Traveling as a family is such a special experience -- not only the time you spend together and the memories you make, but the chance to watch your children's world expand right in front of your eyes.
But planning a family trip to a new destination can be a daunting task -- after all, we are already too busy as it is! The idea of making reservations, figuring out a budget and logistics, and trying to determine what activities are appropriate for everyone in your group ... It's all overwhelming enough to make you just decide to stay home.
But don't give up quite yet: There are tour operators that specialize in family travel. They're there to take the headache out of trip planning, offer support on the journey itself, and make sure you -- and your kids -- have the trip you've dreamed about but lacked the know-how to plan. Plus they do it for an upfront price, so you know exactly how much to budget for going in.
Here's a look at five tour operators specializing in family travel -- both nationally and internationally -- that we love. The companies are listed alphabetically:
Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney, part of the Disney Parks family, provides immersive, hassle-free vacation experiences in more than 30 destinations on six continents. These vacations are founded on Disney’s signature world-class service, storytelling and attention to detail and range from a long weekend in Boston to a 12-day tour of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They also offer Disney cruises -- both ocean voyages and river cruises. To make the experience extra-special for families, there are two "Adventure Guides" assigned to each trip whose job it is to help you and your kids -- called "Junior Adventurers" -- feel connected to the people, culture, and traditions of the location you're visiting.
The Disney name also opens doors, which means Adventures by Disney provides exclusive access to extraordinary opportunities you wouldn't get otherwise. Private tours of the Vatican museum, a dinner party at the Vienna Zoo, a VIP tour of the Jim Henson Company Studios and an exclusive dinner at Scotland's historic Edinburgh Castle are just a few of the insider options.
Discover Corps
Discover Corps was created by a former Peace Corps volunteer who wanted to show his kids how to travel in a meaningful way. The trips build in time for what Discover Corps calls "vacations with purpose," which means travelers take part in volunteer projects like building schools, medical clinics and houses out of plastic bottles in the Dominican Republic, researching tigers in India, and monitoring the habits of dolphins in Croatia.
Discover Corps also hires local residents -- experts on the area and the customs -- as tour guides on their trips, which typically include eight to ten people. That means your family will meet locals and visit places many travelers might never even know existed, offering a unique cultural immersion experience for your family.
Intrepid
Intrepid believes that travel changes the way that people see the world; that done right, everyone benefits. Each of their 50-plus family trips offers unique experiences to nurture the next generation of adventure travelers so they are passionate about giving back to local communities and the environment.
Choose the Thailand Family Holiday and take a day trip to Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, or spend the night on a felucca down the Nile as part of the Egypt Family Holiday. Intrepid's Galapagos Family Holiday is all about snorkeling in some of the world’s most magical waters, while the Italy Family Holiday includes gelato and pizza making demos!
Intrepid's family trips typically include three to five families and have minimum ages (but most include kids as young as five). Intrepid's trained "Family Adventure Leaders" set out an itinerary that includes a mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time -- all designed to keep kids entertained.
Tauck
This company offers family travel adventures under the name Tauck Bridges. The company -- started by a traveling salesman in 1925 -- specializes in European river cruises. The Tauck Bridges cruises are designed for families on Tauck's own fleet of riverboats and travel to destinations like Portugal, Italy, Budapest, and Amsterdam. This appeals to us because riverboat cruising allows families to experience multiple towns and cities -- all without the hassle of packing and unpacking. During onboard travel times, families have the chance to meet local dancers and artists, swim in the pool, or play group games -- guaranteeing you'll never hear "I'm booored!"
Tauck Bridges also includes family guided land tours in their lineup, ranging from African safaris, tours of Italy, to trips to Yellowstone. In all, the company travels to more than 70 countries and offers more than 140 itineraries.
Thomson Family Adventures
Thomson Family Adventures, which travels to more than 90 destinations, says they offer a trip for every family -- and it really does seem like they have their bases covered! They have small group tours in countries like Costa Rica, Morocco, and Antarctica geared towards toddlers, teens, multi-generations, and even solo parents. Have a family that loves sports and hardcore adventures? Check out their multi-sport itineraries in Iceland and Thailand. Want more cultural experiences? Check out trips to Italy and Egypt that include important historical sites that are on everybody's bucket lists!
If your group includes eight travelers or more, they'll provide a "rafiki" along with your tour guide. Rafiki is the Swahili word for ‘friend' and their main focus is getting the kids on the trip to socialize together by playing games, learning the local language, and learning about the local plants and wildlife.
In addition, each of Thomson's family travel trips -- which typically stay at under 15 people -- has a unique cultural exchange called "Friends Across Borders." Each trip includes a unique experience like playing soccer with local school kids, enjoying a meal with a local family, or participating in a community service project. Your kids might even end up with a pen pal from across the world!
Family tour operators can open the world to your family. Now, instead of trip logistics, your family's biggest challenge will be deciding which trip to choose!
