Travel

I won’t lie. Every time I used to visit Mexico, I would dream of living there. But let’s also be honest, there are a lot of safety concerns about Mexico. So what are the safest places to live in Mexico?

1. San Miguel de Allende
2. Puerto Vallarta
3. Playa del Carmen (and the whole Riviera Maya)
4. Tulum
5. Ensenada (Baja California)
6. Mérida
7. Mexico City

But those are just a few of the top picks.

So in this article, we’ll explore all of those and more in great detail. After all, with how easy it is to qualify for residency in Mexico, more and more digital nomads, moving to other countries is becoming more and more common, whether that’s from the United States, Latin America, or elsewhere.

We’ll also take a look at the places where most Ex-pats live and what cities in Mexico have the lowest crime rate and cartel issues. And does Mexico City make the cut?

Let’s dive in and explore all 23 of my picks for the safest places in Mexico:

1. San Miguel de Allende

My mom used to basically live here in the summers when she was a tad younger.

That tells me this is a safe place as she and her late husband Frank didn’t know a lick of Spanish, were fairly well off, and couldn’t have defended themselves against anything.

But you’ve likely heard of San Miguel already. It’s one of the best-known Mexican cities for North Americans.

Great for wine, artists, fantastic restaurants, museums, open-air markets, food carts, and a big dose of not only Mexican and Spanish culture but a melting pot for a lot of cultures.

2. Puerto Vallarta

I love Puerto Vallarta!

There’s so much to do, and it’s easy to get everywhere on foot. And a visit to El Reppollo Rojo (the Red Cabbage Cafe) is a must if you go. For now, I’ll just have to settle for the cookbook I bought there years ago.

It’s a tourist town, of course, but as long as you live somewhere down the road from the hotel zone, you’ll still get plenty of authentic Mexican culture, food, and entertainment.

I’ve walked the streets at night there many times and never felt unsafe. Don’t forget to grab a mojito from La Bodeguita del Medio, the place that invented it.

3. Tulum

Part of the Riviera Maya that also includes Playa Del Carmen and Cancún, Tulum is known for both beautiful beaches and Mayan ruins. And the pyramid at Chichen Itzá isn’t too far away either.

While overall very safe, it has seen an uptick in crime in recent years, much of which is tied to the drug cartels.

But most residents don’t find themselves crime victims. Petty crime is probably the most common issue. But if you’re living there, you’ll quickly learn what areas to avoid.

4. Sayulita

About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta lies this small town. It’s a beach town but it’s one of the best places and safest places in the area. It’s been a long time since I was there, but I loved every minute of my time there.

This is one of the very best places in Mexico to move to or retire in.

But it’s not just for older folks. It’s very family-friendly too with well-lit streets and a police force committed to keeping the town safe.

5. Playa Del Carmen

Generally speaking, the state of Quintana Roo (where Playa Del Carmen is) is the safest of the Mexican states.

Now Playa Del Carmen is a big tourist area and resort town, and sometimes that does attract petty theft like pickpocketing. There is probably some cartel activity here, but it’s not typically directed at tourists, and even if you’re now living there, many will still see you as a tourist.

Very little violent crime, and a beautiful Caribbean shoreline to top it off.

6. Ensenada

Ensenada is part of the Baja California Peninsula.

Of all the types of crime that could happen, the biggest risk here is auto theft. So if you’re moving here, make sure and have a garage or automatic gate to your home. And get full coverage on your auto insurance.

But all other types of crime are quite low here.

The plusses of living in Baja California Sur include being a port city but also surrounded by mountains. And there’s also nearby Guadalupe Island. It’s also a UNESCO world heritage site as well.

7. Mérida

Mérida is the capital and largest city in the state of Yucatán. It gets hot here too, with an average high of between 90-100° F all year.

In terms of safety, Mérida actually has the honor of being considered the safest city in Mexico.

And even still, the safest area in Mérida is Paseo de Montejo. Mérida is flat topographically speaking as it’s not on the coast or in the mountains. But the good news is the nearest beach is only about 40 minutes away.

8. Huatulco

Piggybacking on my previous listing, Huatulco just might be the 2nd safest city in Mexico.

Pickpocketing tourists is probably the biggest safety concern here. Violent crime is incredibly rare here. Take a look at this chart showing the relative safety index for Huatulco and some other well-known cities in Mexico.

The higher the number, the safer the city!

Beyond safety, you’ll enjoy hidden beaches, coffee plantations, and tons of waterfalls.

9. Cancún

Truth be told, I’ve only been to Cancún once and didn’t care for it. Kind of Vegas on the sea.

But I was also mostly in the hotel zone. I did set off on foot one day to explore the non-tourist part of town, but given Cancún is kind of shaped like the number 7, it takes a while to walk around. It’s one of a few resort towns in the area.

One of the best things on my trip was renting a car and driving to Chichén Itzá and climbing the giant pyramid (which I don’t think they let you do anymore.

In terms of safety, it is relatively safe here as like with other tourist areas, the government goes to great lengths to crack down on crime.

Pickpocketing is probably the most common type of crime.

10. San Cristóbal de las Casas

San Cristobal de las Casas is one of the most landlocked cities on our list as many are beach towns.

San Cristobal, by comparison, is largely in the mountains in Chiapas. Baroque and colonial architecture abound, and the Cathedral of San Cristóbal Mártir was built over 400 years ago!

Also a very safe city, and drug violence virtually never happens here.

11. Valladolid

Another city in the state of Yucatán.

My favorite Mexican dish, cochinita pibil, comes from this area. It’s relatively hot, with an average high of about 90° F all year.

In terms of safety, most forms of crime rarely happen here and the most common issue is pickpocketing. But it’s still safe not only for tourists and residents but for families or solo females too.

Chichén Itzá is only 45 minutes away!

12. Puerto Escondido

A nice little small town in Oaxaca that is known for surfing.

As with Huatulco and Mérida I mentioned above, Puerto Escondido is also one of the safest cities in all of Mexico. And then the safest areas are:

• Zicatela
• La Punta de Zicatela
• Rinconada
• Bacocho

But safety aside, you’ll enjoy the beaches, sunsets, and active nightlife here. But there’s also plenty of yoga, surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

13. Guanajuato

Another town that is nowhere near the beach.

Guanajuato is mountainous with a lot of narrow winding streets (many that cars can’t fit down). This is not the place to move to with an SUV!

More temperate than coastal areas, Guanajuato has highs that range between 70° – 90° F throughout the year.

In terms of safety, it’s difficult to get statistics as Guanajuato is both a city, but also the state that city is in. Guanajuato state does have some very dangerous parts with a lot of drug cartel action and gang violence.

Unlike most other cities on my list, I would not recommend Guanajuato for families or solo females. But for the savvy retiree, it can be a beautiful spot to move to.

14. Campeche

Close to Mérida and basically due south of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico lies this little coastal town.

Lots of baroque colonial architecture but lots of Mayan structures too. Brick-lined streets and ornate trolly cars just add to the old-world charm.

Another UNESCO World Heritage site and like a few other cities I’ve mentioned is literally one of the safest cities in Mexico. Pickpocketing in tourist areas is not uncommon, and there are also occasional reports of carjackings late at night in the outer parts of the city.

15. Oaxaca City

Oaxaca is the capital city in the state of Oaxaca.

Don’t expect frequent visits to the beach here; it’s over 6 hours away. What you will find, however, are historic ruins that date to 300 BC, beautiful and colorful Baroque architecture, and you’ll be surrounded by mountains. The nearby Hierve el Agua hot springs are breathtaking too.

In terms of safety, while the state of Oaxaca is one of the poorest in Mexico, there is less disparity in Oaxaca City itself. And when there is less disparity of income, that typically means less crime.

Overall the crime rate here is very low and the low cost of living (the best in much of Mexico) helps keep it that way.

16. La Paz

La Paz is the capital of the state of Baja California Sur. As the name implies, it is located on the Baja California Peninsula. But don’t think about day trips to San Diego from here.

La Paz is WAY down the peninsula.

In fact, just to drive to Ensenada (on the list above), would take you 19 hours, and then it’s still a short drive to the border crossing from there.

Here you’ve got beaches, nightlife, seafood, coffee shops, amazing sunsets, a huge artist community, and the amazing 19th-century Nuestra Señora de La Paz Cathedral.

La Paz also has a large community of digital nomads.

Overall, La Paz, like much of the Baja Peninsula, is very safe, and petty theft and pickpocketing in the touristy spots are about the only real concern for most who live here.

17. Todos Santos

Even further down the Baja Peninsula from La Paz lies Todos Santos.

But unlike La Paz, which lies on the interior on the Gulf of California, Todos Santos faces the Pacific ocean.  Art galleries, tons of street vendors, and museums abound here as do beautiful beaches that are great for surfing.

More a village than a bustling city, lots of ex-pats live here with a big emphasis on being environmentally conscious.

For safety, being close to the big tourist destinations of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, you don’t see much crime here. And in general, Tijuana excepted, the Baja Peninsula is generally one of the safer places in all of Mexico.

But the other unique thing about this part of Baja is just that it’s so isolated with the ocean on either side.

It takes a while to get to and there’s not an easy way to get back, so gang and cartel activity are pretty minimal if it even exists here at all.

18. Cabo San Lucas

The furthest point of the Baja Peninsula just a bit further from Todos Santos lies Cabo San Lucas.

Everyone has heard of Cabo San Lucas (sometimes just called Cabo) and its nearby sister city San José del Cabo.  They are likely the best-known tourist towns in the state of Baja California Sur. Collectively, they get called Los Cabos.

But Cabo is really unlike the rest of the Baja Peninsula.

Yes, like other places on the list it has great beaches like Playa El Médano. But it’s also a bustling resort town with tons of restaurants and a place where a number of celebrities have 2nd homes here or come here with great regularity.

Those celebs include:

• Drew Barrymore
• Cameron Diaz
• Justin Timberlake
• George Clooney
• Jessica Alba
• Oprah Winfrey

Compared to the other cities I’ve listed along the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas has slightly more crime. But it’s still very safe overall for a city in Mexico.

Pickpocketing happens a lot here and the other crime that is common is where someone calls you pretending to be a relative in trouble who needs money.

Take a look at this chart showing the relative safety index for Cabo and some other well-known cities in Mexico.

The higher the number, the safer the city!

