🌴 Holidays with children in exotic countries: pros and cons 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

In the 21st century, there are practically no places left inaccessible to travel. It doesn’t matter which continent you want to discover, whether you’re heading to the mountains or the jungle, dreaming about a hot desert or Arctic glaciers – you can get anywhere, even to the most closed states. Of course, a trip to exotic countries is more difficult to organize, but incredible discoveries and unique experiences make all the difficulties worth it.

For parents with children, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Even the most obedient and intelligent child on a trip requires increased attention from adults. And if we are talking about traveling in extreme conditions, you need to take into account many nuances. We analyzed the pros and cons of vacationing with children in exotic countries. If difficulties do not frighten you, then all that remains is to choose early booking of tours or find air tickets yourself.

pros

Possibility to change climatic conditions

Rainy autumn and cold winter are bad for the health of any person, but children are especially susceptible to colds. During the flu season, almost every parent experiences a child with a fever, runny nose, and cough. It’s especially difficult for kids who have just started kindergarten or school – adaptation to new conditions takes its toll. Immunity is not developed in a week or even a month, but in conditions of disgusting weather, poor heating and lack of vitamins, children easily catch viruses.

A trip to warm countries can improve the situation. Even a week spent on the heated sand with a swim in warm water will help the child get stronger and regain strength after a serious illness. Sea air is very beneficial for the respiratory system of the body – this has long been proven by scientists. In addition, almost everyone living in the CIS experiences a clear deficiency of vitamin D. A couple of days in the sun will have a positive effect on health. South America is perfect for this.

Expanding your horizons

In any conditions, children actively explore the world around them. A trip to an exotic country is a great opportunity to show your child how different nature and people are. First of all, children pay attention to landscapes. The mountains and the sea make an incredible impression on both kids and teenagers.

Studying the culture of other peoples is also important. There are hundreds of religions, interesting traditions and crafts on Earth. A child will definitely never forget the traditional dances of African tribes or the ceremonies of Indonesian monks. Representatives of different nations can amaze with their skin color, hairstyles or clothes, but by watching them, boys and girls learn to be tolerant and accept the differences in the world around them. 

Gaining new knowledge

Children absorb new knowledge like sponges. In a few days in an environment with a different language, they will learn the most important words and gestures much easier than adults. And encountering wildlife and observing birds, fish and animals will help them better understand biology. One meeting with a monkey will have more effect than reading a paragraph in a textbook. Understanding of geography will also improve, because dry names on the map will acquire recognizable features for the child. For example, one trip to Zanzibar and the child knows everything about the tropical islands.

Skills acquired in exotic conditions will also be useful. On the islands, children will be taught not just to swim, but to dive into the depths, plant corals or fish. A trip to the jungle will give you the experience of setting up a tent, searching for edible plants and lighting a fire. Of course, it is important that all this takes place under the supervision of an adult and is completely safe.

Minuses

Long flight

Most exotic destinations are in remote locations. They can only be reached via several long connecting flights. The lack of nutritious hot meals, sitting for long periods of time without moving, sleeping in uncomfortable conditions, going through customs control and the lack of personal space greatly exhausts children. They feel not only physical, but also moral stress, being in an unfamiliar and incomprehensible environment.

A lot of people have negative opinions about children crying on airplanes. Yes, this may bring discomfort to other passengers, but it is important to understand that the child himself is experiencing stress at this moment and cannot control his emotions. Parents should show maximum support and assistance towards their children. And, of course, it is important to prepare for difficulties in advance. On the plane you should take your favorite snack, toys and pleasant surprises that can distract and calm your child.  

Acclimatization

We have already talked about the benefits of climate change above, but there are two sides to everything. Acclimatization, unfortunately, overtakes almost everyone, including children. Upon arrival, the child may feel unwell due to a sharp change in temperature, which is also affected by the level of humidity and wind speed. It is also easy to get sunburned or get sunstroke. It will be difficult when you return – you will have to quickly get used to much colder conditions. 

Poor infrastructure

Exotic countries are visited by a small number of the most daring travelers, so the authorities do not focus on developing the tourism sector. As a rule, there are no expensive and comfortable hotels in such destinations. The maximum that you will be offered is old hotels or makeshift bungalows in hot countries. An unobvious consequence of this is the lack of animators for children, who are popular in Turkey or Egypt. There definitely won't be any staff here to watch your child. There will be no swimming pools suitable for children, or luxurious playgrounds. 

And that's not it. It is important to take into account bad roads and difficulties of access to many exotic locations. Adults can easily walk ten kilometers uphill, but a child is unlikely to cope with this task. 

Lack of usual food

Children are much more conservative in food than adults. Once in an exotic country, they may refuse to eat unfamiliar food. Even the most basic bread and cheese are not available in all places, so feeding a picky child will be a challenge.

But problems will also arise if the child is happy to try new things, because unfamiliar foods are poorly absorbed by the child’s body. Unusual types of meat and fish can lead to heaviness in the stomach, and fruits can even provoke allergies. The method of heat treatment is also important. There are many exotic dishes that feature raw seafood. Eating them is fraught with poisoning.

In addition, the national cuisine of many exotic countries, such as India, Thailand or the Philippines, is characterized by the use of spices and herbs in large quantities. An abundance of seasonings will be unpleasant for the child and is unlikely to please his digestion. Always check the ingredients of the dishes you order and do not indulge in unfamiliar dishes.

You will also have to pay attention to the quality of the water. In many exotic countries it is very bad and can only be consumed in bottles. Always carry your own cups, avoid touching the top with your lips, and avoid ice in your drinks. Also, wash vegetables and fruits only with clean water.

Be careful about the establishments where you order food. Most often, they are designed for locals who are accustomed to cooking, but the stomachs of visitors, and especially children, are hardly ready for such food. Small street cafes will offer you several options for popular street food, but they hardly care about sanitary standards. It's better to pay extra and go to a safer place.

Dangerous wildlife

Being close to unfamiliar living nature has a minus – the likelihood of suffering for your curiosity. Children are not as careful as adults, and when they see an unusual animal, they most often boldly reach out to it, but it is not always a harmless animal. A warning roar is the best result of such an impulse, but it can also end in injury. Without knowing the behavioral characteristics of a particular species, children behave incorrectly, and therefore often suffer from the aggressive reaction of the fauna. Be sure to instruct your child what not to do under any circumstances. It is especially important to follow the rules during a safari.

Insects also pose a danger. In exotic countries, there are parasites living in the sand, among the grass, or even in public transport. Walk on the beach only in shoes, and you can only lie on a sun lounger. However, tropical flies and mosquitoes are the most dangerous. They carry typhus, malaria, encephalitis and other types of fevers. Make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations in advance and be sure to bring insect repellent with you.

You should not lose your vigilance while swimming. The brightest and most elegant fish are the most dangerous. But jellyfish and sea urchins sting and prick very painfully, and may even be poisonous. Even corals can burn. The first rule of diving underwater is not to touch anything with your hands. 

Traveling to an exotic country with a child can be an amazing adventure, or it can turn into a real test of strength. Whether it’s worth the risk is up to you to decide, but in any case, the main thing is to take all precautions in advance.