Trip Review: Journey to Israel
The Silverstein Family from Parkland, FL (traveling with parents and 3 young adult children; 2 who had already been on Birthright trips) ventured to Israel this summer for a custom, private tour. 
They took off running upon landing to make the most of their 10-night journey. The itinerary first took them to north to Caesarea with its Roman theater and aqueducts, Haifa and throughout the Galilee and the Golan. Their northern adventures included river rafting, wine tasting on a kibbutz, meeting with an active military unit as well as with a local border resident to better understand what life is like. The trip then ascended to Jerusalem for the Sabbath and to explore the many facets of this unique city both old and new. Private tours of the Knesset (Parliament) and Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial) were included. Walking along the walls of the Old City 
afforded interesting views and was a trip highlight. They also went underground at the Western Wall Tunnels and really enjoyed seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls and menorahs from around the world at the Israel Museum. On the way to the Dead Sea they visited the Ayalon Institute, a former ammunitions factory hidden in a laundry that was a trip highlight and the caves at Beit Guvrin. They hiked up and down Masada, floated in the Dead Sea and then spent the afternoon hiking in Ein Gedi where they were fortunate to witness a herd of ibex. The trip ended in Tel Aviv for some down time and to visit Jaffa. They enjoyed renting bikes to explore the city (part of the city’s Tel-O-Fun bike share program) and traveling along the city’s beach promenade. They stayed in a variety of hotels and inns. A favorite was Mitzpe Hayamim in Rosh Pinah which was also a working farm. The trip was thought provoking and informative on many levels. Overall a successful trip full of history, culture, religion, lots of fresh food, amazing photos and outdoor adventures.
Travel Tip: For Large Families
Jessica, a mother of 4 boys from the web blog Suit Cases and Sippy Cups, recommends the following tips for large traveling families:
- Dress Alike. It’s corny and it’s certainly apt to encourage people to count in their head as you pass by, but it works in so many ways that we keep doing it. It completely eliminates the need to decide what everyone will wear each day and speeds up packing. It helps other people know that you are a group and makes it easy to spot your kidlets in a crowd. If you ever (temporarily) lose someone, it is easy to remember what they were wearing. And my personal favorite, everyone matches in pictures and there are no clashing colors when you scrapbook or blog.
- Pack Differently. When you are packing just for yourself, its easy just to put everything you need into one bag and take off. Packing for a crew takes a different way of thinking. If you are roadtripping, pack your suitcases by the day, not by the person. Pack everything everyone will need at each stop in one bag with another bag that you will need every night. Another way I like to pack is to pack all the swim suits, pajamas and underwear in one bag, saving me from having to dig through four different bags when it is time to hit the pool or the hay.
- Color Coding. This is something that we do faithfully at home and it carries over onto the road. Plates, cups, bags, towels are all color coded for each child. Matching suitcases can be tagged with a ribbon or a piece of tape to distinguish one from the other.
- Tighten the Reins. At home, I’m much more of a jump on the couch, eat cereal in the living room mom. On the road, I try to channel my inner drill sergeant.Sorta. Drill sergeant is not really in my nature, but we have our own set of rules we set aside just for travel to make things go as smoothly as possible.
- Relax the Rules. Yes, I am contradicting myself, but stay with me. Traveling has its own unique set of challenges and that means that things that work at home won’t work on the road. At home my couch jumping monkeys aren’t allowed much screen time. When we travel, I relax this standard to virtual non existence. Same with bedtime routines and sleep arrangements. Sometimes a mama’s gotta have standards and sometimes a mama’s got have sleep.
- Buddy System. Older kids are paired with younger kids to help take care of their needs as they travel. In our family, we switch off with the older two helping the youngest one, while we all keep our eyes on #3. He’s a flight risk.
- Kid of the Day. Another great at home trick that carries over to the road. The kid of the day has dibs on any special privileges that might happen. While traveling this means pushing the elevator button, unlocking the hotel room, and choosing the restaurant. Eliminating the arguing and helping each child have a moment to feel special are just two of the perks.
- Manage the Transitions. Preparing kids ahead of time about where they will sit on the plane and where they will sleep in the hotel eliminates the need for fusses and fights. After you have schlepped your kids and all their gear onto a plane, you just don’t want to have a meltdown about the window seat.Talk about it before your hit the jet bridge.
- Don’t Eat Out. Saving money on food is often the difference in taking a trip and staying home for a larger family. Food takes a huge chunk out of your vacation, and not just in dollars. Packing a lunch and making breakfast in your room will also save you time and calories. Some accommodations have full kitchens with dishwashers and ovens. The staff can arrange to shuttle you to a local grocery store if they don’t already have one on the premises. With some planning you can eat wholesome, precooked meals, save tons of money, and never need to plan you sightseeing around finding a restaurant.
