London Family Time

Through April 30th London’s Café Royal is offering a special package called It’s a Family Thing. Enjoy this luxury hotel’s interconnecting guestrooms with up to 50% savings on your second room for your children ages 12 and under. Choose from Grand Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, and Grand Junior Suites…all with butler services provided. The package also includes unlimited in-room movies with popcorn, games consoles, swimming pool access, complimentary meals for children under the age of five, or a 50% discount for children up to 12 years of age.  The indoor pool welcomes children ages 5-12 under the guidance of an adult with special family swimming hours.  If you stay in a suite, your family receives a private chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, Range Rover, or Mercedes-Benz for up to 10 hours per day, a perfect way to explore all of London’s famous sites, take in a West End show, peruse the local markets, play in the expansive parks and more.  For Signature Suites stays, instead of the chauffeur service, there is the option of a self-drive supercar. Choose from a Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Continental GTC, Porsche 911, or an Aston Martin DB11! Located at the corner of Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus, the hotel offers 160 rooms and suites.

New Family Journeys

GAdventures has added several new destinations for their 2024 National Geographic Family Journeys.  These small group tours have been crafted for families with children ages 7-17 and take advantage of National Geographic’s expertise in photography, storytelling, culture, history, wildlife, and geography.  Each exciting tour has two local guides specially trained to engage with young travelers, kid-friendly meal options and 100% guaranteed departures.  The additions are:

Southwest Family Journey: Sedona, Zion and the Grand Canyon: With towering cliffs, colorful canyons, mesmerizing buttes and mesas, this journey through the Southwest makes for an extraordinary family adventure. Explore some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, including the Grand Canyon, Montezuma Castle, Antelope Canyon and more.

Belize Family Journey: Rainforests, Beaches and Ancient Caves: With remarkable marine life, ruins and wildlife-packed jungles, Belize is the ultimate family travel destination.  This trip will have you immersed in the people, places and customs of this stunning country. Float on tubes through breathtaking cave systems, spot jaguars at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, discover the ancient Maya way of life and snorkel along vibrant coral reefs.

Greece Family Journey: Stories of the Past: Go back in time and explore thousands of years of history on this nine-day journey through Greece. Experience a time long ago with interactive visits to the Acropolis, the Pantheon Museum, and the Agora of Athens. Witness the past come to life with ancient games, treasure hunts and more fun for the whole family. Plus, enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the surrounding iconic villages.

Ireland Family Journey: Castles, Folklore & Gaelic Traditions: Embark on a truly unforgettable family journey in Ireland—a land steeped in tradition and folklore. Marvel at the scenic splendor that makes up the renowned green landscapes including the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Inisheer Island.

Exclusive London Virtuoso Offer

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London has added exclusive Virtuoso amenities through the end of the year.  Our families enjoy the hotel’s location in a quiet corner of Westminster near St. James Park…just a three-minute walk from Buckingham Palace.  Suites and residences feature up to six bedrooms and have fully equipped kitchens.  You also receive acclaimed butler service, can relax at their newly relaunched wellness center offering East-meets-West spa treatments, and have a choice of dining venues, including Michelin-starred Quilon, London’s most modern Indian restaurant. Virtuoso amenities include:

• Upgrade upon arrival, if available
• Early check-in and late checkout, if available
• Breakfast daily for two per bedroom
• $100 food and beverage credit, per stay
• 20% discount for all spa treatments
• One-way private airport transfer (with stays of four or more nights) 

A Roman Family Experience

Singer Palace in Rome has created The Family Experience which includes a room discount and a nice array of added amenities.  This 30-room boutique hotel has spacious and family-sized accommodations with several different room categories and one-bedroom suites that guarantee to connect through an alcove. These spacious combinations feature 2-3 bathrooms with up to 1,000 sq. ft.  Save up to 15% on your stay and also receive:

• Daily breakfast
• Complimentary meals are included for children under 3 years of age, a 50% discount for ages 4-12, and 25% off for teens ages 13-16
• Services, amenities, and comforts from the Singer Babies and Singer Kids offerings (bathrobes, books, baby needs, etc.)
• Welcome refreshments upon arrival
• Personalized check-in and concierge
• Homemade pastry and other delicious amenities upon arrival  
• Selection of mineral still and sparkling water  
• Suites also receive a bottle of Prosecco and seasonal fruits  

This upscale hotel is a beautiful example of an early-20th-century Art Deco palace and showcases a two-level rooftop terrace restaurant. The building, designed by architect Mario Loreti, opened in 1930 as the Italian headquarters for Singer, the sewing machine company.  It is located on a side street off Via del Corso, close to Piazza Venezia. This promotion requires a minimum 2-night stay, and some blackout dates apply.  

New From Backroads

Backroads is launching a new set of tours focused on families with teenagers and twentysomethings called Dolce Tempo Easygoing Family Trips. Some of these trips are for ages 17 and older while others are for 20+. These trips run at a slower pace with added downtime to enjoy the pool, explore a quaint town, and engage a bit more in each destination you visit with activities specifically designed for these age groups.  Backroads launched Dolce Tempo Easygoing Active adventures with e-bike, walking, and multi-adventure tours back in 2020 and they were a hit. Since its debut, the company has expanded to more locations across the globe as well as active ocean and river cruises. The trips have been popular with guests of all ages looking to pair the benefits of a resort stay with immersive and active experiences. New walking tours for families with older teens and young adults are now available in Spain on the Camino de Santiago, Yosemite, and Cinque Terre/Tuscany. New multi-adventure tours can be found in Croatia/Montenegro, Iceland, the Greek Islands, and Acadia and Bryce/Zion National Parks. New tours in the Netherlands/Belgium, Santa Barbara/Ojai, and Tuscany are available by E-Bike. Something for every family!

