Trip Review: Utah Adventure

The Ronca/Shumskas Family of 5 from Pipersville, PA (with children ages 19, 15 and 9) traveled to Utah for Thanksgiving for an awesome outdoor adventure through our national parks.  They flew into Las Vegas and headed to Bryce Canyon with a stay in a suite at the slightly worn, but well-located Ruby’s Inn.  In this park, the family recommends going past the crowded overlooks with a hike into the canyon. They said that even 100 yards past the lookouts are well beyond the crowds.  The family really enjoyed hiking both the Fairyland Trail and the Outer Rim Trail.  They found both to be beautiful hikes and a great way to get down into the hoodoos (the tall and thin spire of rocks that is caused by the weather and erosion).  The family then spent a day hiking in the Escalante National Monument which has a more open landscape and offers grand, sweeping views. Then they moved onto Zion National Park with a stay at the lovely Cliffrose Lodge.  They really enjoyed this hotel, spreading out into two rooms with beautiful views of the mountains.  For Thanksgiving, they opted to cook steaks on the grill since most restaurants were closed, but there was a market nearby.  Zion is also a very popular and crowded park; getting out on the trails is very worthwhile. Here they hiked to Observation Point which was a scenic, but strenuous 8-mile hike with 2500 ft of elevation gain. And last they did the Narrows Hike with a guide from Zion Adventures which is in a deep canyon and requires hiking in the water with proper gear depending on the time of year.  The family wore dry suits and dry boots since the water is in the 30’s. This hike proved to be an interesting experience. The trip ended with a night at The Mirage in Las Vegas due to their return flight home.  They really enjoyed Utah in the fall because the temperatures were great for hiking.  The sheer scale of the views was also breathtaking, and the trip kept three children of very different ages both excited and engaged; a true success!

Trip Review: Symphony of the Seas Debut

Trip Review: Symphony of the Seas Debut

The Family Traveler was invited this month to experience one of the inaugural sailings and naming ceremony of the newest ship for Royal Caribbean and now the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage, the Symphony of the Seas.  When completely full, the boat will sail with 6,680 passengers, but there is plenty of space aboard for everyone!

Our balcony cabin offered enough room, storage and good bathroom space for up to four people with one large bed (can be converted to two beds) and a day bed with a trundle.  Some of these cabins even have the bed located next to the balcony for lovely sea views, but not as good if you use the trundle since it would be too close to the bathroom.  The highlight of the Symphony is definitely the suites which are amazing; especially the bathrooms!  So many choices from spacious junior suites to up to 4-bedroom suites that sleep up to 14!   A multi-gen dream.  This cabin features 2 Master bedrooms each with a Master bath, 2 other bedrooms that have Pullman folding down beds along with one large or twin beds, another full bathroom, dining room, living room and large balcony with a private dining area and hot tub.  There is also one amazing Ultimate Family Suite which includes a slide from the children’s bedroom to the living room downstairs, a dedicated game room, kid-friendly bathroom with bathtub, hot tub on the balcony and more.  The top Star Class suites are actually a good value as they also include free specialty dining, beverage packages, bottled water, tips, internet, priority seating and entrance to shows and other on board activities, suite lounge and Sun Deck access and more.  Another unique cabin option is the Inside Virtual Balcony cabin with a floor to ceiling screen that shows you live what is happening outside as well as a larger ocean view cabin with a set of bunk beds.

This ship excels in its variety and the quality of dining, recreation and entertainment.  There is definitely something for everyone and for all ages.  It features an easily navigable neighborhood concept, which includes Central Park, Entertainment Place and the Boardwalk with plenty of touch screens and ship deck plans to help you find your way around.  Dining is always close by with several free dining outlets for any time of the day; many with grab and go items you could take back to keep in your cabin’s mini fridge.  We had dinner in the three-level main dining room where we found a varied menu and quality wait staff.  The ship also features several specialty restaurants for an added fee, Starbucks Coffee, sports bar, candy shop, room service and more.  There’s even a bar where a robot makes your drinks!

Recreation abounds and we took full advantage of the three water slides and one dry slide along with the rock climbing wall and gym (which offers a variety of fee-added fitness classes).  There is also a full-size sport court; mini golf; laser tag; baby, kids and teen clubs; pools and hot tubs, escape room, ice skating, two surf pools, carousel and boardwalk games, spa and beauty salon and a peaceful adult-only solarium (with full buffet restaurant).

