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International Vacation Ideas for a Family of 5 with 3 Teenagers?

Every year my mom plans a horribly boring vacation to a theme park in the US. We've been to Disneyworld, Disneyland, Multiple Six-Flags, Cedar Point, Seaword, and the list goes on and on. My mom isn't exactly the must cultured person which is why she plans such generic family vacations. Our time there usually involves getting on some rides, eating at a Shoney's, and staying in a so-so hotel. I've recently suggested an international trip or even a cruise for our next vacation. She's afraid to be on a cruise because 'you'll get kidnapped'. She probably saw a 6 o'clock new story about the horrible 'dangers' of traveling on a cruise ship. My sisters are mature 12 and 15 year olds who'd appreciate a trip overseas. I'm curious with what locations would keep us very busy . My mom's afraid that we'll go overseas and there will be 'nothing to do except look at things'. Please help me turn our family vacation from a dull theme park visit to an international adventure.

Public Comments

1. If you want a teen-friendly adventure, head to Costa Rica. With some of the world's most lush rain forests and best rapids; it's the tropical vacation you and your family have always dreamed of. Don't believe me? Google it. After you see how much you like it... buy the travel guide (Fodors, Frommers, etc.) and hit the skyways to a memorable vacation

2. I feel your pain!

Does your mom realize that on a cruise ship there are limited places to hide a person when you kidnap them? Anywhere on land is easy to run off, but on a ship you don't really have anywhere else to go.....

If your family is into the outdoors at all, I would suggest Alaska. Plenty of hiking, kayaking, driving tours, boat trips, fishing, and sightseeing.

But you mentioned international....
If you are a beach family, Mexico is great. Try Mazatlan, Cabo, Cancun, etc. There are plenty of things to see as well as the beach.

If you go to Europe, there are plenty of things to see and do and if you get a EuroRail pass, you can jump from country to country without spending much money. There are beautiful areas to go hiking and mountain biking, places to go to the beach, places to see museums and other "educational" things. There are amusement parks there, too, if you want :)