Plane Retro

Do you remember the View-Master? The binocular-resembling toy in which you could insert a reel and view all kinds of cool 3-D images? Maybe you haven't thought about one of these in years, but now that you've been reminded, honestly - wouldn't it make a great attention-grabber on a trip?

We think so, and we happened to come across them for sale on Flight 001, a cool website that sells all sorts of travel-related items. Most of their wares are for adults (at least we couldn't see our daughter donning the sleep mask since she never even naps). But we saw the View-Master and had happy memories of our own lo-tech childhood and realized hey, today's kid could get a kick out of this too. Of course, we're not suggesting that a GameBoy kid will be staring at this for hours, but younger children might be enthralled enough for a little while, if only because it's new. The online store also sells several reels to go with your View-Master, all of them focused on different destinations around the world.


View-Master, $8, reels sold separately for $5

Easter Vacation Packages in the US

We promised you some information on Easter family vacation ideas that wouldn't require a passport - and then were surprised at how few there were. Why, we wondered, was it that we couldn't throw a stone in Europe without hitting a hotel celebrating Easter, but yet we were so hard-pressed to find good packages in the United States?

Then we were reminded of how, in our days at school, the week off was called Easter break. And then in a nod to other religions - or really a move away from religion altogether - it became Spring Break, which was in many cases moved away from Easter Week to avoid any connection to what is, in actuality, the most holy day of the Christian calendar.

So there you have it, folks. For Spring Break you can find vacations up the wazoo, but that's not what we promised you. We promised some kind of Easter bunny action, and that's what we looked for high and low. We know you may be waiting until Spring Break to jet out of town anyhow, but if you're like us and plan your getaways around your calendar and not the school's, here are some spots for you.


Mirror Inn Lake & Spa, Lake Placid, NY

Deluxe Noonmark Room, copyright Mirror Lake Inn

Stay in a Deluxe Noonmark Room on either Saturday or Sunday night for $345 a night, the rate for 2 adults and 2 children. The kids will begin Easter Sunday with an Easter Egg Hunt and a coloring contest, followed by Easter brunch for the family. If you add on a night or two, you may be able to take advantage of the outside-the-norm activities the hotel offers for children, from an indoor class on Animal Tracking (taught by an Adirondack Mountain guide & animal tracker) to a precious class called Yoga for Kids & Elephants, using poses based on the lovable Babar.

The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena, CA
The Egg-ceptional Easter package includes overnight accommodations in a deluxe guestroom on Saturday April 7, Easter brunch in the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom for up to 2 adults and 2 children, and complimentary admission for up to 2 children to the Easter Egg Hunt and the special petting zoo. Rates start at $470 with the option to upgrade to a Club Level Guestroom.

Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA
We'd prefer to see this package at Hotel Hershey, Hershey's more upscale hotel, but alas, no luck. Still, if the idea of being in a town dedicated to chocolate is heaven to you, you may be able to overlook the rather unexciting Hershey Lodge. Their Easter package, with a 2-night minimum stay, starts at $258.50 a night, and includes deluxe accommodations for two (kids stay free), Easter Sunday Brunch, and admission to Hershey Gardens & Hershey Museum.

Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, NY
With the baseball season officially opening the week before Easter, what better place to spend Easter than in the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, especially if you have baseball fans among your offspring? The Otesaga Resort Hotel is hosting an Easter Family Weekend Package for any two consecutive nights from April 5 to April 9, with Double MAP rates at $545 (children from 7-18 pay $90, children under 7 are free). The package includes standard guestroom accommodations and 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts per guest, with all kinds of fun activities for the kids: a family egg roll on the hotel lawn on Saturday, an Easter egg coloring contest, and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. A historic tour of Cooperstown and a wine tasting round it out for the adults.

Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
Their website has a full itinerary of Easter activities for the weekend, including Easter Bonnet High Tea, and for those so inclined, a sunrise Easter service on Sunday morning. Not everything is Easter-related, but it all sounds fun; potato sack races, the Family Fun Run and Family Art Class should keep you and the kids well-occupied. Rates start at $179 per person per night (children 12 and under stay & eat free with an adult), and include overnight accommodations, breakfast and dinner and a commemorative family photo.


A final note before we hit the road, so to speak: several luxury hotels around the country, particularly those in large cities, are not offering full-blown Easter packages with accommodations, but are still hosting an Easter brunch. One option? Book a regular night's stay (or a non-Easter package) in a nice destination close to you, and reserve spots at their Easter brunch for a little extra. It could make for a nice & fast Easter getaway in your own hometown or a city close to you.

Villa Rental of the Week - Sicily

Although we normally present a Special Offer of the Week on Thursdays, there were so many options in yesterday's Easter travel to Europe post, with stateside options to come tomorrow, that we decided to entice you with two Villa Rentals of the Week today. Enjoy!



Villa Jada, copyright Scopello Villas


Charming Villa Jada is only a few miles away the village of Scopello, where Brad Pitt and company filmed Ocean's Twelve. Start your explorations there and continue as far as your heart desires, using Villa Jada as your comfortably unpretentious homebase.

Villa Jada is actually a main house and smaller guesthouse, accommodating 12 people (8 in the main villa). The main house features 2 double bedrooms, 2 twin bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, while the guesthouse sleeps 4 in its double-bedroom and twin bedroom. Both the main and guest houses feature fully-equipped kitchens, full air-conditioning and sitting/dining areas with satellite television.


Villa Jada pool, copyright Scopello Villas


A child's travel cot and stair gate are also available for small children. The villa enjoys excellent views of the surrounding groves and mountains, with a beautiful dining terrace that overlooks the pool. The pool is open from April to October, or you can make the trip to Guidaloca (4 kms) to the beach.



One of Villa Jada's twin-bedded rooms, copyright Scopello Villas


Rates for Villa Jada from March 31-June 30 and Sept 1-October 27 are approximately $1600 per week for 4-6 people. From June 30 to Sept 1, rates for 4-6 people are approximately $2000 per week. (Rates are in euros; the dollar rate we're quoting is based on the current conversion rate.) For more information including exact rates, and to book this villa, contact Scopello Villas by clicking here.

