The Renewed Lanesborough
The long-awaited re-opening of The Lanesborough in London took place this past summer. The hotel, located at the entrance to Knightsbridge from Hyde Park Corner, had been closed since late 
2013 and is now be part of the Oetker Collection, which also operates Le Bristol Paris and other luxury properties throughout the world. The hotel loves welcoming children with welcome gifts, movies, games, daily treats and luxury picnic lunches. Rooms and suites also include 24-hour butler service. The hotel is now offering a Family Time package. When you book two interconnecting rooms, you will receive 50% off the children’s room. Plus you will also receive two free children’s breakfast when two adults dine.
Wizard School
The five-star Ashford Castle in Western Ireland invites parents and children to attend wizard school this 
Halloween and Thanksgiving season. The 2-night Wizard School package includes kid-friendly activities such as a painting class in the “Chamber of Art”; a cooking class for “house elves”; and a “Forbidden Forest” treasure hunt on the estate’s 350 acres of winding passageways, hidden alcoves and secret gardens. Children also have the opportunity to meet Dingle, Ashford Castle’s resident owl. On both evenings, a “Harry Potter” film is shown in the castle’s new cinema, while parents can enjoy a 5-course table d’hote dinner in the George V dining room. The Wizard School package starts at $1,349 for two adults and two children (under 12) and includes accommodations in a Deluxe Family Room, plus breakfast and dinner. The package is available Oct. 23-24, Oct. 25-26, Oct. 30-31, and Nov. 25-26.
New Family Journeys
Abercrombie & Kent is offering three new trips for 2016 to their selection of Family Journeys: Italy, Central Europe and Scotland/Ireland and they are all on sale! These luxury trips are designed to satisfy adventurers of all ages, with engaging local guides, fun and enriching activities, and child-friendly hotels – all with a $400 per-child savings. Every day includes at least one Family Discovery, a chance for your children to connect to your destination by interacting directly with nature, culture and even with local children. The Italy tour includes stops in Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre and Venice. Central Europe highlights include Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague while the UK trip features Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Dublin, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula. Lower rates are also currently available on family tours to Spain, Amsterdam/Paris/London and Antarctica/South Georgia/Falkland Islands.
Prague Family Package
The Hotel UNIC, a 4 star designer hotel in Prague, has a good value on their Family Package 
that is available through June 30, 2016. The package includes a 2-night accommodation with complimentary upgrade to their spacious Family Suite (one bedroom + living area) for two adults and two children up to age 15. You also receive welcome cookies, buffet breakfast, a 3-course family dinner with special children’s menu, a family ticket to the Prague Zoo, parking in the hotel garage and a city map. An additional night is available at a 15 percent discount. The hotel opened in June 2013 and is ideally located in the heart of the historical city center within walking distance to all major historical and cultural attractions such as Prague Powder Tower, the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town Square with its famous Astronomical Clock.
New From Backroads
Backroads introduced its new selection of trips for 2016 responding to a growing demand for family programs. The company is tripling its selections for families! Some of the new trips for families with children and teens include biking in the Canadian Rockies, the Italian Dolomites and Palm Springs and multi-sport trips in Argentina’s Lake District, Spain’s Basque Country, Alaska and even in the Caribbean on St. Kitts and Nevis. New Family Breakaway trips, created for families with older teens and young adults, include Croatia and Montenegro, England, Patagonia, Peru and New Zealand. A Rhine River cruise has also been designated as a Family Breakaway itinerary. Backroads trips are ideal for active families and even for multi-generational families (as there are varying route and activity options) and for families who really want to get immersed in a region. Trips are generally 5-6 days leaving plenty of time before or after to explore in more traditional ways or just relax. Let The Family Traveler help put together the perfect trip that meets your family’s needs.
Kid-Friendly Cannes
Located on Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette in the French Riviera, the Hotel Majestic Barriere
tries to make children feel just as much at home as the celebrities who stay at the hotel during the Cannes Film Festival. This summer, the hotel is rolling out the red carpet for its younger guests, opening the doors of its in-house cinema both for private family viewings and for a Cartoon Festival, a regular occurrence during the school holidays. Other benefits for children include a welcome backpack with toys and games, free breakfast for under age 12 and Jacadi baby products such as diaper changing mats, bibs and bathrobes. The Majestic’s Diwi & Co Kid’s Club on the hotel beach takes care of children between 4 and 12 years old, offering a variety of creative, cultural and fun activities. Swimming lessons are available on request at the hotel pool. Your family can enjoy a wide range of water sports such as parasailing, fly-fishing and paddle boarding, accessible directly off the hotel jetty. The luxury hotel also offers a spa, gym and several dining options. Current promotions include a free night stay and a discount on suites.
Royal Family Package
Dromoland Castle is attracting families 
to its 450 acres of sprawling rural acreage in Ireland’s County Clare with its two-night Royal Family Package. With a 30 percent savings, the package includes family accommodations in a deluxe room with two queen beds for two adults and two children under 12. You also get daily full Irish breakfast, a dinner in The Earl of Thomond Restaurant and a family falconry experience. All of their majestic, beautiful birds are captive bred, both in Ireland and abroad. They include different species of falcons, hawks and owls. The grounds of the 16th-century castle sit on a championship parkland golf course. Other activities and amenities include biking, fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, pool, gym and spa.
Precious Journeys
Precious Journeys is an international program from Big Five Tours and Expeditions that caters to families with children ages 5 to 11 who want to discover the world-both its awesomeness and its challenges. The 7-12 day tours have been specifically design for young people with a variety of hands-on and educational experiences in culturally rich places in Central and South America, India and Africa. Your children will meet other children as well as fascinating people working on real-world solutions; and experience the sustainability movement on a global basis. For example in Ecuador the trip focuses on anthropology, archaeology and marine science as you travel through Machalilla National Park and the Isla de La Plata wildlife sanctuary along with visits with local artists, craftsmen and farmers; hikes; bike trips and horseback rides. India, Costa Rica/Nicaragua, Kenya and the Galapagos round out the great choices. We love Precious Journey’s slogan: Not until we venture out do we truly become citizens of the world. And, our children are the best ambassadors.
Barcelona by Scooter
The Majestic Hotel & Spa in Barcelona, one of our most popular hotels in this unique city, is now offering 
Barcelona by Scooter. This family friendly method of transportation comes with different sized versions of the self-propelled scooter, including a small one with three wheels, small two-wheelers and an adult-sized model. Before each outing, the hotel will provide your family with a backpack filled with water and snacks, along with a preloaded iPad that has been uploaded with a city map plus an app that curates specific themed itineraries, including culinary- and culture-focused rides. For added convenience, the scooters fold making it easy to carry into restaurants and sites. The 5 star Majestic is located on the Paseo de Gracia, close to Gaudi´s famous buildings, and offers a rooftop pool, several restaurants, spa, gym, beach club access along with a variety of accommodations including spacious apartments.
Princess Charlotte Package
The royal Princess Charlotte has arrived and The Milestone Hotel in London is 
celebrating the birth by inviting your family to experience the Princess Charlotte package available through July 8. The property, which is located across from Kensington Palace, is offering 7-night accommodations in the William and Catherine Residence, a Royal Kensington breakfast for up to four guests, a Champagne afternoon tea for two adults and a princess-themed tea for up to two children, and a private tour of Kensington Palace for up to four guests. The William and Catherine Residence features two bedrooms, a private balcony off the master bedroom, a spacious living room with a balcony overlooking the Kensington Palace and Gardens, and an open kitchen and dining area, as well as an extra half bathroom and a washer/dryer.
