A&K Alaska Savings

Embark on an unforgettable eight-day adventure with Abercrombie & Kent’s Luxury Small Group Journeys: Family Alaska 2025. Perfect for families with children aged six and older, this immersive tour showcases Alaska’s awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich culture, all while providing a personalized experience with a maximum group size of just 24 guests.  Book by the end of March and save $1,000 per person! Families traveling with children aged 17 and under will enjoy an additional $500 off per child.  This land-based journey runs from June through August, offering the perfect summer escape to one of America’s most breathtaking destinations.

Tour Highlights:

• Anchorage: Begin your Alaskan adventure in the state’s vibrant cultural hub.
• Kenai Peninsula: Glide through stunning scenery on a scenic float trip.
• Prince William Sound: Marvel at glaciers and wildlife during a captivating cruise.
• Bear Country Exploration: Experience the thrill of observing Alaska’s iconic wildlife in its natural habitat.
• Dog Kennel Visit and Glacier Walk: Discover the world of Alaskan sled dogs and walk atop ancient icefields.
• Denali National Park: Immerse yourself in the wilderness with opportunities for kayaking, hiking, and breathtaking views of North America’s tallest peak.

The family-focused journey blends adventure, education, and relaxation, creating cherished memories for all ages. Whether you’re traveling with children, as a multi-generational group, or planning a special getaway for grandparents and grandchildren, this tour offers an ideal Alaska experience.

Half Price for Children on Star Clipper

If you’re searching for a unique sailing experience look no further than a tall sailing ship vacation. Star Clippers offers an extraordinary opportunity for families to explore the world’s most beautiful destinations and through March 11, 2026, children under age 18 can sail for half price on select Caribbean and Costa Rica & Panama voyages. The Caribbean’s turquoise waters and pristine beaches are perfect for adventurous families, with activities like catamaran rides in the Tobago Cays, thrilling jeep tours in St. Lucia, and clear-bottom kayaking in Les Saintes in Guadeloupe. For families who love nature, the Costa Rica & Panama sailings are unmatched, showcasing over 500,000 species of flora and fauna and more than 13,000 square miles of protected land. Highlights include exploring the lush Manuel Antonio National Park, zip-lining through Bahia Potrero’s verdant forests, and white-water rafting on the Corobici River.

Star Clippers’ fleet features the elegant twin clipper ships, Star Clipper and Star Flyer, accommodating 166 guests each, along with the magnificent Royal Clipper, which hosts up to 227 guests. These ships combine classic maritime charm with modern comforts, creating a truly unique sailing experience. Eco-conscious families will also appreciate that Star Clippers harness wind propulsion as their primary energy source—abundant, sustainable, and emission-free. Whether your family is seeking tropical adventure or immersive natural exploration, a journey with Star Clippers promises memories to last a lifetime.

Puerto Rico Luxury Retreat

Indulge in the Reserve Residence Retreat package at The Residence at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve through June 30, 2025. Experience unmatched luxury with stunning ocean views and exclusive package amenities, including:

• One-Time Private Dining Experience: Choose from four curated menus—Puerto Rican Taste, BBQ Casual Feast, Mexican Flavors, Italian Dolce Vita, or Taste of Peru.
• Virtuoso Benefits: Enjoy an upgrade (if available), a $100 resort credit, and early check-in or late check-out (if available).
• Daily Breakfast served in your villa.
• Welcome Cocktail upon arrival.
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers with First Class service.
• Dedicated Golf Cart and bicycles for exploring the resort.
• Personalized Embajador(a) Butler Service.
• One-Time 2-Hour Program for each family member at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Learning Center.

This offer requires a minimum two-night stay, making it perfect for a quick weekend escape.

Nestled across 50 lush acres with a mile of pristine beach, this luxury resort features 96 oceanfront guest rooms and 14 private residences (ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms). You can enjoy multiple pools and waterparks, spa, a variety of dining options, two golf courses, nature trails and nature programs, children and teen programs and a sports center with tennis, pickleball, basketball, and soccer.

Intrepid Travel’s New Family Destinations

Intrepid Travel has just rolled out two amazing and new family tours, both culturally rich and budget-friendly. These small group adventures are capped at only 16 guests:

Finland Family Holiday
Imagine taking your family on a six-day journey to a true winter wonderland in Finnish Lapland. It all kicks off in Helsinki with a visit to the interactive Heureka Finnish Science Center. From there, board the Santa Claus Express overnight train to Rovaniemi – the official hometown of Santa Claus! Your children can meet Santa himself before you head into the snowy wilderness for three nights. You’ll explore the frosted forests with huskies, visit a reindeer farm, and warm up around the fire with hot berry juice. And if that’s not magical enough, there’s a chance to catch the northern lights in winter! This adventure is designed for children aged five and up, running from July through October, December in 2025, and also spring 2026.

Southern Thailand Family Holiday
This eight-day trip showcases the best of southern Thailand’s beaches, nature, and culture. Start with the stunning shores of Phuket, then venture into the lush wilderness of Khao Sok National Park. Here, you’ll cruise across Cheow Lan Lake in a longtail boat and enjoy lunch at a raft house. Next, experience authentic local life with a homestay in Phrom Lok District, where you’ll share home-cooked meals and learn traditional painting techniques from local families. Wrap up your adventure with a day in Krabi, where you can relax, snorkel, rock climb, or hop between islands. Finally, head back to Phuket for some final moments in paradise. Perfect for families with children aged five and up, this tour is available in April, July through September, December in 2025, and January 2026.

These trips are ideal for creating unforgettable memories, ease of travel and very well priced.

Trip Review: Mother/Daughter Down Under Adventure

The Wexler Family, a mother-daughter duo from Novi, MI, recently embarked on an incredible journey through Sydney, Australia, and both islands of New Zealand this fall, with a custom tour package curated by The Family Traveler.

Racheal, who had just finished a study abroad program on Australia’s Gold Coast, reunited with her mom, Karen, for a 4-night stay in Sydney at the InterContinental. They loved the hotel’s prime location and their beautiful room, which overlooked the gardens with a small view of the Opera House. Virtuoso perks like daily breakfast were a bonus! One highlight of their stay was a full-day small group tour to the Blue Mountains, complete with breathtaking views at Scenic World, up-close animal encounters at Featherdale Wildlife Park, and a relaxing ferry ride back along the Parramatta River.

From Sydney, they flew to Queenstown, New Zealand, where they spent three nights at the Heritage Queenstown. Queenstown stole their hearts—it’s easy to see why with stunning views of snowcapped mountains and Lake Wakatipu right from their room. Their steamboat dinner cruise that went right by their hotel to Walter Peak High Country Farm was a standout experience, featuring a delicious farm-to-table meal and a chance to see the farm in action. Unfortunately, a planned flight to Milford Sound was grounded due to weather, but they made the best of their time in Queenstown.

Next up was Christchurch, reached via a scenic bus tour through Mt. Cook. While weather conditions including snow rerouted their journey, the refunds were handled smoothly. They enjoyed a 2-night stay at the Crowne Plaza, complete with another great breakfast. A highlight was exploring the Riverside Markets, and sharing their hotel with the New Zealand rugby team made watching the All Blacks’ game at the bar even more exciting.

In Rotorua, they stayed at the Regent Hotel for two nights, a cozy spot near Eat Street which showcased plenty of dining options. They enjoyed exploring geothermal parks and thermal hot pools on a small group tour. That evening, they attended a Māori dinner and cultural performance—a memorable experience filled with songs, dances, and traditions that deepened their appreciation for local indigenous customs.

For their final leg, they used Day Trip for a drive from Rotorua to Auckland, making a stop at Hobbiton along the way. Despite its touristy vibe, they enjoyed exploring the iconic film set from The Lord of the Rings. Their last three nights were spent at the Cordis in Auckland, a lovely hotel located atop the hill from the marina. During their stay, they took two small group tours: a morning city walking tour and an afternoon rainforest and beach excursion. They noted that a longer hike would have made the latter tour even better.

Overall, it was a packed itinerary, but the Wexlers felt that the excursions were perfectly timed to maximize their experience. It was a memorable adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, unique cultural experiences, and lots of quality mother-daughter time.

Travel Tip: TSA Wait Times

Don’t forget to download the The MyTSA app before your next trip to provide information on wait times at airports and border crossings.  You can also reconfirm what items can be brought through security and review other tips for travelers from TSA.  When driving across borders, the CBP Border Wait Times (BWT) app shows estimated wait times for crossing the U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico land borders. These are updated hourly and listed for commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and pedestrians.