Trip Review: Jamaica with Young Adult Children

The Neuman Family of Owings Mills, MD traveled to Jamaica with 3 young adult daughters (24, 21 and 20) to the all-suite Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in early January.  They stayed in two suites.  We use this property often for families with children, teens as well as young adults with equal success.  The family found the hotel to be spotlessly clean and well maintained.  Their rooms were modern and comfortable, but with some mildew issues.  Internet worked well in the rooms, but was spotty at the pool and didn’t work on the beach.  They thought the staff and entertainment was unbelievably great. Everyone was unceasingly friendly and very engaged, but not overly pushy.  They got people involved and made the vacation infinitely more fun. The entertainers are remarkably talented and even if some of the shows were hokey, they were all fun (although the family prefers the outdoor theater experience to this Iberostar’s indoor one).  The family thought the food was good. The four sit down restaurants on property were very good (they did not venture to the Iberostar Rose Hall’s restaurants next door which are included in their stay). They had no problems making reservations for one of the restaurants every night (the benefit of traveling just after the winter break which is great with college age children with longer breaks), but thought it would be nice to have more outdoor dining options.  They found the pools and lazy river to be clean and well-maintained and enjoyed the water sports, but were hoping for better snorkeling.  Note that Jamaica is a mountainous island where runoff makes snorkeling less ideal than a flat island like Aruba.  They found the gym equipment to be somewhat dated and tipping to be a touchy issue since it is supposed to be included.  They did see others tipping; so they also tipped extra where they thought the service was extra special or when extra attention would be beneficial.  Many all-inclusives are also time share resorts that have guests returning year after year.  These owners get to know the staff really well and tend to tip extra as a result.  Overall the trip was relaxing and fun for the entire family!

Travel Tip: Family Travel Games

Board games are a great way to introduce children to the love of travel as well as to new destinations, geography and cultures.  Here are some of our favorite geography style board games that are ideal for the entire family to play together:

10 Days In _____: Learning the countries and states in different land areas is no easy task!  With these fun, yet educational board games, you spend 10 days touring an area by plane, car, and on foot. You chart your course from start to finish, using only the resources available to you. The first traveler to make connections for the 10-day journey wins the game.  

Passport to Culture: Players travel around the world map depicted on the game board, with the goal of filling your passport with stamps. Along the way players must attempt to answer questions pertaining to the diverse peoples and countries of the world.

Ticket to Ride: This game provides players with intense strategic and tactical decisions. Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.

Map It: Players take turns placing randomly drawn location cards in the correct position around a given starting point. Is Bangkok north or south of Cancun? What about Mount Everest? Is it to the east or to the west of St. Petersburg? Get your bearings and try to outwit your disoriented opponents. Young minds and seasoned globetrotters alike can lose themselves in the fun of this great game of directions.

Travel Tip: Saving for a Disney Vacation

Having trouble saving money for your next Disney getaway?  You might want to consider the Disney Vacation Account program which lets your family budget for an upcoming trip and schedule automatic contributions into an FDIC-insured savings fund. Account holders can cash in their savings for a vacation at a Disney theme park, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney or at Aulani, Disney’s plush resort in Hawaii. Contributing to a Disney vacation account does not yield interest, but you do receive a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1,000 you spend — the equivalent of 2 percent of the purchase, more than three times what banks offer! You can set up the account for a minimum of $10 and contribute at any frequency and any dollar amount that you want and up to five years in advance! There’s no penalty for taking money out early, and no fees involved along the way. Check out https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com for more details.

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Trip Review: Turks and Caicos Paradise

