Traveling with kids this holiday season? Here’s some helpful tips.
For busy parents, planning a family getaway can be a daunting task. These 6 tips can help your family take the work out of traveling: 1. Keep it close to home
In a recent study, 94% of Americans agreed that family vacations are worth the money, even when faced with the recent economic downturn. However, many families are trading in the sites of Paris and Rome for the lights of Broadway in New York City or Boston’s Freedom Trail. Many large cities now offer GO! Cards that provide families with discounted or free admission to popular attractions, tours and restaurants.
2. Keep them entertained
This is a great time to pull out your favorite holiday movies for long distance plane, train or automobile rides. And, it’s also something that you can enjoy once you get to your destination, along with other friends or relatives. For a list of our favorite holliday DVDs, go to KIDS FIRST! News, Dec 16.
3. Give tiny travelers the run of the place
Many hotels have amenities and programs for children and teens, while some, like the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, are specifically designed with kids in mind. Some family resorts offer camps for children of parents looking for downtime, such as the Maui Ritz Carlton Hotel, which offers a Jean-Jacques Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Program, providing children with snorkeling and underwater photography lessons. The Holiday Inn began its “Kids Eat Free” program in 1993 and many hotels have since followed the trend, giving parents more bang for their buck.
4. Offer a vacation on cruise control
With endless entertainment options and clubhouses for children and teens of all ages, cruises are an appealing option for clients traveling with little ones. Carnival Cruise Lines recently added a fleet wide “Club 02” teen program that provides access to spa treatments and exclusive shore excursions. Check cruise line minimum age requirements, as many ships have age restrictions for infants or require travelers under 21 to book a room with a parent or guardian.
5. Give them a taste of the local culture
A great way to make family getaways extra special and boost commissions is through organized activities and tours, available in most tourist destinations. Look for enriching activities that will be fun and appropriate for your children. Book tickets to the Mary Poppins musical in New York City or an interactive Spy Tour in Washington, D.C., for elementary school-aged children. Teenagers might enjoy a parasailing excursion in Key West or an Ice Walk through the canyons of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Or recommend an activity that the entire family might enjoy, such as a Your Love of Food Tour to discover the culinary delights of Chicago or a helicopter ride over the island of Maui.
6. Help, please!
While family trips are all about creating memories together, sometimes parents need a ‘vacation from the vacation.’ Gulf Air recently introduced Sky Nanny, a free in-flight childcare service. Many hotels and resorts also offer similar services to parents needing a break, and independent nanny services are available at many popular vacation spots.
Checklist for family travel before take-off:
All children, regardless of age, are now required to have a passport to travel outside the US. Check the State Department Web site to ensure that even the youngest travelers will be ready for their trip abroad.-Visit the CDC’s Web site to check for required or recommended vaccinations and immunizations before departure.
-Book non-stop flights and inform the airline if clients are traveling with young children requiring Child Safety Seats. Request bulkhead seating for young families to give you more floor space. Many airlines also offer first-time flyer keepsakes or certificates to help calm the nerves of tiny travelers.
-When booking rooms in hotels, ask if they offer baby proofing kits. These kits usually consist of electrical outlet covers, padded covers to protect children from sharp table corners, door locks to prevent children from going out into the hallway, and even netting to stretch across a balcony so a tiny one can’t slip through.
-More and more holiday destinations are accommodating children with autism and other disabilities. Check with cruise lines and resorts about special, inclusive activities or excursions. Walt Disney World and several other theme parks provide front-of-the-line passes for autistic children who may find it very difficult to wait in line.
For more info, go to http://extranets.us.amadeus.com/newsletters/archive/2009DECPRO01/Top_Story_v1.html