Evening entertainment could leave you sleepless with family-friendly and adult-options throughout the night.  Broadway shows (Hairspray is currently playing along with an original production about the history of flying), comedy clubs, ice skating shows, water shows, Royal Promenade parade, live music of every genre and more are offered.  We particularly enjoyed the roaming piano player who showed up a few times in the elevator!!

Symphony of the Seas, like many of the line’s ships, is also “zero to landfill” meaning no waste is left behind. A new program has banned plastic straws (although we still saw a few in the bars) and is actually 25 percent more energy-efficient than other large ships from RCCL.

We are happy to learn and witness that Royal Caribbean is listening to its passengers to determine what elements work best and used the feedback to design and create this new ship experience.

Trip Review: Adventures in Japan

The Kitei family of four (parents and young adult daughters, ages 23 and 24) from the Philadelphia area and New York City traveled to Japan this month for an 8-night adventure.  They said it was their best family trip ever!  A 10!  The Family Traveler created a custom itinerary that included their flights, transfers, trains, hotels, private tours, cultural experiences and more to meet their interests and needs.  The trip began in Tokyo with a nice stay at the Tokyo Hilton on the club level that provided breakfast and lounge access.  They enjoyed several days of private touring with young adult guides who related well to the daughters by comparing each other’s millennial life.  The guides also taught them how to navigate their way around the city including using public transportation.  Their tours included visits to various markets; Meiji Shrine; Sensoji Temple; gardens, Harajuku, Ginza and Shibuya neighborhoods as well as a sushi making class with a local chef in his apartment.  Plus some time for shopping.  Next they took the Romancecar train to the lush countryside of Hakone which is famous for hot springs, natural beauty and the view across Lake Ashinoko of nearby Mount Fuji.  They had clear views of the mountain thanks to great weather!  Hakone was a nice respite between visits to two large urban centers.  At their traditional ryokan, Aura Tachibana, their Japanese style rooms had private hot spring-fed baths which they relaxed in any time of day.  A local helped them find their best dining experience of the trip and they gave Japanese breakfast a try.  The high-speed Shinkansen train then took them onto Kyoto and they commented that the rail system was immaculate.  Their private Kyoto guide for two days was another highlight.  He took them around the city and to sites outside the city including the Fushini Inari Shrine, food markets, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gardens, Gion Corner (where they stayed for evening cultural performances), Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Iwatayama Monkey Park and more.  He was also a great photographer resulting in some great family photos.  Other experiences included a tea ceremony and meeting a geisha at their hotel, the Hyatt Regency.  The upscale hotel also offered them spacious rooms which they liked (since they usually share one room) and a great location for seeing all that Kyoto has to offer.  Overall the family said they really enjoyed the “effortless arrangements” we made.  They really enjoyed learning about Japan’s unique history, way of life as well as popular culture.  It was also quite special for the parents to see their young adult daughters really engaged and sincerely appreciating the entire experience.

Trip Review: Scottish Celebration

The Senior Family from Philadelphia ventured to Scotland this summer to celebrate a high school graduation (mom and daughter, age 17).  They let us know they had a wonderful time making many memories along the way on their 10-day custom tour.  Their trip began in Glasgow with a stay at the Sherbrooke Castle Hotel where they wandered this modern and vibrant city on their own. The following day the duo embarked on the country’s most scenic rail journeys from Glasgow through the West Highlands to Fort William and then onto Mallaig the next day while crossing the stunning Glenfinnan Viaduct.  The highlight of this rail journey is riding the famous Jacobite train on the return to Fort William; otherwise known as the Harry Potter train!  A two-night stay in Fort William was at the Cruachan Hotel.  They continued their tour with a private driver/guide as they made their way to the Isle of Skye passing through the picturesque fishing village of Plockton and with a visit to Eilean Donan Castle.  On Skye, their touring included the quaint port town of Portree, the Trotternish Peninsula and Dunvegan Castle.  Their overnight accommodations were at the Duisdale House which they described as lovely, remote and therefore thankfully with excellent dining.  They departed the island via ferry going back to Mallaig where they then drove part of the renowned “Road to the Isles” enjoying lunch in Glencoe.  The trip proceeded onto Oban and then a ferry to the Isle of Mull.  They spent the night at the Tobermory Hotel which they noted was both super cute and had excellent food.  On Mull, they experienced wild landscapes from the fishing village of Tobermory to Duart Castle to the most southernly tip of the island at Fionnphort where they crossed to the tiny Isle of Iona and visited the spiritual Iona Abbey.  That evening they took another ferry back to Oban with an overnight at the Knipoch Hotel.  In Oban they explored the pretty harbor town before embarking on a day of outstanding natural beauty as they traveled south through the heart of the country and onto Edinburgh.  Here they visited the Edinburgh Castle.  They were glad that they had the chance to visit other castles during this trip that were less crowded.   Their final day was a full day MacBeth Tour which started at the Loch Leven Castle which they reached via boat.  They also learned more about the MacBeth story in the ancient capital of Perth before a visit to Scone Palace to see and experience the inauguration site of Scottish kings. Other places they visited during this tour included Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunsinnane Hill and Glamis Castle to discover how Shakespeare wrongly placed the story in Inverness.  Their two-night stay in Edinburgh was at The Principal Hotel; their favorite hotel of the trip.   A highlight of this trip was having a private driver/guide to provide the local perspective (and they really enjoy his local accent!).  The mother/duo explained that the tour overall left them with a lovely image of a mostly rural Scotland with its friendly people and pastoral landscapes.

