Travel Blog

Welcome to my travel blog! One of the reasons I got into the travel business was because I love to plan travel. My background as an Master’s Degreed Educator with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development has given me an insane amount of knowledge on what makes kids tick. So here is where I marry those two passions together!! That’s right, I’m going to share all of my tips and tricks for how to travel with kids. Sometimes, you will even get a window into my family’s adventures. Whether you are planning a road trip, a luxury cruise, or a long flight overseas, I have the answers on how to make it fun for both you and your kids. I might get long-winded, so bear with me. I promise you will find some good nuggets within each post. Oh, and please follow me on Facebook so that you can get updates!

HOW TO DO DISNEY WHEN THEY CHARGE YOU FOR EVERYTHING

Whenever I bring up a trip to Disney, eventually the conversation always returns to how expensive it is to go. Which it is. However, it is no more expensive than trip to an all-inclusive resort—especially if you do it right. So how do you have money AND get to enjoy all Disney has to offer? Here’s my Top 10 Money-Saving Tips for your next trip:

Travel during off-peak times. I know it is a pain to take your kids out of school. But, just about everything at Disney has dynamic pricing these days. So, if you want to go over Winter Break or Spring Break it is going to cost you. Park tickets, hotel, airfare, and even Genie+ cost more when the parks are packed. From a non-monetary point of view, traveling during non-peak times means shorter lines which equates to seeing more each day.
Stay at a value resort. Everyone loves to be closer to the action. But, when you are already walking 7-9 miles per day do you really want to be able to walk to the parks? When you compare Pop Century to Contemporary, you are looking a minimum of $500/night difference between the two. For a 5 night stay, those savings could cover all of your theme park tickets for your stay! Don’t let the “value” name fool you, the rooms are clean, modern, well-maintained, and fairly comfortable as hotel rooms go (Pop has more storage space than any hotel I have ever stayed in). In fact, you aren’t getting different bedding at other resorts, just more space to put it in. So why not lay your head on a smaller price tag?
Pick a hotel on the Skyliner route. Okay this might not save you dollars, but it definitely saves you time. The average ride from Pop Century to Hollywood Studios is 12 minutes, and to EPCOT it is 18. The average bus route from any hotel to any park is at least 20 minutes and that doesn’t include your time waiting for the bus. With a constant flow of traffic, even when there is a line the Skyliner is still faster and roomier than any Disney bus out there. With service to 2 of the 4 parks the amount of time you will save is astounding.
Pick and choose when you use Genie+. Genie+ is a great way to bypass some of the lines during your trip. However, not all rides are included on the Genie+ system and the most popular rides in each park are usually part of the separate pay-as-you-go Individual Lightening Lane system. Also, many of the rides on the Genie+ system won’t really save you enough time to make them worth it. So, if you aren’t a coaster person you are probably wasting your money in most of the parks. We chose to use Genie+ in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios because those 2 parks had the most rides we wanted to ride with lines that were typically very long. We also only did Genie+ on the busier days (we did 2 days in each park). We got to everything we wanted and also got to ride our favorites multiple times!
Skip the Park Hopper. Hopping takes an insane amount of time. You could ride at least 1 ride if not two in the amount of time it takes to hop from one park to another. Also, if you are using Genie+, often times the available ride times are later in the day. It makes it really hard to hit everything you want if you don’t know which park you are hopping to and what time you will get there. It’s just another level of planning most people don’t typically need.
Go with mostly quick service meals and skip the character dining. Let’s face it, the cost of food has gone up significantly in the past few months. Table service restaurants do offer a nice selection of food, but the cost of running a sit-down restaurant is significantly higher than the cost of running a counter service restaurant. Disney has a large variety of places that are considered quick service too. So, if you want pasta, pizza, seafood, or even a Star Wars Themed wrap you will find it at one of the many quick service meals outlets. Also, added characters to the table service meals make the cost sky-rocket. The characters don’t spend any more time at the table with you than they do if you wait in line to see them in the parks.
Ship breakfast, snacks and water. A bottle of water inside a Disney Theme Park is over $5. A cup of water with ice is free at any quick service window. If you are like us, and prefer to have water with you while you wait in lines, then shipping it down there is the answer. Even if you spend $20-$40 for a case of water and pay the $6 handling fee the resort charges you, it will still work out cheaper than buying in the parks. Same goes for breakfast and snacks. We ate cereal and/or a breakfast bar while on the Skyliner each morning. When we got hungry and the $2.50 popcorn refill wasn’t cutting it, there was always a granola bar in my bag to tide us over. All for way less than a Mickey Pretzel or a Mickey Waffle meal.
Bring your own light-up toys. Did you know those light-up bubble wands that always break and rarely fit in your carry-on cost over $30 these days?! Amazon Prime Days afforded us 2 light up wands for less than the 1 I saw most kids carrying each night.
Do your research before you buy big ticket souvenirs. Disney is really smart here, they built a land that holds a special place in the hearts of many 40-something year-old men. Then they invite you to fairly realistic looking factories to build the most iconic weapons and droids of that generation. We saw them, the are so cool! And we are the proud owner of 2 droids. But, my kids are HUGE fans and they are 9 & 12. They have used similar tech at school and understand the difference between BB’s giro motor and R2’s traditional one (probably better than most of their dads for that matter!). I love that they love them, but I am also so happy that we got them BEFORE the price hike because in the end it is a lot of money to spend for a product that is inferior to what was being sold for the same price at toy stores 3 years ago. And the light sabers—you can buy a legacy saber for a fraction of the cost and far better quality than if you chose to build one yourself. For those of you out there who are huge Star Wars geeks like us, the products and experience are so cool! But, for the average family with young kids, it is a waste of time and money.
Do what is best for you and your family, not what your friends says you have to do. If I haven’t alluded to this already, maybe I should make this number 1. For each one of these cost-saving measures, I have a friend that will tell you their family swears they always do the opposite. And that’s fine. For the adrenaline junkies, buy all of the Genies, hop from park-to-park, and never set foot on It’s a Small World. For those families with young kids, take meal times to decompress and take a break from the heat, standing, and waiting. Go to a character meal so that you get to witness the magic in your child’s eyes every time a new princess approaches your table. But for each time you splurge, cut 1 or 2 things out. At the end of the day, it is all magical no matter how many times you have been there. Missing out on a little magic here are there won’t deprive anyone of a fabulous trip. And your pocketbook will thank you!

Having just returned from a 1-week trip, we learned a lot and had the BEST time. I hope that I can pass along this knowledge to you when you are ready to book yourself. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, a little bit of planning goes a long way in Disney!

WHY NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT NEW YORK

Travel lately has been complicated to say the least. Rising costs, flight delays and cancellations, as well as ever-changing worldwide COVID protocols don’t make it easy to navigate. That is why New York is amongst my top picks for where you should head for your next getaway. Here are my top 5 reasons:

The cast on Broadway is unreal right now! Hollywood actors want/need to work and Broadway gives them an easier outlet for that. Billy Crystal, Sarah Jessica Parker, David Paymer, Laurence Fishburne, Hugh Jackman, Jeff Daniels, and Sarah Bareillas are just some of the stars you may see live and in person.
Central Park is still beautiful. They have really done a nice job keeping the park clean and free of the riff raff that can taint the city streets. Interestingly, smoking is prohibited anywhere in the park and visitors are actually following the rules!
Prices weren’t outrageous. I have definitely seen steeper increases in food costs in Chicago. Last minute theater tickets were far less expensive as well. Flights are numerous and reasonably priced.
Crowds weren’t terrible. Okay, Times Square was a disaster. But, travel times to and from the airport were totally reasonable. It was always easy to get a taxi or Uber (no surge fares). We only had trouble getting a table at the hottest restaurants (and we never had a reservation).
Everything is open! You don’t need advance reservation for any of it. New York has always been that destination that you could visit multiple times and never see the same thing twice. Which is why it is such an ideal destination for families, couples, girl trips, and more.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL—A YEAR IN REVIEW AND WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

2020 was a hard year for travel to say the least. The pandemic could not have hit the US at a worse time. Just a few weeks before Spring Break, travel advisors around the country braced for a temporary pause in travel. At the time, I watched webinars that told me that 9/11 taught us how to survive without travel for a few weeks. Nobody thought it would be months. The industry was literally turned upside-down as travelers without insurance scrambled to get refunds and travelers with insurance tried to obtain refunds. Major travel suppliers dealt with crashing websites and phone lines as they raced to close their insanely large call centers and move to a work-from-home model. Worst of all, travelers were left stranded all over the world with few answers on how they would return home. Travel advisors became the voice of reason, while patiently waiting on hold to track down their clients refunds.

By summer, life was far from normal, but we everyone was allowed to venture outside of their homes. With beautiful weather around the country, people started to travel again. Armed with a litany of CDC recommendations and a bit more job flexibility than normal, people hopped in the car or rented an RV and went out to explore our great nation. While I was able to book a few of these trips for my clients who didn’t have the time or the patience to do the research on their own, business in the travel industry was far from a rebound.

