Trip Review

Mindy’s family of four (2 adults and 2 teens age 15 and 17) ventured to Italy this summer. Their trip began in Venice for two nights where they stayed in connecting rooms at a charming B&B in the Cannaregio (Jewish Ghetto).  They are so glad they used a private boat from the airport to get there after their long flight.  They easily explored the city via public boats and on foot.  Highlights included a private gondola ride their first evening, Doge Palace where they pre-purchased tickets for a Secret Itinerary tour (a small group tour that included the underground of the palace), an interesting private walking tour with an historian/musician and a private boat tour to Murano with a private glass blowing class. The later was a particular favorite as they met a family of three generations of glass makers. They drove from Venice to Tuscany where they rented a two bedroom apartment outside the town of Certaldo in Chianti for 4 nights. The views were breathtaking. During their stay, they enjoyed a small group pasta making lesson and dinner and a day trip into Florence by train (don’t forget to validate your tickets at the station!) with a prearranged small group tour of the Accademia. A full day privately guided tour of Tuscany was a special highlight that included various hill towns, wine and local food tastings and lots of great details about local Italian life. The trip ended in Rome where they stayed for 4 nights at the Albergo del Senato, centrally located across the Piazza della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon. Their room was a two level mini apartment with two bedrooms with a delicious breakfast included. The hotel staff was exceptionally helpful with directions, assistance and excellent dining recommendations.  The family started their Rome experience with a prearranged, small group twilight tour of the city with all the main highlights and the standard gelato stop. A great way to get oriented. They also experienced a truly divine and inspirational private tour of the Vatican including the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Mindy highly recommends a private tour; so that you have time to linger and ask as many questions as needed. A golf cart tour was used to experience Ancient Rome as well as the Borghese Gardens, various piazzas, the Travastere (Jewish Ghetto), several markets and more. The carts make it easy to access areas not allowed by cars. They also got to see an Andy Warhol exhibit that happened to be in town. Overall the trip was a great success, full of hands-on experiences, cultural interactions, lots of history and meeting other interesting travelers from around the world. When they threw coins into the Trevi Fountain they made a wish that they will return one day!

Keep an eye out for a longer and more detailed trip review with lots of photos. We look forward to sharing our travels alongside extended stories of the trips we plan for you and your family.

Travel Tip

With the recent opening of the new Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, here’s an inside guide to making the most of your next visit to experience Harry Potter.

First you need a park-to-park pass to ride the Hogwarts Express. A Universal Express Pass for $39.99/ticket for two parks will help you avoid the lines one time for many of the most popular rides (except unfortunately the two Harry Potter rides). Or choose the Unlimited Express Pass (starting at $189 with park admission).

We recommend you stay at an on-site hotel (Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Portofino Bay or the Hard Rock Hotel) as the Unlimited Express Pass AND one hour early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort doesn’t grant you an Unlimited Express Pass, but it does get you into the park an hour early and this is crucial.

Islands of Adventure opens at 8:00 am which means if you stay on property you can get in at 7:00am.  Nothing beats Butterbeer for breakfast (frozen is better)!  Be the first in line for the Forbidden Journey ride.  Note that there are four seats to a car on this ride. The second seat from the left as you face the seats is the best seat in the house.

After Forbidden Journey, you can use your Express Pass to skip the line at the Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge (the Chinese Fireball option is more intense) or enjoy the choir from Hogwarts.  Note that some rides have height requirements.

Then at 8:00am you can board the Hogwarts Express for Diagon Alley. Disembark at King’s Cross Station and head to the Escape From Gringotts.  Most likely you will need to wait in line for this ride, but at least the queue is entertaining including the elevator ride.

Then head for the show at Ollivander’s. One child in the crowd gets picked by Ollivander himself to have their wand “chosen” for them. With wands in hand, you can enjoy Diagon Alley, take in a show and have another Butterbeer. Your wand comes with a map, but look for the plaques on the ground marking where you can activate a variety of spells. There are at least two unmarked “secret” spells. One at Slug and Jiggers across from the Wand Shop and one at Scribbulus Writing Instruments to the right of Gringott’s by the potion stand.

Be sure to visit Knockturn Alley as well. Don’t leave without having a friendly chat with a dark witch or wizard, trying out a few spells, listening for the bird in the vanishing cabinet at Borgin & Burkes, and trying out your best dance moves with the troll skeleton that mirrors your movements.