19. Lake Chapala

Now this town is safe, but it’s worth pointing out that Guadalajara is only 45 minutes away. And while Guadalajara is definitely changing and becoming more of a tech town (think Silicone Valley of the south), it’s still not terribly safe.

I had a 9 millimeter pulled on me once just for trying to change lanes while driving. But that was also several years ago.

But Lake Chapala is very safe in and unto itself and has a large ex-pat community.

20. Querétaro City

Everyone in the United States has heard of San Miguel de Allende. But you may not have heard of this gem located just 40 miles away.

One of the strongest economies in Mexico for the past few decades has led to many moving here from all over. But there are also a lot of international employers here in the tech, financial, and aerospace industries.

Like a few other places I’ve mentioned, Querétaro City is extremely safe for both locals and tourists. And Querétaro City has the lowest rate of drug cartel-related deaths in all of Mexico.

Vandalism is one of the top crimes here.

21. Bacalar

4 hours south of Cancún lies this gem, also in Quintana Roo.

Right near the border of Belize, this is a tropical paradise. The town basically sits on the Lagoon of Seven Colors which features stunning turquoise waters.

Bacalar is very safe, and far enough away from Cancun and Playa Del Carmen to avoid some of the touristy petty theft that can happen in big tourist towns.

Ironically the biggest threat to Bacalar comes from the rapid growth due to its inherent beauty.

Much of the area is somewhat fragile ecologically speaking. And the large influx of both tourists and ex-pats has created some challenges in keeping trash out of the lagoon.

22. Mazatlán

About 6 hours north of Puerto Vallarta lies Mazatlán.

Like its sister city to the south, it is a beach resort town with a bustling malecón (boardwalk). You’ll find an active life living here with tons of nightlife and restaurants.

Now technically, the US does currently have a “do not travel” travel advisory for Mazatlán.

But that’s largely due to issues outside the city. Do exercise caution if moving to the city just as you would if moving to a big city in the US like New York.

The Golden zone, Old Town, and the Malecon are considered the safest areas. Lots of ex-pats and families live here, and most love their life here and never have an incident.

23. Mexico City

The surprising truth is that Mexico City is relatively safe.

Sure it’s a BIG city and tourist destination, and there are some dangerous places in Mexico City. But really, it’s not going to be any more dangerous than any large city in the US.

And again, drug cartels, which are responsible for a fair amount of violence, don’t want to kill the tourism industry. So they tend to commit fewer crimes in cities like Mexico City that are big tourist destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you’ve seen the list of safest places in Mexico, popular tourist destinations, and beautiful beaches, it’s time to answer some additional questions you’re likely asking yourself (or should be).

Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in Mexico?

Mazatlán has a lower cost of living compared to many cities in Mexico, and yet remains one of the safest cities in Mexico to live in. But Bacalar is also very inexpensive and safer.

Mazatlán is a resort town along the Pacific coast in the state of Sinaloa.

By comparison, Bacalar is in Quintana Roo, and, in fact, is the largest city in Quintana Roo. In many cases, tourist towns tend to be safe since the cartels and other criminal organizations don’t want to mess with the tourism dollars that flood their country.

But sometimes the opposite is true.

With Bacalar, because it’s NOT a tourist destination, it also tends to be extremely safe. It also features the Lake of Seven Colors which is a giant lagoon that goes on for over 25 miles.

What is the safest expat community in Mexico?

The safest ex-pat community in Mexico is San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato. But Lake Chapala near Guadalajara is also very safe with a large ex-pat community.

Beyond those 2 cities, Todos Santos down the Baja Peninsula near La Paz is also a great choice for ex-pats looking for a great and safe place to live.

What city in Mexico has the lowest crime rates?

Some of the larger cities in Mexico with unusually low crime rates are Mérida, Campeche, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco.

But in truth, it’s a lot harder to find data on safe cities in Mexico compared to unsafe ones with high crime rates.

Tijuana, not surprisingly, is the least safe city in all of Mexico, with a high murder rate. But here’s a handy list of several well-known Mexican cities and parts of Mexico you may want to avoid, and the homicide rate.

Where do most foreigners live in Mexico?

Most foreigners who move to Mexico live in Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Ensenada in Baja California, Mérida in the Yucatan peninsula, and the Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo.

Baja, of course, provides the easiest access to the US as it’s fairly close to San Diego.

But it’s got beautiful beaches and is a popular tourist destination too. The low crime rate makes it a great place to live or visit.

What part of Mexico is safe from cartels?

Typically the safest areas in Mexico in terms of cartel violence are the most touristy areas such as Cancún, Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and San Miguel de Allende. This is because Mexico relies heavily on tourism dollars and the cartel doesn’t want to lose that.

In general, some of the worst areas in Mexico in terms of cartel violence include pretty much the whole state of Sinaloa, but also Uruapan, the second-largest city in the state of Michoacan.

Can an American move to Mexico?

Americans can move to Mexico easily. With a visitor’s visa, Americans can stay in Mexico for up to 6 months. However, that is the maximum time, and the officer in charge could mandate less time. They then leave the country and re-enter. Long-term options include temporary and permanent residency.

It used to be that visitors automatically got 6 months and then could just hop across the border for a couple of days and then get another 6 months.

But the events of 2020 tightened those limitations.

Now, there’s no guarantee they will grant you 6 months, and many find they only get 40 days. The options for temporary or permanent residency also can allow for work permits.

That, of course, isn’t really needed for retirees or digital nomads.

Check out this page (not affiliated with me) for more info on temporary and permanent residency in Mexico – https://immigrationtomexico.mx/pros-cons-temporary-or-permanent-residency-in-mexico/

What are the problems of living in Mexico?

The biggest issues facing those who move to Mexico include:

1. Crime
2. Government corruption (sometimes having to bribe police officers)
3. Time-consuming government red tape (permits, visas, opening bank accounts)
4. Pollution in big cities
5. Bad traffic in big cities
6. Not being able to drink the tap water
7. Internet can be expensive (despite the overall low cost of living)
8. A big disparity in income of the natives (and a very classist system)
9. A complicated system for foreigners to buy land located near the beach or national parks (a bank trust is needed). But the old rules about foreigners not being able to buy property directly largely went away in 1993.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Mexico?

On average a couple moving to Mexico can live comfortably on $2,000 per month due to the low cost of living in Mexico. Expect expenses in Mexico to be roughly 50% lower than the average in the United States.

Mexico Taxes

Living in Mexico does mean paying income tax. If you buy a home you’ll also pay property tax (thankfully quite low). Then there is the V.A.T. sales tax which is 16% in most of the country on most purchases.

Bear in mind that unless you actually become a Mexican citizen, you’ll also likely still be required to pay income tax in your home country too.

Is Mexico City safe to live in?

Mexico City is a large and vibrant city, and like any large city, it has its own unique set of safety concerns. However, with the right precautions, Mexico City can be a safe place to live.

The first step to staying safe in Mexico City is to be aware of your surroundings. It’s important to know which areas are safe and which ones are not. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas, and if you do find yourself in an unfamiliar area, stay alert and trust your instincts.

It’s also important to be aware of the local laws and customs. Mexico City has a reputation for being a bit more relaxed than other cities when it comes to laws and customs, but it’s still important to follow the rules. Be sure to research the local laws before you travel so that you don’t get into any trouble while you’re there.

In terms of crime, Mexico City is generally considered safe compared to other cities in Latin America. The city has taken steps to reduce crime by increasing police presence in certain areas and implementing programs such as “Ciudad Segura” (Safe City). This program focuses on reducing crime through increased surveillance and community involvement.

Overall, Mexico City can be a safe place to live if you take the necessary precautions.

Be aware of your surroundings, follow local laws and customs, and take advantage of programs such as “Ciudad Segura” for added security. With these measures in place, you can enjoy all that Mexico City has to offer without worrying about your safety.

What are the most popular areas in Mexico for expats?

Mexico is a popular destination for expats, with many choosing to move there for its vibrant culture, beautiful scenery, and friendly people. There are a variety of areas in Mexico that are popular among expats, each offering something unique.

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most popular areas for expats in Mexico.

It is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and ancient Mayan ruins. The area also offers a variety of activities such as snorkeling, diving, and fishing. The cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen are particularly popular among expats due to their vibrant nightlife and numerous restaurants and bars.

The Baja California peninsula is another popular area for expats in Mexico.

It is known for its stunning desert landscapes, world-class surfing spots, and whale watching opportunities. The cities of Tijuana and Ensenada are particularly attractive to expats due to their proximity to the US border and their lively nightlife scenes.

The colonial city of San Miguel de Allende is also a popular destination for expats in Mexico. This city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved colonial architecture and vibrant cultural scene.

Expats can enjoy exploring the city’s cobblestone streets, visiting its many art galleries, or taking part in one of the many festivals held throughout the year.

Finally, Mexico City is one of the most popular areas for expats in Mexico due to its large population and diverse culture. Expats can explore the city’s many museums, take part in its vibrant nightlife scene, or visit one of its numerous parks or plazas.

The city also offers a variety of international cuisines as well as excellent shopping opportunities.

Is Mexico safe for expats?

Mexico is a popular destination for expats, and it is generally considered safe. However, there are some areas that should be avoided.

The most important thing to remember when considering safety in Mexico is to research the area you plan to visit or live in. Some areas are safer than others, and it’s important to know which ones those are. For example, the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun and Playa del Carmen, is generally considered safe for expats.

However, other parts of Mexico may not be as secure.

It’s also important to take precautions when traveling in Mexico. Avoid walking alone at night and keep your valuables out of sight. Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right. It’s also a good idea to register with your embassy or consulate so they can contact you in case of an emergency.

In addition to taking safety precautions while traveling in Mexico, it’s also important to be aware of the local laws and customs. Make sure you understand the laws regarding drugs and alcohol before engaging in any activities that could put you at risk of breaking them.

It’s also important to respect local customs and traditions while living in Mexico as a foreigner.

Overall, Mexico is generally considered safe for expats if they take the necessary precautions and research their destination before traveling there. By following these tips, expats can enjoy their time living in Mexico without worrying about their safety or breaking any laws or customs.

Final thoughts

So you want to move to Mexico?

I can’t blame you although Costa Rica also tops my list of places I would love to move to. But unlike CR, Mexico is a lot more varied; both good and bad.

So in this article, we explored the best (and some of the worst) places in Mexico to move to.

And we explored crime rates, common problems for US citizens living there (and European citizens too), as well as cartel issues, and how much money you need to live comfortably.

That way you can make an informed, and hopefully safe, choice!

