New Family Journeys
Abercrombie & Kent is offering three new trips for 2016 to their selection of Family Journeys: Italy, Central Europe and Scotland/Ireland and they are all on sale! These luxury trips are designed to satisfy adventurers of all ages, with engaging local guides, fun and enriching activities, and child-friendly hotels – all with a $400 per-child savings. Every day includes at least one Family Discovery, a chance for your children to connect to your destination by interacting directly with nature, culture and even with local children. The Italy tour includes stops in Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre and Venice. Central Europe highlights include Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague while the UK trip features Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Dublin, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula. Lower rates are also currently available on family tours to Spain, Amsterdam/Paris/London and Antarctica/South Georgia/Falkland Islands.
Prague Family Package
The Hotel UNIC, a 4 star designer hotel in Prague, has a good value on their Family Package 
that is available through June 30, 2016. The package includes a 2-night accommodation with complimentary upgrade to their spacious Family Suite (one bedroom + living area) for two adults and two children up to age 15. You also receive welcome cookies, buffet breakfast, a 3-course family dinner with special children’s menu, a family ticket to the Prague Zoo, parking in the hotel garage and a city map. An additional night is available at a 15 percent discount. The hotel opened in June 2013 and is ideally located in the heart of the historical city center within walking distance to all major historical and cultural attractions such as Prague Powder Tower, the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town Square with its famous Astronomical Clock.
New From Backroads
Backroads introduced its new selection of trips for 2016 responding to a growing demand for family programs. The company is tripling its selections for families! Some of the new trips for families with children and teens include biking in the Canadian Rockies, the Italian Dolomites and Palm Springs and multi-sport trips in Argentina’s Lake District, Spain’s Basque Country, Alaska and even in the Caribbean on St. Kitts and Nevis. New Family Breakaway trips, created for families with older teens and young adults, include Croatia and Montenegro, England, Patagonia, Peru and New Zealand. A Rhine River cruise has also been designated as a Family Breakaway itinerary. Backroads trips are ideal for active families and even for multi-generational families (as there are varying route and activity options) and for families who really want to get immersed in a region. Trips are generally 5-6 days leaving plenty of time before or after to explore in more traditional ways or just relax. Let The Family Traveler help put together the perfect trip that meets your family’s needs.
Kid-Friendly Cannes
Located on Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette in the French Riviera, the Hotel Majestic Barriere
tries to make children feel just as much at home as the celebrities who stay at the hotel during the Cannes Film Festival. This summer, the hotel is rolling out the red carpet for its younger guests, opening the doors of its in-house cinema both for private family viewings and for a Cartoon Festival, a regular occurrence during the school holidays. Other benefits for children include a welcome backpack with toys and games, free breakfast for under age 12 and Jacadi baby products such as diaper changing mats, bibs and bathrobes. The Majestic’s Diwi & Co Kid’s Club on the hotel beach takes care of children between 4 and 12 years old, offering a variety of creative, cultural and fun activities. Swimming lessons are available on request at the hotel pool. Your family can enjoy a wide range of water sports such as parasailing, fly-fishing and paddle boarding, accessible directly off the hotel jetty. The luxury hotel also offers a spa, gym and several dining options. Current promotions include a free night stay and a discount on suites.
Royal Family Package
Dromoland Castle is attracting families 
to its 450 acres of sprawling rural acreage in Ireland’s County Clare with its two-night Royal Family Package. With a 30 percent savings, the package includes family accommodations in a deluxe room with two queen beds for two adults and two children under 12. You also get daily full Irish breakfast, a dinner in The Earl of Thomond Restaurant and a family falconry experience. All of their majestic, beautiful birds are captive bred, both in Ireland and abroad. They include different species of falcons, hawks and owls. The grounds of the 16th-century castle sit on a championship parkland golf course. Other activities and amenities include biking, fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, pool, gym and spa.
