Travel Tip: Travel Agent Notes
- You are not bothering us if you just need an airline ticket and a hotel in Chicago. We can indeed book more than just your exotic annual vacations and will do so gladly. Plus, we will likely have access to free amenities at the hotel that you might not find on your own because of my industry connections.
- If something goes amiss when you’re on your trip, call us immediately so we can fix it. Don’t be shy and say you didn’t want to make a fuss. You’ve paid money for this vacation and we are your advisor for a reason. Little things that mar the experience can typically be fixed quite easily and that’s what we are here for.
- When you compare the vacation packages we have offered you with what’s available via an online travel agency or discount website, please know that you’re probably not comparing apples to apples. The hotel we have selected is in a locale we think you will like, based on what you’ve told us. The room we have reserved for you is guaranteed in its category, meaning when you check in, you won’t be given inferior accommodations, based on the desk attendant’s mood. Plus, if you’re looking at a website that brags that it has the lowest pricing available, you’ll likely be getting the lowest quality room available. Trust us.
- When you’re online and you see a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is. Travel companies don’t give away things for no reason. Is there small print you’re not reading because you’re so excited about the price you’re seeing? Do bring any deals you see to our attention and we promise to give you our best expert opinion as to what you’d actually get for your money.
- Do make travel a priority in your life. Every moment is precious and if you keep putting off that family vacation or that couple’s getaway, you may never do it and only end up with regrets. Let us craft a trip for you that will make the most of your time together so you’ll end up with fabulous memories. Live for the now; who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Trip Review: Adventure in Panama
The Somers/Siegel family from Penn Valley (two adults and two young adult children ages 20 and 17) traveled to Panama over winter break. The trip began in Panama City, then into the rainforest and ended up at a beach. 
In Panama City, they stayed at the at the Hard Rock Panam Megapolis. They didn’t love its Vegas vibe or slow elevators. But the rooms were very nice and breakfast was good. They absolutely loved the Casa Viejo section of the city which they toured with our private guide, Tony. On their first full day they went to the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal and on a tour of the city. They thought the guide was super informative and also took good care of them. The only thing they missed was going inside the Biomuseuo designed by Frank Gehry as it was closed when they were there. They ate in great restaurants in the Old Yown and loved seeing all the people out and about. Next up was the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. They described the rainforest as cool and very “out of Africa” like. Their junior suite at the resort was large and comfortable with a loft ideal for sleeping children. They did a ton of trips from the resort’s excursion desk including day and night boat trips, kayaking, trams, wildlife tours, information sessions at their animal refuge and also sat by the pool. The wildlife was abundant including sloths, crocodiles, monkeys, lots of birds and iguanas. The resort’s meal plan made it easy for dining at this remote location. At the beach, the family stayed at the Westin Playa Bonita on the club level. The said that the resort was beautiful and that being on the club level was awesome! The free water, wine, beer and breakfast was well appreciated. The rooms were lovely with amazing views of the ocean. The resort pools and open spaces were just lovely. They didn’t have to fight for lounge chairs – there were plenty! Dining reservations were a little tricky, but the club level concierge was able to arrange dining for them both off and on property. Overall the trip was a success. The family explained that Panama is very different – very “Central American” with little English spoken. The locals also bend rules, make new rules and forget rules that they made moments before! It was very sunny, very hot and the people were awesome! The family felt safe and welcomed everywhere.
Travel Tip: Family Photographer
Have you ever been on a special vacation and returned home disappointed with the photos you captured, or worse,
missing from all of them? Flytographer is a new service that sets your family up with a local photographer in 160 destinations and with 300 photographers around the world to help you get the best family shots in the most magical of settings. Let The Family Traveler arrange this service for your next family getaway or as a gift to another family (the service is also great for honeymoons, couples getaways, proposals and more). Packages start at $250 and your photos are available in just five days. Get stunning vacation photos in amazing places. Some trips deserve more than selfies.
Trip Review: Winter in Iceland
A mother/daughter duo from the Silverstein Family from Parkland, FL traveled to Iceland in November for a five-
night adventure and to see the Australis Borealis. The trip began in the capital city of Reykjavik where the two explored the city including a visit to the Northern Lights Center to learn more about this unique phenomenon. They also enjoyed a nice contrast in city architecture with amazing city views from the top of the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church and a visit to the modern Harpa Hall; a concert venue. They then 
ventured south for an overnight, guided trip to the ice caves and the region of the Vatnajokull Glacier and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. The Vatnajokull region is one of the most beautiful in Iceland where the group took several hikes (including on the glaciers) to witness the unique topography and nature such as floating ice bergs, black sand beaches and waterfalls that you can walk behind. The color of the ice ranged from gorgeous blue to completely clear. Evenings were spent witnessing the northern lights which are best experienced with slow exposure photography (open your lens to its widest aperture, set your ISO to about 1600 and shoot an exposure of 10-15 seconds). The trip ended up back in the capital with a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa.
