Travel Tip: Rush My Passport

FedEx Office and RushMyPassport are coming together to offer you convenient and expedited U.S. passport services.  Last-minute travelers can either stop into one of more than 2,000 FedEx Office locations or visit FedEx.com/passport for rushed passport processing, renewals and updated government-compliant passport photos.  Other helpful services offered will include overnight shipping for rushed passport applications, full-tracking visibility throughout the approval process and free 24/7 assistance from passport specialists. You can choose from 24-hour service, next-day service, priority service, rush service, standard service and rush renewal and can also purchase high-quality, government-compliant two-by-two inch photos to submit with their passport application.

Trip Review: An Alaska Family Reunion

The Glickman and Kaplan families from Jacksonville, FL and Woodbury, CT ventured to Alaska this summer for a two-week land tour through Alaska’s South Central, Southwest and Interior regions.  The trip included a wonderful variety of outdoor adventures to witness the state’s amazing beauty and wildlife.  The three generations ranged from age 11-81!  They flew into Anchorage and drove themselves to Girdwood to decompress for a few nights at the Carriage House.  This was their favorite accommodation of the trip with an excellent breakfast as well as kitchens in their spacious cottage rooms. They went to the Aleyska Resort to ride the tram that affords spectacular views.  At the top they took a walk to see the snow, and got to see where the melt was just emerging… the very beginning of a creek!  They also did a bunch of hikes and some geocaching in Girdwood, as well as visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They were able to see the iconic animals up close and learn about them before they encountered them in the wild.

The trip moved south to Seward with a stay at the Seward Windsong Lodge.  They thoroughly explored the Kenai Peninsula with a fjords boat trip, sea kayaking, hiking and a visit to a dog sledding kennel owned by Iditarod winners.  The family explained that the fjords trip was a highlight and a very rich experience due to the number of animals they saw (eagles, whales, sea lions, puffins, sea otters and more).  They even saw a calving glacier! Their self-guided hike to a view from the top of Exit Glacier and the start of the Harding Ice Fields was also awesome despite the uphill and 7 ½ mile climb.  Unfortunately, their sea kayaking trip was a little short on water time.

From Seward, they drove back to Anchorage and stayed at the Lakefront Anchorage Hotel.  They appreciated the hotel going out of their way to honor a family birthday with cake and a “guest of the day” designation!  The following day they flew to Katmai for an awesome and once-in-a-lifetime bear viewing experience that included up-close encounters, watching the bears fish for salmon, playing on the beach and a seeing a mother and her cubs.  The travel to this remote peninsula was its own adventure.  The children got to sit right next to the pilot for the smooth flight! Some of them also visited the Alaska Heritage Center in Anchorage where they learned so much about the native peoples and saw some indigenous performances.

They boarded the Alaska Railroad train in Anchorage for a 7 ½ hour journey in the dome car to Denali National Park.  The 2^nd deck afforded them great views of animals, mountains, and rivers throughout the ride.  The train ride even included their own bartender and dedicated tour guide.  They enjoyed their meal in the dining car commenting on the excellent service.  Denali Park Village hotel was their home for the next few nights.  Not their favorite accommodation as it was several miles away from the park entrance without many food options nearby, but it was the only property available for their needs and dates.  Their activities included the full day Denali Backcountry Adventure through the park, ATV rides, a float trip, self-guided hikes and an interpretive hike through Rock Creek.  Evidentially, the ATV ride was only fun for the young adults in the group who enjoyed the speed.  The trails were unexpectedly dry and dusty and there wasn’t much wildlife in the area, but the float trip down the Nenana River was really lovely and they enjoyed the guides on their hike.  The Backcountry bus ride through the park is done on school buses.  Not the most comfortable for a 92-mile ride, but they explained that their driver was very knowledgeable and spotted bears, moose, caribou, eagles and other animals. The family noted that the parks in Alaska (and elsewhere around the US) are created for the animals; not for the tourists.  Experiencing the parks is not always easy.  Sadly, the weather did not cooperate for a view of Mount Denali even with a 4-night stay!

