Wondering where to go for your kid’s fall break? October is free kids month in San Diego! More than 100 partners are participating in this event, which allows kids to eat, stay and play free for the entire month, including Sea World San Diego, The San Diego Zoo, and LegoLand. Check out San Diego hotel savings at hotels.com.
Visit http://kidsfreesandiego.org for all the deals!
Enjoy a beach vacation with your family this summer at a resort where everyone will have fun. (Photo courtesy of travelblat.com)
There’s something so simple about a beach vacation. Building sandcastles, hunting for seashells and playing together at the shore. Who am I kidding? At today’s beach resorts the beach is merely a backdrop to the array of activities available to families. From tween clubs to teen spas and toddler tennis lessons, hotels are taking family-friendly to a new level. But of course, what’s right for a family with an infant may not be right for a family with teenagers.
Parents.com recently published its list of Top 10 Kid-friendly resorts, which also includes the top 50 hotels that nearly made the cut to help make finding that right resort a little bit easier. But I have some advice, too.
The Resort where everyone has a Nanny
Franklyn D Resort & Spa- Not only is the Franklyn D. an affordable all-inclusive resort full of fun for the whole family, but this Jamaican property assigns a full-time nanny to your family for the duration of your stay – kids love them, the parents love them. It’s just one of the reasons families come back to this Runaway Bay spot year after year.
Vegetables with every meal
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa- This San Diego resort serves healthy, three-course meals for kids at its gourmet restaurant; nutritious options — including a free appetizer of veggies and dipping sauces — are offered at all on-site eateries. And like all Loews Hotels, the resort boasts a Did-You-Forget Closet complete with the baby/child items that we all forget sometimes.
Can you tell me how to get to…
Beaches Turks & Caicos- A stay at this Caribbean resort will take you from the beach to Sesame Street and down to Trench Town. Toddlers to teens are completely entertained at this all-inclusive resort. The list of what is included (tips, activities, food, drinks, and so much more) is way longer than what isn’t.
The quintessential family beach resort
Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha’s Vineyard. Antique fire truck rides, a life-size chess game, complimentary kid’s and parent/toddler program, a farm across the street, lemonade and cookies and oh yeah, the beach.
Don’t let your good parental judgment go on vacation. Hotel kid programs are not meant for you to shirk your parenting responsibilities. It’s a family vacation and that means no falling asleep at the pool when the kids are in it and you should find out how a hotel screens their kids club staff BEFORE you put them in it. Don’t assume that just because a place feels like paradise that it is. If programs are well run kids will love them. And, if you need an adult-only vacation, and we all need one, then plan that trip another time without your children.
I’m going to cheat a little bit on my topic and throw in Cruising. The benefits of taking children on a cruise include the following:
I hope you and your families make some fantastic summer vacation memories and when you do, write to me here and share your experiences! A reminder about the awesome Check-In/Cash-Out Summer Sale from Hotels.com: you can plan that summer beach vacation, save 30% at hotels and resorts AND get up to a $100 Visa gift card. Have fun!
A little rest on the trip helps everybody. Genna Grace liked her naps on the beach during our summer vacation.
I’m often asked by other parents, who are fraught with dread over traveling with their children, to give them some tips for a successful family vacation experience beyond how to get the best airfares and the best hotels for families. They want to know how to make sure things go smoothly during their trips.
We’ve all heard the stories and probably could tell a few ourselves of a time when a child, perhaps our own, was temporarily possessed by some demonic force and screamed their way through a dinner, or worse a flight with 300 passengers held captive on a plane for four hours. The whole family can avoid those times with a little preparation and practice before leaving on a family trip.
As I recently shared with Oprah.com in the article 11 Ways to Ruin a Summer Vacation, I’ll share with you now Five Ways to Avoid A Travel Melt-Down.
1. Make sure your child is well rested BEFORE you travel. This may seem counter-intuitive but the excitement and newness of a trip whether by road or by air will not induce sleep but prevent it. I like to travel first thing in the morning after a good night’s sleep or after an afternoon nap. Children who are overtired are also often impossible to reason with or console. I once took my 18-month old son on a business trip with me and because of scheduling he missed his nap. What ensued ranks #1 on my list of worst travel experiences ever. He couldn’t sit still, he screamed, he was SO tired and I was to blame. My normally easy to manage son was unrecognizable and there was very little that I could do (and I was trying everything). I take full responsibility for his behavior that day and still feel so badly that I put him in that position. He finally fell asleep under my feet on the floor of the airplane and the flight attendant let me leave him there. Yes it happened but it will not happen again.
2. Involve the whole family in the trip planning. I’m sure you have heard me say it before but getting the whole family involved in planning vacation activities can definitely reduce conflict later. Once you have chosen the vacation destination, build some excitement and anticipation by learning about the trip together. Check out books at the library and search online for great activities for all ages. By allowing each member of the family (no matter how young) to choose something for you all to do, even as simple as selecting a restaurant for dinner, you give each person an equal stake in the trip’s success. It’s a great way to turn that apathetic teenager into a somewhat eager participant and to help a younger traveler understand that everyone is going to have a great time
I try to give them choices when choosing fun activities so they feel like they've helped in the planning too.
3. Plan for no plans. Rome wasn’t built in a day and you can’t see it all in one either. Trust me! I know how fantastic it is to be on vacation, but take time for some rest and relaxation. Allow some downtime for the baby to rest at the hotel where it is cool and quiet. Babies absorb everything around them including new sights and sounds. Help keep the baby happy by not overdoing it. Even if you are the type to go, go, go, you never know when you’ll want to spend some additional time in a museum, taking in local entertainment, or simply hanging at the hotel’s pool. Even older children need their rest. The trip will go more smoothly by giving everyone a chance to relax and rebuild energy.
4. Embrace tween independence: Tweens enjoy vacations that allow them some independence in the midst of the family vacation. Whether it’s a ski vacation and they are allowed to meet up with their parents at the end of a run, or on a cruise where they can have “tween time” in the kids program. Being a tween is all about being “capable” so finding activities and opportunities for them to do this will help your trip to be more enjoyable. Vacations are a great way to give tweens a taste of autonomy in a fairly controlled environment.
5. Keep the kids busy. This is not to contradict #3 but when you are on a trip, in particular around other travelers such as on an airplane, make sure that you have plenty of what you need in your carry-on: diapers, wipes (which are great for a multitude of things), medications, change of clothes, lots of snacks, and a few secret activity/coloring books. Often times it is the boredom that begets bad behavior so keep little ones busy and keep everyone happy.
Traveling with kids can be so easy and enjoyable. Just like anything else, a little preparation goes a long way to staying calm and having a good time. After all, travel is a gift we should all experience. Providing opportunities for our children to experience other places, people and cultures will not only help broaden their horizons but give them perspective as they develop into the remarkable young people we hope that they will become.
Planning an upcoming family trip? Tell me about it and let me know your best family travel tip!
Enjoy the rides at Santa's Workshop/North Pole in Colorado (photo courtesy of santa-colo.com)
Want to see more Christmas lights than you can imagine? Catch the big jolly guy in the red suit? Perhaps ride a roller coaster all in the same day? Then consider one of America’s theme parks this holiday season!
From Pennsylvania to California, holiday celebrations abound! Here are a few of the holiday-specific celebrations taking place this year.
1. The North Pole and Santa’s Workshop
Located south of Denver in Colorado Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak, this Christmas-themed park shines during the holiday season. Enjoy the Candy Cane Coaster and the Peppermint Slide, and of course get some time with old Saint Nick at Santa’s House.
2010 dates: The park is open daily except Wednesdays and Thursdays, through Dec. 24.
2. Hersheypark
In Hershey, PA you’ll find the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane complete with rides for all ages, festive decorations and lots of hot chocolate. Hershey Sweet Lights is a drive trail that features two miles of twinkling lights on 600 animated displays.
2010 dates: Nov. 12 to 21, 24 to 28, Dec. 2 to 5, 9 to 23, and 26 to 31.
3. Dollywood
Located in Pigeon Forge (near Knoxville), TN, the sounds of the season are already in full effect in Dollywood and its Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration that features musicals such as Babes in Toyland and Christmas in the Smokies and of course, a Parade of Lights. At Santa’s Workshop, children will be able to make their own holiday craft projects.
2010 dates: Nov. 6 – Jan. 1.
Nothing says Christmas quite like a night at Mickey’s Very Magic Christmas Party, a special event held each winter on select nights at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, FL. Snow falls on Main Street, hot cocoa and cookie stations pepper the park, and parades fill the night with music and lights.