Trip Review: A Korean Adventure

The Harrison Family from Collinsville, IL (2 adults and 2 young adults age 18 and 21) ventured to Korea recently to coincide with the end of their college daughter’s study abroad program in Seoul. There’s nothing better than having your child as your guide and insight into the local culture, food, transportation and more.  They began their 15-night custom tour in the capital city with a stay at the Somerset Palace apartment hotel where they spread out in a two-bedroom apartment with kitchen and laundry.  A nice upgrade to the penthouse suite was appreciated by all; especially for the amazing views!  Their experiences in Seoul ranged from ancient to modern with a visit to temples, palaces, several museums and gardens as well as a bunny café, K-Pop concert, local amusement park, animation center and more.  They also enjoyed great views of the city from the N Seoul Tower and cable car ride and one full day with a private guide.  They also found it easy to get around by subway (thanks to a subway app) and purchased a T-Money card at a convenience store.  The card can be used on the subway, in taxis (relatively inexpensive) and buses.

A flight to Jeju Island began their next 3 nights with a stay at the Hotel Leo.  Jeju is Korea’s largest island and popular with locals and tourists alike for its beautiful beaches and lush countryside.  They started off their two days of private touring with a West Coastal Road drive that included beach trails, lava cliff, waterfalls and more. The Manjunggul Lava Cave on the island was a highlight and quite unique in the world.  The natural monument is a long tunnel/cave created by the lava flowing out to the ocean.  The following day the drive took them east including visits to the Glass Castle Museum, parks, forests and more.

The family then flew onto Busan to explore Southern Korea with four days of private touring.   They stayed at the Ibis Ambassador in the City Center.  Busan is the country’s 2^nd largest city and home to beautiful mountains, beaches, hot springs and a rich urban core.  Their itinerary included a nice mix of visits to cultural, historical and natural sites.  Some of the highlights included the aquarium, Maritime Museum, cable car ride across the marina, fish market, the colorful Gamcheon Culture village and Chinatown.  The Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was a highlight.  It is built into the side of a cliff.  It is rare to find a temple along the shore line in Korea as most are located in the mountains.

One day was dedicated to exploring nearby Gyeongju which is known as a museum without walls.  The city has more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in the country.   Their tour included visits to grottos, temples, local craft village to see artisans in action, flower fields and to a traditional hanok folklife village to see the traditional Korean houses first built in the 14^th century.

A flight back to Seoul with an overnight stay before their flight home ended this amazing and memorable adventure for all.  They particularly enjoyed having privately guided tours for most of the trip as it gave them a great amount of flexibility to adjust their plans as needed based on weather (June is pretty wet in Korea) and other interests.

Trip Review: A Month in Israel

Lauren and her family traveled to Israel this summer.  One goal was to visit family, but also to give Lauren’s husband his first Israel experience (and her 12th!).  An apartment rental in Tel Aviv near the beach was a great home base for working during the week with week-ends spent traveling around the country.  Highlights of Tel Aviv included visits to Old Jaffa, walks and bike rides along the beach promenade and Tel Aviv Marina, visiting the Diaspora Museum and working out with the locals at the gym!

A 3-night privately guided tour of the Galilee and Golan in the north included a stay at a kibbutz guest house.  The Hagroshim Hotel near Kiyrat Shmona was recently renovated and our one bedroom/two bathroom premium suite was modern and well appointed with a large furnished patio.  We loved the super cool television that appeared to be just a piece of glass.  The resort offers a huge outdoor pool, indoor pool, large gym, two restaurants, spa and more.  Our tour included the Roman ruins of Caesarea where a reenactment film introduced the area’s layers of history in a kid-friendly way.  We ventured to Haifa to see the amazing Baha’i Gardens and enjoy the amazing views.  In Safed we visited the unique synagogues and learned about the mystical history of thetown.  A visit to the Crusader ruins in the coastal town of Akko was highlighted by a kid-friendly virtual reality experience where we learned about local Crusader life and played games from that time period.  A stop at Mt. Bental provided an overlook of the Golan Heights.  We also enjoyed a tasting at a local winery and a visit with a long time resident of Kibbutz Degania; the first such cooperative in Israel.  Active adventures included a jeep tour of the Golan, kayaking down the Jordan River and hikes in the Tel Dan and Banias national parks.  A culinary and cultural highlight was a hearty meal at the home of a local Druze family and learning about their religion and history.

Our trip to Jerusalem coincided with the opening of the Jerusalem Festival of Light which features dramatic light-ups of the ancient architecture of the Old City as well as the installation of light statues, performances, and pieces of museum artwork from artists around the world. A visit to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, the Jewish Museum (including the Dead Sea Scrolls and Holyland model) rounded out our time there. We stayed at the gorgeous Waldorf Astoria; nicely located within a short walk to the Old City through the Mamilla Mall.

The last trip was to Jordan to see Petra and desert landscapes of Wadi Rum.  We flew from Tel Aviv to Eilat, crossed the border and were met on arrival by our guide, driver and a visa facilitator.  Our privately guided tour began in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wadi Rum where Bedouin hospitality abounds.  Our stay in a 2 bedroom family suite at Sun City provided plenty of space for our family of three and a fully furnished deck.  Other accommodations include really cool martian domed tents where large windows offer expansive desert views.  Meals at the camp included dinner cooked in the ground and plenty of local delights.  Activities included an interpretive jeep tour of the desert along with a sunset camel ride.  We moved onto Little Petra the following day to learn all about this desert trading post; especially about the sophisticated methods for water collection.  We enjoyed our overnight stay at the Movenpick Petra with its Swiss hospitality and chocolate bar!  Our connecting rooms and the pool were nice too.  We saved our last day to walk into Petra to see this hidden city of the Nabateans.  With only 95 percent of the site excavated; its amazing to think what else will be found.  The rock formations, building facades, caves, amphitheater, temples and more make this one of the world’s more unique historical and archeological experiences.

Trip Review: Hawaii Adventure

The Tegtmeyer Family from Wichita Falls, TX (parents and two young adult sons aged 21 and 18) ventured to Hawaii earlier this month to celebrate a high school graduation.  Their trip began in Honolulu to see Pearl Harbor.  Unfortunately the USS Arizona is currently closed due to cracks in the structure, but the boats are still going out to take you around the memorial and there is an informative video and displays at the Visitor Center along with a variety of other monuments and museums.  They found Waikiki Beach to be a bit busy, but also cool.  They stayed at the Ohana Waikiki Malia where they appreciated the friendly and helpful front desk.  Next they ventured to Maui and stayed in a condo at the Palms at Wailea.  They enjoyed the beautiful landscaping, pool, hot tub and the gorgeous sunset views right from their condo.  They had a great time at the Old Lahaina Luau.  They also took the Road to Hana which they enjoyed even with the long ride.  Next they moved onto The Big Island despite the volcano activity.  What an opportunity to see this amazing natural phenomenon!  The Family Traveler monitored the volcano activity daily since the eruption began and we had to cancel their hotel that sat right at the edge of the crater.  Instead they stayed at the Doubletree Naniloa in Hilo which they said was awesome.   There was a friendly front desk, bartenders, tour desk and of course the cookies!  The family enjoyed the  hotel pool, restaurant and shop.  They rented a car and drove around to Kona to stay at the Fairmont Orchid.  They loved their double shower in the very large bathroom and appreciated the comfy beds!  From Kona, they took a helicopter tour over the volcano and said it was really worthwhile.  A once-in-a-lifetime experience!  They had no problems with the air quality or affects of the volcano.  There was some vog (volcanic smog) near the Kona airport where it was hazy, but no smell.  No issues elsewhere.  They spent lots of time walking, biking as well as relaxing by the beach and pool.  Overall a wonderful trip for the entire family.