Villa Rental of the Week - Los Cabos

Casa Duckett, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations



One of the hallmarks of an excellent vacation rental villa is outside space that is just as lovely to bask in, if not more so, than the indoors. Casa Duckett, in the Palmilla section of Los Cabos, delivers that handsomely, with shaded courtyards and stairways, magnificent deck space, an infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and even a putting green.

Casa Duckett, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations


On the pool level, you'll find the master suite which holds a king-size bed and comes with full bath including a sunken bathtub and dressing area. A large terrace offers a stunning views. A children's room is also on this level, with two twin beds and an ensuite bath.

Up one level are three more suites, each with ensuite bath. Two of these bedrooms have double beds and share an interior connecting door as well as a large terrace, while the third bedroom is queen-bedded and boasts its own private terrace.

The main living area includes a dining area and commercially equipped kitchen including a 6-burner gas stove. The comfortably-furnished sunken living room has direct access to the pool area, and also includes a wood-burning fireplace.

Casa Duckett Kitchen, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations


Casa Duckett living room & terrace, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

Heading down a few steps past the infinity pool, you'll find a huge palapa with sea views and a hammock, just perfect for napping. Steps on the other side of the pool lead to a jacuzzi and the putting green. Just a few more steps past the jacuzzi leads you to the glistening white sands of the beach.

Casa Duckett palapa, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

Casa Duckett has 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Rates start at $7000 a night. For more information or to book this villa, call Sun Cabo Vacations at 800.710.CABO(2226)

Easter in Europe

If you're still up in the air about taking an Easter family vacation, here are some ideas (all packages are valid from April 5th to 9th unless otherwise indicated):

The Lapa Palace,Lisbon

Terrace view from garden view room, Lapa Palace

The Lapa Palace has a 3-night Easter package, that includes daily buffet breakfast and one dinner or lunch. Their concierge can guide you to various Easter festivities in the surrounding area, including a two-week long religious festival in Obidos that's worth a visit. Depending on the age of your children, you can take advantage of babysitting, their VIP Kids program, or special teen programs.
Special Touches: Lapa Palace has its own cooking school. If you're more into eating than cooking, several in-room dining menus include a Children's Menu and one delightfully called "Snacks in Pyjamas".


Gran Hotel La Florida, Barcelona

Chocolate dessert from Gran Hotel La Florida

Easter at La Florida includes 2 nights accommodation, buffet breakfast at L'Orangerie Restaurant, access to the hotel's Zen Zone Spa and a 1.5 hour massage per person. The hotel can provide babysitting and will also arrange children's activities upon request.
Special Touches: On Sundays the hotel hosts Indulgent Chocolate Afternoons, a special chocolate dessert and wine tasting that is absolutely decadent.


Hotel Baltschug Kempinski, Moscow

Hotel at night

Visit the Kremlin over Easter and receive a complimentary Easter gift, buffet breakfast, and early checkin/late checkout. The hotel also offers an Easter brunch, which is free for children under 9.
Special Touches: We'd actually recommend their year-round Family & Kids Programme, which goes all out to welcome the little ones. With that package the kids get (among other things) a teddy bear, bathrobes & slippers in their size, night turndown with milk & cookies and a destination information kit to tell them all about Moscow. Book that and reserve a spot at Easter brunch for a better vacation for the kids.

Mardavall Hotel & Spa, Mallorca

Junior Suite Terrace View

Celebrate Semana Santa, as its known in Spain, in high style at Mardavall. Their 7-night package for Holy Week (the week preceding Easter) features breakfast buffet, limousine transfers, Easter brunch with live music, fresh fruit in your room daily and free spa access. Kids will get to scamper around hunting Easter eggs, and if you attend Easter Mass at La Seu Cathedral in Palma, you might get a glimpse of Spain's royal family.
Special Touches: Mardavall has amassed a huge collection of contemporary art by Mallorcan or Balearic artists, and each of the hotel's room boasts two original paintings from the collection.


Villa d'Este, Lake Como

Villa d'Este

Villa d'Este hosts Easter in traditional Italian style. Book their 3-night Easter package(available from April 5th-10th) and stay in an Executive room with a garden or park view. In addition you'll enjoy full buffet breakfast, one 3-course dinner at one of the hotel's fine restaurants, a traditional Easter lunch and cocktail on the lake terrace and a special Easter gift.
Special Touches: Arrange for a private motor-boat tour on breathtaking Lake Como and take in the quaint towns and splendid villas that dot its shores.


Hotel Le Bristol, Paris

Room at Hotel Le Bristol

Although this hotel isn't offering a special package for Easter, they do have a delightful family package available throughout the year whose rates include connecting rooms, breakfast for four and a special surprise for the children. On Easter Day, the family can attend the Pascal Brunch, which is sure to be a hit with the kids. On the itinerary: an Easter egg hunt with real white rabbits in attendance and a mini-pastry class, as well as other activities that parents can watch while enjoying the feast.
Special Touches: In a nod to eco-friendliness, the hotel offers two Smart Cars for guests to zip around Paris & shop. The cars' minute dimensions are a perfect excuse to have your packages delivered back to the hotel.

If you're not in the mood for the last-minute dash to Europe, check back on Friday for family vacation ideas in the US.

Babymoon Biweekly - Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, Sausalito California

Many babymoon packages are just romantic packages for couples that have been rebranded. Not all of the babymoons we see boast baby-specific features, and while we agree that a romantic dinner and breakfast for two can be a wonderful treat, (particularly since once you have the baby it will feel like an unattainable dream), to us there are a few hallmarks of a real babymoon package:

-there should be a maternity massage involved, since pregnant women can't take advantage of "regular" massages
-Mommy should definitely get special treatment, but partners should get something special as well
-ideally, the package should include a baby gift; this is, after all, about his or her impending arrival, and a onesie or baby album makes a great memento.