Martinhal Addition

Family-friendly Martinhal Resorts has announced the opening of Martinhal Lisbon Oriente and Martinhal Residences. The luxury riverside hotel and residences are located in Lisbon’s Park of Nations neighborhood and showcase 82 hotel accommodations ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites plus self-catered apartments with kitchens and washer/dryers. Added services included a family and baby concierge, an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, a gym, a children’s club offering a range of activities, and a restaurant.  The hotel’s location in the contemporary, riverside neighborhood of the Park of Nations, set in the new northeast part of Lisbon, is known for its avant-garde architecture, restaurants and bars, riverside walks, and street art displays.   

New Backroads Family Destinations

Backroads, a favorite active adventure experience for our families, just announced a variety of new tours and destinations for next year, including several family options.  Their new international and multi-sport tours include one in Vietnam and another in the Czech Republic & Austria…very diverse, but equally exciting destinations.  Their 7-night Vietnam tour, available with a group departure from December 21-28, 2024 (or other times as a private tour), includes biking, hiking, and kayaking.  A fun and engaging way to explore the country from Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta. This tour starts in Hanoi and ends in Can Tho near Ho Chi Minh City with premier hotel stays and overnight on a luxury ship sailing Halong and Lan Ha Bays. This exciting and culturally rich trip is best suited for ages 9+ who can bike on their own.  An ideal winter break getaway!  The 6-night tour from Prague to Vienna also includes hiking, biking, and rafting as your family discovers the heart and rich history of Central Europe.  This tour offers casual hotel stays with scheduled dates in July and early August 2024.  Children ages 7+ can bike on their own on this trip.  Ages 16+ can e-bike on both tours. Book early for the best availability!

New Disney Destinations

In other Disney news, Adventures by Disney is adding land tours to Colombia and Canada’s Atlantic Coast in 2024, it’s first in these destinations. The eight-day Colombia: Bogota, the Coffee Region, Cocora Valley, and Cartagena itinerary will take your family on a journey to explore the inspirations behind the Disney animated film Encanto. This exciting and varied tour includes a privately guided tour of Bogota, a visit to a coffee-growing farm, an arepa-making class, snorkeling in the Rosario Islands, and more. Their eight-day Canada’s Maritimes of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island itinerary provides a cultural and adventurous experience of the region’s rivers, beaches, ocean coasts, gulfs, and surrounding landscapes. Highlights include a visit to a maple syrup farm in Nova Scotia, exploring the historical Wood Island Lighthouse, and learning about indigenous Mi’kmaq Peoples during a visit to the Millbrook Cultural Heritage Centre. Other fun adventures include horseback riding, kayaking, and other outdoor activities at the Bay of Fundy. 

Summer Soccer Camp in Portugal

The Quinta do Lago resort development, located on Portugal’s Algarve, has announced a new lineup of soccer camps for spring and summer 2023. A family vacation and summer camp all in one!  What a great way for your children to learn new soccer skills side by side with their European counterparts. England’s international players and soccer heroes Joe Cole, Joleon Lescott, and Gareth Barry will be on-site teaching young players all about dribbling to shooting and the dynamic of organized matches. There will be four dates available which will include three-hour daily sessions over one week. Your children will receive a full uniform (kit) including a shirt, shorts, and socks, as well as a medal on completion of the course.  The camps will take place at Quinta do Lago’s amazing multi-sports hub, The Campus, which is ideal for training, recovery, and rehabilitation. The resort development also showcases a variety of watersports, bike rentals, several restaurants, a fitness center with classes, several golf courses, pools, and more.  Choose from a perfect variety of family-friendly hotel accommodations at the Martinhal, Magnolia, and Conrad Resorts.  Each hotel showcases large family rooms and offers its own promotions to entice you to stay.  Your family can explore the adjacent Ria Formosa Natural Park, quaint Algarve towns, and more.  And the resort is only 30 minutes from the Faro airport.

Mini Escape from Capella

Our favorite part of booking travel is having our families experience and learn about local cultures. The luxury hotel chain, Capella Hotels and Resorts, is on the same mission and even have Culturists on staff! They now offer unique experiences called Mini Escapes that are available at their hotels in Bangkok, Hanoi, Singapore, and Ubud in Bali. The programs were designed to allow your family to connect and immerse in the culture of each destination.  For example, in Ubud where Capella offers an amazing tented camp resort in the middle of a forest, your family can enjoy a kite building workshop or learn how to cook a traditional Balinese meal from a local family. While in Hanoi at Capella’s art nouveau masterpiece hotel, your family can visit with one of the local village’s artisans to learn more about the country’s long history and ceramic-making heritage. A ceramic craftsman will demonstrate every step of the process and then your family gets a turn to make your own plates which will be fired and brought back to the hotel.  Another experience in Hanoi is Vietnamese lacquer painting from one of the city’s most famous masters. Mini Escape packages are available that the include your room, some meals and other benefits and vary by resort. Capella recently opened their first hotel outside of Asia in Sydney, Australia and we look forward to seeing what experiences their Culturists design!  Six more new resorts are in the works with 2024 and 2025 openings.