vacations 5 Best Destinations to Travel EASILY with Your Family  

If you can get past the enormous expense of going on holiday here, London is an easy adventure for American families. For one thing, they speak English. While, personally, I have a nearly obsessive love of foreign languages, it's true that little things can make or break a family vacation. The detail of not having to whip out a language dictionary or scramble to find someone who can understand your frantic gestures really makes a difference. Especially with small kids in tow. Combine the ease of communication with a clear and intuitive subway system, simple foods, iconic castles and incredible museums, and you have yourself the foundation for a really grand vacation.

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Same language? Check. Familiar foods? Check. Impressive scenery, loads to do and plenty of friendly people to help you out along the way? Check, check and check. The plane ride (and airfare) is nothing to sneeze at, but if you're willing to make the voyage, the rest of your vacation will be a breeze. Not to mention, Australia is the only natural home to koalas and kangaroos - two of childhood's most beloved critters. And if those animals don't give your kids reason to say "g'day," then maybe they can find a different favorite at the Taronga Zoo or Sydney Aquarium. Moderate climate, world-famous architecture and lots of history will also make your trip Down Under come out on top.

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Sweet little Switzerland! Calm, clean, quiet. Incredibly easy to get around, fast and efficient public transportation. Stunning scenery and an abundance of outdoor activities at any time of year. Combine these things with the fact that most people speak three or four languages (odds are that one of them will be yours), and you have the ideal foundation for a phenomenal family trip. It's a bonus that this country also boasts some of the best chocolate (in hot and cold form) on the planet.

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Depending on where you live in the States, it's not that long a flight to the tiny country of Costa Rica. Once there, most people speak English (although I would encourage you to learn some Spanish to be a responsible and conscientious tourist and to set a good example for your kids). Costa Rica is known as the "greenest country in the world," and is a world leader in eco-tourism. Enjoy the amazing wildlife, admire the incredible jungle, and bring home new ideas on how to shrink your family's carbon footprint. Your kids will love the wildlife, and you will love that Costa Rica is a safe and healthy place to travel with your children; several US hospitals even have sister institutions here. But, as with anything, if you have special concerns, talk to your doctors before departure.

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