- Tame the Laundry Beast. The power of laundry to multiply increases by a power of ten in a hotel room. There must be a plan to vanquish the monster! Instead of waiting to do the laundry at home, I like to find a Laundromat or use the hotel to wash all our laundry and repack nice, clean clothes. I can get the job done in half the time and it gives me an excuse to duck out of the hotel room and skip the bedtime wrangling for one night. Be sure to pack a laundry bag, a baggie full of laundry soap, and some quarters and you are set.
Travel Tip: How to Get Better Sleep on a Plane
1. Avoid staring at a screen. The bluish hue can mess with your body’s nature sleep hormones. Reading a book is one of the best possible rituals you can do to fall asleep.
Trip Review: The Valenci’s California Adventure
Mindy’s family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens ages 18 and 16) traveled to Carmel Valley and San Francisco 
this month for a fun and relaxing family getaway. Their first stop was the Carmel Valley Ranch, an upscale resort that sits at the base on the Santa Lucia Mountains. Activities at the ranch include golf, tennis, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, organic garden, learning about honey bees, equestrian center, spa, mountain-top yoga, pools and daily activities such as geocaching and s’more making. Their huge suite had a separate living area with sofa bed. They enjoyed exploring the seaside towns of Carmel-by-the Sea, Monterey and Pacific Grove which offered plenty of great dining options, shops and place to watch beautiful sunsets. One day was spent visiting Big Sur, the second most visited tourist attraction in the US (after Times Square) and where the mountains meet the sea. There are plenty of spots to pull over for undeniably beautiful photos. A stop at Julia Pfeiffer State Park included a hike. After two nights, they moved onto San Francisco with a stay in a one bedroom suite at the Hotel Monaco (with separate living room with sofabed and rollaway). This small, boutique hotel offers attentive service, nightly wine receptions and complimentary coffee and tea each morning. The staff was friendly and helpful– quickly learning their names and lending to the “homey” feel of the hotel. As a Kimpton Karma member (free membership) they got coupons for their minibar, a free movie and free internet. Day one in the city included a small group highlight tour which featured the 
Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, the Haight, Twin Peaks, the Presidio, Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghiardelli Square. They learned about the history of the city and about local politics, sports, culture, architecture and life style unique to San Francisco. The tour proved to be a great orientation of the city and to figure out which neighborhoods to further explore. Day two included a walking tour of Chinatown, home to the 2nd largest Asian population in the country. They learned how and when the Chinese arrived in San Francisco and how they live today. The tour was led by Linda Lee, a second generation Chinese American who was born and raised in the neighborhood. Linda was a pleasure and delight to walk with and her sense of humor added to the experience. They learned about Chinese medicine (herbs and other natural healing elements), religion, language (an incredible variety of dialects are spoken) culture, art, and food. They even toured a small factory where fortune cookies are still made. A dim sum lunch was the perfect ending to this tour. The Valenci’s also biked over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, explored various neighborhoods, visited family and friends and enjoyed a comedy show. Overall a great trip!
Travel Tip: On the Road
Travel Age West magazine reminds us that the great American road trip is a time-honored tradition that many families will embark on this summer. Here are some tips to make the most of the experience:
Only Pack the Essentials
You might assume that you need to bring a myriad gadgets and supplies with you on a road trip, but you don’t need to bring as much as they think. For example, contact hotels in advance along your route. Many have cribs available — and that means more space in the trunk for other goodies.
If your destination is a theme park, think about ditching your stroller since many parks offer rentals. Also, be sure to check the weather so that heavy jackets and clunky boots aren’t carried along unnecessarily.
Be Strategic About Toys and Snacks
Car activities and snacks can make or break a family journey. Consider checking out audio books from the library for the kids — or, if they have their own headphones and MP3 players, the parents can take this opportunity to listen to a book or podcast of their choosing in the front seat.
Activity books that include word jumbles, mazes, crossword puzzles and Sudoku can also be effective entertainment options. Of course, digital tablets loaded with movies and games work as well. Don’t forget to bring along requisite power cords and a car USB adapter — you could have a mutiny on your hands once the devices run out of juice.
Pack snacks that have protein, as they will keep the group feeling full for longer such as cheese sticks, protein bars and different types of nuts.
