ABD: are these trips appropriate for 5,6 year olds?

[TomorrowlandFamily]

Hi, my children will be 5 and 6 this year and I'm looking into ABD. My dream is for us to see Machu Pichu , but would it be too much for children that age? If so, are there any trips suited for their ages? I'd like to do a trip in winter, maybe even over Christmas if I can get the rest of the family to join us (they will ). Please help me. Thank you very much.

 

[kristilew]

Hi, We did the Peru trip several summers ago. It is a very active trip! There was one six year old on the trip, and she did great. However, she was part of a family where there were several other kids in their teens. These siblings basically piggybacked her everywhere and kept her happy at all times. She had also been traveling the world since she was born, so was pretty easy going.

If your kids are used to traveling and keeping up a busy pace for many days, they may do fine. If they are more typical of their age, they might start to have trouble after the first couple of days. The guides are great, and do a lot to keep the kids from getting bored. But it is a jam-packed trip, with lots of information being shared and some long travel days.

You will want to consider how much they will get out of it, how much fun you will have if you need to be worrying about them, and how much their ability to cope might impact others on the Adventure. Only you know your kids.

The ABD website lists suggested ages for each trip - this might be a good place to start if this will be your first major travel with them.

 

[sayhello]

Hi, TomorrowlandFamily! Right now, there are several ABD's for 2012 that offer trips in the Christmas timeframe (I just checked, and there are actually way more than I thought there would be!)

Italy (Viva Italia)
South Africa
London & Paris
Egypt
Australia
Peru
Galapagos (both itineraries)
Eastern Costa Rica
Backstage Magic (Southern CA)

I know we have people on this Forum who have taken pretty much all of these trips, so feel free to ask your questions about any of them. I don't have kids, so I can't comment on that aspect, but I know lots of others here do. Be sure & check out the "suggested age" for each trip. They may *allow* younger kids on the trip, but suggest it for older children.

Sayhello

 

[kristilew]

When you check age limits for those trips, be sure to look in the FAQ section as well. I know for the Galapagos trip there is an actual, not suggested, minimum age of 7, as this is a requirement on the Islands having nothing to do with ABD's guidelines.

If you choose a trip with a lower age limit, rather than pushing it, you will also be more likely to have other children your kids' age for them to bond with. I know on the Southwest Splendors ABD we did, there were many younger children. (too many, for us! That is one reason we chose the Galapagos trip this time around)

 

[TomorrowlandFamily]

Thank you so much! I didn't realize there were posted age guidelines. Well, my kids are typical kids, not used to being run ragged, so Machu Pichu is out for the time being. Going to check out the other choices!

 

[disneyphx]

Hi

We took our daughter on the China trip when she was 5 - there was also a 7 year old. She had done a lot of international travel, so we knew how she coped with jet lag etc. I also talked with ABD about it was min age 4, suggested age 8 - and decided she would be OK. The trip was amazing, but exhausting for all - adults included! Our guides were nervous to have a 5 year old, but none of their fears came true!

We went to South Africa when she was 6. That one, only when we got to the game lodge did we realize that 6 is the minimum for game drives, and the driver can ask you not to return....our driver was great, and helped her realize she needed to be quiet and patient.

We are waiting a year or two to do Costa Rica and Galapagos though as they are more physically tiring from what I have heard. And Peru too (but for that one I prefer the itinerary offered by other companies.....)

So yes, little kids can do it. There is another thread that talks about the tradeoffs, and others describe those much more eloquently than I can.

Have fun!