The planning required to make any vacation a success can at times become intimidating once you know that the family and kids are coming as well. While fun and relaxation are the prime targets of any family holiday, achieving these goals means to literally go through a maize of selecting a hotel from hundreds, pouring over travel literature and scanning the net for the right flight and seat selection.
Asia as a destination can be very enticing, but it is equally daunting, especially if you are a first timer and more so if there is a family in tow. Searching on Google will only confuse you and waste time, rather than being useful for what you actually require. It is therefore advised to go through these eight precious tips to make your Asian family vacation, both exciting and enjoyable.
Discuss with the Family
Asia is such a huge and diverse continent, that visiting it can overwhelm anybody, leave aside a newcomer with a family to worry about. It is imperative, therefore, that at the planning stage itself the whole family sits together and discusses the pros and cons. Things like, destinations, activities and places to visit should be sorted beforehand to avoid any conflicts during the actual holiday.
Choose your destination wisely
Asia, with its massive tourist potential, can easily mislead a family traveler into selecting the correct place to visit. The continent is as vast as it is diverse, resulting in spots which need to be avoided altogether from the word go. No doubt the cities are modern and family friendly, with every conceivable modern amenity, there are some extreme places, which may look attractive on the net, but should be avoided because of the weather variations. Just go in the right season, have a tailor made itinerary catering to family demands and you have a thrilling experience awaiting you in the offing.
Take Health Precautions
This is the most important, albeit a time-consuming process which should be addressed well before the trip takes off. Travel to Asia might require a dose of vaccinations, which depend entirely on the duration of stay and places you intend to visit. To ensure maximum immunity, some doses are needed to be taken over an extended period of a few months, like Hepatitis for example. The process should ideally begin as soon as the holiday has been finalized. The plus point is, that these vaccinations once taken offer immunity for 20 years or even a lifetime. It is best to visit a reputable Travel Clinic for advice, before commencing on the holiday.
Apply for Visa in Advance
Countries in Asia are known to change the visa rules at the whims and fancies of the ruling Government very frequently. Imagine landing up at an unearthly hour with wailing toddlers, only to find that you are short of the visiting criteria. Requirements for each country are different, and at times bewildering, so it is better to get that vital entry sticker from the Consulate of your home country. The internet may display that visa on arrival can be granted for some destinations, but it is always advisable to to double check with the concerned embassy directly, rather than try to gather information from any other unreliable source.
Take Expert Advice
Traveling to any destination in Asia for a new family can easily become frustrating and difficult. Try to gather as much information as you can from friends or relatives who have been there before. Search blogs for information on places you intend to visit. Additionally, depending on where you choose to go, you can opt for the services of an accredited travel portal to help you. You are not selling your soul to the travel agent, but only asking for planning of the trip. Vital information, based on the ages of the tour members, can advise you on the family hotels and resorts, spending minimum time on intercity transfers and arranging transport with a driver knowing your language, who is aware of the comfort stops enroute, can come in quite handy.
Opt for Homestay
There is no better way to experience the rich culture of Asia, than by skipping the hotel and choosing to stay in someone’s house. These type of accommodation thrive in countries like Nepal, India and Mongolia among others. They offer a unique opportunity to the family to get to know about the lives of the locals by staying with them, and allowing the wide eyed toddler to judge the country with his own perspective.
Pack Wisely
It is easy to get over carried by toting excess baggage when holidaying with the family. This is exactly opposite for Asia, because not only cheap laundry facilities are available almost everywhere, you can buy a new pair of jeans from any of the street vendors at a steal, in case you require one.
Change Money at Destination
Surprisingly, most Asian countries will give you a far better rate for the dollar than any American or European airport, because of the high fees prevailing there. Credit cards are not widely accepted in small joints so keep plenty of cash in hand if your kid wants ice-cream or a pizza.
Things may go wrong on an Asian holiday with kids resulting in a tricky situation. To avoid this, travel smart by sticking to the eight tips highlighted here to ensure an amazing time for your near and dear.
Photo by Charles Postiaux on Unsplash
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