Under normal circumstances, I would consider myself a rational and intelligent woman...but allow me to share with you my family's most infamous and dysfunctional vacation details. I do not know what possessed me to even consider taking my then 13 year old son, 12 and 10 year old daughters AND Grandpa on a minivan road trip from Pennsylvania to Disneyworld. I can only plead the insanity defense at the time of this crime.
Vacationkids has always partnered with Apple Vacations. Our travel agency works with many tour companies in order to offer the best vacation options to our clients. That said, we consider Apple Vacations to be a preferred partner thanks to their innovation, products and most importanly, their customer care. Since Vacationkids launched in 2000 we have won yearly sales awards from Apple Vacations. We don't like to toot our own horn but we are proud to grow our business with such a travel industry leader.
This is certainly a hot button topic for many parents. At Vacationkids we get this question ALL the time. The short answer is...Yes. "TECHNICALLY" babies and toddlers under the age of 24 months can fly for "Free". Airlines and travel agents use the industry word "LAPCHILD" to describe a baby or toddler flying seated in their parent's lap. Everyone likes the idea of a "free ride" but there are some VERY important points parents need to consider when deciding whether or not to buy an airline seat for their baby. We want our parents to be informed so that they can make the best decisions regarding their child's safety and finances so we'll do our best here to outline this important topic.
Cancun family vacations often include an educational trip to visit Mayan Ruins. Now families visiting Cancun do not need to travel far to travel far back in time.
So last weekend, I went to a gathering at my friend Denise's home in New Jersey. It was a girl's day in, a pot luck- wine fest to help us moms recoup after the holidays. When I arrived, Denise gathered up all of my baked goods that I was contributing and announced, "Ladies, this is Sally. She's my travel agent friend from Pennsylvannia, Sally meet everybody". Denise left me to fend for myself in a room full of strangers.
Anticipation can be one of the best parts of any family vacation. You've been studying all the glossy travel brochures. It's a wonderful escape just flipping the pages. You see photos of carefree families all together, with happy, smiling faces enjoying some tropical paradise. Then reality hits... Who are these people? The reality is, worry free vacations don't just happen. It takes a good deal of planning and some work to take the stress out of vacation. Family vacation planning is more involved than packing a suitcase and watering the plants. Here are 10 tips will help take the worry out of your next family vacation...
1. KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN - Iphones, facebook, Instant message, twitter, chat, blogs... with all this technology, the fine art of conversation seems to be getting lost in translation. It's amazing how many families never take the time to actually sit down face to face and talk to one another. Often our staff will work with a parent who will book a vacation and find out after the fact that the schedule conflicts with their spouse's important business meeting or daughter's dance recital. Needless to say, this is a waste of time and energy for everyone, not to mention costly reservation change fees. Before you make your reservations, talk to your family. Make sure everyone is in agreement and on the same page.
Updated July 2019
A family cruise is a great family vacation choice, especially for young families with babies and toddlers. Parents can look forward to a fun vacation with their little ones while enjoying all the conveniences and amenities today's family friendly cruise ships have to offer. Cruising with your baby or toddler offers families lots of convenient choices of destinations and fun activities.
When planning for your family cruise vacation, please be aware that there are cruise line policies and rules in place regarding what age babies are allowed on board cruise ships. These rules have been established for the comfort and safety of all passengers. These rules are strictly enforced by the cruise lines. We've included age requirement rules below here for you.
In addition to checking age requirements, make sure little cruisers have all the right travel documents. Certain cruises will allow children to sail with an original birth certificate with a valid state seal (no photocopies) but we HIGHLY recommend all children sail with a valid passport. Reservations can be made in advance of obtaining a passport for your baby. Just insure the exact legal names used on your reservations match the legal names on your child's birth certificate and passport application.
Most of the family friendly cruise lines offer activities for every member of the family and this includes little sailors. On board nursery facilities and babysitting options can vary even with ships of the same cruise line. Older ships may not have all the facilities offered on newer ships.
To help you plan your next family cruise with your baby, Vacationkids offers this list of the most family friendly cruise lines and their rules and policies regarding cruising with babies...
Once upon a time, travel agents were the only people in town who had access to a computer reservation system to book airline tickets and hotel rooms. Travel agents went to school just to learn how to use hieroglyphic codes to talk to their computers. Folks marveled at the talents and knowledge that travel agents possessed. Travel agents made it look easy.