Over winter break, Mindy and her family (two adults and two teens) stayed at the Ocean Club on beautiful Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.  They enjoyed it so much they said they would go back!  The facilities at Ocean Club’s sister resort, Ocean Club West, is also available to all guests with a shuttle in between (one mile down the beach).  Mindy found that both properties provided a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, lots of tropical foliage and good recreation and dining options.  Ocean Club’s 84 condos are newly renovated while the 64-unit Ocean Club West is more centrally located on Grace Bay and therefore closer to more shops and dining.  Their one-bedroom unit, with 1,200 sq. ft. and 1 ½ baths, was on the top floor with huge cathedral ceilings in the bedroom.  They had a large lanai, full kitchen, separate living room with DVD player (where the teens slept on a sofabed and rollaway) and a washer/dryer.  Their only complaint was thin walls (in combination with a crying baby next door).   Mindy loved the intimacy of the resort, the location at the quieter end of Grace Bay and the friendly staff.  Tennis, moving between the pool and beach depending on where they could find chairs after sleeping in, working out at the larger gym at Ocean Club West and riding around on the free bike rentals kept the family busy along with free DVD rentals and board games.  Water sports are available for an added cost (most resorts on Grace Bay offer free water sports, but have less recreation available) and some guests were smart to bring their own floats to relax in the pool and calm ocean.  Outside the resort they enjoyed a wide variety of excursions such as parasailing; chartering a boat one day for watersports (water skiing, tubing and snorkeling) and another day for fishing.  Being out on the water also allowed them to explore nearby islands (there are 40 in the Turks and Caicos of which only eight are inhabited!).  Families who love nature can enjoy a ferry to the Middle and North Caicos to explore caves, see tons of iguanas and the pink flamingo reserve.  They also rented a small car (a clown car, as they affectionately called it) which came in handy.  It gave them great flexibility to dine out at night, grocery shop and explore all around the island. As a British Overseas Territory, driving is on the left.  This was only a challenge in the roundabouts! The family discovered out of of the way places to eat, many of them on the beach, that served the freshest daily catch which included a lot of delicious conch.  The long wait to get through customs and passport control was a reminder to slow down to island time, but the weather was 82 and sunny every day!  Turks and Caicos continues to be developed as it gains in popularity, but is still a great destination for families looking for a safe and easy to reach destination (1 ½ hours south of Miami) with gorgeous beaches and ocean.  Most of the resorts here are condo-style (so you don’t have to eat out every meal) and available in all quality levels from basic to luxury.

Travel Tip: Sleeping on a Plane

It is the bane of travelers getting on a plane for both business and pleasure—difficulty falling asleep in a seat, especially in coach, and the attendant horrors of jet lag after landing. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can decrease brain performance by 20 percent, so it’s crucial to anyone crossing time zones to rest as much as possible during the flight. Washington, D.C.–based clinical sleep educator and RN Terry Cralle shared her tips for powering down (and getting at least a power nap) on a flight.

Plan ahead. The more organized you can be before travel in regards to packing, airport transporations and getting ready to travel, the less frazzled you are once you get on the plane.  Don’t wait until the last minute.

Meditate. Try out meditation audio apps which can help your brain relax quickly.

Pack lavender oil. Proven to help you sleep better.  Put a few drops onto your travel pillow, apply it to your temples and wrists once you’ve settled into your seat, and prepare to dream.

Ignore in-flight entertainment. Staring at a screen means that light is hitting your retinas, and telling your brain and body that it’s daytime, and sleep will be much tougher to achieve.

Make to-do lists. Write them down well in advance to keep your mind clear when it’s time to sleep.

Bring something comforting. Like a cozy scarf or your favorite pillow.

Cover your eyes.  Masks do work.  Absolute darkness prompts your body to produce melatonin.

Step away from the Scotch. It can mess with the quality of your sleep and is dehydrating.  Drink as much water as possible.

Bring earplugs. Helps block out engine noise and other noise around you.

Incorporate cardio. The more exercise you get (especially before a flight) will help you doze off more easily.

Bank sleep. Spend extra time sleeping or napping in the week before you depart.  It can help keep your immune system strong and also mitigate the bad effects of jet lag.

Trip Review: Star Clipper Adventure

The Blaudow Family from Neptune Beach, FL (two adults and two teen boys) thoroughly enjoyed a cruise on the Star Clipper over the winter holidays.  The authentic, tall sailing ship traveled round-trip from St. Maarten with stops in Nevis, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barth, mostly in small harbors that can’t be accessed by large cruise ships. It is a working tall ship and travels under sail whenever possible, giving you the real experience of sailing.  You can also climb the mast if you’re feeling brave (as one family member did)!   The Blaudows noted that the ship doesn’t have a casino, balconies or a fancy gym or spa, but the experience is so amazing, you won’t miss a thing.   In port, sports activities are available such as sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaking, weather permitting. The bridge can also be accessed if you’re interested on seeing how the ship is navigated.  The family enjoyed meeting so many interesting people among both the other passengers and crew including the president of the cruise line.  Excursion highlights included a zip line at Loterie Farm in St. Martin (the French Side), river tubing in Dominica, hiking in Guadeloupe and sailboat racing in Antigua.  Their cruise rate included shipboard credits that they used for an excursion, a great Thai massage on board and a nice bottle of wine. They also noted that the food was good and plentiful with vegetarian options at every meal. A pre-night cruise stay on the Dutch side of St. Maarten was comfortable in a spacious 2-bedroom condo at Princess Heights.  Overall the trip was a great success!

Travel Tip: Travel Agent Notes

1.  You are not bothering us if you just need an airline ticket and a hotel in Chicago. We can indeed book more than just your exotic annual vacations and will do so gladly. Plus, we will likely have access to free amenities at the hotel that you might not find on your own because of my industry connections.
2.  If something goes amiss when you’re on your trip, call us immediately so we can fix it. Don’t be shy and say you didn’t want to make a fuss. You’ve paid money for this vacation and we are your advisor for a reason. Little things that mar the experience can typically be fixed quite easily and that’s what we are here for.
3.  When you compare the vacation packages we have offered you with what’s available via an online travel agency or discount website, please know that you’re probably not comparing apples to apples. The hotel we have selected is in a locale we think you will like, based on what you’ve told us. The room we have reserved for you is guaranteed in its category, meaning when you check in, you won’t be given inferior accommodations, based on the desk attendant’s mood. Plus, if you’re looking at a website that brags that it has the lowest pricing available, you’ll likely be getting the lowest quality room available. Trust us.
4.  When you’re online and you see a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is. Travel companies don’t give away things for no reason. Is there small print you’re not reading because you’re so excited about the price you’re seeing? Do bring any deals you see to our attention and we promise to give you our best expert opinion as to what you’d actually get for your money.
5.  Do make travel a priority in your life. Every moment is precious and if you keep putting off that family vacation or that couple’s getaway, you may never do it and only end up with regrets. Let us craft a trip for you that will make the most of your time together so you’ll end up with fabulous memories. Live for the now; who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Trip Review: Adventure in Panama

The Somers/Siegel family from Penn Valley (two adults and two young adult children ages 20 and 17) traveled to Panama over winter break.  The trip began in Panama City, then into the rainforest and ended up at a beach.  In Panama City, they stayed at the at the Hard Rock Panam Megapolis.  They didn’t love its Vegas vibe or slow elevators.  But the rooms were very nice and breakfast was good.  They absolutely loved the Casa Viejo section of the city which they toured with our private guide, Tony. On their first full day they went to the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal and on a tour of the city.  They thought the guide was super informative and also took good care of them.  The only thing they missed was going inside the Biomuseuo designed by Frank Gehry as it was closed when they were there.   They ate in great restaurants in the Old Yown and loved seeing all the people out and about.   Next up was the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.  They described the rainforest as cool and very “out of Africa” like. Their junior suite at the resort was large and comfortable with a loft ideal for sleeping children. They did a ton of trips from the resort’s excursion desk including day and night boat trips, kayaking, trams, wildlife tours, information sessions at their animal refuge and also sat by the pool.  The wildlife was abundant including sloths, crocodiles, monkeys, lots of birds and iguanas. The resort’s meal plan made it easy for dining at this remote location.  At the beach, the family stayed at the Westin Playa Bonita on the club level.  The said that the resort was beautiful and that being on the club level was awesome!  The free water, wine, beer and breakfast was well appreciated.  The rooms were lovely with amazing views of the ocean. The resort pools and open spaces were just lovely. They didn’t have to fight for lounge chairs – there were plenty!  Dining reservations were a little tricky, but the club level concierge was able to arrange dining for them both off and on property.  Overall the trip was a success.  The family explained that Panama is very different – very “Central American” with little English spoken. The locals also bend rules, make new rules and forget rules that they made moments before!  It was very sunny, very hot and the people were awesome!  The family felt safe and welcomed everywhere.

Travel Tip: Family Photographer

Have you ever been on a special vacation and returned home disappointed with the photos you captured, or worse,
missing from all of them? Flytographer is a new service that sets your family up with a local photographer in 160 destinations and with 300 photographers around the world to help you get the best family shots in the most magical of settings.  Let The Family Traveler arrange this service for your next family getaway or as a gift to another family (the service is also great for honeymoons, couples getaways, proposals and more). Packages start at $250 and your photos are available in just five days. Get stunning vacation photos in amazing places. Some trips deserve more than selfies.

Trip Review: Winter in Iceland

A mother/daughter duo from the Silverstein Family from Parkland, FL traveled to Iceland in November for a five-night adventure and to see the Australis Borealis.  The trip began in the capital city of Reykjavik where the two explored the city including a visit to the Northern Lights Center to learn more about this unique phenomenon.  They also enjoyed a nice contrast in city architecture with amazing city views from the top of the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church and a visit to the modern Harpa Hall; a concert venue.  They then ventured south for an overnight, guided trip to the ice caves and the region of the Vatnajokull Glacier and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.   The Vatnajokull region is one of the most beautiful in Iceland where the group took several hikes (including on the glaciers) to witness the unique topography and nature such as floating ice bergs, black sand beaches and waterfalls that you can walk behind.  The color of the ice ranged from gorgeous blue to completely clear.   Evenings were spent witnessing the northern lights which are best experienced with slow exposure photography (open your lens to its widest aperture, set your ISO to about 1600 and shoot an exposure of 10-15 seconds).  The trip ended up back in the capital with a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa.