Swedish Wilderness

Suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder?  It means that human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors resulting in a wide range of problems. Escapade Sweden wants to contribute to a cure through adventure travel.  Experience their spectacular part of the world with its ancient land, giant rivers, forests and mountains coupled with a rich and vibrant culture. The tour company’s Wild Child program will take your children (with parents in tow if you want) into nature and teach them a variety of skills for enjoying and surviving in the wilderness.  Activities include making fire, learning about the local natural environment and animals, bush crafts, open fire cooking, learning about indigenous cultural and more. Upon completing an adventure, children receive a certificate and patch.  Seasonal recreation such as dog sledding, cross country skiing, ice climbing, kayaking, fishing and more can also be enjoyed.   Trips last 3-6 nights throughout the year with very comfortable lodging and a bountiful of local foods.  This unique adventure can easily be combined with other destinations throughout Scandinavia for an amazing family getaway!

Family by JW

JW Marriott, Marriott International’s luxury brand, has launched a new Family by JW program, a global initiative that underscores the importance of quality family time. Through partnerships and non-profit collaborations, and with exclusive on-property experiences, the experiential program will cater to children ages 5-12 with a variety of enriching family experiences.  Examples include customized stretching activities with The Joffrey Ballet, hands-on cooking experiences with hotel chefs and learning about architecture with educational activities suggested by the Guggenheim Museum.  The new family program has been tailored to Marriott’s core philosophy and will include three kid-friendly themes—creativity, activeness, and culture.  There are 83 JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts around the world.

Family Moments at Rosewood London

One of our favorite London hotels, the Rosewood London, offers a Family Moments package where you can enjoy 50 percent off your second room.  You also get a full English breakfast, personalized children’s amenities and activities, game console, spa access and a guaranteed 2:00pm late check-out.  The promotion is available on most rooms including their Executive and Grand Premier Family Rooms.  Connecting rooms can be confirmed at the time of booking.  The 262 room luxury hotel is centrally located close to Covent Garden and the British Museum.

Dublin Family Package

Looking to visit the dynamic city of Dublin?  The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin is offering a Fitz Family package with a deluxe room for two adults and two children, breakfast, parking, hop-on/hop off bus and dinner in a private family booth at the hotel’s Inn On The Green as well as drinks and canapes for the parents OR a beauty treatment at the Spirit Salon and Spa at the hotel.  This upscale, boutique hotel overlooks St. Stephen’s Green; ideally situated for experiencing all the history, culture, music, dining and more that the city has to offer.

Peninsula Family Package

The Peninsula Paris is teaming up with the Walt Disney Co. to offer a Family Time With Disney package which is valid through the end of the year. The package includes:

• Daily American breakfast for up to two adults and two children
• Connecting rooms accommodations in a Disney-themed room
• Disney Store costume in the closet for each child
• Mickey or Minnie soft toy dressed in Parisian-style clothing embroidered with the name of each child
• Disney classics available on a selection of apps and e-books on the hotel’s tablets

The ultra-upscale Peninsula is located near the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees and showcases 200 spacious rooms and suites (including suites with private rooftop gardens), five restaurants, full service spa, indoor pool, two gyms and suites with private rooftop gardens.  And only an hour from Disneyland Paris!

Adventure to Japan with Disney

Adventures by Disney recently unveiled its 2019 vacation options including a new itinerary to Japan.  The tour company partnered with the Japan National Tourism Organization to create a trip that is both culturally authentic and deeply immersive. Whether exploring a bamboo forest, centuries-old temple or high-tech metropolis, your family will be fully immersed in the ancient customs and storied traditions of Japan.  The 11-day, 10-night itinerary includes Kyoto, Osaka, Takayama, Hakone and Tokyo. Your family will explore several historical shrines and temples, experience the time-honored tradition of samurai swordsmanship and the charm of a maiko dance performance. You will bike through farm villages and along rice paddies, cruise on a river boat and traverse through a bamboo forest on an authentic Japanese rickshaw.  Also engage with local practitioners in the arts of Taiko drumming, origami and calligraphy and discover the secrets to making perfect sushi and learn how to build a delectable bento box.  You will visit Hama Rikyu Gardens, a green oasis in Toyko, and unwind with a customary tea ceremony steeped in history and tradition.  Also enjoy world-class culinary experiences and delicious local treats, such as sake tasting for adults and giant cotton candy for the children. You will also have the option to add a post-trip vacation package at Tokyo Disney Resort.  Bookings are now open for all 2019 tours!

New from Intrepid

Intrepid Travel has debuted a new week-long family trip to Bali, Indonesia filled with adventure for children 10 and up. Starting in Ubud, families will visit Bali Treetops Adventure Park before viewing Lake Bratan. A whitewater-rafting trip is next on the agenda, followed by a 17-mile cycling tour in Candidasa. In Amed, families will trek through rice fields, relax on the beach and take a snorkeling excursion. The trip ends in Seminyak with a hands-on chocolate-making demonstration at Sorga Chocolate Factory.  Dates are available through December and rates start at only $1,242 per person for the land portion. A 10 percent discount is available for those 17 and under.

Shangri La Themed Family Suites

At the luxury Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, your children can go on safari, explore deep space, swing like Tarzan through the treetops, venture into an underwater world, or sleep in a fairytale castle — all just by booking a select room!  Earlier this year, the hotel revamped its ninth floor, dedicating the entire space to families with five themed suites.  The suites are all about 818 square feet with two bathrooms. Children in the safari suite, for example, sleep next to a tableau of animals from the African plains beneath a tent. Meanwhile, the underwater suite has a submarine-shaped bed, while the treetop suite requires that children climb a ladder to bed down in a treehouse.  There are even pint-sized bathrobes and slippers, a specialty kids’ menu and a dedicated family concierge.  All of the suites can accommodate two adults and two children younger than 12. For larger families, the suites can connect to a Family Deluxe Room to create a three-bedroom suite.  In addition to the themed suites, the hotel offers 19 family suites with more traditional furnishings.  This family-friendly property also has new and extensive indoor and outdoor play areas for children including special sections for making music, cooking and creating art.  There are also two pools, several dining options, gym, tennis, spa and a lush interior garden.

Aussie Adventure

Looking to explore the bushland of Australia?  Just 2 1/2 hours northwest of Sydney is the One & Only Resort Wolgan Valley where nature abounds.  The luxury resort is offering a two-night Family Escape package for stays through April 1, 2019 where two children under age 12 stay and dine for free.  The package also includes:

• Ultra-luxury Heritage Villa with private shimmering pool
• Gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Selected range of local wines and beers with meals and non-alcoholic beverage
• Two on-site nature-based activities per day from scheduled complimentary inclusions
• Junior Rangers program daily offering educational and fun nature-based experiences
• Horse Stables Tour
• Unlimited daily ice-cream and a memento gift

The resort is located on Australia’s Great Dividing Range within the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains. It occupies just one percent of its own 7,000 acre conservancy.  It can be reached by car or helicopter!

Luxury Collection for Families

The Family Excursion package from Starwood is similar to Fairmont’s program.  Choose from participating hotels and resorts in 30 different countries around the world for a second room for up to half off for children 21 and under.  Nice when traveling with your college aged children!  Plus children up to age 12 get complimentary meals with the purchase of an adult meal and a limited-edition Children’s Backpack by Margherita Maccapani Missoni.  Connecting rooms will be provided if available.  This chain is now part of the Marriott collection of hotels.