Trip Review: Exploring Madrid
The Edelman Family of 7 (parents, young adult children and significant others who gathered from Cleveland, Chicago, and New York) traveled to Madrid last month for a 6-night getaway. They based themselves in the capital city and took day trips to explore the central region of Spain…much easier than moving around with 7 people and luggage in tow. The brand new and boutique-style JW Marriott was their Madrid home and is nicely located next to Plaza de Canalejas and close to the Puerto del Sol. With just 139 rooms and suites, the luxury hotel was previously one of the oldest perfumeries in the city and uses that history in its décor. They found the service to be very attentive and let us know that the rooms were lovely and comfy. But the hotel, as expected with any debut, is still working out some kinks here and there. But overall a nice stay. A private orientation tour on the family’s first afternoon was a great way to get to know the city’s layout and history. Our favorite guide, Pepe, uses a tablet to showcase photos, maps, etc. to better understand and digest all of his commentary. The next day they explored the Royal Palace and Prado Museum on their own with pre-purchased entry tickets. We didn’t want to overtax them with guided tours, which they appreciated. The following day Pepe drove the group to Toledo for a full-day tour of the city’s Jewish, Muslim, and Christian history. They learned so much about the city’s location and how and why these religions converged here. The next day some of the family went for a run in Retiro Park and then the whole family enjoyed hanging out together in the park afterward. That afternoon they took a private flamenco lesson. The teacher’s lack of English and a very hot room due to neighbors’ complaints about noise created both a fun and funny atmosphere. Later that evening they met back up with Pepe for a wine and tapas tour. Pepe ensured that all special dietary needs were met! Another evening they went to an authentic flamenco show and one night indulged in a paella dinner. Due to scheduling issues, the family spent the last two days on day trips. The first was a private tour of the walled city of Avila and another day was spent on a somewhat challenging hike through the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park and then a tour of nearby Segovia and its famous aqueduct. Overall, the Edelmans appreciated that Madrid was a cost-efficient city, offered such a nice variety of dining options, and had such a rich culture and history that peaked all of their interests.
Trip Review: A Punta Cana Getaway
The Ross Family from Philadelphia (2 adults and 2 girls ages 13 and 15) vacationed in Punta Cana in April with a stay at the family-friendly Finest Resort in Uvero Alto, about 45 minutes north of the airport. They said that the trip was perfect and exactly what they needed! The family was very appreciative of the resort staff saying each one of them, and there were so many, could not have been nicer. There was an issue with the parents’ room as it faced some construction that included a bad smell. The hotel kindly moved them to the adult-only Excellence side of the property, which they said was amazing! It was so relaxing, and chill and their girls didn’t miss them one bit. They were originally in club-level rooms down the hall from each other, but it didn’t matter at all. The girls had each other and were very independent. The nightlife was another highlight for the family. The resort showcased different shows every night, typically more than one, and drew a fun crowd. The sports bar was also a good spot to hang together as a family and play pool, karaoke, etc. They met another family with children of similar ages to theirs and enjoyed a rainy-day extravaganza of cards and tequila. The property had a ton to do for families, rain, or shine. The food was fine, but we warned them not to expect top-quality cuisine although on the club level there are some more upscale options (including the room service menu). Everyone in the family found something at every restaurant and the chefs and waitstaff were very accommodating to some of their special dietary requests. The club level also includes a private check-in and other amenities. Every day they hung out in the beach cabanas that we booked in advance for them. They were especially appreciative of the resort’s overall cleanliness. The excursions were good too. The zip line through the jungle with Runners Adventures was a fun adventure and the tour company staff were amazing, but the transport was a bit disorganized. The horseback riding arranged through Punta Cana Adventures was ok…unfortunately, they strolled through lots of trash to get to the beach from the ranch, but once they got there it was pretty. Overall, a relaxing and fun time for the entire family.
Trip Review: European Arts
Brittany Fenkel and her teenage daughter Anna from Bryn Mawr took a mother/daughter trip to three countries in Europe last summer with a unique focus on the performing arts. Their custom-planned trip began in Prague with a 3-night stay at the 22-room Hotel Residence Agnes, located in the city’s Old Town. They found the hotel to be charming with staff that treated them like family. On arrival, freshly made apple strudel, wine, and coffee were offered with complimentary snacks and drinks whenever they wanted. The staff reviewed their itinerary with them to make sure they knew where to go, made excellent dining recommendations and reservations, did their laundry for free, and even offered complimentary airport transfers and driving services. The duo took a city driving tour to all corners of the city with our favorite Prague guide, Luba, and also visited Prague Castle on their own. Their entertainment roster included a jazz concert with the Czech Jazz Workshop at the Jazz Dock (a jazz club literally right on the river) which they said was really fun, authentic, and unique, as well as a version of Swan Lake ballet, performed in a small (but hot) venue without live music, but enjoyable, nonetheless. A day trip to Cesky Krumlov rounded out their Czech experience. They then flew to Vienna for a 4-night stay at the Hotel Beethoven, fitting for this arts-inspired trip. The boutique hotel is centrally located in the city near the Naschmarkt. They said that their room was spacious and comfortable, but the hotel didn’t have the same family feel and service levels as Prague. They took a walking tour of the city with a private guide, and she recommend some iconic restaurants and gave them plenty of local lore. Their long day trip to Salzburg for a Sound of Music tour was also combined with Mozart history. They were hoping for more Sound of Music stops, but still found Salzburg to be adorable and gorgeous. An incredible classical music concert that included some opera was a Vienna highlight. The top-notch musicians were in period costumes which were both touristy and charming at the same time. Their last stop was Venice where they flew in and stayed at the upscale Starhotel’s Splendid for 4-nights, located on a canal for easy access and a short walk from the Piazza San Marco. While the hotel was a bit dark, they said the staff was amazing and they enjoyed their room. They took a Boat Ride and Walking tour of the city and a tour of the Burano, Murano, and Torcello Islands. The later was a large group tour, but still fun. They were pleasantly surprised by the lovely Burano which is known for its lace. They went shopping at a beautiful store that had extraordinary handmade items that the shop sells to many royals and celebrities. Torcello was nothing special, but they were fine with that and Murano was also nice with all of its glassmaking artisans. A stop for drinks at the Hotel Cipriani was beyond extravagant, but a lovely experience. The Barber of Seville opera performed in an incredible palace topped their stay. They said the intimate setting felt like an extravagance…so small, personal, special, and creative. It was a truly delightful and memorable way to end their trip. A wow! Overall, a great trip. They let us know that they walked over 20,000 steps a day in the summer’s 90+ degree heat and loved every minute of it!
Trip Review: An Atelier Experience
Lauren and her husband traveled to the Atelier Playa Mujeres earlier this month for a birthday celebration. This resort is available for families with children ages 16 and older…an ideal and very popular option for our families with older teens and young adults. The resort is a 45-minute ride north of the Cancun airport and showcases 593 suites. We loved the “nature meets industrial” design of the resort with the low-lying jungle mostly left intact, lots of greenery, and a Blue Flag-accredited beach that incorporates education, the environment, and cleanliness into keeping the beach naturally intact (a few bushes here and there). The beach also has netting to catch the seagrass and you can walk for a while in both directions. Our oceanview junior suite was located on the top floor with expansive views of the sea, jungle, pool, and golf course. The spacious room had a bathroom that can be left open (but still a private toilet area) or it can be completely closed off. Rooms have a king or two queen beds plus a sofabed. Another reason this resort is ideal for our older families! There are plenty of themed restaurant options. Dinner reservations can be made up to three days in advance at kiosks located throughout the resort. Plus an extensive room service menu. When we didn’t see a restaurant that we would enjoy, we just kept checking back until we did! Mostly excellent meals with plenty of fresh ingredients and always being asked by the friendly waiters about any special food needs. There is also a spacious spa, an excellent gym with fitness programs, fun daily activities including bike tours, kayak tours, and art classes, a few watersports (the water was a bit rough when we were there), golf, evening shows, wine and cheese presentations that are nice before dinner, a main pool, quiet pool and plenty of comfortable loungers at the pools and beach. The Inspira club level offers added amenities and services including a special check-in lounge, lobster on the room service menu, a round of golf, access to the gourmet restaurant that otherwise is an added cost, two club-level pools (an infinity pool on the roof and an oceanfront pool), and more. Overall the staff went out of their way to show their appreciation and offered top-level service. A relaxing and enjoyable experience!
Trip Review: Multi-Gen Fun at Club Med
The Rabson/Wolf Family with 3 generations (ages 16-82) traveled from Boston to Cancun over the winter break to Club Med Cancun. They loved their stay last winter at Club Med Punta Cana and wanted to have another great experience…this trip exceeded that! Their superior rooms were not as updated and spacious as in Punta Cana (this club does have larger and more updated rooming and suite options), but comfortable and clean and ideally located in the middle of this long property as we requested through our Club Med representatives with a ground floor for the grandparents. They could easily go back to the room during the day as needed. The family let us know that young and old had a fabulous time keeping busy and active on this vacation! Many of them took tennis lessons and participated in the weekly tennis tournament. They all tried pickleball, which was fun. There was also beach volleyball, archery, watersports, ping pong, water aerobics, line dancing, yoga, power walks, and of course the midday events such as the color and foam parties on the beach which showcases Club Med at its finest. They all participated in the coffee games such as trivia where they crushed the competition. They were so active that at the end of the week, most of them were given special participation awards!! They let us know that the food was quite good overall and especially easier for the gluten-free family members compared to Punta Cana because so much of the Mexican food is corn-based. This family loves interacting with the GOs (resort staff) and they were outstanding and exemplified the Club Med spirit. The family also loved that the resort is a safe space for the teens to have a ton of freedom. The teen and young adults in the group really enjoyed the evening dance parties! Overall they had an awesome time and appreciate Club Med’s overall congeniality and abundance of activities, food, and entertainment.
Trip Review: Thanksgiving in Portugal
The Shumskas Family of Fountainville, PA (2 adults and 2 teens aged 19 and 13) traveled to Portugal for the week of Thanksgiving. Their trip began in Porto with a 3-night stay at the charming PortoBay Flores, a new 5-star hotel in the historic city center located on a pedestrian-only street. The hotel is housed in a 16th-century palace along with a newly built wing that blends the old and new with 66 rooms and suites, an 18th-century chapel, and a lovely patio. The Shumskas parents enjoyed being able to go down to the bar and hang out without the children and let us know that the breakfast (which was included in their rate) was super! On their first full day, the family got to know Porto with a privately guided four-hour walking tour. Highlights of the city included amazing views from the Serra Pilar Monastery terrace, the Dom Luis I Bridge, the tile work at the Sao Bento train station, the Lello bookstore (the inspiration for Harry Potter), the river bank, Cathedral Se XII, Clerigos Tower and more. In the afternoon the family experienced a hands-on tile workshop at Gazete Azulejos, a tile painting atelier that researches, promotes, and preserves the Portuguese tiles used to decorate buildings. The family said the experience was really fun and interesting. Their guide for the walking tour also drove them from Porto to Lisbon with stops on the way in Coimbra to see the famous Joanine Library at the university, Nazare, and Obidos where they visited Casa das Senhoras Rainhas and castle. They enjoyed talking with their guide about life in Portugal and recent politics. In Lisbon, the family stayed for 4-nights in a spacious 2-bedroom apartment with a kitchen at Flora Chiado. Located in the heart of the charming Chiado district, there are just 10 apartments in total. They appreciated the delivery of fresh bread in the morning and found the staff to be super helpful and friendly. On their first full day in Lisbon, a 3-hour walking tour gave them a great city orientation. It started at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint – one of the most breathtaking views of the city. The tour included a stroll through the Bairro Alto and Alfama neighborhoods, a stop by the Igreja de Sao Roque church, Lisbon Cathedral, and the Bertrand bookshop (the world’s oldest!) along with the St. Justa elevator. The following day they spent exploring the exotic Quinta da Regaleira palace in Sintra with a stop at the Cabo de Rocha Lighthouse and the beach town of Cascais with a private guide. A new dietary restriction for one of the family members made it slightly more challenging to eat out, but they said everywhere they ate was lovely and tasty. Overall a slightly wet, but wonderful trip to Portugal!
Trip Review: Thanksgiving in Cabo
Mindy and her family (parents and two young adults) traveled to Cabo to relax and celebrate Thanksgiving. They stayed at the all-inclusive Paradisus Los Cabos which is located along the corridor between the towns of Los Cabos and San Jose del Cabo. This Leading Hotels of the World property has 305 rooms and suites, a wide and swimmable beach (rare in this area), an expansive beachfront pool, spa, gym, children’s program, daily activities, evening shows, and lots of dining options (a festive Thanksgiving meal included!). Mindy’s family stayed in the club-level Reserve section with a dedicated concierge who tended to their every need. This section also has a quiet and adult-only pool and a dedicated section of the beach with added service levels. Mindy and her daughter also enjoyed some pampering at the spa and the family got the unique opportunity to see the annual sea turtle release. The weather was perfect with 80 degrees and sunny every day. Off the resort, they took a private pontoon boat and snorkel excursion with La Isla Tours from Cabo San Lucas. They enjoyed seeing the area highlights and wildlife (including whales and seals) while boating around the Sea of Cortez where it meets the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the snorkeling wasn’t that great next to Pelican rock, but the sunset was! Another trip highlight was a cooking class at Metate Cabo, a Cabo San Lucas restaurant, where they had a tour of the restaurant’s herb and vegetable garden and then made salsa and pressed handmade tortillas for quesadillas for a special dinner with dessert and drinks included. They loved the festive atmosphere and being outside under the night sky. Overall the trip was super relaxing, great family time, and a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving!
Travel Review: A European Journey
Lauren and her husband Evan traveled to Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam this month, a historical and culturally filled experience. We started the trip in Berlin. We enjoyed a fun bike tour with Fattire Tours to see the city’s highlights. Our history student guide from the UK was terrific and it was easy to maneuver bikes through this rather quiet city. Other Berlin experiences included wandering through the lovely Tiergarten Park which is laced with canals; visiting the Charlottenburg Palace with an audio tour and admiring the palace’s extensive gardens and meandering through the city’s various neighborhoods. We stayed in the quiet Charlottenburg neighborhood near the Berlin Zoo at the Hotel am Steinplatz. This Marriott hotel is located in a gorgeous art deco building. The staff was super helpful and our quiet room was nicely accommodated with views of the inner courtyard. The hotel offers a nice restaurant, a full-service spa, and a decent gym as well. We used My Day Trip to travel by car with a private driver from Berlin to Prague stopping in Meissen and Dresden on the way. Both cities are located in Saxony, have rich histories, castles, churches, and more, and both are situated along the Elbe River. Meissen is best known for its porcelain factory and we had the opportunity to see how its made by visiting different crafters for each step of the process. There is also an extensive museum of all of their handmade wares. Quite impressive! The city of Dresden is well known for its WWII destruction. Much of the city has been restored including the impressive Frauenkirche Church. We walked around the city and saw much of its impressive architecture including museums, churches, horse stables, tile art, and public squares. There was a busy fall festival in the main square that offered ample opportunity to try this region’s most popular foods and treats. Our extended stay in Prague (where Lauren’s daughter lives and works) was at the Mamaison Residence Downtown. It is an apartment hotel in the New Town close to the national museum but within easy reach of the Old Town. Our one-bedroom apartment in the new and modern section of the hotel had a spacious living area, balconies, and a fully stocked kitchen with a dishwasher and a washing machine. Rates at the hotel include an ample buffet breakfast and there is a large game room, spa, and a small gym. This was our second visit to Prague, but we still were able to find plenty of new experiences in this historic city. We explored the National Museum, the Communist Museum, and the Straha Monastery. We loved the amazing city views we got from climbing to the top of the Petrin Tower, experiencing a high-tech light show festival that took place around the city, seeing the opera Tosca at the gorgeous State Opera House, attending Yom Kipper services at the Jerusalem synagogue, and took a group tour of the city’s Jewish Quarter that we missed the first time due to holiday closures. We ventured outside the city with a group tour to see the horrors of the Terezin Concentration/Labor/Ghetto Camp and took the train for the day to the town of Pilsen best known for its beer. We toured the Pilsen Urquell beer factory and also took a tour of the extensive underground level of the city which was used for food, beer, security, and other storage needs. Our last stop was in Amsterdam with Lauren’s daughter and friend in tow. Unfortunately, the city was packed with tourists during an autumn break school week in Europe. We did our best to avoid the high tourist areas as much as possible venturing into the more residential areas for dining, shopping, and exploring. Highlights of our Amsterdam experience included the Anne Frank House, a canal boat ride, the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt’s House, Waterlooplein flea market and not getting hit by a bike! We stayed at the boutique-style Ink Hotel, an MGallery hotel. A former newspaper building uses the writing theme nicely throughout the hotel. The rooms were very quiet and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Overall a wonderful trip!
Trip Review: Israel Bus Tour
The Travisano Family (2 adults and their daughter, age 22) traveled to Israel in late June through early July to visit their son who was taking part in an Onward program in Tel Aviv. Their trip began with an expedited VIP arrival service at the airport. Their first three independent nights in Tel Aviv were spent at the Metropolitan Hotel, just two blocks from the beach. The hotel upgraded them to a 1-Bedroom Suite….they were thrilled! While in Tel Aviv they went to the beach, relaxed at the hotel pool, did an amazing graffiti tour, went to the street market, and more. Then they began a 7-night group bus tour organized through Gray Line. This Israel highlight tour was geared toward all religions and the family thought that the tour was fantastic. There were people of all ages and they met lots of nice families. The tour started with 29 and ended with 13 people (as this tour can begin in different cities). They also said that their tour guides were excellent, stuck to the schedule, and were so knowledgeable. They had a great bus driver as well. The first tour stop took them south to the Negev Desert including Masada where they took the cable car to the top and then for a float in the Dead Sea. Onward to Jerusalem for a 3-night stay at the Grand Court Hotel. They enjoyed the location and expansive breakfast buffet. In The Holy City, they visited the Israel Museum, Ein Karem, Yad Vashem, and Bethelem one day and the Old City, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, and the Mahane Yehuda Market the next. Upon leaving Jerusalem, they drove east to Jericho before heading north to Galilee to Beit Shean, Nazareth, and Safed. They spent the next two nights at a Hagroshim, a kibbutz guesthouse. They found the hotel to be very nice and modern with great food. The next day was spent exploring the Golan Heights, a winery, and the Sea of Galilee highlights including Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Tiberias. On the way back to Tel Aviv they drove down the Mediterranean coast and saw Acre, Haifa, and Caesarea. The tour ended with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Overnight in Tel Aviv completed this tour experience. They gave a special shoutout to the tour company for handling their food allergies but found that lunch was very similar day to day (which is fairly normal for a bus tour trying to feed large numbers efficiently and meet everyone’s dietary needs). Overall this was a cost-efficient and effective way to experience the best of the Holyland.
Trip Review: Iceland Adventure
The Negrin Family of New York took a last-minute father/daughter getaway to Iceland earlier this month. They started their six-night trip with a stay at the lovely Edition hotel in Reykjavik and spent their first day in Iceland relaxing at the Sky Lagoon, a newish thermal bath just outside the city. They said the experience was awesome and a relaxing way to start their adventure. They appreciated the well-organized operation, in-lagoon bar, and wonderful ocean views. For the next few days, they took several day tours and one overnight tour with Arctic Adventures to see the South Coast, then to the northwest and around the Golden Circle. They found the tours to be well organized with knowledgeable drivers and guides but didn’t love all the long drives involved. Their tour hotel for several nights, Reykjavik Lights, was pretty basic with small rooms to match this last-minute, budget-priced package. They were able to visit a variety of natural landscapes such as waterfalls, geysers, black beaches, natural thermal baths, lava fields, and more, and also explored the unique nature with an amphibian lagoon tour and ice cave experience. Stops included Jokulsarlon, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, Vatnajokull National Park, Snaefellsnes, and Kirkjufell. A trip highlight was a 10-mile hike around the newly activated Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, not far from the airport. The volcano erupted the day they arrived (and has actually just gone dormant!). Their self-guided hike took a total of 5 1/2 hours with rocky terrain and steep slopes but was such a unique and worthwhile experience. Their favorite Reykjavik dining experiences were at ROK Restaurant, Sushi Social and morning runs to Kaffibrennslan. Overall a fun and memorable visit. You can see more amazing Iceland photos at http://izzinegrin.com/iceland.