Trip Review: Iberostar Paraiso Maya
During the New Jersey’s Teacher Convention, the Campagna and Lerario Family(each with 2 adults and 2 children ages 14 and 11) from Woolrich, NJ took a trip to the Riviera Maya, Mexico with a stay at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya. The families spent much of their time at the beach and main pool and really enjoyed the watersports, pool games, archery, rifelry, water polo and water basketball. The group tried the free scuba diving demo in the pool (the dive shop offers certification programs at an additional cost). The kids club received a good rating and the families thought the rooms were nice and comfortable. They liked the breakfast buffet and the highlight was the fruit filled bread dusted in coconut! Their favorite spot for dinner was the Japanese restaurant where they dined twice, but they also enjoyed the steakhouse and Brazilian restaurant. They also loved the crepes and ice cream that were available by the shopping mall. The wait staff around the property was also helpful. Off property they hired a van to take them to Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen for some shopping and they also took a private day tour where they went to the Tulum ruins, swam with the turtles in Akumal Bay, snorkeled in the Yal Ku Lagoon and also went to a natural cenote where they could jump into off a 12 ft. high cliff. The tour also included a tasty lunch. They recommend bringing your own pool floats to avoid any waits in the resort pools. They also suggest bringing bug spray for the evenings or on any excursion and plenty of sunblock. Sunblock costs about $ 27 a bottle in the resort. Overall – they all had a fantastic time!
Travel Tip: New Apps
Travelers want the ability to message or call family and friends, access Wi-Fi on their mobile devices and communicate with locals everywhere they go. Here are several startups helping bridge the divide between foreigners’ concerns for international travel and connectivity that allows them to move about a destination with less stress.
Manet is a mobile app equipped with a local phone card that allows travelers to make national and international calls.
Wiffinity mobile app allows tourists to find and connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots around cities.
Ticketbis allows travelers from more than 40 countries to search deals for sports, music, theater and other cultural events and purchase in their local currency and also sell and exchange tickets.
SameSame is a visual translator using voice-recognition technology to help foreign travelers be understood wherever they’re visiting. To make sure travelers can express themselves in any situation, the app offers offline packages which include the most used images by location. Images often help with communication more so than words.
Trip Review: Windtar on the Adriatic
Lauren and Evan recently returned from Europe after a wonderful honeymoon on Windstar’s Wind Surf, the largest tall sailing ship in the world! Our trip began in Rome for a 2 night pre-cruise stay. We really enjoyed a golf cart orientation tour of the city on our arrival day with all the city highlights; the perfect start to our stay (Lauren’s 3rd trip to Rome and 5th to Italy) as we were tired after the long flight. The following day we explored the Vatican with a small group tour. The amount
of people in The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel was beyond overwhelming, but we did enjoy the opportunity to climb to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica and witness an amazing 360-degree view of the city. We enjoyed staying close to The Vatican at the newly renovated Starhotels Michelangelo with a beautiful view of The Basilica; a lit at night. And we loved meeting our local Tuscan guide, Giancarlo, who joined us for dinner. The cruise departed from Civitavecchia and we sailed around Italy and up through the Adriatic Sea ending in Venice. We had a number of amazing and active experiences that any family would enjoy including a thrilling mountain bike ride on an old railway line near Rovinj, Croatia; a climb to a look-out fort on the side of the mountain in Kotor, Montenegro for amazing views and a walk around the walls of pristine Dubrovnik, Croatia. Other highlights included a private wine tasting and lunch at a family winery on the side of Mt. Etna in Sicily, a driving tour to Budva, Montenegro with a local guide, a full day at sea to relax, taking the chair lift on Capri for the views and a private Jewish heritage tour of Split. The Wind Surf sails with a maximum of 300 passengers and offered plenty of delicious and healthy dining options and freshly prepared meals. You can even join the head chef in port to purchase provisions and learn about the local delicacies. Amenities on board include a spa, gym with fitness classes, small pool and whirlpools, bike rentals, evening live music, casino, shop, board games and a well-equipped water sports program off a platform at the back of the boat (kayaks, stand up paddle boards, trampoline, sailboats, waterskiing /wakeboarding and more)! Cabins are spacious for such a small ship with plenty of storage and a well-equipped bathroom. On board were multi-generational families with young adult children and lots of couples ranging in their 30’s to 80’s! During school breaks more families are on board. Overall the trip was unique and special. We met wonderful travelers from around the world and learned a great deal about the history, politics, culture and food of this beautiful region of Southern Europe.
Travel Tip: Language Learning Apps
From Travel Age West Magazine: It never hurts to know a few key words and phrases before jetting off to a new destination, but dictionaries can be tough to tote around and language-learning software can get expensive. Fortunately, there are several great language-learning apps on the market will help you build your new vocabulary quickly — and cheaply. Great for the entire family (especially the game oriented MindSnacks)!
Anki
Anki is a flashcard-creating app that enables you to customize the cards you’re committing to memory, which is perfect when you plan on learning specific phrases. The app uses a spaced repetition system so that it knows which cards you need to review and which ones you’ve already mastered, allowing you to learn a wide variety of vocabulary words in a short amount of time. Anki is free to download on both your desktop and mobile phone.
Babbel
What’s missing from a lot of language-learning apps is the ability to learn correct pronunciation. Babbel corrects this by allowing for pronunciation evaluation through its integrated speech recognition, which makes sure you’re saying everything correctly. The app also lets users brush up on less commonly featured languages such as Danish and Norwegian. The Babbel app is free to download.
Busuu
Busuu’s main draw is that it connects you with a community who are all learning a new language. You can ask natives for help in understanding difficult phrases or slang and, in turn, help them learn English. Unlike most language-learning apps, Busuu stresses social interaction. The app is free to download, although there are in-app purchases.
Duolingo
Probably the most popular and well-known language app, Duolingo teaches you languages module by module as you progress from learning grammar to learning words about food and animals. Duolingo uses several ways to impart vocabulary, from answering short multiple-choice questions to writing out translations (including accent marks). It also allows you to translate websites written in the language you’re learning in order to get a feel for how native speakers actually write and speak. Last but not least, Duolingo keeps tabs on your progress and lets you know which modules you excel at and which areas you need to practice. The app and the website are both free to use.
HiNative
Like Busuu, HiNative stresses social interaction as an integral part of learning a language. Users can chat with native speakers to learn more about the language, as well as about their culture — essential for any trip you might be planning. You can also ask other users to correct your pronunciation by uploading recordings of yourself. HiNative is free to use and to download.
Memrise
Memrise is another flashcard app that permits you to choose from crowdsourced courses in several different languages. The key feature of Memrise is that it encourages the use of memory tricks to recall vocabulary. The app also introduces the thrill of competition — you can rack up points as you learn different words and see how you fare against other users. The app and website are both free.
MindSnacks
MindSnacks makes learning a language incredibly fun with its series of games. Users are timed as they try to pick out the correct spellings of the vocabulary they’ve just learned or attempt to translate phrases as quickly as possible. Colorful and sometimes silly, the MindSnacks apps are a great way to pick up a few phrases on your daily commute. Prices vary — you can download the introductory lessons for free, but additional lessons will cost you.
Travel Tip: Don’t Get Lost!
From USA Today Travel: It seems like it should be impossible to get lost these days, but it still happens to the best of us, especially when it seems everyone has one of those stories about Google Maps trying to lead them off of a cliff. If you happen to lose your bearings, take a moment to freak out, and then get yourself back on track with these tips:
- Know your accommodation. Taking a screenshot of your hotel’s contact information or swiping one of its business cards can be a lifesaver. If you think remembering that your hotel is by a church in Rome, that’s probably not enough information for a cab driver to get you home safely.
- In cities, get a paper map. I know this is a ridiculous concept, since your iPhone tells you everything you need to know, but if you forget your charger at home, or your phone gets stolen, then it’s important to have a backup means of finding your way.
- Learn key phrases. Sure, you might not understand the fast, quippy banter of a local who is more excited than you are that you’re going to their favorite restaurant in town, but being able to ask, “where” is pretty key. Plus, when I’ve been able to ask where something is, I’ve often had locals volunteer to walk me all the way there just to make sure I arrived safely. If a taxi driver offers to take you, just make sure you agree on a rate before, so you don’t end up paying a million dollars just to go down the street.
- Download a GPS tracker. If you’re either super paranoid about getting lost or you’re venturing out into the jungles of Peru, you can download free apps that actually track your location on a map, so someone could easily find you in an emergency. Hi ma!
- Locate what you need. There are few things worse than getting lost looking for a pharmacy while you’re sick. Apps like iWant allow you to find exactly what you need around you including pharmacies, gas stations and grocery stores.
- Get your bearings. Taking note of major landmarks and geographical indicators like mountains to the east and sea to the west will help you navigate. You could pack a compass, but I don’t know many people who actually do that. And besides, there’s one on your phone.
- Photograph your guidebook. Lonely Planet might be awesome to have on hand during travel, but it also weighs a ton. Before departing, I take photos of the pages I feel I might need and log them in my iPhone. This might include important addresses, maps or transportation information. If you’re headed somewhere specific, take screenshots of the “how to get there” page on popular blogs.
Before you do any mobile research out on the streets, get to a safe place first. If none of this is helpful, you could just be one of those travelers who gets lost on purpose, because not all who wander are lost!
Trip Review: Summer in Vail
An outdoorsy mother/son duo (a teen age 15) from Boston, MA spent their summer vacation in Vail. 
They let us know it was perfect for their needs. They stayed at the Four Seasons in the heart of Vail Village. The family found the property to be nice and clean with an awesome staff. They really liked the central location. The rooms here are very spacious and there is a beautiful spa, gym and pool. Internet access is included. The duo enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities including daily hikes with Paragon Guides which they highly recommend. In the summer Paragon also offers llama trekking, rock climbing, fly fishing and mountain biking. The family also enjoyed a white water rafting trip with Timberline Tours. This company offers family friendly rafting, stand up paddle boards and jeep tours. For meals, they really enjoyed the hotel breakfast, lunch on the hiking trails and dinners in Vail Village where they found a nice variety of options ranging from pizza to fine dining.