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in upscale Sausalito, California clearly thinks along the same lines we do. They have what they're calling America's first destination maternity spa (not to be confused with Destination Maternity the store). The spa, lovingly called Barefoot & Pregnant, has an entire menu of massages, facials and spa packages just for pregnant women, with a few Daddy and post-partum treatments thrown in for good measure. Several of these have been packaged with hotel accommodations to create a variety of babymoons for expecting couples. There's even a package for two pregnant mommies on a girls getaway.

We particularly like the 5-day/4-night And Baby Makes Three package, which includes transportation to and from the airport, accommodation for two, in-room continental breakfast each morning, a romantic picnic lunch, dinner for two on two nights, a gift basket, a prenatal spa package for Mom and two spa services for Dad, and a private birthing session to prepare you for baby's debut. With all that to take in, it's no wonder it's a 5-day package!

Nearby San Francisco has its own charms worth exploring, although we won't blame you if you're too busy being pampered to get out much. The hotel's winding walkways and lovely bay views can be hard to pull away from, and with rooms sporting private decks and fireplaces, it might be hard just to get yourself to the spa. The good thing? You can always go back after baby is born: San Francisco is notoriously child-friendly, and we'll be making recommendations for your family vacation there in upcoming posts.


The "And Baby Makes Three" package is $2700; there is also an Expecting the Best package which can be customized for an accompanying Dad or Mommy's pregnant friend. The hotel also offers several package add-ons for an additional fee, including maternity photography. To book your babymoon, call Casa Madrona at 800.288.0502.

First Class Food in Coach

These days, ANY food in coach is a wonder, but good food is most likely not going to happen - certainly not on the airline's dime.

You're most likely accustomed to bringing at least a child's snack or two if you're traveling with children, but what about you? Are you noshing on Cheerios at 30,000 feet? If you travel out of Los Angeles area airports, there are far better options. Skymeals, a meal delivery service that will meet you right at the airport with your food, is changing how you dine in the sky.

Their meals are not inexpensive, but considering what passes for food on planes these days, they're well worth the cost, particularly for long flights (or long waits on tarmacs). A peek at the menu definitely gets the salivary glands watering: you can choose from entrees such as flash seared ahi tuna or shrimp & asparagus farfalle fra diavolo. There's also a nice selection of sandwiches, salads, appetizers and brunches, and even a SkyLight menu for those watching their weight (which we figure in LA is just about everyone).

Best of all: children are included! Yes, the little ones have their own menu, SkyKids, and it's not all junk. While you can never escape chicken fingers (delivered here as "crispy chicken strips"), they come with a healthy side of fresh fruit and broccoli & carrots. The kids' menu is small - 4 selections - but varied enough that you should find something on there that your child will eat. And since the company is actually a catering outfit and not just a delivery service, they'll also take special requests (within reason); if you or your child can't find something on here you like, they can work with you to create a meal you'd prefer.


A SkyKids Meal

Unfortunately, right now Skymeals is only operating in a limited area of California, so unless you live there or are headed there soon, you may not have the opportunity to sample their cuisine. But check back - the company's founders have said in the past that they'd like to expand, and we're hoping they do soon.

Time for a Laugh, Courtesy of TripAdvisor

If there's one thing we've learned as parents, it's that you should always make time for a laugh. It's rather easy to get caught up in supposedly important details, things that have to be dealt with right now and with all due seriousness. We often sweep our children along for the ride as well, expecting them to hurry up, stop fooling around, and take things seriously so that we can get to the car/dance class/soccer game/grandma's house.

But we say, slow down a bit; there is always something to laugh at, and always time for a chuckle, whether it's your kids, or TripAdvisor's blog, We Are Not Making This Up, where they have posted some of the most hilarious and previously unpublished posts they've ever received. If you're not familiar with TripAdvisor, the website allows travelers to post reviews of hotels, cities, and restaurants they've visited. Of course, with travelers of varying expectations from all across the world posting reviews, some of the posts can get pretty funny, and we've learned to take many of them with about a pound of salt. Since we've cracked up at some of the reviews that has been published, we didn't imagine that there were actually worse howlers. We promise you, there are. Two of our faves, printed exactly as they appear on the blog:

"WE are planning a trip to USA my husband has a criminal record from 1976 it is not a good one but since has not had one When we went down to our local police station they told us the finger print they do at USA airport isn't linked to our system we are wondering is it worth the $500.00 they want to get a visa and record sheet or just tick no"

and this one:

"I dont't remember becoming a member of this Whatever it is, I don't even understand what it is about nor do I wish to so stop sending Junk mail to me.

Unless of course it will increase my sales of curtain poles but I doubt that."

What does this have to do with luxury family vacation ideas? Take a breather - there's loads of info in the archives to the right on everything from all-inclusive family vacations to babymoon ideas. For now, sit back and have a laugh. Like that family vacation you're planning, you deserve it.

Allergy-Free Rooms

Electron photograph of rotavirus particles
courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Also in today's NY Times Travel section, an article about hypoallergenic rooms.

In a dual-purposed bid to help allergy-sufferers and stand out from the crowd, many hotels are now offering hypoallergenic rooms. (We've stayed in and noted many hotels that are offering special scents in the lobbies and rooms, and it had occurred to us that there might be some people for whom that must be awful.) Brands like Hilton, Wyndham and Millennium are rolling out hypoallergenic rooms in different locations across the country, sometimes devoting several floors to the allergy-suffering traveler.

While the trend may claim to help those who can't tolerate the plush down pillows that beckon most travelers to their beds, this movement is also, in part, an attempt to rise above the flatscreen TVs and WiFi access that are now considered de rigueur by savvy travelers. And with a recent Conde Nast Traveler article noting that even 5-star hotels had rooms awash in germs, it might not be only the chronic allergy sufferer looking for a cleaner room.

