Travel Tip: Pooling Miles

United Airlines has recently introduced MileagePlus Miles Pooling, a new feature that allows MileagePlus members to combine their miles into a shared account. With this innovative option, groups of up to five members—whether family or close friends—can now contribute and redeem miles together in one linked account.

United is the first major U.S. airline to offer this feature, making it easier than ever to share and use miles collectively. Any MileagePlus member over 18 can become a pool leader and create a pool for free by logging into their account on United.com. The pool leader can invite up to four other members, regardless of age, if they have an active MileagePlus account. There is no minimum age to join MileagePlus.

Once logged in, members can easily contribute miles to the group pool and redeem them for award flights on United and United Express. There are no limits on the number of miles that can be contributed to an active pool. Importantly, contributing miles to a pool does not affect an individual member’s Premier status. Only members who travel on a ticket purchased with pooled miles will earn eligible Premier qualifying points (PQP). However, members cannot pool PQP, Premier qualifying flights (PQF), PlusPoints, or TravelBank cash.

Trip Review: A South African Adventure

The Ramey Family of five from Ardmore, PA, recently embarked on a memorable journey to Southern Africa.  The family group spanned three generations from ages 18 to 80! Their adventure began in Cape Town, South Africa, where their college-aged son was preparing to start a semester abroad. Despite a day’s delay and the last minute need to rebook some tours due to a United flight cancellation, the family soon settled into Blackheath Lodge, a charming boutique hotel in the Sea Point neighborhood of Cape Town. They described their three-night stay as cozy and welcoming, with excellent service and delicious food.

During their time in Cape Town, the family enjoyed several guided tours, including a half-day city tour with a visit to Table Mountain and the city’s historical neighborhoods, a half-day wine tour in the beautiful Stellenbosch region, and a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula region. They were particularly impressed with one of their guides, who was not only warm and knowledgeable but also flexible with their tour changes and some rain.  She even kindly offered to assist their son during his stay.

From Cape Town, the family flew north to Kruger National Park for a three-night stay at Lukimbi, a private game reserve. The family raved about their safari experience, highlighting the outstanding customer service and the comfort provided by the rangers and guides. They especially enjoyed a special outdoor dinner on their last night at the reserve.

After their time in Kruger, their son returned to Cape Town, while the rest of the family continued their trip by traveling north to Victoria Falls for a three-night stay. They found their accommodations at Insika Lodge on the Zimbabwe side of the falls to be beautiful, though they noted some shortcomings in service and limited food options. Here they explored the falls (the world’s largest sheet of falling water!), took a sunset cruise, and enjoyed a bike tour to explore the area.

The trip concluded in Botswana with a second safari experience along the waters of the Okavango Delta. Their stay at the tented Saguni Safari Lodge offered busy days, excellent service, and a uniquely different safari experience. The family was thrilled to have followed our recommendation to do two safaris, as they encountered a wider variety of animals and had particularly close encounters at Saguni.

Overall, this once-in-a-lifetime trip was a diverse and enriching experience for the entire family, filled with unforgettable moments and connections across Southern Africa.

Travel Tip: New Aruba Fee

Visiting the beautiful island of Aruba now comes with a new opportunity to contribute to its ecology efforts. A $20 sustainability fee, introduced by the Aruba Tourism Authority, will be collected from travelers arriving by air. This fee will be used to upgrade existing sewage water treatment plants, improve infrastructure, and build a larger facility in the future.

To pay the fee, your family will fill out the Embarkation & Disembarkation (ED) Card online, with options to use a credit card or Apple Pay. Note that cash payments on arrival are not accepted, and the fee must be paid before checking in for a flight to receive clearance to travel.

The sustainability fee is a one-time charge per calendar year, with repeat travelers exempt on future visits. Additionally, children under 8 years old, travelers arriving by cruise, Aruba residents, and certain Aruban students are exempt from this fee. This initiative complements the existing $3 environmental tax, furthering the island’s commitment to preserving its natural beauty and resources.

