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Kidzcationz is a TripAdvisor for kids & it was launched by a 12-year-old Aussie

Why is it that only adults are allowed to share their opinions and give their reviews on TripAdvisor, whilst kids have no such say? Is that fair for kids? After all, it's their holiday too...

Why is it that only adults are allowed to share their opinions and give their reviews on TripAdvisor, whilst kids have no such say? Is that fair for kids? After all, it’s their holiday too…

That was the question Isabella Tipping, or Bella as she likes to be called, grappled with after returning home from a holiday with her family.

“After our last trip when Mum was putting reviews on TripAdvisor, I asked her if I could also do some reviews of my own. I am too young to register for TripAdvisor so I did them on paper. At the end, we compared reviews and Mum was surprised that my reviews were often so much different to hers and she wondered why.”

Isabella Tipping, founder of Kidzcationz.com

She felt that although TripAdvisor (check out the funniest responses to TripAdvisor complaints) was a great platform for adult travellers to review and share their travel experiences, it completely overlooked or ignored the needs of children.

So she did what any 12-year-old would do: she launched her own website (!) – Kidzcationz.com – which is a platform for kiddies to review and share their own experiences at hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world.

Adults: 1 – Kids: 1.

Bella-on-Today-Show

“I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, it is frustrating that unless your family goes to a family holiday resort, children may as well be invisible… What I hope Kidzcationz.com will do is make hotels, restaurants and theme parks/attractions, more aware of the needs of kids because it’s our holiday too!”

Isabella Tipping, founder of Kidzcationz.com

The website is not intended to replace TripAdvisor, Bella says, but is simply there for kids to express their own opinions on what would make their holidays so much more enjoyable. They are also able to rate hotels, attractions and restaurant on a star system, in categories such as Kids Snacks, Kids Entertainment, Wi-Fi, Caring Staff, and Disability Access.

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Among some of the key improvements Bella and no doubt scores of other kids would like to see in the industry include a better selection of food on the kids menu at restaurants (perhaps even the same meals as adults but just in a smaller size and at a kids price) and more comfy beds.

So how  exactly does Kidzcationz.com work?

It’s rather simple.

Like TripAdvisor, users can search for hotels/restaurants/attractions by city or name. They can then scroll through reviews penned by actual kids. Both businesses and kids can register themselves on the site. And just to be safe from online predators, no information about the reviewer is shared and direct communication is not available. Also, instead of profile pictures, reviewers use avatars.

Bella could quite possibly be Australia’s youngest entrepreneur, and we’re mighty chuffed to see her how her ideas will make the travel industry so much better for everyone – kids included.

Will you be using Kidzcationz.com the next time you plan to go on holiday with your family?