There are currently no standards in the industry for creating a hypoallergenic room, and some of the methods hotels are using seem more designed for marketing purposes than actual allergy treatment or germ removal. Still, some travelers have noted a difference in the air quality of their rooms, and say they are willing to pay the premium that hypoallergenic rooms often command in order to have a sneeze-free stay. For those that don't need to go to such lengths but would still like to fight the germs and nasty habits of those-who-came-before, check out the end of Conde Nast Traveler's article, which has several helpful suggestions on how to make your hotel room less of a health hazard.

TabletKids

Today's NY Times Travel Section notes that TabletHotels, a favorite booking site of ours that give travelers a choice of luxury accommodations around the world, is coming out with TabletKids, for families who want to travel in style.

This is good news; apparently we're not the only people obsessed with keeping a certain level of style and luxury in our family travels. According to Laurent Vernhes, TabletHotel's chief executive, roughly a third of their bookings come from families and the demand for cool and sophisticated options for family travelers has increased. Add our voice to that demand, Mr. Vernhes - this is all we live for.

What is great about this subsection of TabletHotels is that you will be able to search for specific amenities such as connecting rooms, cribs or room service for children. (Remember, many posh spots, particularly the smaller boutique properties, may not offer some or all of these, so it will be good to see those that do upfront.) We've checked out the website and what we love is that in addition to noting all the usual special features that make each hotel posh and fabulous, TabletKids adds all the child-specific information: how many children are accommodated per type of room, when children are considered adults for booking purposes, even what type of room you'll need to book based on the size and sleeping options needed by your family.

Kudos to TabletHotels. We can't be more thrilled.


A suite at Amankila in Indonesia, a TabletKids hotel


A bath at Amankila

20/20 Segment on Kids at Restaurants

Image from ABC News, 20/20


Thanks to the people over at Blogging Baby, who tipped us off that tonight, 20/20 will be airing a segment on rowdy children at restaurants. We confess, we are not the biggest TV people - we could literally spend 24 hours a day looking at fabulous resorts online. But this is an episode we don't want to miss.

In Chicago, restaurant owner Dan McCauley became tired of parents bringing unruly children to his restaurant and letting the youngsters do as they liked while the adults blissfully ate. One afternoon, Mr. McCauley reportedly watched as a pair of children literally scaled the walls while their parents sat nearby. We're assuming his restaurant doesn't include a rock-climbing feature because Mr. McCauley had, at this juncture, had enough. He told the adults in the group that they - and their kids - were no longer welcome, and the next day, his restaurant, A Taste of Heaven, sported a sign on its front door that read "Children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices when coming to A Taste of Heaven."

This set off a firestorm in the community, with dozens of phone calls from angry parents who let it be known that they would go to hell before they ever set foot in A Taste of Heaven again. But it didn't stop there. When the national media got ahold of the story, McCauley began to receive letters from across the country and overseas. But while the Chicago parents were incensed, the national and international letters overwhelmingly applauded McCauley for taking a stand against what many see as a loss of civility, manners and etiquette these days. Some letters even included donations, to make up for any lost revenue McCauley might suffer. (Check out TripAdvisor for some reviews on the restaurant, including many that mention this whole drama...)

As several people commented on Blogging Baby's post, perhaps McCauley could have found a more positive and less incendiary way to get his point across, something like "Well-Behaved Children Welcome" or something. The man was probably so annoyed that he put up the first thing that came into his head.

Well, we've gone down this road before with this whole "manners" thing so we're not going to beat a dead horse, or offer an opinion on this particular incident. We just thought that, as parents who travel with your children and presumably go out to eat with them every now and then, you'd be interested in knowing about this story, and this segment, which airs tonight at 10 p.m EST. It seems as though there's a rising anti-child sentiment. And while we know it's really against the poorly-behaved ones, the fact is, we all end up suffering the consequences. Have an opinion you'd like to share? Let us know below...

Resorting to "Resort Wear"

Somehow the concept of "resort wear" for young children strikes us as being extremely amusing. Maybe it's just us, but the term "resort wear" always makes us think of expensive clothing made for the express purpose of lounging on the beach and looking fabulous. While we want our children to look and feel as pampered as we do, we know it doesn't take much for them. Really, give them a shovel and a pail and they'll be fine, right?

But resort wear for children does exist by that name. You may have thought you could get by with just riffling through the summer catalogues of Land's End or Boden and buying "summer clothes", but we are here to tell you that that just will not do. If your child is going to grow up needing only a minimal amount of therapy, he must be outfitted with his own resort wear. Why should you have all the fun?

In case you weren't aware of this major difference between regular clothes for the beach and resort wear, we can point you to a few places that have collections specifically labeled as "resort wear". Now you can outfit the darlings in appropriately-titled clothing for those trips to - well, to the resort, obviously...

Recurrent Dreams Baby & Children Boutique
Their brick-and-mortar location is in Long Beach, CA, but you can browse their small but precious selection of "cruise and resort wear for baby and child" online.

Boys Surfer Tee Shirt by Tiki Baby Resort Wear, $22.99

Sand Pail Kids
Everything you need for children at a beach, you can find here. Resort wear, beach toys, sunscreen, you name it. But we especially love their sunglasses, which will look surprisingly chic on little faces.

Julbo Noa Sunglasses, $25

Kangaroo Korner
Their slogan is "children's wear with a downunder flair". Although we're not really sure what that is, the clothes here are cute in a rather prim sort of way (which, now that we think of it, is not at all how we think of Australia...) We suggest calling their store in Huntington Village, NY, since the online order form is a tad strange.

Skort set, $42

Mymiraclebaby.com
This is not just resort wear, this is boutique resort wear. And we have to admit, the outfits are precious. The small resort collection is all about little girls, but other parts of the site sport non-resort boys clothing.

