Trip Review: Thailand Revisited

The Delatorre and Laguio Families returned to their former home (and for some their birthplace) of Thailand to to revisit their memories with a new generation.  The trip began in Bangkok where they were able to visit the old neighborhood and school as well as see the city sights, floating market and temples. The St. Regis was their home for four nights.  The family enjoyed this modern, urban retreat where the staff greeted them with an orchid garland and traditional Thai bow (wai).  Actually each hotel they stayed at did the same.  The hotel had an amazing breakfast buffet that stretched across three rooms and served international dishes from Europe, Thailand, Japan, China and the United States.

The final stop for the Delatorre family was the beach resort town of Phuket with a stay at the Andara Resort and Villas; a dream property for the children.  Their large villa had a 50 ft. long private pool and amazing views.  A Maya Bay speedboat trip was a highlight  with unforgettable sights of the bay along with cave swimming, snorkeling, monkey feedings and an island lunch.

The family reminds us how special (and inexpensive) Thailand is for travelers.  It’s a Buddhist country with a long reigning monarch which lends to the mystique of the temples, monks, and ceremonies. Combine that with the rugged northern towns with elephants and tribes, and the southern islands with their gorgeous beaches.   The group was there while the country was in mourning over the passing of their monarch. Photos and tributes to the king were everywhere. Most Thais wore black, and they were also encouraged to wear black at the temples out of respect. The lines of mourners outside the Royal Palace in Bangkok where the king is laid to rest stretched for miles in the hot sun.  He was the only king most Thais know and the Delatorre and Laguio families felt his loss too.  They also had Thai massages everywhere with the least expensive ones at the Wat Po temple in Bangkok and the Thai markets and put their feet in aquariums where fish nibbled for a unique exfoliation treatment!  This foodie family also loved the Thai food whether it was consumed in a restaurant, food stall or on the street.  Overall a very successful trip, family reunion and home coming.

Travel Tip: Mexico On-Line Immigration Forms

To ease the immigration entry process you can now fill out the Mexico Immigration Form online prior to travel.  Just go to https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html to complete the online form.  You will need your passport, flight information, address or name of the hotel where you are staying and a printer to print the completed tourist card(s).  Please note that the tourist card must be completed for every person travelling, regardless of age and how long they are staying in Mexico.

Trip Review: Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Mindy and Lauren attended the invitation-only Family Travel Advisor Forum last month at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios.  The resort property sits in a gated community close to downtown Ocho Rios and to many of the island’s top nature experiences such as Dunn’s River Falls, Konoko Falls and the Blue Hole.  It’s about 1 ½ hours from the Montego Bay airport. The 705-room property has plenty of dining options; a sprawling pool complex with bridges and water slide; large spa and gym; water sports including fly boards, stand-up paddle boards and two surf pools; children and teen clubs; dolphin swim and evening shows.  Plus a friendly and accommodating staff.   We enjoyed our meal at the Japanese restaurant’s teppanyaki tables the best with a very entertaining Jamaican/Asian chef.  The bakery which created made-to-order crepes was also very popular.  Our rooms were in the North Tower and were a little snug, but well appointed with a filled mini fridge, pull out liquor bar, Chi hair products and styling supplies and a lovely bathroom with shower only.  We also toured the South Tower rooms which are more spacious with full balconies.  This tower offers Family Suites (connecting rooms) and a gorgeous two-bedroom Presidential Suite which is ideal for families and includes a large spa tub, separate living area and several balconies.  The private beach unfortunately offers a view of the Port of Ocho Rios, but otherwise has calm water.  Hotel guests also receive resort credits to use for excursions, spa treatments, family photos and more based on the number of nights they stay.  The trade show we attended offered us the ability to meet and mingle with many of our favorite suppliers along with new suppliers, tourist bureaus, social media experts as well as with other family travel specialists from around the United States and Canada.

