Tauck Bridges Adds Japan

Japan is a travel hotspot! In 2025, Tauck Bridges is making it easier than ever to explore this unique island country with a new 10-day itinerary, “Journey Through Japan…A Family Adventure. The trip is chock full of cultural experiences and the some of the country’s top highlights. It begins with a three-night exploration of Japan’s capital of Tokyo. Your family will visit the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple and enjoy a rickshaw ride before learning the ways of the ninja.  Also visit the famous Ginza shopping district, Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Shrine, teamLab Planets interactive museum and also enjoy a sushi-making lunch. Then you will travel by high-speed bullet train to Hakone for a one-day stay, where your family will take a pirate boat cruise across Lake Ashi and a trip to the city’s Open-Air Museum. Hop on the bullet train again to Hiroshima for a two-night stay. Highlights include the city’s Peace Memorial Museum and Park, the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and a hands-on traditional okonomiyaki demonstration and dinner. The trip ends with a three-night stay in Kyoto.. Visit Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market and the city’s geisha district. Your family will have the chance to participate in several traditional Japanese cultural traditions, such as a formal tea ceremony, drumming and taking a calligraphy lesson.   

Welcome to Gleneagles

This winter, the iconic and historic Gleneagles resort in Scotland will be introducing an all-new and engaging Children’s Welcome Experience. Upon arrival, your children will receive their very own Gleneagles Adventure Guide to explore, participate in, and find adventures throughout the 850-acre estate.  Children will unlock clues that will lead them to different destinations across the estate to collect stamps for their “passport.”  When they collect all stamps, they will earn a completion patch or pin badge as well as surprise in-room gifts and a chance to collect Gleneagles activity merchandise. Special activities for ages 3-7 and 8-12 are available. But no matter your child’s age, there is something for everyone as the resort offers golf, falconry, off-road driving (even for children in child-sized vehicles), horseback riding, bike riding, dog training, tree climbing, archery, fly-fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting and more!  An array of family-sized accommodation options will afford everyone’s comfort.

Families on Safari

The Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa has a new Family Offer.  Take your family on a safari of a lifetime and one child stays for free!  One child up to age 11 years, traveling with one or more adults, can stay at Rock Lodge at no extra charge through May 31 and again from November 1-December 19.  You must book by May 1!  The rate includes a room or suite at the lodge, all meals including tailor-made child-friendly menus plus milk and cookies before bedtime, all drinks including a top-quality wine list and fine champagne for the adults, twice daily game drives, a daily walking safari (weather dependent), free mini-bar and children’s books, games, safari goodies, family activities, and a few more surprises! Children of all ages are welcome at Rock Lodge while children ages 12 years and older can stay at Safari Lodge. Note that children ages 6 years and up can join their parents on daily safaris.  There is also a dedicated Cub’s Club to keep your little ones fully entertained during your stay. As each cub is different, there are a range of great activities daily for children to choose from.  This offer can also be combined with ‘Free Night’ and ‘Winelands and Wildlife’ offers!

London Family Time

Through April 30th London’s Café Royal is offering a special package called It’s a Family Thing. Enjoy this luxury hotel’s interconnecting guestrooms with up to 50% savings on your second room for your children ages 12 and under. Choose from Grand Deluxe Rooms, Junior Suites, and Grand Junior Suites…all with butler services provided. The package also includes unlimited in-room movies with popcorn, games consoles, swimming pool access, complimentary meals for children under the age of five, or a 50% discount for children up to 12 years of age.  The indoor pool welcomes children ages 5-12 under the guidance of an adult with special family swimming hours.  If you stay in a suite, your family receives a private chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, Range Rover, or Mercedes-Benz for up to 10 hours per day, a perfect way to explore all of London’s famous sites, take in a West End show, peruse the local markets, play in the expansive parks and more.  For Signature Suites stays, instead of the chauffeur service, there is the option of a self-drive supercar. Choose from a Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Continental GTC, Porsche 911, or an Aston Martin DB11! Located at the corner of Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus, the hotel offers 160 rooms and suites.

New Family Journeys

GAdventures has added several new destinations for their 2024 National Geographic Family Journeys.  These small group tours have been crafted for families with children ages 7-17 and take advantage of National Geographic’s expertise in photography, storytelling, culture, history, wildlife, and geography.  Each exciting tour has two local guides specially trained to engage with young travelers, kid-friendly meal options and 100% guaranteed departures.  The additions are:

Southwest Family Journey: Sedona, Zion and the Grand Canyon: With towering cliffs, colorful canyons, mesmerizing buttes and mesas, this journey through the Southwest makes for an extraordinary family adventure. Explore some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, including the Grand Canyon, Montezuma Castle, Antelope Canyon and more.

Belize Family Journey: Rainforests, Beaches and Ancient Caves: With remarkable marine life, ruins and wildlife-packed jungles, Belize is the ultimate family travel destination.  This trip will have you immersed in the people, places and customs of this stunning country. Float on tubes through breathtaking cave systems, spot jaguars at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, discover the ancient Maya way of life and snorkel along vibrant coral reefs.

Greece Family Journey: Stories of the Past: Go back in time and explore thousands of years of history on this nine-day journey through Greece. Experience a time long ago with interactive visits to the Acropolis, the Pantheon Museum, and the Agora of Athens. Witness the past come to life with ancient games, treasure hunts and more fun for the whole family. Plus, enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the surrounding iconic villages.

Ireland Family Journey: Castles, Folklore & Gaelic Traditions: Embark on a truly unforgettable family journey in Ireland—a land steeped in tradition and folklore. Marvel at the scenic splendor that makes up the renowned green landscapes including the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Inisheer Island.

Exclusive London Virtuoso Offer

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London has added exclusive Virtuoso amenities through the end of the year.  Our families enjoy the hotel’s location in a quiet corner of Westminster near St. James Park…just a three-minute walk from Buckingham Palace.  Suites and residences feature up to six bedrooms and have fully equipped kitchens.  You also receive acclaimed butler service, can relax at their newly relaunched wellness center offering East-meets-West spa treatments, and have a choice of dining venues, including Michelin-starred Quilon, London’s most modern Indian restaurant. Virtuoso amenities include:

• Upgrade upon arrival, if available
• Early check-in and late checkout, if available
• Breakfast daily for two per bedroom
• $100 food and beverage credit, per stay
• 20% discount for all spa treatments
• One-way private airport transfer (with stays of four or more nights) 

A Roman Family Experience

Singer Palace in Rome has created The Family Experience which includes a room discount and a nice array of added amenities.  This 30-room boutique hotel has spacious and family-sized accommodations with several different room categories and one-bedroom suites that guarantee to connect through an alcove. These spacious combinations feature 2-3 bathrooms with up to 1,000 sq. ft.  Save up to 15% on your stay and also receive:

• Daily breakfast
• Complimentary meals are included for children under 3 years of age, a 50% discount for ages 4-12, and 25% off for teens ages 13-16
• Services, amenities, and comforts from the Singer Babies and Singer Kids offerings (bathrobes, books, baby needs, etc.)
• Welcome refreshments upon arrival
• Personalized check-in and concierge
• Homemade pastry and other delicious amenities upon arrival  
• Selection of mineral still and sparkling water  
• Suites also receive a bottle of Prosecco and seasonal fruits  

This upscale hotel is a beautiful example of an early-20th-century Art Deco palace and showcases a two-level rooftop terrace restaurant. The building, designed by architect Mario Loreti, opened in 1930 as the Italian headquarters for Singer, the sewing machine company.  It is located on a side street off Via del Corso, close to Piazza Venezia. This promotion requires a minimum 2-night stay, and some blackout dates apply.  

New From Backroads

Backroads is launching a new set of tours focused on families with teenagers and twentysomethings called Dolce Tempo Easygoing Family Trips. Some of these trips are for ages 17 and older while others are for 20+. These trips run at a slower pace with added downtime to enjoy the pool, explore a quaint town, and engage a bit more in each destination you visit with activities specifically designed for these age groups.  Backroads launched Dolce Tempo Easygoing Active adventures with e-bike, walking, and multi-adventure tours back in 2020 and they were a hit. Since its debut, the company has expanded to more locations across the globe as well as active ocean and river cruises. The trips have been popular with guests of all ages looking to pair the benefits of a resort stay with immersive and active experiences. New walking tours for families with older teens and young adults are now available in Spain on the Camino de Santiago, Yosemite, and Cinque Terre/Tuscany. New multi-adventure tours can be found in Croatia/Montenegro, Iceland, the Greek Islands, and Acadia and Bryce/Zion National Parks. New tours in the Netherlands/Belgium, Santa Barbara/Ojai, and Tuscany are available by E-Bike. Something for every family!

Martinhal Addition

Family-friendly Martinhal Resorts has announced the opening of Martinhal Lisbon Oriente and Martinhal Residences. The luxury riverside hotel and residences are located in Lisbon’s Park of Nations neighborhood and showcase 82 hotel accommodations ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites plus self-catered apartments with kitchens and washer/dryers. Added services included a family and baby concierge, an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, a gym, a children’s club offering a range of activities, and a restaurant.  The hotel’s location in the contemporary, riverside neighborhood of the Park of Nations, set in the new northeast part of Lisbon, is known for its avant-garde architecture, restaurants and bars, riverside walks, and street art displays.   

New Backroads Family Destinations

Backroads, a favorite active adventure experience for our families, just announced a variety of new tours and destinations for next year, including several family options.  Their new international and multi-sport tours include one in Vietnam and another in the Czech Republic & Austria…very diverse, but equally exciting destinations.  Their 7-night Vietnam tour, available with a group departure from December 21-28, 2024 (or other times as a private tour), includes biking, hiking, and kayaking.  A fun and engaging way to explore the country from Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta. This tour starts in Hanoi and ends in Can Tho near Ho Chi Minh City with premier hotel stays and overnight on a luxury ship sailing Halong and Lan Ha Bays. This exciting and culturally rich trip is best suited for ages 9+ who can bike on their own.  An ideal winter break getaway!  The 6-night tour from Prague to Vienna also includes hiking, biking, and rafting as your family discovers the heart and rich history of Central Europe.  This tour offers casual hotel stays with scheduled dates in July and early August 2024.  Children ages 7+ can bike on their own on this trip.  Ages 16+ can e-bike on both tours. Book early for the best availability!