From Denali they took the 4-hour train to Fairbank for a night before flying home.  They stayed at the River’s Edge Resort.

Overall the family said it was an incredible trip and that they could not have organized it on their own.  Grandpa, who had been to Alaska before and done some of the same activities, said that the quality of tour operators used on this this tour made the trip extra special.  They thanked the Family Traveler for a family trip of a lifetime!

Travel Tip: Airport Charging Stations

Forbes Magazine let us in on a handy tip.  Those oh-so-handy USB power charging stations in the airport may come with a cost you can’t see. Cybercriminals can modify those USB connections to install malware on your phone or download data without your knowledge!

“Plugging into a public USB port is kind of like finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth. You have no idea where that thing has been,” says Caleb Barlow, Vice President of X-Force Threat Intelligence at IBM Security.  “And remember that that USB port can pass data.”

It’s much safer to bring your regular charger along and plug it into a wall outlet or, alternatively, bring a portable power bank to recharge your phone when you’re low on bars.

If you insist on using public USB ports, Barlow recommends investing $10 for something called a Juice-Jack Defender. “It’s a little dongle you can put in front of your charging cord that basically blocks any data from passing down the cord. It only passes the voltage,” says Barlow.

While these precautions may seem excessive to the average traveler, Barlow says it’s smart to worry about public USB power stations. A growing number of nation-state hackers are now training their sights on travelers, according to new research from IBM Security. The 2019 IBM X-Forece Threat Intelligence Index reveals that the transportation industry has become a priority target for cybercriminals as the second-most attacked industry — up from tenth in 2017.

Trip Review: Viva Puerto Rico

Jen recently returned from a Girls Getaway to Puerto Rico.  She stayed in a large villa on the grounds of the Wyndham Rio Mar; a favorite property for our families at both the resort and condos next door.  The sprawling property offers excellent golf, tennis, pools, watersports, spa, gym, restaurants and more.  The self-catering villa where Jen stayed included a private pool, golf carts to get around the resort and a private chef to assist with the cooking for 24 people…ideal for multi-generational groups; especially those with special food needs. The group explored the diverse island with a variety of activities.  A highlight was kayaking in the bioluminescent bay.  Jen appreciated the peacefulness of the lagoon at night and racing the kayaks through the mangroves.  It was a full moon; so they used tarps in order to see the bioluminescence. A guided hike in El Yunque rainforest was beautiful and also showcased how much the national park has regrown.   A guided tour of quaint Old San Juan proved to be both informative and enjoyable.  The group even to the forts and also went to the bar that invented pina coladas.  They were delicious!   The women also volunteered at a new school set to open this August and assisted with various building projects and purchasing supplies for the school as well.  Lunch at the Luquillo Kiosks was also a highlight with so many amazing food choices to enjoy with beach views.  Overall Jen really enjoyed her trip, using US dollars, no passports or customs and immigration and the fact the English is widely spoken.  She found the people to be very warm and inviting and thankful that tourists are returning post-hurricane.

Travel Tip: Hand Washing

Lauren’s recent two-week trip included a lot of hand washing to help travel light.  Not many families want to spend time in a laundromat (wash and folds were not prevalent in the tourist areas)…although it is a cultural experience.  Hand wash is ideal for small clothing items, light weight fabrics including workout gear, bathing suits, etc.  Bring along a flat, rubber sink stopper to hold the water in and use the tub if you have a lot to wash.  Detergent is actually available in the form of a soap bar or you can get single packets of Woolite to avoid messy leaks.  After rinsing and ringing out as much water as possible, roll up the clothes in bath towels and let sit for a few minutes.  Then clothes dry with ease!  Bring along some clothes pins (the ones with a hook are good) and a portable clothesline to give you more drying space.  Drying takes a lot longer in humid climates.  It’s better to dry indoors with air conditioning than leaving items to dry outside on a balcony.

Trip Review: Central Europe Sojourn

Lauren and her husband, Evan, traveled to Central Europe for two weeks last month.  The highlight was visiting Lauren’s daughter and global citizen, who is now living and working in Prague.  The trip also included Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Paris!

