New Backroads Family Trips
Backroads is introducing four new biking and multi-sport adventures for families. We are always thrilled with new opportunities to explore the world with this quality tour operator. 
The trips offered are biking through Holland and Belgium with flat back roads and languid canals, cobblestone streets and windmills; hiking, biking and rafting in Banff and Yoho National Parks in the Canadian Rockies with certified Mountain Parks Heritage Interpreters and great wildlife; biking, snorkeling and hiking in the Galapagos and Andes Mountains in Ecuador while discovering ancient ruins, traditional villages, crafts, folkloric music and amazing wildlife and hiking, biking, rafting and horseback riding in Iceland with a variety of volcanoes, glaciers, icebergs and geyers.
London Olympics On Sale
Hotel and ticket packages as well as individual event tickets are now available for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The games will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012. Venues include the new Olympic Park, Wembley Stadium for soccer, the All-England Club in Wimbledon for tennis, the Lord’s Cricket Ground for archery and the Horse Guards Parade for beach volleyball . There will be competition in 26 different sports over 17 days at 34 different venues! We can create a variety of packages to meet your needs with tickets, accommodations, transportation, dining and sightseeing for a memorable Olympic experience.
New From Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney recently announced the addition of two new destinations to its portfolio of immersive family vacations—Greece and Northern France. 
The Greek Odyssey tour—which explores Athens, Santorini and Crete—brings Greek mythology to life with moonlight storytelling at the Parthenon and sporting games at the home of the modern-day Olympics, Panathinaiko Stadium. The adventure continues in Santorini where parents and little ones can participate in Greek grape stomping at a local winery. Then it’s off to Crete to enjoy a Tsatziki cheese-making lesson, along with plenty of Greek dancing. Departures are available May-August 2012. Families looking to experience the arts will enjoy Esprit de France tour, visiting Paris, Normandy and Loire Valley. On this journey, you can enjoy a drawing activity in Monet’s Gardens, a visit to Chateau du Clos—the last known residence of Leonardo Da Vinci—and a private dinner at the Louvre in Paris. Departures available in June, July and August 2012.
Bike Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is rolling out a free bike loan program at more than 55 of its properties worldwide as part of a strong company-wide focus on health and wellness. 
It has teamed up with BMW Group to provide adult and child size bikes, helmets and locks at participating hotels. The hotel concierge can help you plan bike itineraries to take advantage of the hotel’s destination. Bike rentals are free to all guests, but people who belong to Fairmont’s free-to-join loyalty club get priority access. Other hotel chains that rent bikes include Element (a Starwood brand) and Park Hyatt at various locations.
Spanish Flair
Ritz Carlton’s Abama Resort on Tenerife in the Canary Islands has an ongoing Family Package starting at only 155 Euros/night (about $222). 
Your package includes a deluxe room, buffet breakfast, daily dinner, daily thermal water access in the spa, kids club, surprise gift for children and a second room for 30 percent off (with children up to age 12 and up to 3 children). The Abama offers rooms and villas, nine swimming pools, extensive tennis academy, 18 holes of golf with academy, a private beach and spa. It is located atop a cliff in Guía de Isora, on the western shore of the island and is an hour from the airport. Your family can explore this rugged and volcanic island by jeep, parasailing or bike; visit the medieval San Miguel Castle and enjoy a relaxing getaway.
Hogworts Halloween at Ashford
Ireland’s 700 year-old Ashford Castle is offering a Hogwarts Halloween Celebration based on Harry Potter’s magical world of witches and wizards. 
The castle’s secret rooms, hidden alcoves and mystical surroundings in secluded woodlands create an ideal setting for magicians in the making. Two of the Halloween packages that include many supervised activities for children are offered from October 28 through November 6. On certain dates, the program includes a Forbidden Forest treasure hunt for families; visit to the hiding place of Dingle, Ashford Castle’s resident owl; Chamber of Art painting class while on other night’s the program showcases a Hidden Garden treasure hunt for families; House Elves cooking class and Chamber of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A kids’ dinner with Harry Potter movie evening and George V Table d’Hote dinner for parents is included on all nights. The one-night package is priced at 495 euros (approximately $709) and the two-night package is priced at 950 euros (approximately $1,361). Both packages offer accommodation in a Deluxe Family Room and are based on two adults and two children under the age of 12. An additional charge of 85 euros (approximately $122) per night is applied for each additional child.
