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Where to find the best outdoor adventure activities in New Zealand

August 25, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

The unparalleled beauty of New Zealand’s outdoors beckons thousands of tourists ready to experience the most adventurous and exciting activities in this island country year after year. New Zealand’s virtually unspoiled natural expanses make it one of the greatest places in the world to enjoy the very best outdoor activities. A combination of mountains, rainforests, fjords, and the magnificent beaches of this gorgeous country provide abundant opportunities for wild outdoor adventures. There are plenty of New Zealand North Island tours as well as South Island exploring to fill your travels with. Below are five of the best outdoor adventure activities in New Zealand and where to find them!

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

New Zealand’s glowworm caves are quite a sight to behold, by displaying a fantastic light show in the Glowworm Grotto. If you traipse through the underground Waitomo River, you can get to the Glowworm Grotto where you will witness the magic of a thousand glowworms lighting the way forward for boat riders. The glowworm cave dates back to 120 years and forms an important part of New Zealand’s cultural history. You can also try out some more adventurous tours of the cave that include rock climbing, tunneling, abseiling, and cliff jumping!

Mills Reef Helicopter Wine Tasting

Go on a spectacular wine tasting journey to Mills Reef at Tauranga via a helicopter ride that offers stunning views of Tauranga Harbour and the Kaimai Ranges. Mills Reef Restaurant is highly acclaimed for excellent food and some delectable wines. On the helicopter ride, you can enjoy views of the surrounding beaches and Mount Maunganui.

Dolphin Cruise

If you take the Dolphin Cruise at the Bay of Islands, you will enjoy some gorgeous and diverse marine life. You’ll spot bottlenose dolphins and whales if you watch carefully enough! There’s also opportunity for swimming with dolphins if the conditions are right. Bay of Islands has many beautiful islands in its vicinity, many of which you can visit and relax on their beaches.

Cathedral Cove Boat Tour

Cathedral Cove is rich in marine life, mind-blowing sea caves, beaches, and islands. There are fun activities you can do here like swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, bird watching, and many more. Cathedral Cove is home to beautiful sea birds like the Gannet and the Blue Penguin. You can also take boat trips, go diving, or pay a visit to the Mercury Bay Vineyard.

Hot Water Beach

The Hot Water Beach at Mercury Bay has natural hot springs coming from an underground river of hot water. Along with the soothing hot water, you can surf as well as visit the beachside cafes and galleries. The beach is lined with the Pohutukawa Cliffs on either side, offering some breathtaking views.

Guide to Iceland’s southern coast

July 31, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s easy to find advice and guides to Iceland’s famed Golden Circle, and yes, this well-trafficked and easy route from Reykjavik is definitely worth doing. However, beyond the Golden Circle, there’s so much to see in Southern Iceland. Here’s where to go and what to see on Iceland’s southern coast along the Ring Road.

Touring Iceland’s Southern Coast

From Reykjavik, take the Ring Road (Route 1) and head southeast, doing the following. You’ll want at least 2-3 days to enjoy this region at your leisure, though it is possible to drive out and back in one long day with very few stops (not recommended). Here’s where to go:

Hveragerði:

This town 45 km from Reykjavik is home to the wonderful Reykjadalur hot springs river hike. We’ve included it in our post on Iceland hot springs off the beaten path. Follow the signage through the main street of this tiny town to find the trailhead, and then hike 3.5 km (one way) up into the hills to find the hot springs river. The reward of the steaming bath that awaits makes the hike well worth the effort! Even young kids can do this hike with enough time to take it slow (it does get steep).

Hvolsvöllur:

Continue past the pretty town of Selfoss and stop at Hvolsvöllur to visit the LAVA Centre. We’ve included details in our post on Iceland national parks. This brand new center does a great job of explaining the volcanic activity of Iceland, which will be very useful information as you tour the natural formations of the southern end of the island.

Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss:

These waterfalls are definitely worth the stop. As you drive, you’ll see plenty of others, but most are on private property, behind the quaint farms of this region. At Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind the falls, and explore two additional on a walking path to the left. At Skogafoss, you can hike up the steep stairs to the top of the waterfall, or, if you’re ambitious, you can continue on the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail. This 25 km trail between Skógar and Þórsmörk is divided into three sections, the first of which is called Waterfall Way. Families can do this as an out-and-back on nice days. (To do the whole trail, a GPS unit or guide is necessary, and most people do it in two days.) Also at Skogafoss is a very good museum: standard admission gets you into a transportation museum and history/folk museum, or you can buy a reduced ticket for just the outdoor buildings of the folk museum side, which include historic sod farm buildings, a schoolhouse, church, and outbuildings. We recommend this option.

Vik:

This little coastal town at the very southern end of Iceland is known for its black sand beaches at Reynisfjara. The turn off Route 1 for the beach is just west of town, and a great place to see the basalt column geological formations Iceland is known for. You can also see puffins, apparently, but we only saw other sea birds making their nests in the cliffs. Vik has a public swimming pool (as do most Icelandic towns) and is a good place to refuel.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur:

We loved this little village, which a lovely waterfall at the end of town (take the hike up it to the impressive lake at the top) and Kirkjugolf (church floor). This natural rock formation was once mistaken for a manmade church floor. It’s located just a few meters down the road from the N1 gas station and easy to access.

Skaftafell:

The most accessible gateway to the largest glacier in Iceland (and Europe), Skaftafell houses the visitor center for the national park, Vatnagokull. Families can take lots of great day hikes here with views of the glacier and Skaftafoss (waterfall), or can hire a guide for a glacier walk (it’s not permissible or safe to walk on the glacier on one’s own). It’s also home to impressive ice cave touring. There’s a nice campground here, if you want to make Skaftafell a turn-around point.

Have you toured the Southern Coast of Iceland? Where do you recommend stopping?

Guide to Iceland national parks

July 28, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Nearly ALL of Iceland looks like a national park, so families can’t go wrong finding beautiful outdoor experiences on an Iceland vacation with kids. But Iceland national parks do pack in a lot of interesting natural features you won’t want to miss. Here’s what to see in each.

Þingvellir National Park:

Þingvellir is easily accessed from Reykjavik, and is located on the Golden Circle, so expect to share space with plenty of tour buses. However, it’s absolutely worth the trip. Start with the main attractions: the rich Viking history in various sites and the location where you can see the shifting of the tectonic plates (over the course of millions of years). There are several walking paths here (we wouldn’t quite call them hikes), the largest of which will take you up to a viewpoint (which is where they put the visitor center and parking lot, disappointingly) where you can see the deep ravines cut into the landscape. Taking the other paths, you can see Drekkingarhylur pool, the site where women were once drowned for offenses such as adultery, and the waterfall Oxararfoss.

Next, explore the valley and lake, where you’ll see the historic sites, including one of Iceland’s first churches. Along the Oxara River, you can find the ruins of Viking camps, called budir.

Top extra activity outside the park: Laugarvanshellir Cave People Tour

This lovely tour is still unknown to most tourists (as its new in 2017). Located outside the park on 365 toward Laugarvatn, you’ll see the little house (think hobbit house) cut into the hillside before you arrive at the small parking lot. Go into the tent that houses a small tea room to purchase a tour, which is led by an enthusiastic guide. In fact, days later, our kids commented he was their ‘favorite Icelander they’d met’. The tour takes about 40 minutes, and takes you up the hillside to see the cave an Icelander couple made into a rudimentary home at the turn of the 20th century. Later, another couple inhabited it for a short time. The single room house is historically restored, and includes a sheep barn and cow barn built into the rock. While it’s interesting the see the house, the story behind it is even more fascinating; this really is a story of Icelandic pioneering. Learn more at http://www.thecavepeople.is

Vatnajokulsthjodgardur National Park:

This was our favorite Icelandic national park, thanks to its dramatic volcanic history and glacier. The visitor center at Skaftafell has a lot of good information: start here and pick a day hike to try. We opted for a loop of about 6 km that took us high up the mountain to spectacular views of Iceland’s largest glacier, Skaftafellsjokull, then cut along a high ridgeline to dip back down to stunning Skaftafoss (certainly a highlight of the park). You can opt for shorter hikes, or longer ones, but for any length, be sure to pack many layers for all types of weather, as you’ll be completely exposed to the elements (as you are in most of Iceland).

Glacier tour operations are located in the parking lot of the visitor center, which can take you onto the surface of the glacier for about $40-60 per person. You are not permitted to walk on the glacier without a guide, as fissures and cracks can be unpredictable. We opted to skip the glacier tour and were satisfied with our excellent views via the hike.

This national park is pretty massive, and offers plenty of F-road goodness for those venturing north, but families can certainly get a feel for the area from the southernmost Skaftafell entrance without venturing beyond Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon.

Top extra activity outside the park: LAVA Centre

Before you enter the national park, stop at the brand new LAVA Centre located at Hvolsvollur. This highly interactive, tech-heavy museum answered a lot of our questions about the geothermal and volcanic nature of the region, which really helped us understand the lava fields, glaciers, and volcanos we saw the following days. The fairly steep entry price (still on par with entry to other museums we visited) is well worth it: get the family pass if it applies to you, to save some money.

The museum is divided into several rooms you walk through in order, each with hands-on activities and digital displays. It’s truly hard to describe how great these exhibits are, but I’ll try: one room mimics the properties of ash, giving you a taste of how it feels to be blinded by it in an eruption, and another room allows you to spin a giant globe, showing the shifting of tectonic plates over millions of years. Start with the 15 minute film and follow the map through the rooms from there. All displays are in English.

Snæfellsjökull National Park:

Located on the west side of Iceland on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Snæfellsjökull features a big daddy volcano (unfortunately covered in cloud during our visit), as well as black sand beaches with interesting rock formations, caves and lava tubes, and cinder cones. The park is located past the fishing village of Olafsvik, with a visitor center located at the space ship-looking lighthouse about three-fourths of the way through the park. See great views of the ocean and sea stacks here, then book a cave tour a few meters down the road. If you don’t want to spend the money (it’s not cheap), do as we did and take the short self-guided tour of the main cave entrance. All around the cave are smaller lava tubes you can (but probably shouldn’t) climb into.

There’s also a well-marked cinder cone in the park, which is an easy climb with metal steps, and affords great views. We loved that at the top, a circular plaque names all the nearby mountains and volcanoes so you can identify each one.

Top extra activity outside the park: Settlement Center

At the bottom of the peninsula, you’ll first enter Borgarnes on 60. Go to the Settlement Center, one of the best museums in the region. It’s located by the harbor in a warehouse, but inside, you’ll see the history of the Icelandic settlement era and learn more about its famed Sagas.

Beyond the Blue Lagoon: Iceland hot springs off the beaten path

July 26, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Yep, we went to Iceland for eight days and never went to the Blue Lagoon. Why pay a crazy entry fee to go to an overcrowded geothermal pool, when so many remote, beautiful, and FREE pools exist all over Iceland?

During our camper van road trip in Iceland, we dipped our toes in steaming water every single day, and never paid an entry fee of more than $25 (and usually paid nothing at all).

Where to find Iceland hot springs off the beaten path:

Reykjadalur hot springs river:

In the south, just about 40 minutes outside of Reykjavik, the small town of Hvergerdi offers a 3.5 kilometer hike into the geothermal hills to a hot springs river. Yes, it’s well worth the hike. You’ll climb upward pretty steeply for the first km or so, then work your way up and down over hills with lovely views of the valley below. Eventually, you’ll see steam billowing up, and you’ll quicken your pace, because you’ll know you’re close! At the river, there’s a boardwalk with entry points along the small stream, and a few wooden walls that serve as changing areas. If you follow the boardwalk up, you’ll find the hottest water (so hot it’s almost painful), and as you walk down, you’ll find cooler water (closer to 35-37 C). It’s a lot of fun to move from section to section feeling the different temperatures.

If you don’t want to change behind a wall, you can change in the small bathrooms at the little cafe at the start of the hike, or just wear your swimsuit under your hiking wear. Be sure to bring lots of layers, including rain wear, as there’s no protection from the elements (similar to all over Iceland). The hot springs river is free, and does get crowded on the trail (though even in peak season, we found plenty of space in the river to soak).

To get here: Take Route 1 (Ring Road) from Reykjavik to Hvergerdi. Drive through town following the Reykjadalur signage until you get to a gravel road ending in a parking lot.

Seljavallalaug Hidden Hot Spring:

This one may not be so hidden anymore, but it’s still uncrowded. This geothermal pool is located in the middle of nowhere in a tiny valley with green mountains rising dramatically up all around it. The pool was made near the turn of the 20th century, for the purpose of teaching Icelandic children to swim (before the 1920s, unbelievably, most Icelanders could not swim). It has a single pool and rudimentary changing rooms (unisex…it gets interesting). This pool gets some criticism on TripAdvisor and the like, with people calling it dirty. It’s not dirty: it’s rich in algae, natural to Icelandic hot springs. The hike to the pool is only about one km, and our only complaint is that the water is a bit on the cool side (around 35 degrees). Toward the southern end of the pool where the geothermal water flows in, it’s closer to 40 degrees. On a warm day, this is fine, but on the cold, sleeting day we visited, it was painful to get out! This pool is FREE.

How to get here: From Route 1, turn down road 242 in the south. Follow the dirt road straight (don’t turn right) and you’ll get to a parking lot with an unused pool about 1/4 mile in. The hike is short into the valley (you can’t see the pool from the parking area though).

Laudar campsite hot pot:

This adorable hot pot (hot tub) is located in the Laudar campsite in west Iceland. The parking lot is at the Hotel Edda, and the walk is just a few meters. There’s a quaint changing hut (unisex, but fewer people are here) and the water is a perfect 38 degrees. You can camp onsite, too, if desired. This hot pot is FREE.

How to get here: From Route 1, take 60 all the way up through the isolated farmlands until you’re above the town of Budardalur. Follow the sign to Laudar.

Secret Lagoon:

So the Secret Lagoon is no secret, but it can be found just outside of the town of Fludir near the Golden Circle. You’ll find a large pool half-formed by natural rock, fed hot water from bubbling geysers nearby. It’s the most expensive pool we visited ($25 per adult), probably because of its proximity to the Golden Circle and its tourism traffic. No matter: it’s worth spending a few hours here.

How to get here: Take road 30 to Fludir. The sign is just before you enter town. Go down a dirt road for just about a mile.

Hot pot of Flokalaundar:

If you’re willing to drive about two hours (mostly on dirt) from Reykholar in the Westfjords, you’ll arrive at a hot pot nestled right against the sea. Do as the locals do and jump between the warm water (around 38 degrees) and the freezing ocean and back. This hot pot is larger than Laudar but a bit busier. No changing rooms…change in your car or camper. There’s a small parking lot right nearby.

How to get here: From Route 1, take 60 and follow it all the way up into the fjords. Be sure to have a full tank of gas, as there are few services before you reach Flokalaundar. Plan on narrow, steep dirt road for part of the drive. Is it worth it? Yes.

Tip: Can’t get to a natural hot springs one day? Look for a public Icelandic pool! Every town we drove through had their own (look for the water and swimmer signage), and each cost less than $10-$12. Inside each complex, you’ll find a geothermal fed warm outdoor pool (often with waterslides and other features), hot pots, and a steam bath, plus nice changing rooms and hot showers. Talk with locals here, and get to know the real Iceland. Remember to follow custom and shower nude before swimming. Never bring cameras or phones into the pool or changing areas.

Three favorite public Icelandic pools:

Note: Photos are not allowed of Icelandic public pools.

Laugardalslaug: Iceland’s largest public pool complex is only $8 for entry, and in our opinion, beats the heck out of the Blue Lagoon. There are two huge outdoor pools (one is a lap pool, the other has all sorts of features…basketball hoop, big twisty waterslides, climbing ropes, floating platforms, and water toys), four hot pots of various temperatures, a cold plunge, a huge steam bath, a massage area, and a large kiddie pool area. There are spacious and clean locker facilities and hot showers. On the grounds are also sand volleyball courts, exercise equipment, and a ropes course. Laugardalslaug is located in the suburbs of Reykjavik.

Drangsnes: The public pool on the Steingrimsfjordur fjord in the north has all the usual amenities, with a location right on the sea. Best of all, the town has arranged for free hot pots to be placed and maintained right on the beach, should you not need the added amenities of showers.

Kirkjubaejarklaustur: This public pool has views of the town’s pretty waterfall from the hot pots, plus a nice sized swimming pool with small water slide and a kid’s hot pot/wading area. What we loved about this pool was its local vibe: we had the opportunity to talk with many Icelanders here, and all were welcoming.

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Destinations in Sydney to visit with your kids

May 17, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Lots of people say that as parents, you should always try to make time for yourself. Go to places alone, recharge, and experience new things without the kids by your side. But there will always be that nagging feeling, making you feel guilty that you should’ve have brought the kids with you as you see such view you are looking at, or this street performance. Simply because you just miss them everyday.

Fun destinations in Sydney to visit with your kids

So a trip with the family should always be in the to-do list! The only question is, where would be the next stop? Well, Sydney is one of the best places to go to when you are traveling with kids. It is a city jampacked with different kinds of places to go to — from museums to beaches, children with different interests will always have something to do. Not to mention, it offers some of the best food destinations and top-notch hotels like The Star accommodation in Sydney, so you will never hunt for anywhere else.

To help you build your Sydney itinerary, here are places you can go to with your kids during your trip.

Wild Life Sydney

Australia has always been known for its ravishing wild life where animals roam freely and well taking care of in a way some cities would not. Wild Life Sydney has an indoor zoo called Wild Life World that houses Australia’s native animals like snakes, kangaroos, spiders, emus, and koalas. You will also find a butterfly garden that lets you approach these insects. There is also a rooftop koala encounter that lets you get up close to them so you can take a picture.

Balmoral Beach

Another Australian experience you should not skip is going to any of their beaches. The Balmoral Beach on the North Shore of Sydney is a very popular destination for both locals and tourists. It has the best view of the clear ocean and offers lots of activities that both you and your kids will enjoy. There’s a footbridge you can cross to see the breathtaking views of the harbour.

Madame Tussauds

Looking at figures of iconic people in history and pop culture is a good art and culture lesson your family can have by visiting Madame Tussauds. This is an exciting way to show your kids the people who have been pivotal in history and celebrities they do not recognise yet. Aside from the educational side, visiting Madame Tussauds is also a unique way for them to appreciate talent and art. Despite being a popular destination around the world, not a lot of people have been in any of the Tussauds museums, and including it in your itinerary means your kids can take part in something completely exciting and extraordinary.

Grounds Keeper Cafe

You can cap off a fun day with a couple of burgers at Grounds Keeper Cafe in Ryde Park. They have an extensive menu of food your kids will love munching like chicken tenderloins and cheese burgers. But one of the things that make it such a popular place to go is its location. It’s strategically located in the middle of the park where a playground can be found.

Sydney is truly one of the most breathtaking places in the world. Traveling here with your family will be awesome, and with an itinerary like this, you and your kids will definitely have an amazing time touring around Sydney.

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Four extraordinary places in Singapore for a family trip

May 16, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Singapore is a great place to visit with the family. It is known for its cleanliness and safety, not to mention, it is one of the most popular travel hubs in the word. If your family wants to take a break from work or school, this is where you go to for some retail therapy, food trips, and a lot more. You will definitely get rid of the stress and hassle you left back home.

Singapore for a family trip:

Beyond helping you declutter, Singapore is also home to some of the rarest destinations that are perfect for the family. Get ready to start looking at flight schedules, hotel accommodations, and of course, the most reliable yet cheap insurance packages from Singapore’s best, Chubb Travel for your much-awaited trip. After reading about these family destinations, you will surely want to fly there as soon as possible.

Universal Studios

Obviously, Universal Studios should be on the list of places to visit. The theme park is hugely according to popular films produced by the Universal Studios. Roller coasters, science fiction rides, action adventure rides, river boats, and 3D battles are all found inside this large theme park. If you need to take a break from all of that adrenaline, you can always stop by New York or Hollywood to watch an amazing street performance. On Saturdays, there is also a spectacular fireworks show at Lake Hollywood.

You will feel like the whole island is there with you on your trip, so expect a lot of foot traffic and long lines. As a recommendation, you can buy the tickets online and then arrive at exactly 10:00 AM for the opening.

Sentosa

Sentosa is a classic Singapore spot. The Universal Studios theme park is featured here, but there are other highlights in Sentosa you should visit. For instance, this is the place where you can go to Fort Siloso, a long-sheltered beach, and the Merlion. You can also visit Resorts World Sentosa and watch stage performances or plays if any are scheduled during your trip.

Night Safari

Another favorite Singapore attraction is the Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal zoo. It is an open-air zoo set in a humid tropical forest which is divided into seven geographical zones. It features animals like pangolins, tarsiers, elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers.

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Your kids will appreciate a trip to the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. It features educational areas like the Magic of Photosynthesis area. They can also have fun at waterworks area, the maze in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and the sandpit. There is also a Kidz Cafe where there are tiny tables and chairs set up for the kids. You can also get your dose of caffeine so you can match the energy of your kids at Da Paolo Gastronomica at Cluny Court. And you know what, access to the garden is free!

So gather the family, pack your bags, and get ready for a unique getaway you will never forget. Photo credit.

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Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences and destinations

April 21, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

In celebration of Earth Day, we’ve rounded up our favorite experiences, tours, and travel operations that promote a spirit of ‘Earth Day every day’. These travel experiences, through their passion for their destinations, help create the next generation of environmentalists.

Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences:

Uncruise in Panama and Costa Rica:

We just returned from Uncruise’s newest itinerary in Central America, which takes guests through the historic Panama Canal before heading up the Pacific coastline along Panama and Costa Rica. Naturalists onboard the ship, in tandem with local guides and experts, teach guests about the local wildlife in the rainforests, mangroves, and beaches visited. The 62-passenger Safari Voyager allows for a cruise ship experience without the environmental problems large cruise ships pose.

Lindblad Expeditions in the Galapagos:

This Galapagos trip, on the NatGeo Endeavor II, allows families to experience the Galápagos Islands through Lindblad’s ‘360º approach’, guaranteeing an in-depth encounter with its flora and fauna. The 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II is fully equipped with tools for exploration that will enable travelers to see more of the archipelago’s varied islands and habitat, have up close encounters with wildlife, and experience the Galápagos undersea.

Need more inspiration? We have activities you can add to just about any family trip in the spirit of Earth Day!

Vantage Adventures in Peru:

Vantage Adventures’ Machu Picchu itinerary excels in teaching guests about the storied history of Peru, from the high peaks above Cusco to the fertile plains of the Sacred Valley. Their local guides are unrivaled experts whose love and passion for the country is contagious. We learned so much about Peruvian culture, we could fully appreciate the UNESCO sites we visited, and their conservation. Read more about our time in Peru.

Alaskan Dream Cruises in SE Alaska:

I’ve been singing the praises of Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Alaska itinerary for a long time, and I’m not likely to stop anytime soon. This Alaskan-native-owned company shines when it comes to unique ports of call and intimate, local experiences. We got up close to nature from bears to bald eagles, and our experience was always interwoven with native Alaskan culture and hospitality. After our Alaskan experience, my kids vowed to become stewards of our environment all over again. Read more about our Alaskan Dream experience.

O.A.R.S. river rafting in Idaho:

If you don’t have the know-how or desire to plan your own multi-day backpacking or river rafting trip to experience a week or so in the wilderness with your family, do the next best thing (or if I’m being honest, maybe the first-best thing) and head into the backcountry with O.A.R.S. Their Salmon River itineraries in remote Idaho do more to teach kids (and grown-ups) about the importance of preserving our natural lands than any class or Earth Day festival will do. Immersed in the wilderness, families truly understand why forest service and BLM lands deserve their attention and protection. Read more about our Main Salmon rafting trip.

Tip: Want to embark on your own outdoor adventure bucket list trip? Of course you can! We suggest REI’s new GPS-based apps, which make the outdoors accessible for users of all levels. The REI apps put GPS route info, elevation profiles, interactive maps, photos and more at your fingertips. Try the Hiking Project App, or the bike trail MTB Project App. REI even has a National Parks App!

Panama City hotel review: What to expect at the Bristol Panama

April 10, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Before we began our epic Uncruise adventure through Panama and Costa Rica, we arrived in Panama City exhausted after 24 hours of travel. The Bristol Panama provided for us a very soft landing. Primarily a business hotel located in the heart of the financial district, the Bristol has pros and cons for pre-cruise tourists. I’ll do my best to explain these in this Panama City hotel review.

What we loved about our overnight at the Bristol Panama:

The Bristol is a luxury hotel that will provide families with all the comforts appreciated after a long travel day (or days). The lobby is spacious and elegant, there is air-conditioning throughout, the water is potable, and the first desk staff all speak English, which certainly makes things easier when you’re tired or jet-lagged.

Our standard room (called ‘deluxe’) was spacious, comfortable, and on par with US hotels in a much more expensive category (the room rate at the Bristol during the time of our stay was a reasonable $150/night US). We enjoyed an oversized walk-in shower, luxury bathroom amenities, free WiFi, and a minibar.

When we arrived at about 4 pm, we were hot, tired, and sticky from the Panama City humidity, and quickly found our way to the outdoor rooftop lap pool and lounge area located on the 4th floor of the Bristol. While small, this pool was just what we needed to recharge our batteries. Adjacent is a well-equipped exercise room, and the outdoor lounge area provides chairs and couches to enjoy city views.

We had arrived too late in the day for much city exploration, so we opted to eat in the on-site restaurant, Salsipuedes. Since our son was ready for bed, we made a stop at the 5th floor lounge for cocktails for mom and dad and a burger for him, so he could go back to the room before we enjoyed a more leisurely meal. While our dinner at Salsipuedes was very nice, we ended up preferring the lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Panama City. The service was a bit slow, but we didn’t care; the drinks were refreshing and the staff made an extra effort to get our son the burger he wanted.

Note: the lounge also offers a breakfast buffet in the morning, which at the time of our visit was $10/pp and WELL worth it.

