Special Israel Tours
From August 7-22, Arza World is offering Israel For Me, a unique tour for eight families with special needs children ages 6-13 that includes five days of day camp at the Shutaf Inclusion Program in Jerusalem. 
This exciting tour makes Israel accessible for the whole family with trained staff support at the hotels and tour bus. The trip includes 14 nights of accommodations, daily breakfast, 5 dinners, 10 days of touring, all entrance fees, rafting on the Jordan River, ziplining, the Sound and Light Show at David’s Citadel and participation in an archeological dig. Families will also appreciate Arza World’s specially priced air and land tour, Israel 360, that departs June 28-July 6 starting at only $2,572/person with air from New York. The tour includes four nights in Jerusalem, two nights in the Galilee and one night in Tel Aviv with breakfast daily. Your family will experience Kabbalat Shabbat services at the Western Wall, a walking tour through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, a guided visit to the Jerusalem Archeological Park, Yad Vashem, jeep tour in the Golan Heights and Ceasarea. An optional trip to Masada and the Dead Sea can be added. Book early as spaces are limited!
Stieg Larsson’s Stockholm
Stockholm has always had its appeal, but the incredible success of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy has made the city more popular than ever. Selling more than 60 million copies in 40 countries (17 million in the U.S. alone), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its two sequels have endeared the Swedish capital to a new generation of readers. In addition to charismatic investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker anti-hero Lisbeth Salander, the city of Stockholm itself could be considered a character in these suspenseful thrillers. The Stockholm City Museum now offers the Millennium tour, a walking tour of key locations found in the books. Visitors will also see places that Larsson himself frequented, such as the cafe downstairs from the magazine where he worked. The tour is in English and lasts approximately two hours and has been receiving rave reviews from journalists and tourists alike, as well as sparking renewed interest in Larsson’s books and personal life. The American film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will be released on December 21.
Globus Family Tours
For 2012, Globus is adding three new vacations to its family-only tours, including a tour of the Canadian Rockies called Mounties, 
Maple Leaves & the Majestic Rockies; a tour of America’s Colonial with Patriots’ Passage; and a program focusing on wildlife, volcanoes and a cloud forest in Costa Rica: Pura Vida! Globus includes unique family activities on their Family Travel tours such as chocolate making at a Swiss chocolate confectionary in Lucerne (European Family Discovery); off-roading in an open-air vehicle in Custer State Park in search of herds of bison. (Wild, Wild West) and getting exclusive access to Independence Hall after hours on Patriot’s Passage. And with Globus, planning ahead pays off. Book your 2012 Globus vacation and pay in full 9 months or more prior to your departure and save 10% off the land-only portion of your tour. Young travelers ages 8-17 also receive a 10% discount.
Roman Luxury
Don’t miss out on the Hotel Hassler Roma new Family Escape Package, available through October 31, 2012. 
The package includes three nights’ accommodation in two Deluxe or Grand Deluxe rooms; private check-in for children with a special gift (a Bukowsky stuffed bunny); daily buffet breakfast; milk and cookies before bedtime; “Ice Cream Pleasure,” a selection of the Hassler’s home-made ice cream; in-room movie for the entire family; and an optional babysitter for four hours per day. Guests may also opt for additional family-friendly activities arranged by the Hassler’s concierge, including a private lunch or dinner in an ancient alley or piazza within the city, a trip to the Museo dei Bambini (Children’s Museum of Rome), or a carriage or helicopter ride.
Tauck Loves Families
Book by November 18 and get a $100 discount per person on any 2012 Tauck Bridges Family Adventure. For past Tauck clients, you also get two free nights at Tauck’s hotel before or after your trip when you take any 2012 Tauck Bridges journey! The trip and the hotel must be booked by December 30 and deposit must be paid upon booking. Tauck’s 86+ years of destination expertise brings Tauck Bridges guests exclusive access to memorable experiences and authentic cultural events. Children are actually welcome on all tours, but in 2012 Tauck is introducing Family Friendly Departures on three trips that come from their collection of Tauck land tours and cruises. While these trips are not Tauck Bridges trips, they include places and activities that will interest every member of the family. Check out their in-depth Civil War journey crafted with filmmaker Ken Burns – Most Hallowed Ground; a one-week Italy trip that includes the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside – A Week In… Rome, Umbria and Tuscany; and the popular France river cruise – French Waterways and Vineyards. Each trip has designated Family Friendly Departure dates. 