Gecko Boutique Capri Set, $39.95

Leaps and Bounds
Even this catalogue has gotten into the act. We don't normally think of them as high fashion but we might have to revisit that, given that they do have a section titled "resort wear." (It's all in the name...) While much of their selection looks less like resort wear and more like NASA-wear, given their admirable concern for sun protection, you'll find some hats that fairly scream "summer resort", and some basic but adorable coverups.

Sun Smarties Reversible Sun Hat, $14.95


Lilly Pulitzer
Of course, for many, this is the ultimate in resort wear. We must admit, we're not huge fans of the Lilly - we think more "uptight socialite" as opposed to "South Beach hipster", no matter how much their catalogue tries to convince us to the contrary. But we're not opposed to a Lilly or two for our little girl - the romper below, from the 2006 resort collection, is far from stuffy.

Cealey Infant Romper, $48

Special Offer of the Week - Carlisle Bay, Antigua

Suite, Carlisle Bay


Tiny but beautiful Antigua is home to several resorts, including the cozy and contemporary Carlisle Bay, a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, and sister hotel to London's One Aldwych. The hotel offers a special "Chill Out" package, valid from April 14th - November 2nd, that includes:

-accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children for 7 nights in a Beach Suite
-full breakfast daily
-afternoon tea daily
-a 3-course dinner and coffee daily from the a la carte menus at either of the two restaurants

In addition to the package details above, you'll be able to take advantage of such complimentary amenities as non-motorized watersports, daily movie viewings in the hotel's screening room, 9 tennis courts, and yoga classes. There's also the Cool Kids Club, which accepts children starting at 6 months. Children 3 and up are free.

Special touches include what Tatler called "the funkiest library on earth", a modern reading room with hip touches like fiber-optic lighting that changes colors in the evening, and WiFi access.

The Library at Carlisle Bay



Rates for the Chill Out Offer for a family of four (2 adults + 2 children) are $5610. Rates are also available for double and single occupancy. For more information or to book this package, call the reservations department at 268.484.0000. Note that the hotel is closed from September 1st to October 12th.

Eco Eco Everywhere

Kermit sang that it wasn't easy being green, but boy is the media is out to prove him wrong.

We hadn't intended that today would all about eco, but we're finding ourselves bombarded with terms like "eco" and "green" everywhere we look. A recent visit to the newsstand showed several magazines with one of those terms on the cover, and we're not talking the usual suspects like Real Simple or Dwell, but reads like Town & Country, and Robb Report Vacation Homes. Green is definitely "in".

In the field of travel, the eco-friendly thing isn't exactly new, but now it's gone luxury too. Which is great, because it feels so brazenly wrong to be all Seventh Generation and Caldrea in your house, only to have housekeeping throw away a twice-used bar of soap when you're on vacation. On the other hand, in the past we weren't so keen on what was perceived as "eco-friendly" in the tourism realm: visions of rustic ill-lit cabins with hard bunks, no amenities, bad food and activities that all ran to "hiking" made us cringe. The only question was, would we die of sheer boredom or would the kids kill us first? We'll admit: when forced to pick, we've gone lux every time.

Thankfully, more and more options are cropping up, that are allowing us to have our cake and eat it too. Over at Forbestraveler.com, editors have identified the top 10 green hotels in America. Our previous post also noted an eco-friendly resort opening in Antigua. If you have any picks of your own, let us know about them...

Eco-Friendly Luxury in Antigua

Rendering of The Verandah of Elite Island Resorts


Elite Island Resorts will be opening their latest resort, The Verandah, in June of 2007. The eco-friendly and family-friendly luxury resort covers 30 acres, and will boast 200 rooms. With the smallest at 700 square feet, rooms will accommodate 4 people and will king-sized bed, pullout sofa bed, both tubs and showers and kitchenette facilities. Ah - room to spread out...

Stay tuned for more information on the specifics of the eco-friendly aspects of the resort. We do know that it's located adjacent to a National Park, and the beachfront resort will include nature trails as well a reef-protected bay that is perfect for swimming.

Promotion: Book by July 31st for stays through December 20th and get one night free for each paid night. All-Inclusive Rates are $485 for a bayview double and $525 for an oceanview double. Children 2-11 are an additional $60 a night, with children under 2 staying free of charge.

Elite Island Resorts
800-858-4618

Villa Rental of the Week - Ka`anapali Beach, Maui

A suite at Hawaiiana House


The elegant yet supremely comfortable Hawaiiana House on Ka'anapali Beach is one of Maui's finest villas, available to you through Tropical Villa Vacations. Sitting right on the beach, Hawaiiana has 4 private bedroom suites including full baths, and an additional one full bath and one half bath. You'll also enjoy the added pleasures of an iPod docking station, a beachfront pool, an outdoor hot tub, and a fully equipped in-house gym.

Service from Tropical Villa Vacations is also superb: a rental here includes Personal Concierge Service, light daily housekeeping with towels refreshed daily and a linen change every 3 to 4 days, fresh floral arrangements and exotic bath treats from Maui. They will also deliver your rental car directly to the villa should you use them to make arrangements. A private chef is also available for your stay so that you can spend yet more time enjoying the hot tub, pool or beach.

The agency notes that due to the quality of the furnishings and artwork, this villa may be more suitable for older children, but younger children are not barred: parents are cautioned to exercise extra care and the security deposit required may be higher for those traveling with young children. Children count towards the maximum number of guests (eight).

While the service here is exemplary, the villa itself is the real draw. Visit the Tropical Villa Vacations website for 28 additional pictures of the comfort and splendor of this beautiful villa.

Rates for 2007-2008 are $4500 per night + taxes, with a minimum stay of 7 nights. Click here to get to the Tropical Villa Vacations website, or call 888.875.2818 ext. 206 or 203.

Are Chicken Fingers on the Menu?

The Pyramids of Giza

Find a babysitter for December 12, 2008. Apparently that's when top chefs from around the world will be flown to Egypt to cook a dinner beside the Pyramids of Giza. This announcement comes on the tails of last month's $25,000 per person dinner in Bangkok, which was the first in the Epicurean Masters of the World dinner series being planned by the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok. With this event being relatively cheap at just under $10,000 a head, it's still being touted as a Millionaire's Dinner, but who's to say you can't just bust open the retirement account and live it up for once, if that's what you want to do?