Trip Review: Jamaica Resort Inspections

Lauren traveled to Jamaica last month for meetings with one of our travel agency consortiums, The Traveri Group, to tour resorts, discuss our best practices and learn from other agents.  She had the opportunity to tour multiple resorts in and around the Montego Bay area as well as meet top resort staff members. Lauren stayed at both the Royalton Blue Waters and the Hyatt Zilara/Ziva.

While the Royalton Blue Waters fell short on service; they delivered on room quality and amenities.  The property is located in Trelawny Beach about 25 minutes from the airport.  The resort opened in late 2016 and shares some facilities with the more mid-range Royalton White Sands next door that was renovated from a previous resort.  The Blue Waters offers 228 spacious suites with high tech features (your room bracelet is also your room key!) and lovely bathrooms with a split shower and toilet.  The resort features a lazy river and infinity pools, full service and beautiful poolside cabana rentals, excellent fitness facilities and fitness classes, plenty of dining options, decent size beach, small island off the beach for spa services, tennis, an air conditioned lobby and more.  It shares a water park with lots of slides, kids and teen clubs and large evening entertainment area with the White Sands which also has family suites for 5 with bunk beds in a separate area of the room.

Lauren also stayed at the Hyatt Zilara. This adult-only resort shares facilities with the family-friendly Hyatt Ziva next door; one of our most popular in Jamaica.  She enjoyed exploring all of the amenities and recreation including a long stretch of beach, great pools, plenty of dining options (most of the Ziva side), large spa facilities, excellent fitness facilities (the main one is open 24 hours), cabana rentals (we enjoyed with endless jerk chicken service and handy when a passing shower came by), evening shows, kids club and more.  All rooms will soon feature a king or two queen beds!  That makes us very happy.  Lauren’s room on the Zilara side was modern and spacious with nice ocean views.

A visit to the Hilton Rose Hall proved why this property is also very popular with our families looking for an excellent value and rooms with two queen beds.  While interior hallways and smallish rooms mark the hotel’s age, recent updates include updated rooms, new food venues, expanded beach (more than double in size!) and more.  The highlight here is the large waterpark area with slides, fast moving “lazy” river and pools.  The mature landscaping makes this quite the oasis with cabana rentals available.  Plenty of tennis courts, gym, lots of dining options and spa were all in good shape.  The children’s facilities could use an upgrade, but activities abound for children and teens.

The Jewell Grande is located between the Hilton and the Hyatt.  It’s a unique condo style and all-inclusive property that is ideal for families who are just looking to chill by the small beach with waterports, hang out at one of the two pools, play golf or tennis nearby (not on property), enjoy some spa treatments (including a Himalayan Salt Therapy Lounge) and eat in a wide variety of dining options.  There is also a children’s program, small playground and nice grassy area for little ones to run.  The resort features up to 3 bedroom condos with full kitchens (private chef services are available), spacious living rooms, washer/dryer and gorgeous ocean views from the expansive and furnished patios.

Our tour of Half Moon Resort covered the major renovation that will be finished by the winter holidays.  It will completely reshape this old-school Jamaica resort where Mindy and Lauren enjoyed their villa stay with our extended family several years ago.  Highlights will include new rooms and suites, a vegan restaurant and centrally located lobby.  We toured several beachfront suites that are spacious for families and one of the larger villas (that include cook and butler services) that was in need of some updating.  Their fitness, tennis, golf and equestrian facilities are still second-to-none in the Caribbean and their spacious and lushly landscaped spa was divine.  Especially when they treated us to foot massages!

Lauren also visited the Iberostar Rose Halls Suites and the adult-only Iberostar Grand where staff go out of their way to please their guests.  We toured the rooms (two double beds + day bed at the Suites), had a lovely dinner at the Italian restaurant and enjoyed a beautiful  sunset by the nicely landscaped pool at the Grand.  There is also a small casino between these resorts.  Our families really enjoy this property as well, but we hope future renovations will brighten up the somewhat dark rooms.

Visits to Breathless and Secrets also offered a glimpse into these adult-only properties and their facilities.  Especially enjoyable was an Indian restaurant on the roof of Breathless with amazing city views.

And of course a visit to Scotchies for some amazing jerk chicken, Red Stripe beer and festival!