Once you’ve had your fill of Diagon Alley, you can now exit back to Universal Florida. Where you go from here is up to you. The trip back to Hogsmeade on the Hogwarts Express is a completely different show then you caught on the way there, so it could be worth heading back and tackling Islands of Adventure. Or you can stay at Universal Florida and hop right onto the Simpsons Ride just a short stroll to your left.

Whichever option you take, the majority of the crowds will probably have made their way straight to the two Harry Potter areas. Meaning you, clever theme park warrior, can use your Express Pass to get right onto every ride and not have to fight as large a crowd to get there.

Let The Family Traveler price out the best values for you overall in regards to air, hotels, park tickets and more for your next Universal Studios vacation.

Travel Tips

Avoiding stomach ailments is critical to a successful vacation.  We often tell our clients to avoid fruits and vegetables without a peel and to drink bottled water and avoid ice in countries where we know there are water safety issues.  As a general rule, we also advise that you avoid any raw fish if you are traveling internationally (except for certain parts of Japan).   This includes sushi, ceviche or other forms of raw fish. The consumption of shellfish, specifically clams, oysters and mussels can also increase your chances of intestinal distress by up to 20 times according to the National Institute of Health.  Did you know that a surprising percentage of Europe’s shellfish come from bays and lakes that are seriously polluted? Also keep a look out for food that has been exposed to flies, food that may have been touched with unclean hands and cold foods not kept below 40 degrees or cooked foods not kept above 140 degrees especially at food stalls and markets. Better to be safe than sorry!

Trip Review

Lauren, Mindy and most of the Goldenberg clan ascended on Martha’s Vineyard last month for a family reunion and to visit family who live on this relaxing and laid back island.  We stayed at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort, the only full service resort.  It is located just south of Edgartown where you will find plenty of charming shops, large grocery store, gas stations and dining options.  We used a variety of methods to explore the 87 square mile wide island including the hotel’s free Edgartown shuttle, bikes and rental cars. Highlights included eating lots of lobster of course, visiting each of the small towns on the island, watching the sunset at Gay Head Cliffs, great bike paths, lovely beaches, relaxing spa treatments, kayaking and taking the ferry to Chappaquiddick (by car and by bike).  Our accommodations ranged from studio rooms with kitchenettes to more spacious one bedroom suites with full kitchens and two full bathrooms.  Perfect for our Father’s Day gathering.  Winnetu is a lovely, well-kept and family-owned property with a nice focus on young families with fire truck rides, children’s activities, heated pool, lawn games, etc.  There is also a small spa, gym, tennis, game area, several dining options, library and more. We appreciate how the resort staff went out of their way to make sure we had a great stay!

Travel Tip

Smarter Travel offers the Best Ways for Travelers to Prevent Identity Theft.  This month we address Internet Safety:

The days of the Internet cafe are waning, as Wi-Fi-enabled tablets and ultra-light laptops have become the norm for many tourists. But if you’re not packing a lot of technology on your travels, or your computer dies on the road, or you just need to print a boarding pass in the hotel lobby, remember that public computers are hotbeds for identity theft. Never autosave information on forms, especially if you’re typing in your passport or credit card number. Select “no” if you are asked to save any passwords. Delete your search history afterward. If possible, use the Google Chrome browser and open your windows in “incognito mode” (Ctrl + Shift + N, or click on the menu bar in the upper right-hand corner). Your search history, passwords, and cookies will automatically not be saved. Finally, avoid checking bank-account balances on public computers, if you can. Use your bank’s smartphone app (most major banks have one), or simply limit your balance check-ins to secure ATMs.

Trip Review

The Bierschwale family from Narberth, PA (with 2 adults and 2 girls ages 10 and 8) traveled over spring break to the all-inclusive Hilton Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  What they loved most about the property was the view from their upgraded room (that we requested), choosing between two beaches to relax and play (one is more secluded), the friendly resort staff, the daily activities (especially beach volleyball), nightly entertainment and having the beach, pool and waterpark within easy reach from their room.  Lunch was their favorite meal of the day and delivered poolside and beachside (the rest of their meals tasted better earlier in the week).  They were also happy that the resort offered plenty of local, fresh fruits and delicious fruit juices.  The mango juice was a big hit.  What they didn’t appreciate was having to go out early to save seats with umbrellas by the pool or beach and the challenge of securing a raft at the waterpark during a busy holiday travel week.  They also thought that the hotel photographer was not very good, but had a chuckle when they saw their proofs!  Overall the trip was a great success and they really liked the laid back vibe of the property.  The family really loved Jamaica and definitely want to return.