Precious Journeys
Precious Journeys is an international program from Big Five Tours and Expeditions that caters to families with children ages 5 to 11 who want to discover the world-both its awesomeness and its challenges. The 7-12 day tours have been specifically design for young people with a variety of hands-on and educational experiences in culturally rich places in Central and South America, India and Africa. Your children will meet other children as well as fascinating people working on real-world solutions; and experience the sustainability movement on a global basis. For example in Ecuador the trip focuses on anthropology, archaeology and marine science as you travel through Machalilla National Park and the Isla de La Plata wildlife sanctuary along with visits with local artists, craftsmen and farmers; hikes; bike trips and horseback rides. India, Costa Rica/Nicaragua, Kenya and the Galapagos round out the great choices. We love Precious Journey’s slogan: Not until we venture out do we truly become citizens of the world. And, our children are the best ambassadors.
Barcelona by Scooter
The Majestic Hotel & Spa in Barcelona, one of our most popular hotels in this unique city, is now offering 
Barcelona by Scooter. This family friendly method of transportation comes with different sized versions of the self-propelled scooter, including a small one with three wheels, small two-wheelers and an adult-sized model. Before each outing, the hotel will provide your family with a backpack filled with water and snacks, along with a preloaded iPad that has been uploaded with a city map plus an app that curates specific themed itineraries, including culinary- and culture-focused rides. For added convenience, the scooters fold making it easy to carry into restaurants and sites. The 5 star Majestic is located on the Paseo de Gracia, close to Gaudi´s famous buildings, and offers a rooftop pool, several restaurants, spa, gym, beach club access along with a variety of accommodations including spacious apartments.
Princess Charlotte Package
The royal Princess Charlotte has arrived and The Milestone Hotel in London is 
celebrating the birth by inviting your family to experience the Princess Charlotte package available through July 8. The property, which is located across from Kensington Palace, is offering 7-night accommodations in the William and Catherine Residence, a Royal Kensington breakfast for up to four guests, a Champagne afternoon tea for two adults and a princess-themed tea for up to two children, and a private tour of Kensington Palace for up to four guests. The William and Catherine Residence features two bedrooms, a private balcony off the master bedroom, a spacious living room with a balcony overlooking the Kensington Palace and Gardens, and an open kitchen and dining area, as well as an extra half bathroom and a washer/dryer.
Families Down Under
Goway is offering six Australian vacation packages specifically tailored for families, 
all including two-bedroom apartment-style accommodation with kitchen and laundry facilities, day tours and some unique Aussie experiences. For example, the Aussie Sampler includes a visit to the Australia Zoo, made famous by the late Steve Irwin, Australia’s Crocodile Hunter. The trip includes four nights in Sydney, four nights in Surfers Paradise, all transfers, a full day tour to the Australia Zoo and a visit to Tangalooma Island Resort to hand-feed wild dolphins. The Aussie Adventure includes accommodation for 10 nights in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Sydney and Cairns; a Dolphin Adventure day tour; Crocodile Express tour to the Australia Zoo; Outer Barrier Reef cruise; Kuranda all inclusive tour; Sydney city sights tour and a Blue Mountains day tour. Brand new for the 2015 and the 2016 season is the Kia Ora Getaway showcasing the highlights of New Zealand with some great sightseeing including zip lining and kayaking and the dual destination Aussie Kiwi Explorer that combines the highlights of New Zealand with a stopover in Sydney. All children booked on Goway’s Family Programs receive the Goway “kids backpack” (aimed at children 11 and under) to keep them busy on the international flight. It includes a backpack, activity book/travel journal, coloring pencils, disposable camera and other perks.
Expo 2015
Expo 2015 will once again return to Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The theme chosen is Feeding the 
Planet, Energy for Life. This embraces technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity and how they relate to food and diet. Plus lots of great food (even food trucks from the US)! The site will host four thematic areas: Pavilion Zero traces the history of humankind via its relationship with food, Future Food District explains how technology will change food storage, distribution, purchase, and consumption, the Children’s Park is where your children can learn about the themes of Expo Milano 2015 while having fun, and the Biodiversity Park is a large garden in which a number of our planet’s ecosystems are reproduced. 145 countries (94% of the world population) are taking part! Family ticket packages are available and many hotels are offering special packages that include a variety of Expo and tourist related elements. There’s even a special Cirque de Soleil show developed for the Expo.
