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Who doesn’t love enjoying a serene sight of sunset sitting on the beach, or indulging in some amazing water sports, or wandering in the vibrant flea markets? Well, then you need to be in Goa! This is the place that will help you bond with your family and friends. This small city has a variety of amusement activities in store for kids as well.  The city always acts as refreshment when one spends time with their children away from home. If you want to go on a trip with your kids for relaxation and excitement, then Goa is an ideal place where you need to rush.

Best time to visit Goa with kids

The best time to visit Goa is during the onset of autumn or during the spring season, that is, in the month of October and November till February. This is the most pleasant time to visit beaches and monuments of the city. Seaside always has a calm and serene climate during later half of the year, and it is too difficult to stay under the scorching sun between the months of March and June.

The monsoon season is not really safe to visit a seaside because of the heavy downpour and thunderstorm hitting the seashore. However, you can still enjoy your rainy season in Goa with your kids and let them experience the beauty of nature. So, it is preferable to visit Goa during autumn or spring or during the winter season.

Tips for visiting Goa with kids

Most of them believe that Goa is a romantic destination. But you must be clear about the fact that this place has something special to offer for each and every individual.

• It is not just a place with great beaches but there are many museums, monuments, and forts where you can take your kids and let them gain knowledge about history and architecture.
• Here your little ones can also enjoy water sports such as scuba-diving, para-sailing, boat ride, and much more.
• Do not forget to taste the yummy fresh seafood of Goa.

What to pack for kids traveling in Goa?

Most of the things you need are available in the local markets of Goa. However, travelling should always be done in a prepared way. Some important things you must remember to take when you are in Goa with your children are: –

•    A few essential things that you must carry are a hat, a good mosquito repellent and sun-screen. These are must when you are going for trekking or such adventurous activities.
•    Next comes the first-aid kit that include Paracetamol, cream that prevents rash caused by the heat, band aids, cotton, and Dettol. 
•    If you have a really small kid, then you must keep a baby carrier that makes you roam around conveniently.
•    It is very important to carry all your documents with you when you are going on a trip. Identity proofs, photo ids, and emergency contact numbers are a must. Also, see that your kids carry a notepad or a paper with all phone numbers and hotel address on it.
•    Do carry cash as well as plastic money with you when you are travelling. That is because some vendors will want you to pay cash while others would be okay with plastic money which are debit and credit cards.

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Mai is truly an exciting destination with kids. The region is filled with amazing landscapes and picturesque surrounding sights. This is a great spot to be at for all the adventurous families who love being outdoors and with nature.  Thailand’s northern capital makes for a great family travel destination. Moreover, if you want to make the most of your trip, look for Chiang Mai tours to explore the city and its attractions. With a local expert guide, you can be sure that you are heading for the best tourism offerings and are enjoying the best things to do in Chia.

Here is a brief but comprehensive guide on Chiang Mai with kids.

When to go to Chiang Mai

The right time to visit the city with kids is between October and April as the weather is just perfect. However, it is also the peak tourist season, so if you are looking for a peaceful holiday away from the crowds, you can plan accordingly and visit the city when it is at its vibrant best. As the airport is small and not far from the city, it is very easy convenient.

Accommodations and getting around
Although one can find several options for, when traveling with children, look for safer areas. There are plenty of Chiang Mai hotels that are both safe and comfortable for the kids and are located close to the major attractions. Although Chiang Mai is stroller friendly, there are some uneven areas and paths, so you should be careful when moving around with children or toddlers.

What to do and see
There is plenty to do and see in the Chiang Mai that is well known for its friendly people and remarkable scenery. The whole family can enjoy a relaxed cultural experience as they explore the city.  Here are some of the best activities to enjoy in Chiang Mai with your kids.

• Keep Chiang Mai Zoo at the top of the list as there is loads of interactive fun for the kids here. Enjoy looking at different animals at those exhibits. Your children will love feeding the giraffe and watch the snorting hippos.
  