And what, exactly, does this have to do with traveling with children? Maybe you have a son or daughter graduating from high school or college that you want to splurge on. Or, it could be a really expensive way of getting your toddler to finally try something new for once. Who are we to judge? We're just providing the facts.

Just one thing: if you need a chaperone to accompany either the teen or the toddler to the dinner, please let us know. We can make ourselves available.

And Later, We'll Hit the Louvre

Children's Museum of Taipei

We've begun taking D to children's museums in our hometown because they provide her with some great stimulation and provide us with something a tad more interesting than the playground. (At least, they're interesting the first five times you visit...)

Then, several months ago, we came across the website for the Association of Children's Museums. It hadn't occurred to us that there was such a thing - an organization to which many of the children's museums around the world belong. The boon for us has been that we've been able to find museums in several destinations we've been to, and many we're planning to get to. There's even a list of "emerging museums", worth a look since some of the museums on the list are already operating. With headquarters in Washington DC, the US is best represented, but there are member museums in 23 countries across the world, in locations such as Mexico City, Vienna and Amsterdam.

Many of these museums are well-managed with unique exhibits, often nature- or science-based, that can even teach you a thing or two. We've often managed to pick up some local trivia that gives us a new appreciation for the city we're in. With the opportunity for some serious hands-on play time, this part of the itinerary will be a hit. Which could give you some serious leverage for places you want to hit...

Get on the Bus, Gus?

By now most of you will be familiar with the story of the Kulesza family, and if you're not, where have you been? Long story short, blah blah, the Kuleszas were on an AirTran flight in January when their daughter Elly threw a temper tantrum before takeoff and could not be calmed down. She refused to sit in her seat, which prevented the plane from leaving the gate according to federal regulations. Airline personnel finally ordered the family to disembark and left without them.

The Kuleszas were highly upset at being removed from the plane, saying they only needed more time to calm their daughter down. They refused AirTran's appeasement offer of free tickets, saying they'll never fly with them again. AirTran felt that it was fully justified in removing them, saying that the little girl's refusal to sit down was a safety issue that the parents clearly were unable to handle.

If you've been reading us with any regularity - and we hope you have - you know the two main tenets of our luxury travel "belief system." First, children should be allowed to experience some of the luxury and sophistication that their parents aim for when traveling. While we understand and agree that there are some places that should be off-limits for the pure sake of relief, it doesn't follow that all vacations with young ones should center around Disneyworld and theme parks. Parents who have built an appreciation for a certain quality of life should not have their few weeks of vacation time dominated by what Hollywood and Noggin interpret to be of interest to a child.

But lest you think we're being completely selfish, we assure you: we do have our children's interests at heart as well. As a matter of fact, we think that the best way to instill an appreciation for that same quality of life is to offer it to children on a regular basis. Yes, we're aware that, based on age, attention span and interests, some museums may have to get passed up, and some spas and restaurants may have to be saved for later vacations unless you've brought the nanny or a grandparent along or are willing to use the hotel babysitter. But we've found that with careful thought and planning, travel with children can incorporate many high-end establishments in varied destinations. And we've discovered that children will often rise to the occasion and take delight in much of what people assume would bore them or go unnoticed. In short, going outside the Happy Meal box is not only to our benefit, it's to the benefit of our children as well.

However - and this is a big however - we think that our first tenet is extremely dependent on our second tenet. Call it 1A, if you will. On second thought, it should really be the first tenet, because without it the other one is moot. And that is, that children should be well-trained and well-behaved. We would say "when traveling", but to be honest, your hopes of having a well-trained child when traveling are slim to none if he's uncontrollable in day-to-day life. Now, we're not of the old school of thought that says children should be seen and not heard and all that nonsense. But there seems to be a new style of parenting - or non-parenting, if you will - where people are loath to set rules for their children and prepare them to be civil adults by showing them how to be civil children. If your child is kicking the seatback, shrieking, running up and down the aisles, or throwing tantrums, and you either won't or can't get him to stop, then maybe he shouldn't be traveling. We can safely say he shouldn't be traveling to the places we're writing about. But many would say he shouldn't be traveling anywhere.

And that's exactly what is happening. People have risen up across the blogosphere to say that children should not be on airplanes at all. That's the most ridiculous thing we've ever heard, frankly - airplanes stopped being any sort of "privilege" a long time ago. But with bratty behavior as the norm these days, it's no wonder that many people have come to expect the worst when they see a child traveling; they often get it, in spades. And unlike in a restaurant or hotel, there is no escape on a plane.

We're not fearful that banishment will happen on airlines any time soon, but we are afraid that the more poorly-trained children there are, the fewer hotels, resorts and restaurants there will be that welcome the behaving ones with open arms: how do they know when you make your reservation whether your child is a hellion or an angel? To the Kuleszas' credit, they do admit that Elly wasn't behaving very well; they just think that the airline mishandled the situation. And we're not saying they are bad parents - even the best toddler has bad days and meltdowns from being tired, and God help you if it happens while traveling. For that reason, we won't come down on the side of the airline or the Kuleszas on this one: we've seen airline personnel take an unnecessarily combative approach to many situations since 9/11, and we've also seen a frightening dearth of parenting skills in the last few decades. But on the general topic of children and travel, we can't stress it enough: please, please - do yourself and your children a favor and teach them to be considerate of other people. Whether you're visiting Mickey Mouse or Claridge's, there's nothing wrong with knowing how to say please and thank you. With understanding that kicking someone's seat bothers the person in the seat. With comprehending that being loud is offensive and unnecessary in most situations. With knowing that the airplane/airport/restaurant/hotel lobby is not a playground to run amok in. A child who is walking and talking is old enough to start learning these things, and teaching them will enable you to travel with less fear than those who play Russian roulette every time they take their children out in public. And it will earn you the gratitude of travelers - and travel personnel - everywhere.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

...in the Teen Spa at Pinehurst Resort, that is.