What was missing at the Bristol:

Due to its location in the financial district, the Bristol is not conducive to exploring Casco Viejo or other tourist areas of the city. This was a disappointment to us; in pre-trip research, it appeared we could simply take a taxi from the hotel to visit the old town, but in reality, traffic in downtown Panama City limited us severely. We were told it was virtually impossible to travel through the dense traffic in the time period we had free to explore the city (4 pm-7 pm), which grounded us at the hotel.

Since we were tired and happy to have a comfortable place to stay for our sole night before embarking on the Panama Canal, this wasn’t a huge deal, but if we were in Panama City to explore the options there for any length of time, we would have opted for a hotel away from the financial district.

Note: we did attempt a walk through the neighborhood near the Bristol, and had several restaurants recommended to us in walking distance, but found that with constant construction and traffic, it wasn’t an ideal pedestrian location.

While the Bristol does offer a concierge on-site, the desk was not manned during our stay, and the front desk attendant did not seem comfortable giving us specific tourism recommendations. It should be noted, however, that the taxi ride from the airport was only about 25 minutes.

Teen travel checklist: Preparing your teen to travel abroad

March 27, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Last week, our teen departed for three weeks in Italy, without his parents. He traveled with a small group of student ambassadors for a cultural exchange and school program, and while chaperones will be available, they won’t be with him 24/7. Because our teen is still under age 18, there are some things he needed us to prepare for him before his trip.

Teen travel checklist: Preparing your teen to travel abroad:

In addition to packing appropriately for the length and location of a teen trip, these practical steps should be taken before departure:

Make color copies of:

Color copies of your teen’s passport to be distributed to 1. his or her trip leader or chaperone, 2. into teen’s own bag as a back up, 3. to you, his or her parents. Remember that your teen’s passport should be valid for at least six months past the date of the trip.
Photocopy of all credit cards or debit cards, both front and back, to be distributed it 1. you, the parents and 2. teen.
Copy of any doctor note needed and health insurance card (especially if your teen is on any prescription medication), distributed to 1. you, the parents, and 2. teen. Remember, all prescriptions need to travel in their original bottles.
Copy of any travel insurance plan to 1. teen and 2. parents.
Copies of health insurance plan.
Make paper copies of phone numbers needed, both at the destination and at home. Include parents’ contact numbers, host family numbers, chaperone numbers, and the teen’s cell phone number (since it may differ than the usual).

Make a phone/communication plan:

Parents and teens have several choices when it comes to a phone plan abroad.

Cell service plan: You can check with your cell service carrier to see what types of international plans are available to you short term. Ours used to be $30/month data plan, with no sign-up cost, with AT&T, but it’s recently switched to a less desirable $9.99 per day.
SIM card with unlocked phone: If you have an unlocked cell phone (such as an old phone that’s no longer attached to a plan), you can have your teen bring this phone and purchase a SIM card once in the country he or she will be visiting. SIM cards are fairly inexpensive, and allow teens to use a short term local data plan that’s prepaid.
Cheap new phone in destination country: Of course, teens can simply purchase a cheap phone with a local pay-as-you-go plan in the country they’re visiting. Pick one up at most pharmacies and convenience stores.
WiFi only plan: If your teen will have WiFi access in the form of hot spots where he or she is traveling, you could opt for him or her to simply bring a phone that’s kept in airplane mode, for WiFi use only. Buy a mobile WiFi hot spot plan, or rely on free WiFi in hotels, cafes, and the like. Whether this route is an option for you will depend on the destination.

Make a money plan:

How will your teen access cash and pay for things on their own? Savvy travelers know that it’s best to use debit cards for accessing cash from ATMs, and credit cards for other purchases and reservations, provided said cards have low foreign transaction fees. However, if you have a teen who is travel at under age 18, some banks in the US will not issue him or her a debit card in their name. Instead, before the trip, add your teen as a named user on one parent credit card. The teen will be issued a card in his or her own name, which can be used for emergencies.

Then, we suggest purchasing a prepaid travel gift card, such as Visa TravelMoney, which teens can use like debit cards. These cards are travel-specific, so they come with low currency exchange fees and low ATM fees (look for ones with ATM fees of less than $4). Even better: if you’re a AAA member, go to your local branch and buy a AAA travel card. You will need your teen’s driver’s license or passport, plus date of birth and SS# in order to get the card in his or her name, but this card has fewer fees attached to it than the ones you can buy in any pharmacy or grocery store. Parents can add money to these cards as needed from home, and view the balance at any given time, which is a nice feature.

Tip: If your teen is supposed to start his or her trip with foreign currency already in hand, make the request for the exchange at your bank at least one week ahead of time.

Enroll your teen in STEP:

First, you’ll want to check the CDC for any needed vaccines for travel. Next, head to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, to enroll your teen for their destination. All STEP does is alert you to any travel warnings, with the peace of mind of knowing that your child’s travel plans are noted with the Department of State. Should he or she need any help in case of emergency while traveling, alerts and instructions will automatically be communicated to her.

Stock your teen with over-the-counter medications:

I always create a personalized first-aid/medical kit before traveling abroad, because it can be challenging to find the same medications in foreign countries (or at least the same brands, so you can recognize their uses). I include standard over-the-counter medications for headaches, nausea, sinus colds, and flu, plus band-aids, medical wrap/tape, and vitamins. For teens, I write the use of each medication on the back of the boxes clearly in sharpie pen, just to make it easy. Of course, if your teen needs to take prescription medications, have them carry them in their carry-on luggage in their original containers.

Talk with your teen before departure:

Make sure your teen knows that he or she will be acting as an ambassador for our country. With international relations tense in this era, it’s more important than ever that your teen act with respect, kindness, and awareness while abroad. Encourage them to embrace the new, to look for commonalities, and to forge friendships while traveling. Pack thank you cards for your teen to fill out and hand to people who help them or host them during their travels.

Discuss any laws or rules that may differ from your home country. For instance, we talk with our teens about our family rules for drinking alcohol abroad, since the legal age limit differs in most countries, and we remind them of laws they may not be aware of in their destination countries. We encourage trip leaders to require ‘code of conduct’ type contracts with teens, to ensure respectful and safe behavior.

Tip: Read our post on travel safety and getting past the ‘fear factor’.

Do you have tips for preparing teens to travel abroad? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

Tip: Check out our other posts about teen travel!

5 Tips for Traveling to Europe With Kids

February 15, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Traveling to Europe with kids is an exciting, rewarding, and exhausting experience. You’ll create lots of family memories and give your kids invaluable chances to experience other cultures. At the same time, you need a lot more planning and plenty of patience.

Plan Travel in Advance

It is so important that you do your research. Plan your destinations and transportation on Europe-specific travel platforms like GoEuro before you leave. Decide how you’ll be getting from city to city, whether that be by bus, train, or plane, and book those tickets while you’re still in the states. The last thing you want to deal with is tired, hungry kids while you’re figuring out train tickets in an unfamiliar place where you don’t speak the language. As an alternative, you could book a pre-arranged Europe tour if you want to avoid the hassle of planning.

Concentrate on Fewer Locations

When you’re in Europe, you’ll be tempted to see as many spots as you can during your visit. Focus on getting the most out of just a few locations if you’ll be there for longer than a week, and concentrate on just one if you’ll be there for less than a week.

Planning your transportation through Europe is simpler when you aren’t hopping among five cities in four weeks. Similarly, if you focus on smaller destinations, such as Bath instead of London, you’ll have an easier time exploring with kids. Big cities can overwhelm children, but they’ll adjust to smaller places more quickly.

Leave Room for Downtime

When traveling with adults, you might be able to see four museums and monuments in one day without hailing a single cab. Kids get tired and bored more quickly, though. Plan for downtime, but be open to rescheduling or extending it depending on how your kids are feeling. Otherwise, you might have to cut short a visit to the Louvre or cancel a tour of the Colosseum.

Plan for Emergencies

Kids get lost even when you’re paying close attention. When it happens in a city where you don’t know the language, the experience is especially terrifying. Create contingency plans before you start packing. This might include giving your kids cell phones or GPS devices so you can locate them or telling them to stay put as soon as they realize they’ve lost you. Rick Steves has lots of great ideas for families who want to plan for this kind of emergency.

Try Not to Check Bags on Flights

When kids are young, they can only carry a small backpack containing a few belongings. You’ll have to carry the rest. In Europe, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Imagine lugging two or three gigantic suitcases behind you while you walk from the train station to your hotel!

To avoid this situation, pack light. Cut down on toiletries and nix the non-essentials such as hair dryers and excess makeup. Plan to wash clothes while you’re there, and research accommodations that offer laundry facilities. Pack one carry-on per adult to make your trip simpler.

Traveling with adults has its own list of perks, but taking your kids to Europe is a rewarding experience. Plan ahead to design a trip that nobody in your family will soon forget.