Travel Review: Hawaii Adventure

The Hassoun Family (2 adults and 3 young adults ages 21, 18 and 16) traveled from Pittsburgh to Hawaii this summer for eight nights in paradise.  This travel loving family usually spends their vacation time in Europe with trips focusing on culture and history; so they were pleasantly surprised by their experience in the tropics! Hawaii is also a destination with rich culture and interesting history along with amazing scenery, outdoor adventures to experience the nature and relaxing resort time.  The family began their trip in Maui with four nights at the beautiful Ritz Carlton in Kapalua which is beautifully situated on the hillside overlooking Kapalua Bay.   The resort offers a nice array of amenities and recreation including excellent golf, tennis, gym with fitness classes, water sports, spa, pools, restaurants and the wonderful Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program.  This program introduces families to the natural wonders and rich cultural traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.  The Kapalua Zip Line are located just across the way from the resort which made for a convenient adventure for the family.  They enjoyed the amazing views as they
zipped over the West Maui Mountains and over tropical forests, native pineapple fields, and waterfalls. The family also enjoyed a sunset sail from nearby Ka’anapali on the Trilogy catamaran offering great views of the nearby islands of Moloka‘i and Lana‘i.  The family then flew to the island of Kauai with a four-night stay at the lovely Grand Hyatt Kauai located in Poipu.  This upscale and oceanfront resort has a unique lagoon setting, golf, tennis, spa, water sports, gym with fitness classes, pools, restaurants and daily activities such as fitness walks, hydroponic garden tour and golf and tennis clinics.  The resort also showcases a variety of Hawaiian cultural activities including a luau which the family attended and appreciated.  The resort also offers a unique and local volunteer program called ENRICH providing guests another layer of learning about Hawaii.  Opportunities range from beach clean-up to forest restoration.  On Kauai, the Hassouns took a sail trip up to the Napili Coast with Captain Andy to see the amazing cliffs. It proved to be a bit of a rough sailing for some.  They also took the Blue Hawaiian helicopter to view this gorgeous island from the sky.  Overall the Hassoun children raved about their Hawaii experience and look forward to their next family trip!

Travel Tips: Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Weddings

While attending a recent travel conference, we had the pleasure of meeting the dynamic owner of Destination Mitzvah.  This company specializes in arranging all the details for Bar and Bat Mitzvah Services and Celebrations on cruises and at family friendly all-inclusive resorts.  Their experienced team, including a Rabbi or Cantor, travels with your group to implement the ceremony, celebration, and private activities as well as provide personalized attention to detail for you and your guests. Your package includes bringing a Torah, Kippot, Tallit, Siddur, Shabbat Candles, Kiddush Cup, and Challah allowing you to focus on bonding and celebrating with your friends and family for this very special occasion in your child’s life.  The company also arranged Jewish weddings as well.  Please call us for more details and to help you create the most memorable Destination Bar and Bat Mitzvah or wedding!

Trip Review: Kosher Italy

The Erlbaum family of Philadelphia (2 adults and 4 children ages 14, 12, 9 and 6) traveled to Italy this summer in celebration of a Bat Mitzvah.  This religious family needed accommodations to keep their kosher dietary laws; so The Family Traveler arranged apartments and an apartment hotel that were also close to a synagogue, kosher markets and restaurants in each city they visited: Rome, Florence and Venice.  The trip was chock full of unique experiences and tours with the Sabbath open for relaxation, services and wandering.  The trip began in Rome with an apartment stay in the Jewish Ghetto.  Their first tour was a guided golf cart ride around the city for a nice city overview.  This is an ideal touring option especially after a long, overnight flight and zipping around in a golf cart allows you to get to many sights with ease.  Other Rome tours included private touring of the Jewish Ghetto, Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum as well as the Colosseum.  For a nice history lesson, they also visited the Time Elevator for a film about the city’s ancient past.  On the way from Rome to Florence, our favorite private driver and guide, Giancarlo, took the family for a day trip to Orvieto in Umbria which was enjoyed by all.  In Florence the family stayed at the Residence Hilda apartment hotel.  They took a private city tour to learn about its Renaissance past that also included the Accademia Museum, the Palazzo Davanzati (a reconstruction of an old Florentine home) and learned how to make Florentine marble paper with a local artisan.   A kosher cooking class in nearby Lucca was a highlight with bike riding along the rampart walls after a great meal.  A private drive and private boat ride brought them to their Venice apartment.  In Venice they took gondola rowing lessons, privately toured the Doge Palace along with a city orientation tour and took a private tour of the islands of Murano, Burano and the Jewish Ghetto.  Seeing the glass blowers and lace makers in action was a treat. Overall the family truly enjoyed Italy and its culture with so many special experiences to bring it all to life and to celebrate a special occasion!