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• Kids love ziplining and when in Chiang Mai, it is highly recommended as you get to see the natural beauty and scenic waterfalls from above the treetops.
• As all children love elephants, you must take them to Elephant Nature Park that is a safe home to the gentle giants as well as dogs, cats, buffaloes and other animals.
• Sign up for a Thai cooking class and spend quality time together. Enjoy the whole experience as the whole family bods together.
• The whole family will simply love the Night Safari that comprises of night safari trips, nature walks, and a mini zoo. Do not miss the chance to see those nocturnal predators!
• Catmosphere cat café in Chiang Mai is another fun place for the whole family. You will love this unusual coffee shop that is filled with cats of all colors and sizes. You can even play with them.
• Where else will you find the chance to chat with a monk?  Encourage the children to ask questions, and it sure is a great family activity.
• Visit the Sand Handicraft Village that abounds with silk, silverware and gem showrooms. You can join the papermaking class or see how the Saa Paper Umbrellas are made.
• Combine fun with exercise and go for a bike tour with your children and you can take them to the candy factory for more fun and excitement.
• Huay Kaew Waterfall is another spot you must add to your list as it takes a short scenic walk to reach those beautiful shallow waterfalls. It is a great place to cool down and enjoy a picnic.

Where to shop and eat

Shopping and eating are an essential part of any holiday, and when it comes to kids, you need to be a bit careful. Thankfully, Chiang Mai boasts of many excellent restaurants that serve kid-friendly menus such as Lemon Tree, Burmese Food and Library, Free Bird Café and more. The attentive staff is warm and welcoming towards children and serves fantastic food with an extensive range of choices. Some of the most popular spots for shopping in Chiang Mai with kids include Warorot Market, Saturday Night Market, Kham Tiang Flower Market, and Chiang Mai Malls & Shopping Centers.

For more on Thailand see our Bangkok trip here

With the rising costs of airfares and package holidays, and the increasing time it takes to get through security at the airports, more and more families are deciding to travel by car for their holidays.  Families are electing to take more road trips, both within the UK and Ireland, and wider afield in Europe. To make your journey easier here are some top tips to remember while travelling by car with children.

Most of us with young children are returning to the days we grew up in, where our holidays consisted of our parents packing up the car with us, bags and other essentials, and setting off to travel within our home country. My parents couldn’t afford holidays abroad, so we often travelled to other counties of Ireland for our summer holiday. I fondly remember a hot week in June spent in Salthill in Galway when I was 15. I also remember the windy beaches of Tralee in County Kerry when I was around 12. There were also regular camping trips to Brittas Bay or Courtown, two seaside towns on the east coast of Ireland. And getting there was a road trip.

As a family we’ve been travelling by car with our son since he was four months old. The first long trip was to Ireland via the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare. And since our epic two-week USA road trip in 2017, we’ve become huge fans of travelling by car with our son. You can move from place to place and see much more of a country than just holidaying in one spot for a week or two. This is a huge advantage to road trips that we’ve come to love.

But, how can you beat the age-old question “Are we there yet?”, uttered by little people in the back. Well, here are some top tips to help your car holiday go a lot easier with the kids in tow.

Top tips when travelling by car with children  

1 Decide what time of the day suits your kids for travelling.

You need to decide if your kids do better in the early morning or evening hours for travelling? You know your kids better than anyone, so this is really your choice. Some people elect to travel at night when the kids are bound to be asleep. However, you need to ensure who ever is driving isn’t too tired behind the wheel. Others, like us, prefer to travel during the day, taking in the scenery and sharing the driving between the two of us. Whichever is best for your kids, plan your travel to match. For us, leaving early in the morning is best and our son will nap in the car is he gets tired. I’d also prefer us to sleep in a bed and get a proper night’s sleep than try and catch the zzz’s in the car.

2 Don’t leave home without the snacks and drinks.

Make sure to pack some snacks and drinks for everyone in the car. Yes, you might be able to stop along the way, but snacks can calm hangry children and they can also fill a gap if there is a way to go before your next stopping opportunity. Drinks are also essentials, particularly if you are driving during the summer on a hot day.

Stock the car with water or juices and bring snacks consisting of fruit, cereal bars, biscuits, crackers, crisps, and even some homemade sandwiches. Keep them within easy reach so you can hand them over without stopping the car or searching through the boot. Families planning frequent road trips often appreciate reliable vehicles, and exploring used cars in chandler can be a smart way to find practical, travel-ready options.

3 Bring some entertainment.

Bring some colouring books and crayons or pencils, sticker books, travels games and even electronic devices like Gameboys and tablets. And let the kids use them if necessary. You could even bring personal DVD players and use a mounting brace to mount them to the back of the front seat headrests. Just remember individual headphones if you’ve got more than one child so that you don’t end up with a volume war.