As colder weather approached, the reality that we had all been in for most of the year started to sink in. Unfortunately, confidence in travel outside of the US has waned and there aren’t many warm-weather locations to visit inside the US during the winter months. Many travelers retreated to family homes in Florida. Many others chose to drive down and rent a house. The best news is that stringent testing protocols, or lack thereof, mixed with low prices and near-empty resorts have enticed more travelers to venture out into the Caribbean. It seems that Wanderlust is starting to take hold, and people are booking trips later in 2021, even into 2022.

While I have always been confident that we will travel again, it seems that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. So, how should you navigate travel in this ever-changing landscape? Simple, call me! More than ever, a travel expert is your ticket to worry-free booking and travel. I know the safest places to go, the testing requirements for entry, when things may open back up again, and which are the best travel insurance policies to purchase. Guidelines for travel, cruise suspensions, and lockdowns can change monthly, but I know about all of them. You are going to need that knowledge in order to be able to book your trip. Further, as the vaccine is administered to more and more people around the world, new travel restrictions are going to be imposed. Lastly, and maybe most unfortunately, not everyone is going to survive the extended lull in the travel business. You need to make sure your investment is protected and in the hands of proven corporations that have the means to survive this.

As 2021 is underway, I am starting to talk about booking trips again for myself and my family. I feel like certain destinations are doing all of the best things to protect travelers. While travel this year may not look exactly the way it has in the past, I am confident that we can all do it safely.

WHAT IT IS LIKE TO TRAVEL DURING A PANDEMIC

We hit the road a few weeks ago, as we do every summer. We were supposed to head up to Toronto, but when the pandemic hit, we decided a border crossing was out of the question. Plus, without baseball we wanted to save that trip for when we could catch a Bluejays game. Since life has been a bit slower these days and with our kids aren’t in camp, we decided that this was a perfect time to take a 10-14 day road trip. We also tried to position our trip in between 4th of July travel and end of summer travel. I don’t know if it made much difference in crowds, but it sounded like a better plan at the time.

So off we went! Through Wisconsin, into southern Minnesota, through South Dakota with a quick stop in Sioux Falls, and into Wyoming. Then through Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park and back again. We were fortunate enough to be able to drive the scenic route into Yellowstone, and the interstate route through Montana on the way back. Boy what a view! We have taken many road trips and I have never seen so much beautiful, deserted land. But, with that deserted land came few stops suitable for us to get out and stretch our legs, enjoy a meal, or even get gas. I will say this about the few stops were were able to make—gas station bathrooms are gross, COVID or no COVID. We gloved up, masked up, and brought wipes in with us. We stuck to large chain drive-thus for food and they were all gloved and masked which was comforting.

We stayed in one hotel (twice) and the rest were cabins, two of which were on KOA campgrounds. I have to say that the national chains are doing a great job of keeping their establishments safe. Extensive cleaning protocols have been put in place. During our hotel stays, we stayed in the same exact room each time (separated by 10 days in between). The hotel clearing had people very spread out as we never heard anyone in our hallway or passed people outside of common area. We brought wipes and wiped down the faucets, door handles, and light switches. But, really the rooms smelled so clean you would have though you were in a hospital not a hotel.

I can’t say that the places we went were empty. I have seen photos of these places when they were much more crowded than we saw them. But, we definitely passed people on hiking trails often and had to wait our turn at photo spots. For us, the biggest difference in how things felt was 100% related to the amount of mask-wearing we encountered. In Yellowstone, people hiked with them on and so did we. When we started huffing and puffing up hills, we took breaks. When hiking on flat land made our kids complain about wearing the mask, we slowed down and took in our surroundings. Each day we tried to spend time in the plentiful wide-open spaces Yellowstone has to offer in addition to the more crowded spots like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Pool. For the most part, we new that the sites would be crowded but the walks up to them would give us the space that we needed.

Wyoming sat in stark contrast to South Dakota, however. Wyoming has mask-wearing mandates and somehow this translated into more outdoor mask wearing than I had seen even at home. But, South Dakota has no mandates. Once we were back in a place where few masks could be found, we quickly realized that there is a general attitude people take depending on whether or not they choose to wear one. In general, people who wear masks know to keep their distance even if you are wearing a mask as well. The people who did not wear masks were always the ones that seemed to force us to veer off course, skip a photo op, or leave a scenic vista sooner than we wanted. As I say this, I also realize that seeing someone without a mask when you live and visit places that require them makes you subconsciously want to keep extra distance between you. I don’t think they were intentionally disrespectful. I think we are not comfortable being within 10 feet of someone without a mask, while they are fine at 4 feet.

So overall, it was a fabulous vacation! We saw some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen, we fit in a little history, an active fossil dig site, and plenty of time unplugged from our phones (cell service was less than stellar). I was glad we chose wide open spaces in states that had lower COVID numbers. It was a bit more work than I am used to with the extra cooking and cleaning, but wasn’t more strenuous than renting a house closer to home. Most importantly, I felt as safe as I do when out in public at home.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK—THE OTHER-WORLDLY VACATION

As many of my readers know, my family are not strangers to raid trips. Whether we are driving to a state park for a day or headed out for a week-long adventure, we have never shied away from getting there by car. In fact, we take great pride in all of the silly photos and oddities we have found along the way. To date, my young children have seen 19 states and I can add 14 states to that list on my own. The drive out to Yellowstone wasn’t like anything I had ever seen. I’ve watched all of those wilderness shows on television and nothing truly gave me a good picture of what it was like. And the park itself had sites like I have never seen anywhere in the world!

So the drive out there was just miles and miles of nothing. But not nothing like we see in the plaines states. Thought the midwest you see flat land spotted with cows, farms, and windmills. The parts of Montana and Wyoming that lead into Yellowstone from the east literally have nothing. Just rolling hills, mountain switchbacks, lazy rivers, a miles of the bluest skies I have ever seen. Occasionally you spot a small oil rig or a fly fisherman wading in the shallow river. But, even during our “shortcut” through the Crow Reservation we didn’t pass a soul who wasn’t driving the same route we were. You would think it would be boring driving, but it wasn’t. Every hill and turn in the road brought a new vista to admire. We spent hours pondering whether the ranches we passed were homesteads or if there was a grocery store hidden over the next ridge. Just when it got too monotonous, the landscape magically changed as we rose in elevation or entered a wooded pass.

Then there was Yellowstone National Park. The park itself sits atop one of the largest known caldera’s in the world. This caldera, or underground volcano, helps to create many geothermal areas. The most famous of these is Old Faithful, but there are actually hundreds of bubbling mudpots, hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles (steam vents). Everywhere you go along the western edge of the park you can see steam rising from the ground and smell the distinct stench of hydrogen sulfide gas and sulfur in the air. The heat and minerals in each of these areas create landscapes cut into the green mountainside that transport you to another planet. Rainbow pools, ground so white is looks like snow, rusty rivers cut into the soil, and remnants of plant life that once lived in fertile ground look apocalyptic or as though they were ripped from scenes of a sci-fi movie.

Equally as astounding are the vast number of animals you see in the park. Yellowstone National Park is gigantic! It took us over 2 hours to drive from the east entrance to the west entrance. There are so many places that animals could run and hide, but they don’t! There are buffalo everywhere—along the side of the road, in large herds that stretch across plaines as far as you can see, even next to cars in parking lots. They tell you not to get too close, but we saw plenty of them walking across the street and stopping traffic. It didn’t stop at buffalo either. One day we say a heard of elk lounging in the shade next to a lodge and restaurant. I have videos of prong-horned deer galloping along in the field next to us. We even caught a glimpse of a fox scamper across a ridge right above our car. The most amazing of all, was a bald eagle nest, perched high in a tree right on the side of the road. When we got out to take a closer look, we even saw the young eagle pop his head out!

Most of Yellowstone is exactly as you would expect from a national park at 7800 feet—there are mountains. Lots of lush green mountains with perfect little streams and rivers running through it. These rivers have cut large canyons in the landscape creating huge waterfalls that are well worth the steep hikes to get a closer look. While there is no swimming in any of these rivers, there are plenty of places slow and shallow enough to wade into and cool your overheated feet. Finally, the biggest of the rivers empties into one of the largest high elevation lakes in the world. Yellowstone lake is definitely too cold to swim in, but the surrounding sandstone cliffs and driftwood littered beaches were perfect for exploring. Again, these scenes were straight out of a movie.

While my family and I haven’t seen very many of the National Parks (just 3), Yellowstone proved to be the most unique of anything any of us had ever seen. Each day we hiked into a new kind of wilderness. I think that our three days there was definitely enough, but we could have spent a lot more time there if we chose to. We even commented that if we didn’t love the city as much as we did, the vast wilderness that surrounds Yellowstone would be the perfect place to move to or even retire in. It was definitely a bucket-list worthy adventure!

SO WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH TRAVEL INSURANCE POST COVID-19?

