BYOkids team member Jacinta shares her favourite destinations

BYOkids team member Jacinta shares her favourite destinations


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If you've called our BYOkids office lately or messaged us via Facebook or email then chances are you've e-met our awesome travel guru Jacinta.  We thought it was time you could put a face to our voices and messages and share some of the teams favourite places and pics.

So today we'd like to introduce Jacinta ....

Hi all :) so the reason I love travelling is because I love seeing iconic sights, tasting new foods and really delving deep into the culture and history of a country. I believe that there is no better way to learn about a country than experiencing it firsthand.

I love Bali for families as there is just so much to do. Of course there is all the typical shopping in Kuta, cheap massages, surfing and Waterbom park. But there is so much more to Bali like the Luwak coffee houses, Tegenungan waterfall is a great half day adventure full of hiking, swimming, some beautiful views and lots of photo opportunities.  Tanah Lot is a magnificent temple and well worth the visit for the beautiful views. Treking through the rice paddies in Ubud is a fabulous adventure. The Sacred Monkey village was my favourite and another great half day family adventure as you can really take your time walking through the forest, watching the cute little monkeys, feeding them and taking loads of photos.  Bali is also really great for families on a budget as the food and accommodation is so affordable.

Phuket, Thailand is another fabulous family destination. You can be as active as you wish or if you prefer you can stop and drop.  Relaxing in the pool with a cocktail while your kids swim or play in the kids clubs. The food is really good and cheap, plus there are loads of western options for fussy eaters. James Bond Island and Phi Phi Island are certainly worth taking the time for – but I would probably avoid them during peak season due to the number of visitors. Phi Phi Island is mostly swimming and snorkelling, so really great for anyone wanting to see the beautiful ice blue waters and bright sea life. James Bond Island offers more activities including sea kayaking and taking a walk through the island.
Thailand is a great destination for some cheap shopping or getting pampered in the day spas with massages or mani/pedis and the Thai people are so friendly.  If your family is interested in culture and religion, there are some great temples and the big buddha which are pretty awesome to see.

Vietnam is an ideal destination for active families as there is so much to see and do and I would recommend a tour guide to avoid the language barrier and also to help you get around as it is such a large country. I couldn’t imagine doing it by myself! Hanoi is AWESOME for shopping, especially shoes and has some amazing restaurants. Yummy Vietnamese food! Halong Bay was good but I would probably avoid it during peak season as well.. It’s certainly worth doing at least 1 night on the junk boat – they do offer day tours from Hanoi but I wouldn’t recommend it as this involves 8 hours driving round trip!
Sapa was an absolute highlight for me. A beautiful little French town, the locals were so lovely and it was fabulous trekking into their villages and seeing how they live – an eye opener for young ones I’m sure!
It’s a shame I didn’t get to head south and see the rest of Vietnam, saving that for my next trip, but I think this would be the perfect destination for families who are active and are interested in history and culture.

Japan is fabulous and super easy to get around. The people are so friendly and beautiful. A place for families who are confident travellers as there isn’t much English spoken but there is so much to experience. We offer guided tours which are a good option. Japan is becoming an expensive country to travel, doesn't mean you shouldn't go but you'll just have to factor in when doing your budget ? Its totally worth it though for the history, rich culture, beautiful scenery, lovely people and amazing food! The food is to die for! People often ask me would I take children to Hiroshima?  Its a tough one but personally I wouldn’t skip Hiroshima – You can spend hours in the memorial museum, it’s super sad but a really important part of their history and I think it’s important for people to see and understand the destruction of bombs and war.  Miyajima off Hiroshima is well worth the day trip – an absolutely stunning island with beautiful temples and great little food stalls.
Kyoto is amazing for the golden temple, geishas and the Nara deer park. Osaka is fabulous for families as it has universal studios and the aquarium. Tokyo you can never get bored of! It’s a super busy, crazy city with fabulous restaurants, crazy bars, and amazing shops with quirky Harajuku girl outfits – way too cute!

London was my favourite and you can never, ever, ever get bored here no matter your age. Awesome for history but also engaging little ones with attractions such as Tower of London and London Dungeons. Hyde park is amazing as there is always something going on – loads of gardens with scurrying squirrels, cafes and ice cream shops, horse carriage rides. They also have live music, fairs, ice-skating and more.
London is home to tonnes of museums with interactive displays. Then you have the well known sights of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, London bridge, Tower Bridge, River Thames and the list goes on.

Ireland and Scotland are fabulous and are awesome places to take families.  Visit Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway or Belfast and Derry are fantastic to learn about the history of northern Ireland. Scotland offers fab places to visit and things too see, such as the Edinburgh castle, Loch ness, Isle of Skye, Hairy cows, loads of castles and stunning scenery.  Hiring a car and self driving is a good option as its easy to get around.

Ready to book your next holiday? Call Jacinta now 1300 296 543 message us on Facebook or request a quote online


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