Hello!

I recently went on my first international vacation (1 week in Costa Rica with my science teacher and a group of classmates, it was AMAZING!!!) and now my mother, who has never left the USA in her life, really wants to take a family vacation somewhere.

It would be me (16), my mom (46) and my sister (12). We're considering bringing a friend of mine and a friend of my sister's as well.

So...just one problem...we're not exactly sure where to go.

Our main two things that are going to narrow it down are budget and that we don't want to be stuck in a foreign country where no one speaks any english...my mom & i know enough spanish to get by ok, but french, german, arabic, and pretty much everything else are beyond us...Other than that we're pretty much open to anywhere the wind may blow us..

Any ideas?

It would help to 1) have some idea about your budget [eg, 3* hotels, or more Motel 6 type places, etc] and 2) what are your interests?

BTW - you really shouldn't worry about being "stuck" in some places (like most of Europe) if not versed in the native language. Always good to know a few phrases, but you can get by just fine with a good attitude.

Why dont you go to Barbados in the caribbean crystal clear water lots of nice beaches its an english speaking island,i am going there in september and i have found a villa on perfectplaces.com on the west coast with a free car it will cost me $800usd per week to rent it.

Do you want beaches or cities? Museums and art galleries or markets? History or nature? Don't worry too much about language - I only speak English and a little French, and I've managed in a lot of places. But if you head south you could use that Spanish.

Budget doesn't matter too much, except for airfare. Most places will have budget, mid-range, and expensive options.

Your mother must be a trooper, but she might be happier and less stressed with another adult along!

Suggest spending some time in the library or bookstore with the glossy travel guides. That may help narrow things down. It does sound like South America might be a good fit, although Europe could be even easier.

The vast majority of people in major cities in Europe speak at least enough English for you to feel comfortable. But I concur with the others that interests play a big part, as well as time of the year (some places may be cheaper than others at certain times of the year). I've heard amazing things about Ireland if you don't mind driving on the opposite side of the road, or you can take public transport if you'd prefer. Scotland is also very beautiful and not as pricey as London. Accents might cause a bit of a problem but they do speak English!

I agree that language will not be a barrier. And a Caribbean cruise might be a good idea, 10-11 nights if you sail as far as Barbados which is English speaking. The southern and eastern CAribbean cruises bring you into a variety of cultures, architecture, scenery. There will be activities and tours appropriate for your ages. Your mom would be fine with no other adult along if she's sociable and willing to take part in onboard activities on days when the ship is at sea. You can get your best vacation for your money on a cruise if you shop carefully. Four in a stateroom? Yes, it can be arranged, and the 3rd and 4th person sail at very low cost. Check out vacationstogo.com or find an agent who will give you catalogs of various cruise lines. First timers are well taken care of. Good luck!!

How about trying a simple Mexican vacation? There are wonderful places to visit - from seaside to mountains. You can visit ruins, shop, snorkle, sample different foods, and see a new culture. Your bit of Spanish will get by - you can practice even more while you're there. Mexico is easy to get to from the U.S. and very inexpensive now.

My favorite location is Cozumel. I like it because it is a small island that offers all of the above. The people are really, really, really nice and friendly and its extremely safe for ladies on their own.

Things to Do:
http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Page...sToDoIndex.htm

A good condo:
http://www.coralprincess.com/

Only Americans are monlingual; most people in other countries speak English as well as their native language. That said, I'd go with London--the "other" English speaking country! ...fabulous city and cheap airfares abound.
Safe travels