On certain stretches of highway, fast-food eateries are often your only option, so grab fresh fruit and pre-cut vegetables from home so you can get a few vitamins into the kids. Cucumber slices and apples can stay fresh in a small cooler at the kids’ feet.
Rest Stops Are More Than a Necessity
Every seasoned traveler knows that rest stops are stress-free spots to change diapers and have a quick picnic lunch, but they can also be a soccer field or a playground for kids who have been cooped up for far too long in the car. Always pack a ball or other playground toys on longer road trips so that the kids can run off some energy. If you have toddlers, playing tag is another way to wear out little legs.
If you don’t want to spend much time at highway rest stops, create one of your own in the towns you pass. Do a little research in advance and scope out places for lunch or local parks.
Have a Plan (But Be Open to Change)
Almost every adventure needs some sort of structure to begin with, but you always need to leave a little wriggle room for spontaneity. After all, kids can be unpredictable.
Trip Review-A Moroccan Adventure
The Gastwirth Family (one adult and one teen age 16) traveled to Morocco during spring 
break for an exciting adventure. The Family Traveler created a custom trip based on their interests, time and budget requests. The trip began in Marrakesh with a private tour of the city’s Old Town, markets, royal tombs, mosques and more along with a dinner show. The trip moved onto the nearby High Atlas Mountains for visits to local villages and extensive hiking. Some time on the coast in the fishing town of Essaouria included a visit to a local argan oil co-op and camel ride on the beach. The trip ended in Casablanca with guided city tour and a stop along the way in the picturesque town of Oualidia known for its oysters. Hotels were all independent and authentic accommodations. The family really enjoyed the experience and took amazing photos. They made some great friends along the way and said that their drivers were friendly and timely. The experience left them with a unique look at Moroccan culture and history and the hope to return some day to visit their new Moroccan friends. Andrew Gastwirth is an amazing photographer and we thank him for sharing these photos with us!
Trip Review-An Anniversary Celebration
We love booking our families on trips around the world, but we also love sending parents away for relaxing 
getaways especially for special anniversaries and celebrations. The Seigel’s from Reisterstown, MD vacationed last month in the Riviera Maya, Mexico at Excellence Riviera Cancun for their 30th wedding anniversary. They were really happy with the resort facilities, amenities and service and deemed the trip as one of their best vacations…ever! They explained that from the moment they stepped off of the plane, to a nice greeter holding a sign with their name on it, to the driver from Cancun Valet who took them to the resort and back in a private transfer, the entrance to the hotel, the resort concierge, their room, Anniversary “extras”, the well-kept grounds, staff, service, pools, food, etc…all five star. This was their first experience at an adult-only resort and they were pleasantly surprised how much they enjoyed the experience. The anniversary extras (a free package) included a basket of fresh fruit, sparkling wine, a specially prepared romantic dinner, rose petal turn down, champagne breakfast in bed and 15 percent off all spa treatments. A nice way to celebrate.
Travel Tip-Packing Pro
Does last minute packing throw your family into a frenzy? Now there is an app for that. It’s called Packing Pro 
for iOS, and it’s full of handy features to make sure you pack everything your family needs for a perfect vacation—nothing more and nothing less. The app features sample lists for a variety of vacation types and lengths to get you started, plus categories, reminders, sorting by people in your group and tons of other elements that make it far more useful than the typical checklist. For Android users, an app called PackPoint offers similar functionality and some exclusive features of its own. Either way, it’s the perfect way to give your packing process a tech savvy update.
Trip Review-Jamaica Mon!
This past November and December Lauren and Evan and Mindy’s family of four (2 adults and 2 teens) both traveled to Jamaica. It had been some time since our last visit to this lush and friendly island. 
Mindy’s family enjoyed the new and upscale Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall which is the former Ritz Carlton Montego Bay. The rooms are quite spacious and the staff goes out their way to help. Dining was a highlight with a nice variety of food choices including lobster and 24 hour rooms service. There were plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas by the pool and beach and the evenings were made cozy with fire pits. The size of the resort is very manageable compared to other all-inclusives. Lauren stayed at two adult-only properties as we are sending many couples and families with young adult children on vacation (plus girls’ getaways, honeymoons, etc.). The Riu Montego Bay was modern, new and convenient to the airport with full access to the Riu Montego B
ay next door. The amount of amenities and man-made beach made this a good choice for a short stay. Couples Swept Away in Negril was old-school Jamaica (lots of dark wood and tropical flair) and sits on a beautiful beach. The highlight here are the sports facilities with a great tennis program, Olympic size lap pool, squash courts, fitness classes, watersports, basketball, soccer and more. Lots of extras such a sunset cruise and shuttle to shops are included. Lauren also toured two family properties in Negril. The gorgeous Azul Sensatori (with a family and adult-only side) is an intimate and upscale property with swim out pools, fresh and modern décor, excellent dining and more. Beaches Negril is a larger property with a wide array of accommodation options for families. The property showcases extensive children and teen programs, a wide variety of recreation and plenty of great dining choices.