Photos used

Photo by Hugo Derramadero from Pexels, Image by StevenReid from Pixabay Image by jcesardelapaz from Pixabay Image by pennakyp from Pixabay Image by Joaquín Enríquez from Pixabay Image by Kevin Alexandro Reyes Casillas from Pixabay Image by Alvaro Bejarano from Pixabay Image by studiokca0 from Pixabay

My family and I just returned from London; our first visit there with kids. Before we went, we wondered how can I travel with kids in London and what is there to do in London with kids?

Here’s what we discovered:

Traveling in London with kids is best using the London underground subway (the tube). But use the Heathrow Express train to get to & from the airport. Once in London, visit a mix of well-known landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben/Westminster Abbey, but also check out the museums (most of which are totally free).

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

My wife and I already knew London was a great city to visit from our honeymoon. But we’d never been there with our 3 daughters before. So this was a totally new experience, and SO worth it!

So in this article, we’re diving deep into London and all there is to do that’s family-friendly!

I’ll answer all the top questions, from whether pubs are kid-friendly, if the hop-on/off bus tours are worth it, safety, smoking, and even the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Hang on and let’s jump in!

Check out all my best travel resources and recommendations which can save you time and money on your next vacation!

Is London family-friendly?

Yes is the short answer!

Like any big city, you want to be a little cautious and take normal precautions. And like any big city, some areas are a little less safe or a little less family-friendly.

In many ways, it’s like New York City, but perhaps a little cleaner and friendlier. And I say that as someone who loves NYC and has taken his family there too; so no disrespect intended.

But London has tons of stuff to hold kids’ attention.

We’ll get into a few specific things below, but here are some of the top things to see and do which kids of all ages will love:

• Tower Bridge (which is near, but not the same as London Bridge)
• The London Eye Ferris Wheel
• The Tower of London
• Big Ben/Westminster Abbey (right next to each other)
• The Natural History Museum (free)
• Legoland Windsor
• Royal Air Force Museum (free)
• The Changing of the Guard
• Buckingham Palace
• London Sea Life Aquarium
• Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground
• Hamleys Toy Store (probably the best toy store I’ve been to. Even better than the original FOA Schwartz back when it was still good)

I did not include things like Ripley’s Believe It or Not or Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum as you can find those in every major city.

Not that they aren’t fun, but the things I listed are uniquely London and an experience you can’t get elsewhere.

Tips for traveling to London with a toddler

I’ve been to London a few times.

But this past March (2020) my wife and I took all 3 of our kids. Layla, our youngest, was just 2 1/2 at the time; so fully into being a toddler.

And we had a blast!!

Toddlers love and need routine. Of course, being in another country with different customs can throw them for a loop. And that’s to say nothing of the time difference and jet lag.  Here’s what we did to combat those things and have a great trip:

• Booked a flight to London leaving early evening – We left Houston about 6 pm.  So after a couple of hours, it was natural to feel like bedtime. 10 hours later, we landed in London at 7 am.
• We kept our activities low key our first day in London – Don’t try and do too much as all of you will be adjusting to the jet lag
• Try and get out early and then hit the hotel around nap time for a break
• Don’t completely break with the familiar – While we wanted to get a real taste of London culture, we also occasionally went to chain places that were familiar to our toddler.
• Resist the urge to go all out every day – There’s so much to see and do that it’s easy to want to cram in as much as possible each day. With toddlers, that can be a recipe for disaster as they get worn out and frazzled
• Get supplies your first day – diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream (often called nappy cream there) and keep them on hand in a backpack for easy access

If you aren’t used to traveling with your kids, my wife and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Yes, it adds a layer of complexity and certain restrictions, but there are so many intangible benefits of traveling together as a family! I break down several of those benefits in a recent article.

What really surprised me in researching that was how much it advances younger kid’s developmental milestones! Just click that link to read it on my site.

What can I do with a 2-year-old in London?

Our toddler, Layla, had a great time in London!

It helped that in the 1 or 2 months leading up to the trip, my wife printed coloring pages of the biggest landmarks. She can’t really color within the lines yet (my toddler, not my wife, ?).

So by the time we got to London, Layla knew all about the most obvious stuff like:

• The London Eye
• Tower Bridge
• Big Ben/Westminster Abbey
• Beefeaters
• Buckingham Palace

I mention some great activities above for kids of all ages.

But toddlers, as you know, are a special breed. They can lose attention quickly and need a lot of stimulation. But then they can also get overstimulated easily as well.

I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, but most museums in England are free for everyone, which is awesome!

On top of the big touristy things, I also recommend the following for kids between 2-4 (and above):

• The Natural History Museum (free)
• Discover Children’s Story Centre (an interactive & immersive play space, with an outdoor story garden including a spaceship.) Free for under 2.
• The Science Museum (one of the greatest science museums in the world with lots of hands-on exhibits and 3 and 4D simulators) (free)
• Tumbling Bay Playground inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (slides, rock walls, bridges, tree houses, and more!)
• Royal Air Force Museum (free)
• Legoland Windsor

Legoland is free for kids under 90 centimeters. So for those of you not well versed in the metric system, that is about 35.5 inches. So for most kids, that means under 2 is free.

Have I mentioned London has a lot of pigeons??

What is the best way to get to and from the London airport?

This one we learned the hard way.

We used the tube (the subway, also called the Underground) to get from the airport upon arrival, to our hotel. We had to change trains a couple of times and most of the time that involved stairs.

Traveling with 3 kids with each having a suitcase and personal item, plus a toddler and a stroller is NOT stairs friendly!

Luckily, more than one friendly Londer helped us carry stuff up and down the stairs. But it was challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating. It was also fairly costly; about 10 bucks each, one way.

Somehow on our way back, we figured out there was a full-blown train (like the Eurostar) called the Heathrow Express. This was the way to travel!

The kids were all free and it was direct with no stops or stairs (from Paddington Station at least) and only took maybe 15 minutes. Since the kids were free it was about the same as we’d paid for the tube.

So no question; take the Heathrow Express to and from the airport!

Wondering how often families take a vacation each year?

In a recent article, I break down the statistics and uncovered that 40% of Americans take at least one vacation each year.

But 28% of people take 3 or more vacations each year. What really surprised me was that people living in a specific area of the US were twice as likely as the rest of the country to go on vacation! (I need to move there!)

Just click that link to see it on my site.

What’s the best way to get around London with kids?

We did a combination of the tube (the subway, also called the Underground), walking, and busses.

We used both city busses (red double-decker) as well as the hop-on/hop-off busses (also double-decker but the top deck is mostly open).

That worked really well for us and we did not use taxis or Ubers or anything else.

For the underground and city busses, you’ll want to get something called an Oyster Card.  You get Oyster Cards at most tube and train stations. They are also refillable. and are basically pay as you go. So we would periodically refill them.

The really cool thing about the Oyster cards is you can cash in whatever balance is left at machines at the airport. So no worrying about putting too much on there. Just be prepared that they pay you in coins!

You may not need it, but Oyster Cards also work for other London transportation services like the tram, DLR, London Overground, most TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, National Rail services in and around London, and Thames Clippers River Bus services.

Children under 11 travel free on the Underground, DLR, and city buses

They do also an unlimited card call the Travelcard, but we did not feel like that would have been as good a deal for us money-wise. Those can be for a minimum of 7 days. Travelcard costs vary based on how long a time period you purchase and what zones of London you travel in.

But the range is between $45-75 per person in US dollars for a 7-day Travelcard.

Is the London underground safe?

I have ridden the London Underground countless times going back to when I was 17 (a long time ago).

I’ve ridden it at all times of the day and after midnight. While you need to be aware of your surroundings like you would in any major city, I have never felt unsafe, nor seen any sign of problems.

That being said, if you look at the statistics on Statistica, you can see the type of crimes that do happen and how the trends have changed over the years.

The biggest type of crime is the theft of personal property. 

That could be pickpocketing, or people just taking things you may have laid in the seat next to you. Between 2018 and 2019, there were 6823 incidents of that on the tube. That is up from previous years, but it’s worth noting that there was a big drop in crime overall in 2016-2017 compared to the years before and after.

Of course, their data does not tell us which lines, time of day, or other information like that.

So just use good judgment, be observant (but not paranoid), and travel smart and you’ll almost assuredly be just fine.

Here is a snapshot of the stats:

Is the London underground safe at night?

I covered the overall safety statistics pretty well above.

What about riding the London tube at night?

I think the latest we rode it was probably 7 or 8 pm. Toddlers aren’t known for being their best at night, so typically we were back at our hotel or at least eating at a nearby restaurant by then.

However, on previous trips, I have ridden the London underground late at night (midnight-ish as I recall).

Most tube lines stop by midnight and don’t start up again until 5 am. So that helps keep safety in line. Central London is going to have fairly crowded train cars. Packed cars aren’t always fun, and that does lend itself more to pickpockets.

But I’d probably rather travel in a totally full train car in the evening rather than an empty one. But generally speaking, as I said above, the London underground is very safe.

I’ve ridden it many times going back to 1982, at all hours, and never felt unsafe.

What are the bad parts of London?

Speaking of safety, it’s worth a quick mention of some of London’s so-called “bad” areas.

Now traveling to London as a family, you’re likely to hit a lot of tourist spots and you’re not likely to encounter any trouble as long as you use the same level of caution and being observant as you would in any large city.

In fact, London ranks #20 on The Insider‘s list of the 30 safest cities in the world!

But some of the rougher neighborhoods you may want to steer clear of (especially at night), would include:

• Newham – Central London
• Camden – north west London
• Southwark (high levels of knife crimes)
• Tower Hamlets (high levels of knife crimes) – East London
• Brent – outer London near Wembley Stadium

The worst area for pickpockets:

Westminster (Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Oxford Street and Regent Street, etc)

It should be no surprise that pickpockets hang out where the tourists do. We have pickpockets in the US, and I’ve been pickpocketed in New York City. But the UK, and especially Europe, do seem to have more of it than we do in the US.

London is divided into boroughs, often called cities. So this is officially referred to as The City of Westminster.

It’s very centrally located and given it’s where Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye are located, you will no doubt want to go there. I’ve been in and around Westminster on every trip I’ve ever taken to London and never been pickpocketed.

Just be mindful of your surroundings. Keep wallets, room keys, Oyster cards, etc in front pockets or the much-maligned fanny pack, and you’re likely going to be just fine.

Where should I stay in London with kids?

We loved the area we stayed on this past visit.

