Southeast Asia Luxury
Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas offers luxury escapes for families in several Asian getaway destinations. 
At each resort, Anantara offers extras such as welcome and departure gifts for children, kids’ in-room amenities and turn-down treats. Each property showcases unique and local family experiences. In Thailand, the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa’s on-site Elephant Camp, an expert “mahout” (elephant caretakers) teaches children the Thai commands to drive their very own gentle giant. Families who journey down the Andaman coast to Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa can swim through a cave to reach a hidden beach, take a boat trip in search of dugongs (similar to a manatee) and participate in natural conservation by planting mangroves. Venturing further afield across Southeast Asia, the Anantara Spa can be enjoyed by little ones at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa in Bali, Indonesia with manicures and pedicures and a chocolate facials designed for children. Kids surfing classes with Tropicsurf are also available. At the Anantara Kihavah Villas in The Maldives, a pirate cruise sails families to an uninhabited island to hunt for treasure and play Robinson Crusoe. They also may encounter marine life with a snorkeling trip or watch the underwater drama unfold at the resort’s unique underwater restaurant. As previously noted in our newsletter, at Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, younger guests can learn about protecting the future of the destination in a tailor-made, educational excursion with a marine biologist.
New Family Trips from Wildland
Wildland Adventures has added a new family trip to the Central American nation of Nicaragua. 
Their active Nicaragua Family Vacation takes you off the beaten path to reveal the natural beauty, friendly people and colonial charm that is Nicaragua’s heart and soul. Accompanied by their naturalist guide, your family will set out to explore the picturesque Spanish colonial city of Granada by horse-drawn carriage, trek through rainforests amongst hundreds of tropical birds, fly through the rainforest canopy by zip line and hike amongst the Mombacho and saya Volcanoes. You can also open your children’s eyes to other cultures when you visit a community kitchen to help prepare a meal for the local kids and when you stop off at the small school to spend some time with the teachers and students. The perfect ending to this Nicaragua adventure vacation is a stay at the luxurious Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge, a stunning location that overlooks a sheltered, crescent-shaped white-sand bay on the stunning Pacific Ocean. Wildland has also added new trip itineraries for families in Belize, Peru, South Africa and Kenya.
Tauck Air Program
Airfares to Europe continue to climb especially for summer travel. To help with your trip costs, Tauck is once again offering a fixed airfare of only $1,090/person in economy class and $3,590/class in business class for a variety of trips departing March 1-August 31 with their Take Off With Tauck program. This is an amazing offer and available on all Tauck Bridges trips! The airfare is also refundable up to 60 days prior to travel and full payment is not required at the time of booking. Trips must be booked by March 1. Air must be booked with Tauck and deposit must be paid at time of booking; certain restrictions apply.
Tauck Bridges in Peru
Tauck added a new eight-day Peru itinerary to its portfolio of Tauck Bridges family travel adventures. The new Mystical Peru tour focuses on Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Learning and bonding opportunities abound with activities designed for any combination of generations. Your family will learn about Peruvian history with visits to the Incan fortress of Ollantaytambo, the tomb of the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro, the catacombs at Lima’s Monasterio de San Francisco and the stone fortresses at Sacsayhuamán in Cusco and an afternoon at the Lost City of Machu Picchu with an archeologist guide. You will encounter contemporary Peruvian culture during visits to a traditional market in Aguas Calientes, a weaving center and a pottery studio. Hands-on experiences include learning about the art of bracelet weaving from local school children, taking a lesson in playing the Peruvian pan flute and learning about spiritual traditions from a local shaman. Also on the itinerary are a chance to swim with sea lions during a private boat ride off the Peruvian coast, an opportunity to explore the Sacred Valley on horseback or raft, and a guided nature walk in Cusco. From a culinary standpoint, the program includes a cooking class at a restaurant, a chocolate making class at the Choco Museo, and at a private pachamanca, or traditional barbecue with food wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over hot stones. Departures are in June, July and August. Prices are from $3,416 per person, double occupancy, not counting international or domestic flights. Included in the price are all luxury accommodations, gratuities, airport transfers, ground transportation, all sightseeing, admission to all attractions, entertainment, most meals and luggage handling.
17 to Infinity
Thomson Family Adventures is adding a new category of trips for families with older teens and young adult 20-somethings called 17 to Infinity. 
