How to plan a stress-free family holiday while pregnant

November 25, 2015 By

Welcoming a new arrival to your growing family is an incredibly joyous occasion albeit with one small exception; planning your family holiday! During this time it can seem daunting to plan a relaxing vacation abroad which will accommodate for all of your pre-natal needs. To help rectify this issue, here are some helpful hints that I’ve found can reduce the stress that often accompanies planning a family holiday while pregnant:

travel-while-pregnant

Investigate airline policies before booking flights:

‘Flying whilst pregnant’ is not a term which appeals to many expectant mothers. Fortunately, I’ve found that if you carry out some online research into airline policies before booking your flights then you can choose the method of travel which best suits you. In these instances, I agree with Flashpacker Family blogger Bethaney Davies who advises;

“Flying can be uncomfortable at the best of times… Look into the quality and comfort of the airline, especially the seats, before you book any flights. If you can afford it, business class makes for very comfortable pregnant flying!”.

In this manner, I have also found it useful to capitalise upon airline early boarding policies. By investigating their guidelines with regards to pregnant women and contacting these particular airlines before arriving at the departure gate, you can board early without a fuss and present any medical notes that need to be shown which deem you are safe to fly. Not only will these steps avoid any inconvenient documentary complications upon boarding, but they will also equip you with additional time to settle your children, get yourself comfortable and put on some DVT socks before take-off! Once in the air, I would also advise you to drink plenty of water to remain hydrated and to take short walks along the aisle at regular intervals to boost your blood circulation.

Implement emergency contingency plans:

In my experience, I’ve found that if you dedicate some time to planning for any emergency that may occur whilst you are abroad then you can grant yourself peace of mind throughout your family holiday. Even when I think that I’ve accommodated for every eventuality, I still invest in a family travel insurance policy to account for any circumstances that I might have overlooked. As this guide for expectant mothers conveys;

“Having the right travel insurance for your holiday is always important, especially when you’re pregnant. Expecting a child makes you more vulnerable than the average traveller to potential risk. On the off-chance you do need to cancel your trip and hurry home or require medical care, travel insurance will have you covered”.

If you look for travel insurance policies which will cover you and your family against the cost of lost luggage, stolen or damaged possessions, cancelled flights and accommodation as well as any medical expenses you may incur, including the cost of transporting you home should you fall ill, you can remain calm and confident that you, your family and your baby’s welfare will be safeguarded whilst abroad.

Don’t underestimate the importance of taking breaks:

Above all else, if you wish to have a stress-free holiday whilst pregnant, you should make your rest and recuperation periods a priority. As travel blogger Frances M. Thompson explains;

“While my initial reaction was to see tiredness as an inconvenient side effect of pregnancy that I had to battle with, a firm but fair piece of advice from my midwife soon made me realise tiredness was my body’s way of telling me it needed all the energy it could gather to put into growing my baby so I’d better rest up to gather more for it to use “.

Consequently, regardless of whether you plan a beachside break, a weekend away in a capital city or a relaxing retreat in the countryside, I’ve found that taking frequent pit stops throughout your holiday itinerary will enable both parent and baby to remain happy and healthy. By interspersing your family-friendly activities with relaxing excursions, such as sunbathing or even a few prenatal massages at your hotel or holiday resort, you can ensure that your family enjoy a memorable vacation whilst simultaneously safeguarding your health and the development of your baby.

Why you should get the Disney Dining Plan

November 25, 2015 By

Most self-respecting Disney budget blogs will tell you the Disney Dining Plan is not a savings. If you plan to stay in a condo with a kitchen and cook meals in-house, pack peanut butter sandwiches for the parks, and eat at quick-service restaurants only, they’re right. But while the plan may not give you a lower bottom line while enjoying the parks, we believe it does add to your overall value, especially if you’re already staying on-site in a Disney resort. This is why you should get the Disney Dining Plan…even if it doesn’t save you money.

disney-dining-plan

Let’s break the Disney Dining Plan down (henceforth to be known as the DDP):

To get it, you need to have purchased a Magic Your Way vacation package, which is the first strike against it in the eyes of a budget vacationer. Packages are often more expensive than booking your vacation a la carte. However, with Disney, this is not always the case. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel, and booked your stay for at least 5-7 days, most likely a package is the best deal.

You can add one of several DDPs to your package. The cheapest is going to be the Quick-Service Dining Plan. Sounds good, right? Skip it. It only includes two meals per day, and doesn’t include any of the character dining or table service restaurants, which is where the value of the DDP comes into play (and remember, you’re staying on-site and don’t have a kitchen to cook that last meal).

“Grilled Vegetable Sandwich”, Tomorrowland Terrace, Disneyland Park

The next option is the standard DDP. It includes 1 quick service and 1 table service meal per person, per day, plus 1 snack each. Table service meals can be redeemed at character dining. You can add signature dining, but it will ‘cost’ you two table service points. This is a nice option, but remember, you’ll still be on your own for one meal per day. We find this plan to be the sweet spot, and simply buy some breakfast items to eat in the room.

You can also upgrade to a deluxe (3 meals per person per day), premium, or platinum plan, which give you more in the signature dining area, but the costs outweigh the value, unless your prime reason for being in Disney is to dine.

Prices for any plan depend on the number of days and ages of people in your party. Calculate it all here.

Now that you know what the DDP includes, how do you use it to the top value?

disney-dining-plan

  1. Use the DDP to take park breaks. Leave the park, hop on the monorail, and enjoy a more relaxed meal in a Disney resort. This gives you a chance to see the inside of some of the deluxe resorts without staying there, and gives your family a breather from the theme parks. Our favorite picks: Ohana at Polynesian Resort and Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge (take the boat over!) For a quieter meal, opt for 1900 Park Fare when it’s not a character dining time period.
  2. Use the DDP to enjoy affordable character meals. The first time I booked a character meal at Disney without the DDP, I almost fainted when I got the bill. Are you kidding me, Disney? But with the DDP, you feel like you’re getting a downright deal. Our favorite tip: book a character meal in your favorite park before park opening. Once you’ve eaten, you’ll enter the park ahead of the wave of crowds.
  3. Use to DDP to curb kids from whining for snacks. Snacking is where I get really worn out at Disney. I just get so tired of watching the budget (disappear) and saying no. When we have the DDP, each kid (and grown up) gets one snack per day. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it goes a long way toward morale. Toss granola bars in your backpack for those other 2,000 times per day people want snacks.
  4. Use DDP to truly experience all of the Disney magic. There’s something so wonderful about taking a tired, sweaty family and bypassing a long counter-service line in favor of sitting down in air-conditioned bliss. The first example that comes to mind: the day we were touring Epcot World Showcase, were practically at the end of our ability to walk/talk/be civil, and ducked into the sanctuary of Le Cellier for an elegant family meal. Everyone was in heaven. Ditto for stepping into Tusker House in Animal Kingdom or Ohana to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
  5. Use DDP to have an amazing meal out. If you have babysitting services, use your DDP to have a signature meal out with your significant other. If not, spurge on a dinner show (our favorite is Hoop Dee Doo Revue). It’s already built into your plan, and using this option truly feels like you’ve unlocked a new ‘level’ of Disney.

disney-dining

But wait, you’re not done!

Now that you’ve decided which plan is best, swallowed the cost of it, and know how to use it to enhance your trip, you need to make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). At Disney World, this is easier than ever, and at Disneyland Resort, it’s also cut-and-dried. Make ADRs six months in advance, and use this FAQ to get started.

Once you’re at Disney, each receipt you receive from a Disney Cast Member when buying meals will show your DDP balance. All participating restaurants are listed and have a DDP symbol (but don’t worry…it’s just about every restaurant).

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What terrorism won’t take from me

November 19, 2015 By

As many readers know, we plan to travel to Paris next month. I’ll be very honest: current events have us unsettled and saddened on many levels, including, of course, the impact on our trip plans. Here is why we’re still going.

paris-france

Terrorism won’t take my love of travel. A few, cowardly, misguided, damaged people won’t steal the joy I feel researching trips, complete with Google Maps and Rick Steves guidebooks scattered across my dining room table, TripIt open on my screen. Terrorism won’t take my children’s excitement upon holding a boarding pass in their hands, or their view of clouds and city lights and oceans and sunlight from their window in 32B or 18A. It won’t take our enthusiasm to try that talked-about Parisian cafe or our laughter when we stumble over new words and order the wrong thing. It won’t succeed in keeping our passports locked in a filing cabinet at home.

Terrorism won’t take my kids’ global citizenship. It won’t stop them from feeling wide-eyed awe at the sight of the Eiffel Tower or their amazement at glimpsing a Rodin or a Monet. It won’t take the smiles from their faces as they meet kids who are just like them, except that they dress differently and speak differently and eat different foods. It won’t stop my boys from joining pick-up games of soccer in Manhattan parks or conducting paper airplane-making sessions over the seat back of an international flight. It won’t stop them from making that mind-blowing connection that the kid in the school uniform in Costa Rica is just like all the kids they know, scrambling to get his homework done on the bus. Or that the mother stopping to comfort her fussy baby in a cafe in Brussels is just like their mother, and the mothers of all their friends back at home. And that the fathers are like their fathers, the brothers like their brothers.

statue of liberty

Terrorism won’t take my optimism that people are good and the world is beautiful. It won’t succeed in polarizing my family; we will not see terrorist acts as foreign problems or regional problems, but as global problems. We won’t hide at home, pretending we’re safer here than anywhere else. Terrorism won’t make me hate or suspect or fear based on a person’s religion or looks or language.

Terrorism won’t take my compassion. It won’t harden my heart to the suffering, the hurt, and the struggles both in my city and in my world. It won’t succeed in making me circle the wagons. It won’t stop me from saying ‘yes’ to my teens’ service trip to build homes for those who sleep on the ground, or my child’s desire to send aid money to those who are hungry or displaced or in the wrong place at the wrong time. It won’t stop me and mine from realizing that families are families everywhere, parents do their best everywhere, and children have the right to feel safe and healthy everywhere. Not just here. Not just me.

rappel into cenote

Terrorism won’t take our memories. It won’t take our round-the-dinner-table stories of past trips, like the time we saw a glacier calve in Southeast Alaska or the time Dad fell asleep on the bus in Spain or the time Mom saw someone try to pee on Stonehenge. It won’t make us look back on seeing the wonders of the Washington Monument cast in the glow of Independence Day fireworks or the twinkle of holiday lights on Champs Elysées or the Statue of Liberty against a perfect blue sky glimpsed from the deck of a ferry. It won’t take cozy pubs in Dublin or family photos at Mt. Rainier or tours of Pompeii. It can’t have the taste of pastel-hued macarons or chocolate crepes or poutine. It doesn’t get to take local wine or medieval castles or orca sightings or museum openings or cenote rappelling.

Because that’s ours. And yours. And all the other citizens’ of the world.

Don’t let terrorism take that from you.

Looking to help? Check out this post on Trekaroo with trusted donation ideas!

 

why-travel

 

Touring breweries and wineries (and how to take home souvenirs)

November 6, 2015 By

Indulging in a libation or two while on vacation has always been popular, but with the number of microbreweries and wineries popping up all across the country, it’s now a  legitimate way to experience a new destination. Here’s how to drink in the local culture, touring breweries and wineries on vacation, even with the kids in tow.

family-friendly winery

How to find the best local beer and wine:

You’ve arrived at your destination, and would love to get to know the wine or beer scene. The best way to go about this is with some pre-trip research, on-site polling, and dining. Ask the folks at your local hotel for recommendations, or talk to waiters or tour guides. They’re locals, and will know if there’s a craft brew or wine that’s the pride of the town. Pop into the visitor’s center or welcome center and ask about wine or beer trails. If you’re in a city or agricultural region, the answer is overwhelmingly, yes!

How to enjoy local beer and wine with kids in tow:

It can be tricky…as parents you want to unwind and enjoy a local craft brew or spend a few hours at a winery, but you also want to enjoy a family-friendly vacation. Here’s how to do both!

miners-brewery

Make it about the process or the place, not about the booze. If an afternoon’s activity is all about tasting beer, and you’re 10, you’re not going to have fun. But if it’s all about the cool fermentation process during a factory tour, kids may dig it. Find a brewery that offers behind-the-scene tours of their floor, or look for a winery with an activity, such as a grape stomp or even rows of vines to stroll through.

Designate it as a picnic spot. Many wineries allow outside food to be brought in. We try to pair a winery visit with a local hike or biking trip, visiting at the end of our outdoor activity. This way, the winery is the destination for everybody, and the kids have the payoff of fun food while Mom and Dad taste.

lawn games at wineries

Find wineries with outdoor space. Related to the tip above, a winery with outdoor space allows kids to play and explore, crucial to the experience. Many wineries have lawn games for families to play, or resident pets, like friendly dogs or bunnies. More and more wineries even offer planned kid activities.

Southern-oregon

Head to brewpubs instead of tasting rooms. A tasting room is going to be boring for kids, if they’re permitted inside at all (not likely). The good news: most microbrews are attached to restaurants, and almost all of them are highly kid-friendly, thanks to yummy pub food. Ideally, head to a pub that makes its own brew on-site, but lacking this, find a pub with local beers on tap. Parents will still taste the local culture and kids will get a great burger.

Enjoy local beer and wine in your vacation rental or room. Can’t find a kid-friendly venue to taste wine and beer? Head to a local grocery store, armed with knowledge about local brews and bottles. Look for cans of locally brewed beer and bottles of local wine, and enjoy after the kids settle in for the night.

Lodge at Suttle Lake

Look for a local craft brew or wine at sporting events. Local pride is strong at sporting events and ski resorts. Take a careful look at the menu before ordering standard domestic beer…it’s very likely they’re serving the local brew alongside the usual suspects.

Attend a festival: One of the most fun ways to experience the local beer scene, brewfests or events like Bluegrass and Beer are almost always family affairs (just do your research to ensure there will be kid-friendly activities). Most brewfests we’ve attended included games for kids, music and dancing, and even activities like bungee jumping and ropes courses for kids to enjoy while parents sample brews.

How to take it home with you:

growlerBeer and wine make for great souvenirs, albeit tricky ones to transport. When visiting breweries, bring your own growler to take some suds home with you or to enjoy in the days following your visit. At wineries, cases can be shipped home for you, but if you want only a few bottles, consider investing in a wine transportation sleeve. Our picks:

Hydroflask growler: I’m an Oregonian, so local Hydroflask is the only growler option for me! This 64 ounce flask keeps beer cold up to 24 hours, which means you can enjoy a pint or two the night of a brewpub visit, but also enjoy another round the next night…even if you’ve moved on. The walls are insulated, and totally temperature controlled. Pour your beer from the growler into the Hydroflask True Pint glass (which are also great for keeping kids’ water cool by their bedsides at night). Pick up the growler for under $45 on Amazon.

Wine skin: Pick up a padded or inflatable wine skin to transport wine bottles home without damage. You’ll need to check your luggage if flying, but if you’ve left room in your bag for a few bottles, this is still more economical than shipping wine home. We like this reusable wine skin that comes in a two-pack.

 

Five air travel hacks that save you money in travel perks

October 19, 2015 By

We all know families can earn travel day perks with air mileage programs and airline-associated credit cards. But not all of us have tons of miles or platinum cards that get us upgrades. That’s ok. Here are five air travel hacks you can use to enjoy free or discounted perks on your next air travel day.

flying-perks

Park your car at the airport for free.

Plus get it washed and vacuumed. Plus make some cash. Here’s the catch: you need to make your car available for rental in your absence. FlightCar is a car sharing service now at many major US airports. Just sign up for free, then drop your car off at the FlightCar lot when you arrive at the airport. The check-in process is quick (most of the info is compiled ahead of time online) and after turning over your keys, you’re on your way to your gate, courtesy of a FlightCar shuttle. Parking for the duration of your trip is free whether your car is rented out or not, and if it is, you earn a marginal fee (to the tune of about 10 cents per mile). Your car is even washed before you arrive home. FlightCar insures all cars, but yeah, you have to be willing to let strangers drive your vehicle.

Don’t want to do this? If you’ll be staying the night near the airport before or after your trip, you can park your car for free using ParkSleepFly. We’ve used this perk many times. For no additional cost than the hotel room, you can park your car for up to 10 days, and get a free shuttle to the airport.

luggage

Get free checked luggage.

And free luggage, for that matter. The service Orion will send you two hardshell roller bags (one 21″ carry-on and one 29″ for check-in), each wrapped in advertising. You keep the bags, which are actually quite nice, with charging stations, GPS location, and a luggage tampering system, and you never pay checked bag fees again. Orion sends you a refillable gift card that starts with $50. Every time you check your bag, you get the card reloaded. Ads include KFC, GM, Verizon, and the like. The catch: you have to be a walking advertisement. The first million users sign up free, so get on it!

Want to carry your own luggage? Eight times out of ten, passengers are able to check bags for free at the gate. Simply volunteer to your gate agent. If you’re flight is full, you’ll get free checked luggage.

Gain discounted entry to airport lounges.

I love airport lounges. My favorite is Alaska’s Board Room, but I’m also a fan of United airline’s club. However, I very rarely fly first or business class, and I don’t have the air miles to achieve elite status. How do I get in? I buy passes in advance, or use guest passes. Check to see if the carrier you’re flying offers an airport lounge discount when booking your ticket. Often, you can save significantly by buying a day pass online, in advance. On United’s Web site, you can save $11 this way, and US Airways reduces its lounge price to $29 if you buy the pass when you book your ticket. Also ask friends and co-workers if they’d be willing to sell you their guest passes, if they’re elite fliers. Strike a deal that’s win-win. Often, these passes go unused.

Enjoy priority boarding.

It’s a myth that priority boarding is only available to high mileage flyers and business class or first class passengers. While most airlines used to reserve this perk for their most loyal customers, for better or for worse, this perk is now for sale…and it’s cheap. Look for the option to upgrade to priority boarding when you book your ticket online. You know, it will be on the page you usually click past immediately because it’s full of ways they’re looking to milk you for more cash. But give it a look before dismissing: this upgrade can be yours for as little as $9-$10. What does it do for you? In addition to allowing you to skip the headache of lining up with the masses, it ensures your carry on bag will make it into the bulkhead compartments before the plane fills.

travel-perks

Get free TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

Ok, this one does involve a credit card. However, there’s a long list of cards offering this perk, and it’s very possible just about everyone qualifies (or already has) at least one of them. Of course, being an elite member of an airline loyalty program is also likely to earn you free TSA Pre. According to this article, here’s the list of cards that reimburse the fees to apply for Global Entry and TSA Pre, if you use the card to purchase. Skip the long security line and use our packing tips to breeze through security like a pro (or like the flight attendants).

•  Barclay AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard (Global Entry only)
•  Citi Prestige Card
•  Citi /AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
•  Platinum Card from American Express
•  Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN
•  Centurion Card from American Express
•  American Express Corporate Gold Card
•  American Express Corporate Platinum Card

Do you have tips for getting free or discounted travel perks? Share them with us!

Top 5 Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness in Children When Traveling

October 16, 2015 By

You’ve just booked the perfect trip. You and your family are about to experience the adventure of a lifetime. But if you have small children, motion sickness might put the breaks on your travels. Whether you’re traveling by boat, car, plane or train, small children are prone to nausea, light-headedness, and fatigue while traveling.

prevent-motion-sickness

Motion sickness is usually brought on by mixed signals in the brain, usually when our eyes experience something different from our bodies. If a young child is traveling at high speeds for the first time and they’re situated in the back seat of a car or the passenger cabin or a plane where they can’t see where the vehicle is headed, their bodies might have trouble adjusting. Motion sickness is usually more common in children under the age of 10. Follow our tips to prevent motion sickness in kids and don’t let nausea and upset tummies interrupt your family’s vacation.

  1. Provide a Distraction

A fun distraction is one of the best ways to prevent motion sickness is kids. You can focus their minds on other things by reading them a story, playing their favorite song, or engaging them with a fun game. You can also talk to them about the trip and explain the ins and outs of traveling. Encourage them to look out the window to help them understand how and why they’re moving.

  1. Let Them Breathe

If you feel a bout of motion sickness coming on in your child, give them more room to breathe. Roll down the window in the car, open any vents nearby while turning up the cool air, or step outside when possible. Fresh air and an increase in oxygen will help settle your kids’ aggravated stomachs. Also get rid of any strong smelling foods, scents or odors that might make motion sickness worse.

  1. Naptime

Use naptime to decrease your child’s sensory input. Fast-moving video games and movies can make things worse. Instead, give them room to rest their head and help them drift to sleep to lessen the effects of traveling. Some well-deserved peace and quiet can also help move things along.

prevent-motion-sickness

  1. Choose Pre-Trip Meals Carefully

Make things easier for yourself as a parent by feeding your children bland, easy-to-digest foods. Vomiting and upset stomach are much easier to avoid if your kids have had a mild meal before traveling. A peanut butter and jelly, crackers, or a grilled cheese can make for an excellent pre-trip meal.

  1. Cool Them Off

If your child starts to feel sick while traveling, try combating the effects of motion sickness by cooling them down. A cold wet towel on the forehead can help with sweating and fatigue. Cold water can help reduce nausea and upset stomach.

When trying to prevent motion sickness in kids, a gentle touch is usually the most effective. Your child will slowly learn to adapt to the side effects of traveling with age. You can also talk to your doctor about certain medications used to relieve the effects of motion sickness. If you’d prefer more natural options rather than synthetic medications, you can try ginger pills before you travel or many stores carry topically applied essential oils that are applied behind the ears and help calm the nerves in the ear that cause motion sickness.

When in doubt, help you child relax and give them a chance to catch their breath. Now you can play some travel games in the car! Happy travels!

About the Author: Megan Gallagher works with Motioneaze, an all-natural, over-the-counter remedy for motion sickness symptoms.

 

Five questions to ask yourself before buying travel insurance

October 2, 2015 By

When should you consider buying travel insurance? This is a question I am asked regularly, and frankly, it’s one I’ve been mulling over when booking my own travel adventures as well. I’ve bought travel insurance for two family trips in recent years: for a vacation to the Caribbean uncomfortably close to hurricane season, and for our upcoming two-week trip to Europe.

travel-insurance

I don’t believe families need to buy travel insurance for every trip. How to know which ones are ‘insurance-worthy’? Ask yourself these five questions:

1. Am I already insured?

You may assume you are not,  but if you booked your entire trip on a major credit card, you may already have the perk of limited coverage. Personally, I do not book all my travel via credit card, which works for our family to reduce debt. However, I do miss out on the built-in travel insurance some card companies offer. Double check!

2. Is this a ‘bucket list’ trip?

Is this vacation a trip of a lifetime? In other words, will it be hard to financially recoup? If you will not be able to replace your trip financially within the foreseeable future, should something prevent you from going, you should consider insurance. For us, our European trip falls under this category. Should we not be able to go, it will take considerable time to make up for the financial loss.

3. Will I be traveling during the winter or hurricane season?

Flight delays and cancellations can happen anytime, but if you like to travel during the shoulder season or off-season, you may find yourself flying in extreme weather seasons more often than you’d like. If your trip will be in winter or during hurricane season, you may rest easier knowing you’re insured. The insurance we purchased for our winter trip to Europe covers weather-related delays. If our flight is canceled and we miss a hotel or apartment stay, we will be reimbursed.

4. Did I book a tour or cruise leaving on a specific date and time?

If you’re flying to connect with a cruise ship or major tour operation that will leave without you if you’re not on time, consider travel insurance! Anything can happen, and delays are, of course, a regular occurrence. Even if it’s not your fault you arrived at the cruise terminal an hour late, you’ll still be left behind.

5. Do I have a job that’s hard to leave?

We fall into this category…not because of my job, which is travel-friendly, of course, but because of my husband’s. Even after requesting (and being granted) time off, work-related emergencies are always a possibility. We found an insurance policy that included work-related trip cancellation, which is not always part of the package. Of course, any good policy will include illness or (god forbid) death-related cancellation, which is always good to have. Life is unpredictable.

Five easy steps to finding and buying insurance:

This is the easy part, believe it or not! Here’s what I did to identify and buy the right travel insurance for our trip:

  1. Double check that I’m not already covered (we do not have a credit card that covers us, and our medical insurance does not cover international travel).
  2. Compare insurers.
  3. Fill in the trip information needed to get a quote.
  4. Looking at your results, click on 2-3 policies and click on the ‘compare’ tab. Click on ‘details’ to see exactly what each section of the policy means. Decide how much medical coverage you need based on personal health and travel risks involved.
  5. Buy right on the site! Be sure to print your policy.

Educational travel: hotel programs that teach while vacationing

September 11, 2015 By

Will you be pulling your kids out of school this year for travel? You can admit it here…we do it too! While we believe that travel aids a child’s education, we also value the lessons they’re learning in school. Therefore, when we do take kids out of class, we try to find museums to visit or hotel programs for kids that offer classes, lessons, or special programming. Below, our favorite hotel brands for families, and what they’re offering kids this autumn:

hotel-programs

Appalachian Mountain Club lodges, Vermont:

For families planning a fall foliage getaway or a winter trip into the outdoors, AMC’s Highland Center offers eco and educational programming for kids as young as three. Located in the White Mountains on the Appalachian Trail, their L.L. Bean room comes stocked with family-friendly equipment and their staff offers nature walks and hikes geared toward families. Plus, the Highland Center won’t break the bank: rooms are affordable and meals are communal.

Select Ritz Carlton hotels:

Ritz Carlton Ambassadors of the Environment

Select Ritz Carlton hotels offer Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program. We reviewed their Laguna Niguel snorkeling excursion last summer, and are pleased to see the program offered in several locations, including Maui. Kids begin their Ambassadors of the Environment program in a classroom–don’t worry, it’s fun–where they see a slideshow about the marine animals they will encounter and learn about the unique environment local to the hotel. Guides then take kids (and parents too, if they sign up) off-site to snorkel, take a beach walk, or explore local flora and fauna in another capacity. Water bottles and snacks are included, as well as a photo CD of the experience.

 Dar Les Cigognes, Morocco:

This boutique hotel converted from a wealthy merchant’s home offers private cooking classes which can be booked by visiting families. Amanda Mouttaki of Maroc Mama tried out a cooking class with her child, and loved how the class was completely customizable (great for food allergies). Traditions in Moroccan food were explained, and of course, the final product was happily consumed.

Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland:

Travel writer Jen Miner of the Vacation Gals experienced authentic, wild falconry with her kids during a family visit to this well-known hotel. The British School of Falconry was established at Gleneagles, which means the kids were taught this ancient sport by actual professionals in the field. Gleneagles also offers a wide array of additional sports and outdoor activities for families, including archery. Note: not up for an international trip? Falconry is also taught to families staying at the Woodstock Inn, Vermont.

Masseria Torre Coccaro, Italy:

This working farm-turned hotel in Puglia, Italy allows kids to cook with the resort chef before eating their creations, including pasta and pizza. Families learn about the olive groves in this part of the country, and the mills that produce food. Learn more on Global Mouse Travels about their stay and culinary adventures at Masseria Torre Coccaro.

Turtle Beach Resort, Barbados:

At all-inclusive Turtle Beach Resort, Barbados, kids can take dialect lessons –children on the island speak with Bajan accents–and learn a few words of island slang. Pastry classes are also offered, where kids use local ingredients such as noni flour and cactus, and families can play beach cricket with hotel staff…an island favorite. Best of all for animal lovers and budding marine biologists, kids staying at Turtle Beach can learn from Turtle Pioneers, experts on the dozens of turtles that nest here each year.

turtle-beach

Preferred Hotels (international):

We love the Preferred Hotels brand so much, I contribute to their Preferred Family website, dedicated to family travel. It’s easy to see at a glance which Preferred hotels are kid-friendly on the Preferred Family site (criteria for the distinction includes kids’ clubs, kid-friendly dining, and kids’ programming). The best Preferred properties will offer an array of classes for kids from golf clinics to scuba lessons. Send the kids to the tennis courts or to the nature trail with Preferred the next time you book Preferred!

Mountain View Grand Resort, New Hampshire:

This luxury mountain property is all about bringing kids to the outdoors, and the outdoors in. According to Luxe Recess, the Mountaineering Club is where kids gather for screen-free activities ranging from frog races to cardboard box races in the pool. Best of all, this programming is free during the day time hours. Mountain View also hosts a ‘meet the farmer activity’, during which guests can collect eggs and interact with sheep, llamas, cattle, and alpacas.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji:

resort-programming

Lucky enough to be headed to Fiji? Last year, we told you about Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort‘s Learn and Play programming, outdoor and hotel programming designed for families and school-aged kids. Kids 6-12 even help out in the hotel kitchen, assisting the resort chef to create a meal start to finish. This year, the resort has added their Connect with Kids program, a unique and culturally educational travel experience for children and their parents staying at the resort. This new program allows families to head  off-site to visit a local primary school to meet children of similar age groups in their classroom and participate in that day’s curriculum.

Atmosphere Resorts and Spa, Philippines:

With an in-house biologist and a marine sanctuary right at its doorstep, this property in Dumaguete is a natural choice for families looking to educate themselves during vacation. The resort offers kids’ classes in marine biology and art, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Read more on Globetotting.com.

The American Club, Kohler, Wisconsin:

This five-star resort is known for golf, but they start ’em young. In addition to more mainstream children’s programming, parents can sign kids up for private golf session that include video and swing analysis software. The crew at Road Trips for Families tried it out, noting that families can group siblings together in one lesson, a nice cost-savings.

Want to find educational pit stops in addition to educational opportunities at hotels and resorts? Check out Trekaroo’s Road School series! 

Photo credit: Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji and Amy Whitley

Top hotel chains for family travelers

August 26, 2015 By

We get asked for hotel recommendations all the time. And we have plenty to give: after all, we spend over 100 nights per year in hotel rooms, suites, vacation rentals, and condos. While specific hotel picks in family travel destinations are important, it can be equally useful to know which are the top hotel chains for family travelers…no matter where you’re going.

top-hotel-chains

We have our favorites, which we’ve broken down into a variety of family travel categories, with the overall winners below:

Best boutique/lifestyle hotel chain:

kimpton-hotel-lobby

We love frequenting boutique hotels with kids, especially during city travel when location and character are most important to us. The best boutique and lifestyle hotels offer something beyond the cookie cutter amenities of more mainstream chains, with X-factors like rooftop decks, s’mores on the courtyard, wine hours, and funky furniture. They can turn a standard stay into a memorable one! The only downside: sometimes, boutique hotels will lack amenities such as free parking or complimentary breakfast, so budget accordingly.

Winner: Kimpton hotels

Kimpton wins at making families feel welcome with special touches in many of their city hotels such as goldfish ‘pets’ and hot cocoa bars for the kids. Our favorite Kimpton stay included a family game night hour and resident dog in the lobby. Read a review of a favorite Kimpton property.

Runner up: Lark hotels

Many boutique hotels are located in urban areas and–let’s face it–cater mostly to business and adult travelers. Lark is different in that their properties tend to be situated in popular vacation destinations, such as Nantucket or Newport.

Best ‘bang for your buck’ hotel chain:

where-to-stay-in-dc

Let us elaborate: when we say ‘bang for your buck’, we’re talking about value, not cheap prices. Our picks in this category include hotel chains that focus on giving the most for the price, including extras that will save families money as they vacation.

Winner: Grand Hyatt (club level)

For years, I assumed that upgrading to club level at a Grand Hyatt hotel would be a frivolous expense. Not necessarily. Upgrading is typically only $75 more per night, and gives families access to a club level lounge serving food and drinks all day long. With some planning, families of 4-5 people can save far more than the price of the upgrade by eating in the lounge most meals. Plus, it’s far more convenient and comfortable than finding dining options out every day during a city trip. Read a review of a Grand Hyatt club level stay.

Runner up: Embassy Suites (Hilton)

Embassy Suites could have also won in our ‘all suites’ category, but we’re placing it here because most properties in this brand offer value on multiple fronts. Not only do families get the space to spread out in suites, but the free breakfasts are the highest quality in the business. Some properties also offer complimentary cocktail hours. Review of our favorite Embassy Suites.

Best luxury hotel chain:

Ritz Carlton laguna niguel

Ready to splurge? Many deserving hotel brands vied for our top spots in this category, and quite frankly, we have our favorites across many brands at specific locations. But this post isn’t about specifics…it’s about winners across the board. Who we picked:

Winner: Ritz Carlton

Time and again, Ritz Carlton delivers on prime location, beauty, service, and amenities. Will a Ritz stay set you back? Absolutely. Expect to pay extra for freebies at budget resorts, such as parking, breakfast, and WiFi. But also expect to be wowed with things like butler services, turn-down, and amazing ambiance. Read about our favorite Ritz Carlton stay.

Runner up: Fairmont

I’ve always loved Fairmont hotels due to their physical beauty, inside and out. At many a Fairmont, families will feel like they’re staying in a castle or mansion. Details abound, such as infused water in the lobby, cookies at bedtime, and planning programming just for kids. Read about our most magical Fairmont stay.

Best budget hotel chain:

IHG villas

When we say ‘budget’, we don’t mean cheapest. ‘Cheapest’ is a very simple thing to find–a quick scroll through Expedia will find your winner. ‘Budget’ to us means cheapest with amenities we need. What amenities are these? How about free parking, free WiFi, and free breakfast. What might but might not be included: customer service worth mentioning, location, pools, or rooms beyond the uninspired standard.

Winner: Holiday Inn Express (IHG)

It’s nothing flashy, but consistently, we’ve had good stays at Holiday Inn Express hotels. When you just need a place to lay your heads, and want competent service, clean rooms, and a free breakfast that doesn’t suck (or only sucks a little), this is your pick.

Runner up: Best Western Plus

For us, Best Western Plus would have made the top spot, but many properties have room rates a bit too steep for us to consider ‘budget’. However, like Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Plus properties can be counted on to be quality stays, and often have extra amenities like nice pools or on-site dining.

Best suites-only hotel chain:

marriott-vacation-club

Yes, you can find a suite in any price range, but for families, finding a economic hotel that still provides ample space is like hitting the jackpot.

