists in Africa are Morocco, South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia.

Morocco

• Fez – Things To Do In Fez
• Sahara Desert – How To Camp In The Sahara Desert

Nigeria

• Fun Facts About Nigeria

Ghana

• Things To Do In Ghana
• Itinerary – 4 Days In Ghana

Cameroon

• Fun Facts About Cameroon

Egypt

• Cairo – Three Days In Egypt Itinerary

Asia

Asia is the largest continent and is made up of 48 countries and 3 dependencies also known as territories.

You can read more about Asia here. The most visited countries by tourists in Asia are China, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Turkey.

United Arab Emirates

• Fun Things To Do In Abu Dhabi With Kids
• Most Memorable Things To Do In Dubai With Kids
• 15 + Things To Know Before Traveling To The United Arab Emirates

The Maldives

• The Maldives: Lti Maafushivaru Maldives Resort Review
• How To Plan A Trip To The Maldives With A Stop Over In Abu Dhabi or Dubai

China

• Guangzhou – Things To Do In Guangzhou
• Beijing – 23 Hour Layover In Beijing
• Beijing – 10 Hour Layover In Beijing

Japan*

Singapore

• What To Do In 48 Hours In Singapore With Kids
• Must Visit Landmarks In Singapore

Thailand

• Bangkok – Things To Do In Bangkok
• Phuket – Things To Do In Phuket

Taiwan

• Taipei – Things To Do In Taipei / Taipei Travel Guide

Vietnam*

Australia

Australia or Oceania as it was referred to before is made up of 14 independent countries and 12 dependencies also known as territories. You can read more about each country and territory here.

The most visited countries by tourists in the continent of Australia are, Australia, Fiji and Bora Bora.

New Zealand

• Rotorua
• Waiheke Island
• Coromandel Peninsula
• Hot Water Beach, New Zealand
• New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary