Trip Review: An Atelier Experience

Lauren and her husband traveled to the Atelier Playa Mujeres earlier this month for a birthday celebration. This resort is available for families with children ages 16 and older…an ideal and very popular option for our families with older teens and young adults. The resort is a 45-minute ride north of the Cancun airport and showcases 593 suites. We loved the “nature meets industrial” design of the resort with the low-lying jungle mostly left intact, lots of greenery, and a Blue Flag-accredited beach that incorporates education, the environment, and cleanliness into keeping the beach naturally intact (a few bushes here and there). The beach also has netting to catch the seagrass and you can walk for a while in both directions. Our oceanview junior suite was located on the top floor with expansive views of the sea, jungle, pool, and golf course. The spacious room had a bathroom that can be left open (but still a private toilet area) or it can be completely closed off. Rooms have a king or two queen beds plus a sofabed. Another reason this resort is ideal for our older families! There are plenty of themed restaurant options. Dinner reservations can be made up to three days in advance at kiosks located throughout the resort. Plus an extensive room service menu.  When we didn’t see a restaurant that we would enjoy, we just kept checking back until we did! Mostly excellent meals with plenty of fresh ingredients and always being asked by the friendly waiters about any special food needs. There is also a spacious spa, an excellent gym with fitness programs, fun daily activities including bike tours, kayak tours, and art classes, a few watersports (the water was a bit rough when we were there), golf, evening shows, wine and cheese presentations that are nice before dinner, a main pool, quiet pool and plenty of comfortable loungers at the pools and beach. The Inspira club level offers added amenities and services including a special check-in lounge, lobster on the room service menu, a round of golf, access to the gourmet restaurant that otherwise is an added cost, two club-level pools (an infinity pool on the roof and an oceanfront pool), and more.  Overall the staff went out of their way to show their appreciation and offered top-level service. A relaxing and enjoyable experience!

Trip Review: Multi-Gen Fun at Club Med

The Rabson/Wolf Family with 3 generations (ages 16-82) traveled from Boston to Cancun over the winter break to Club Med Cancun. They loved their stay last winter at Club Med Punta Cana and wanted to have another great experience…this trip exceeded that! Their superior rooms were not as updated and spacious as in Punta Cana (this club does have larger and more updated rooming and suite options), but comfortable and clean and ideally located in the middle of this long property as we requested through our Club Med representatives with a ground floor for the grandparents. They could easily go back to the room during the day as needed. The family let us know that young and old had a fabulous time keeping busy and active on this vacation! Many of them took tennis lessons and participated in the weekly tennis tournament. They all tried pickleball, which was fun. There was also beach volleyball, archery, watersports, ping pong, water aerobics, line dancing, yoga, power walks, and of course the midday events such as the color and foam parties on the beach which showcases Club Med at its finest. They all participated in the coffee games such as trivia where they crushed the competition. They were so active that at the end of the week, most of them were given special participation awards!! They let us know that the food was quite good overall and especially easier for the gluten-free family members compared to Punta Cana because so much of the Mexican food is corn-based. This family loves interacting with the GOs (resort staff) and they were outstanding and exemplified the Club Med spirit. The family also loved that the resort is a safe space for the teens to have a ton of freedom. The teen and young adults in the group really enjoyed the evening dance parties! Overall they had an awesome time and appreciate Club Med’s overall congeniality and abundance of activities, food, and entertainment.

Trip Review: Thanksgiving in Portugal

The Shumskas Family of Fountainville, PA (2 adults and 2 teens aged 19 and 13) traveled to Portugal for the week of Thanksgiving. Their trip began in Porto with a 3-night stay at the charming PortoBay Flores, a new 5-star hotel in the historic city center located on a pedestrian-only street. The hotel is housed in a 16th-century palace along with a newly built wing that blends the old and new with 66 rooms and suites, an 18th-century chapel, and a lovely patio. The Shumskas parents enjoyed being able to go down to the bar and hang out without the children and let us know that the breakfast (which was included in their rate) was super! On their first full day, the family got to know Porto with a privately guided four-hour walking tour. Highlights of the city included amazing views from the Serra Pilar Monastery terrace, the Dom Luis I Bridge, the tile work at the Sao Bento train station, the Lello bookstore (the inspiration for Harry Potter), the river bank, Cathedral Se XII, Clerigos Tower and more. In the afternoon the family experienced a hands-on tile workshop at Gazete Azulejos, a tile painting atelier that researches, promotes, and preserves the Portuguese tiles used to decorate buildings. The family said the experience was really fun and interesting. Their guide for the walking tour also drove them from Porto to Lisbon with stops on the way in Coimbra to see the famous Joanine Library at the university, Nazare, and Obidos where they visited Casa das Senhoras Rainhas and castle.  They enjoyed talking with their guide about life in Portugal and recent politics.  In Lisbon, the family stayed for 4-nights in a spacious 2-bedroom apartment with a kitchen at Flora Chiado. Located in the heart of the charming Chiado district, there are just 10 apartments in total. They appreciated the delivery of fresh bread in the morning and found the staff to be super helpful and friendly. On their first full day in Lisbon, a 3-hour walking tour gave them a great city orientation. It started at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint – one of the most breathtaking views of the city. The tour included a stroll through the Bairro Alto and Alfama neighborhoods, a stop by the Igreja de Sao Roque church, Lisbon Cathedral, and the Bertrand bookshop (the world’s oldest!) along with the St. Justa elevator. The following day they spent exploring the exotic Quinta da Regaleira palace in Sintra with a stop at the Cabo de Rocha Lighthouse and the beach town of Cascais with a private guide. A new dietary restriction for one of the family members made it slightly more challenging to eat out, but they said everywhere they ate was lovely and tasty.  Overall a slightly wet, but wonderful trip to Portugal!

Trip Review: Thanksgiving in Cabo

Mindy and her family (parents and two young adults) traveled to Cabo to relax and celebrate Thanksgiving. They stayed at the all-inclusive Paradisus Los Cabos which is located along the corridor between the towns of Los Cabos and San Jose del Cabo. This Leading Hotels of the World property has 305 rooms and suites, a wide and swimmable beach (rare in this area), an expansive beachfront pool, spa, gym, children’s program, daily activities, evening shows, and lots of dining options (a festive Thanksgiving meal included!).  Mindy’s family stayed in the club-level Reserve section with a dedicated concierge who tended to their every need.  This section also has a quiet and adult-only pool and a dedicated section of the beach with added service levels.  Mindy and her daughter also enjoyed some pampering at the spa and the family got the unique opportunity to see the annual sea turtle release.  The weather was perfect with 80 degrees and sunny every day.  Off the resort, they took a private pontoon boat and snorkel excursion with La Isla Tours from Cabo San Lucas. They enjoyed seeing the area highlights and wildlife (including whales and seals) while boating around the Sea of Cortez where it meets the Pacific Ocean.  Unfortunately, the snorkeling wasn’t that great next to Pelican rock, but the sunset was!  Another trip highlight was a cooking class at Metate Cabo, a Cabo San Lucas restaurant, where they had a tour of the restaurant’s herb and vegetable garden and then made salsa and pressed handmade tortillas for quesadillas for a special dinner with dessert and drinks included.  They loved the festive atmosphere and being outside under the night sky. Overall the trip was super relaxing, great family time, and a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving!

Travel Review: A European Journey

Lauren and her husband Evan traveled to Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam this month, a historical and culturally filled experience.  We started the trip in Berlin.  We enjoyed a fun bike tour with Fattire Tours to see the city’s highlights.  Our history student guide from the UK was terrific and it was easy to maneuver bikes through this rather quiet city.  Other Berlin experiences included wandering through the lovely Tiergarten Park which is laced with canals; visiting the Charlottenburg Palace with an audio tour and admiring the palace’s extensive gardens and meandering through the city’s various neighborhoods.  We stayed in the quiet Charlottenburg neighborhood near the Berlin Zoo at the Hotel am Steinplatz.  This Marriott hotel is located in a gorgeous art deco building.  The staff was super helpful and our quiet room was nicely accommodated with views of the inner courtyard.  The hotel offers a nice restaurant, a full-service spa, and a decent gym as well.  We used My Day Trip to travel by car with a private driver from Berlin to Prague stopping in Meissen and Dresden on the way.  Both cities are located in Saxony, have rich histories, castles, churches, and more, and both are situated along the Elbe River.  Meissen is best known for its porcelain factory and we had the opportunity to see how its made by visiting different crafters for each step of the process.  There is also an extensive museum of all of their handmade wares.  Quite impressive!  The city of Dresden is well known for its WWII destruction.  Much of the city has been restored including the impressive Frauenkirche Church.  We walked around the city and saw much of its impressive architecture including museums, churches, horse stables, tile art, and public squares.  There was a busy fall festival in the main square that offered ample opportunity to try this region’s most popular foods and treats.  Our extended stay in Prague (where Lauren’s daughter lives and works) was at the Mamaison Residence Downtown.  It is an apartment hotel in the New Town close to the national museum but within easy reach of the Old Town.  Our one-bedroom apartment in the new and modern section of the hotel had a spacious living area, balconies, and a fully stocked kitchen with a dishwasher and a washing machine.  Rates at the hotel include an ample buffet breakfast and there is a large game room, spa, and a small gym.  This was our second visit to Prague, but we still were able to find plenty of new experiences in this historic city.  We explored the National Museum, the Communist Museum, and the Straha Monastery.  We loved the amazing city views we got from climbing to the top of the Petrin Tower, experiencing a high-tech light show festival that took place around the city, seeing the opera Tosca at the gorgeous State Opera House, attending Yom Kipper services at the Jerusalem synagogue, and took a group tour of the city’s Jewish Quarter that we missed the first time due to holiday closures.  We ventured outside the city with a group tour to see the horrors of the Terezin Concentration/Labor/Ghetto Camp and took the train for the day to the town of Pilsen best known for its beer.  We toured the Pilsen Urquell beer factory and also took a tour of the extensive underground level of the city which was used for food, beer, security, and other storage needs.  Our last stop was in Amsterdam with Lauren’s daughter and friend in tow. Unfortunately, the city was packed with tourists during an autumn break school week in Europe.  We did our best to avoid the high tourist areas as much as possible venturing into the more residential areas for dining, shopping, and exploring.  Highlights of our Amsterdam experience included the Anne Frank House, a canal boat ride, the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt’s House, Waterlooplein flea market and not getting hit by a bike!  We stayed at the boutique-style Ink Hotel, an MGallery hotel.  A former newspaper building uses the writing theme nicely throughout the hotel.  The rooms were very quiet and the staff are very friendly and helpful.  Overall a wonderful trip!

Trip Review: Israel Bus Tour

The Travisano Family (2 adults and their daughter, age 22) traveled to Israel in late June through early July to visit their son who was taking part in an Onward program in Tel Aviv.  Their trip began with an expedited VIP arrival service at the airport.  Their first three independent nights in Tel Aviv were spent at the Metropolitan Hotel, just two blocks from the beach.  The hotel upgraded them to a 1-Bedroom Suite….they were thrilled!  While in Tel Aviv they went to the beach, relaxed at the hotel pool, did an amazing graffiti tour, went to the street market, and more. Then they began a 7-night group bus tour organized through Gray Line.  This Israel highlight tour was geared toward all religions and the family thought that the tour was fantastic.  There were people of all ages and they met lots of nice families.  The tour started with 29 and ended with 13 people (as this tour can begin in different cities).  They also said that their tour guides were excellent, stuck to the schedule, and were so knowledgeable.  They had a great bus driver as well.  The first tour stop took them south to the Negev Desert including Masada where they took the cable car to the top and then for a float in the Dead Sea.  Onward to Jerusalem for a 3-night stay at the Grand Court Hotel.  They enjoyed the location and expansive breakfast buffet.  In The Holy City, they visited the Israel Museum, Ein Karem, Yad Vashem, and Bethelem one day and the Old City, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, and the Mahane Yehuda Market the next. Upon leaving Jerusalem, they drove east to Jericho before heading north to Galilee to Beit Shean, Nazareth, and Safed.  They spent the next two nights at a Hagroshim, a kibbutz guesthouse.  They found the hotel to be very nice and modern with great food.  The next day was spent exploring the Golan Heights, a winery, and the Sea of Galilee highlights including Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Tiberias.  On the way back to Tel Aviv they drove down the Mediterranean coast and saw Acre, Haifa, and Caesarea. The tour ended with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa.  Overnight in Tel Aviv completed this tour experience.  They gave a special shoutout to the tour company for handling their food allergies but found that lunch was very similar day to day (which is fairly normal for a bus tour trying to feed large numbers efficiently and meet everyone’s dietary needs).  Overall this was a cost-efficient and effective way to experience the best of the Holyland.

Trip Review: Iceland Adventure

The Negrin Family of New York took a last-minute father/daughter getaway to Iceland earlier this month. They started their six-night trip with a stay at the lovely Edition hotel in Reykjavik and spent their first day in Iceland relaxing at the Sky Lagoon, a newish thermal bath just outside the city. They said the experience was awesome and a relaxing way to start their adventure.  They appreciated the well-organized operation, in-lagoon bar, and wonderful ocean views. For the next few days, they took several day tours and one overnight tour with Arctic Adventures to see the South Coast, then to the northwest and around the Golden Circle. They found the tours to be well organized with knowledgeable drivers and guides but didn’t love all the long drives involved. Their tour hotel for several nights, Reykjavik Lights, was pretty basic with small rooms to match this last-minute, budget-priced package. They were able to visit a variety of natural landscapes such as waterfalls, geysers, black beaches, natural thermal baths, lava fields, and more, and also explored the unique nature with an amphibian lagoon tour and ice cave experience. Stops included Jokulsarlon, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, Vatnajokull National Park, Snaefellsnes, and Kirkjufell. A trip highlight was a 10-mile hike around the newly activated Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, not far from the airport. The volcano erupted the day they arrived (and has actually just gone dormant!). Their self-guided hike took a total of 5 1/2 hours with rocky terrain and steep slopes but was such a unique and worthwhile experience. Their favorite Reykjavik dining experiences were at ROK Restaurant, Sushi Social and morning runs to Kaffibrennslan. Overall a fun and memorable visit. You can see more amazing Iceland photos at http://izzinegrin.com/iceland.

Trip Review: Montauk Renewed

Lauren and her husband traveled this month to Montauk, New York for special birthday celebrations!  Located at the tip of Long Island, this upscale, but laid-back town began welcoming tourists in the 1920s.  It’s known for beautiful beaches, state parks, restaurants, a lighthouse, and great surfing. Many of its oceanfront hotels have been going through recent transformations including where we stayed at Marram. The family-friendly hotel, which sits above the beach with expansive ocean views, opened in 2019 with a new youthful, and zen vibe. Soothing rooms are decorated in only cream, brown, and beige with a king bed plus a day bed that sleeps up to three people or two queen beds for up to four. Suites are also available and have a separate living area with a day bed, breakfast nook, and a wet bar and sleep up to four. There are no TVs (or phones) in the rooms, but streaming movies at night on the laptop was just as nice. The hotel offers a free and unlimited minibar with water, drinks, and snacks that we also stocked with other food and leftovers. There are also daily activities such as yoga, wellness, and meditation classes; daily evening s’mores at their multiple firepits; free bike rentals; beach chair staff; pool, and surfing lessons as well as a top-quality restaurant and bar. Plenty of areas to lounge around the property both indoors and out including areas stocked with family games and books. The resort is walkable to the main part of town with tons of shops, restaurants, and more. One hotel parking spot is included. We really loved our stay (especially for Lauren’s husband who used to stay at the resort’s previous version for many surf getaways).  Overall a welcoming and relaxing spot to enjoy with the entire family or as a couples getaway.

