Tours: Quivertree Expeditions Offers Exceptional “Bucket List” Family Vacations to India and Vietnam.
Looking for a memorable slightly edgy vacation? One that includes not just time away but time to share one-of-a-kind experiences with your family at a pace suited to your own schedule. Consider a family trip to Asia provided by Quivertree.
Here’s the scoop. Quivertree Family Expeditions is fast emerging as a leader in custom designed trips for families to Asia because they have been there with their own kids and know what it takes to create vacation experiences for families to share.
While India and Vietnam have not made the mainstream family vacation list both destinations have always been on the destination menu for travel junkies. Once regarded as “too exotic” for kids, this is clearly no longer the case. The reality is that there are many excellent hotels and vastly improved transport options making it easy for families to share the sights, sounds, dress and food of South and South East Asia. But exactly how to do it with kids remains the question. A question easily answered by Quivertree.
“We find that many parents looking to take their kids to India or Vietnam visited these countries as backpackers before they ever thought of kids. Now, they feel the travel bug in them calling again, and they are looking to revisit old haunts and explore new ones, but this time with their kids!” says Nurick.
Nurick’s perspective on family travel to India. “We’ve noticed that while the classic Indian destinations such as Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur remain popular, other parts of India are forging ahead. South India is becoming a huge destination - it’s cheaper, and has a wide variety of family friendly destinations. Ancient temples as tall as skyscrapers, jungles teeming with elephants and house boating on the lush Kerala backwaters are just some of the highlights of South India, and it is very welcoming to families. We’ve had families with kids as young as three travel with us.”
Thinking about Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos? 
He also confides that Vietnam continues to grow in popularity as well as Cambodia and Laos. “It isn’t that long ago when Vietnam was still a very unlikely choice for travelers of any age, but the tourist infrastructure today is excellent and we have families with kids of all ages visiting Vietnam these days. Hanoi, the capital with its lakes and bustling markets, Halong Bay - one of the most incredible natural sights in the world, and the old towns of Hue and Hoi An often feature prominently in people’s wish lists. As infrastructure improves so does accessibility to areas once thought almost impossible to visit. Luxury trains now run daily from Hanoi to the mountain town of Sapa, and from that location families can venture into the verdantly green rice-terraced North West, with its minority tribes and untouched villages.”
Go for the food. Really? An odd statement to align with a family vacation but according to Nurick both India and Vietnam are incredibly family friendly as exemplified by the food offerings. Chefs are very aware of what foreign guests can or cannot tolerate, and families will often be advised what the friendliest food is for kids. In India, Navratan Khorma is a popular dish for kids. With raisins, cashew nuts and vegetables, it’s especially great for younger children plus delicious Darjeeling tea and Alfonso mangoes – probably the tastiest mangoes in the world.
Follow your own route. Quivertree is all about family vacation freedom. Families tend to travel with their own car and driver in Asia. In both countries vehicles are modern and comfortable, and very often the driver will become a valued family friend. Travel like this makes a family far more independent, and while on the road they can stop whenever they like - for snacks, restroom breaks or just to stretch their legs. As far as accommodation goes, hotels are available at all levels - India has some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, but it also has a vast array of good three and four star hotels, as well as excellent guesthouse and bed and breakfast accommodations.
All Quivertree itineraries are original. 
They know families are all different, and each trip is created to suit the needs of the family. In addition, parents or grandparents set the vacation budget prior to planning so there are no surprises when it comes to costs.
Bonus points: Quivertree now offers custom-designed
family safaris to Africa and India - and the folks at Quivertree have gone on safari with their families to both destinations, making them the ultimate experts!
About Quivertree. The company was founded by two brothers Gideon and Philip Nurick. Originally from South Africa, they are definitely citizens of the world and seem to be nurturing citizens of the world through their own family travel junkets. They are masters of family travel to places on the planet not normally found on the popular family travel list. The Nuricks know from their own family travel that most adults want a vacation that is worthwhile and memorable, yet enjoyable - meaning fun for the children and fun for adults. Like the remarkable quivertree which is the company’s symbol, the company provides unique and memorable ways for families to experience the world together – one trip at a time.
The Quivertree concept is simple. They facilitate dream vacations for parents and kids. They are cognizant of the fact that family trips remain part of each family's collective memory and they take careful steps to ensure all members feel included. Knowing no two families are the same, no two vacations created by Quivertree are the same but they are flexible and often innovative.
How it works. Quivertree begins the planning process at their website with a simple, online questionnaire to determine a family’s vacation personality by identifying interests, likes, dislikes, tolerance for adventure, and of course any deal breakers. Quivertree will reply with trip suggestions based on your family’s interests. Agree on the cost of the trip; make a deposit and they take care of the details. They are as hands-on or as hands-off as you desire.
Locations on the planet. They offer independent family travel to Colombia, Guatemala, France, Spain, Turkey, India, Israel & Jordan, Morocco, Southern Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. This is the stuff for family travel junkies.
Make it happen. If you have questions call (778) 986-6727 (Canada), (206) 313-2770 (USA), or toll-free 1-800-235-9941 or
quivertreeworld.com Content by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF based on an interview with Philip Nurick, Co Founder of Quivertree. Images credited to Quivertree. Copyright 2011.