I am as guilty as many of my clients when it comes to travel insurance. I always purchase a policy when I am headed out of the country because it covers medical expenses, emergency evacuations, trip delays and missed connections, and (sometimes most importantly) theft of tickets and/or passports. But when we travel domestically, I don’t think that I have ever purchased a policy. That is going to change for me and my family in the Post COVID-19 Era. Here is why:

Medical insurance coverage is going to change. The rising medial costs associated COVID-19 care is going to force many health insurance companies to limit coverages when out of state.
Travel is trending to more wide-open locations. The more remote you are, the greater your risk of injury. Also, the more remote you are the greater the likelihood of needing to be airlifted or rescued by medical staff. Those types medical services are expensive AND they are covered under most travel insurance policies.
Travel is also trending towards more driving trips. We all have auto insurance and most of us have used it for the occasional accident. Did you know that some travel insurance policies include emergency roadside assistance? They also cover trip interruption due to breakdowns, accidents, and weather-related threats such as hurricanes or tornados.
Many travel insurance policies allow for some flexibility in your travel. So, if you book a trip for October and you have to reschedule your plans, you may be able to move your policy right along with your trip.
We all have gotten on an airplane with a kid that had a recently diagnosed ear infection and/or a low-grade fever. Post COVID-19, that will stop. The days of “burning off” a fresh cold at the beach are over! Without travel insurance, your only recourse will be to pay hefty fines and hope there is availability to shift your travel dates.
Some insurance companies are still offering “Cancel or Any Reason” policies. While they have always been pricier and coverages will change a bit in the future, they will still provide the best security for your vacation investment.

Personally, when traveling with kids and/or large family groups, I think #5 makes all of the difference in the world! So the next time you are booking a vacation, ask your travel agent about your travel insurance options. And when I suggest to you that you should invest in a policy, think long and hard before you say no.

HOW THE ROLL OF THE TRAVEL AGENT IS EVOLVING

A year ago, if you wanted to go on a family vacation to an all-inclusive resort, you hopped onto the internet, did a quick search on multiple sites (or just on your favorite one), and booked the best-priced-in-its-class resort. There was always a great deal and navigating the system was fairly easy, especially with Facebook recommendations. If you wanted to book a cruise, you called the cruise line of your choice and had them book you in your favorite spot of the ship. Moving forward, is that really going to be the most efficient use of your time and money? I propose you are better off with a different method—the Travel Agent.

When Spring Break hit and the entire world shut down, EVERYONE was left scrambling. Policies changed daily, large corporations furloughed significant portions of their staff, and phone line wait times soared well over 3 hours. People without travel agents were left frustrated and confused. Some people were even left with no recourse at all. Even now, refunds are still backlogged over 45 days and there is little recourse for you other than to sit on hold again and try to get some answers. Believe me, I don’t love listening to the hold music any more than you do. But, I get paid to listen to it! I get daily updates from all of my suppliers on what policy changes are happening. If you call me, I usually have the answer in 5 minutes are less.

But, that was then. Moving forward, travel agents are going to be your go-to because they have the knowledge that will take you forever to find. Want to book a cruise? We can tell you the first available sailing date for each cruise line. Want to go to Jamaica? We can tell you when they will open back up and which resorts will be opening first. Hoping for a trip to Disney? That is going to be even more complicated than before! And what if you want to avoid air travel all together? Well, this travel agent can help you plan your road trip from start to finish.

You see, it isn’t just about the intimate knowledge that we have. Or the convenience we provide. In the coming months, there are going to be a lot of temptations out there. Temptations to travel too soon. Temptations book at low, low prices. Temptations to head to new destinations because they claim to be safe. Navigating all of this on your own is going to be difficult, confusing, possibly even frustrating. Travel agents are going to have to use their vast knowledge and honesty to safely help you book your next vacation. It is almost as if the travel industry is hitting the reset button and Travel Agents are the ones at the switch.

NAVIGATING TRAVEL AFTER A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC

It has been about a month since my kids got called out of school. The unluckiest of Friday the 13ths that I can remember. One week before we were supposed to be out of school for Spring Break. Those next days brought so much uncertainty. In the travel world, cruise ships scrambled to find ports to dock in, airlines scrambled to try to disinfect and social distance in tight spaces, and eager Spring Breakers anxiously waited to see if destinations would stay open for them. In a time with no real answers, my clients seemed comforted that they weren’t waiting on long holds to deal with upcoming travel. There was some peace in knowing that I had it handled even through all of the turmoil and disappointment that surrounded their lives.

At the time, I wanted to write a blog post on how important Travel Advisors are and detail all of the reasons. But, as “Stay in Place” orders spread throughout the U.S. and travel bans were instituted, I decided to stay quiet. Better to let the news sink in than to create more “bad news” to sift through. But now a month in, I am glad I waited. While the future remains unclear, it is time to start thinking about where we go from here.

Travel will resume and life will seek a new normal. Airlines will need to reduce their routes and fly undersold to keep people safe. Cruise lines will develop new levels of disinfecting necessary to keep this virus off of their ships. Theme parks are going reconfigure to accommodate new norms in social distancing. We know new procedures will be put in place, but the likelihood that vacations like these will happen as quarantines are lifted is unlikely. There is a lot of talk out there of new testing and screening procedures. These will likely be at the forefront of ensuring safe travel for all of these venues, but it is still unclear how feasible these plans are on such a grand scale.

So where does that leave you? Cooped up, stressed out, with no end in sight. We all need a vacation. But, how do you accomplish that when you aren’t even sure if you want to go to the grocery store? Off the beaten path and in the great outdoors, that is the mantra you should be thinking. Now is the time to plan your kids’ first camping trip. Now is the time to see Mount Rushmore or the Grand Canyon. Now is the time to rent a house on a quiet lake. Now is the time to find that small beach on a barrier island to relax for a few days. Now is the time to take that road trip.

That’s right, when “stay in place” orders have lifted, you should be taking your family someplace outdoors and secluded. It sounds counterintuitive to separate further from social life. But, consider how relaxing it could be to unplug. To enjoy the silence. To just have a change of scenery. To live your life without worry, even if it is just for a few days. It might not feel luxurious. But, it might be the best that we get. So, we should enjoy it when we can.

SOUVENIRS—WHY DO I WANT THEM AND DO I NEED THEM?

My husband and I have always liked to travel. Our house is littered with things we have found while vacationing. At first, it was just statues, masks, and bar glasses. Then it grew to include obnoxious picture frames and magnets. With each milestone vacation, we change up what we collect. So the question is, do I really need all of these memories and how can I consolidate them?

When my husband left on Semester at Sea to tour the World on a cruise ship, someone suggested that he pick one thing to “collect” while on vacation. Given then countries he was traveling to, masks seemed to make the most sense. 20+ years later, we have a beautiful collection on masks on our wall that depicts each of the different cultures from where he had visited. Over the years, we have added to this collection so that it now includes unique art from around the U.S. However, this collection definitely works better in some places than others. He traveled throughout South America, Asia, and Africa—places where Indigenous Tribes still exist and culture is best shown through art. I, on the other hand, did most of my premarital traveling through Europe. Let’s face it, the French and the English aren’t really known for tribal art. So, my collections are of various housewares (mostly glassware) from each of the places I visited. Both were valuable at the time, and we still enjoy them today. But, we are at a point in our lives when masks and glasses don’t seem to make as much sense.

When we started having kids, obviously we started vacationing stateside regularly. That is when a photo from our honeymoon inspired us to start a new collections. While on our honeymoon, a photographer took our photo wearing sombreros and sold it to us in the most obnoxious photo frame you can imagine. It inspired us to buy a picture frame in every airport or touristy gift shop we found on vacation. We take a family photo and put it in that frame. We all enjoy looking back on our trips and somehow the photo and the frame bring smiles to all of our faces.

As our kids got a little older, we introduced them to the world of pressed pennies. For $0.51 per penny, our kids pick out a penny that best represents the zoo, museum, or theme park we have visited. They love coming home and adding them to their Pressed Penny Albums. I’m not sure how we got this started, but it was genius! It is small, cost-effective, and sparks those same types of memories that our photos do.

But now, we are in a bit of a pickle. Sometimes we revisit the same locations. Sometimes, there aren’t pressed penny machines. And now, we are racking up miles at theme parks and baseball stadiums. We find that even though we take a family trip to Gatlinburg, the kids want a souvenir from the dinner show we went to, Dollywood, AND the Cubs game we caught on the way home. So we have cowbells and glasses from the dinner show, stuffed animals from the theme park, AND mini figures from the baseball stadium. Sometimes it feels like we are on vacation just to seek out those treasures.

I suppose as our family travels become more extensive, we will all find value in different types of items. In the end, when are kids are grown and moving out they will decide if 30 baseball mini figures are worth saving to put on display. For now, I enjoy watching them revisit our adventures together. And if that means I have a shelf full of custom-made boxes from the Hershey Factory in Pennsylvania at least I know that they will remember all of the places we have been in their young lives.