Trip Review: A California Adventure

The Family Traveler’s Jen, her husband, and their 16-year-old twins (girl and boy) from Philadelphia went to California over spring break for 10 days and the trip did not disappoint!  They were looking to do something different than a typical beach holiday and wanted to explore and add some sense of history, culture, and geography to their trip, but still have some time in the sun and hit the hot spots.  They flew non-stop to San Francisco, stayed with family and picked up a rental car in town. Three busy days were spent in and around San Francisco visiting all the top tourist spots and some of the more obscure ones.  In particular, they loved Muir Wood, riding the cable car, exploring Pier 39 and watching the sea lions, and running the Golden Gate Bridge.  Their tour of Alcatraz was also really interesting.  In addition, they had wonderful meals, including authentic dim sum, deliciously fresh seafood, and sushi.  They explored many different neighborhoods going up, down, and around the steep and windy streets that bisect the city.  San Francisco is a fun place to drive through not so fun to find a parking spot! They left the Bay Area and drove south to Monterey. The drive is spectacular and they were charmed by Carmel-by-the-Sea.  From there they hopped on the Pacific Coast Highway.  Initially, they were not sure that spending over a day in the car driving the PCH was a good use of their precious vacation time and they wondered if their teens would be bored.  It turned out to be a highlight of the trip.  No wi-fi, no radio stations, just the most amazing views over cliffs at every turn and places to stop for photos and to see animals frolicking by the coast.  It is not a drive for the faint of heart and the children loved it.  Overnight in San Luis Obispo was at a La Quinta and then onward to Los Angeles. Their stay in Santa Monica at Le Merigot – a JW Marriott Hotel was chosen due to its relatively central location and proximity to the beach.  They took two rooms and especially enjoyed the hotel’s amazing valet service, pool, and vibrant lobby bar. Determined to see everything they could in LA, they almost succeeded.  They spent a day in Anaheim at Disneyland, toured UCLA, drove out to Malibu and lunched at Malibu Farms, and took the tour at Warner Brothers Studios.  They weren’t sure they wanted to take one of those “cheesy” Hollywood bus tours, but they succumbed and it was great.  The allure is in the stories the tour guide tells. The commentary was polished and hilarious, providing the family with a lifetime of family jokes.  Splurging on some over-the-top LA restaurants including Katsuya and Ivy proved definitely worthwhile, but they also ate at a few fast food options not available on the east coast.  They also walked Venice Beach and watched the skateboarders and weightlifters, did some mother/daughter shopping, and went south to Redondo Beach and swam in the Pacific Ocean.  Overall a wonderful California vacation with two teens who were happy to be traveling and were up for anything!

Trip Review: Punta Cana Experience

Lauren and her husband Evan traveled to Punta Cana earlier this month and stayed at both the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara and the new Finest Punta Cana. The Hyatt is one of The Family Traveler’s most popular Dominican Republic resort. This modern and upscale all-inclusive opened in late 2019 and is in the Cap Cana development just 15 minutes from the airport. The resort features two sections: the family-friendly Ziva and the adult-only Zilara. Adults have full access to both sides of the resort. Each side has its own lobby, large pools, and club lounges. The club level also has its own pool on each side of the resort which is a nice perk during peak occupancy. The center of the property features a shared theater for evening shows, a large sports bar, and a huge fitness facility. The gym has a variety of daily classes and separate rooms for cardio, fitness classes, spinning room, functional fitness, and weight training along with areas for stretching, boxing, and more! Behind the Ziva is a spacious and enclosed water slide and water play area staffed by several lifeguards along with food trucks for drinks and snacks and plenty of lounge chairs and shade. Nearby are the kids and teen clubs with supervised programming throughout the day and evening. There is also a rooftop sports court for basketball, pickleball, and tennis. The resort’s food is excellent with a large buffet and several specialty restaurants on each side of the resort. Adults have full access to all restaurants (depending on occupancy levels). The resort’s beach is long and wide with plenty of chairs, shade, and watersports. Lauren stayed in a club-level oceanfront junior suite on the Zilara side that includes a private butler service (that was not really used). Other than the tricky lighting system, the room and bathroom were large and comfortable with awesome water views. Overall Lauren appreciated the high quality of service and how appreciative the staff was to have return guests. 

Finest Punta Cana also proved to be a quality vacation experience.  The fresh and modern family resort opened just last year. This property is located 45 minutes north of the airport in Uvero Alto. It features several pools with fun water play areas, a playground, tennis court, sports court, and pickleball along with a large, supervised kids club compound with additional water play areas and waterslides. The beach is nice and wide, but the water here can be a little rough. Water sports equipment is still available when the sea cooperates. There was also nightly entertainment in the covered theater and open plaza areas. The resort also showcases a family club-level section along with an adult-only club section located in their own buildings. We highly recommend the club level as this affords access to restaurants with higher quality food overall, a club lounge, and special areas at the beach with higher quality loungers. Lauren got an extra-long stay at Finest after testing positive for covid. The resort comped five extra nights in a quarantine room with all the room service she wanted!

This trip also included site visits to several other family-friendly properties: the brand-new Dreams Macao, Dreams Onyx, Dreams Royal Beach, and the new Margaritaville along with several adult-only resorts: Excellence Punta Cana, Excellence El Carmen, Secrets Cap Cana, and Secrets Royal Beach. The trip was a wonderful opportunity to check out new properties, see renovations and upgrades at existing resorts and establish relationships with resort staff.