It was in an area called Sussex Gardens, walking distance to Paddington Station. This area had lots of cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Paddington is both a train and tube station. So that made it easy to catch the Heathrow Express but also just grab the tube to explore the city.

And there’s a Starbucks inside of Paddington Station for those of you unsure about London’t local coffee shops. That’s definitely where we will stay next time.

The other consideration for hotels is space for a family.

Europe (and the UK) are known generally for much smaller hotel rooms than we are used to in the states. Bathtubs are rare, as are king-sized beds. Our hotel room was small but worked for us with bunk beds, 1 queen bed, and one twin bed.

Our hotel also offered complimentary full breakfast each morning, which helped save $$ (London isn’t known for being cheap).

Are the hop-on-hop-off busses worth it in London?

We certainly thought so!

These are private busses, not to be confused with the red, double-decker city busses that your Oyster card will work on. The hop-on/hop-off busses are also usually (but not always) red and double-decker. But a portion of the top deck is usually open air.

They travel all around London and make somewhat frequent stops. You can literally get on or off at any official stop. Then when you’re ready, grab another one and keep going. They also usually have headphone jacks for guided tours.

Do be aware several companies offer these and they almost all use the same bus stops. So make sure you get on the right one and keep your ticket as you’ll have to show it each time.

We used them as a way of getting around central London and also seeing the touristy sites. But don’t think of using it as a substitute for London busses or the underground. The hop-on-hop-off busses just hit the tourist spots and don’t run super early or late.

So get this in addition to an Oyster card.

Where can I buy hop-on-hop-off tickets in London?

You can buy them with a credit card at any bus stop.

However, if you’re doing things like the London Eye and other tourist attractions, it might make sense to get a package that includes 1 or more days of the hop-on-hop-off busses.

You probably can buy a package right at your hotel’s front desk too.

How much is the hop on hop off bus in London?

3 main bus companies run these hop-on-hop-off busses in London, The Original Tour, Big Bus Tours, and Golden Tours. Their prices vary and you can also get packages which include a river cruise (which we got but did not use).

But here is a quick snapshot of current prices (which are subject to change).

They will charge you in pounds of course (the UK currency), but since my article is largely designed for tourists from the US, I have converted the amounts into dollars using an average exchange rate of 1.3 (which is also subject to change). Using that rate, that means that generally, 1 British pound is worth USD 1.30.

So use this as a guide, not a guarantee:

It’s also worth noting that the companies also offer family pricing and discounts for 2-day passes. You can also save money by buying online ahead of time rather than at the bus stops.

But generally speaking, the Original Tour is the cheapest.

But are they the best? We’ll get into that below!

What is the best London bus tour?

As I mentioned above, 3 main bus companies run these hop-on-hop-off busses in London:

• The Original Tour
• Big Bus Tours
• Golden Tours

We used Big Bus Tours which wasn’t the cheapest at the time of this writing. But we had a good experience with them. But here’s how they stack up in reviews on Yelp:

The Original Tour

3.5 stars on Yelp with 150 reviews.

Top complaint – Waiting for a bus, often up to 1 hour. Many commented about seeing the other bus companies come by many times before seeing an Original Tour bus.

Big Bus Tours

3 stars on Yelp with 223 reviews.

Top complaint – Wait times, London traffic, and crowded busses

It’s worth noting that this is the company we used, and I do recall waiting a little long at one point, but generally, we were pretty happy with them. We also did not experience bad traffic or crowded busses.

Golden Tours

2.5 stars on Yelp with 261 reviews.

Top complaint – Not enough busses, busses never coming to designated stops, poor customer service

So all told, taking price (which I listed above) and reviews, and my own experience into account, I would say the clear winner for London’s hop-on-hop-off bus tours is . . .

Big Bus Tours

Are kids allowed in pubs in London?

No visit to London is complete without a stop or 2 at a pub for some fish n’ chips, right?

• But can you take your kids into a pub?
• Is a pub considered a bar?
• What are the rules for kids?

Unlike bars in the US, most pubs open during the day (it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?).

Most also serve food. Many have patios and gardens as well. So, compared to US bars, pubs can be very family-friendly. And they have been since a law was passed in 1994 allowing kids under age 14 into pubs.

We investigated this on our visit and are happy to report that you can indeed bring kids into a pub under a few conditions. Those include:

• Pubs that don’t serve food (rare in my experience) probably won’t allow kids at all
• Even those that serve food will have a 6 pm, 8 pm, or 9 pm cutoff for kids on-premises
• Different pub owners and landlords may have their own rules
• Pubs may have designated areas where kids are or are not allowed

I have to say, we visited 3 different pubs with our kids and had a great time in each one.

But the real gem for us was eating lunch at a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

This pub once burned down but was fully restored. Restored in 1667!  Yes, this pub was rebuilt over 350 years ago and has been operating ever since, run by the same family!

Want to sit in a booth where Mark Twain once sat? Check.

Would you like to eat in a pub that gets mentioned in Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities? Done.

And the food was phenomenal, the beer excellent and the staff was awesome.

Does London allow smoking in restaurants and pubs?

No is the short answer.

Smoking was outlawed in pubs, bars, and restaurants way back in 2008. So there are no worries going into any place of business with your kids and finding smoking going on.

There are, of course, a few exceptions, such as:

• Hotel rooms (if they advertise it that way)
• Tobacco shops

That being said, you will notice that smoking is still a lot more common in the UK than it is in the US.

We saw smokers of all ages and demographics all over the streets of London. Smoking may be banned in most indoor places, but it is still pretty prevalent outdoors. So if you’re a non-smoker, you’ll just have to get used to it.

Technically, according to the World Health Organization, the rates of smoking in the US and UK are about the same (just under 20% of the population).

But I think the difference is that the UK doesn’t stigmatize it as we tend to do here in the US, so people feel a lot more comfortable just lighting up anywhere outdoors. Plus, the UK obviously doesn’t have as many restrictions on outdoor smoking as we do in the US.

Is the Harry Potter studio tour worth it?

I certainly think so!

We spent a good 4 hours there, with a toddler (who loved it even though she doesn’t know the movies). And we still felt rushed!

That being said, it’s not exactly cheap. But, kids under 4 are free.

We spent about $400 on tickets and transportation. The studio itself is about an hour outside of London and not easy to get to by train or tube. So unless you plan to rent a car and are comfortable driving in the UK on the other side of the road from what you’re likely used to, transportation is essential. If you do rent a car, Rentagile is one of the best place to get cheap, sanitized car rentals in London.

We rode by a bus which picked up about 30 people or so from central London.

Now in truth, while it advertised itself as a “luxury bus with TV”, it wasn’t really much different than a standard city bus and it had 1 TV located towards the front that was a bit hard to hear. Luxury? No.

But we weren’t in it for the bus, so that was really of minor consequence.

The trip was non-eventful and the TV played an interesting behind the scenes documentary about the making of the Harry Potter films. I’ll get more into the details of the tour below.

I mentioned we bought a package that included bus transportation.

Here is an example of the price differences:

Studio tickets only for a family of 4 – $195 (again, approximated using a currency conversion rate of 1.3)

What we paid including bus transportation – $463.

I’ll get more into transportation in the section below. But for us, it was totally worth paying for the bus service. The pickup spot in London was easy to get to, and it dropped us off right at the entrance.

For the studio tour in general, we loved it!

I, my wife and 2 older daughters are all huge Harry Potter fans (books and movies) and the tour was awesome and totally worth it. And don’t worry. I’ve got all the details of the tour itself in the sections below.

Just budget accordingly.

We also spent about $150 in merchandise from the gift shops in the studio as well as lunch (did someone say Butter Beer on tap????)

How do I get to the Harry Potter studio tour from London?

You can drive if you are comfortable driving in the UK.

But I imagine most people reading this are visiting London from the US and probably not renting a car or prepared to drive. In that case, you’ll want to use one of the 3 bus companies that operate rides to and from the Harry Potter studio tour.

Those bus companies are

• Golden Tours
  Premium Tours
• Evan Evans

As I said above, the studio itself is a little over an hour outside London, and not easy to get to by train or underground.

You can take a train but you have to transfer train types and each uses a different payment method. Then when you get dropped off (at Watford Junction Railway Station), the Harry Potter studio is still 15 minutes away.

They do, however, have shuttles that run every 20 minutes to and from the train station and the studio. You cannot, however, board a shuttle if you haven’t already purchased tickets to the Harry Potter studio tour.

So from my experience, it’s worth the added expense of just hiring a bus company.

They drop you off right at the entrance of the studio and then pick you up later at the designated time.

How long does the Harry Potter studio tour take?

As I mentioned above, we felt rushed and were there (including lunch) for about 4 hours.

But, we are HUGE Harry Potter fans. But there’s so much we didn’t do because of either time or lines. For example, the Dursley’s house on Privet drive is a little past the halfway mark of the tour. And considering we’d been there 3 hours and didn’t know how much cool stuff there was still to see, we didn’t go inside.

Officially, Warner Brothers claim the average tour takes 3.5 hours.

If you take a bus tour as we did, you also have the limitation of needing to be back on the bus at the designated time to drive back (and it will leave without you if you aren’t relatively on time).

Golden Tours, for example (who we used), claims their service is 7 hours round-trip.

With about 2.5 hours for transportation that leaves you a little over 4 hours to see the studio and most likely get lunch (and Butter Beer).

What can I expect at the Harry Potter studio tour?

There’s so much to see!

You’ll see all the most famous sets from the movies. But you’ll also see endless props, animatronic creatures, costumes, and you can even get a video of you riding a broom (if you can afford the Nimbus 3000).

The tour is half amusement park and half museum. 

It’s set up where you basically walk from set to set and weave your way through the studio. There’s a designated entrance and exit and for the most part, you’re always moving forward. So once you leave one set, you won’t see it again unless you intentionally go backward.

They only let in a small number of people at one time. That makes it nice and not super crowded. But there is mention from the staff to keep moving to make room for the next tour group.

Here is a breakdown of the biggest sets we saw:

The Great Hall

This is where the tour begins!

My wife got picked (it was her birthday) to open the official doors to the Great Hall and start the tour. The room itself was just as it appears in the movies except for the ceiling and thousands of floating candles. The did have a few floating candles though.

Lifesize mannequins dressed exactly as Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, Professor McGonigle, Professor Snape, and others complete the experience.

The Forbidden Forest

Not the complete forest as you see in the movies. More like a recreation with Aragog and other animatronic spiders, but still really cool! Fog machines and endless spiderwebs complete the experience.

My toddler was hesitant to go in (you can go around if you need to). But she did go in, clinging to me. But the moment we were done, she wanted to go right back in again.

Weeks later, she’s still talking about the “dark forest” and how brave she was with the giant spiders.

Platform 9 3/4

The Platform 9 3/4 scenes in the movie were partly filmed here, and partly at the actual King’s Cross Train Station in London.

We went to King’s Cross also, and they do have a cart partly embedded in a brick wall next to a Harry Potter gift shop. Because King’s Cross has been remodeled, it was honestly a little hard to recognize from the movies. And, of course, none of the trains running look like the Hogwarts Express.

So, while cool to see, I would not say that’s worth going out of your way for, especially if you’re going to the Harry Potter studio tour.

Platform 9 3/4 in the studio tour, however, is great!

What you see here is what was used in the Deathly Hallows (part 2) and includes a life-size Hogwarts Express train and train car you can board.  There are multiple areas for photos from the luggage cart half-embedded in a brick wall, to train car club rooms.

Diagon Alley

Walk up and down the street checking out all the shops!

You can’t go in the shops nor is their a wall of bricks that move as the entrance, but it’s still really cool. This is a snapshot of Diagon Alley much as it appeared towards the end of the film series, as the sets were changed frequently and doubled as Hogsmeade too.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank

Yes, this is the full-sized banking hall complete with giant marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, and an endless row of banking teller stations! This room is massive!

Once you go through it, you’ll then see the Lestrange Vault filled with treasures. You also see an example of the minecart used to get around the many vaults behind the scenes at Gringotts. But sadly, you don’t get to ride in one!

The Hogwarts Miniature

This is the miniature (and I use that word lightly) of the Hogwarts castle and surrounding grounds.

This thing is huge! Miniature yes, but it takes up what probably amounts to the size of a large gymnasium! More than 2,500 fiber optic lights and built by a crew of 86 artists.

This was built for the 1st film and continued to be used throughout the series for exterior shots of the castle.

And here are some of the other highlights of the tour:

• The Whomping Willow and Mr. Weasley’s flying car (lifesize, albeit not the whole tree, just the whomping branch)
• The Chamber of Secrets Door
• A Basilisk
• Buckbeak the Hippogriff (lifesize)
• Aragog the giant spider

Lastly, there’s the green screen photo opp area.

Here you get to don the house robe of your choice and take some official pictures.

As I mentioned, you can take your own pictures everywhere. But in this area, you have to purchase their official pictures (or you can skip this part altogether which we will do on our next visit).

Here you can take a family photo with 2 options (we opted for the Azkaban wanted poster).

Then you can ride a broom and do either a video or a photo. The videos, as I mentioned above, are pricey (about $25 USD each) and since each member of your party is recorded individually, that’s a lot to pay for a large family. Especially if you consider how often you are actually likely to watch them.

The photos are definitely fun, and I’m glad we did them. But as I’ve also mentioned, we felt pressed for time and this took almost an hour. So we’ve done it and can skip it on future visits (which we will do!)

How much money should I take to the Harry Potter studio tour?

As I mentioned, we spent about $450 on tickets for a family of 4 (plus a toddler who was free) including round-trip bus transportation to and from the studio to central London.

Then we spent over $150 on merchandise and official pictures.

In most places, you can take your own pictures. But no pics are allowed in their official picture spot where you can don robes from your favorite house and ride a broom.

Trust me. We could have spent a whole lot more than we did.

They also have a cafe where you can get lunch and Butter Beer on tap. But everything combined? I bet we spent $650 easily and we still skimped. The most expensive thing (which we passed on) were videos of each of us riding a broom.

After all, how often are you likely to sit around watching a 2-minute video of you riding a broom.

It would be different if it was 1 video of all of us. But instead, it’s 1 video each and they charge about $25 USD per video. So $100 for 4 videos we aren’t likely to watch more than a few times just didn’t make sense.

We did buy 5 pictures which were about $60. But they were pretty cool. They came in a decorative Harry Potter photo album, plus 1 was an oversized Azkaban wanted poster of us. And you get a code to download digital copies too.

So that was a much better value for us.

I’ve also been to Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood and I wasn’t planning on missing this one just so I could compare the two!

Is it worth trekking to Stonehenge?

The short answer is probably not.

I can’t say for certain because I’ve never been in my 4 visits to London. I’m intrigued by the idea, but it’s not like you just hop in the tube and get there in a few stops.

With kids, it would be even more challenging.

My friend Paul, of the website Teacher of Sci, who lives in Brighton (an hour away from London) said this when I asked him if it was worth visiting Stonehenge: “it’s a bloody nightmare to get to (driving only) and you’ll be done there in 30 mins. Not worth it!”

But to give you some specifics:

• It’s 90 miles from London
• If you go by train, the nearest station is 9 miles from Stonehenge
• There are no public buses running to Stonehenge
• Private bus tours are available
• Private busses are about 50 pounds per person (about $60 US dollars each)

So decide for yourself. But for my family of 5, even if my toddler was free, that would still have been $240 bucks, and probably a minimum of 6 hours roundtrip travel from London just to star at the rocks for a half hour.

But if you’re bound and determined to see it, many of the hop-on-hop-off bus companies also offer day trips to Stonehenge.

Did I cover all you wanted to know about traveling with kids in London?

In this article, I took an in-depth look at what it’s like going to London with your family.

Compared to when I went as a teen, and again in later years before I had kids, exploring London with your kids can be a magical experience. We looked at the best ways of getting around and the best attractions for both toddlers and older kids.

But we also explored the hop-on-hop-off bus system and the amazing Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Ultimately, we answered the basic question of how can I travel with kids in London and all of the adjacent questions that might follow that. This article ended up being the ultimate guide for traveling to London with kids.

Have you traveled to London with your kids?

Check out all my best travel resources and recommendations which can save you time and money on your next vacation!

Photos which aren’t mine:

Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour 24-1-2015 by Martin Pettitt is licensed under CC2.0

Harry Potter Studio Tour by Jonathan Dadds is licensed under CC2.0

The Making of Harry Potter by Martin Pettitt is licensed under CC2.0

2017-04-28_HarryStudioTour07 by Ungry Young Man is licensed under CC2.0

Diagon Alley by Steve is licensed under CC2.0

Many of my friends can’t wait to leave the kids with grandma and go on vacation. But that’s not how my wife and I like to do it. So I wondered what some of the benefits are for families that travel together.

Families that travel together experience a unique bonding, an expanded understanding of our world, experiencing other cultures, languages, and peoples. But family travel also enhances our sense of curiosity and wonder as we parents begin to see the world through the eyes of our children.

But there’s a lot more to say about family travel and some of the pros and cons are. So let’s dive in!

There is so much more than taking pictures and posting social media updates when traveling. Yes, beautiful sunsets and various landmarks are wonderful to enjoy.

And seeing the how and what of the past, and how it affects the world today. Just seeing the world is one of the biggest benefits of all. 

However, the ultimate benefit of traveling as a family to someplace like Disneyland is how it can enrich a child’s life and your family.

It may be a fun-filled trip with amusement parks or campgrounds involved. But simply just being together as a family, enjoying each other, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life is worth its weight in gold.

Check out all my best travel resources and recommendations which can save you time and money on your next vacation!

Why should families travel?

It allows you the opportunity to introduce your children to the world outside of your normal lives. It’s adventurous, educational, exciting, and yet peaceful.

There are opportunities to cry together, laugh together, and learn together. Most of all, you slow down and enjoy the moment you’re in together. You can step outside of the daily routine and let inspiration take over. 

My wife and I have traveled all over the place with our kids;

• Mexico
• Costa Rica (a few times)
• New York
• San Diego
• Santa Fe
• Disney parks

And we have current travel plans for London, Paris, and Canada next summer.

Together as a family, you learn to admire, adore, support, and trust each other as individuals and as a family unit. You will each have a focus on family and leave behind daily life’s distractions.

You’ll discover the freedom to be open with each other as humans, not just the parent-child relationship that daily life demands and expects. 

You can take advantage of uninterrupted time away from life, let it broaden your minds, watch your children grow and, in some ways, grow with them.

As the adult, you’re able to take a deep breath and see things through your child’s eyes and mind. Even if you have seen it before, traveling with your family allows you to see things differently. 

The world becomes the teacher as you explore and learn things about the world together.

As the family discovers the world together with undivided attention, you can enjoy a sense of adventure and whatever thrills that come with exploring the world together.   

Wondering how often families take a vacation each year?

In a recent article, I did the research and found that 40% of Americans take at least 1 vacation per year. But 28% of people take 3 or more. What really surprised me was that people living in a certain area of the US were twice as likely as the rest of the country to go on vacation!

Just click that link to see it on my site.

How do you travel with a family? 

The first thing you need to expect if for things to go wrong.

You’ll get lost, things will get lost, you will miss a bus, a train, or other modes of transportation, only to get to your destination and it is closed.

By understanding this and the fact that you cannot control all things will make traveling with a family go easier and smoother. 

We make plans, life changes them.

So, you simply must smile and accept these things and make it an adventure.

This will be a great philosophy to teach your children and show them that even when life throws a curveball your way, you can still enjoy the experience and be enlightened by it. 

Other tips that can help you travel with the family are: 

• Pack light
• Stay in central locations where walking is possible
• Get lost and stop for Gelato or ice cream
• Ask the locals for recommendations and avoid tourist traps
• Regardless their age, have something to entertain the kids while traveling
• Schedule time for naps and rest for everyone
• Make each stop fun but an interesting learning experience too
• Buy groceries ahead of time for “normal” family meals
• Enjoy one meal out a day to taste the local tastes

Of course, the ages of your children have a lot to do with where you travel to.

And if you’re like me with a teen, a tween, and a toddler, you have some unique travel challenges! But honestly, Layla, our toddler, is happy going almost anywhere. The moody tween & teen, not so much. 

So in a recent article, I break down some of the best vacation spots for tweens and teens that they might actually not complain about! Just click that link to read it on my site.

How much do families spend on vacations per year?

Of course, income and travel expenses can vary wildly across the country and globe. 

According to the U.S. Family Travel Survey, the #1 motivator for parents to travel with their kids was “To have my children discover new places and have new experiences”.

And they go on to point out that “the average annual spending on family travel during that time was $3,835” with “a median of $2,435.”

But that survey also pointed out that 1 in 5 families struggle to pay for vacations, and that shorter vacations are becoming more popular due to the decreased cost.

Here’s an interesting chart showing vacation spending by income level:

Ultimately, the benefits of traveling together with your kids aren’t linked to how much money you spend. And you can create amazing memories on a shoestring budget.

A decade ago when my wife and I lived in Dallas with 2 young kids we were deep in debt and living with a mortgage payment we couldn’t afford. We could not afford to travel the way we do now being debt-free with a great side-hustle like this blog.

So what we did was when we did have a little money, we’d buy annual memberships to places like:

• Zoos
• 6 Flags
• Children’s or science museums

The beauty of those memberships is 2 things. One you can hit up those places locally on weeks when cash is low.

But, all of those memberships have affiliations not only across the country but sometimes across the globe. For example, there are 25 locations of 6 Flags. With a membership, you can get into ANY of them.

But beyond that, almost all zoos and museums are part of groups where you can get into other locations either for free or at a big discount. We’re traveling to Banff, Canada next summer and there’s a museum there that would normally cost us $100.

But with the local museum membership we have, we get in for free!

What age is best to travel with a baby?

First, your traveling days as a couple aren’t over – not by any means – once you have a baby. 

Second, if you already have a child and then number 2 comes along, your traveling days as a family of three isn’t over, you’ve just added another one to the fun!  

The 3 most popular methods of traveling are by car, plane, or train.

So, if you’re planning a family trip, ask your pediatrician the best method for the age of your baby to make this trip. Best for the baby and best for you.

But as a father of 3, including a toddler, here are my age recommendations for each type of travel:

1. By Car

Your newborn has already traveled by car, from birth to home (unless you did a home birth like we did last time). So there really aren’t any restrictions with the exception state law for car seats.  

I would not do a long road trip, however, with a baby under 6 months. That’s such a special physical bonding time, and just sitting for hours in a car seat would interfere with that.

That being said, my wife and I did rent an RV once and trek to Yellowstone when our oldest daughter Astrid was just under 6 months.

But RV laws are totally different than cars. So my wife could take her out of her seat while I drove to change or nurse her. Other times they played on the bed. Slightly risky perhaps, but not illegal. And it made traveling much more fun.

But for car road-trips, I would say 1 year old or above is ideal.

Remember to take frequent breaks every hour to 90 minutes. Change them, feed them, get some cuddling and playtime in, and stretch your legs.

2. By Plane

Flying with a baby is safer after their immune system has developed, which is usually after one month for a full-term baby.

Most pediatricians will advise after 3 months of age, some will say wait till 6 months, so always check with your doctor. Then check the airline’s policies.

Delta requires an infant to be 7 days old unless you have a written note from your pediatrician.

Flying JetBlue, infants can fly as young as 3 days and on United, babies younger than 7 days old are not permitted, regardless of the circumstances or incubated infants.

In my case, my wife and I did fly with our oldest daughter when she was about 4 months old and it was just fine.  They don’t need their own seat at that age. And she slept or nursed most of the time on the plane.

3. By Train

Again, always check with your pediatrician, but the same policies for flying hold true for traveling by train too.

Once you have the advice and an okay from your pediatrician, check with the train line for any special guidelines or requirements for the trip you’re planning.

So now, let’s review the . . .

13 Proven Benefits for families that travel together

Many people think traveling with children of any age is a waste of effort, money, and time.

They support this by stating if they’re too young, they won’t remember it and if they’re in that tween to teenage years, they won’t enjoy it.

To that, I say why bother going to the playground and pushing them in a swing?

Why bother reading a book, the same book, over and over? Why bother going to the mall to shop for clothes, when they’re just going to pout, sulk, and not like anything you find? 

Because it is an experience for you and them.

It is a chance to make memories that you may have otherwise missed out on.

There are other reasons too such as the following benefits: 

1. Enhanced their developmental milestones

From the moment a baby is born, they learn, and they continue to learn from the world around them. The more they are exposed to, the more they learn.

Traveling allows children to experience a wide range of things with you. From colors and sights to smells and sounds, different languages, sensations, and different lifestyles. 

2. They learn to adapt and be flexible

Traveling exposes children to different and new ‘normal’, and the family learns to adapt to changing situations and learn to be flexible with their habits and routines.

You’ll try new foods together, teaching your children not to be a picky eater and to sleep anywhere, regardless of the commotion or the quietness. 

3. They learn Multilingualism

If you’re fortunate enough to travel to other countries with your children, you can learn different languages together and even become excited to learn a new language.

If you only travel in the continental U.S., you’ll learn different dialects between the north and the south, or the east and the west, and anywhere in between. 

4. Travel allows them to see different is still the same

Traveling offers the family the opportunity to learn about diversity between cities, states, and countries, but that we’re all human.

Teach your children about color, culture, and religious diversity in the world. You can make friends as a family and forge pen-pal relationships.

5. Learn To be Understanding & Tolerant

Whether you’re traveling abroad or cross-country, your family will become exposed to other cultures. Some may be very different than your own with unfamiliar customs.

Teach your children to be understanding and tolerant of any culture different from yours.   

6. Traveling Encourages Adventure & Curiosity

Traveling as a family, you can encourage your children to be adventurous and curious about their surroundings, using caution, and join in creative play based on where you’re at.

They’ll develop skills that will take them into adulthood, and you’ll remember being a kid. 

7. Trying New Things

Traveling with the family allows and encourages your kids to try new things.

Maybe it is riding a camel or elephant, camping in the forest or zip lining in the mountains. My middle daughter, Jolie, and I went zip lining in Costa Rica in 2015. We’d never done it before, and the thrill of soaring hundreds of feet above the trees among the monkeys and iguanas was unimaginable!

The possibilities are endless as you travel. 

If you’ve never been to Costa Rica, it’s our family’s favorite place in the world. And before you question safety, water quality, or other concerns people sometimes have, check out my recent article where I break down all the ways Costa Rica is amazingly kid-friendly!

My wife and I took our oldest daughter there for the 1st time when she was 1 year old. 

8. Learn Geography, History & Science

As you travel with your children, you can expose them to education without it feeling like they’re in school.

Everywhere you go, there is an opportunity to share and teach them geography, history and/or science. Learn the capital of the states you go travel through, how far it is from Point A to Point B and how long it will take to get there. 

On our upcoming trip to Paris, for example, we’ll be staying quite close to the Louvre Museum. So instead of reading about the Mona Lisa, my daughters will be able to see the real thing up close and personal!

9. A Healthier Family!

Traveling has its own stress, but it also takes the family away from daily stress.

Because you’re walking instead of the kids sitting at the game box and you sitting at your desk, traveling is often a great way to stay physically active.  

Traveling can also help boost our mood; especially if we’re out somewhere in a beautiful setting breathing lots of fresh air.

10. Disconnect from The Daily Life Routines

Related to earlier statements, but every day that we’re caught up in the “must-do” things of life, it’s easy to lose that connection as a family.

That’s especially true as more and more families these days just sit around the couch on their phones and tablets. Connected to wi-fi, perhaps. But not truly connected.

By getting away from the daily grind as a family, you can reconnect as a family. Take that step back from the daily circus of life and take a breather – together. 

11. You Become More Interesting

As a family and individually, traveling will make you more interesting.

You’ll have tales to tell and experiences to share. Our upcoming trip to London, for example, includes a tour of the actual sets from the Harry Potter films. I’m sure Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter is awesome. 

But you know what’s more awesome? Getting to see the real thing!

When you can talk about something that isn’t common for others, you automatically become an interesting conversationalist. 

12. Expand Your Social Network with Real People

Once upon a time, in a land where there were no computers or internet, the was real-life socializing between humans.

Traveling to different parts of the state, country, or other countries will allow the family to meet others, establish a connection, and build a network that includes real-life people.

They may not be long-lasting relationships, but they’ll be real people. 

13. Making Memories

What more can we say on this topic?

Traveling with the family can be tiring, but even those not-so-perfect times will make some of the best memories to share later down the road with each other. 

Some of my fondest childhood memories are going to the beach in New Jersey when we lived in nearby Philadelphia. Kids won’t always remember everything you do. But by traveling together as a family, and forging memories, you are building their personality and style.

And that will forever be part of who they are.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we took a deep dive into the world of family travel.

We explored the best ages to travel with, particularly babies. But we also looked at some of the unique challenges that different types of travel bring; by car, plane, or train.

Specifically, though, we looked at the benefits that come when families travel together.

By always looking at traveling as a family to be a fun adventure, a learning opportunity, remember it will always be making memories for them and you. Let go of the perfect trip ideal and you’ll enjoy it more. Your kids will enjoy it more.

Remember your first trip to a new city, a new state, or a new country when you were a kid?

Check out all my best travel resources and recommendations which can save you time and money on your next vacation!

My family and I just returned from a visit to the San Diego Zoo. Since we’ve been to a lot of zoos and this one was, by far, the most expensive, afterward, we began to wonder is the San Diego Zoo worth it?

A family of 4 can spend over $200 for a 1-day pass, making it one of the most expensive zoos in the US. The Atlanta Zoo, which is comparable in size and style, is roughly half the cost. The Safari Park has lots to do but could cost a family of 4 an additional $1,000. So overall, the San Diego Zoo may not be worth it.

But there’s a lot more to know about the San Diego Zoo, costs, animal habitats, and yes, whether the giant pandas are still there.

So we’ll get into all the details below, so let’s get started!

No matter where you’re traveling to, take a moment to check out my travel recommendations?

I take the frustration out of having to check multiple sites to be sure you’re getting the best deal. These sites are tested and proven by me and my family, and they always provide us with not only the best prices but also the best experiences.

So check out my Travel Resource Guide to learn more!

Why I’m not sure the San Diego Zoo is worth it for me and my family

I haven’t priced every single zoo in the US, nor have I been to every single zoo in the US.

I have, however, been to several zoos including some of these great ones:

• Atlanta (where they still have pandas)
• Oklahoma City
• Waco
• Ft. Worth
• Dallas
• San Antonio

Now not every one of those zoos is stellar. I’d also have to say that most are also not as large as the San Diego Zoo (and I’m not counting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park which is a totally separate facility).

BUT, all of those zoos are roughly half the price of the San Diego Zoo. So it shouldn’t go without mentioning that the San Diego zoo is pretty costly for a zoo.

Now in a recent list of the 30 Best Zoos in US News and World Report (one of those irritating posts that makes you click through each of the 30 listings), they did, of course, list San Diego. But they also listed Ft. Worth and Dallas (although odd considering how much better Waco is than Dallas).

USA Today also lists the top zoos in the US and unlike the previous article, USA Today actually ranks them.

They gave the top spot to someplace I’ve never been called The Living Desert in Palm Desert. And while they did list the Safari Park, they actually didn’t include the San Diego Zoo at all (or any of the others I listed).

But for me and my family, we enjoy wide open spaces for the animals to roam in a natural-ish habitat. We like minimal concrete and to experience the animals in a hopefully happy setting.

While San Diego delivered the goods in that area, so do all the other zoos I listed, at a fraction of the price. So make no mistake. The San Diego Zoo doesn’t charge what it does because it’s worth it; you’re paying for the high cost of California Real Estate and taxes.

How much does it cost to go to the San Diego Zoo?

We literally just went last week, so I can tell you for a family of 4 plus a baby, for a 1-day ticket, we spent about $200.

But here’s their specific breakdown of prices:

The 1 day and 2 day are obviously fairly explanatory. The 1 Day+, however, gets you everything included in the regular 1 day, plus you can pick one of their 4D theater experiences. So essentially for a family of 4, you’ll spend an extra $24 total to watch a movie.

Now I happen to like 4D movies, but if we’re already paying $200 bucks, surely they could have thrown that in already?

It’s also worth noting that with the 2 Day ticket you can choose one or both; the actual San Diego Zoo and/or the San Diego Zoo Safari. The Safari is a drive-thru safari (their vehicles, not yours) but also has zip line adventures, and high-wire obstacle courses and is NOT located near the zoo itself. But it is kind of cool that you could do the zoo one day and the safari the next.

You cannot, however, do both in 1 day on that ticket.

The 3 Day pass adds SeaWorld to the 2 Day pass. So you can choose between the zoo, safari, and SeaWorld. You can attend one per day, any 3 days total, over a 7 day period. So also not a bad deal.

But not that many families of 4 are going to want to shell out the almost $600 bucks it will take to do that (or maybe I’m just cheap).

Can I buy San Diego Zoo tickets at the gate?

Yes, while you can definitely buy tickets online, we bought ours at a self-serve kiosk right the front gate. As far as I can tell, there’s no benefit to buying your tickets online ahead of time.

How much is parking at the San Diego Zoo?

Parking, thankfully, is free at the San Diego Zoo. On the day we went (mid-August shortly before school started back), we were able to park pretty close to the entrance as well.

They also have some shaded parking spots and a limited number of charging spots for electric cars.

Do note, if you’re going to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, you’ll pay $15 per vehicle or $20 for RV parking.

How long does it take to go through the San Diego Zoo?

Having done a good portion of the zoo in about 5 hours, I can definitely say to really see everything and experience everything, 6 hours or a 2-day pass would be the most ideal given how much there is to see and do.

Plus, while not as hot as my native Texas, San Diego can still get warm. And that heat takes its toll on parents and kids alike.

So unless you want to rush through, if money is no object, get the 2-day pass.

That will allow you to see all the animals and exhibits. Plus you can ride the park on the double-decker tour bus when you need a break. You can also ride the Kangaroo Express Bus and the Skyfari Aerial Tram (which is one of those ski-lift-type cable cars that ride way high over the park (the kind my wife won’t set anywhere near!)

I will say that the San Diego Zoo is a great place for families with tweens. Since my wife and I have 2 tween daughters, its important to find places that tweens love to visit. After all, tweens can be pretty fickle and picky!

Check out ALL my top picks for vacation spots with tweens in a recent article. Just click the link to read it now. Philadelphia made the list and the reasons we chose it will really surprise you!

What’s the difference between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park?

Ultimately, they are 2 totally different things, so it’s hard to compare.  The Zoo is somewhat typical of many zoos but larger, and the habitats are bigger. But if you’ve seen a bunch of zoos like my family has, it’s not likely to blow you away.

The Safari, on the other hand, features a safari tour of an African and Asian-style outback. But it also has a cheetah safari, a high-ropes obstacle course, zip lines, and even allows you to camp out.

Here’s the complete list of options and features at both:

Is San Diego Zoo or Safari Park better?

The zoo is basically just one price plus a couple of upgrade options, whereas the safari is priced per event in addition to the entrance fee.

By that I mean if you just do the Caravan Safari, that’s a minimum of $121 each for ages 6 and up in addition to the 1-day pass price of $56 for adults and $46 for kids. The 1-day pass includes the Africa Tram, Cheetah Run, and all regularly scheduled shows.

Add the zip line, and that’s an additional $77 or more for ages 8 and up.

Ultimately, for a family of 4, you could easily spend $1,000 just doing the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. So from that standpoint, this isn’t a casual choice as we’re talking almost as much money as you might spend at Disneyland to get a whole lot more.

For that reason, if I have to choose between the Zoo or Safari, I’m definitely going with the zoo.

What is the best way to see the San Diego Zoo?

The San Diego Zoo is quite large; 100 acres to be exact.

So while you can get around on foot, the guided bus tours are a great way to see it as well. What I recommend is starting off on foot and then jumping on and off the guided bus tours as needed.

The guided bus is an open-air double-decker bus (the top row has no roof, so be prepared for a lot of sun). It drives throughout the zoo and has multiple stops. There are several buses that run concurrently, so it’s pretty convenient to hop on or off one as you wish.

If you have your own stroller, just be prepared to fold it up when you board.

But if you rented a stroller at the zoo, you’ll have to abandon it when you board since they don’t fold up (they are OK with you ditching them in an out-of-the-way area). If you save your receipt for the stroller, you can get another one when you are back near the front entrance.

It would be great if they offered multiple rental locations throughout the zoo.

When your family is trying to decide where to go for vacation, it’s tough. After all, most of the places you want to see are also places a millon other people want to see.

So for that reason, I compiled a list of the 17 Most Overlooked Summer Family Vacation Destinations. These are destinations (and San Diego is on there) that often fly under the radar compared to Disneyland, NYC, and other big tourist spots.

What really surprised me in researching it was just how (relatively) inexpensive Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa is!

Do they still have Pandas at the San Diego Zoo?

Sadly no!

My family and I were all excited to see the pandas on our recent visit and saw no signs or information on the website or at the zoo informing us they were no longer there.  Even their map shows the panda area (there are still red pandas there, but those are basically red raccoons).

Even the current Google listing still shows they have pandas. See it here.

In the end, while frantically searching for them in the zoo, we had to resort to Googling the question only to find out they lost the pandas, Bai Yun and her 6-year-old cub Xiao Liwu.

China had them on loan to the San Diego Zoo since 1996 but required their return in May 2019.

There have been several pandas at the San Diego zoo over the years, so this isn’t the first time China has asked for one or more to be returned.

It is, however, the first time in over 20 years that the San Diego Zoo has not had ANY pandas.

Supposedly the San Diego Zoo is trying to negotiate with China for their return, but for now, if you’re in the US and want to see a panda bear, you’ll have to visit the zoos in Atlanta, Washington DC, or Memphis.

What animals are at the San Diego Zoo?

Well, as we’ve discussed, the giant pandas are sadly no longer there.

But there are a lot of other animals to see. In fact, they boast over 4000 species on animals, so there’s no way for me to list them here. I will, however, share the highlights with you.

• Bonobo (primates similar to chimpanzies)
• Camels
• Polar Bears
• Leopards and Cheetahs
• Elephants
• Giant Galápagos tortoises
• Gorillas
• King Cobras
• Koala Bears
• Two-Toed Sloths
• Komodo Dragons
• Pygmy Hippos
• Rhinos
• Reindeer (they didn’t respond when I called out “Swen!”)

See the complete list on the zoo website.

Is the San Diego Zoo good for animals?

Good, of course, is a subjective question.

Certainly, an organization like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) doesn’t condone ANY zoos. But their points of view will also seem pretty extreme to many as well, so it’s not a black and white issue like they might have us believe.

Now, you could argue that holding animals in captivity against their will is cruel and inhumane, and you could make a good argument for that. But if we assume for a moment, that all zoos are that way to a degree, then we have to look at each zoo and their mission, beliefs, practices, and how they treat the animals.

The San Diego Zoo is a non-profit organization.

While that doesn’t mean no one gets paid and that some people aren’t getting paid really well, it does tell us that, unlike SeaWorld, their sole motive isn’t profit.

They also claim that one of their missions is to breed endangered species to prevent extinction which is a noble cause. As an example of their work, I see:

• 44 animals from the zoo have eventually been released back into the wild
• 180 rhinos have been born at the San Diego Safari Park
• The Zoo works with 45 different countries on animal conservation
• They have over 1,000 species DNA on file in what they call the frozen zoo
• The San Diego Zoo conducts education outreach on animal welfare and extinction on 3 continents

I can also tell you that from an animal habitat standpoint, most of the animals in the San Diego Zoo have larger than normal habitats than you would find in many other zoos. By that I mean they aren’t just in small concrete cells. Instead, they typically have large areas that are more like their natural habitats.

So within the confines of being a zoo where animals are kept, I do think that the San Diego Zoo does a good job of caring for the animals and doing good work on animal conservation around the globe.

Do veterans get in free at San Diego Zoo?

Yes is the short answer.

Active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel get in for FREE on a 1-day pass upon presenting a Common Access Card (CAC) or Uniformed Services ID Card at the gate. For this reason, you should not try to purchase tickets online.

Military spouses and any eligible dependents get a 10% discount off the 1-Day Pass at both the Zoo and Safari Park. And this is valid even if the military service parent or spouse is not present.  Just show the  valid dependent ID card at the gate. Again, you cannot get this discount online.

Military veterans do not receive a discount at the Zoo or on the Zoo’s website. However, some local military bases do sell tickets at a 10% discount, so check with the base nearest the zoo to inquire.

Is there a AAA discount for the San Diego Zoo?

Yes is the answer here as well!

You must have a valid AAA membership card and present it at the gate to take advantage. You will receive a 10% discount off a 1-day pass. This discount will apply for the cardholder and up to 5 additional guests.

As with the Active Military discount, you will need to purchase tickets at the gate to take advantage of this as you cannot get this discount online.

You also can not combine this discount with any other offers or coupons.

Final thoughts

In this article, we took a look at the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

We explored why some consider it to be the greatest zoo in the world. But we also looked at it with a critical eye as well as it’s also one of the most expensive zoos too.