KID-FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN TRAVEL

Halloween is done and the sugar rush is wearing off. Do you wish you had done something different than the same old trick-or-treating? Why not check out some great destinations for Halloween. Below are my list of winners that are fun for families of all ages:

Salem Massachusetts—Visit the Witch House (a museum dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials). You can also enjoy fireworks, magic shows, and re-enactments.
Great Wolf Lodge—Their Howl-o-Ween Event includes parades, trick-or-treating, Monster Dance Parties, and silly-scary Story Time.
Fright Fest at Six Flags—Visit any Six Flags nationwide to enjoy some of the best Halloween decor around. Go before dark for a family-friendly vibe or stay until late at night for a truly scary experience.
Sleepy Hollow, NY—While this destination isn’t the best choice for younger children, older children and adults will enjoy cemetery tours, hayrides and more.
New Orleans, LA—Boo at the Zoo, Ghosts in the Oaks, or Haunted Tours of New Orleans are all great choices for some Halloween fun.
Chicago, IL—Arts in the Dark is a 1-night event consisting of a parade with fantastic costumes. Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago Botanic Gardens also have great Halloween Festivals.
Orlando, FL—SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Legoland AND Universal Studios all off over-the-top Halloween Celebrations.
Las Angeles, CA—See above (although SeaWorld in 2 hours away in San Diego). Knott’s Berry Farm also has a great event for Halloween.
Sandusky, OH—Cedar Point Amusement Park offers 2 great Halloween attractions: The Great Pumpkin Fest and Haunt at HalloWeeknends.
Lahaina, HI—Their Mardi Gras of the Pacific is a HUGE party right on the main strip in town.

OUR FAVORITE ZOOS

With summer finally in full-swing, I decided to give you a list of our favorite zoos. Some of them are close to our home base. Others require airfare, but are totally worth the visit if you are ever in the neighborhood. (Note we have been to a lot of zoos, but there are just some of our personal favorites).

Racine Zoo: It is small and very walkable for even the youngest of travelers. It also is rarely crowded. Our favorite things to do there—Feed the Giraffes and the parakeets.

West Palm Beach Zoo: Also a smaller zoo. But, there are lots of great animal talks. Also, who doesn’t like an albino alligator named Marti?

Lion Country Safari: This zoo is located closer to Fort Lauderdale. It has a drive through Safari, chances to get up close with the animals, and a huge water spray ground. Best Safari adventure outside of Africa if you ask me!

St. Louis Zoo: This is the biggest zoo on my list. However, the animals are all really close up and there is a wide variety to look at. Plus, we like that each area is like taking a winding adventure through that area of the world.

Central Park Zoo: Bar far the smallest zoo on this list, but possibly the most famous. It is a great pit-stop while exploring Central Park. The seal-feeding was fantastic as well!

IS IT SAFE TO GO ON VACATION??

Anyone who keeps up with the news has certainly heard of the mysterious deaths of 9 people in the Dominican Republic. A mass panic is now happening as people scramble to reschedule vacations that were booked months ago. But, should you really panic? Is there any truth to what you are hearing people talk about? I think we should all let cooler heads prevail, but as always you need to be comfortable in your vacation choice in order to have an enjoyable time.

Let’s start by reviewing past history. It seems as though each year as we get closer to summer, there is an uptick in the amount of Americans killed while on vacation. Part of this is due to an increased number of tourists. Part of this is because resorts try to capitalize on lower-priced goods as they head into their slower season. Part of it is also coincidence.

So here is a hard truth for people to wrap their heads around—life is fleeting. I hate to be the morbid one here. But, bad things happen to good people and they can happen to them while on vacation. I think that it is a much harder pill to swallow when something tragic happens to someone young AND they are on vacation. Nobody wants to hear that. Nobody wants to hear that there are no answers for why. But, sometimes there aren’t any answers.

That leaves us all with a difficult choice. Do we still go on vacation? Do we still travel to a place that is so recently in the news? I say, yes! These small island nations are being so super careful right now. For many of them, tourism is their main source of revenue. They can’t afford to have tourism drop, so they are going to go the extra mile to make sure you have a great experience. Also, I like to take my cues from the US Embassy. They haven’t made any changes to the threat levels in these countries, and I trust that they would if it was necessary.

So what can you do to stay safe on vacation? First and foremost, be smart! You wouldn’t buy open alcohol from a stranger at a concert, so don’t do it when traveling abroad. You would exercise caution if you were walking around the streets of Chicago or New York, so do the same when you are on vacation. You wouldn’t recommend that a young female walk alone at night through a back alley, so definitely don’t do that on vacation either! When you are traveling to a lot of these islands, the resort areas are very safe and guarded well. It is when you venture off of the resort property that you have to exercise extreme caution. But, whether you are on your property, or visiting a nearby town don’t forget to use some common sense!

VEGAS WITH KIDS—IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

I’m not the kind of person that has a regular trip anywhere. But, it seems that our goto place without our kids is Las Vegas. It’s an easy flight, the weather is always nice, my husband and I both like to gamble, and there is no shortage of adult-oriented fun. The last few times we have gone, we have noticed an increased amount of families with young children there. We know a few friends that make the trip there for Spring Break as well. I never saw the point. Why would I want to bring my kids to an adult playground? So, while my husband worked, I set out to find what I would do with my kids in Las Vegas.

My first impression on this trip was that Vegas has done a nice job of “cleaning” up the streets. Remember all of those people lining the sidewalks, flapping cards filled with naked women? They were surprisingly absent. It wasn’t like I missed them. I didn’t even see their remnants on the sidewalks. Vegas has also put a TON of money into improving the atmosphere outside of the hotels. Every alleyway between the hotels has been transformed into an open-air mall filled with affordable restaurants, fun stores, ice cream shops, and live music venues.

Everyone knows that Vegas has a large selection of thrill rides, tours, and museum exhibits. They have definitely upped their ante in this category to attract more familiies. In addition to the Shark Reef Aquarium and the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Vegas also boasts a CSI exhibit, a Marvel Avengers Interactive Exhibit, and Madame Tussards. They have also added zip-lining and indoor race karts. I haven’t even gone into the many artifact exhibits like Bodies or Titanic. There really is something for everyone!

I spent a lot of my time exploring the South end of the strip. In all of my visits to Vegas, I had never been past New York New York. It was well worth the trip! The pool at Mandalay Bay was amazing! Complete with a beach, zero depth pool, lazy river, and a food court there is no chance kids will get bored there. There is a great food court inside too. The Shark Reef Aquarium also did not disappoint.

From a kid’s perspective, all of the hotels are really cool. Whether it is the Fountains at the Bellagio, walking the streets of the Forum Shops at Caesar’s, or the canals and gondolas that meander through the Venetian, any child can feel like they are being transported to a new time and place when they visit the many Vegas Hotels. But, I really enjoyed the Luxor and the Excalibur as well. They both have the same attention to detail you would expect for a Vegas Hotel. But, there is something about a pyramid or a castle that connects to a kid in a way that the Eiffel Tower may not.

My final observation on my long journey of exploration was that life was a little quieter at the South End of the Strip. Things are a little more spread out, there aren’t as many stand-alone casinos or bars selling liquor by the yard. It was a nice change of pace from our usual mid-strip location and I could see staying down there as a family and staying put for a few days.

So what are the downsides? First, all of that entertainment can put as big a hole in your wallet as the casinos. The entry into these exhibits and museums aren’t cheap. Also, they aren’t nearly as big as you would expect, so you get through them rather quickly. The Shark Reef Aquarium would have cost my family of 4 over $100 and we probably would have spent about 30 minutes inside. Second, you have to make reservations to eat. We tried to go to Señor Frogs at 2 pm on a Thursday and waited 25 minutes. Third, you have to be prepared for children to ask questions. They are going to see scantily clad women (on billboards and in person), bad versions of Mickey and Pikachu offering photos, and plenty of advertisements for places that sell recreational cannabis. Not all bad, you should just be prepared.

Now the million dollar question is, would I bring my kids with me on our next trip to Las Vegas? My answer has to be maybe. I suppose if we were desperate to get to a warmer climate and found a really great deal, we would consider it. But, my husband and I like the adult side of Vegas too much to go running there with our kids. However, my eyes have been opened to why so many people head there when school is out for a week or two.

WHAT TYPES OF TRAVEL SHOULD I EXPERIENCE WITH MY KIDS?

As am sitting at my computer on the second day of frigid temperatures, I find myself thinking about all the places we have been and where we still would like to go. We have done a wide variety of things with our kids, but still we haven’t experienced every type of option. As I think about the wishlist we have, I wonder, “What is the best kind of vacation to take with your family?” I have narrowed down the types of travel to 7 distinct types: Cruise, All-Inclusive/Beach, National Park, Road Trip, City Trip, Theme Park, and Europe/Guided Tour.

My family has done plenty of beach vacations, but never a cruise. My daughter and I have a propensity toward motion sickness so that has kept us ashore for now. But, the allure of a cruise is still there. The kids clubs are second to none and the onboard activities are sure to keep all ages entertained. You get to see many different cultures in a short period of time. And the food is plentiful and delicious (better than most all-inclusives). Cruises are leisurely and adventure-packed all at the same time. One downside I see is the hidden fees. You will find some great sales on cruises. But, none of them are ever during school breaks. While summer cruising is an option, hurricanes factor in there. Things like gratuities, alcohol, and specialty restaurants add to the total cost of the trip. Don’t even get me started on airfare! There are plenty of people that make it work. You don’t have to go on excursions in every port and kids don’t really care about food outside of the kids’ menu. But, we like to indulge when we travel. So, while cruising will be on our short list in the near future, it is definitely a vacation we are going to save up for.