Suddenly a world wide web of travel choices rested at everyone's fingertips. Happy, hopeful vacationers now had this "do it yourself" mentality when it came to travel. The internet gave Joe Public the convenience to book travel his way, for less, conveniently from the comfort of his own home.
...So the big question is - Who needs a Travel Agent?
The answer is simple...Anyone planning a family vacation!
The last thing parents need are problems and headaches when they are away from home with their kids in tow. Having a personal, human connection to a vacation advocate is something you simply will not have if you take the do it yourself approach to travel planning. If you think travel agents are obsolete, think again. Travel agents still sell 81% of vacation packages, 47% of hotel rooms, 45% of car rentals 87% of cruises and 51% of airline tickets according to the American Society of Travel agents. The goal of any good family travel agent is to build a long-lasting professional relationship with their clients.
Family travel agents save time and that is a very valuable commodity for busy parents. All the travel choices on the internet create information overload, confusion and frustration. A good travel agent will be able to speak to you from first hand experience. They will help you to focus and select the best vacation options for your family.
Family Travel Agents save money because know better than anyone how to find the best travel values. It's important to realize, A cheap price isn't the same as a great value. They are not out to rip you off. A family travel agent knows that cheap flight you booked online doesn't allow enough time to make your connection. Chances are your family is going to end up stuck sleeping over night in the airport. If you calculate the cost of missing at least one day of the vacation, you'll quickly realize the slightly higher flights your agent quoted was a real bargain. A good travel agent knows which companies always undercut prices and over sell hotel rooms. Your agent want to ensure you and your kids will be guaranteed a hotel room when you arrive. In addition, licensed Travel agents have access to industry wholesaler rates that offer cheaper prices and discounts. These wholesalers do not sell directly to the public, you need a travel agent to get these rates. In addition, many offer excursions and travel experiences that can't be found online.
Family Travel Agents Have Leverage through important industry contacts. Good agents invest a great deal of time building relationships with hoteliers, concierges, captains and travel industry decision makers. These personal contacts go far when it comes to special favors and requests. As per the statistics mentioned earlier, travel agents carry more clout with hotels and cruise lines than individual travelers. They often have access to amenities that individual travelers will never see.
Family Travel Agents have insider information. Thanks to our network of contacts we know insider information and tips from the back of the house. This is important information that you will never find on tripadvisor. That incredibly cheap deal on that brand new hotel you booked yourself, we know the guy who was suppose to be there to train staff never showed up. This means none of the 800 staff know what they are doing. We also know they just hired a notorious chef from another resort where travelers always complained of stomach issues. That buzz you've been hearing about that new hotel, our staff already visited the construction zone in hard hats. We can tell you where the locals go because we're friends with the locals We chat with them daily online.
Family Travel Agents are NOT expensive. Most travel agents earn their living from commissions paid by hotels and cruise lines. Vacationkids does NOT charge any service fees to our clients and our industry knowledge and network of contacts....priceless. Surprisingly, many of the do it yourself websites charge service fees bundled up in all their fine print. This means you're actually paying for doing all of the work yourself - It just doesn't make any sense.
Family Travel Agents offer expert guidance. Agents know all the industry lingo and how the terms and conditions fine print will effect you. We can help you avoid common pitfalls and road blocks the could effect your vacation. Your agent will work to prevent problems and hassles while you are away from home. If anything does go wrong, they know the right ways to fix problems and find solutions on your behalf.
Family Travel Agents Give Personalized Service. Imagine you can simply pick up the phone and speak to a human being who knows you and is there to help you. You can get your questions answered by somebody with experience. Questions always arise, even for the most seasoned traveler. This is especially true when you're traveling with kids. A good travel agent is always there to help make your journey easier.
Hmmm...an advocate who is there to save you time, money, hassles and worry. Someone who is willing to do the work for you and keep your family out of harm's way. An insider who has friends all over the globe. A person who's help is always there for you...Now that's somebody you ought to get to know.
Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico where the Sierre Madres Mountains meets the Bay of Banderas. It is a charming blend of modern Mexico meets old world colonial charm. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach side escape or the chance for a bit of adventure, Puerto Vallarta is an excellent choice for families with kids of all ages.
When it comes to vacations, we all like to travel like rock stars and spend like cheap skates. Here are 7 easy tips that can help your family save hundreds on your next family vacation...