Travel Tip

Some great tips from the National Parks Conservation Association for exploring our national parks with your children:

We go to the parks to feel small again. These are places of enormous grandeur which fill us with wonder and remind us that we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves. And so we are drawn, year after year, to the rim of the Grand Canyon, the floor of Yosemite Valley, the base of Denali, and we measure ourselves against those expanses.

But what about those of us who are small?

For children, the most meaningful interactions with the natural world are hands-on, and they often happen on a smaller, more intimate scale. While we might marvel at a massive rock formation, a giant sequoia, or a vast sweep of seashore, a child might be captivated by an individual stone or leaf, or the tiny life to be found in a tide pool.

Our national parks—from the wilderness parks that span millions of acres to the urban parks in the backyards of millions of Americans—are incomparable places for fostering and affirming  the vital connection between children and nature. Simply by remembering that children perceive the natural world on a different scale and explore it at a different pace, we can make their experiences more enjoyable and rewarding.

1. Keep it simple
For each step that you take, a child might require two just to keep up. Remember to move at a kid-friendly pace, with frequent breaks for resting and refueling. Resist creating an ambitious itinerary in favor of keeping one goal at a time—and rather than making a beeline to your endpoint, try to choose trails and paths that offer a variety of natural features and points of interest along the way.

2. Keep it flexible
Because the destinations themselves can be so incredible, it’s easy to focus on simply reaching them. For children, however, curiosity is the greatest guide and each step along the way is part of the adventure. When possible, let children lead the way and remain patient with frequent stops to investigate new discoveries. Stumbling upon interesting insects, unusual rocks, and unexpected animal tracks all are rewards unto themselves.

3. Keep it positive
The parks are wonderful learning environments, and that learning is often preceded by a sense of wonder. Keep your eyes and mind wide open and you might experience the same joys as the children in your care—or at least enjoy them seeing things for the first time. Discoveries are waiting to be made in even the most familiar settings, which change with the seasons, the weather, even the time of day. Remember, too, that for children, repetition can be a prerequisite to mastery. Be patient if their adventures take them along the same paths to explore the same settings, and try to see the extraordinary in the commonplace. At first glance, the leaves of a tree might seem unremarkable, but they are a marvel of colors, shapes, textures, and patterns worth investigating—even of mysteries to solve. (Why, for example, are the leaves on the lowest branches of a tree larger than those at the top?) Share your knowledge, but remember that showing often beats telling, and that discovering together can be one of the most effective ways of teaching.

4. Keep it safe
Equip children properly for whatever environments you will encounter, paying special attention to having the right footwear and breathable layers that can be added or shed as body temperatures fluctuate. Pack sunscreen and hats for protection from the sun’s rays and be sure to have plenty of water on hand to avoid dehydration—as a rule of thumb, divide a child’s weight by two for a quick estimate of his or her minimum daily water needs, in ounces. Stick to established trails to reduce exposure to possible hazards like ticks and poison ivy, and to steer clear of potential falls or injuries.

5. Keep it stress-free
There’s something about the parks that fuels our sense of adventure, but a visit with children is probably not the best time to be blazing new trails or exploring unfamiliar backcountry. Know where you’re going–and make sure others know where you’re going as well. Avoid the possibility of becoming lost by choosing reasonable trails and having good maps; a mobile phone with GPS is a useful safety net. Empower children by letting them use trail maps and spot the blazes and markers that define the trail. Consult park rangers and staff for advice on family-friendly trails, and to learn about activities and programs tailored to young visitors.

Trip Review

The Berkowitz family from Bala Cynwyd, PA (2 adults, their daughter, age 17 and her friend, also 17) traveled to Switzerland over spring break.   The family stayed at the lakefront Four Seasons des Bergues in Geneva where they found impeccable service.  This landmark hotel was the first in Geneva; built in 1834.  A fondue dinner was a fitting start to their vacation.  The next day they rented a car (with GPS which the hotel happily programmed for them in English) and headed to Annecy, France for a day trip. It is just an hour from Geneva.  This charming town, called the Venice of France, has many canals, old world charm and a 14^th century chateau to explore.  They rented a boat to tour the town by lake, then by foot with a tasty picnic lunch by one of the canals.  The following day they drove around Lake Geneva (the northern route) on their way to Lucerne stopping in quaint towns along the way.  Their favorite stop was in Morges, where Audrey Hepburn spent the last 30 years of her life.  The family walked around town and stumbled onto a street festival where they witnessed the local flavor and culture.  At the end of the street fair was an animal rescue tent where they got to play with cuddly St. Bernards, the unofficial dog of the Alps.  In Lucerne they stayed at the Grand Hotel; another lovely experience.  Their spacious rooms provided spectacular mountain and lake views.  Wondering around Lucerne was fun with friendly and accommodating people everywhere they went.  They took a day trip to Mt. Pilatus via gondola (the cog wheel train only runs May-November) and had a nice lunch while enjoying the breathtaking scenery.  On this mountain, families can enjoy great hiking, the longest summer toboggan track, rock climbing and the biggest suspension rope park in the region.  The family departed Switzerland from Zurich where they spent the night at the Movenpik at the airport.  Another wonderful hotel experience.  Overall it was a great trip filled with amazing scenery, wonderful hotels, excellent food and lovely towns and cities.

Trip Review

Lauren’s family of four (with two teens) traveled to New Orleans for a spring break getaway.  We picked this unique city for its interesting history and culture, fabulous food, great array of hotel options and to learn more about the affects of Hurricane Katrina and what has transpired since the horrific disaster in 2005.  We stayed at the lovely Omni Royal Crescent ideally located just a few blocks from the French Quarter and Warehouse District.  This helped ensure a quiet place to sleep at night.  We appreciated the boutique feel of the hotel, helpful and friendly staff, fun restaurant, small gym and jacuzzi as well as free internet and morning beverages delivered to the room as members of their frequent stay program.  We didn’t appreciate the soft beds.  We enjoyed a variety of experiences in New Orleans including a visit to Mardi Gras World to see how many of the parade floats are made, the Audubon Zoo and a City/Katrina van tour which unfortunately was arduous and rather boring although chock full of interesting history and views of the reconstruction in a variety of neighborhoods.  The tour did stop at beautiful city park where we were able to sample yummy beignets.  We also rode the St. Charles Street car through the Garden District and visited cousins Uptown who attend Tulane University.  Our meals were certainly a highlight and included Domenica, GW Fins, Palace Cafe, Camelia Grill and the American Sector at the WWII History Museum.  Overall a nice trip with enough variety for a lovely few days.

Travel Tip

Air line tickets are much more complicated than just finding the best fare.  The Family Traveler is often helping you with travel delays, seats and baggage issues.  Here are some great tips to share:

FLIGHT DELAYS

-Are there long lines at the customer service counter and long hold times for the airline’s reservations number after your flight is delayed?  Try calling one of the airline’s overseas numbers.  You’ll pay long-distance rates, but might not have to wait.

— Consider buying a one-day pass to the airline lounge. For one thing, there are usually free drinks and light snacks. But the real secret to the lounges is that the airline staffs them with some of its best — and friendliest — ticket agents. The lines are shorter and these agents are magically able to find empty seats. One-day passes typically cost $50.

SEATS

— Set up alerts for seat openings. ExpertFlyer.com offers free notifications when a window or aisle seat becomes vacant. For 99 cents, it sends an email if adjacent seats become available.

— Check the airline’s website five days before the trip. That’s when some elite fliers are upgraded to first class, freeing up their coach seats. Another wave of upgrades occurs every 24 to 48 hours.

— Check in 24 hours in advance, when airlines start releasing more seats. If connecting, check for open seats 24 hours before the second flight departs.

— Keep looking. Even after checking in, seats can be changed at airport kiosks and on some airlines’ mobile applications.

LUGGAGE

— Weigh a bag at home first. Anything over 50 pounds (40 pounds on some airlines like Spirit) will generate a hefty overweight surcharge — typically $100 — in addition to the typical $25 checked bag fee.

— Before your bag disappears behind the ticket counter make sure the airline’s tag has your name, flight number and final destination. As a precaution, place a copy of your flight itinerary inside your suitcase with your cellphone number and the name of your hotel.

— You could be asked to check your carry-on bag, given today’s crowded overhead bins. Pack a small canvas bag inside the carry-on. Use that to hold onto your valuables if you have to check the carry-on.