Asia: Family Holidays - Venture Magazine Issue #1 Pages 26-27
Family Values
Kumuka’s new family programme brings Asia alive for children aged six and over. Operations manager Helen Dwyer reflects on the factors that influenced her choice of tours, and the planning that has gone into keeping all ages happy.
The travellers who followed the first Lonely Planet across Asia’s “Hippy Trail” often found it a life-changing experience, an adventure into a world of colour and culture they could never have imagined. Now they want to share their experiences – well some of their experiences – with their children.
Second time round there are differences. They no longer want to rough it, and there’s no fun in hacking round countless hotels with a family in tow. Asia for families has to be clean, easy and fun.
When planning our Asian journeys we started with the guides. These are the individuals who can transform the experience, cope with any problems, and also have the tact to leave you with some down-time when appropriate. With our many years experience of travel in Asia we already knew those who were most family-friendly, the best at entertaining children and those whose mindset was best adapted to enthuse the young.
Then we looked carefully at the itineraries. Long drives
were out. Though there’s always plenty to see young
children don’t always have much patience, so if any
long distances do have to be covered plenty of stops are
scheduled, and for variety we include different means of
transport: boats, domestic flights, tuktuks, long tailed
boats and even ox-carts on occasion.
To keep the trip relaxed we planned in two-night stays at
each major place, with accommodation in family or interconnecting
rooms wherever possible. We made a point of searching out
hotels with swimming pools - perfect places to recharge
in the tropical heat - and made sure there was ample free
time for families to relax together.
Travel should be an adventure for all ages, but especially for children, so we looked at including plenty of activities. Kite flying, elephant rides, noodle making lessons and camel rides all contribute to making the experience unforgettable.
The first few family tours of Asia have just started, and at this early stage often single families have been travelling alone. But we’re never planning large groups for family travel, with group sizes no greater than sixteen. At this stage the famous Kumuka entropy will kick in, with children making friends with each other and their parents sharing their experience with others, loosely connected with fellow travellers if they want, or private and independent if they choose.
These new family programmes open up India, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka to a whole new generation. Venture a little further this year.
Would you take your family to China?
With global travel becoming easier and many more countries
welcoming foreign tourists, there’s more opportunity
than ever to be creative and adventurous when planning your
vacations. This June Kumuka launched their family programmes
to China, and they’re proving very popular...
Twenty seven-year-old Megan Chen escorted the first tour. Here she reflects on a positive pioneering trip.
There were four people on the tour: the parents and two little girls at the age of 10 years. For the children, the happiest day on the tour was when we went to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, even though that day was the longest drive. They were dancing, singing, running and laughing on the wall, for this section is very peaceful and tranquil. So close to nature, they were very excited.
The Temple of Heaven and kite flying in Tiananmen Square were also highlights. Looking at the kite flying high in the blue sky, the children were running and laughing – very, very happy. They didn’t like the museums much, however, although their parents did.
The cooking lesson was a fantastic experience for all of
them. Both the parents and children worked together to prepare
traditional Chinese food under the instruction of a cook,
and then tasted their own work! They loved the noodles!
And, for sure, the parents were also happy when they saw
their children having fun.
The children were very independent; I was surprised. Sometimes
they would go out walking in the evenings but other times
they would just have fun in the hotel, playing games, having
fashion shows, dancing and singing. Always they seemed happy.
What was most funny was that whenever Chinese children saw the foreign children, they were very excited and wanted to talk to them and take photos with them. Both sides felt warm and interested. This experience added unexpected fun to the tour.
Tony Cooper and his family have recently returned from China. He sent us this report.
We have just returned from Shanghai and would like to thank
Kumuka most sincerely for a fantastic holiday. Your dedication,
patience, help, support and desire to fulfil our every wish
made the whole trip a joy and I will certainly use Kumuka
again as well as recommend you to my friends and colleagues.
Right from the initial enquiry you could not have done enough
to accommodate our requirements, and although this meant
a number of changes before we arrived at the final itinerary
it was always a pleasure to deal with you.
The accommodation you arranged was all fantastic, with a special mention for the Minsham Hotel in Chengdu which, as well as being a fantastic hotel, had connecting rooms which meant that we could have the children in one room and us in the other. The sleeper train from Beijing to Xian was fantastic and the children loved the fact that we had a private room.
The guides were all great, and could not do enough for us.
Especially our guide in Shanghai, Ling Ling. Being met at
the airport and train station made travelling with children
so much easier. It also fulfilled one of my daughter’s
dreams of being met on arrival and being whisked away from
the rest of the travellers.
We were initially concerned about travelling with young
children in China, however the itinerary you advised was
ideal and we all had a fantastic time. The cookery classes
and kite flying were excellent.
The fact that the trip included all entrance fees, hotel
and transport charges saved a great deal of time and made
budgeting so much easier. We only had to take a small amount
of spending money with us, some of which we surprisingly
brought back.
We took over 700 photos so there are too many to send, but
here is a small sample.
TOP TIPS
- Don’t expect children to appreciate travel in the same way. Your lifelong dream might be to see the Great Wall of China, but they may be more interested in throwing rocks from the top of it.
- Introduce the local cuisine before you go away so it won’t be too new when they arrive, especially in Asia where rice, noodle and stir fry dishes may be the only option.
- Plan for a quick exit. In any show always sit by the door or aisle in case your little one decides to create a commotion.
- Fire their imagination. Show them movies, pictures or books before the trip.
- Buy them a cheap camera so they can take their own photos, and a map so they can help plot your course.
- Turn the trip into a game by getting your children to spot different landmarks or collect different items so they are constantly on the look out.
- Ask your guide to teach the local games children play so yours can learn something new.
- Bring plenty of diversions for long journeys and down time back at the hotel.
- Buy the gear: travelling clothes, binoculars, travel journals and backpacks all help them appreciate that they are really doing something different.
- Bring some sweets from home for them to share with new friends and look out for local sweets and cakes for them to try.
BRETT WENDORF
Kumuka National Sales Manager, Australia
Our new family tours of Asia mean parents and children can now experience the colourful cultures of India and the Far East, safely and in comfort, without spending too long travelling or straying too far from a hotel swimming pool.
These days long-haul travel with children is a breeze. Kids who’ve grown up with no-frills flights in Europe find long-haul, scheduled flights something of a revelation: attentive stewardesses, seat-back videos and packs of children’s games mean even long journeys pass in a blur.
TRY THESE FAMILY ITINERARIES:
India Family Adventure 12 Days £645 per person
Nepal Family Adventure 13 Days £550 per person
Sri Lanka Family Adventure 12 Days £570 per person
Thailand Family Adventure 14 Days £650 per person
Vietnam Family Adventure 14 Days £755 adult, £570 child