Travel Tips: Ski Planning Tips

Travel Tips: Ski Planning Tips

Ski season is just around the corner!  Here are some great planning trips.

Book ski lessons early

Considering the impact that lessons can have on your vacation.  We recommend booking as soon as you decide on a resort. Let us help you decide on group vs. private lessons for just the children or the entire family.  When booking early, you’ll have a greater chance of landing a top instructor and more flexibility in terms of private vs. group lessons and half vs. full day.

Consider the terrain beyond the bunny slopes

The availability of beginner and easy-intermediate terrain outside the ski school slopes can make a world of difference in how enjoyable it is to ski as a family. Once your children get the hang of linking turns, the right resort can offer a whole day of terrain that doesn’t make parents feel ‘stuck’ on one slope. Deer Valley, for example, gives skiers a ‘green’ way down on five of its six mountains, and Park City Mountain has a number of long green and easy blue runs ideal for novices. And since learning to ski is as much about navigating the mountain and maneuvering in traffic as it is about reaching the bottom, choosing a resort that lets your children explore more terrain will help them become better overall skier

Don’t ignore the weather

Even the most enthusiastic children can sour on skiing if their memories are linked to icy fingers and wind-burned faces. Preparing your children for the cold can mean the difference between ‘triumphant’ and ‘miserable’ when they think of their ski experience. Think in layers, starting with long underwear and good mittens. If you can have some flexibility in planning your ski vacation, consider going (or returning) when the weather becomes more comfortable, but above all, listen to your children. A few more hot cocoa brakes early on can mean more enjoyable skiing throughout the day (and in the future).

As the children get older, give them freedom

As your children become confident on the mountain, it’s inevitable that they’ll want to take off on their own. One of the easiest ways to balance freedom with family logistics is staying slope-side. When you don’t have to worry about packing up the car to beat the crowds or rounding up the family at last chair, you can enjoy your vacation even if you and your children (or spouse) have different ski styles. You’ll thank yourself when you’re ready to score first tracks, and your teenager is still hitting the snooze button.

Plan an off-mountain day or two.

Taking a day off to rest tired legs and regroup as a family is one of the best ways to prevent on-mountain meltdowns before they happen. Spend a day tubing at Gorgoza Park, touring the Utah Olympic Park, or simply lounging in the theater or game room of your ski home. We can help you plan the perfect activity for your family.

Travel Tip: Road Trip Recommendations

Travel advocate Wendy Perrin recommends the following for successful family driving trips:

Let each child play navigator.  Let each child pick an attraction or two during your trip.  Give your children a map of your route before you leave and let each one pick a stop or an activity each day. You’ll give them a sense of ownership over that day’s events that will keep them energized and interested all day.

Make the trip a treasure hunt. Create a fun trip challenge or goal to make stops more interesting. Pick something to find or photo at each stop such a tacky tourist souvenir, map, etc.

Give each child his/her own space. If you are able to set up each child in a separate row of the vehicle, great. If not, try crafting a divider between them (even if it’s just out of colorful tape).

Agree on how long you’ll drive between stops. To prevent children (and adults) from going stir crazy, put a time limit on how long you’ll drive between rest stops. It’s nearly impossible to make sure everyone is on the same schedule during a road trip. Someone is going to get tired before everyone else; someone else will get hungry; someone else will get restless. And if the driver is feeling good, he or she may want to push through…stretching everyone else’s patience. To avoid arguments and meltdowns from stir-crazy children, set a limit for how long each leg can be.

Whenever there’s a world’s biggest, longest, or quirkiest something on your route, stop and check it out. Rest stops are more than just a chance to stretch legs and burn off energy. They can be the source of fun memories and even funnier pictures.  Seek out quirky roadside attractions, like the world’s biggest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas, or the world’s biggest yo-yo, in Chico, California—or the world’s biggest anything, really. School playgrounds and children’s museums not far from the Interstate are other kid-friendly pit stops. That said, even “boring” rest stops can be amped up: bring a tennis ball, inflatable beach ball, or a Frisbee for games. Keep a few picnic basics in the car too; so that you can make a rest stop double as a food stop.

Prioritize pools. When choosing where to bed down each night, find a hotel with a great pool.  The end-of-day swim will help children work out any pent-up energy and can even serve as a reward after a long day of driving. A reinvigorating dip can be just as rewarding for tired parents.

Trip Review: Adventures in Africa

The Shapiro Family of Philadelphia (2 adults and 1 teen) experienced Africa this summer with travel to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Mom started the trip at the Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Forest Camp nestled deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwest Uganda; the perfect base for gorilla tracking.  Bwindi has the highest concentration of primates on Earth and is home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park is inhabited by a population of about 340 individual Mountain Gorillas; almost half of all the mountain gorillas remaining in the world.  Groups of eight tourists are allowed to visit one of four gorilla families for no more than one hour per day – brief, so they would not be seen as “invading their space.” Each family has between 12-15 gorillas per group ranging in age from 6 weeks to 20 years. The mountainous trek to visit the gorillas took between 2-3 hours per direction. The task was monumental, but well worth it!

After this amazing experience, the family then met up for a two-week Tauck tour to Tanzania and Kenya.  The tour started in Arusha, Tanzania at the Lake Duluti Serena Hotel at the foot of Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania. The tour then went to Lake Manyara National Park for their first glimpse of giraffes, baboons, hippos and elephants along with hundreds of species of birds.  Later, they arrived in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, populated by an estimated 30,000 large mammals. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas (a volcanic depression) in the world and contains a variety of ecosystems and an astounding concentration of birds and animals, including massive herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles. They also had the opportunity to spot the Big Five – elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros – all in one day!

Next stop was the Oldupai Gorge, where, over 50 years ago, archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of some of the earliest known human species, an estimated 1.8 million years old. They then enjoyed the Serengeti’s amazing wildlife while staying at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge in Serengeti. The family said that this area was amazingly beautiful. While they ate lunch 24 elephants visited their watering hole which abutted the human swimming pool. Such a glorious sight! They also saw lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes while on safari at the Serengeti National Park. 

The trip continued to Kenya and the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro which peaked over surrounding landscapes from more than 15,000 feet up. They stayed at the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge in Amboseli National Park, where herds of free-ranging elephants and other wildlife like to roam. Later in the day they enjoyed a private lecture on the elephants of Amboseli.  An early morning visit to a Maasai village preceded a morning game drive in the park with plenty of more animal viewings.  Next up they visited the Mount Kenya Safari Club and animal orphanage which straddled the equator. This was the former retreat of actor William Holden. After settling in, they got a private visit to the nearby William Holden Wildlife Education Center and animal orphanage. This was a sanctuary for animals that have been orphaned or injured and need special care. It also teaches local children to cherish and appreciate the unique wildlife of their homeland.  They also visited the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the largest resident black rhino population in East Africa and other members of the Big Five. It is also home to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, founded by Jane Goodall, which gives lifelong homes to orphaned and abused chimpanzees. One chimp in particular, Coco, stole their hearts. He had been kept in a small, standing cage for 6+ years. Now he is free to roam and be rehabilitated.

They also visited the Masai Mara National Reserve with several game drives. They stayed at the Fairmont Mara Safari Club, an elegant tented camp hotel.  The most amazing day of the safari was a sunrise balloon ride over the plains of the Masai Mara. Afterward, a special champagne breakfast awaited them in the bush!  A farewell dinner in a traditional boma rounded out the trip.
On the last day they flew to Nairobi where The Family Traveler arranged for them to visit the amazing David Sheldrick Elephant Refuge. They visited with 20+ baby elephants who were orphaned throughout Kenya. They all pranced past them to their own “rooms” where they are bottle fed. The smaller babies had blankets on them because their skin was too fine for the chilly Kenyan evenings. Men also roomed with the babies who were prone to waking up in the middle of the night crying out for their bottles. What truly generous gentlemen they were!  The Family Traveler adopted an elephant in honor of the family.  Afterward, the family said “Kwaheri” (goodbye) to the amazing countries they visited.

Travel Tip: Destination App

A new Hawaiian-themed iPad and iPhone app is available and geared toward children ages 5-8.  It’s a fantastic way to introduce Hawaiian culture to children before making a trip to the islands.   Malama Honua: My Voyage, the 35-minute “appisode” presents video storytelling and hands-on activities centered around the ancient Polynesian tradition of voyaging. Today, that tradition is alive and well on the Hawaiian double-hulled canoe Hokulea, which is currently sailing around the world using age-old navigational techniques.  With the interactive app, your children can learn how to make their own canoe while exploring Hawaii from the mountains to the sea. Taking part in various activities, young players gather and prepare materials such as island wood for the masts and local plants for the rope. Their guide, an animated white tern, leads children through the steps for becoming a junior navigator.  By the time they arrive in Hawaii, your chidlren will be able to teach you about the destination, from commonly-used Hawaiian words to the importance of the kukui nut!

Trip Review: Custom Ireland

The Gross Family from Philadelphia with 2 teenage boys (19 and 16) explored Ireland this month.  The Family Traveler created a custom itinerary for this well-traveled family based on their desire to explore the southern coast line of the Emerald Isle, have authentic experiences and stay in diverse accommodations within a specific budget request.  The trip started on the west coast with a flight into Shannon Airport and a 3-night stay at the Ballinalacken Castle Country House Hotel in Doolin.  The family enjoyed the hour ride to the hotel on winding roads especially since they are seasoned drivers of the left-hand side.  They thought the food and hospitality at Ballinalacken were great despite slightly worn rooms. A tour of the ancient castle located on the hotel grounds was a treat.  Another highlight was a sunset dinner at O’Donohue Pub overlooking Fanore Beach in the heart of the Burren with great seafood and views.  They recommend the Burren Perfumery for natural products using native herbs and also for afternoon tea.  The Cliffs of Moher was the best part of the Burren Way despite the challenging walk along the sea cliffs from Doolin to the Visitor Centre.  They used the bus for the return.  This active family also took an awesome Lord of the Rings Burren Tour mountain bike ride which they said required a fair amount of skill and effort.  They got to watch peat fuel being made and explored the Pol na Gollum (Hole of Gollum), the longest cave in Ireland. It is believed that the Burren landscape and this cave inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the Lord of the Rings.  The Fleadh Festival in nearby Ennis which showcases traditional Irish music and dance was fine, but surprisingly missable.  The car ride to Killarney was long, but tolerable because of a stop in charming Adare for lunch. The family recommends checking out the ferry from Kilrush which crosses the Shannon Estuary to shorten the drive.  In Killarney, they stayed for 3 nights in a 2-bedroom apartment at the Muckross Park Hotel and Spa which is located right in the national park.  The location was great because Killarney town is a bit over run by tourists.   Their review of the apartment was mixed since their view wasn’t that great overlooking a parking lot (although an hour long rainbow was nice!), but they did like having a kitchen.  They loved the hotel spa and free bike rentals.  Hiking the Gap of Dunloe was a commitment (1/2 day at least), but totally worthwhile. Their trip to the Dingle Peninsula was also special and the restaurants in town were a nice way to cap off to the drive.  Their journey to Kilkenny was long, but they stopped in Cork to break up the trip.  Their said their lunch at the English Market was not worthwhile.  They said that Kilkenny was a surprising highlight.  They stayed at the nearby Lyrath Estate Hotel for 3 nights.  The town had great pubs, restaurants and music.  The family enjoyed the Kilkenny Castle and grounds as well as the Rothe House, a 16th century merchant’s townhouse which is now a museum and gardens.  Their experience at the hotel had some contrasts.  The family thought the property was beautiful with a unique combination of old and new architecture.  They had nicely appointed rooms with great views from the 4th floor.  But some of the recreational facilities are in need of a serious update including the gym and pool.  At least there were scenic places to run on the property and the spa was lovely (although not discovered until late in their stay).  The breakfast spread was excellent, despite being overly busy and loud with lots of young families.  The trip ended in Dublin with a 2-night stay at the Brooks Hotel.  The hotel location was incredible and staff was so friendly. The famous Guinness tour which was totally commercial and yet really fun. Overall, the family had a fantastic vacation and noted that our recommendations were highly appreciated!

Trip Review: Cuba by Boat

Lauren traveled to Cuba in June.  It was everything she expected and nothing like what she expected.  This theme followed her throughout her stay.  As we sailed out of Key West on a charter boat, we thought about how far yet how close the island nation is to the US.  In just 3 1/2 hours of smooth seas we pulled into the Hemingway Marina in Havana to start our week long Cuba adventure.  Our days in Havana were spent seeing the tourist highlight as part of our required People to People program.  We started with a city bus tour showcasing all the large monuments to Cuba’s heroes of the revolution which appear all over the city.  We also learned about the city’s architecture and history on a walking tour of the Old Town, experienced the evening cannon blast at the La Cabana Fortress (the time when the city gates were closed for the night back in the 18th century), visited a local synagogue and heard about Cuba’s religious freedoms, saw the famous Tropicana show with 60 energetic dancers plus musicians and singers, purchased Cuban cigars and learned about the rum making process.  And we loved seeing all the old American cars that the locals keep in shape with new engines from China and having a drink overlooking the sea at the iconic and 5-star Hotel Nacional de Cuba.  Our favorite stop was Fusterlandia; home to Cuba’s most famous artist, Jose Fuster, who not only decorated his entire home with mosaic art, but the nearly entire neighborhood as well! Our touring outside of Havana included a trip across the island to the Bay of Pigs to learn about the CIA-backed paramilitary attempt to overtake the government in 1961.  The town’s museum and multiple billboards (some of the only billboards we saw anywhere) showcase the great pride of that event.  We also stopped to snorkel and have a meal in nearby Playa Largo.  Cuba’s preservation of their natural resources was a pleasant surprise and clear water provided optimal viewing for snorkeling and diving.  We also ventured to Las Terrazas in the interior of the country to learn about this pioneering eco-village that dates back to a reforestation project in 1968. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with a variety of recreation activities and the site of the earliest surviving coffee plantations in Cuba. Both locals and tourist were taking advantage of the beautiful setting high in the Sierra del Rosario mountains and we enjoyed a swim in the lake, learning about coffee and visiting a local artist studio.  The highways in Cuba were in good shape, but we saw few
vehicles on the road.  Most locals hitch rides to get around, but there are some local buses.  The boat then took off for nearby Varadero on the Hicacos Peninsula.  This is one of the largest resort areas anywhere in the Caribbean where Canadians, Europeans and others vacation at familiar resort chains.  We docked behind the lovely and fresh Melia Marina Varadero.  The area is ripe for marine activities such as fishing, diving and snorkeling.  Beautiful mangroves lined one side of the peninsula.  We also visited a nearby Sugar Cane Museum in Cardenas at a former sugar production plant that now showcases the mostly American made steam trains that were used to transport the crop.

 We had a lovely dinner and sunset at Xanadu Mansion which was built in 1927 as the retirement home of Irenee Dupont de Nemours.  We really enjoyed a day for relaxing beach and pool time with such a full schedule that is required by the U.S. government to qualify for a People to People tour.  Most meals were at private rather than government owned restaurants.  At nearly every meal, serenading with Cuban folk tunes was a popular method of entertainment.  Sometimes even throughout a meal.  Mojitos were always served (and sometimes cigars) along with a bountiful of food choices including fresh fish, lots of lobster and fresh meats along with plantains, rice, beans and vegetables.  Transportation was in a comfortable minibus and our guide and driver were precious.  Some translation issues were evident, but didn’t distract us from their ongoing efforts to keep us informed about our travel plans and providing plenty of information about their country’s history, politics, culture and dreams.  Our 3-hour sail back across the Atlantic Ocean to Key West on a sunny day with calm seas gave us time to reflect on our trip, admire the warm Cuban hospitality and also to appreciate our freedoms.

Travel Tip: TSA Security Lines

In response to long TSA security checkpoint wait times, several airlines have been working to help passengers get through the lines quicker.  Delta, American and United all offered their own resources to help the situation. Recently JetBlue announced that their top frequent flyers can apply for a free membership to TSA PreCheck.  Southwest is also now allowing their frequent flyer members to sign up for TSA PreCheck with a payment of 9,000 Rapid Rewards points, rather than the $85 fee required for the membership. You can also check TSA Checkpoint wait times at https://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx.