Travel Tip: ReboundTAG

Speaking of the Family Travel Association, they have partnered with ReboundTAG, a UK company which produced the first microchip luggage tag that works in all airports worldwide. The ReboundTAG system is integrated with global baggage handling systems; so that it works in all airports worldwide.  The tag incorporates all relevant airport technologies in one tag!  Members are updated by SMS and email when their bag is found.  It even uses GPS within the finder’s phone to provide you with the exact location of your bag.

Trip Review: Montana Dude Ranch Experience

Lauren was in Montana at the end of May to experience Averill’s Flathead Lodge in Big Fork. The trip was part of a gathering of travel agents who are members of the Family Travel Association.  It was a wonderful opportunity to network with agents from around the country who are working in agencies large and small to discuss the future of family travel and how to best promote all the wonderful aspects that go along with it.

Flathead Lake Lodge is a third-generation family run and operated dude ranch.  During the summer, week-long stays attract families from around the country year after year. A variety of accommodation options are available for families including cabin style and connecting rooms.  We stayed in a spacious and new one bedroom loft with two full bathrooms.  A spacious bedroom overlooked a living and dining room with sofabed and showcased typical Western cowboy themed decor.  A wooden porch swing outside the front was the ideal spot for enjoying beautiful lake views.

The feeling of summer camp pervades this unique ranch as it was originally built in 1932 as a boy’s camp.  The daily activities, lake activities and group dining promote that camp-like feeling as well.   Recreation includes a complete horse program highlighted by individual lessons, rodeo events, breakfast and lunch rides, a private elk preserve and more than 2,000 pristine acres for daily trail rides.  The ranch has 120 horses!  In addition to the riding programs, the lodge offers unmatched water activities on Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake West of the Mississippi and one of the cleanest lakes in the world.  Kayaks, sail boats, stand-up paddle boards, water skiing, wake boarding, canoes and more are at your disposal.  We enjoyed a very relaxing kayak trip around the lake as well as an evening motorboat tour.  There is also a lakefront heated pool; massages; hiking; mountain cookouts; barn dances; camp fires; mountain bikes and more.

The resort also showcases a children’s program where family interaction is key and children have the freedom to safely roam the property and indulge in the various activities as they like. Children focused activities include children’s horseback rides, arts & crafts, water activities, tepee overnight, children’s rodeo, organized games and a junior wrangler program to name a few.

The food was also plentiful, fresh and met most special dietary needs.  The hot breakfast buffet changed daily.  A bountiful outdoor buffet lunch also rotated themes each day.  Three course evening plated meals (with child-friendly options) were served in the main dining room with open seating.  And throughout the day freshly baked goods and drinks were available.  After a first night cocktail hour, parents can get a ride into the town of Big Fork to stock up on any alcohol needs.  There is a good size refrigerator in your room.

Our other dude ranch highlights included riding the mountain bikes into town for the Bigfork Whitewater Festival, an evening steak-out in the Elk Reserve (we got there by firetruck), a visit to Glacier National Park just 35 miles north and the super friendly staff.

Trip Review: Peru Explored

The Seletsky family of Philadelphia (a mother/college daughter duo) ventured to Peru for spring break.  Mindy arranged a custom 8-night trip for them with stops in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco.  The trip began with an overnight in Lima.  Flying onto Cusco, they went straight to the Urubamba in the Sacred Valley.  On the way they stopped at the Ollantaytambo ruins with a visit with the indigenous community of Amaru .  They really enjoyed their Relais & Chateaux experience at Sol y Luna; a Sacred Valley boutique hotel set among beautiful flower gardens where they spent their next day unwinding.  The property showcases 43 rooms, suites and bungalows, a large spa, craft shop, pool, restaurant and their own horse stables. Excellent guides are on hand for cycling and riding excursions and trips up to the nearby ruins – the Moray Inca agricultural site and the Salineras salt-pans are half an hour’s drive away. The following day they took the Vistadome Train for amazing views as they rode from from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.  On arrival they had a guided tour of the 15h century Incan citadel and the Lost City of the Incans with time to explore the ruins on their own.  After an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, they hiked to Huayna Picchu which is adjacent to Machu Picchu and provides amazing views of the surrounding valley.  Like Machu Picchu, the Incas built a trail up the side of the mountain and built temples and terraces on its top.  A train ride returned them to Cusco with a stay at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel in the center of town.  A Cusco City tour the following day included a variety of ruins and Incan history including Qorikancha, The Temple of the Sun, Sacsayhauman and Qengo, along with many other sites.   Issues with altitude kept them from a hike to Rainbow Mountain and their final day in Peru was already planned as a free day to relax.  Overall the family greatly appreciated the ability to keep to their vegan diet and appreciated that the tour company provided medical assistance with the altitude issues.   Overall the trip was a very special experience!