Ultimately, we answered the question of “is the San Diego Zoo worth it?” with the answer of probably not. But you should decide for yourself.

Have you been to the San Diego Zoo?

No matter where you’re traveling to, take a moment to check out my travel recommendations?

I take the frustration out of having to check multiple sites to be sure you’re getting the best deal. These sites are tested and proven by me and my family, and they always provide us with not only the best prices but also the best experiences.

So check out my Travel Resource Guide to learn more!

My family and I love to go on vacation, but we really only take 1 big vacation a year. So I wondered how many vacations does the average family take?

40% of Americans, which is almost 100 million people, will take at least 1 vacation each year. Of those 100 million people, 28% will take 3 or more vacations per year. But Americans in the southern states are almost twice as likely to vacation as people in the northern states.

But there’s more to say about family vacations, how often people take them, and even what the average amount of paid time off from work is.

So let’s keep going!

Check out my best travel resources and recommendations (click to read) that will save you time and money on your next vacation!

What percent of families go on vacation?

In the United States, 40% of families plan at least 1 vacation per year. 45% of families who are traveling will have some sort of vacation or getaway during springtime. But 68% of those families who are traveling will be going on vacation during the summer.

That’s according to a recent AAA travel survey, and it’s an increase over prior years.

No matter when they go, 53% of families will be road-tripping versus flying. That could be to keep costs down, because the destinations aren’t far away, or a combination of both.

It’s also worth noting that gas prices affect 33% of travelers’ decisions to go on vacation by car.

Interestingly, families in the southern states are almost twice as likely to plan a family vacation than families in the northern states. I guess we southerners just like to have more fun!

But in all seriousness, 62% of southern families are going to vacation this year compared to only 35% of northern families. That’s a BIG difference.

In terms of how many vacations does the average family take, most families take 1 big vacation each year. But 28% of those who take a family vacation takes 3 or more trips each year.

That’s up 16% just since 2016.

How many weeks of vacation does the average American get?

10 days a year is the average amount of paid time off most Americans get each year. But whether the employee is full-time or part-time affects that as well as how long an employee has worked for the company.

Sadly though, not everyone gets paid time off for family vacations.

According to a recent study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, “the United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacations.”

Specifically, they found that:

• 23% of Americans get no paid time off or paid holidays
• Most Americans get 10 paid days off each year
• In the EU, employees are guaranteed at least 20 paid days off each year, and some offer up to 30
• For hourly workers, the bottom 25% only get 4 paid days off each year
• By contrast, the top 25% of hourly workers get 14 paid days off each year

Of course, whether an employee is part-time or full-time will have a big impact on paid days off, as well as whether the employee is paid hourly or on salary.

I worked for Whole Foods Market for 20+ years. At the time when I left the company in 2013, I was being given (but not taking) upwards of 6 weeks of paid time off each year.

But even for new full-time employees, at the time they got about 2 weeks of paid time off each year and what you didn’t use rolled over or could be cashed out.

Want a family vacation, but think you can’t afford it?

Think again! A great family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank, drive you into debt, or rob you of your savings. It just takes a little planning and picking the right destinations. So if think you can’t afford to take a family vacation, you’ll definitely want to check out my list of Affordable Family Vacation Destinations (click to read).

How many vacation weeks do you get after 10 years?

On average, most employees who have been with a company in the US between 10-20 years, get 15-19 paid days off for family vacations. And 13% of those get 24 or more paid days off. 

Of course, there are so many variables here, that it’s impossible to give one answer.

As I mentioned above, at least when I worked for Whole Foods Market, they paid way more than that in PTO. It’s also worth noting that in the United States, companies are not required to provide paid time off.

And while some employers provide PTO for any purpose, others break it down by type: sick days, vacation days, holidays, etc.

How many vacation days you might get after 10 years will be based on the following:

• Are you part-time or full-time? (benefits are typically much better for full-time employees)
• How long have you worked for your company? (many companies pay more PTO the longer you have worked for them)
• Does your company provide paid time off? (they aren’t required t0)
• What are the other benefits your company provides? (the total cost of employee benefits has limits, so if they pay a huge portion of your healthcare costs, they probably pay less in other areas)
• How many employees does your company have? (usually more employees equals better benefits)

While US employers are not required to provide paid time off, a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 76% of employers DO provide at least some paid time off.

The P. Terry’s crew wants you to remember to go vote! Early voting ends October 30th! You might even see one of our crew members voting next to you. They all get paid time off and a ride to exercise their right to vote. pic.twitter.com/0y99tAR5Mv

— P. Terry’s (@pterrys) October 20, 2020

Average paid time off based on years worked:

Employed between 1-5 years

• 0-5 paid days off (7%)
• 5-9 paid days off (38%)
• 10-14 paid days off (35%)
• 15-19 paid days off (12%)
• 20-24 paid days off (7%)
• 24+ paid days off (2%)

Employed between 5-10 years

• 0-5 paid days off (2%)
• 5-9 paid days off (9%)
• 10-14 paid days off (36%)
• 15-19 paid days off (34%)
• 20-24 paid days off (12%)
• 24+ paid days off (6%)

Employed between 10-20 years

• 0-5 paid days off (2%)
• 5-9 paid days off (7%)
• 10-14 paid days off (16%)
• 15-19 paid days off (41%)
• 20-24 paid days off (22%)
• 24+ paid days off (13%)

Employed 20 or more years

• 0-5 paid days off (2%)
• 5-9 paid days off (6%)
• 10-14 paid days off (13%)
• 15-19 paid days off (20%)
• 20-24 paid days off (35%)
• 24+ paid days off (25%)

Some 44 travel bloggers from 17 countries, including Thailand, are vying for a chance to promote Thailand as a preferred destination to millennial tourists worldwide.

? TAT turns to bloggers to lure young https://t.co/K1JXmJFWhw #Thailand #ThaiTravelNews pic.twitter.com/NY05iu1gIp

— Richard Barrow in Thailand ???? (@RichardBarrow) July 25, 2019

What age groups travel the most?

Millennials, those born between 1980-1995, travel more than any other age group, taking, on average, 35 days off each year, compared to Baby Boomers who average 27 vacation days each year or Generation X who take 26 days per year for vacations.

(source)

With almost 100 million people taking family vacations each year.

Here are the exact comparisons between other age groups and travel days on average:

• Generation Z (born between 1995-2005) – 29 travel days per year
• Generation X (born between 1965-1980) – 26 travel days per year
• Baby Boomers (born between 1946 to 1964) – 27 travel days per year

Now that covered how many vacation days does the average family take.

But in terms of how many people, we’ll look at that recent AAA survey I referenced at the top which showed that 44% of millennials are planning to take at least 1 family vacation this year.

That too beats out Generation X (39%) and Baby Boomers (32%).

AAA Senior Vice President Bill Sutherland goes on to state “No matter their age, families are going on not just one, but multiple vacations throughout the year to revisit favorite destinations and experience new places.”

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How many US citizens travel abroad each year?

35 million people from the US, on average, take at least 1 family vacation each year to someplace outside the United States. Cancun, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica top the list of most popular destinations outside of the US.

Going back to AAA again, they found that of the 100 million US family travelers that take at least 1 vacation each year, 35% of them will visit an international destination this year.

For 2019, the top international destinations for the average family vacation are:

1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
3. Montego Bay, Jamaica
4. Rome, Italy
5. Dublin, Ireland

Personally, I don’t think I would do a family vacation to Cancun.

For Mexico, I much prefer Puerta Vallarta. For another, I didn’t care much for Cancun. It was like Vegas on the ocean and then the local area of town was far removed from the main party strip, but the local parts I saw didn’t have the quaint feel of old town Puerto Vallarta.

The best part of Cancun for me was renting a car and driving to Chichén Itzá to climb the pyramid (which I don’t think they let you do anymore).

Punta Cana boat tours are a great way to explore exotic Caribbean sea and the prices are affordable for the average American family. Loads of families with kids were having a blast, diving into all sorts of fun summer activities.

Rome, however, would make a great vacation destination for a family to take and I haven’t been to the others on that list.

My favorite family vacation destination, by far, is Costa Rica. I had been when I was single and childless, but once I was married and became a Dad, we took my oldest daughter Astrid there around her 1st birthday and we keep going back.

If Costa Rica has always sounded intriguing to you for a family vacation, check out my Ultimate Travel Guide to Guanacaste Costa Rica (click to read).

Guanacaste is our favorite province to visit (provinces are like states), but I don’t think you could go wrong traveling anywhere in Costa Rica.

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How much does the average family spend on vacations per year?

On average, a family of 4 in the US will spend $4,580 total for one family vacation each year. That breaks down to $1,145 per person.

(source)

So we know how many vacations the average family takes, and which age groups travel more, but how much is that costing them?

At the top, I mentioned that 53% of family vacationers will be traveling by car instead of a plane, so that’s definitely one way to keep costs down.

Even with gas and if you rent an SUV, you’ll still likely pay far less than you would to fly; you just have to have the time off to be able to drive to your destination.

That being said, a different survey by Harris Poll & NerdWallet found that parents plan to spend only $2,523 on their family vacation.

They also looked at debt and sadly found that 80% of Americans plan to charge at least $1,467 towards their family vacation this year.

Here are some handy breakdowns by expense category so you know where your hard-earned dollars are going:

• FOOD COSTS – $132/day (family of 4 eating out all meals)
• HOTEL – $116/night (average in the US for a family of 4 according to hotels.com)
• FLIGHTS – $224/each (domestic flights in the US, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey )
• TAXES & FEES – Vary, but for many family vacation destinations, this can be hundreds of dollars

Of course, where you go has a big impact on those numbers as Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis have the highest taxes and fees for vacation travelers.

Flying to Hawaii?

Aside from the brutal 10 hours, it will take to get there from many airports, you’re also looking at upwards of $1,000/flight (one of the many reasons I vastly prefer Costa Rica for a tropical vacation, which is a 3-hour flight and at least half the price).

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Final Thoughts

In this article, we took a detailed look at the world of family vacations.

We explored how often people take them, which age groups travel more, what percentage goes to international locations, and what the average amount of paid time off at work employees get to take those family vacations.

Specifically, though, we answered the question of how many vacations does the average family take, which is 1 big trip a year for most families, with 28% of those vacationers taking 3 or more.

Where is your favorite family vacation spot?

Check out my best travel resources and recommendations (click to read) that will save you time and money on your next vacation!