Travel Review: London and Paris
The Harrison Family of Collinsville, IL traveled with two teenage daughters (age 19 and 16) to London and 
Paris this past May. The trip began with a 5-night stay in London at the Citadines Holborn which offers apartment style accommodations ideal for longer stays. It is well located close to Covent Garden and the tube. A 3-day London Pass was used to hit all the city’s highlights and avoid waiting in ticket lines. Their Shakespeare loving daughter relished seeing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe Theater. The updated version was full of energy from the actors and getting seats in advance instead of standing is recommended. Other fun experiences included afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason and seeing an intimate production of Phantom of the Opera on the West End. Other touring highlights included St. Paul Cathedral, the Tower of London, a special Egypt exhibit at the British Museum and all of the city’s history and architecture (especially the churches). The Eurostar train was used to get to Paris where they stayed in a family sized accommodation at the Hotel Marignan near the top of the Champs Elysee. They mentioned that the hotel staff was outstanding, their two room and two bathroom suite was very comfortable and the hotel had a very intimate feel. Their time in Paris was well used and planned as we them prebooked entry into the Eiffel Tower at sunset, a private Louvre tour, a group Notre Dame and Gothic Paris tour and entry into the Catacombs. They also ventured outside Paris to Versailles for a private tour of the palaces and beautiful gardens. Overall a great trip filled with fun adventures, history, culture and more.
Trip Review: Southern Respite on Beaufort
This month Lauren and her husband Evan traveled to the small and charming Southern town of Beaufort, SC for
an anniversary celebration. Located right in between Charleston and Savannah, Beaufort can also be a great getaway for families looking to vacation for more than just a few days away. Beaufort is a small town with a big heart in the middle of the Low Country. The historic downtown area sits on the Harbor River which provides lovely views and recreation. It offers a family friendly waterfront park with excellent playground, plenty of good dining options and shops. We really enjoyed kayaking and stand up paddle boarding around the river and its sand bars, frolicking dolphins and friendly locals. We also visited nearby islands including the beautiful Hunting Island State Park with its hiking and biking trails, beautiful beaches, fishing pier, nature center and lighthouse. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse for amazing 40 mile views and enjoyed its museum to learn its rich history. The nearby town of Blufton is an artistic center with funky galleries and great dining options that we also enjoyed. We stayed at a new inn called Anchorage 1770; a beautifully restored Greek Revival–style mansion that offers a rich history and sits across from the marshes and river. The inn showcases two fully furnished patio decks, comfortable living room area and breakfast room. It is appropriate for couples as well as families with rooms with two queen beds. A yummy home cooked breakfast is included as well as afternoon snacks; free bike rentals and beach chairs and equipment for badminton, croquet and bocce ball. Yoga can be organized as well. The lovely and friendly staff make your feel right at home and can organize all the details for a relaxing stay.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
St. Martin Condo Stay
The Schumacher/Epstein Family from Philadelphia (two adults and two teens) traveled to St. Marten for winter break. T
hey were looking for a clean and comfortable two bedroom condo that would be located close to a friend’s house. Princess Heights fit the bill with a spacious, modern and comfortable unit with 1,400 sq. ft. and a fully stocked kitchen. Housekeeping even did the dishes! The property sits on a hillside overlooking Dawn Beach and has a small pool and gym. The family enjoyed exploring beaches around the island with beautiful blue water everywhere they went. Restaurants were available within walking distance at the nearby Westin, but they chose to dine at several restaurants within a 5-20 minute drive. Both the towns of Phillipsburg on the Dutch side and Orient Beach on the French side are within 15 minutes of the property. It didn’t take long for them to figure out the hilly and narrow roads on the island which made it easy to explore. They also took a day trip to St. Bart’s which was really beautiful and reminded them of St. Tropez. Overall they enjoyed the island, the non-stop flight, easy access to great beaches and nearby islands and a nice variety of locally owned restaurants.
Ya Mon!
This past November and December Lauren and Evan and Mindy’s family of four (2 adults and 2 teens) both traveled to Jamaica. It had been some time since our last visit to this lush and friendly island. 
Mindy’s family enjoyed the new and upscale Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall which is the former Ritz Carlton Montego Bay. The rooms are quite spacious and the staff goes out their way to help. Dining was a highlight with a nice variety of food choices including lobster and 24 hour rooms service. There were plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas by the pool and beach and the evenings were made cozy with fire pits. The size of the resort is very manageable compared to other all-inclusives. Lauren stayed at two adult-only properties as we are sending many couples and families with young adult children on vacation (plus girls’ getaways, honeymoons, etc.). The Riu Montego Bay was modern, new and convenient to the airport with full access to the Riu Montego B
ay next door. The amount of amenities and man-made beach made this a good choice for a short stay. Couples Swept Away in Negril was old-school Jamaica (lots of dark wood and tropical flair) and sits on a beautiful beach. The highlight here are the sports facilities with a great tennis program, Olympic size lap pool, squash courts, fitness classes, watersports, basketball, soccer and more. Lots of extras such a sunset cruise and shuttle to shops are included. Lauren also toured two family properties in Negril. The gorgeous Azul Sensatori (with a family and adult-only side) is an intimate and upscale property with swim out pools, fresh and modern décor, excellent dining and more. Beaches Negril is a larger property with a wide array of accommodation options for families. The property showcases extensive children and teen programs, a wide variety of recreation and plenty of great dining choices.
A Moroccan Adventure
The Gastwirth Family (one adult and one teen age 16) traveled to Morocco during spring 
break for an exciting adventure. The Family Traveler created a custom trip based on their interests, time and budget requests. The trip began in Marrakesh with a private tour of the city’s Old Town, markets, royal tombs, mosques and more along with a dinner show. The trip moved onto the nearby High Atlas Mountains for visits to local villages and extensive hiking. Some time on the coast in the fishing town of Essaouria included a visit to a local argan oil co-op and camel ride on the beach. The trip ended in Casablanca with guided city tour and a stop along the way in the picturesque town of Oualidia known for its oysters. Hotels were all independent and authentic accommodations. The family really enjoyed the experience and took amazing photos. They made some great friends along the way and said that their drivers were friendly and timely. The experience left them with a unique look at Moroccan culture and history and the hope to return some day to visit their new Moroccan friends. Andrew Gastwirth is an amazing photographer and we thank him for sharing these photos with us!