If you're a golf aficionado, the village of Pinehurst in North Carolina might mean something to you. US Opens and US Senior Opens have been played there and in 2008 Pinehurst will host the US Men's Amateur Championship. This is very much a golfing town.

Your teen or tween girl might be bored to tears at the mere thought of golf (unless she's a Michelle Wie or Annika Sorenstam fan). But if your heart is set on a golf vacation, you might want to give the Pinehurst Resort a closer look, since it has a small but thoughtful menu of spa treatments for teens and tweens that girls especially will love to take advantage of.

Teens get to enjoy their own TeenSpa lounge, away from the annoying eyes (and mouths?) of parents. From there they can be whisked away to enjoy a massage, a Teen Facial, a Teen Makeup Lesson (which thankfully preaches moderation) or a Teen Tune-up, which is a session with a personal trainer (great for your young athlete). If your daughter will consent to being seen with you, there's a mother-daughter treatment package; if she prefers this year's BFFs, they can join in for the Friends Always and Forever package, great for birthdays, which includes spa manicure & pedicure, facial, and makeup application (and probably lots of eye-rolling and gossip).

Younger ones (6-12) can get pampered too, with a Twinkle Toes and Fancy Fingers mani/pedi treatment or a mini-facial. They can even be gently introduced to massage with a 20-minute treatment, during which a parent is present and your princess is in her bathing suit.

We like that this spa introduces our soon-to-be-divas to pampering at a moderate pace, and does so under the watchful eyes of parents: teens going for closed-door treatments such as massages must have parents in the room with them, and the under-12 group must be accompanied by parents for all treatments, massage and otherwise. In other words, no golfing while the kids do the spa thing, but we think it's a good call.

And that yawn you'll see at the end of the day? Probably a yawn of contentment. After all, it's their vacation too - and a little pampering never hurt anyone.

Somewhere, The Sun is Shining...

If you're anywhere in the Northeast or Midwest parts of the US, you've probably seen enough snow this winter to last you a lifetime. Just when you thought winter was over...

If you're like us, one of the ways to beat the winter doldrums is to daydream about - or even take , if you can do spur of the moment - a warm-weather vacation. So it's the perfect time to point out that Travel + Leisure Family has come out with its list of Top 10 Family Resorts in the Caribbean. What we love about this list besides the whole "Caribbean" aspect? The fact that all of these places are great for kids while maintaining some kind of adult sophistication. (Although Beaches might be the only one we would pass up - you know our rule about Elmo on vacation.)



Royal Beachfront Villa
Four Seasons Great Exuma, #3 on the list



In short, here is the list:
1. Las Casitas Village and Golden Door Spa, Puerto Rico (we had the best massage we've ever had right at this spa)
2. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa
3. Four Seasons Great Exuma at Emerald Bay, Bahamas (haven't been yet but if it's Four Seasons you can bet we will get there)
4. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
5. Paradisus Puerto Rico Resort (we've heard fab things about the Costa Rica property of Paradisus too)
6. Four Seasons Resort Nevis (again, Four Seasons - enough said)
7. Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
8. Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
9. Beaches Negril Resort & Spa
10. Westin St. John Resort & Villas, USVI (a personal favorite over here so we're glad it made the list)

Grab a cup of cocoa - or a shot of brandy - and then check out the full list, along with descriptions and pricing for the properties, here.

Private Nurse

No, we don't mean a nanny for the baby.

By now you may have heard about the incident in which a woman who was nursing her baby on an airplane was forced to get off, presumably because she wasn't being discreet enough.

We personally don't know any women who don't try to show some discretion while nursing - okay, maybe a brazen few, but they're the exceptions - but babies have a way of pushing aside whatever is covering their faces, to peer at you in glee as you hurriedly shuffle the cloth - and your mammaries - around. It's no easy feat - what do you use to cover up? The airplane blanket that's been God knows where? Your pashmina, which will undoubtedly slip off just as some teenage boy passes by?

Thankfully there is an answer that keeps your dignity and your sense of fashion intact. Bebe au Lait has a line of nursing covers in fabulous prints: you can either pick one favorite or, like us, go nuts and choose several to coordinate with your wardrobe. (The company used to market these as Hooter Hiders, and still keeps the name around for those who may remember it, but we, for one, appreciate the more upscale branding, since we've never in a million years referred to our own breasts as "hooters".) The covers are stylish, practical and inexpensive. Best of all, the design keeps the cover securely fastened around your neck while allowing you to peek at baby - something that may have been hard to manage when you were smothering her with a blanket...


www.bebeaulait.com
$35

Special Offer of the Week - Italy

Entrance to Westin Excelsior, Rome


We always hear talk of Paris in the springtime, but what about Rome? Or Milan, Florence or Venice, for that matter?

Buck the trend with a special offer from several Starwood properties in Italy. Their "FAMtastic Offer" includes:

-daily buffet breakfast
-extra bed free of charge for children up to 17 sharing a room with parents
-additional room for children at 50% off the room rate
-a 50% discount on one lunch or dinner in the hotel restaurant (valid for stays of 3 nights or more)

Participating hotels are:
-Westin Excelsior Florence
-Westin Excelsior Rome
-Westin Palace Milan
-Westin Europa & Regina, Venice
-Sheraton Roma Hotel & Conference Centre
-Hotel Villa Cipriani
-Sheraton Diana Majestic

Rates vary from hotel to hotel but check soon: this offer is only good for stays through April 7th.