Travel Tip: Tips for Teens

Thanks for Agent Life magazine for the following tips:

Before packing, discuss local customs.  While shorts and tank tops may be fine for many places in the US, they are considered risque by many cultures.  Plan outfits that will be acceptable by local standards.

Consider how credit cards, cash, documents and other valuables are carried.  Many teens aren’t used to carrying a purse or wallet and will need guidance. Discussing strategies for avoiding pickpockets is also appropriate.

If teens are flying alone for the first time, plan an advance airport tour and specifically identify where to find information and assistance.

Have teens carry a business card from your hotel, in case you get separated.  They could show the card to a taxi driver if they are unsure how to explain where the hotel is or don’t remember its name.

Discuss photo etiquette.  Many teens are accustomed to “selfie” culture, but light-hearted behavior is inappropriate in many places, particularly in religious sites and other sensitive areas.  Locations of military significance may also be off-limits to photography.  Also discuss photographing local people and how to determine whether it is appropriate.

Be sure teens know to stay away from protests and demonstrations of any sort.  Freedom to assemble and speak freely is not a universal right and teens may be unaware.  They could find themselves in serious legal trouble for watching or participating in any kind of public unrest.

Travel Tip: Uber Banned in Italy

You will need to find another way from the airport to your hotel in Italy this summer, as the country becomes the first in Europe to ban Uber. A lawsuit filed by the country’s taxi associations reached a ruling that the transportation company, available through smartphone applications, unfairly competes with the taxi services of the country.   Uber plans to appeal the ruling, but travelers to Italy in the coming months will need to secure transportation through other avenues.

Trip Review: Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

Our new addition, Jen and her family (2 adults and 2 children ages 11) and the Murland Family (with 2 adults and 2 children ages 8 and 10), traveled from Philadelphia to the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica for spring break.  Jen really enjoyed her one bedroom butler suite with two separate balconies with views of the pool and ocean.  A great place to relax and enjoy the lovely views.  She noted that her butlers were awesome and took great care of the family assisting them with dining reservations, birthday celebrations, cabana rentals, coolers for the pool, snacks, etc.

Both families noted that the food is overall quite good.  They really enjoyed the breakfast buffet, steakhouse and the Italian restaurant commenting that it easily could be a great restaurant at home.  Most enjoyed the sea food restaurant as well.  One night the adults ventured over to the Hyatt Zilara, the adult only property next door, to enjoy the Jamaican restaurant.  It was a new culinary experience for them.  Their butler kindly took the children to the evening programming at the kids’ club and stayed on as a babysitter afterward.  And everyone loved the jerk chicken available by the pool!  Ya mon.

There was plenty of recreation to keep everyone on the move as they indulged in water aerobics, yoga classes, beach volleyball, basketball, golf, snorkeling and boogie boards. Bring your own golf clubs if you are an avid player.  The two pools kept all the children quite happy especially the pool with the swim-up bar. The main pool by the beach offers lots of activities and music throughout the day.  There is also a nice jogging path through the property as well.  The kids club has day and evening programming, but they thought it was better suited for younger children in regards to the activities.

Jen noted that in general this property treats and trains its staff very well which is showcased in the way they treat their guests (and also the assistance we get with reservations and pre-trip planning).  That was proven with two very thoughtful birthday celebrations for Jen and her husband on different days with room and cabana decorations, cake, champagne and other goodies.

The families also ventured off the property for a fun excursion with a mini boat tour with Sun Wave Adventures that included time for snorkeling.

Overall a great trip for all and Jen’s first as an official travel agent!

Trip Review: Over the Moon in Cancun

The multi-generational Thomas family from Philadelphia (with 2 adults and 4 children ages 5-12 + grandparents) vacationed at Moon Palace in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.  Overall the family
gave high marks to the resort, staff, facilities, food and overall beauty and condition of the property.  They particularly enjoyed all the pools and the daily activities at the pool to keep the children entertained throughout the day.  Several family members took to the golf course which they gave high rating for skill and beauty while others tackled the mini-golf course nearly every day!  They also had fun at the children’s indoor arcade.

With over a dozen restaurant options, their favorite was the Asian themed, Momo.  Getting dinner reservations nightly did prove to be a challenge during a busy holiday period.  The parents also took advantage of the Romantic Dinner which is served beach side and used their resort credits as payment. Due to their dietary needs, fish was substituted for the normal Surf and Turf meal of steak and lobster.  Unfortunately they were dismayed that the fish dinner came at the same cost, but were pleased with the experience.

Their rooms at the resort provided a comfortable setting for the family.  They did take advantage of the resort shuttle as this property is quite large and spread out.

Their other resort credits were used to pay for two excursions.  The trip to Isla Mujeres was a highlight of their trip that included a sailboat ride to the resort’s exclusive beach club where you can snorkel and swim in calm waters and then a guided tour of the downtown area of the island.  They did have an issue with returning to the boat since some hotel guests added on a dolphin swim and there was some confusion about the meeting location.  But alas a short taxi ride later they were back on board.  They also used their resort credits on a Jungle Tower and Aqua Twister excursion to Aquaworld in Cancun which includes a snorkel tour and exciting speed boat ride across the lagoon and near the mangroves.  It was a lot of fun.

Overall Moon Palace provided three generations with plenty of recreation, relaxation, activities and bonding time.

Travel Tip: More Helpful Apps

Here are some travel apps to help you travel better:

Mobile Passport.  This app speeds you through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 1 cruise port and 20 airports. Just fill out your profile and answer CBP’s questions – then go straight to the “Mobile Passport Control” express lane at the airport!

Citymapper. Real-time journey planner helping you to quickly get from A to B by public transport, bike, foot and every other transit mode imaginable.  The app is ntegrated with Uber and gives weather updates.

Packpoint. Will organize what you need to pack based on length of travel, weather at your destination and any activities planned during your trip.  Will also generate custom lists for you.

Triphobo.  Still looking for activities once you arrive to your destination? This app helps you track down the ones that match your needs and interests.

Travel Tip: National Park Help

Planning to travel to a national park this summer?  National Geographic recommends the following apps to make your family photos and outdoor adventures a great success:

• National Parks by National Geographic: Comprehensive park guides plus interactive maps, park secrets, photo tips, and more.
• Nike+ Running: Great for tracking your runs and hikes.
• AllTrails: Shows you all the trails you can take, tracks your progress, and displays comments from previous hikers.
• Compass: Perfect for wayfinding.
• Weather Channel: Good for planning ahead for the day.
• Snapseed: Edit your photos on the go.

Wi-Fi can be spotty in some park locations, so it’s always wise to bring old-fashioned maps and guidebooks on your trip. Consider National Geographic’s own Guide to National Parks of the United States.

Trip Review: Disney Cruise Line

The Fratello Family of Jacksonville (2 adults and 1 child, age 6) celebrated the New Year with a week-long Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Disney Fantasy.  Their adventure began with a call from Mickey Mouse on Christmas Day to get them all excited about the trip.  Once on board the ship, the family found the service to be excellent and they really enjoyed their large cabin with verandah.  Mom was especially happy to find everything to be really clean throughout the ship.  Their excursions too were great fun.  They started their day in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands with a guided tour and concluded the afternoon with a catamaran sail/snorkel/beach excursion.  The sailing and beach trip were amazing.  The catamaran was a fun vessel to sail and the beach was very picturesque.  In St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, they started the day with the kayak ecotour.  The tour guide was awesome.  He made every portion of the trip (kayak, hike, and snorkeling) very engaging.  Son Jackson rode in the guide’s kayak and hung with him while the parents snorkeled.  They were fast pals.  After the excursion, they made their way to Frenchtown and had an incredible lunch on the bay at Hook, Line & Sinker.  The seafood was fresh and perfectly prepared.  They are still talking about that lunch!  Speaking of food, the Remy specialty restaurant on the ship completely blew them away for their adult-only dinner.  Without a doubt, they both agree that it was one of the best meals they have ever had together. The menu was innovative and the courses were perfectly executed.  It was amazing.  Overall the food on the cruise could have been a better, but these gluten free issues know they can be picky.  They crushed the unlimited soft serve by the pool.  It was hysterical.  Also, the spa was great (The Family Traveler got them passes to indulge in the Rainforest Room which is a heat, steam and hydrotherapy circuit that is guaranteed to relax).  They had an awesome time together.  They were a bit disappointed with the couples massage, but not upset by any means.  One thing that we have learned from this trip is that they really love spas!   Son Jackson enjoyed the children’s programming in small doses.  Overall, this vacation was one of the best experiences we have had as a family.  We relaxed, bonded and experienced an adventure together.  Mom literally cried when they walked off the ship.