Thanks to the Holy Roman Empire, much of Central Europe has a shared history. These countries also have very different pasts and very different presents.  Like many places in Europe, there is an abundance of Jewish and World War II history.  Travel between cities is easy by train or with a private driver or a combination of both.  Lauren trained from Prague to Vienna and took the car service, Day Trip, from Vienna to Budapest with a two hour stop to explore Bratislava.  She flew onto Paris from Budapest.  Each city was beautiful in its own way with lots of castles, river views, museums, historical sights, gardens and plenty of charm.

Prague is a friendly and inexpensive city as it is not on the euro.  The city’s highlight, the Prague Castle, offers their own hour long, guided tours.  Lauren enjoyed the excellent guide.  There are so many different churches, government buildings, gardens, halls, villages, shops and more in this massive complex that it would be easy to spend an entire day there and its location affords great city views.  On the other side of the river, a visit to the Vysherad Fortress complex included beautiful churches, the cemetery for famous Czechs, gardens, sculptures and awesome views.  The Jewish Museum complex in Prague is also outstanding with several synagogues, cemetery, ceremonial halls and one of the largest collections of Jewish artifacts in the world.  Prague is easy to explore on foot and this way Lauren saw many of its unique bridges, buildings, theaters, museums, government buildings, street markets and more.  Special street fairs were in abundance in celebration for the Easter holiday which provided lots of local food and handicrafts.  Her stay at the boutique Emblem Hotel near the Jewish Quarter and Old Town Square with the famous Astronomical Clock was ideal.  Small rooms, but the hotel offered several lounges, nice spa and gym, evening wine and cheese along with a delicious breakfast buffet included.  The staff went out of their way to please.

Lauren’s time in Vienna centered around its Imperial history with visits to government palaces, library and burial sites with a knowledgeable private guide from Tours by Locals.  A group tour offered by the Vienna Opera House was a treat with a backstage tour as well as time spent in Vienna’s Jewish Museums.  The main market was a bit of a disappointment except for the array of restaurant choices!  A stay at the Vienna Marriott with a view overlooking the Stadtpark was very comfortable and a good location for getting around Vienna on foot.  It also offered an extensive fitness and wellness center with indoor pool.

A short time in Bratislava included time to enjoy its quirky street art, walk through its Old Town and up to its palace for great view of the city and Danube. The Slovakian driver from Day Trip was not a licensed guide, but offered up plenty of interesting details about life in her country and its history.

Lauren truly enjoyed her private Jewish tour of Budapest from long time supplier Private Tours Budapest where she also learned a lot about this country’s current political issues and desire to rewrite its history.  It’s worthwhile to read about before a visit.  This city is also quite inexpensive and not on the euro.  Like Prague, this city is vibrant on both sides of the river.  Walking up to the Buda Castle complex over the Chain Bridge was fun and the funicular was a nice way to return.  This castle complex included the Fisherman’s Bastion and beautiful Matthias Church.  Easter street fairs were also prevalent with many tasty treats!  A lovely Danube River cruise with Legenda in one of their bubble boats provided excellent views of the city sights, bridges and Margaret Island.  Lauren’s stay at the New York Palace Hotel was very comfortable and included a meal at their famous cafe where many writers and poets spent their days at the turn of the century until the communists took ownership of the building.

The last stop in Paris included time in the Louvre, a trip to the top of both the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, wine tasting and a lovely stay at the Raffle’s Le Royal Monceau.  Not a huge fan of the quirky and mismatched Philippe Starck decor, but the location down the street from the Arc de Triomphe, the fitness and wellness center with indoor pool and awesome service levels were terrific.

Overall the trip provided an expansive view and history of Central Europe.  Visiting 5 countries in two weeks was a bit of a whirlwind, but was done with relative ease with just two people.  Critical was preplanning tours, entries and activities as all the cities are very popular with tourists from around the world.

Trip Review: Maui and Kauai

The Wollack Family of 6 from Philadelphia (2 adults and 4 children ages 5, 12, 14 and 16) ventured to    Hawaii this past winter break visiting both Kauai and Maui.  Their first stop was Kauai which they found to be overall a wonderful experience for their family since its less crowded and there was more to do closer to their hotel.  They stayed at the lovely Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa.  Jen secured the family connecting rooms and they said this 600-room property never felt crowded.  They especially had fun at the pools, the salt water lagoon and the beach.  The family recommends wearing water shoes at the beach as there are some rocks close to the shore.  The water is rough in front of the resort, but a swimmable beach is nearby.  Their outdoor adventures on Kauai included the Kipu Zipline, Surf Lessons on Poipu Beach, Mountain Tubing and taking a boat to the gorgeous Napili Coast.  Each activity was an opportunity to see and explore this beautiful island from various vantage points.  The family ate in several local restaurants and had their best meal at Plantation Gardens where the children had room to run around in their garden while the food was prepared.  They also recommend the new Kiawe Roots. Then they moved onto Maui, but didn’t rave about their hotel, the Grand Wailea.  They had connecting rooms, but said that they were a bit small and the resort was quite huge with 787 rooms.  But the children loved the awesome complex of pools and water slides despite the strict rules to help keep this area for guests only.  The family had fun learning about Hawaiian culture at the Old Lahaina Luau and ate at several local restaurants.  They recommend Mama’s Fish House, Ka’ana Kitchen and Monekypod Kitchen.  They also found some tasty, prepared foods at The Market, an upscale grocery store near the hotel.  Despite the long day, they also enjoyed their trip out to Hana on the other side of the island for all the amazing views.  Aloha!

Trip Tip: European Visas

Several news organizations have erroneously reported that Americans will need a visa to travel to Europe starting in 2021.  In fact, the European Union last year decided that all visitors from visa-free countries, including the United States, will have to apply for travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) system prior to their trip. The EC said the application process should not take more than 10 minutes and will cost about $8 (7 euros) for each applicant between ages 18-70. Authorization will last three years for an unlimited number of entries. ETIAS is expected to be operational starting in 2021. The authorization applies to people traveling in Europe’s Schengen Zone, which is comprised of 26 countries, including France, Italy, Germany and Spain, but not the U.K.  New Zealand is also instituting these measures.

Travel Tip: New Weather Driving App

There are plenty of apps that can help drivers get from point to point and no shortage of weather apps, but for the first time, someone combined the two. Drive Weather (driveweatherapp.com) was recently created to alert you of weather conditions along your route to help you plan accordingly. The app uses government-recognized weather reports and clear-cut icons to indicate conditions like cloud cover, precipitation, fog, hail, smoke, haze, snow, thunderstorms, temperature, and wind. There’s also a seven-day “time machine” that shows the forecast. With approximately 1.2 million weather-related traffic accidents in the U.S. each year, planning for extreme conditions is in everyone’s best interest. A subscription for the app is $10 per year, and a seven-day trial is free.

Trip Review: Savannah Getaway

Lauren made a repeat visit to Savannah’s Historic District recently for a long week-end getaway.  Filled with Southern charm; this lovely city offers families a variety of cultural experiences, great food and family-friendly accommodations.  Add some time in nearby Tybee Island, Hilton Head or Charleston for a week long family getaway.  Lauren enjoyed walking through the multitude of city squares, visiting the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Museum, strolling and dining along the Riverwalk, shopping at a local craft market and seeing the city by trolley.  She stayed at the newly opened Perry Lane Hotel; part of the Luxury Collection from Marriott.  The hotel is split into two separate buildings with three dining options, large gym, bike rentals, lending library and a rooftop pool with lounge and lawn games that provides awesome city views.  You can even have a private yoga session there! Throughout the year the hotels features unique experiences to help you better understand the city: everything from artist in residence and art programs, concerts by local musicians, visiting authors, behind the scenes tours of the Bryd cookie bakery (you will find their cookies in your room!) and more.  This is an experiential trend we hope to see grow at hotels around the world.