My Favorite Travel Sites For Family Vacations
1. Viator.com
Years ago on a family vacation to Europe, I stumbled upon a travel site which offered affordable, unique and entertaining things to do with our kids. There were a few that looked intriguing, but one really caught my eye. Viator ( Things to Do, Tickets, Tours & Attractions | 2024 | Viator) stood out like a sore thumb, and has proven over and over again to be a solid choice. Viator.com is now part of Trip Advisor (and a great addition in my opinion). Viator partners with local regional experts to show you the real deal… the local things you would probably never find. Everything from cooking classes to museum/brewery/winery hopping, to ghost tours, to professional photos of your clan, to the back alley speakeasys you would never find on your own. The prices are usually unusually affordable, and the experts really are local experts. Once you’re on the site, you can specify the details, and I promise you will be very pleasantly surprised at the variety of offerings.
2. Kensingtontours.com
Although I only know Kensington Tours by reputation, I am seriously impressed with their comprehensive offerings. They specialize in families with kids, and will turn your family vacation into incredible lifelong memories. Their attention to detail has earned them many awards. Kensington Tours | Tailor-Made Private Tours | Award-Winning Tour Company offers tried and true itineraries from around the world, but they are also happy to customize your itinerary to fit your family. Unlike Viator, they specialize in multi-day (Usually 7-10 days) full service vacations with vetted hotels, restaurants and outings. Worth looking into.
3. MSCCruises.com
I came across MSC cruise line about fifteen years ago when I decided to try a Mediterranean cruise with the kids. We had been on several cruises (on various cruise lines) in the past, including Alaska, the Carribean and Mexico and were ready for a change. I had never heard of MSC (even though they have been a presence in the sea for over 300 years) as they were predominantly a European line, but they looked good on paper. Kids under 18 sailed free, as long as they were in the same cabin as an adult, drinks were included and the entertainment was family friendly. But one of my favorite features was the itinerary, which included Spain, France, Italy and Africa. They offered the option of embarking at any of the stops and disembarking seven days later, instead of having to board on the one designated day, which we hadn’t seen before. This also allowed us to meet a variety of people from around the world (although mostly Europe) at our group dining as people came and went at every stop. Fifteen years later they have taken a strong foothold in the United States, and offer a variety of options in many parts of the world. Add their comittment to sustainability, incredible food and family friendly options, attention to service and detail, impressive excursions and incredible new ships, and I think you will be as happy with them as I am. Check out their vast array of options at MSC Cruises: Best Cruise Holidays and Vacations | MSC Cruises for all the details.