Travel Tip: Smart Bags Banned

A growing number of airlines have announced restrictions on luggage with built-in batteries because of a potential fire hazard they may create in the cargo area of a plane.  Two of the world’s largest airlines, American and Delta, announced this month that bags with built-in batteries that cannot be removed will not be allowed as checked luggage starting Jan. 15. Since then, United, Southwest, Alaksa and Hawaiian Airlines have announced similar restrictions. The move comes amid growing worry that lithium batteries can ignite a fire in the cargo hold of a plane.  The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed restrictions on spare lithium batteries carried in the cargo area but has left it up to airlines to impose restrictions on larger batteries inside of electronic equipment, such as smart bags.  Smart bags have become increasingly popular with tech-loving travelers because the bags come with built-in devices that can weigh the bag, track its location using GPS and lock it remotely using a smartphone app. Some bags even include wheels and a motor so that travelers can ride the luggage like a scooter.

Trip Review: Cancun/Riviera Maya

Mindy traveled to the Cancun/Riviera Maya region in October to attend meetings with our travel agent consortium, the Traveri Group, as well as attend one of our supplier’s trade show and summit.  Her stay began at the family-friendly Finest Resort on Playa Mujeres for two nights.  This property is just north of Cancun.  She thought the rooms were spacious and beautiful with a modern style.  She really enjoyed staying at this property and meeting our representative for the hotel chain (see photo).  The resort offers a wide variety of activities for children and teens including a well-equipped children’s compound.  She also toured several other family resorts including Hyatt Ziva in Cancun and Dreams Playa Mujeres.  The Hyatt was a pleasant surprise with a great range of activities and 3 calm beaches.  The food was excellent and there are large family rooms including a two-bedroom villa that can sleep up to 8.  Dreams is a new property that has a fun waterpark and lazy river, well-equipped teen area and nice dining options.  The resort is also showcasing the Broadway show Rock of Ages through January 15.  Family accommodations include a two-bedroom suite on the club level that can accommodate up to 8 people.  The adult-only properties she toured include the boutique-style Beloved located on Playa Mujeres for a quiet getaway and Excellence Playa Mujeres for adults who seek a wider variety of activities and recreation.  Both received high marks for rooms, dining and beach.

Mindy then called the newly renovated Grand at Moon Palace home for the next three nights.  The service and amenities of this elevated section of the Moon Palace property offers a bowling alley, movie theater, waterpark and more.  The section has over 1,300 rooms and suites with golf cart shuttles to get you around.  She also got to see the Cirque de Soleil show, Joya, which draws on Mexico’s history and heritage.  The show has its own theater in the Riviera Maya and is also a dinner show.  She thought the story line was a little confusing, but with great acrobatics.  She also attended The Mark Travel Corporation Summit that showcased 200 of the travel industry’s top suppliers, including hotel and resort companies and destination executives along with 650 travel agents.  The learning opportunities included academic level workshops, seminars and courses along with keynote speeches about the state of the travel industry, advancements in technology and more.  The Summit is one of the largest travel industry events of the year.

Travel Tip: New ID Requirements

Travel Tip: New ID Requirements

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA, from
accepting licenses and identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards.

Enforcement Dates
Beginning January 22, 2018, driver’s licenses or state IDs issued by states that are not in compliance with the REAL ID Act and have not been granted an extension by DHS may not be used to fly within the U.S. Beginning October 1, 2020, every traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID or another acceptable form of identification to fly within the U.S.

When Flying…
If your state is compliant:
• You may continue to use your state-issued driver’s license or ID to fly in the U.S. until October 1, 2020.
• Beginning October 1, 2020, you may only use a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel.

If your state is not compliant:
• Beginning January 22, 2018, you may continue to use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel only if your state has been granted an extension to the compliance deadline by DHS. If your state has not been granted an extension by DHS you may not use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel.
• Beginning October 1, 2020, you may not use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air travel.

Recommendations
1.Check your state’s status: You can check if your state is REAL ID compliant at dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. Beginning January 22, 2018, travelers from non-compliant states will not be able to use their driver’s licenses or state IDs at TSA checkpoints, unless the state received an extension to comply.

2.Read the frequently asked questions: For clarification on what the REAL ID Act means for you, visit dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs or tsa.gov and search “REAL ID”. If you have questions about what is considered acceptable identification, you may call the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673 or email TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov.

Trip Review: The Family Travel Association Summit

Lauren just returned from The Family Travel Association’s annual Summit.  The gathering of family travel agents, family travel media/bloggers, family friendly suppliers, researchers as well as Royal Caribbean and association staff took place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas which sailed out of Port Canaveral.  The Family Traveler was also the selected agency to book the cabins for the meeting (as we were the first agency to join) which allowed us the chance to better get to know all of the attendees.  A pre-cruise night stay at the Marriott Courtyard in Cocoa Beach included an informative dinner with local suppliers including hotels, activities and the port.  Then the 4-night cruise sailed to Nassau, but was unable to send tender boats to the private island of Cocoa Cay due to weather.  This gave us more opportunities to network and learn through keynote speakers, small group discussions and one-on-one meetings.  There were many highlights of the Summit including a discussion with Sven-Olaf Lindblad of Lindblad Expeditions about how to provide diverse aspiration for all ages while traveling, a variety of research to show the growth and direction of family travel, learning about and understanding the diversity of travelers and hearing about the Red Trunk Project which is a cultural initiative to spark global dialogue for a more inclusive future for children.  We met with suppliers as diverse as Kids Sea Camp (see above) to Martinhal Hotels and Resorts which are specifically designed for families and located in Portugal.  In Nassau, the show took place at the historical British Colonial Hilton.  Afterward, Lauren ventured to the Junkanoo World Museum with other agents to learn about this colorful festival, amazing costumes and history.  It proved to be a worthwhile experience despite its location outside of the downtown area.  The family-friendly experience includes hands on drumming or an art project based on Junkanoo costume techniques. The Family Traveler Association’s mission is to inspire family to travel – and travel more – while advocating for travel as an essential part of every child’s education.  This is a practice we greatly value in our agency and through the trips we book for you each and every day.  Check out http://familytravel.org for more details and to see their diverse membership.

Travel Tip: Travel Apps

Travel Tip: Travel Apps

Thanks to Travel Weekly magazine for this extensive list of a variety of travel apps and their functions:

Duolingo: This app is designed to teach the basics of a wide variety of languages in the format of a computer game. You must answer questions correctly before proceeding to the next step. This is a perfect download for first-time visitors to virtually anywhere on our planet.

EatSmartGuides: This app for travelers helps you identify local foods and beverages so you can decipher menus like a local. Akin to having your own menu translator sharing your chopsticks.

Eventseeker: Shows you key art exhibits, foodie events and festivals happening in the cities you visit.

TheFork: Another valuable app for Europe-bound travelers. TheFork points out the best restaurants and offers maps, reviews, sample menu items and even discount coupons for many featured restaurants.

Foursquare: Download this one just to see what all the buzz is about. Just tell the app what your family’s favorite foods are and it will show you only places that meet your profile. You can choose to follow those with similar tastes worldwide.

GateGuru: While not quite as good as having your travel personally monitored by one of the better flight tracking services, Gateguru is a great guide to local airport food along your route, amenities in your terminal, weather and the latest gate and departure information. It also shows you nearest alternate airports, just in case.

Google Translate: This is a rather obvious inclusion. The app enables you to simply speak into your phone and have their words instantly translated to the local language. But what is really cool is that this app no longer requires phone service.

ICE (In Case of Emergency): ICE records details about your personal medical conditions along with your doctor’s contact and insurance information, which it stores for translation in 10 languages. Best of all, it can be accessed in an emergency even if your phone is locked.

LiveTrekker: Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve, but this app can create an entire digital journal of one’s travels using a red line to trace the exact route. It monitors speed and altitude, and users can add photos, videos and audio en route, returning home with a multimedia journal that can be shared with friends.

Seat Alerts: This valuable app monitors the available seats on a flight up until its departure from the gate. It is particularly valuable for last-minute cancellations or when no-shows open up better seat availability.

Spotted by Locals: This site offers guides to 55 European cities and 11 in North America curated by locals with the latest information on what is cool and trendy. The best spots for music, shopping, coffee and bars are included. The price of the app includes free updates for life.

TimeOut: Insanely popular with those under 40, TimeOut is a comprehensive repository of things to do and see in cities around the world. It features everything from restaurants and bars to major attractions and events, Travelers to any city will be able to monitor everything going on around them. The app can even book restaurants and concerts.

Wolframsunexposure: You enter your skin type, and the app tells you how long you can safely stay in the sun before getting burned. It is based on where you are and the time of day, even taking into account the type of skin cream you are using.

Travel Tip: Travel Cribs

In honor of Family Traveller magazine’s debut in the US (on-line for now with a print version in January), here is a travel tip from their first publication:

Making a trip, whether near or far, always calls for a little rest and recharge once you get there. It may be easy for you to hit the hay on any pillow you see, but baby is always better when they have their favorite things with them. These travel cribs will make for the comfiest sleeps whether at home or away. They all fold up, carry easily and weigh less than 20 pounds. Bringing one along isnow a no-brainer. Everyone’s sleep will be better!

Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard Jetsetter, $104

This travel crib makes it easy to be on the go. It folds up into its own backpack so you can carry it anywhere baby goes. With its easy setup, the Pack ‘n Play can be assembled almost anywhere in less than one minute. One minute? Yes, one minute is right! And that kind of time is precious when you have a baby on your hip. Once set up, this travel crib comes with a bassinet, perfect for little ones who need a nap. The bassinet has two vibration settings to soothe your baby when you are too busy to stand there and rock baby yourself. Other features include mesh paneling for air flow, a mesh dome with sunlight blocker, and a removable changing pad.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light, $240

The most annoying thing about buying products just for baby? Having to buy new items when baby gets bigger. That isn’t a problem with the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light. Although one of the more expensive travel crib options out there, this product will last your baby well through their toddler years, making it worth the investment. It has a comfy mattress pad and high, mesh walls. You’ll be happy you’ll never have to buy another travel crib, since you won’t find one with the same features. The 13-pound crib can be carried in its over-the-shoulder bag until it is set up in one simple movement. After a few uses, the crib may get dirty, but have no fear. Both the mattress pad cover and fabric around the crib are removable and machine washable. This small crib can fit in the back of any car for your next trip. Your baby will be happy no matter when and where you decide to get away.

Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib, $190

Make your baby smile with this crib by Guava Family. The exclusive side zipper doors allow you to get down on your baby’s level and hang out in the crib with them. This feature provides a more hands-on approach to everyday events – you can even lay beside your baby until they fall asleep. The easy 15-second setup makes it a no-brainer for bringing on a vacation – it’s no mess and no fuss. When you’re ready to head on home, just fold the crib up and carry it using its built-in backpack feature.

If you want this crib to grow with your baby, you can purchase the bassinet package, featuring a rocking option for a deep sleep. The crib and bassinet combination retails for $300.

Trip Tip: California Dreamin’

The Cheris Family of 4 from North Potomac, MD (2 adults and two teen boys) spent their summer vacation in sunny Southern California.  The trip began in Los Angeles with a stay at the Andaz West Hollywood, close to all the Hollywood attractions.  They really enjoyed the hotel, especially the rooftop pool with expansive views of the Hollywood Hills that they could also see from their high floor room.  Mom found the rooms very clean and comfortable.  Their LA highlight was a Warner Brothers Studio tour and enjoying a beach day at popular Venice Beach.  They also ventured to the Griffith’s Observatory with a nice view of the city and the Hollywood sign, drove around Beverly Hills to check out the lovely homes and visited Rodeo Drive.  Dinner at Mel’s Diner was a fun outing.  On their way south to San Diego they just decided to stop in Newport Beach for lunch.  They ended up renting bikes and swam in the ocean and really enjoyed a lovely day there.  Their stay in La Jolla was also a hit with a stay at the Grande Colonial where the staff took good care of them.  Their upgraded suite was spacious and had a sweet charm to it despite a musty smell in the building.  The hotel pool and views were a plus. Other fun activities included a kayak and snorkel tour right out of La Jolla, the San Diego Zoo, time at the beach (the hotel loaned them beach equipment) and meandering the village streets.  Every day mom loved visiting her sea lion friends at the beach in the early morning with Starbucks in hand.  Dinner at El Pescador Fish Market was described as casual and amazing.  One evening mom and dad went out for a date night for Mexican food in the Gaslamp Quarter while the boys had room service at the hotel.  Overall the trip was a great success, with minimal whining and fighting! The family mentioned that their hotel choices were spot on…they were sad to leave behind the adorable sea lions…