The map is spread before you and you are trying to decide where to take your family. You have been there and done that in Disneyland and the other predictable family hotspots. You want to take your family somewhere with breathtaking beauty where the whole family will have fun and be happy.
- Destinations for Ffamilies to avoidDaniel Y. Go / Beach Photos / CC BY-NC
Picking the wrong destination though could be disastrous. The following vacation spots are not the ideal family vacation destinations and should be avoided.
Norway
Norway has a magical scenery and is definitely breathtaking. The northern lights are stunning and the fjords are epic. Bringing your family to Norway though will have an epic and breathtaking affect on your bank account too. Just as the brilliant Aurora Borealis disappears into the night sky after a brilliant display, so too will your hard earned cash. Hotels, food and shopping are not economical and will severely limit what your family can see and do.
Israel
A land steeped in thousands of years of history, will also cost your family thousands of dollars when visiting Israel. The cultural destinations are world class, but these attractions tend to be quite pricey.
If you compare surrounding Middle Eastern countries like Jordan and Egypt, you will quickly see that you will not get as much bang for your buck in Israel. Not only is Israel pricey, but the sites can be a bit of a letdown when thinking about what you just paid.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua sounds like a wonderful tropical exotic destination with stunning wildlife. You will be disappointed by what Nicaragua has to offer, or what is does not offer. Lake Nicaragua has been dubbed a “must see” stop for any family, but upon visiting you will be astounded by the brown, dirty and polluted water of the lake. Garbage and waste mingle with the waves and swimming can be dangerous. Diseases abound, and hospitals are not places you want to include on your itinerary.
South Korea
Taking a family into a crowded city and country is not a family fun experience and can end up giving you an ulcer from worry. South Korea, and Seoul particularly, are very busy places. There are beautiful temples, relics, tombs, and sites, but every stop seems to be crowded.
Because of the high density of people, accommodations can be scarce and expensive. Once you have found a place to stay, prepare for difficult transportation.
Indonesia
Indonesia is a beautiful country with some must see gems. Beautiful beaches line Indonesia’s coastlines, and paradise can be found on some of her islands. There are some drawbacks that should be noted.
The humidity in Indonesia can be intense. The humidity won’t bother you if you are on the beach, but if you are in a crowded marketplace with your family, you may start wishing you had taken your family to Siberia instead.
Besides the unbearable humidity and heat, Indonesia is rife with earthquakes. Besides the dangers of earthquakes, Indonesia has also been impacted by the ensuing tsunamis that hit the coastal regions the hardest. Your dream beach vacation can quickly turn into a deadly nightmare.
Where to?
Do some homework and research before you book your tickets and pack your bags. These destinations give you an idea of what type of aspects can have a negative impact on your family vacation – crowds, prices, heat, pollution and natural disasters. There are many other elements as well that could easily throw of your family vacation.
Do you have any family vacation spots that you would add to the list of worst family destinations? What places would you avoid with your family?
Guest author Sara Miller runs several family-oriented websites including a funny family car stickers site. As a mother of three boisterous boys, Sara is very cautious about where the family goes for vacation. While they have had several memorable outings, they’ve also had a few near disasters too.
It is good to see a post that isn’t sugar coated like so many others. Thank you for the list.
I would suggest parents also consider the age of the children. This can help determine what places to avoid or take a chance on. Teenagers can be fairly self-sufficient and adventurous, while little ones may get bored and wilt under the pressure of the scenarios you describe.
Italy is a beautiful place for parents, particularly culture vultures, who may worry that their children will get bored. This won’t happen if you choose a place that will fascinate them, like a genuine castle, and one where there is plenty of space for them to run around in freedom. Skip the hotels! Another plus, particularly for young children, is animals. Renting an apartment or a house that is part of a complex in the countryside has several advantages: you can cook when you want to (less expensive, and you can cater to their likes) and the kids can find company and make friends. They will enjoy your day tours to lovely old towns, abbeys, museums, wineries, cheese factories etc. if they won’t have an overdose.
This at least is our experience at Montalto. The only ones who sometimes miss city life are 20-year-olds who yearn for the big-city movida .