Family trips should be an annual thing, don’t you agree?
It’s during those moments that we make the best memories. And while we’re still able to do all these traveling, we encourage you to take it as much as you can.
Your travel budget can be something that you can work hard for, but the time spent with your family is hard to come by especially now that other factors are getting in the way like a mismatched schedule, career priorities, or the kids can’t stay out of school for too long.
But once you have that opportunity to make new memories with the family, we say grab it along with your best-checked luggage (which by the way, you can share with your sister or your mom, or however you want it).
Now, once you finally got that rare chance to bring the family together, you can take a look at these seven places that you can visit with the rest of the brood this 2020.
1. Kotor, Montenegro
If you belong in a family who likes anything out of the ordinary, then this fortified town in Montenegro might tickle your senses.
With countless Romanesque churches within its medieval towns, you and your family will have a ball exploring the charm of an old town sans the crowd. There are fewer tourists on this side of the Adriatic coast, so you probably have a higher chance to go about your way without the sometimes annoying group of tourists blocking your way.
If your schedule would allow it, plan the trip during the Kotor Festival of Theatre for Children, which happens every July. It’s a real treat for traveling families, especially for the kids.
2. Hawaii, USA
Hawaii will always be a part of this list every year because you can never grow tired of visiting its beaches. The tropical vibe that surrounds this little state in the middle of the Pacific Ocean can make you feel like it’s summer all year long.
In Maui, the Luana Garden Villas is perfect for family getaways. It’s a fairly new resort with lots of pools that your kids and kids-at-heart can jump into any time they feel like swimming.
There are also adrenaline-pumping activities that the older members of the group can try like hiking its picture-perfect hills and mountain, so make sure to bring your hiking poles.
You can also experience ocean adventures like parasailing and snorkeling.
3. Nikko, Japan
Away from the touristy spots of Tokyo or Osaka, Nikko reveals a more quiet side of the land of the rising sun with elaborate temples and shrines to stimulate your history-loving self.
Aside from its gold-structured temples, it’s also famous for its beautiful mountains and natural springs where you can bathe to fight the biting cold weather.
If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be greeted by wild monkeys from afar, and that’s one great family memory to go back to during reunions. It can be a subject of laughter when you remember how you waved at a wild monkey, and it waved right back at you.
Don’t worry, Nikko may seem like a remote town up the mountains, but it is just two hours away from Tokyo.
4. Kyushu, Japan
Another Japanese tourism haven perfect for families is the subtropical town of Kyushu.
If you think Japan’s charm is mostly about snow-capped mountains and hills for skiing, then you probably haven’t heard of Kyushu where the climate is close to that of a tropical country.
Sceneries around the area include active volcanoes, beaches, and natural hot springs.
On the other hand, it’s also home to the city of Fukuoka, where you can have an excellent food hopping tour. There are also lots of museums around this city if you’d like to get to know the history of the place you are visiting.
The best way to go to Kyushu from Tokyo is via the Shinkansen, Japan’s famed bullet train, which will only take you about 5 hours.
5. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok was the world’s most visited city in 2019, and that’s for four years in a row already.
If you’re wondering why this is the case, Bangkok is a highly developed city (plagued with a little bit of road congestion, but nothing you can’t bear) with a rich and colorful culture.
It’s very different from the streets of America, but it’s a unique and fascinating one. Once you’ve experienced its culture, one plate of pad thai or a bowl of tom yum will no longer be enough. Their generous serving of each dish is something that will charm you to go back to this beautiful city every year.
Bangkok has a good mix of the old and the new. You can hop around different temples which represents the ancient side of the city, and then take that much-needed bottle of beer along the famous Khao San Road where a lot of street parties are happening.
6. Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark is considered to be one of the top-notch countries in the world. Why? It’s the world’s happiest and the cleanest country. So, to have this on your list of countries to visit with your family this year is one that we can highly approve of.
Copenhagen, being the happy capital, is very much a lively place for everyone to see and experience. They have this “hygge” spirit that translates to a feeling of coziness and contentment. It’s like a vibe that you would want to bring home, and if you stay long enough in this city, you might be able to do just that.
There are a lot of ‘happy places’ that you can visit in Copenhagen, including the Tivoli Gardens, which is the second oldest amusement park in the world. It still has the same vibrant charm it had when it first opened to the public with its gardens and playgrounds for the kids.
If you’re a foodie, you can visit the Michelin-starred Geranium, which offers a diverse Scandinavian cuisine.
7. Sri Lanka
Another Asian country on the list is the beautiful, exotic country that is Sri Lanka.
Its rich history dating back to at least more than 2,000 years of relics and ruins would be an interesting point of discussion for the family. Its famous pagodas have seen countless phases of the moon and the sun, making it a great spot for the history buffs.
Apart from that, you might be interested in taking a glimpse of the life of monks in the country. There are several places where you can spot them meditate or take their usual daily routine.
You can also visit Sigiriya, Sri Lanka’s famous rock fortress, which is referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It’s an ancient volcanic formation that later became a palace-fortress and has remained to be one of the most visited sites in the country.
Whatever country you choose from this list, the most important thing is that you decided to spend more quality time with your family—something that you’d be thankful for in the future.