Kid-Friendly Cannes
Located on Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette in the French Riviera, the Hotel Majestic Barriere tries to make children feel just as much at home as the celebrities who stay at the hotel during the Cannes Film Festival. This summer, the hotel is rolling out the red carpet for its younger guests, opening the doors of its in-house cinema both for private family viewings and for a Cartoon Festival, a regular occurrence during the school holidays. Other benefits for children include a welcome backpack with toys and games, free breakfast for under age 12 and Jacadi baby products such as diaper changing mats, bibs and bathrobes. The Majestic’s Diwi & Co Kid’s Club on the hotel beach takes care of children between 4 and 12 years old, offering a variety of creative, cultural and fun activities. Swimming lessons are available on request at the hotel pool. Your family can enjoy a wide range of water sports such as parasailing, fly-fishing and paddle boarding, accessible directly off the hotel jetty. The luxury hotel also offers a spa, gym and several dining options. Current promotions include a free night stay and a discount on suites.
Royal Family Package
Dromoland Castle is attracting families to its 450 acres of sprawling rural acreage in Ireland’s County Clare with its two-night Royal Family Package. With a 30 percent savings, the package includes family accommodations in a deluxe room with two queen beds for two adults and two children under 12. You also get daily full Irish breakfast, a dinner in The Earl of Thomond Restaurant and a family falconry experience. All of their majestic, beautiful birds are captive bred, both in Ireland and abroad. They include different species of falcons, hawks and owls. The grounds of the 16th-century castle sit on a championship parkland golf course. Other activities and amenities include biking, fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, pool, gym and spa.
Precious Journeys
Precious Journeys is an international program from Big Five Tours and Expeditions that caters to families with children ages 5 to 11 who want to discover the world-both its awesomeness and its challenges. The 7-12 day tours have been specifically design for young people with a variety of hands-on and educational experiences in culturally rich places in Central and South America, India and Africa. Your children will meet other children as well as fascinating people working on real-world solutions; and experience the sustainability movement on a global basis. For example in Ecuador the trip focuses on anthropology, archaeology and marine science as you travel through Machalilla National Park and the Isla de La Plata wildlife sanctuary along with visits with local artists, craftsmen and farmers; hikes; bike trips and horseback rides. India, Costa Rica/Nicaragua, Kenya and the Galapagos round out the great choices. We love Precious Journey’s slogan: Not until we venture out do we truly become citizens of the world. And, our children are the best ambassadors.
Barcelona by Scooter
The Majestic Hotel & Spa in Barcelona, one of our most popular hotels in this unique city, is now offering Barcelona by Scooter. This family friendly method of transportation comes with different sized versions of the self-propelled scooter, including a small one with three wheels, small two-wheelers and an adult-sized model. Before each outing, the hotel will provide your family with a backpack filled with water and snacks, along with a preloaded iPad that has been uploaded with a city map plus an app that curates specific themed itineraries, including culinary- and culture-focused rides. For added convenience, the scooters fold making it easy to carry into restaurants and sites. The 5 star Majestic is located on the Paseo de Gracia, close to Gaudi´s famous buildings, and offers a rooftop pool, several restaurants, spa, gym, beach club access along with a variety of accommodations including spacious apartments.
Princess Charlotte Package
The royal Princess Charlotte has arrived and The Milestone Hotel in London is
celebrating the birth by inviting your family to experience the Princess Charlotte package available through July 8. The property, which is located across from Kensington Palace, is offering 7-night accommodations in the William and Catherine Residence, a Royal Kensington breakfast for up to four guests, a Champagne afternoon tea for two adults and a princess-themed tea for up to two children, and a private tour of Kensington Palace for up to four guests. The William and Catherine Residence features two bedrooms, a private balcony off the master bedroom, a spacious living room with a balcony overlooking the Kensington Palace and Gardens, and an open kitchen and dining area, as well as an extra half bathroom and a washer/dryer.
Families Down Under
Goway is offering six Australian vacation packages specifically tailored for families, all including two-bedroom apartment-style accommodation with kitchen and laundry facilities, day tours and some unique Aussie experiences. For example, the Aussie Sampler includes a visit to the Australia Zoo, made famous by the late Steve Irwin, Australia’s Crocodile Hunter. The trip includes four nights in Sydney, four nights in Surfers Paradise, all transfers, a full day tour to the Australia Zoo and a visit to Tangalooma Island Resort to hand-feed wild dolphins. The Aussie Adventure includes accommodation for 10 nights in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Sydney and Cairns; a Dolphin Adventure day tour; Crocodile Express tour to the Australia Zoo; Outer Barrier Reef cruise; Kuranda all inclusive tour; Sydney city sights tour and a Blue Mountains day tour. Brand new for the 2015 and the 2016 season is the Kia Ora Getaway showcasing the highlights of New Zealand with some great sightseeing including zip lining and kayaking and the dual destination Aussie Kiwi Explorer that combines the highlights of New Zealand with a stopover in Sydney. All children booked on Goway’s Family Programs receive the Goway “kids backpack” (aimed at children 11 and under) to keep them busy on the international flight. It includes a backpack, activity book/travel journal, coloring pencils, disposable camera and other perks.
Expo 2015
Expo 2015 will once again return to Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The theme chosen is Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. This embraces technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity and how they relate to food and diet. Plus lots of great food (even food trucks from the US)! The site will host four thematic areas: Pavilion Zero traces the history of humankind via its relationship with food, Future Food District explains how technology will change food storage, distribution, purchase, and consumption, the Children’s Park is where your children can learn about the themes of Expo Milano 2015 while having fun, and the Biodiversity Park is a large garden in which a number of our planet’s ecosystems are reproduced. 145 countries (94% of the world population) are taking part! Family ticket packages are available and many hotels are offering special packages that include a variety of Expo and tourist related elements. There’s even a special Cirque de Soleil show developed for the Expo.
Europe by Rail
Rail Europe has a new series of offers designed to appeal to family travel. Free travel for children is now available on the Eurail Pass product line, the Swiss Travel Pass, the German Rail Pass and the BritRail Pass. For the first time, Eurail is allowing up to two children between the ages of four and 11 to travel for free with an adult on the Eurail Global, Eurail Select, Regional Eurail and One-Country Eurail passes. Eurail has assembled more than 25 different pass options and unlimited rail travel in up to 28 countries. The Swiss Family Card allows children six to 15 years of age to travel free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The card is free. It must be requested at the time of purchase of a Swiss Travel Pass. The German Rail Pass offers a free child discount, with up to two children ages six to 11 traveling free of charge with each adult. Several BritRail Passes allow one child aged five to 15 to travel free with an adult on a BritRail Family Pass. All additional children aged five to 15 receive a reduced rate. This offer applies when using a standard BritRail Pass, a BritRail England Pass and a BritRail South West Pass. Pack light and go!
Ski Whistler
The Four Seasons Whistler in Canada offers a Family Ski Whistler package that includes daily lift passes and buffet breakfast for two adults and two children 12 years of age or under. Plus, stay in an Executive Suite or higher room category for five nights and receive a complimentary night at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver between March 22 and April 2. The Whistler property offers a resort village shuttle, personal ski concierge, daily wine reception, afternoon hot chocolate, internet access, free fitness classes and more. Whistler Blackcomb has over 200 runs to choose from.
Families in Florence
The Grand Hotel Villa Medici in Florence, Italy is offering a Family Package with a second room at 30 percent off for children ages 20 and under, half off at the hotel restaurant for children 12 and under for lunch and dinner and 15 percent off for adults for lunch and dinner, welcome gift, carousel ride in the Piazza della Repubblica and late check out on the first room until 4:00 pm. A minimum two nights is required. This 5 star hotel with 100 rooms and suites features a beautiful garden, outdoor pool, spa and fitness center. A courtesy car service is at your disposal to explore the city.