Trip Review: Paradisus La Esmeralda

Jen from The Family Traveler and her family along with the Klein/Castello Family from Philadelphia (a total of four adults and four children ages 12-14) spent their spring break at the Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Overall, Jen explained that they all loved the resort.  She said it’s absolutely beautiful and the staff and service were excellent.  She thought that the staff was very friendly and always had smiles on their faces.  The guests that she met at the hotel all seemed to enjoy the resort as well.

The two families stayed in the Family Concierge section and enjoyed their butlers.  Added amenities in this section include a private beach area, dedicated concierge lounge, complimentary cell phone to stay in touch with your butler, VIP check-in and out, kid-sized bathrobes and mini-slippers, preferential dining and spa reservations and more.  The families stayed in two versions of the resort’s One Bedroom Suites (one has two beds in the master bedroom and the other has a king).  Both families enjoyed their balcony jacuzzi which was filled several times by their butler complete with floating balloons.  The children also loved the late afternoon snacks and activities (including a scavenger hunt in the room) provided by their butlers.   Tip: the resort has drying racks to put on the balcony for wet bathing suits; they are on request.

Like other resorts, people got up very early to save seats at the pool which isn’t great for families that aren’t early risers.  Jen’s family ended up being towards the back of the Family Concierge pool area most days – her one complaint is that the waiters rarely came to that back area to see if they wanted drinks or food (she did mention to the resort).  Overall they all liked the Family Concierge Section – it was smaller and quieter and the dedicated concierge pool is heated.  The cabanas/palapas were great and many were available without an extra fee (first come; first served).

They loved the restaurants, except for Mole, the Mexican one and were able to confirm their dining reservations in advance through the Family Concierge.  It was upscale Mexican; so they struggled to find things to eat.  Studying the menus in advance is worthwhile.  This resort is also very good and attentive about food allergies.  Jen said that the food at this resort was the best she has had at an all-inclusive!

The resort has a supervised children’s program for ages one to twelve that offers a variety of activities geared mostly toward the younger

children. The foam party was a hit with their families and Jen enjoyed the water aerobics.  One night there was a fun children’s carnival.  Unfortunately they never saw any of the shows because they started at 7:30 which is also when they were having dinner .  They took advantage of the complimentary catamaran ride which was really fun.  Waverunners are available for an added cost.  Jen’s family also enjoyed an excursion off property that included ATVs, zip lining/rappelling, cenote swim and yummy lunch with Lomas Travel.  There were 13 people on their tour which did result in some waiting times.  The Castello Family took a full day tour with Altournative that included the Tulum ruins and their own Jungla Maya Native Park with Mayan ritual, zip lining, rappelling and cenote along with an excellent lunch. They said that their guide was terrific.

Overall a great vacation for all!

Trip Review: New Zealand and Australia Adventure

The Malinow family of Owings Mills, MD (2 adults and 1 college aged daughter) ventured Down Under to New Zealand and Australia just prior to their daughter beginning a study abroad program in Sydney.  The Family Traveler worked together with this adventurous family to create a custom 13-night itinerary.  The trip began in Auckland, New Zealand on the North Island which included a wine tour of nearby Waiheke Island and a city bike tour.  Their stay at the Pullman Hotel was noted as “awesome”.  After picking up a rental car, the family drove north to do the unique Black Water Rafting Waitomo Caves Tours before ending up in Rotorua for a few nights.  The Princes Hotel in Rotorua was nicer than they imagined, had a separate sleeping area and laundry facilities. From here the family visited the active geothermal area at Wai-O-Tapu and experienced a traditional Maori hangi feast at the Tamaki Village.  They thought it was a bit touristy as explained in advance, but a nice way to learn about the indigenous culture.  The family then flew to Queenstown on the South Island where they had a flight tour and cruise to beautiful Milford Sound.  They also enjoyed the Skyline Gondola and Luge in Queenstown.  Unfortunately their sky dives were canceled due to weather (which does require special travel insurance!).  Their hotel stay at the St. Moritz was very nice.  Onward by air to Melbourne, Australia where they celebrated dad’s 50^th birthday with a wine tour of the Yarra Valley (unfortunately their sunrise balloon ride was canceled due to weather).  They stayed at the Stamford Hotel where some hiccups made for a less than stellar stay.  The family ended up in Sydney where they climbed the Sydney Bridge.  Their said that their stay at the boutique style Old Clare was great and very unusual.  It was chosen based on its location close to the university as well as downtown. With the help of The Family Traveler, they were able to travel lighter by shipping a bag directly to the Sydney hotel to receive on arrival.  Overall an exciting trip and birthday celebration with a nice variety of adventures and experiences.