Family China Tour
Imperial Tours announced dates for their 2012 China Family Tour. This small group tour (5-16 people) with luxury hotel stays is available July 13-23 and covers Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai. 
The trip is terrific for families with kids between the ages of 6 to early teens. This trip is designed for parents who want their children to learn about the culture and China’s lightning speed development. There is no better way than to visit the country and have your children see, feel and taste it for themselves with an educational experience that is fun and engaging. There are countless opportunities for your children to mix and mingle with Chinese counterparts and compare & contrast backgrounds and points of view. The tour visits all the major highlights in each city and includes many unique experiences such as kite flying, a shadow puppet performance, opera face painting, dumpling making lessons, bamboo raft ride, acrobatics show and the Beijing Zoo.
New from Trafalgar
Trafalgar has introduced four new itineraries in its 2012 Family Experiences, activity-packed and designed specifically to meet your family travel needs. There are now 19 different itineraries available to amazing destinations around the world. 
The new itineraries are Sorrento & Sicily Surprise in Italy; Greek Island Hopper in Greece; Dude Ranchin’ Yellowstone & Glacier Roundup in the US; and Conquistadors, Sacred Valleys & Inca Mysteries in Peru. All of Trafalgar’s Family Experiences are designed with your family in mind, customized to captivate travelers of all ages, and feature special sightseeing selected to fit a family’s travel needs. For example, on their eight-day California Dreamin’ trip, families can enjoy a barbecue in Yosemite National Park, followed by eating s’mores around the campfire while listening to local folklore. Families on the 11-day Castles and Kilts trip can stay in a medieval-style castle for two nights and parents will revisit their Beatlemania youth on a day trip to Liverpool. Stays are in deluxe hotels, national park lodges and private game reserves while in Africa. For European Family Experiences, save up to $500 per person if you pay in full by December 1, for travel between April 1 and October 31, 2012. Passengers between the ages of 5 and 17 save 10 percent on any trip when traveling with an adult. Trafalgar also gives a reduction for triple- and quad-share rooms where available.
New Backroads Family Trips
Backroads is introducing four new biking and multi-sport adventures for families. We are always thrilled with new opportunities to explore the world with this quality tour operator. 
The trips offered are biking through Holland and Belgium with flat back roads and languid canals, cobblestone streets and windmills; hiking, biking and rafting in Banff and Yoho National Parks in the Canadian Rockies with certified Mountain Parks Heritage Interpreters and great wildlife; biking, snorkeling and hiking in the Galapagos and Andes Mountains in Ecuador while discovering ancient ruins, traditional villages, crafts, folkloric music and amazing wildlife and hiking, biking, rafting and horseback riding in Iceland with a variety of volcanoes, glaciers, icebergs and geyers.
London Olympics On Sale
Hotel and ticket packages as well as individual event tickets are now available for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The games will be held July 27 – August 12, 2012. Venues include the new Olympic Park, Wembley Stadium for soccer, the All-England Club in Wimbledon for tennis, the Lord’s Cricket Ground for archery and the Horse Guards Parade for beach volleyball . There will be competition in 26 different sports over 17 days at 34 different venues! We can create a variety of packages to meet your needs with tickets, accommodations, transportation, dining and sightseeing for a memorable Olympic experience.
New From Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney recently announced the addition of two new destinations to its portfolio of immersive family vacations—Greece and Northern France. 
The Greek Odyssey tour—which explores Athens, Santorini and Crete—brings Greek mythology to life with moonlight storytelling at the Parthenon and sporting games at the home of the modern-day Olympics, Panathinaiko Stadium. The adventure continues in Santorini where parents and little ones can participate in Greek grape stomping at a local winery. Then it’s off to Crete to enjoy a Tsatziki cheese-making lesson, along with plenty of Greek dancing. Departures are available May-August 2012. Families looking to experience the arts will enjoy Esprit de France tour, visiting Paris, Normandy and Loire Valley. On this journey, you can enjoy a drawing activity in Monet’s Gardens, a visit to Chateau du Clos—the last known residence of Leonardo Da Vinci—and a private dinner at the Louvre in Paris. Departures available in June, July and August 2012.
