Specials & News

Around the World with the Family Traveler

TEENS LEARN AT LOEW'S


Loews Hotels has introduced one- and two-night Teen Learning Vacation packages that provide truly unique experiences at several locations in the U.S.  At the Loews Coronado Bay in San Diego, your teen can hang ten with private surfing lessons, get a custom surf board and two spa treatments while the family stays two nights in an executive suite.  In Nashville, your budding country singer will go wild over a song-writing session with an award-winning songwriter, get a voucher for an acoustic guitar, one hour guitar lesson, attend a performance at the famed Bluebird Cafe while the family stays one night at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.  Other packages include a look inside Wall Street with a stay at the Loews Regency in New York, a golf based experience at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and a culinary arts program at the Loews Miami Beach on South Beach. 

Let your teen explore with Loews!                             

                           

PALM COAST PLEASURE


Ginn Hammock Beach, a 1/2 hour south of St. Augustine and 1 1/2 hours from Orlando, is offering one bedroom suites for only  $199/night through December 24.  This family-friendly beachfront resort opened in 2004 and showcases 18 holes of golf, kids club for ages 4-13 along with teen activities, six-acre water and swim park with lazy river, waterslide and zero entry pool (and an adult only pool), tennis, spa and gym.  Accommodations are available in 1-4 bedroom suites as well as oceanfront guestrooms.  Suites include full size kitchens, washer/dryer, living room and balcony.

Escape to Florida!                                 Photo Credit: Hammock Beach        

SUMMER SAVINGS AT WILLIAMSBURG


Your family will receive a $200 resort credit to use for meals, golf, spa or other resort recreation this summer in historic Williamsburg, VA.  Stay four nights at the Woodlands Hotel and Suites and your $600 (plus tax) package also includes daily breakfast and length-of-stay admission to Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area (including Revolutionary City where history comes alive with a different event each day of the week, museums and The Story of the Patriot film).  You also receive 50% off Colonial Evening programs, a wonderful array of events that may include storytelling, plays, historical reenactments, dance and more.  This terrific package is available for Sunday or Monday arrivals only through August 28.

Let history come alive this summer!                                                               

HOLIDAYS WITH RCCL


Get into the holiday spirit this winter with Royal Caribbean.  The cruise line is offering up to a $200 shipboard credit per cabin on select Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's sailings in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, South America and South Pacific!  Choose from a variety of ships and dates. 

In other RCCL news, the cruise line recently revealed more details about the neighborhood concept on the new Oasis of the Seas scheduled to sail in late 2009.  The Boardwalk is inspired by seaside piers of yesterday and will feature an AquaTheater, the largest fresh water pool found at sea.  The pool can be used by guests and also for spectacular water shows (much like the ice skating rinks on current ships).  The Oasis will also feature the first carousel at sea, loft suite cabins, two rock climbing walls and the first zip line at sea suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk.  This megaship will have 16 decks, carry more than 5,400 passengers and feature seven distinct themed areas including Central Park and the Royal Promenade.  She will home port in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Getaway for the holiday!

 

GET FIT AT SEA


Princess Cruises offers you a chance to get your heart pumping with a fleetwide release of the Wii Fit balance games.  Cruise staff recently completed training by Nintendo to operate this fun video program.  Compete against other families in a variety of battles on the huge 300 square foot Movies Under the Stars poolside screens (on available ships)!  Youth and teen centers will also offer younger cruisers the opportunity to participate in Wii Fit activities throughout their vacation.  Passengers of all ages can enjoy playing games such as tennis, golf, soccer, ski-jump, hula hoop, yoga and more.  Other Wii games are also featured aboard all Princess cruises.

 

Get fit at sea with Wii!      

 

 

NCL GOES 2.0


Norwegian Cruise Lines recently announced a series of upgrades to their fleet in an effort to enhance their service and amenities across the board.  Upgrades include an extra $50 million spent on food, upgraded bedding, towels, bathrobes and bath amenities as well as an expanded room service menu.  Also available are NCL-U educational programs (from mojito mixing to digital photography labs) and upgraded pool services (drink flags for your deck chair, more tranquil music, cold towels and Evian spritzes!).  The kids club has also expanded its hours from 9:00am-10:30pm on port and sea days and babysitting is available until 1:30pm.  In 2010, NCL will roll out a pair of new state-of the-art ships which will each sail with 4,200 passengers,  These new F3 ships will feature really innovativeaccommodations with  curved walls to maximize space. 

Get pampered on NCL!

TROPICAL DREAMING


The popular Dreams Resort chain is expanding in the Caribbean and Mexico.  Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana will open in December 2008 following a $24 million enhancement of the existing Sunscape Punta Cana.  The resort will feature 500 deluxe guests rooms and 40 suites with new bedding, flat screen TV and MP3 docking stations.  The Explorers Club (ages 3-12) will feature a new pool and a brand new teen club will be added!  Also in December, Sunscape Casa del Mar will become Dreams La Romana.  In Mexico,  Sunscape Puerto Adventuras will be transformed into Dreams Puerto Adventuras in November 2008.  And two new resorts will open in Puerto Vallarta (October 2008) and Huatulco (November 2008).  Dreams Resorts, which caters to Americans and their vacation needs, provides luxury services and accommodations for families and couples.  Through December 19, kids stay, play at eat free!  The Family Traveler was recently designated as a Master Agent with Dreams, Secrets and Sunscape Resorts. 

Call to book a dreamy getaway today!                                             

GRAND PALLADIUM DEBUT


Fiesta Hotels will soon debut two new and deluxe all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.  The Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa and sister resort the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa will offer all junior suites, a total of 10 restaurants (7 are a la carte), sports bar, 5 pools (with children's area, adult only area and 8 jacuzzis), kids club for ages 4-12, casino and more.  The resorts are located only 35 minutes from the Montego Bay airport in a new area for hotels called Lucea.  Apple Vacations is offering an terrific opening special for 4 night stays from August 1-October 31.  Call us for pricing from your city!

Enjoy a tropical getaway to Jamaica!           Photo Credit: Fiesta Hotels    

FAMILY FUN AT SANDY LANE


Through October 31, the prestigious Sandy Lane resort in Barbados is offering a special Family Fun package.  You can receive a second room at half off for up to 3 children age 16 and under as well as unlimited children's programming, one family lunch and a gift on arrival.  Rates also include breakfast daily, executive airport transfers and unlimited non-motorized water sports.  Sandy Lane offers a variety of spacious rooms and suites (112 total).  The smallest is 779 square feet!  Enjoy great golf, tennis, spa, beach, pools, several dining options and a variety of kids programming.  The Treehouse Club is for ages 3-12, but the resort also features a baby and toddler play area and a teen gathering spot.  Enjoy a world class reef system, natural caves, rocky cliffs with blowholes, miles of sugarcane fields and remote scenic beaches on the island of Barbados.

Get away to Sandy Lane!                                   Photo Credit: Sandy Lane

EQUAL EXCHANGE IN LONDON


The family-friendly Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments in London if offering an equal exchange rate from British pounds to dollars through 2008.  That saves you over 40%!  Rates for an executive room start at 350GBP or $350 for a minimum four night stay and may vary by the season.  This terrific 5 star luxury hotel overlooks Green Park in Piccadilly close to many historic sights, museums and the West End.  There are 123 rooms and suites as well as 33 one and two bedroom apartments providing families plenty of space.  Apartments are available in both a modern or traditional decor.  At the hotel, you can also enjoy fine dining, afternoon tea and a spa. 

Dollar deals in London!                                Photo credit: Athenaeum Hotel

WELCOME TO SHANGRI-LA


Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, the leading Asia-based luxury hotel group, is offering a Value Vacation package for families.  Your rate includes late check-out until 3:00pm, free breakfast and buffet dinner daily, $20 recreation credit, free use of non-motorized watersports and unlimited laundry.  Shangri-La has over 52 hotels and resorts mainly throughout Asia, but also in Australia, the U.S. (Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami and New York), Canada, Europe and more. 

Lost Horizon awaits, with laundry!                   Photo: Shangri-La Resorts

FLY FREE TO ITALY


Air One, Italy's first independently owned airline, is offering a FREE companion airfare (plus tax).  Just buy one round-trip ticket from Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Francisco to Bari, Lamenzia Terme, Milan, Naples, Palermo or Rome for travel from July 10-November 23.  Boston and Chicago fares start at $999/person in coach and $3,999 in business class.  Other cities are $1,111/person in coach and $4,399 in business class. The flights from Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco actually include code shares with United Airlines.  At the end of the month, Air One begins its first transatlantic service to the US with the only nonstop service from Boston and Chicago to Milan.

Call us today for a great Italian getaway!                                        

NEW NON-STOP AIR SERVICE/AIRLINE NEWS


Air One-see above. 

 

American-Will begin daily service from Miami to Antigua and Miami to Grenada on November 20.

 

Hawaiian Airlines-Added service from Oakland to Honolulu (left vacated by Aloha Airlines).

 

Spirit Airways-Began service from Ft. Lauderdale to Trinidad and Tobago.

 

TRAVEL TIP


Please check with your airline's website or The Family Traveler before flying for the most up-to-date information about baggage allowances, extra charges, baggage size limitations and other recent changes to airline travel.  The policies are changing pretty rapidly and most rules are based on when you purchased your ticket vs. when you are traveling.   You may consider shipping your bags in advance especially for oversized or overweight items.  For packing tips to lighten your load, check out www.smartpacking.com.

 

 

TRAVEL REVIEW


Lauren and her family recently returned from Club Med Punta Cana.  Like many families that we have sent to this family friendly resort, we really enjoyed our stay.  Club Med is a great experience for families looking for a congenial environment where staff and guests easily mingle.  It also has one of the best kids clubs in the travel business available from age 4 months-17.  The new pool and playground area of the Baby and Petit Club is awesome (and well shaded).  Club Med also offers a fun array of recreational activities; so you can be as active or relaxed as you please.  Try the circus trapeze, test out your archery skills from summer camp or take out a kayak for an invigorating workout on the sea.  Or enjoy a relaxing day on their peaceful beach or lagoon pool.  Buffet meals offer an array of fresh food choices for all with theme nights for each dinner.  Lauren really enjoyed working off the delicious chocolate bread at the fitness classes in a beachfront hut while daughter Anna appreciated the variety of activities and fun staff in the teen club (The Ramp).  Club Med Punta Cana is currently updating all of their rooms with a new zen feel and recently added new two bedroom suites that are oceanfront and include special concierge services.  Connecting rooms are also now available.  All rooms have at least a separate bedroom, living area with two day beds and bathroom with separate toilet.  Club Med also offers an excursion desk, nice shop, reasonably priced internet access (wireless in the lobby or four terminals in a room behind), great photography services, 24 hour medical care and only a five minute drive from the airport!  Overall our family can't wait for our next Club Med experience...


FAVORITE DESTINATIONS


Botswana is one of the top safari destinations in Africa thanks to plenty of wide open spaces.  More than 80% of the country's population of 1.7 million people live in a scattering of towns and large villages leaving plenty of room for animals (and tourists) to roam the countryside unhindered.  This Southern African country has some of the largest remaining herds of wildlife in Africa!  The country's low-volume policy for tourism also helps protect its natural assets and provides you with a variety of luxury and deluxe safari camp and lodge experiences.   Botswana is a landlocked country dominated by the Kalahari Desert in the south and west.  The northeast is characterized by gently rolling tablelands interspersed with granite kopjes or hills, formed of giant rocks balanced upon one another.  In the northwest, the Okavango (the world's largest inland delta) forms a network of swamps and lagoons.  In addition, Chobe National Park offers 7,000 square miles of swamp-and-grasslands wilderness on the floodplains of the Chobe River and is one of the finest parks in Africa where you will see a variety of animals and birds.

 

Experience a safari in Botswana!  Call us today for more details. For more details about the islands, visit www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw/index_f.html.

 

“Experience the World One Trip at a Time” 

Mindy, Lauren and The Family Traveler

 

 

 NEWS AND SPECIALS:

 

US/CANADA TRAVEL IDEAS

CRUISES/WATERSPORTS

CARIBBEAN & TROPICAL FUN

INT'L EXPLORATION

NEWS


The Family Traveler strives to offer you knowledgeable advice while saving you time, stress and energy. We offer you the best possible vacation options, stay current with safety/security issues, and deliver the best value to you for each and every trip!

 

We are available to you whenever you need us (including nights and week-ends) and thank you for your business!

 

We welcome comments, suggestions and questions.

Thanks!

 

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!
Email:
 

 

UPDATED REFERRAL PROGRAM

 

For each friend or family member you recommend who books a trip with us (valued at a minimum of $1,000), we will send you a $25 gift card as our thanks or you can choose a $25 travel credit for future travel. Rack up great savings!

 

We really appreciate your referrals!  Your family and friends become our family and friends

Home | About Us | Specials & News | Accolades | Links | Contact Us

Copyright © 2004 The Family Traveler · All rights Reserved
Site design by
Richard Markette Graphic Arts