My husband and I have gone to a few different all-inclusive resorts and recently did one with our kids. I think these are the easiest vacations to go on. There is no planning involved. These resorts sell packages that include airfare and transfers, making the price quoted the price you will spend. While excursions are always an option, all-inclusive resorts (or any beach resort for that matter) have a laid-back attitude that encourages you to sit a while and sip a fruity beverage. Whether you choose a beach resort or an all-inclusive resort everything you need is right in front of you. The kids’ clubs aren’t as packed as on a cruise ship and the food isn’t always top-notch. But what you lose in quality you make up for in relaxation. You will be hard pressed to find that you are getting nearly as much for your money on any other vacation that you take with your family.

Some families are more outdoorsy than others. Mine is a split family. My younger one would sleep in the backyard every night if I would let her and I would join her. My husband and older daughter love hiking, fishing, and boating, but want to leave the outdoors outside when they are done with the day. You would think that makes a National Park vacation almost impossible for us. But, it doesn’t. Today, there are a ton of options for lodging that make the Great Outdoors far more accessible. Many parks have a lodge close by. With the advent of AirBNB and VRBO, there is always a vacation rental nearby. We haven’t even approached all of the Glamping options out there, as most accredited campsite offer a variety of lodging options. I suggest starting small with some State Parks that are within driving distance of your home. Then move up to the National Parks. These vacations are inexpensive, relaxing, and rewarding. I promise they won’t disappoint!

That brings me to the Road Trip. My family LOVES them! The scenery is beautiful. There are so many out-of-the-way places you can visit on the way to bigger destinations (We have a running list of the “World’s Largest” roadside attractions). Road Trips are a great way to get to a National Park. They are also a great way to get to a City Vacation. You definitely have to be creative with entertainment while on a road trip. But, each one we do evokes a sense of what life was like before all of the technology took over. Also, coming from a big city, seeing the US countryside can be humbling.

That brings me to the aforementioned City Trip. Coming from a big city, sometimes that means a staycation. Other times it means traveling to another city to check out the sites. We love the art, culture, theater, and museums you find when you travel to another city. You forget that even though we are one country, the United States offers a whole host of different experience that are often within a few hours of your home. Where else can you experience the party of New Orleans, the glam of L.A., and grandness of New York? These are not the most relaxing vacations, as you are on the go and on your feet a lot. But, if you are an active family like ours, these vacations are definitely for you.

On the subject of active vacations, are Theme Park vacations. When people say that vacationing with kids isn’t really a vacation, they were thinking about this type of vacation. Theme Parks are action packed. Many of them require more than one day to complete, especially if you are there when lines are long. Theme Park vacations often seem pricy. But, when you consider all that you are getting, you can kind of understand why they have to charge so much (see my previous post on the prices at Disney). If you decide to embark on a trip like this, get ready to wait in lots of lines and eat lots of junk food. But, don’t just think Disney. There are so many options out there from HersheyPark to Legoland to Sea World.

That brings me to the last type of vacation for your family, the European vacation. It is hotly debated when you should bring your kids to Europe for the first time. The flight is long, the trip is expensive, and there can be a lot of walking. Only you can judge when is a good time to go. But, it is very rewarding to experience life across the ocean. It teaches children so much about themselves and how lucky we are here. There is a ton of history in Europe as well. Some of you may decide to go it on your own and explore at your own pace. There are others that will want a guided tour. I think there is value in both. I love to be adventurous and tackle a city on my own. But, I also like to experience a new place through the eyes of a local.

So what is the best kind of vacation with kids? I think it all depends. Are you looking for a relaxing time or a great adventure? Are your kids younger or older? Do you want to escape the cold or see the culture? Do you have an unlimited budget or are you looking for a vacation on the cheap? I think everyone should try each of these at least once with their kids. Who knows, you might find something you never knew you loved before.

Post Winter Break Update

Punta Cana was amazing! It was honestly one of the easiest vacations we have ever been on. The weather was good, the kids loved the pool, and I even got to sit and read a book by the pool. There really wasn't much that I would have changed about the trip. Despite that, here are my honest opinions on the trip top to bottom.

First, my family's "Modified Screen Time." It went fairly well. While we were in Punta Cana, they were happy to stay at the pool until we said it was time to go back to the room to change for dinner. Once in the room, they were happy to watch for 30 minutes or so and then shower and change. In the mornings, they slept in and woke up hungry so we were up and out fairly quickly as well. Really, we spent little time in the room, so there weren't a lot of questions about the iPad. My husband and I, for the most part, left our phones in the room. We both returned emails a few times a day and one of us took the phone with at night so that we could take pictures. But, other than that I don't think either one of us spent 2 minutes on Facebook while we were gone.

The resort was very nice. The rooms were on the smaller side, but we weren't in them enough to really care. The nice part of our room was that we had 2 adjoining rooms. A year or two ago, we would have definitely needed both rooms. But, both of our kids managed to stay up until after the evening entertainment. So, by the time they went to bed, we could have sat on the balcony for a little while and then joined them (I was asleep soon after them anyway). But, I will never begrudge the extra space if money allows for it!

The pool was one of my favorite features. The pool at our resort had a long, lazy river-style pool that ended in the swim-up bar. This meant that everyone was a little more spread out. We were able to scope out the same spot each day and so did the other families that our kids enjoyed playing with. There were plenty of kids for them to play with, but the pool never seemed crowded. So you could relax without getting in the way of the kids' fun. Another bonus was that the pool was only 3 - 3 1/2 feet deep. So, my kids could stand and it was the perfect depth for playing a variety of games in the water.

If I have to be completely honest, the food and drinks were hit or miss. I will remind you that it was Winter Break (2nd week) and it was a family resort. You are never going to like ALL of the food at an all-inclusive. But, 90% of what we ate was good. Our biggest complaint was that the bar with the best liquor selection was in the lobby. More often than not, we could get a bottle at the restaurant we were at. But, not always. I think that a lot of that was due to the fact that we are a diverse group of drinkers (1 scotch, 1 whiskey, 1 gin, 1 vodka, 1 rum) where most people at a family resort were ordering the drink of the day or a glass of wine. The selection was disappointing, but not vacation-ending.

My other bigger negative was with Punta Cana itself. From the way it was always described, I expected lush tropical forests, crystal clear turquoise waters, and the soft pristine beaches like ones you see on deserted islands. In reality, the weather wasn't the best it could have been. It was rather windy, so the ocean and beach were difficult to navigate. It definitely wasn't the prettiest beach I have ever seen. We did travel in and around Bavaro Beach a bit. The resorts are grand in size, but don't feel opulent. Everything was much more simple than I expected. Also, the island itself isn't pretty. There was more garbage on the side of the road than plant-life. Buildings were rundown and it didn't look like a place I wanted to explore on my own at all. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back. It would have to be the right price for me to pass up some other destinations though.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the entertainment. The resort did a GREAT job of putting together a line-up that worked for all ages. We saw a cirque-style circus, a magician, had a rockin' time at the New Year's Eve Party, and participated in a karaoke/talent show. It was fun for all ages!

All-in-all it was a great trip. Good mix of relaxation and fun. Check out my Instagram & Facebook to see some photos from the trip. Tune in next time when I review all of the different types of vacations we have been on and what is next for us on our journey to see the world.

WHY YOU SHOULD UNPLUG OVER WINTER BREAK

In case you hadn’t noticed, I have been a little MIA online lately. We came back from New York and the end of year push kicked in with vengeance! It seems like every night I look up and my day has been a whirlwind of holiday shows, carpools, last-minute quotes, and upcoming travel questions. But, I didn’t sit down to write about why I am so busy! I wanted to tell you about what my family and I doing this Winter Break to try to decompress from a busy end of the year. WE ARE GOING TO UNPLUG! Well, sort of. Let’s call it “Modified Screen Time.” Some might say I’m crazy. But, I think it is just what we all need to get back to the happy, patient family that we once were.

You see, I am a work at home mom. That means that my kids get home from school and are left to their own devices until my husband gets home from work. Then, I close up shop until they are in bed for the night. That means that lately they have spent countless hours in front of the television or their iPads while I am working. Lately, I have been took busy to fight with them over the amount of hours they spend glued to a screen. But, over Winter Break I have the opportunity to impose stricter limits on their screens because they are both home to entertain one another. Winter Break also means that I have more flexibility to carve out time with them so they aren’t on their own quite as much.

But, that isn’t the only reason that we are unplugging over Winter Break. My husband and I have gotten into the ugly habit of aimlessly surfing Facebook and YouTube videos instead of actually spending time together. On the weekends we are so exhausted from the busy work week that when we do find times that all four of us have nowhere to be, we find ourselves bribing them into watching old movies or cooking competitions with us. Family Movie Nights have become our best version of Family Time.