Winner: Marriott Vacation Club

We’ve yet to meet a MVC property we don’t like. Like Grand Hyatt or Embassy Suites, this chain is all about value over budget price. Families get condo-like suite living with full kitchens (a big savings when vacationing and eating out), plus tons of family-friendly programming options in vacation destinations. MVC properties shine on the amenities front too: they have some of the best pools, beaches, and playgrounds we’ve seen, and most include free parking. Read about just one of our top Marriott Vacation Club stays.

Runner up: Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Always in a vacation destination that appeals to families, Holiday Inn Club Vacation properties are similar to MVC, with a (usually) lower price tag. While they don’t have quite the polish of the latter chain, they do offer up value for families in condo-style vacation villas, amenities like nice pools and dining options, and sometimes, shuttles to popular sights.

Best moderate luxury:

omni-hammocks

What sort of category is this? The one for those of us who enjoy luxury, but can’t always swing a Ritz stay. If that’s you, read on.

Winner: Preferred hotels

Definitely check the PreferredFamily.com website before looking for a Preferred hotel in your vacation destination, because most of these hotels have independent names. However, across the brand, they shine as moderate luxury options that include family amenities that may be missing from top luxury brands, such as child proofing in rooms, family-friendly dining, and toddler pools. Read some of our tips on the PreferredFamily blog list.

Runner up: Omni hotels

Often located in cities popular for family travel, Omni hotels give parents luxury while offering kids fun amenities, like backpacks and kid packets upon check-in. You’ll still pay for extras like parking and breakfast at most Omni hotels, but their prime locations and spacious rooms may make up for this. Read a review of our favorite Omni.

Tip: learn how to use IHG points toward your next hotel stay, no matter the category.

What is your favorite hotel brand for family travel?

PCT section hiking with teens

August 12, 2015 By

We’ve been wanting to backpack on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) long before it was cool. This summer, my 16-year-old and I finally set out, tackling almost 70 miles of the PCT in Central Oregon. We built up to this trip with years of family backpacking, including several 3-4 night trips, starting when my son was just a toddler. How did we fare? We had one of our best backpacking trips ever!

hiking-PCT

Our PCT section hike spanned over 65 miles from Central Oregon’s Mckenzie Pass by Sisters to Olallie Lake, outside Detroit, Oregon. It took us through the Jefferson National Forest and Jefferson Park, past the three Sisters peaks, Broken Top, Three Fingered Jack, Mount Washington, and Mount Jefferson. Every day brought new scenery, from forests depleted by fire to mountain meadows still filled with wildflowers, to rushing creek crossings, to mountain ridge lines, saddles, and peaks.

Jefferson-peak

My son and I felt a keen sense of accomplishment as we navigated landmarks along the trail with our PCT data book and topographical maps, found our own water resupplies, made and broke down camp every night and morning, carried everything we needed on our backs, and relied entirely upon each other for basic survival. This trip was a chance for my son to shine as a young man, for me to let go a bit as a mom, and for both of us to bond. We met amazing people on the PCT, both fellow section hikers like us and thru-hikers going to Canada. The community spirit was uplifting, the scenery breathtaking, and the uninterrupted time in the wilderness invigorating.

A day in the life of a PCT section hiking with teens:

PCT-hike

Each section hike will look different, depending on where you start and end, of course, but a typical day on the PCT for us looked something like this:

7 am: Wake up. Stumble out of sleeping bags on stiff legs, retrieve the food bag (hung in the night to discourage critters from nibbling), and start boiling water for coffee and oatmeal (assuming we had enough water to spare for a hot meal).

8 am: Change into hiking clothes (our only hiking clothes), doctor any blisters on our feet, and tear down camp. This involves washing any dishes (we quickly learned to have as few as possible), putting away our stove and cooking pot, stuffing our sleeping bags and pads, taking down our little tent, and filling our water bottles for the day.

8:30 am: Hit the trail. Depending on the day, we hiked between 10-15 miles. Some days, we took a break mid-morning at a water source to cook a meal if we hadn’t had enough water to do so earlier, other days we hiked straight until lunch. When is lunch? When we were hungry. Regular rules about meals and routine don’t matter on the PCT: our bodies very quickly adjusted to a natural rhythm of eating when we were hungry and sleeping when we were tired.

Mid-day stop at a vista, lake, stream, or otherwise interesting landmark: Some days, we’d go for a swim in a lake if one crossed our path, other days we washed our clothes in a creek or sat on the saddle of a ridge, taking in the view.

Late-day stop: We’d always stop at least once or twice per day to filter more drinking water as the opportunity arose. We had to keep a steady eye on our drinking supply and the water sources listed in our data book. Every day, we ran into others on the trail, and we always stopped to talk a bit. We met wonderful people, all on the PCT for essentially the same reasons as us: to commune with nature, to challenge themselves, and to live deliberately and peacefully.

lake-on-PCT

5-6 pm: Arrive at the night’s camp. Where was camp? Wherever we could find one. We always had an ‘ending mile’ planned (aka, mile 14 of the day, for instance) that was near some landmark desirable for camping, such as a lake or stream. However, campsites didn’t always appear on cue. We sometimes stopped shy of our goal, but more often hiked further, in order to come to a good campsite.

7 pm: Set up camp, make dinner (usually mashed potatoes or noodles, as we always craved carbs), and filter water, unless at a dry camp. If we had wet clothes we’d washed in a lake or stream, we hung them to dry.

8 pm: Do any dishes (remembering to follow Leave No Trace practices), string up the food bag, make sure all our supplies are tucked away in our bags, get in our sleeping bags. Once in our sleeping bags, we’d study our topographical map to get a preview of the next day’s hike, then read our books until we fell asleep (usually as the sun went down around 9 pm).

campsite-on-PCT

How to plan:

Readers of Pit Stops for Kids may remember we started planning our PCT section hike months ago, using information gleaned from PCTA.org. Click on our post, ‘How to plan a multi-night PCT hike with kids’ for details on how we chose when and where to hike.

Since that post, our section hike plan changed a few times. We lost some participants, making the trip a mother-son endeavor, and gained support via car in the form of a trailhead drop-off on Day 1, a check-in and resupply late Day 2, and a pick-up on Day 6.

Once we knew where we wanted our hike to start and end, and how many days we had to accomplish our goal, it was a simple task to break down the trip in miles per day. We then cross-referenced this information with the possible ‘drops’ along the trail (places we could be met by others who could give us aid), and determined to have just one drop during our 6 days out. To do all this, we used the Pacific Crest Trail Data Book and the topographical map dedicated to Central Oregon’s section of the PCT (available at outdoor stores or online).

three-fingered-jack

The data book will tell you where along the trail water will be available (in the form of a creek, stream, pond, or lake), but does not tell you where to find campsites (though some GPS programs do). In many sections of the PCT, hikers are permitted to camp anywhere they find an established campsite. You can tell an established site because the ground will be packed down and there may be a small spur trail leading to it from the PCT. Often, other hikers will mark good campsites with cairns (piles or rock), handmade signs using sticks for arrows on the dirt, or trail marking tape.

How to pack:

When we backpack for a weekend or up to three days, we like a few luxuries in our packs, such as hammocks, camp chairs, and java presses. I know, I know. But when we section hiked the PCT, we went bare bones, in order to be as lightweight as possible. Here was what was in our packs (and nothing else), for a total of about 25 pounds per pack:

Clothing:

  • 1 set of hiking clothing (quick dry pants, t-shirt)
  • 3 pairs wool hiking socks
  • 2 pairs underwear
  • 1 set of base layers (long underwear, preferably wool)
  • 1 down or down-alternative jacket (lightweight, easily stuff-able)
  • 1 rain jacket
  • 1 pair of lightweight sandals
  • 1 pair hiking boots
  • sunglasses
  • sun hat
  • thin gloves

Equipment (divided between two people):

Food (again, divided between us):

We have a tendency to over-pack food, and we managed to do this again, even though we meticulously planned our meals. We have much smaller appetites than we anticbackpacking-foodipated, given how much we worked on the trail. We could barely manage to eat about 300 calories each during the evening meal, and we calculated double this amount. Whoops.

Breakfasts:

  • instant oatmeal packets (mix the hot water right into the paper sleeves if they’re the lined kind)
  • instant coffee (for us, only Starbucks VIA will do)
  • handful of dried fruit

Lunches:

  • protein bar of your choice
  • dried fruit
  • veggie chips or pita chips
  • tube of peanut butter to spread on chips
  • envelope of tuna
  • beef jerky
  • snickers bar or M&Ms to snack on

Dinners (one of the following):

  • instant mashed potatoes (we like Idahoan)
  • Top Ramen
  • dehydrated backpacking meal
  • mac and cheese
  • instant soup
  • envelope of smoked salmon or jerky to add to the carb-heavy meals

We essentially rotated these basic foods over and over. And yes, we got tired of them.

Tips we learned on the trail:

Look for trail signs: while many places along the PCT are not officially marked with mileage and other helpful tidbits, other hikers have often left signs to follow. Look for cairns that will direct you to the correct trail, or hand-scratched ‘pct’ letters in logs or even rocks. During one lucky moment, someone just ahead of us on the trail had made an arrow of sticks to indicate a hidden spur trail to an excellent camping site. When we met her later, we thanked her! Another time, we were almost out of water when we ran across a stick with these words in Magic Marker: “Washington Pond: 1/4 mile, muddy but if desperate?!” We were!

sign-on-PCT

Stop to talk with other hikers. They’re awesome, down to a person.

Let your kids have responsibilities. During our hike, my son was pretty much an equal with me, making important decisions and partnering in all the tasks and work. We both loved this. He’s preparing for bigger and longer hikes in his future, and I will know he’s prepared.

Stop to rest when it feels right. A few times on the trail, we pushed ourselves for no reason other than to ‘make good time’. When the only task of the day is to hike to the day’s destination, don’t be afraid to spend the whole day doing it.

Eat when you’re hungry. Once, we stopped at a creek mid-hike and decided to get out the stove and make a big bowl of chowder at 3 pm. It was supposed to be our dinner, but we wanted it then. We didn’t regret it.

Don’t duplicate equipment. It seems silly now, but we brought two stoves (very small and lightweight) and two pots (not so lightweight). We thought we might want to convenience of boiling two pots of water simultaneously (to have coffee and oatmeal at the same time, for example). We ended up preferring to have patience rather than carry the extra weight.

Issues to be prepared for:

When hiking most of the day, every day (regardless of mileage), certain physical issues may occur. It’s not fun to talk about, but…

rain-PCTChaffing: Skin rubbing against skin for hours at a time can cause major discomfort in sensitive areas. The solution: antibiotic ointment or Vasoline applied before hiking. It can also help to change underwear.

Diarrhea: Lots of water, plus lots of physical exertion, plus exposure to the elements and different food than usual can wreak havoc on the digestive system. Give it a day or two before worrying, making sure you continue to hydrate. Of course, make sure to filter or boil all water.

Bad moments: There will be low moments. Maybe the incline in the trail will seem endless, or a wind and hailstorm will beat down. Maybe you’ll be thirsty or hungry or your feet will be in agony. It’s good for kids (and adults) to remember that pain, discouragement, and suffering can be temporary, and that they can get through these times. Truly.

Blisters: AKA, the bane of my existence on the trail. I always get blisters, no matter what preventative measures I take. Bring lots of moleskin and athletic tape, use skin-tac to make your skin around the blister tacky before applying moleskin or bandages, and make sure your shoes fit properly. If you have tips for avoiding or fixing blisters on the trail, please let me know.

Dehydration: Ask your hiking partner when he or she peed last. Trust me, it’s an acceptable question on the trail.

Was it all worth it? Absolutely. Would we do it again? We definitely will, in-between more 2-3 day backpacking trips with all the kids.