Best International Vacations

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Where have you gone lately that was a stellar experience (bonus if it was family friendly)

starting to think about the annual family trip for 2027, but haven’t thought of any ideas yet about where.

we usually go for about 10 days and try and balance fun stuff for 2 adults, and fun stuff for 2 tweens

we usually don’t think hot (unless we’re at the beach during the winter)… and usually have our best trips where we are mixing 15-20k steps per day in with some fun and scenery.

iceland has been super fun. 

[nate82]

3 hours ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

best trips where we are mixing 15-20k steps per day in with some fun and scenery.

I had a nice experience with Norwegian Cruise Lines last year when I did the Mediterranean tour.  Had stops in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Malta and Croatia.  It was a 12-day cruise and 0-days out at sea.  Italy, France and Croatia were the best.  If you like the game of thrones series then go to Croatia as there are two locations there in Split and Dubrovnik.  Dubrovnik is very touristy but I loved the city.  Split is an awesome little city in Croatia probably my third or fourth favorite city on that cruise.  Lots to do in Split and a lot of little shops if you like to do some shopping that is.  The tweens may like Croatia as the beaches there are really good.  There is also a waterfall you can hike to.  

I think you can also do Italy just using the local train line.  Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and then Naples.  You would either have to take a cab or bus to Pisa.  But I think that is doable as it is a short ride to Pisa from Florence.  Rome alone you can do about 15-20k steps in a day easily just by going to the Vatican.  I would suggest at least 2 days in Rome so you can see everything.  Pompeii is also an easy 20k+ steps in a day.  

[RedStickBrew]

I have done Disney Adventures oversees with the kids multiple times. I’m not normally the group tour guy at all, but Disney offered a great low stress family overseas experience.  We have done mostly European Adventures. 
We have also used some of their itinerary to create our own trips. 

[GAME05]

I went to Gdansk and Lithuania last year. Gdansk I think would be good for slightly older kids with the shipbuilding and all the WWII history. Outer banks of Lithuania is pretty and reminiscent of Wisconsin but with just a bit more ocean. Lots of nature-stuff there. Not entirely sure what kids would do in Vilnius, though I also never looked that up. 

edit: Gdansk has a terrific museum on the Polish Resistance and memorial to the shipbuilders killed by the Soviets. I didn't have a chance to see the spot where the Germans first started WWII, but there's a sailed ship museum there, as well, which looked really interesting. Also an outdoor opera house tucked into the woods. Lituania's outer banks was a Viking settlement and a tourist spot for biking and enjoying the nature reserve there. Vilnius is such a beautiful city. Museum of Occupation was very good and there's an Illusions museum I'd guess the kids would like but I didn't see. Oh, also near Gdansk is the largest castle in Europe, though I most enjoyed sitting near it and just looking at it with some food and beer in my hands.

[owbc]

In the past few years I've done London, Amsterdam, and Stockholm with a 3-4 year old and they have all been fantastic. All of those European cities are extremely family friendly with an infinite variety of activities. We haven't ventured much into the countryside and have mostly stuck to doing stuff that is accessible via bus or metro.

[LouisEly]

18 hours ago, nate82 said:

Split is an awesome little city in Croatia probably my third or fourth favorite city on that cruise.  Lots to do in Split and a lot of little shops if you like to do some shopping that is. 

Split must have changed a bit in the last 17-18 years.  I did Croatia and Slovenia, and the advice I got was when you get to Split, split.

Of course, that was because I had the ability to go to and stay on the islands (Brac, Hvar, Korcula).  That was more of what I was looking for.

One thing to keep in mind for the Mediterranean area is that most of Europe gets a whole month off for "holiday", and they flood that area in July-August.  I went in early September, and the weather was still nice but it was not crowded at all.

[nate82]

8 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Split must have changed a bit in the last 17-18 years.  I did Croatia and Slovenia, and the advice I got was when you get to Split, split.

There are areas of Split that are not that great.  It is basically a Soviet Bloc type of an area.  Other parts it is really nice.

9 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

One thing to keep in mind for the Mediterranean area is that most of Europe gets a whole month off for "holiday", and they flood that area in July-August.  I went in early September, and the weather was still nice but it was not crowded at all.

May is also a good time to go.  It isn’t hot yet and it isn’t cold either.  The Euros haven’t started their vacations yet either during that time.

I was disappointed with my last Caribbean vacation.  Not enough to do in the islands for me.  I’m not into snorkeling or diving and I thought maybe the pirate stuff would be cool but it was disappointing.  Feels like that was more of a party destination and I’m just too old for that.  

[madbad2000]

If going to Europe, try to avoid going in July and August as was mentioned.  Not only are crowds packed in Med, even if you go to other areas in  Europe you may see some businesses closed because the owners went on holiday.  

We did Paris for Spring Break and we all had a great time (kids 6 + 8).  I expected to be disappointed and it was very good.  I hate big cities and only acquiesced because it was my daughter's wish list location.  

I would recommend Croatia to any and everyone.  Nice combination of natural beauty, cities, history and beach/water.  Fantastic and welcoming people is an added cherry on the top.

I have also done Scotland and Ireland.  I can't recommend them enough.  Scotland is gorgeous with natural beauty everywhere.  Ireland is more developed but also great people everywhere. 

In terms of transportation, I tend to get a car wherever I go because I like to be on my own schedule and visit smaller, local cities.  Never had my issues during in Europe, no matter which side of the road.  

[GAME05]

4 hours ago, madbad2000 said:

no matter which side of the road

I think it would scare me to death just being a passenger. As a driver I'd probably kill somebody. Or of course I'd get stuck in a London roundabout all day not able to get out and wish we'd have just gone to WallyWorld again.

[yourout]

Went to Italy in 2018 on business and vacation.

The picture is the Duomo Di Milano in the center of Milan.

The picture we are holding is my father in law in WW2 at the same spot. He had passed away a few years before.

[wallus]

I am in Austria right now doing a river cruise through a number of countries. I have really liked it

[TURBO]

On 7/2/2026 at 10:07 PM, yourout said:

Went to Italy in 2018 on business and vacation.

The picture is the Duomo Di Milano in the center of Milan.

The picture we are holding is my father in law in WW2 at the same spot. He had passed away a few years before.

THAT is AWESOME!

[Team Canada]

Have done a number of European trips with lots of kids.

Portugal is a great country to spend 1-2 weeks in. Lisbon is a fun city, but like Italy you can see very different regions in a small area. Sintra is one of the favorite places I've been to in any country.

If you haven't been to England, also offers a great mix of experiences. London is probably my favorite big city, and then you have lots of other places to dip into.

Highly recommend Budapest and Vienna as well. 

[wallus]

32 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

 

Highly recommend Budapest and Vienna as well. 

I'm in Budapest right now and it's a fun city. My favorite spot has been Bratislava 

[tmwiese55]

New Zealand could be on this list if you're ok with that long of a flight.  Ticks all the boxes, very family friendly.  Tons of variety in things to do and different types of nature/landscapes to see.

[homer]

On 7/2/2026 at 6:28 PM, GAME05 said:

I think it would scare me to death just being a passenger. As a driver I'd probably kill somebody. Or of course I'd get stuck in a London roundabout all day not able to get out and wish we'd have just gone to WallyWorld again.

Big Ben. Parliament...

[homer]

A co-worker took his family to Iceland and they loved it. I was there maybe 18 years ago and had a great time. 

[GAME05]

I have friends in Mongolia you can stay with. Not joking.