Travel Tip: European Eating
Rick Steve’s helps decipher the world of dining in Europe:
Very often, Europeans think “vegetarian” means “no red meat” or “not much meat.” If you are a strict vegetarian, you’ll have to make things very clear. Write the appropriate phrase, keep it handy, and show it to each waiter before ordering your meal.
For inexpensive Italian eateries, look for the term osteria, tavola calda, rosticceria, trattoria, pizzeria, or “self-service.” A meal-sized pizza (sold everywhere for less than $12) and a cold beer is my idea of a good, fast, cheap Italian dinner. For a stand-up super bargain meal, look for a pizza rustica shop, which sells pizza by weight. Just point to the best-looking pizza and tell them how much you want (200 grams is a filling meal). They weigh, you pay. They heat it, you eat it. Panini(sandwiches) — calda (toasted) if you ask — are cheap and widely available.
University cafeterias (generally closed during summer holidays) offer a surefire way to meet educated English-speaking young people with open and stimulating minds. They’re often eager to practice their politics and economics, as well as their English, on a foreign friend.
The “tourist menu” (menù turistico in Italy, menu touristique in France), popular in restaurants throughout Europe’s tourist zones, offers confused visitors a no-stress, three-course meal for a painless price that usually includes service, bread, and a drink. You normally get a choice of several options for each course. Locals rarely order this, but if the options intrigue you, the tourist menu can be a convenient way to sample some regional flavors for a reasonable, predictable price.
Eat hearty in Scandinavia, Europe’s most expensive corner. Fill up at the breakfast smorgasbord (usually included in your hotel cost). Keep your eyes peeled for daily lunch specials called dagens rett. You can normally have all the vegetables (usually potatoes) you want when you order a restaurant’s entrée. Just ask for seconds. Many Scandinavian pizzerias offer amazing all-you-can-eat deals and hearty salad bars. (Your bill will double if you order a beer.) The cheapest cafeterias often close at about 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. Fresh produce, colorful markets, and efficient supermarkets abound. Picnic!
At most European restaurants, the price of drinks can spoil your appetite. Ask for tap water in Britain, l’eau du robinet in France, Leitungswasser in Germany, acqua del rubinetto in Italy, and agua del grifo in Spain. In other countries, just do the international charade: hold an imaginary glass in one hand, turn on the tap with the other, and make the sound of a faucet. Stop it with a click of your tongue and drink it with a smile.
In European groceries and open-air markets, most food is priced by the kilo (about two pounds). Watch the scales while your food is being weighed. It’ll likely show grams and kilos. If dried apples are priced at €2 per kilo, that’s $2.80 for 2.2 pounds, or about $1.25 per pound. If the scale says 400 grams, that means 40 percent of €2 (or 80 euro cents), which is a little over $1.
Not everything is strictly priced by the kilogram. Read the little chalkboard price information board carefully: Particularly in the case of specialty items, you might see things priced by the 1/4 kg, 1/2 kg, 100 g, 500 g, and so on. Or it could be priced by the piece (Stück in German, la piéce in French,pezzo in Italian), the bunch, the container, and so on. If the pâté seems too cheap to be true, look at the sign closely. The posted price is probably followed by “100 gr.”
Whether you understand the numbers or not, act as though you do. In supermarkets, it’s a cinch to buy a tiny amount of fruit or vegetables. Many have an easy push-button pricing system: Put the banana on the scale, push the button that shows a picture of a banana (or the banana bin number), and a sticky price tag prints out. You could weigh and sticker a single grape.
If no prices are posted, be wary. Travelers are routinely ripped off by market merchants in tourist centers. Find places that print the prices. Assume any market with no printed prices has a double price standard: one for locals and a more expensive one for tourists.
Point, but don’t touch. At produce stands and outdoor markets, it’s considered rude for a customer to touch the goods. Tell the vendor (or point to) what you want.
Milk-drinkers in Europe can check the carton for the local words for whole or light, such as voll orlett. Get refrigerated, fresh milk. Or look on the (unrefrigerated) shelves for the common-in-Europe but rare-in-America “longlife” milk. This milk — which requires no refrigeration until it’s opened — will never go bad…or taste good.
