Trip Review: A Sadness Tour
We have booked our families on unique tours all over the world…in search of new experiences, exposure to new cultures, family histories, and more. A Sadness Tour is a new one for us, albeit very relevant during the times of COVID. Ilyse Shapiro of Wynnewood, PA found a need for such a trip which she satisfied with a visit to Chernobyl, Ukraine, and a World War II-themed group tour highlighting concentration camps throughout Germany and Poland. Ever since seeing a story on 60 Minutes over 30 years ago, Ilyse always had a vision of seeing Chernobyl. She was intrigued by the eerie music the workers listened to and how they could only work for 90 seconds before getting contaminated with radiation. Her self-titled Sadness Tour began with a privately guided tour we arranged of this nuclear disaster site. She learned that there is still so much radiation coming from the reactor that workers constructed an arch around it then sealed it up. Afterward, she visited the town of Pripyat, where 45,000+ of Chernobyl’s workers lived. Today, it is an entire town ensconced by a forest. She visited the supermarket, movie theatre, school, amusement park, and more to get a sense of how folks lived and used a Geiger counter to test radioactivity. In some spots, it would be low, but over sewage grates, it was quite high. A waterfront cafe is expected to reopen in 2022 for the 70,000+ guests who visit the site every year thanks in part to the popularity of the television show of the same name. Ilyse said that this was an amazing start to her trip – a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Next up on her tour was a group tour with Globus. Ilyse had previously been to Terezin outside of Prague and was eager to experience and learn more about the atrocities of the Holocaust. Fortunately, there were only eight people on this tour (bus tours generally go out with up to 44) with a lot of free time included to explore. Before the tour started, we arranged a private tour for Ilyse of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Treblinka concentration camp. The tour group then visited the Auschwitz/Birkenau camps. It was one of the worst experiences of Ilyse’s life – going from building to building where she saw a display that included two tons of women’s braids and buns, a display of walkers, crutches, and arms, and one with combs and brushes by the thousands. Afterward were a few days of beauty to balance out the emotional toll. The tour visited Wroclaw and Krakow in Poland and then onto the war-torn towns of Dresden, Torgau, and Berlin in Germany. Ilyse took advantage of another private tour we arranged in Berlin that examined the city’s Jewish heritage and history. The group tour continued south to Weimar and Nuremberg. Each town was quaint with busy squares filled with cafes where the horrors of the past were obscured. They also visited the Buchenwald camp on a misty gray day which fit the somber mood. Next on to Munich and the Dachau camp where Ilyse learned the difference between a concentration camp and an extermination camp and how the nazis used crystal meth to stay focused and on task. After a few days of beauty and tranquility in Munich, it was time to go home. Ilyse, who has traveled around the world on her own and with her family, is thankful to The Family Traveler for making this unique trip a reality.
Trip Review: Alaska Charter
Two generations of the Silverstein family of Parkland, FL and Raleigh, NC (parents and six young adults) chartered a boat to sail through the Inside Passage of Alaska in June. They love the all-inclusive aspect of this style of travel and being able to customize their vacation experience. Their rate included all meals and beverages, excursions, fishing gear, land transfers, and hotel stays before and after the sailing. Plus a captain, crew, chef, and guide. Their home for 6 nights was the Alaskan Story, a 90 ft. yacht that sleeps 10 with all en-suite cabins. The ship is fully stocked with salt-water fishing gear for catching both salmon and halibut, crab and shrimp pots, a 17’ Boston Whaler, and three double kayaks for a nice variety of adventures. They also found a tranquil area for stand-up paddleboarding. The ship sailed from Juneau to Sitka through the Tongass National Forest in scenic Southeast Alaska and anchored in calm areas each night. The family spent a few nights at the end of the trip in Sitka where they hiked to the Fortress of the Bear and explored the Raptor Center. They also enjoyed a beer brewery, shopped for souvenirs, and found the best breakfast at the Mean Queen where they ended up eating most of their Sikta meals. Highlights of the trip were putting down and raising the crab and shrimp traps which were both so delicious and thoroughly enjoyed for the next two days. They mentioned that the shrimp they caught was the biggest they have ever seen! Wildlife abounded. Some special experiences they had were seeing a mother bear and her two cubs while hiking and a mother seal and her baby pups while the ship was sailing. They also took a variety of hikes and saw many glaciers. Overall this delayed trip to celebrate one of their special birthdays was well worth the wait and the extensive travel to get to and from Southern Alaska.
Trip Review: Bay State Adventure
The Chow/Mansfield family of 3 from Los Angeles (two adults and a teenage girl, age 14) traveled across the country to Massachusetts last month for a trip to Cape Cod and Boston. The family flew into the Boston airport, rented a car, and drove to the Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth on Cape Cod for a three-night stay. The property was a little too moderate for their taste, but they did appreciate its location for exploring and were able to get a room with two large beds. They had a fun time visiting Hyannis Port, Sandwich, and Provincetown which they liked the best. Lobster rolls, clam chowder, and homemade ice cream made the food line-up and the daughter especially loved the stuffed quahogs. They then drove to Boston and dropped their rental car. The Eliot Hotel, located right on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, was home for the next three nights. Mom described the hotel as “nicely decorated, spacious, updated, glamorous and had the wow factor that dad needs to be happy!”. The family was happy to stretch out in a one-bedroom suite. They packed in a visit to Harvard, took a harbor cruise, the Nighttime Ghost and Cemetery Tour, a Black Heritage Walking Tour, had Boston Cream Pie at the Parker House Hotel, had dinner at the Union Oyster House, toured the Black History Museum, and more. They also had fun walking, shopping, and eating along Newbury Street and so much more. Overall, the family described the trip as a blast. Not as relaxing as planned with so much to see, do, and explore…they needed a vacation after their vacation!
Trip Review: Road Trip
One of our Philadelphia families with their New York-based young adult children in tow took to the road this summer with a trip to Santa Fe, Durango, and Telluride. The family spent five nights in New Mexico’s capital city (a return visit for the parents) at the Inn of the Governors. They found it to be warm, friendly, and comfortable…a bit faded in many respects, but a good value that fit the family’s budget. A room with a fireplace was appreciated by the parents and they loved the hotel’s location near the city’s main plaza. They enjoyed a private e-bike tour of Santa Fe through Heritage Inspirations with plenty of historical dialogue. They found the guide to be knowledgeable and the ride well-conceived. They always enjoy the amazing Mexican cuisine at Gabriel’s about 15 minutes outside of town and this visit was no exception. They then drove onto Colorado. Their one-night Durango stay was sadly marred by maintenance issues at the Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn. They rented bikes from a local shop and rode on the riverwalk which they said was great. The young adults enjoyed a hike on the Smelter Mountain Trail which was short, but steep. They made a quick stop in the charming town of Ouray, but recommend spending more time if you can. In Telluride, the family stayed in a condo in town for 3 nights that we rented through a local management company. They found the location to be a great choice and loved the views from everywhere. They said the condo was really clean and the management company was super attentive and also helpful with pre-trip planning. They said riding the gondola was pure joy and rode it many times. They also loved the sunsets, stargazing, and hiking the Bear Creek trail a few times. The young adults also hiked Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail and boasted about the amazing views. Overall the trip was a great success!
Trip Review: Jamaican Villa Getaway
The Rabbino family of 6 (2 adults and 4 teens ages 14-18) from Bala Cynwyd, PA enjoyed a spring break villa rental in Jamaica for a week-long getaway this past March. The family loved the low-key and calm nature of the experience away from the hustle and bustle of Jamaica’s resorts and towns. Perfect for post-COVID travel. The waterfront Noble House is located just 30 minutes west of the Montego Bay airport made even easier with VIP arrival services from Club Mobay. The staffed villa, with 10,000 sq. ft., gave the family plenty of space to stretch out. The one-story house featured 4 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms along with expansive grounds, gardens, pool, and beach. The narrow stretch of beach was shared with two other villas (although still a public beach where locals congregated at times). The family loved the large, air-conditioned bedrooms and bathrooms with nine decks to relax and take in the views including a rooftop deck ideal for morning yoga. They appreciated the really large and deep pool and especially the baskets of towels placed all over the house! The teen boys slept in the pool house while the large living room and connected deck were the main gathering space in the evening to play games, have drinks, watch movies, or just take in the ocean. The property also featured a fish pond and a huge yard for recreation that included equipment for volleyball, badminton, and croquet. Kayaks and standup paddleboards were also provided (although some windy days and seaweed made this a challenge). There were some minor/quality maintenance issues at the villa that will hopefully be addressed for future guests. A highlight of the experience was having a private chef who provided excellent meals. The family said Chef Jerome was truly exceptional and very attentive to their special needs and requests. One child’s dietary needs for gluten and nut-free meals turned out to be more variety than he gets at home! The chef is adept at kosher meals too. The entire house staff (which numbered more than the family!) included an excellent butler, driver, and housekeeping staff who laundered their clothes as well. The family did venture off the property with an outing to Dunns River Falls where the knowledgeable guides there helped them safely navigate the climb up the falls…a very unique experience. A ride back to the villa off the main road gave the family a good insight into Jamaica’s daily life and standards of living. They also had terrific meals off property at Houseboat Grill (on a floating houseboat) and Scotchies, a Jamaican institution for jerk chicken. Overall the villa was perfect for what the family needed and they were also appreciative of The Family Traveler’s attentive service and planning for this last-minute getaway.
Trip Review: Wild Dunes Family Gathering
Lauren and Mindy’s family traveled to Charleston, SC, and the Wild Dunes Resort this month to honor the memory of their father who passed away last year. The gathering consisted of three generations with 21 family members gathering from 5 different cities. We spread out in two rental homes and two beachfront condos that were located a short walk from each other. We appreciated the ease of getting to the beach, especially with a baby and toddler in tow. Chair and umbrellas can be rented in advance and set up daily. The recreation at the resort kept our family as active as we liked with several pools, tennis, bike rentals, golf, spa, gym, family activities, and more. The property also has several restaurants and a specialty market. Wild Dunes is located on the Isle of Palms about 25 minutes from downtown Charleston. It showcases two hotels along with condos, townhomes, and home rental options of all sizes. The brand-new Sweetwater Inn opened just this month next to the Boardwalk Inn and features a large pool, fire pit, games, restaurants, and free valet parking. Keypads on the entry doors allowed us to avoid a traditional check-in process and we easily communicated with Guest Services by text for anything we needed. A Harris Teeter grocery store on the island kept our kitchens well-stocked. Highlights for our families were relaxing massages, kayaking on Morgan Creek that runs along the back of the resort, long beach walks, and group dinners at several local restaurants including the Boat House and The Refuge. We also cooked a BBQ feast one night with charcoal grills stationed near the condos along with covered picnic tables. And Lauren was excited to meet her long-time clients, the wonderful Gaugler family from Connecticut, who were also vacationing at Wild Dunes at the same time! Overall Wild Dunes provides an ideal setting for family gatherings both large and small.
Trip Review: Florida Keys Getaway
The Slone Family from Penn Valley, PA (2 adults and children ages 12 and 14) traveled to The Florida Keys for spring break with a stay at the lovely Isla Bella Resort in Marathon. They let us know they had a fabulous time. The family flew into Key West, rented a car and traveled about an hour north to reach Marathon. They thought the resort was beautiful and a perfect size with 199 residence suites with kitchens along with one- and two-bedroom suites. They stayed in a spacious Grand Oceanfront 2-Bedroom/2 Bathroom with Balcony. Minor complaints included a lack of storage in their room, small bath and beach towels, and tiny trashcans. And due to COVID, housekeeping was every few days instead of daily. The family enjoyed the one large pool and beach area, but there were also smaller pools scattered around the property which helped with social distancing. The resort used plexiglass to separate groups of chaise lounges and had plenty of sanitizer available. The resort offers daily activities, some watersports, beach yoga, bike rentals, spa, gym and more. Five minutes by car are public tennis courts which the family used several times. The rest of their time was spent by the pool, swimming, reading, and playing board games. Daily texts from hotel staff let guests know about daily activities and what is open or not open depending on the weather. The family found the resort food above average, but they enjoyed great meals in Marathon at the Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House, Island Fish Company, and Lazy Days South that offered plenty of waterfront outdoor and covered seating. Sweet Savanah’s was the place to go for ice cream. A very relaxing trip for a much-needed vacation with ideal weather to boot!
Trip Review: Winter Wonderland
When your Florida teens have never seen snow, it is time to plan a trip to The Rockies! The Getsy family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens age 16 and 13) traveled to Jackson, WY this month to celebrate a special wedding anniversary. They had a great time experiencing winter and snow with various adventures, including snow tubing, chair lift, and alpine sliding at the Snow Mountain Ski Resort; snowmobiling through the Gros Ventre Mountains; sleigh riding in an Elk Refuge; making snowmen at the hotel, and more during their stay. There was no need to snow ski to appreciate this winter wonderland. The family stayed at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa in two peaceful creekside rooms with fireplaces (which proved to be quite hot, but good for drying towels). This upscale property, across from the National Elk Refuge, showcases a 7-acre nature preserve and is just a few blocks from downtown Jackson for plenty of dining and shopping options. There is a shuttle to town as well. Mind-blowing bacon and a nice variety of food options made breakfast a hotel highlight. Their favorite meal out was at the White Buffalo Club in Jackson. Pricey, but worthwhile to taste delicious and fresh bison and venison. Trio, The Kitchen, and The Blue Lion also received praises and Bin 22 was a good spot for buying and sipping wine. Their vacation package featured a free (and thanks to COVID), private excursion! They chose Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris’ Best of Jackson Hole tour with a visit to nearby Grand Teton National Park, a windy National Elk Refuge (dress extra warm), and the Wildlife Art Museum along with light breakfast, lunch, and a sleigh ride. In Grand Teton, their excellent guide helped them spot moose, coyotes, rams, buffalo, and various birds of prey. They also loved their Granite Hot Springs snowmobile experience with the Teton Tour Co. that included an excellent guide and dip in the hot springs. The teens also had a chance to take the snowmobiles for a spin in the beautiful wilderness. Thankfully cold-weather outerwear was also included. Overall, the trip was a great success for a fun and first snow encounter.
Trip Review: Cancun Celebration
Nadia and Jahmal from Philadelphia enjoyed an adult escape to Cancun for a special birthday celebration with their stay at Live Aqua, an all-inclusive and adult-only property in the Hotel Zone. The couple enjoyed their Aqua Suite which was a quiet corner room. They loved how the curtains opened automatically when they walked into the suite revealing gorgeous ocean views! Their extra spacious balcony was accessible from both the living room and bedroom and they appreciated having two bathrooms. Wine and macrons were waiting for them in the suite on arrival for Jahmal’s birthday celebration. They found the resort food to be tasty and food service to be excellent. Highlights included a yummy burger stand by the pool, waiter recommended fried fish and shrimp tacos for lunch at the Sea Corner restaurant (with a surprise birthday song from the staff) and an Asian dinner tucked away amongst the trees at the Hidden Garden restaurant. They also found the COVID protocols to be excellent. Staff wore masks and shields, hand sanitizer and soap were plentiful, pool and beach chairs regularly sprayed, and getting their test to return to the US was easy and well-arranged through the concierge. They had some fun adventures off property including a yacht trip to Isla Mujeres; an adventure tour with zip lining, ATV rides, cenote swim/dive, and tequila tasting in the Riviera Maya, and also went parasailing. Overall, they had no issues during their 4-night stay and found the staff very friendly and helpful. They look forward to returning!
Trip Review: Holiday Ski Getaway
The Sedaka Family of New York City (2 adults and 3 children ages 8, 6, and 4) drove to Hunter Mountain this winter break for some outdoor recreation and relaxation and to celebrate the New Year! They stayed in a spacious condo at the Kaatskill Mountain Club which sits at the base of the ski mountain. The family let us know it was a perfect accommodation for young children. It was ski-out and mostly ski-in (unless conditions were bad or for beginner skiers as you had to walk up a hill to get back to the lodge vs. going up the lift and skiing directly into the lodge). Their 3-bedroom condo was well designed and spacious with Roku televisions (and basic cable). Unfortunately, the internet connection was lousy; so they did depart earlier than planned. The heated outdoor pool was large and warm, and the children swam daily. The property took pool reservations to limit the capacity. The spa, gym, hot tubs, and firepits were unfortunately closed due to COVID. The property also had a restaurant called Van Winkles which was only open to guests. They had a decent meal there and said the waitstaff was excellent. Grocery and prepared food delivery services were also available to order online and then delivered right to your condo. They also appreciated the warm and accommodating front desk staff. The family also noted that the ski school staff was also very friendly and helpful, but there were some issues with getting the number of lessons they wanted due to the new state protocols. The ski school was on the opposite side of the lodge and down a hill. Getting there and back was a little challenging. A trip highlight was getting cooked-to-order donuts, coffee, and tea at Twin Peaks Coffee and Donuts in nearby Tannersville. Overall a fun time was had by all and they plan to return in the spring to use up their prepaid nights.