2010 dates: Nov. 8, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 30 and Dec. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 ,16, 17, 19. Order tickets ahead by calling (407) WDISNEY.
Experience the Macy’s Holiday Parade all season long including some of Macy’s signature giant balloons, floats, street performers, and guest marching bands. This year there are nightly music performances and a holiday village at the Orlando, FL theme park. There will also be a daily tree-lighting ceremony, and smaller holiday shows featuring some of the park’s characters.
2010 dates: Dec. 4 to Jan. 1.
6. Legoland
Experience Holly Jolly Holidays at Legoland California near San Diego. Legoland lights its unique Christmas tree made entirely of Lego bricks as well as a Lego brick Santa and reindeer. The whole family will enjoy the Let It Snow holiday show which begins performances on November 20th.
2010 dates: December 2010.
Wherever you may be going this holiday season, I wish you problem-free travels and wonderful memories in the making! In the meantime, here are a few reminders for traveling with kids and packing. I’ll have more holiday travel tips for you in an upcoming post. Stay tuned!
Julie and her family live in Canada and are looking for affordable destination advice
Here’s a recent e-mail I received that I wanted to share with the rest of you:
Hi Nicole,
I came across your website (travelsmartblog.com) while searching Google for advice on traveling with young children. My husband & I are hoping to take our two young boys on a family vacation in January 2012 as a celebration of our anniversary & my husband’s college graduation (finally!). We won’t have a large budget, but do hope to fly somewhere with warm weather as where we live tends to be rather cold in the winter. Where would you recommend traveling to, considering a small budget, two young children and the time of year? We are not experienced travelers but would like to change that in the future. I appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks for your time! – Julie P.
Julie, your question is a great one and I wanted all the TSB readers to benefit from the answer on choosing an affordable, family-friendly, warm weather escape (I also discussed this in a video from June) during the winter.
When you are choosing a warm weather destination on a budget the most important things to think about are affordability, the value of your accommodations, and (believe it or not) the typical weather conditions at time of travel.
Affordability is ideal because you are working within a budget and much like ski areas, warm weather destinations are often at a premium in the winter. Planning ahead is key to finding the right place at the right price, so kudos to you for being so on top of your trip coordination. You will save money on airfare if you consider destinations that have a greater number of direct flights from your city or good connections from other U.S. cities. Also avoid popular school vacation weeks when planning your long weekend getaway. Both airfares and hotel prices will be considerably lower.
By value I mean what needs/desires does a hotel need to have to make you happy? Every person may have a different idea of what he deems important which would then dictate the value the resort actually offers. A hotel with a wide variety of amenities, services and family-specific programs would be a high-value resort for you. Look for features such as complimentary breakfasts, kids eat free, children’s pools and programs, and on-site babysitting. Because let’s face it, mom and dad deserve a romantic dinner on this vacation, too. Hotels.com allows you to search by amenity such as family-friendly to find the right accommodations for your trip.
The weather is important to consider as well. Even Florida can get chilly in January so if you want the sun and the sand, you will need to travel a bit more to the south. Most temperatures in the Caribbean and Mexico are on average in the 80s during the day through the month of March.
Here are a few destinations to consider:
1. Sanibel and Captiva Islands, FL
Sanibel and Captiva are small barrier islands on the southwest coast of Florida that are known worldwide for their seashells. Your best airport access is Ft. Myers, but you could even fly into Orlando and spend a day or two at the theme parks on either end of your trip; as it is only a two and a half hour drive to the coastal retreat. Quaint beachfront cottages and hotels are strewn along the tropical gulf front such as South Seas Island Resort.
2. Cancun
Cancun knows how to handle visitors and with a newly remodeled airport and tons of flights in and out daily, it makes for an easy winter vacation. There are a variety of family friendly resorts in Cancun including all-inclusive resorts, which are often a nice choice when you need to know your trip costs up front.
A scuba diver’s paradise! I think the island of Roatan is about to explode in popularity so get the jump on everybody else while it is still very reasonable. Not only can you eat well and sleep comfortably on a traveling budget but I experienced some of the best snorkeling ever right off the beaches of Roatan. And the kids love it too with the Roatan Zoo & Island Adventure nearby.
4. Puerto Rico
Leave the passports at home, Puerto Rico may be the easiest destination to get to with direct flights from many airports throughout the U.S. and Canada. The island is steeped in culture and history with old forts peppering the coastline that used to ward off pirates that beckon to today’s visitors. No matter your budget or interests, Puerto Rico has accommodations for even the most discriminating travelers. I find that most hotels are very family-friendly and offer a wealth of complimentary water activities (such as snorkeling and sea kayaking) as well as programs designed to entertain all ages.
5. Aruba
Beautiful family-filled beaches are the norm in Aruba. Even though the island is only six square miles, you can experience diverse topography from rocky cliffs to pristine beaches to desert cactus on the interior of the island. Look for resorts on Eagle Beach and Palm Beach.
6. Cruising
'Cruising' with my kids on a recent family vacation
Bargains abound for cruising (outside of peak holiday weeks) with the introduction of some of the largest and newest ships in the last year alone. Families can take a cruise vacation from three to seven days departing from cities in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and California and visit a wide variety of ports in the Bahamas, Mexico, and the Caribbean. I recently traveled with my three and five year old children aboard the Carnival Legend out of Tampa, FL. An avid cruiser, I was impressed to say the least. The ship wasn’t the newest or the largest but what it lacked in the latest innovations it made up for in the quality of the food, the ports, the cleanliness, the staff and service and of course, the children’s programs. Cruise Critic is a great resource for comparing and choosing your next cruise.
Here is a view of the Panama Canal, which I'm hoping to checkout on my family reunion this week! (photo courtesy of nationalgeographic.com)
This week I am actually enjoying and exploring the beautiful country of Panama. Am I alone? On the contrary! I am a small cog in the machine that is my husband’s family reunion. Yes, 70 of our closest relatives (how close can you be, right?) are touring the land that many of them grew up in, reminiscing and making new memories. This trip was a year in the making once the planning really got underway, and I am happy to report that on this one, I was a willing bystander to those who were in charge of the travel coordination.
Family Reunion trips are really special and well worth the effort to plan and attend such an event. However, planning is key so here are a few of my best tips for planning a destination family reunion.
1. Start early – The more time you have to plan the better and the more time your family has to make plans to attend. Not to mention that time = $avings.
2. Choose a date and length of the vacation – Summer is the most popular time for a family reunion because children are typically out of school, but there are many long weekends and holiday weeks throughout the school year that may work for your group. Ask potential reunion-goers via email about their interest in having a reunion as well as the dates and place. Also, after gauging the initial interest, send 3-4 dates from that reunion-goers can choose the date that works best for them. Make it clear that the date with the most possible attendees will be the date selected. You don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable if they can’t make it.
INSIDER TIP: When dealing with communication to a large group, it’s better to give choices than to ask for suggestions.
3. Choose the location – Now that you know when you can go, where will you go? Perhaps, like my husband’s family, you want to return to or visit an area that the family hails from. If your group has an interest in family history, exploring your roots can be a lot of fun for multiple generations. I know my children are really enjoying getting to see where Mimi grew up! Or, if ancestry isn’t the reason for the destination maybe recreation is. Beaches, mountains and amusement parks are also great locales for a gathering group. After all, you want the reunion to be about having fun together. Many attractions offer group rates and discounts so be sure to call them and inquire about those separately as prices are often dictated by your group size and not usually shared online. Celebratory reunions are a great reason to gather. Is there a golden anniversary, birthday or special occasion that you can all get together to celebrate? There are many destinations, resorts, and cruises that cater to just such get-togethers when location is merely the backdrop to all the great times that you will have together.
4. Facebook It! - Now that you know who is going, when the reunion trip will take place, and where you are going, create an event page on Facebook and invite all those attending as well as the potential attendees who might find themselves available at the last minute (Uncle Kenny). Where were we before Facebook?! Now you have a central location for your group to share their excitement, ideas, photos and old family stories AND all the details related to the actual reunion. Events can be made to be private so that only those that are invited to join the page can see and share its content. I recommend having more than one page administrator to share that responsibility. And, continue to use the event page post-trip to share photos, videos and your favorite reunion memories.
5. Make Accommodation Reservations – Having time to book rooms and secure great rates is pivotal to the success of your trip. Most hotels, big and small, including websites, such as Hotels.com, work with groups to help accommodate their needs. Even more reassuring is that they have dedicated personnel focused squarely on group business. Here are the things that you need to know when booking accommodations:
6. Plan Activities and Meals – Everything will run much more smoothly and your family will have a great time if you coordinate group activities and meals. After all, you are going on this trip to be together, right? Activities can range from site-seeing tours to group-bonding activities such as white water rafting, ropes courses and golf tournaments, visiting museums and cultural and historic landmarks, and of course, a few sit-down meals that you all enjoy together (And if you are like my mother-in-law, bring along a few silly reunion prizes to award on family dinner nights!).
So there you have a few tips to get you started planning that next great family reunion getaway! I look forward to sharing my experiences from the Panamanian family reunion with you. Have you planned or been on a recent family trip? I’d love to hear about it! Share it here! Also, if you aren’t sure about where to visit, remember you can checkout Virtual Vacation to explore some of the great destinations this country has to offer.
Hotels and resorts are so much more than a place to rest your weary head. In fact, many are going above and beyond to keep the whole family entertained. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas has introduced themed summer camps for children that are so much fun they may never want to leave. So if you’re looking for some amazing summer fun in paradise this summer, then checkout this conversation with my friend, Amanda Felts, Vice President of Guest Activities Programming at Atlantis!
Q:Atlantis is such a fun destination resort to begin with, what made Atlantis decide to offer themed camps for kids?
A: We have great partnerships with the Miss Universe Organization, LEGO Systems, Inc. and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and felt it was the perfect extension to these partnerships to offer a unique one of a kind experience that our guests have come to not only expect, but appreciate. Then we realized that we have wonderful assets right here on property that we could offer to our guests, who would like to have a more in depth look at our Marine, Culinary, Golf and Hotel operations. For kids, Atlantis is not just a resort or simply a “place” to play with mom and dad. There may be no resort in the world better suited to that zest for discovery and pleasure than Atlantis, with its incomparable ruins of ancient Atlantis populated by schools of sharks, rays and tropical fish, its waterslides, its white-sand beaches and swimming pools, to its remarkably diverse dining experiences. Kids typically go off to a summer camp but just imagine going to a summer camp where the whole family gets to enjoy their own “camp” experience. We are a destination with something for everyone – spa, casino, golf, water slides, and dolphins just to name a few – and the kids have their own unique camp experience. This is a win-win situation for the entire family – kids get their camp experience by day and family time at night.
Q. Tell me, briefly, about the different camps?
A: The four-night/five-day Atlantis Fantasy Camps provide an opportunity for guests between the ages of seven and 17 to pursue one of their dream goals or career with a variety of different edutainment camp programs suited to specific age groups and interests. Campers can learn to cheer with one of the world’s most famous cheering squads during Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Fantasy Camp. At the Kids Culinary Adventure Fantasy Camp, young foodies will cook up culinary creations and even design their own birthday cake. For young LEGO fanatics, the LEGO Fantasy Camp will offer kids the opportunity to work with LEGO Master Builders for tips on perfecting their building and construction skills.
Pricing for the four-night/five-day camps are $495 per camper (not inclusive of room cost), and includes activities such as dolphin interaction, admission to Atlantis Kids Adventures, select meals and more. The Fantasy Camp sessions will take place during various dates beginning June 28 through August 13, 2010. For a full list of Fantasy Camp session dates and prices.
Q. What if you already have a reservation at Atlantis this summer during the time of one of the camps, can you enroll on site?
A: Yes, we will allow enrollment based on availability. For Atlantis reservations, click here.
Q. What do parents need to know about a vacation at Atlantis?
A: That we certainly have something for everyone – young and old alike. We offer the perfect combination of fun and learning for the whole family on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
Q. Any other events or new features that will be taking place this summer at Atlantis?
A: Our Atlantis Live Concert Series continues this summer on July 17th with Katy Perry.
The kids are buckled, behaved, and ready to head to Florida
So we’ve talked about choosing a family-friendly hotel and some great destinations for families, but are you ready to take the trip? I sure hope so! Family travel is what memories are made of but just in case you are still nervous, here are a few more tips to keep your travels problem free.
1. Pack light: Bring only the essentials. The more you bring, the more you have to keep up with and the heavier the bags. Kids can require a lot of stuff: car seats, strollers, cribs, high chairs. Check out http://www.babysaway.com/ where you can rent gear instead of packing it all. Some car rental companies also rent child safety seats and some hotels offer childproof rooms or cribs upon request. Call ahead and find out which items you can cut from your packing list.
2. Expect the unexpected: Not to contradict tip no. 1, but make sure you have plenty of what you need in your carry-on: diapers, wipes (which are great for a multitude of things), medications, change of clothes, snacks, and a secret coloring book.
3. Bring toys and games – quiet ones: Be sure to bring something to keep everyone entertained, but leave the singing Barneys and beeping video games at home. You and everyone else will be glad you did. Backpacks for each child: Toddler or teen – give each child his own backpack to carry with their chosen toys/books/etc. The catch is if they pack it, they carry it. Trust me, one heavy backpack experience and they’ll learn just how much to take to Grandma’s.
** Parents Note: check the backpacks to make sure there are not any toys with water elements (ex. a toy train car) or Play-Doh (TSA considers this a potential explosive device.) as they will be confiscated.
4. Car seats: Do NOT count as checked luggage on any airline. You will NOT be charged. Get yourself a durable car seat cover and check it for your trip. Nicole’s secret tip: when your suitcase is over 50 lbs, avoid the overweight fees and stick some of those extra clothes in the car seat bag.
5. Airplane seats: If your child is under the age of two, then he/she technically does NOT need a paid seat on the plane. Be prepared to prove your child’s age. I.E. – birth certificate. I recommend that you purchase a seat for your infant once the child is mobile (even if he’s only one year) especially for flights over 2 hours in length. The airplane seat allows them their own space to wiggle and dramatically reduces on-board melt-downs.
6. TSA Security Screening can really delay you if you aren’t prepared. Know this: medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Babies do have to take off their shoes, too. So go for velcro on travel day. Plan ahead! Practice getting that stroller broken down quickly!
7. Eat breakfast where kids eat free and split meals. This can mean an enormous saving for a family of four or larger. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates. Many do free meals for kids (with the purchase of an adult meal) on different days of the week.
8. Bring your own stroller. If you’re going to visit theme parks then this can save you $7 to $30 (for a double) a day in rental fees.
9. Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at restaurants around your destination. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day just buying water.
10. The most important tip of all is to be flexible. Lines will be long, traffic will be heavy, flights will be delayed and children (and adults) will get grumpy. But with just a little planning and an open mind, you’ll survive and enjoy another family vacation.
Have any specific questions about traveling with kids? Let me know and I’ll answer it here on the Travel Smart Blog.
My daughter, Genna Grace, collecting seashells in Florida
Now that you know what to look for in a hotel when traveling with your motley crew, here are my top picks for family-friendly fun this summer.
Summer and the great outdoors go hand in hand, and that’s why a visit two some of our National Parks should definitely be on your to-do trip list. Most have campgrounds as well as nearby hotels and the price is right for entrance at just a few dollars per car. Take advantage of the junior ranger and nature education programs going on all summer long. In fact, National Geographic has 25 new and improved National Parks Guides online that you will love. Check them out here.
Florida Beaches
Even if Florida didn’t have Orlando, with miles of beaches and affordable pricing it would still be a top tourist draw. Here are just a few of my favorite Florida beaches: The Florida Keys, Tampa/St. Petersburg, shelling on Sanibel Island and The Space Coast beach towns of Cocoa, Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach.
Your family can experience it all with a visit to Denver from big city culture, sports, and nightlife to majestic mountain escapes, whitewater adventures, to western towns like Golden, and even desert vistas. There is no shortage of activities for all ages and abilities.
With tons of free summer concerts (see last week’s blog post), parks, parades, Broadway, museums, historic sites and of course, shopping; New York City is a great vacation spot to visit with kids this summer. You can find tons of coupons and discounts to make site-seeing and dining out affordable. I, personally, like to grab lunch from a local market and head to Central Park, SoHo or Tribeca to take in some local flavor and relax.
Maine
Maine offers numerous recreational activities and breath-taking sight-seeing. Visit charming Kennebunkport, try a Maine Lobster boat adventure, play and enjoy Old Orchard Beach and eat at the famous Clambake restaurant, or whale watch in Bar Harbor.
Wisconsin Dells, WI
With a population of just 4000, Wisconsin Dells is the indoor water park capital of the world. Over twenty resorts, such as the Great Wolf Lodge, offer an indoor water park to their guests; some sell passes to outsiders too. A number have outdoor facilities in summer also.
This southern part of the Golden State offers the chance to combine a beach vacation with theme park fun at Disneyland, Sea World and Universal Studios Hollywood in Anaheim. Be sure to check out the tide pools, Balboa Park, and Coronado.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
The Riviera Maya feels safe and removed from the more tourist-laden areas of Mexico (it’s in the Yucatan Peninsula, south of Cancun). I like that it has many family-friendly all-inclusive resorts for budget-conscious families and usually includes a bevy of water sports. Plus there’s much to explore in the area such as Mayan ruins, the second largest barrier coral reef, beautiful lagoons and an “eco-archeological” theme park.
Typical of San Francisco, events come in all flavors, which makes a great spot for families. Ride a street car, tour infamous Alcatraz Island at night, play at Golden Gate park, visit China Town and zig zag on Lombard Street. Be sure to pack your jackets, too; summers in San Francisco can be surprisingly chilly.
Orlando
Home to so many favorite theme parks, Orlando is a smorgasbord of fun. What’s new in Orlando this summer? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens June 18th and early previews say it’s fantastic! And, Hotels.com is having a great sale on Orlando hotels with saving up to 40% off.
Do your family vacations conjure the picnic scene from “National Lampoon’s Vacation?” Well don’t be afraid. This summer, I want your family vacation to be unforgettable for all the right reasons. So over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some important and practical family travel tips and ideas.
Planning is the key to success for your family vacation. You need to get everyone involved from the apathetic teen to the tantrum-laden three year old. Give each member of the family an equal stake in the trip’s success and you will cut down on mid-trip stand-offs and really increase the overall camaraderie. It’s as simple as letting each member choose a restaurant or an activity that you all participate in during the vacation.
And there’s now a fun way to plan and book your trip. Visit http://www.virtualvacay.com. This hotels.com microsite, VirtualVacation, let’s you visit 10 top destinations and plan your trip before you ever arrive. It’s a great visually entertaining way to show kids where you are going and what the options are for when you get there. Plus you can make the wind blow in Chicago, the fireworks launch in San Francisco and so many more cool effects in the virtual world.
Choosing a child-friendly hotel can make all the difference for your success on a family vacation. It allows you to focus on the part that makes family travel matter, experiencing new things together and building shared memories, rather than the mechanics of adjusting to a hotel that would just as soon have you steal the towels than bring along the kids.
Family-friendly amenities, include:
1. Suites with kitchenettes
2. Refrigerators available upon request
3. Babysitting
4. Cribs or rollaways upon request
5. High chairs
6. Children’s menus and eat-free programs
7. On-call doctors
8. Children’s welcome kits
9. Children’s activity programs
10. Pint-sized furniture and amenities
Today, many hotels get “it.” The “it” being that family-friendly equals repeat business and lots of it. Some hotels go well beyond children’s menus and in-room refrigerators with kid-suites – complete with bunk beds and pint-size furniture; others have kid size bathrobes and camp-like programs geared at entertaining toddlers to teenagers.
Here are a few hotel chain standouts in the world of accommodations for children. But don’t just take just my word for it, remember to read guest reviews and see what other families like and dislike about a resort and then make the best decision for your trip.
Consider the following hotel chains next time you are bringing your under 18 traveling companions.
Omni Hotels: Omni takes kid friendly to the top with its Sensational Kids program. There’s even a website for the kids to check out http://www.omnikidsrule.com. Omni Hotels in California, Texas and Boston also offer Kid’s Fantasy Suites that has kids bedding.
Kimpton Boutique Hotels: Kimpton’s family of boutique hotels are home to some of my best hotel experiences and their hospitality is not just for those over 5’. The KimptonKids program makes it easier for families to travel by already having on hand the items you dislike packing such as safety kits. You’ll love the mini animal print robes to fit their junior guests. And if you think this is good, Kimpton is super pet-friendly, too.
Hyatt Resorts: Hyatt Resorts offer kids their own vacations with the Camp Hyatt programs found at resorts in the US, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Camp Hyatt has now teamed up with National Geographic Kids and features all new adventures loaded with eco-friendly activities, animal crafts and facts, photo safaris and tons of locally inspired activities.
Single Parent Travel tips: some resorts offer single parent discounts. For example, Breezes all-inclusive resorts have single parent months during August-October.
You can find all of the above-mentioned resorts and more on Hotels.com, and sort by family-friendly to narrow down your options when searching for the right spot for your next trip.
If you have questions or comments for the author of the Travel Smart Blog, Nicole Hockin, please email: travelsmartblog@gmail.com.
For press inquiries email tsb@finnpartners.com