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 I’d also recommend ensuring you have some music that the kids like in the car. We’ve created a playlist on our Spotify account for our son with his favourite songs and we add to it from time to time. This can be a sure-fire way of keeping him entertained for a while in the car.  And you don’t have to limit yourself to this type of entertainment. Playing I-Spy or other games can be fun. We even created a game in America called “Spot the Mack truck” shouting out “Mack” every time we saw a truck that looked like Mack from Disney’s Cars. And a pair of toy binoculars provided hours of entertainment for our son in Yellowstone National Park.

4 Pack an overnight bag and keep it handy.

If you have an overnight stop somewhere, or are only staying a few nights in one location, why not pack a 3-day bag with 3 days’ worth of clothes for everyone in it, rather than packing one individual suitcase for each person. Use colour coordinated packing cubes for each member of the family so every knows where their clothes are.

This is much easier than hauling 3 or more suitcases into a hotel or AirBnB every night or two. You can do this for a road trip that consists of several short stops along the way. It will mean you take one suitcase of clothes in every three days. Keep your family toiletries in one large clear bag so it can be brought in with your one bag.

We did this during our road trip in Central Portugal at the end of the summer. We were stopping at three different locations for either two or three nights each and I packed one 3-day bag for our first stop, rotated clothes for the second stop and then we brought everything into our last location’s accommodation as the car was parked in a shared carpark and away from our accommodation. It made it much easier when it came to empty the car with a boisterous four-year-old in tow.

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Are you thinking of holidaying in Penang with family? Well, you are indeed just on the right track! After all, this Malaysian island is just perfect for families, and one can indeed look forward to a memorable holiday with their children. Start planning the trip and take advantage of Hard Rock Hotel Penang online booking for the most comfortable and affordable accommodations.

Penang boasts of several family-friendly tourist attractions, and there is something for everyone here. You can spend precious moments with your family as you enjoy exploring those museums, swimming pools, parks, and temples. The tropical state of Malaysia has loads of beach-side resort towns. You can book the best hotels in Penang for your family for a memorable stay and experience. Enjoy world-class facilities in the leading accommodation in Penang. You can always look here to check out Adam’s life in Malaysia.

Here are some of the most popular sites and locations for families holidaying in Penang.

• This indoor playground of Adventure Zone– The fabulous Adventure Zone at the Golden Sands Resort is a big hit among families with children.  Enjoy those fabulous and fast drop slides with your kids. There is even a specialized play area for the toddlers. Just explore the attractions, and you can even play hide and seek here. 
• Train to Penang Hill– If you are looking for a cool and calm escape from the hot city and its crowds, just make your way to the 18th-century style station. Hop on the train to Penang Hill that will take you the hill, and you can already feel the fresher breeze. Enjoy those fantastic views of Penang Bridge and Georgetown. 
• Penang Butterfly Farm in Entopia- You must visit this lovely spot near Batu Ferringhi where the butterfly farm displays hundreds and thousands of butterflies. There are other animals such as lizards, fish, and turtles.  Part form those, the informative displays will keep the whole family busy. 
• Canopy Walkway in National Park. You children are sure going to love this place. Explore the lush scenery of this vast rainforest. The highlight is the 150-meter-long Canopy Walkway that will take about half an hour to complete. You can climb different exotic trees to get a birds-eye-view.  
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

   

   

• A cyclo-rickshaw ride for short trips- It is indeed an enjoyable experience to rise on those bicycle powered cabs which are also known as “beca” locally. Those rickshaws remind one of the Chinese influence on the island and are purely meant for the tourists. You can take short trips to local attractions. 
• The interesting Snake Temple– Built in 1850 by a Buddhist priest, the temple gets its name because it is a safe haven for poisonous snakes. You will come across green tree snakes and Wagler’s pit vipers. However, these snakes are harmless and are a friendly breed. Still, be wary and keep an eye on the children while exploring the area. Other highlights of the temple include the Buddhist sculptures and carvings
• The Penang Eco Park– If you want to admire Penang’s natural beauty, then you are sure to find it here at Penang Eco Park. It is indeed a tremendous outdoor attraction for the whole family who can come here and spend quality time. They can go for long hikes through Forest Park or simply let the kids play in the playground. 
• Fun at Penang Interactive Museum – Another spot which the whole family will like is the Penang Interactive Museum that displays three-dimensional artworks. You not only feel a part of the history and culture of Penang, but it is great fun to click photos of those trick arts and murals. Learn about the island’s traditional way of life through the section of miniature figures.

Note: This is a collaborative post