Babymoon Biweekly - Peter Island, BVI

Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands is no slouch when it comes to pampering. That's why we're excited to see that they've extended their considerable skills to expectant parents. Their babymoon package includes:

-5 nights in a beachfront Junior Suite or ocean view room
-2 spa treatments specifically for pregnant women for the mom-to-be
-1 destressing massage for the dad-to-be
-1 picnic lunch on one of Peter Island's beaches (includes sparkling grape juice)
-special turndown amenities nightly, including a baby album
-all meals and activities (snorkeling, tennis, etc)


Beachfront Junior Suite, Peter Island Resort

Rates range from $3390 to $5410 depending on room booked and time of travel; round trip transfers to and from Beef Island Airport included
Available through your travel agent or you may call the resort directly at 800.346.4451

Beach Bag Couture

Over at Luxist, we just learned that Hermes has come out with a beach bag to beat all beach bags. Constructed of cotton voile and coming in 4 different colors, you can jauntily sport this on your next beach vacation for $850.


available in cream, orange, turquoise and black
www.hermes.com

Villa Rental of the Week - Provence, France

Provence villa, available through Wimco Villas & Hotels


Located in a quiet countryside area that is only a 5-10 minute drive to town, this week's villa overlooks the Alps and provides a beautiful home base for your two-week minimum stay.

Boasting 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the villa is comfortably and simply decorated. The master bedroom comes with king-sized bed and ensuite bath with bath, shower and two sinks, and enjoys a view over the garden. A second bedroom has a twin bed with a view of the pool and the mountains, and shares a bathroom (shower only) with the third bedroom, which has a king bed. A separate pool house (available for an additional charge) has its own queen bed, small kitchen and small bathroom and is perfect for teens, nannies, or grandparents. Maid service is provided 6 hours a week.

Many touches make this villa an excellent choice for those with children: the large garden of lavender, olive trees and other plants of Provence is a perfect outdoor play area, while the swimming pool is thoughtfully equipped with a children's alarm. A TV and DVD player are also provided for your entertainment.

This villa is available from June 3rd to September 29th. Rates start at $4297 a week. For more information about renting this villa, contact Wimco Villas at 866-483-8071.

Following Dubya

Regardless of what you think of the man's politics, the man has definitely got one thing right: Latin America is worth a visit.

When a friend asked for recommendations on a beach hotel recently, we rattled off a list. Then it occurred to us that, without trying to, we seemed to be aiming for Latin shores. While many Spanish-speaking destinations have not pursued their tourism marketing to the extent of say, Hawaii or the Canary Islands, that may be to your advantage: you'll find relatively lower rates at some properties that offer attentive service and more to do than just bask on the beach (although personally we love basking). Below, a varied group of suggestions for getaways a la playa, with rates for the end of April:


Paradisus Playa Conchal, Costa Rica - This all-inclusive resort, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World that's sprawled out over 2400 acres, is noteworthy for catering equally well to adults and children. Family Concierge suites feature child-specific amenities such as mini-sized bathrobes, minibars stocked with drinks for kids and adults, and nightly turndown service with milk and cookies. Their Kids' Club will welcome your infant as well as older children, leaving you free to explore the golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the spa, casino or the adult-only pool. Of course, there's a pool the kids can enjoy with you, and specific events designed just for families.

Rates are $718 night for the Family Concierge Suite (all-inclusive)

Sivory Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - This member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World is not overflowing with child-specific amenities, but it's a breathtaking property that caters to all of its guests with style. The focus here is on relaxation and cuisine, with a spa that offers up a Vichy shower and numerous body treatments, and restaurants featuring Mediterranean, French and Asian-fusion cooking. If that's not enough to help you relax, an 8,000 bottle wine cellar and a private beach should do the trick.

Rates start at $480 a night for a deluxe junior suite, and go to $850 a night when including their meal plan. Note that children ages 2-6 are charged a nominal fee, and children over 6 are charged as adults.




Early evening in a Morgan's Rock guestroom

Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge, Nicaragua - Morgan's Rock is just one facet of a large reforestation and conservation program that stretches out over 1000 hectares. The owners take their commitment to ecotourism seriously: furniture in the rooms and bungalows was made from wood left over from construction of the lodge, lamps were made using leftover metal, and the pool uses natural salt instead of chlorine. The staff protects the sea turtle eggs laid on the lodge's private beach, and the owners have reintroduced native flora and fauna to their property. None of this means sacrificing the good life, however: wonderfully fresh and delectable meals are made on property (and included in your room rate), and all bungalows feature king-size beds, sofas, private outdoor showers, and westward-facing decks from which to view the glorious sunsets. The lodge actively encourages your interest in the surroundings with tours of the property, and you can also go mountain biking, kayaking or fishing.

Rates begin at $225 per person for a double, with children paying $115, and include 3 meals, local non-alcoholic drinks and a limited choice of 2 daily tours.

Pueblo Bonito Rose, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - This resort is rated #1 by TripAdvisor's travelers for family hotels in Cabo San Lucas. Perhaps a little over the top with the attempts at Mediterranean decor, the property nonetheless features nicely-furnished rooms with full kitchenettes (we'd go for the Luxury Suites, which include the sofa bed that Junior Suites don't). There's also a calm-water beach, a kids' club for the 4 and up group, and daily activities including lessons in Spanish and salsa.

Rates start at $299 a night for a Junior Suite, $374 for a Luxury Suite

Hasta la vista!

Take A Sabbatical & Hit the Road

We all have lists of places we'd like to go before we die. Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up by Holly Hughes is putting a tighter deadline on your plans.

But not a bad idea, really; it's certainly a way to lend some focus to your travel plans. Suggestions are all over the globe and span a wide variety of interests. You'll find the usual suspects here: the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland, Easter Island and the Dead Sea (which is evaporating rapidly and might soon be the Extinct Sea) all make the cut. But with 500 recommendations, you're sure to find somewhere you hadn't thought of going. We, for instance, hadn't realized that the Mack Truck assembly plant was exciting enough to be a "destination", nor had we thought to set our sights so close to home as Hartford, Connecticut.

We may not make it to all of these destinations. We may not even want to. But there is somewhere in this book for everyone, and plenty of reasons to plan your next vacation.

www.frommers.com/bookstore
$19.99