Thomson knows how to cater to families of all ages and they understand that young adult kids need a more sophisticated, more adventurous trip than they did when they were little. Your children will love the thrill and variety involved in these trips; they’ll be whitewater rafting through rain forest rivers, hiking rugged terrain and seeing some unbelievable wildlife – and they’ll be doing it all with their proud parents and other similarly-aged families. And the beauty of traveling with older kids is that picking dates outside the normal K-12 vacation times will lead to cheaper airfare and less crowded flights. Current destinations for these trips include Costa Rica, Turkey, Egypt, Peru and Ecuador/Galapagos and are available for mid to late January and again in late May. Thomson is also offering $500 off a custom trip for travel through March. So you can choose between traveling with others or traveling with just your family group for an amazing trip adventure.
Ritz Carlton’s Israel Debut
The Ritz-Carlton is making its Israeli debut in 2013 with The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya, a coastal resort overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. 
The seaside getaway (the first ever kosher Ritz-Carlton, complete with a synagogue, kosher kitchens and Shabbat elevators) is centrally located – just 15 minutes from Tel Aviv and an hour from Jerusalem. Decorated in calming shades of gold and blue, the 197 luxury guest rooms – including 82 studio, one- and two-bedroom suites – will have views of the sea. Guests will be able to relax in the Eastern Mediterranean sun at the rooftop pool or by lounging on the beach.
Alpine Family Adventures
Collette Vacations has introduced a new Alpine Family Adventures program.
Starting at $2,149/adults and $1,749/child (land only), the nine-day tour features Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. It features the stunning lakeside retreat of Stresa; the Alpine Resort of Engelberg, the tiny country of Liechtenstein and the charming city of Innsbruck. Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Maggiore, visit a medieval fortress where your children return to the days of King Arthur as they join local historical actors in the gardens and set out on an adventurous day walking through Lucerne and exploring Mt. Pilatus, home of a mythical dragon. The whole family will also enjoy the world’s steepest cogwheel train, a ropes course, toboggan run and nothing beats the stunning mountain views from an aerial cable car. Your family can also test your lungs during a lesson in alphorn blowing, strudel making and a visit to a working farm. Explore Innsbruck on your own during your free day and join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner in one of the oldest restaurants in Europe.
Budding Bonds
St. Ermins Hotel in London goes undercover with their Family Spy Kids Package. 
Your family can test your espionage skills at the hotel where during WWII the Special Operations Executive carried out covert operations at its headquarters while British Intelligence, the MI6, were stationed two floors above. St. Ermin’s continues to play an important part in London’s history, as it is rumored that a tunnel runs from underneath the grand staircase in the lobby all the way to the Houses of Westminster! Your package includes a deluxe room with two double beds (for a family of four), daily breakfast, a St. Ermin’s Secret Agent package for each child and a local London Spy Walk challenge. The Secret Agent package includes code breaking puzzles and a secret agent mission that can win them a coveted ID card and free non-alcoholic cocktail (shaken, not stirred). The 4 star property, a member of the McGallery from the Accor Hotel chain, is located in Westminster near St. James Park. An ideal location for your family’s London getaway (see the trip review below for the Baker family who recently stayed here).
Discounted Eurail Passes
Your family can save 20% through Rail Europe when you book the Eurail Select Pass! 
Your pass can be personalized for 3, 4, or 5 bordering countries for 5 to 15 rail travel days within a 2-month period. Discounted rates are also available for children, youth ages 16-25 and for two or more traveling together at all times. The sale must be booked by the end of December for travel through March 31. Save an additional $50.00 per Eurail Select Pass booking if you book by December 7. Spring break is a great time to take advantage of a multi-country European getaway. It’s not too late for winter break to Europe as well. Note that France will no longer participate in the Eurail Select Pass as of 2013. However, if you book in 2012, the Select Pass can include France and will still be valid for rail travel in 2013. The pass just needs to be used within 6 months of your issue date.
India For Families
Geringer Global Travel is offering an India tour for families. The 14-day journey explores northern India, including Delhi, Agra, Udaipur, Jaipur and Jodhpur. 
The program is designed to immerse your family in Indian culture with activities such as an intimate cooking demonstration and an evening kite making lesson with a local family. The program includes the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Humayun’s tomb, Ranthambore National Park and Ghandi’s cremation site. Activities include watching a Bollywood show at the Kingdom of Dreams auditorium in Delhi; seeing the Aravali forests, ancient monuments and panthers on an Elephant Safari at Dera Amer, Jaipur; and zipping over the hills overlooking the Mehrangarh Fort, the city of Jodhpur and the surrounding Rajasthani landscape. The price for the India Family Odyssey starts at $3,530 per person double. For a family of four, price per person is $3,158 with the possibility to add on additional guests.
