Winter Vacation Information

For many families with kids … Read Full Post

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Finding a NYC Babysitter : If you’re traveling to New York City with kids (highly recommended!) you might want to hire a babysitter during your trip… Check out this helpful list, from About.com’s Guide for New York City Travel– who’s a mom with two young kids, herself. (Wondering about that photo? It’s from Scott’s Pizza Tours - just one of so very many Great Things to do with Kids in New York .) SPF Months at Beaches : no, this isn’t about a type of sunscreen. At Beaches, “SPF” means “Single Parents Fun” Months. Beaches is a top brand of all inclusive family resorts in the Caribbean, with nurseries, kids programs, Sesame Street characters and live shows, teen and tween programs, and lots more. This year, dates are from Aug. 23 to Oct. 31 2010: single supplement fee (up to $190/night) is waived, and some special activities are set up. Social Network Site, for Travelers and Travel Pro’s: Tripatini has niche groups for dozens of travel topics: volunteer vacations, vacation rentals, iPhone travel apps; hostelling, agritourism, travel with pets; destinations from A to Z. Travelers and travel pro’s (writers, publicists, agents, etc.) can communicate; one useful feature is “Ask a Travel Expert” any kind of question you like. Read Full Post Family Vacation News: Babysitters in NYC; Beaches SPF Months… originally appeared on About.com Family Vacations on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 00:02:35. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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I just returned from a fascinating “hard-hat tour” of Disney’s Aulani Resort , on Oahu (- due to open August 29 2011, and you’ll be able to start booking in August … Read Full Post

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Lots of families these days are opting out of road trips (gas prices!) and summer air travel (stress!), and stick close to home. But “staycation” doesn’t mean just ordinary life. … Read Full Post

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Hawaii’s not exactly a cheap destination. Paradise never is. And that’s perhaps the problem. When we think of a place as paradise, we begin to have certain expectations of it. In Hawaii, that expectation is of pure luxury – gorgeous beaches, pristine hotel, infinity edge pool, tropical frozen drinks and butlers to bring them to us whenever we wish. Hawaii can certainly be like that for those who can afford it, but for the rest of us, there are other ways to experience the wonder and beauty of Hawaii on a smaller budget. One of the options is through WWOOFing . The acronym WWOOF stands for World-wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It is a program designed to link up hosts (farms) that are seeking short term volunteer labor (wwoofers) in exchange for room and board. In Hawaii, workers can help in the fields for a few hours a day, and then spend their off hours relaxing on the beach of exploring the rest of the island they’re on. There are many WWOOFing opportunities in Hawaii ; potential workers just need to fine the right one for them. The best way to do that is to talk to as many potential hosts as possible, asking about hours, living conditions, and location, and getting as many details as possible to make sure that what you’ve found is the right fit. Once you’ve done that, finding flights to Hawaii might be a breeze, but all that time and effort will be worth it. With the right host/worker relationship, your time WWOOFing can feel less like a week of manual labor and more of what it should be, and unforgettable and educational experience in paradise. Photo by Jeff Kubina

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July is Park and Recreation Month in the US a good reminder about the wonderful summer vacations that are offered in National (and other) Parks. Yellowstone National Park is a personal … Read Full Post

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Every year, “summer” promotions offer big savings in the Caribbean — and “summer” often lasts into fall and even into December. (Remember, though, that little matter of hurricane season !) Some of these promotions are island-wide, offered by partnerships between an island’s resorts and tourist board. Check out sample summer savings: St. Lucia Go Bananas Summer Family Program : free stays and meals for kids under 17, complimentary babysitting for one night, complimentary excursion such as horseback riding or whale watching, Kids Education Day at Pigeon Island… You can choose from all inclusive or boutique or other resorts. (Read more about St. Lucia for families .) Continue to Curacao, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and more Caribbean summer deals… Read Full Post Caribbean “Summer Deals” Last for Months originally appeared on About.com Family Vacations on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 03:51:29. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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This week-long getaway got its start at the National Wildlife Federation, and its focus on the Outdoors and Nature remains the same. Families get together for a week of … Read Full Post

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Ah, the family summer road trip: load up the car or minivan, pull out on the highway, remember what you forgot to bring, make a bathroom stop… Check out tips, … Read Full Post

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New this week… Kids Stay Free at Almond Resorts: Almond Resorts is a small chain of family-friendly all inclusives in the Caribbean. This summer, families can save at the Almond Casuarina Beach Resort and the Almond Beach Village, both in Barbados: two kids per family stay and eat for free, and prices start at $154/night, for vacations through Sept. 30, 2010. For families who want to venture out of the resort, a Passport of Savings gives price-breaks on activities, car rental, and restaurants. (Read more about Almond Resorts .) “Far-Out” Family Adventure Retreat”: Okemo Resort is a family-friendly ski resort in Vermont that offers fun in summer too. Its Family Adventure Retreat — August 14 to15 2010– is designed for families with kids age 7 and up, and has three nights lodging and two days of activities, with options such as Tyrolean Traverse (family members pull themselves across a rope bridge above a ravine or waterfall), Family Adventure Race, orienteering course for adults, kids-only mountain biking adventure… Evening campfire has marshmallows and tales of local lore. Read Full Post Family Vacation News: Family Adventure Retreat; Kids Free at Caribbean Resorts originally appeared on About.com Family Vacations on Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 00:02:35. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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