Travel Tip: Saving for a Disney Vacation
Having trouble saving money for your next Disney getaway? You might want to consider the Disney Vacation Account program which lets your family budget for an upcoming trip and schedule automatic contributions into an FDIC-insured savings fund. Account holders can cash in their savings for a vacation at a Disney theme park, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney or at Aulani, Disney’s plush resort in Hawaii. Contributing to a Disney vacation account does not yield interest, but you do receive a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1,000 you spend — the equivalent of 2 percent of the purchase, more than three times what banks offer! You can set up the account for a minimum of $10 and contribute at any frequency and any dollar amount that you want and up to five years in advance! There’s no penalty for taking money out early, and no fees involved along the way. Check out https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com for more details.
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Trip Review: Turks and Caicos Paradise
Over winter break, Mindy and her family (two adults and two teens) stayed at the Ocean Club on beautiful Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. They enjoyed it so much they said they would go back! 
The facilities at Ocean Club’s sister resort, Ocean Club West, is also available to all guests with a shuttle in between (one mile down the beach). Mindy found that both properties provided a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, lots of tropical foliage and good recreation and dining options. Ocean Club’s 84 condos are newly renovated while the 64-unit Ocean Club West is more centrally located on Grace Bay and therefore closer to more shops and dining. Their one-bedroom unit, with 1,200 sq. ft. and 1 ½ baths, was on the top floor with huge cathedral ceilings in the bedroom. They had a large lanai, full kitchen, separate living room with DVD player (where the teens slept on a sofabed and rollaway) and a washer/dryer. Their only complaint was thin walls (in combination with a crying baby next door). Mindy loved the intimacy of the resort, the location at the quieter end of Grace Bay and the friendly staff. Tennis, moving between the pool and beach depending on where they could find chairs after sleeping in, working out at the larger gym at Ocean Club West and riding around on the free bike rentals kept the family busy along with free DVD rentals and board games. Water sports are available for an added cost (most resorts on Grace Bay offer free water sports, but have less recreation available) and some guests were smart to bring their own floats to relax in the pool and calm ocean. Outside the resort they enjoyed a wide variety of excursions such as parasailing; chartering a boat one day for watersports (water skiing, tubing and snorkeling) and another day for fishing. Being out on the water also allowed them to explore nearby islands (there are 40 in the Turks and Caicos of which only eight are inhabited!). Families who love nature can enjoy a ferry to the Middle and North Caicos to explore caves, see tons of iguanas and the pink flamingo reserve. They also rented a small car (a clown car, as they affectionately called it) which came in handy. It gave them great flexibility to dine out at night, grocery shop and explore all around the island. As a British Overseas Territory, driving is on the left. This was only a challenge in the roundabouts! The family discovered out of of the way places to eat, many of them on the beach, that served the freshest daily catch which included a lot of delicious conch. The long wait to get through customs and passport control was a reminder to slow down to island time, but the weather was 82 and sunny every day! Turks and Caicos continues to be developed as it gains in popularity, but is still a great destination for families looking for a safe and easy to reach destination (1 ½ hours south of Miami) with gorgeous beaches and ocean. Most of the resorts here are condo-style (so you don’t have to eat out every meal) and available in all quality levels from basic to luxury.
Travel Tip: Sleeping on a Plane
It is the bane of travelers getting on a plane for both business and pleasure—difficulty falling asleep in a seat, especially in coach, and the attendant horrors of jet lag after landing. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can decrease brain performance by 20 percent, so it’s crucial to anyone crossing time zones to rest as much as possible during the flight. Washington, D.C.–based clinical sleep educator and RN Terry Cralle shared her tips for powering down (and getting at least a power nap) on a flight.
Plan ahead. The more organized you can be before travel in regards to packing, airport transporations and getting ready to travel, the less frazzled you are once you get on the plane. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Meditate. Try out meditation audio apps which can help your brain relax quickly.
Pack lavender oil. Proven to help you sleep better. Put a few drops onto your travel pillow, apply it to your temples and wrists once you’ve settled into your seat, and prepare to dream.
Ignore in-flight entertainment. Staring at a screen means that light is hitting your retinas, and telling your brain and body that it’s daytime, and sleep will be much tougher to achieve.
Make to-do lists. Write them down well in advance to keep your mind clear when it’s time to sleep.
Bring something comforting. Like a cozy scarf or your favorite pillow.
Cover your eyes. Masks do work. Absolute darkness prompts your body to produce melatonin.
Step away from the Scotch. It can mess with the quality of your sleep and is dehydrating. Drink as much water as possible.
Bring earplugs. Helps block out engine noise and other noise around you.
Incorporate cardio. The more exercise you get (especially before a flight) will help you doze off more easily.
Bank sleep. Spend extra time sleeping or napping in the week before you depart. It can help keep your immune system strong and also mitigate the bad effects of jet lag.
Trip Review: Star Clipper Adventure
The Blaudow Family from Neptune Beach, FL (two adults and two teen boys) thoroughly enjoyed a cruise on the 
Star Clipper over the winter holidays. The authentic, tall sailing ship traveled round-trip from St. Maarten with stops in Nevis, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barth, mostly in small harbors that can’t be accessed by large cruise ships. It is a working tall ship and travels under sail whenever possible, giving you the real experience of sailing. You can also climb the mast if you’re feeling brave (as one family member did)! The Blaudows noted that the ship doesn’t have a casino, balconies or a fancy gym or spa, but the experience is so amazing, you won’t miss a thing. In port, sports activities are available such as sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaking, weather permitting. The bridge can also be accessed if you’re interested on seeing how the ship is navigated. The family enjoyed meeting so many interesting people among both the other passengers and crew including the president of the cruise line. Excursion highlights included a zip line at Loterie Farm in St. Martin (the French Side), river tubing in Dominica, hiking in Guadeloupe and sailboat racing in Antigua. Their cruise rate included shipboard credits that they used for an excursion, a great Thai massage on board and a nice bottle of wine. They also noted that the food was good and plentiful with vegetarian options at every meal. A pre-night cruise stay on the Dutch side of St. Maarten was comfortable in a spacious 2-bedroom condo at Princess Heights. Overall the trip was a great success!
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.