So, part of this idea to unplug a little over break has come from the amount of time that we all spend in front of a screen. The other big part of it is that we are traveling to Punta Cana over break. On our last vacation (to New York), but husband and I spent a good portion of our time away working. I know, we live in a fast-paced, “I want it now” world. But, there is also something to be said for returning emails once or twice a day instead of every time you sit down. This is also our kids’ first time at an all-inclusive resort. It is their first time out of the country. While most of our vacations are firsts for them, the atmosphere of a resort lends itself to not needing screens to survive. We don’t need phones and wallets with us when we leave the room. There isn’t a kitchen in our room or a reason to bring extra snacks or breakfast with us. All of our food and entertainment needs are right there on-property. All we need are shirts and shoes to be served. This totally frees us up to read a book, play together on the ocean trampoline, or enjoy a quiet walk just my husband and me.

I know what you are thinking….I must be crazy. How can we all go without screen for 2 whole weeks?!! Well, we are not going cold turkey. The four of us sat down and drafted a contract. The contract limits screen time during break. But, it allows for a little extra time in Chicago than we get in Punta Cana. We stipulated that work and homework do not count. We stipulated times when screen time was acceptable. Our kids were in on the planning of this venture and everyone was in total agreement on the terms. So far, my kids are playing instead of watching TV, even though I am working. And they are so excited for our vacation that they believe that they are going to be too busy trying everything to care if they are in the room or not. Next week, we are going to download a bunch of library books onto an old Kindle and the kids got new travel games to bring along as well. So far, it feels like we are all set up for success.

Tune into my next blog post to hear all about our trip to Punta Cana and how our screen-free vacation went!

Great Time Away, Right in Our Own Backyard

Near where I live, we get a two week break for the Winter Break, a five-day weekend for Presidents Day, and one week off for Spring Break in March. That is almost 4 weeks off of school in just three months! Couple that with the freezing temperatures of Chicago and kids get bored while adults get stir crazy. But, with the cost of airfare, you can’t alway just jet off to someplace warmer to escape Chicago winters. So, what are we to do? Check out this list of great activities for families that are close enough to home to make the drive.

Indoor Waterparks: The Midwest is dotted with indoor waterparks. From ones as close as Gurnee, and all through Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, there is no shortage of fun places to stop. Take 2-3 days to unwind and have fun. Many of these waterparks are full complexes complete with restaurants, go-karts, arcades, day spas, and more! They all also offer a variety of accommodations, so you can travel with as many people as you like and take advantage of the living rooms and kitchens in the larger rooms.
Wisconsin Dells: Most people will tell you that the Dells is better in the summer. But, there is plenty to in the winter too. Ice skating, snow tubing, skiing, and indoor waterparks give you plenty to do over a long weekend. If you are into the strange and unusual, check out House on the Rock. It is a short drive from the Dells and offers a few hours of exploring an eccentrically built mansion filled with his collection of oddities.
Nearby Resorts: Did you know that there are resorts right here in the Chicagoland Area? Galena, St. Charles, and Geneva are just a few places where you will find luxury resorts offering plenty of activities and relaxation. You will find them all over Wisconsin and Michigan as well if you don’t mind a longer trip.
Lake Geneva: Coming to Lake Geneva this winter—ICE CASTLES! That is right, there will be a giant castle carved completely out of ice. Couple that with a stay at Timber Ridge, the Grand Geneva, or one of the other beautiful resort there and you have a perfect weekend getaway. Lake Geneva offers nice restaurants and spas for the adults, with plenty of fun for the kids. Plus, during the winter months there is also snow tubing and sleigh rides.
Indianapolis: The Indianapolis Children’s Museum often tops the list of best museums in the U.S. for kids. If you are racing fan, there are multiple opportunities for you to explore your passion in Indy. Don’t discount this great small city when you are thinking of your next getaway!
St. Louis: The drive to St. Louis is a whole lot closer than you think. Plus its winters are a bit warmer than they are in Chicago. Both the City Museum and the Children’s Museum offer kids great spaces to explore and play. Also, the Anheuser Busch Factory still gives free samples and welcomes children (although you must be 21 to taste).
Minneapolis: There is more to the Twin Cities than the Mall of America. Although the Mall is much more than just a mall. You could spend a day or two there for sure. But, if you decide to make the drive up this winter, don’t miss the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Lego Discovery Center, or the Crayola Experience. All are sure to wow kids of all ages!

SUCK IT UP, IT’S DISNEY!

Even since before I opened shop as a travel agent, it was no secret—I LOVE DISNEY!! I also love road trips, camping, and all-inclusive vacations. But, I digress. Over time, I have heard all of the arguments/complaints against going to Disney. Yes, there are a lot of you out there that begrudgingly book your Disney vacation because every kid should see it once. In this four-part series I will examine why you should not only put aside your “issues” with visiting the Great Mouse House, but also have fun doing it!

PART 4: DOES AGE MATTER?

Lastly, I’d like to talk about what age to go. There really isn’t a right answer here. So, I’m going to break it down by age group (with some photographic proof) to help you decide when is the right time to go.

BABIES: You will see infants all over the parks. I’ve seen babies as young as 2 weeks there! On the plus side, babies can be very easy to have in the parks, especially if you are there with extended family. They sleep a lot and are welcome on any rides with no height restrictions. Our first trip with kids was with a 7-month-old and it couldn’t have been easier. We got a lot of time to focus on what my older daughter wanted to do. Which is nice since sharing her time with us was new to her. When the baby was awake she even managed to get in on the action, proving that Disney Magic is recognizable at any age (see photo 1).

TODDLERS: This is one age-group I usually don’t recommend. Sure, they enjoy it. The joy and amazement on their faces at that age is priceless. But waiting is SOOOOO hard from them. If you are going to venture to Disney with this age group, plan on going during low season when the parks aren’t so crowded. Also plan to take breaks from the parks. At this age it is especially important to not try to cram too much in. Go for a short trip and only see 1 or 2 parks.

PRESCHOOLERS: This is by far my favorite age for a trip to Disney! It is the sweet spot for remembering the trip AND thinking they can move into Cinderella’s Castle with their favorite princess (I know because my daughter tried it!). You would think they wouldn’t remember, but you would be surprised how big of an impression Disney can make on a young mind. (Check out photos 2 & 3 for evidence on how magical it can be at this age)

ELEMENTARY: By the time they get to about five or six, Disney is still magical, but they understand that the characters aren’t “real.” That doesn’t mean there is no magic for this age group (see photo 4). Plus, the older they are, the more rides they can go on. Forty inches is a pretty good benchmark for anything that isn’t too fast or scary for the non-thrill seekers in the family. But, by this age they are many are mentally ready to try out the rides for 48 inches and taller. Staying up late is also a an added bonus for this age group since Disney takes on a whole new look at night and the fireworks shows are AMAZING.

ADOLESCENCE & ADULTHOOD: I would be remiss if I didn’t mention, Disney isn’t just for kids! Preteens and teenagers like the freedom of exploring the parks on their own. Disney is a fairly wholesome family getaway, so you can feel safe in giving them that freedom. Also, as we all get older we get to live vicariously through our children. Their joy is our joy. But, even without our kids, there is so much that can draw an adult in (just check out my Dad’s first encounter with Chewbacca). Disney offers nightclubs, festivals, and plenty of nostalgia to all of it’s older guests.

This concludes my mini-series on all things Disney. I hope that I have helped to put you in a positive mindset for your Disney vacations. With a little knowledge and help from me, you can build a trip that will make memories to last a lifetime!

SUCK IT UP, IT’S DISNEY!

Even since before I opened shop as a travel agent, it was no secret—I LOVE DISNEY!! I also love road trips, camping, and all-inclusive vacations. But, I digress. Over time, I have heard all of the arguments/complaints against going to Disney. Yes, there are a lot of you out there that begrudgingly book your Disney vacation because every kid should see it once. In this f-part series I will examine why you should not only put aside your “issues” with visiting the Great Mouse House, but also have fun doing it!

PART 3: I DON’T HAVE A PhD IN DISNEY

So, back to FastPass+ and all Disney reservations for that matter. I know it is overwhelming. There are multiple booking windows. You worry that you won’t get the reservations you want. And deciding where you are going at 10 am on the Tuesday of your vacation is mind boggling. Not to mention, you are on vacation. You don’t want to feel like you are punching a clock. This is a long one, but this is the breakdown of how it all works. Follow these tips and it will make things so much less stressful!

First, decide if you want to wait in line to meet characters or pay extra (it is WAY more per person than your average restaurant) to meet them at meals. There are pros and cons to both sides and my family has done both. In reality, with little kids under 40 inches if you choose character meals, you are still going to wait in lines to meet characters. They love it, and you will have the time since there aren’t as many rides for them to experience. But anyway, if you choose to go with a character meal, pick one that sounds appealing. They all have different characters and different cuisines.

If you are looking to eat with Mickey and Friends you have a few choices. The fan favorite is, of course, Chef Mickey’s. But, any of the meals with those characters are good. Don’t worry if the menu sounds a bit eclectic, there are always more “average” options on the buffet. If you are looking to dine with princesses, I would choose Akershus over Cinderella’s table. But, there are pros and cons there too. One of my favorite ways to do character meals is to pick ones that are outside of the parks. You are going to end up eating at least one meal in Orlando on a travel day. Character meals are a great way to fill that time slot.

Always book character meals first. Other hard to get reservations include (but are not limited to) Be Our Guest Restaurant, fireworks cruises, Chef’s Table at Victoria and Albert’s, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, ’Ohana, and Le Cellier. Outside of those choices, you really can’t go wrong. So, go with the type of food you like. Once you have decided on your restaurants come up with a basic framework for what parks you want to be in each day. This is a great time to call your travel agent for recommendations or consult internet crowd calendars. Keep this schedule fluid so that if you can’t get your Magic Kingdom reservations on Day 1 you can switch it to Day 5 and make Epcot your Day 1. Another option would be to switch a dinner to a lunch. At 180 days before your trip start date, dining reservations open for your entire trip.

Slightly more difficult, and even more important, are FastPass reservations. It does not matter what time of year you travel, the most popular rides will ALWAYS have the longest lines! So, once your dining reservations are set, you should be thinking about what rides you really want to get on in each park. At 60 day before your trip (30 days if you are off-property) your FastPass booking window will open for your entire trip. As with dining, you want to book the most popular rides first, no matter what day of the trip you will ride it.

Entire books have been writing on park touring plans. So this is where you really want to do your research or call your travel agent! The best way to plan out your day is to make your first FastPass reservation at the time you think you will enter the park. You have an hour to make that window, so don’t worry if your FastPass is at 9 am, but you don’t get into the park until 9:30. I stack my reservations one after the other, keeping them close together in each park (don’t make yourself criss cross the park between each reservation). The booking system won’t let you overlap with another reservation of any kind, so keep that in mind if you get an error message. Even though I may have reservations at 9, 10, and 11 the lines go so quickly that I can usually ride a ride or two in between. I stack my FastPasses early because when I am done, I can pick up an open FastPass on the Disney Experience app for later in the day. Don’t stress about the exact times either. There is nothing wrong with having your FastPasses at 9:15, 10:30, and 11:30. Or with pushing that 3rd FastPass until after lunch. FastPasses are meant to give you more ride opportunities during the day. They are not there to stress you out, so you should always book FastPasses at a pace that works for you.

Here is the dirty little secret nobody tells you about booking your trip to Disney…Even the best laid plans can go awry. We often find that we think we will head back to the hotel at 2 pm, but we are having too much fun so we stay in the parks. Or we decide to stay out for fireworks and the kids are too tired the next day to get an early start. Rides break down. Sometimes it rains making indoor queues 10 times busier than normal. No matter how much research, planning, and booking expertise you have your trip won’t go exactly as planned. THAT IS OKAY!!! If you get bogged down in the details of the plan, you won’t have time for fun. You can always move FastPasses around while you wait in line. Don’t tell, but most restaurants will hold reservations for 30 minutes especially if they know the park just got slammed because of bad weather.

Here is my last tidbit and then I will get off of my soapbox. There are travel agents out there that will do all of your booking for you. You will get the same cookie-cutter trip that everyone else gets. But, when you book with Bernover Family Travel, I take the time to talk to you about what you are looking for from your trip. Are you thrill seekers or character greeters? Do you have to see everything all in one day? Or are you more laid back and see what you see kind of people? I can give you a plan that works for you and your family. So you don’t have to worry about whether or not you are doing it “right.” The important thing to remember is that this vacation will be magical for your kids no matter what they see and do. Your goal with Disney Reservations, whether you plan them out or I do, is to do what you can to maximize your fun!

SUCK IT UP, IT’S DISNEY!

Even since before I opened shop as a travel agent, it was no secret—I LOVE DISNEY!! I also love road trips, camping, and all-inclusive vacations. But, I digress. Over time, I have heard all of the arguments/complaints against going to Disney. Yes, there are a lot of you out there that begrudgingly book your Disney vacation because every kid should see it once. In this f-part series I will examine why you should not only put aside your “issues” with visiting the Great Mouse House, but also have fun doing it!

PART 2: ALL OF THE WHINING AND COMPLAINING

Next on everyone’s list of gripes about Disney is that it is so exhausting. And it is. You walk an average of 7-9 miles per day. You wait in long lines. You are up early and stay out late. AND IT IS SO HOT! Okay, so maybe that is more than one gripe, but they all seem to fall under the same umbrella. Don’t they? Look, if you complain, so will your kids. They are just intuitive like that. So ditch the whine and have a nightly margarita (seriously, adult beverages are so good in Disney). Let’s put is all on the table now so you can vent and be done by the time you leave!

First, we live in a world where everyone is up at the crack of dawn to hit the gym before a busy day of whatever it is your do (work, school, clean the house, etc.). Let’s face it we are all fit enough for the walking. If your worried your kids won’t make it, a good old-fashioned stroller, should take care of the walking thing. Even if you haven’t used your stroller in years, bring it. There are plenty of 7-9 year-olds hitching a ride in the middle of the day. So ditch your morning run, you will get plenty of exercise. It might not be the same endorphin rush, but that is what roller coasters are for!

I get that you are on vacation and don’t want to set an alarm. So don’t! When you are thinking about what hours you want to keep on vacation, model it after your home life. If your kids are early risers, then hit the parks when they open. If they like to sleep in, then let them sleep. There are a lot of people out there that will tell you to FastPass everything early in the day so you can get more FastPasses. Really it’s more about your total park plan, not what hours you are in the park (more on that in a later Blog). And don’t be afraid to take breaks. If you want to be able to relax on vacation, take a break from the parks in the middle of the day. Go swimming, take a nap, let your kids watch tv (Disney has a 24 hour Disney cartoon channel).

As far as long lines go, that’s why they invented FastPass+ (again, more on that later). That is also why Disney has interactive queues, hidden mickeys, and extensive theming throughout the park. You can also arm yourself with an arsenal of little things to keep you busy in line (bubbles, phone apps, small pad of paper and pen). Or make a friend while waiting. After all, you are all in the same boat for the next hour or so. A good Disney Travel agent will be able to set up your park day so that you hit the most popular rides at unpopular times. If you want to do more of the planning yourself, there are GREAT resources out there that share ride line trends, crowd calendars, and FastPass+ suggestions. DON’T let anyone give you a cookie-cutter formula for your day. There is nothing worse than waiting 3 hours for a ride you hate!

As far as the heat goes, Florida is hot. But, it is no hotter than Mexico, Punta Cana, or Jamaica. Nobody ever complains about the temperature there. If it is hot, portable misters, wet wash cloths, and breaks to the pool and/or air conditioned attractions are key. But seriously, when you travel makes a big difference. If you can afford to get there between November and March it will be much cooler. But, keep in mind that just because it is cooler, doesn’t mean you get sunshine and balmy temperatures everyday. Be sure to pack pants and a jacket!

Disney is one vacation that you should plan as if it were yours and not worry so much about what everyone else would do. Don’t let a travel agent tell you what you “have” to do. My favorite advise to give clients is not to worry about what you are missing. Kids don’t compare ride notes when they get home. So if you want to hit the parks when the open and stay through until close, go for it. But, if you want Disney to feel more like a vacation, do it your way and find ways that make you feel less rushed. If you feel good about the trip you have planned, you are more likely to leave your whine at home. Tune in next time for details on how to plan Disney without feeling too planned.

SUCK IT UP, IT’S DISNEY!

PART 1: MONEY TALKS

So lets address the elephant in the room—MONEY. Yes, Disney is expensive. You just have to put yourself in a different mindset. There isn’t a theme park anywhere that offers the variety of attractions, cleanliness, and customer service that Disney does. The theming even extends to their restaurants and resorts. No detail is missed anywhere on property. To top it off you get to delight in the look on your kids’ faces when they meet their favorite character for the first time. Isn’t their happiness priceless?

So let’s start with the price of the tickets. While one 4-day ticket will run you about $380, it still comes out to about the same money per day as other theme parks around the country. Plus you get so much more! Disney isn’t wall-to-wall roller coasters and thrill rides like other theme parks, but that just makes them more accessible. There isn’t a detail on any ride that is overlooked. The ride queues are themed, the ride is themed, the cast members are themed. It is like you stepped into the land the ride is based on. The Cast Members are the nicest people you will ever meet. If they don’t know the answer (and they usually do) they will find the person that does. Even the people picking up trash have a smile on their face. Which reminds me, Disney is SOOOO clean. Did you know that they have a Gum Patrol that scrapes up chewed gum and special chutes under the garbage cans so that they are never overfull? I would be remiss if I didn’t include the entertainment into the price of admission. Broadway caliber shows, huge fireworks displays, and interesting street performers are all included in your admission. Disney does it all with groundbreaking technology too (the new castle show is UNBELIEVABLE). I think all of this makes their ticket a bargain when you compare it to what you get at other amusement parks!

Once you swallow that tough nut, it really comes down to food, lodging, transportation and airfare. Transportation is a personal choice. I know plenty of people who insist on the flexibility of renting a car, but it won’t save you any time or money. Airfare is what it is. I wish I could control the airlines, but I can’t. When it comes to lodging, any good travel agent (me included) can find you those at a price you are comfortable with. Disney hotel or not, you have a lot of options. And because it is Disney, most of the hotels are really nice and are ALWAYS clean. When compared to hotels in other areas of Florida, I don’t find that I get the same kind of sticker shock as you would expect.

That only leaves food. Again, this is dependent on how you and your family eat on vacation. We are a “breakfast bar on the go” kind of family. We happily eat chicken fingers for lunch. But, for dinner we want to sit in the air conditioning and get a good meal. That is why we purchase the Disney Dining Plan. It covers all of our eating needs and we actually spend less than we would if we paid for each meal. The dining plan allows us to eat a $50 steak without blinking because the meal plan averages out to $35 per sit-down meal. Now, I know what you are thinking…”My kids eat like birds and are super picky.” Then the dining plan isn’t for you. But, you can take advantage of sharing food, purchasing snacks instead of full meals, or eating outside of the park. Disney resorts accept packages for you, so you can ship a box down ahead of your arrival or order from a local grocery delivery service. The best part is that Disney allows food into the parks, just no large coolers or wagons. So you can eat wherever you are! Are their chicken fingers pricier than other fast-food chain, yes. But, I believe there are plenty of ways to eat reasonably while at Disney.

If you plan Disney right, it can cost the same or less than your average all-inclusive vacation. I’m not sitting here at my computer telling you to ditch your beach vacations and go all-in on Disney every year. I am saying, if you are spending that money you have to look at all you are getting when you choose DIsney. All-inclusives are relaxing, luxurious, and fun. Disney can be all of those things. You just have to look at all you do get for your dollar, and stop focusing on what you don’t. Tune in next time when we focus on how to relax on your Disney Vacation.

CURBING THE COST OF AIRFARE THIS WINTER BREAK

I get asked all of the time how much people should budget for their family vacations. My first answer is always, “Depending on the cost of airfare….” That’s right, the cost of airfare can make or break your vacation budget. This is especially true if you want to travel while your kids are on break from school. It is especially true this year. Rising prices of oil have led to profit losses across the board. Airlines know that they can make up for these losses by raising prices around peak travel times. So, what are you supposed to do if your wallet can’t compensate for their loss? Here are a few suggestions:

Travel outside of “normal” travel dates. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars if you travel a few days before or a few days after most schools have their breaks. I know it is hard to have them miss school. Just think of it as an extended field trip. There is bound to be something educational you can do on your trip to make up for the time lost in school.
Look to travel in February or March. While many schools have some time off in February for Presidents Day and most school districts take Spring Break at the end of March, it is still less expensive overall to travel over ANY school break than it is to travel over Winter Break. Another bonus of waiting until later in the winter is that more U.S. locations have warm to hot weather. You don’t need to go all the way to Jamaica or Mexico because Miami is just as warm!
Shorten your trip a bit. I know that everyone wants to lay on a beach for a week. Sometimes, it’s just too expensive to be gone for that many days. Sometimes all you need to do in order to meet your budget is go away for 5 days instead of 8.
Look into a cruise. Cruises are often less expensive than all-inclusive resorts. The accommodations are just as nice, the food is still unlimited, and in many cases there are more activities on board for kids and adults than you can find at a resort. If you are not planning on drinking heavily and don’t care about excursions off of the ship (other than self-guided ones), then cruising may be a great way to save yourself some money!
Book last minute. This can backfire on you depending on when you are planning to travel. But, sometimes resorts run great deals at about 30 days out from your desired dates. It can backfire because they only do this if they need to sell rooms. It can also backfire because there may not be plane tickets to match hotel availability. But, if you can handle the limited choices, this might be the way to go.
Travel within the U.S., even if it isn’t hot. When people say they want to go someplace warm over Winter Break, they usually mean 82 degrees or warmer. But, to get those borderline hot temperatures at that time of year, you have to travel outside of the U.S.. Which is definitely more expensive. My philosophy with Winter Break travel is “Anything is warmer than here.” If it isn’t snowing on New Year’s Eve I am fine going anywhere! Yes, Florida can be in the 60’s over Winter Break. But, it can also be 85 degrees! San Diego is cooler, but their coldest days put Chicago’s Springtime temperatures to shame. Pick someplace beautiful and forget about your tan because at least you aren’t snowed in or stuck behind your desk!
Take a Road Trip. This is by far my favorite alternative to air travel. There are so many wonderful places to visit right inside our own boarders! The country is dotted with historical sites, indoor waterparks, zoos, beaches, and great places to go hiking. In a day’s drive you can ditch the winter coats and see so many places different from our own. We do a road trip at least once a year and they are great! I know a bunch of great tricks to keep the kids busy. I also have plenty of resources to help you find ways to break up your drive while seeing more than just your average Rest Stop. Give me a call, I’d be happy to set up a whole itinerary for you!

I hope this list helped you with making your budget this Winter Break. As a Travel Agent, I wish I had a magic button that let me name your price for your trip. I am with you in thinking that airfare is outrageous! But, I don’t want that to stop you from taking your family on their next great adventure.

TRAVELING WITHOUT THE KIDS

I know I said that this blog was going to be about traveling with kids and extended family. But, I also said that you were going to get an inside look into my family’s adventures. Since this is “our” first adventure why not share it?

So, traveling without the kids….I think it is a HUGE part of a healthy marriage. What’s the saying—“Distance makes the heart grow fonder?” Well, once you have kids, you often find a lot of “distance” between you and your spouse. Travel is a great way to keep the flame going and get some much needed alone time. So, find yourself a great overnight babysitter or call up the grandparents every once in a while! Take the time to find the couple that fell in love all of those years ago.

So the story for this trip starts with my 40th birthday and what I want to do to celebrate. My response for my 40th is very similar to what I wanted to do for my 30th—drink good wine! So, three months after I opened my travel company, my husband set out to book the perfect vacation for us. That’s right, he did all of the leg work! It was a ton of work!!! If you want to go to Napa and see some of the more private, smaller production wineries, I HIGHLY recommend calling me! We not only found A LOT of new wines that we love, we had a variety of experiences at the tastings. We saw production lines, barrel rooms, and even blended and bottled our own wine. Without first-hand knowledge of Napa Valley and Sonoma County you will be more likely to end up with public tastings where you belly-up to the tasting bar and taste things you can find anywhere wine is sold. This was a huge undertaking for him and I am proud to say that he knocked this trip out of the park!

We booked the trip itself primarily with points. As a travel agent, of course I want you to call me up so I can book everything. But, I have to say, saving up those points makes getting out of town MUCH easier! So, we stayed at a “big box” hotel. Napa Valley has plenty of independent hotels to choose from as well as Inns and Bed and Breakfasts. The hotel was lovely. My personal recommendation would be to stay in one of the small towns over the location we chose. I would have enjoyed staying in town where we could walk to breakfast or dinner a little bit more than where we were. Also, after spending time in both Napa and Sonoma, I personally like Sonoma better. The vibe there is a little more laid back and the tasting hosts seems to have a more casual air about how they sell their wines.

Other than that, it was beautiful! In the mid-90’s during the day and in the mid-60’s at night. The scenery was breathtaking, although in the summer most of the grass is brown. The brown grass and heat are a reminder of how close this region came to total destruction during the fires of 2017. There are still a few signs of where the fires tried to cross over the hillsides and into the wineries. We heard a few heralding tales of winery owners staving off certain destruction, but all-in-all you would never know how devastating last fall was for them.

Speaking on great views, one of my favorite views is from the Tasting Room at Sterling Vineyards. I know what you are thinking, that isn’t the small winery I promised. And it isn’t. But, it is one of my most favorite views. I highly recommend it. The tasting is reasonably priced. Definitely more of a corporate feel when you are tasting, but the gondola ride up and down the mountain is a very unique experience. Once you reach the top, you can sit on the patio, sip some wine, and enjoy a 360 degree view of the valley below you. I think that every trip to the region requires at least one quiet moment when you can appreciate the beauty all around you.

Another thing I think everyone should experience is a pairing lunch. Many wineries offer one. They bring out multiple courses and pour different wines to match what you are eating. You can do this on a small scale by purchasing an accompanying snack plate or you can make a reservation for a complete meal. We did our tasting at VJB which is an Italian-style winery. The wine was delicious, they had a nice range in per bottle pricing, and the Caesar Salad was some of the best I’ve ever had.

We ended our trip in the wine country with an authentic Callistoga Mud Bath. What an experience! I couldn’t really describe the feeling of the mud itself. But, it was much warmer than I expected. The whole process took about an hour and was quite enjoyable. I love a good massage, but this left me feeling just as relaxed and rejuvenated.

I love wine as much as the next person, but I would highly recommend extending your trip into San Francisco or Sausalito. Sausalito is beautiful! Everything is right on the bay. There are cute shops to walk in and out of and good restaurants to boot. I like that you don’t have to fly for 5 hours just to make the 2 hour drive up to Napa. Sausalito is just past San Francisco traffic, making it an easy ride up to Napa the next morning. By the same regard, we spent our last night in San Francisco. I would much rather a 20 minute drive to reach an early flight than a 2 hour one! There is so much to do and see in San Fran, it was a fun was to end a great trip!