Trip Review: Multi-Gen Japan Adventure

The Delatorre and Laguio families, hailing from Green Oaks, IL, and Manila, embarked on a multi-generational family trip to Japan in late June. The group included grandparents in their 80s, parents in their 50/60s, and young adult children in college. They began their journey with a 3-night stay at the Conrad Tokyo, enjoying the perks of Hilton Impressario’s added amenities that included breakfast, hotel credits, VIP status, and free upgrades to bay view rooms! The family had a wonderful time at this modern hotel, especially appreciating their club-level access on the 37th floor, which featured four complimentary food and beverage presentations daily, along with all-day non-alcoholic beverages. The lounge, newly renovated with a dedicated concierge, provided a luxurious experience and also amazing views.

Their Japan experience kicked off with a private tour of the Imperial Palace and Gardens, catering to the grandmother’s love for temples and gardens. In the afternoon, some family members had a blast exploring the streets of Shibuya by go-kart, a popular activity often dubbed the “Mario Kart” experience. The following day, the family, known for their love of food, took a privately guided City Highlight/Food tour, gaining insights into Japanese culture and history. They visited several shrines, the Tsukiji Outer Food Market where they enjoyed lunch, a department store food section in Ginza, and the vibrant Harajuku area. We had arranged a private van to facilitate their travel around the city with ease.

From Tokyo, the family took a high-speed train to Kyoto for a 4-night stay at The Thousand Kyoto hotel, conveniently located next to the train station. On their first night, they embarked on another privately guided food tour, although the focus on temple food wasn’t a big hit as none of them were vegetarians. For two and a half days, they toured Kyoto with a private guide using a van for the full day tour. They traveled all over the city exploring pavilions, rock gardens, the bamboo forest, temples, Gion, and the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine. These tours offered a diverse array of sites, catering to the interests of all family members. A full day in Nara was guided privately and also with the convenience of a van. It included visits to palaces, temples, shrines, and Nara Park, where interacting with the deer was a trip highlight.

Overall, the family cherished their time together in Japan, enjoying its unique culture, history, and of course the cuisine!

Travel Tip: Passport Updates

Renewing your passport just got easier!  The U.S. State Department recently announced it will open new passport offices in six cities: Salt Lake City, UT; Kansas City, MO; Orlando, FL; Charlotte, NC; San Antonio, TX; and Cincinnati, OH. Specific opening dates have yet to be determined.

In addition, the process for renewing a passport is now fully operational online. You are eligible to renew your passport online if you meet the following criteria:

• You currently possess your passport.
• It is undamaged and was issued when you were 16 years of age or older.
• It was issued within the last 15 years.
• It was issued in your current name or you can provide legal documentation of your name change.

For more detailed information and to begin your online passport renewal application, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s Passport Services website at travel.state.gov.

Trip Review: The Stone’s Family Heritage

The Stone family, a mother and two adult daughters from Southern California, embarked on a meaningful journey to the United Kingdom last month to trace their family heritage. With a detailed family tree in hand, they enlisted The Family Traveler to craft a fully customized tour spanning 3 nights each in London, Cornwall, Belfast, and Edinburgh. Local heritage associations helped with locating their ancestors’ former homes, burial sites, and wedding locations, while our private guides provided insight into local historical and cultural contexts, offering an invaluable glimpse into their ancestors’ lives.

Their adventure began in London at the Bankside Hotel, where they enjoyed elite hotel amenities and immersed themselves in the city’s culture with afternoon tea and a West End show. Highlights included visits to Westminster Abbey, Imperial War Rooms, Globe Theater, Leadenhall Market, and Tower of London. Then they traveled by train to Truro in Cornwall; a scenic 3 1/2 hour journey.  There, with the help of a private guide (and possible long-lost cousin) they explored family landmarks from the mid-1800s, such as ancestral homes, mills, and burial sites, while discovering the region’s mining history and scenic countryside.

From nearby Newquay, they flew to Edinburgh and stayed at The Harrison Chambers of Distinction, which included a free Black Cab tour to explore the city’s history and culture, including murals depicting Belfast’s tumultuous past. A private Genealogy Tour in Belfast provided deeper insights into their Scots-Irish and Ulster Scots heritage, with visits to Belfast City Hall, historic churches and a 12th-century castle.  At the Discover Ulster-Scots Center, they loved learning more about their family who lived in this region in the 1700s. So much history! A walk along the waterfront led them to the Titanic Exhibit, which they loved. 

They flew onto Edinburgh where they stayed at Cheval Grand which was enhanced with Virtuoso amenities. Their time here included a guided and private van tour to the top of Carlton Hill where they could see both Old Town and New Town, as well as the walls that surround the city. This day was filled with many exciting highlights such as the first Protestant Church, the monument to Greyfriar’s Bobby, and Holyrood Palace.  On another day they visited Mary King’s Close and Edinburgh Castle, complemented by afternoon tea there.  A stroll through St. Margaret’s Chapel evoked strong familial connections and cherished memories. 

Returning to London by train for their final night at Heathrow, they reflected on their enriching journey through their family history, praising their accommodations’ charm and the personalized experiences tailored by genealogists and private guides. The Trip Plans app facilitated seamless navigation throughout their complex itinerary. Summing up their experience, they expressed profound emotions, describing the journey as an unforgettable bonding experience filled with cherished memories.

Travel Tip: Find My Phone

Just a reminder to set up your ‘Find My’ tracking app on any of your digital devices that you plan to take on your trip—if any of your devices are lost or stolen during the trip, the damage will be kept to a minimum. These apps can help you remotely lock or erase your phone if it’s stolen.  If a device is stolen, a police resort is required for an insurance claim.

Trip Review: Riviera Maya Wellness

The Saline Family (2 adults and daughter, age 15) traveled to the Riviera Maya, Mexico over spring break to the gorgeous Palmaia Resort. This unique property focuses on health and healing and features both an adult section and a family section.  The Salines let us know they LOVED everything at Palmaia and said it was an amazing experience. They found the service to be excellent and said everyone was very attentive, accommodating, and cooperative. They also noted that the facilities were very clean and well maintained, and that there was a sense of calm and warmth throughout the entire resort that created a tranquil ambiance. 

Their spacious Family Suite (with a king bed + bunkbeds) had a beautiful ocean view, and the beach was gorgeous!  Not only was the food delicious and made with fresh ingredients, but mom was really impressed by the flexibility and accommodation extended to accommodate their dietary restrictions. They really appreciated the resort’s willingness to cater to specific needs and preferences, even by preparing items not listed on the menu! The family loved the daily activities that were offered, especially the yoga and meditation classes, which were spectacular. Mom and daughter went to a few of the painting and drawing classes that were terrific as well.  The spa looked beyond amazing, but the services were a bit expensive, so they passed on booking any services there. Mom did see a woman coming out of the spa who said it was the most amazing massage/experience she had ever had!  Overall, a truly wonderful and relaxing getaway. They did not want to come home!

They family also had an unforgettable experience with a private tour to a number of small and local cenotes. The private excursion offered a mix of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural history of the Yucatan.  The family said that each cenote had its own charm and unique features and that exploring the cenotes around Tulum was a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty.  It was an added bonus having lunch at a Mayan village and to be reminded that it is possible to live life off the grid!

Trip Review: Multi-Gen Galapagos Cruise

The Sedaka/Wagman multi-gen family of 7 from New York, NY and Bethesda, MD (grandparents, parents and 3 children ages 7, 9 and 11) traveled to Galapagos over spring break for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Their cruise package included a hotel night in Guayaquil before and after the cruise along with all of their transfer needs.  The cruise began in Baltra, Galapagos onboard Lindblad’s National Geographic Endeavour II for a 7-night sailing around these unique islands that ended in San Cristobal.  They visited six different islands to experience an amazing array of nature and wildlife on both land and sea.  Their itinerary was jam packed!  Some of their activities included snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, zodiac rides, and more. The parents and grandparents let us know that everyone really enjoyed the whole experience and praised the ship staff, especially for their Young Explorers children’s program.  Each day, the children met with dedicated staff to do an activity and discuss what they have seen.  They each had notebooks to check off and identify different species. The children also loved swimming with, and walking alongside, all the wildlife. The family also found the boat to be lovely with top-notch service. Some of them had some issues with seasickness, even though they had chosen the larger boat. Overall, the Lindblad staff took great care of the family from the moment they got off the plane in Guayaquil (and calmed their nerves on the current political situation in Ecuador) until they went through security on the way home. Grandpa said, “I don’t think you could really ask for more.”  

Travel Tip: Real ID Update

Beginning May 7, 2025, you will finally need a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license, identification card, or another acceptable form of ID (such as a passport), to fly within the United States. Please visit tsa.gov for a list of acceptable forms of ID and additional information regarding REAL ID.