Gift from Brendan
Brendan Vacations is offering a $200 American Express gift card in tandem with a qualified booking of a Brendan Escorted Family Vacation when booking by August 31. 
Brendan’s family vacation programs have been carefully planned to include fun, multi-generational and kid-friendly activities that will entertain and educate children of all ages. Their trips are appropriate for parents traveling with children, grandparents traveling with grandchildren, or traveling with members of your extended family. Along with the exclusive gift card offer, Brendan Vacations offers ways for families to save: young travelers save 5 percent; families of five to eight save 5 percent each; share a room with three people and save; book two vacations and save 5 percent; or book three and save on two. Choose from 13 terrific trips throughout the US, Canada and Europe ranging for 8 to 14 days beginning at $1,550/adult land only.
Ritz Carlton Growth
The Ritz Carlton Companies recently announced a major worldwide expansion that already began this year with three new properties in Hong Kong, Toronto and Dubai. 
New hotels and residences will continue to open up the next few years in many of our favorite family travel destinations including Herzliya, Israel; Rancho Mirage, CA, Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico (which will include a new Reserve property) and a Bulgari-branded hotel in London all opening in 2012. Future plans include hotels in Aruba; Bali; Indonesia and a residence property in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico with additional properties throughout the Middle East and Asia. Residence properties offer condo style accommodations while the Reserve property is all about environmental sustainability.
Irish Genealogy
The Brooks Hotel in Dublin wants you to find your Irish roots. 
The hotel’s consultant genealogist will help you trace your Irish ancestors as part of a three-night package that includes full Irish breakfast each morning, a complimentary glass of Guinness, a copy of “Tracing Your Ancestors in Ireland,” a three-course dinner in Francesca’s Restaurant and a ticket for the Hop On Hop Off City Bus Tour with live commentary. The bus stops at some of Dublin’s most famous landmarks including Trinity College, The National Art Gallery and Kilmainham Gaol. The hotel’s consultant genealogist has years of experience in genealogical research and will assess the information on your emigrant ancestors that you will forward prior to arrival. The package with genealogy consultation with all specific terms and complimentary room upgrade is priced at 339 Euros ($474) per person sharing. The package without consultation is 269 Euros ($376) per person sharing. The Brooks Hotel is a popular 4 star boutique hotel with 98 rooms located close to famed Grafton Street, the Temple Bar area and Trinity College.
We Are Family in London
London’s five-star The Milestone wants to enhance the experience of young guests with a host of complimentary items and activities designed to keep your children entertained throughout their stay. Some of the amenities include a teddy bear book and a chocolate mouse on turndown, color pencils and coloring books, children’s movies or various games, and a program for the more adventurous, the Milestone Mini Experience which includes a supervised behind-the-scenes tour to visit different departments in the hotel. 
At the end of the tour, the children will learn to ice tea cakes or learn how to fold napkins, and they will then receive a Milestone Certificate. The Milestone’s We are Family package includes a night in either a Deluxe Studio, Junior Suite or Master Suite, or a connecting Family Rooms; welcome glass of champagne and fruit; mocktails and ice cream or hot chocolate for the kids on arrival; complimentary gift for the kids on arrival; complimentary dining when eating with parents; complimentary in-room entertainment including the latest films; complimentary use of extensive children’s DVD library; complimentary use of assorted children’s board games; complimentary use of Wi-Fi gaming console with the latest games; No Tears’ children bathroom amenities; and children’s bathrobes and slippers. We Are Family is priced from $600 per room per night based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Studio and from $975 for a Family Room. Children must be 12 years or younger. The package is valid until December 31.
