Ride 'Em Cowboy

Gateway Canyons Resort, copyright Gateway Canyons

Straight from National Geographic Traveler's A*List deals:

Families can learn the ropes with real life cowboys and experience an authentic dude ranch at the Summit School Riding Ranch in Gateway, Colorado, starting at $1,686 for a family of four (rate is based on $1,286 for double occupancy and $200 per child). The package includes four nights' deluxe accommodations, horseback riding lessons, and three gourmet cowboy lunches and dinners.

The package is available from May 1 through October 15. For more information and reservations, call 866 671 4733.

Rain Rain Go Away?

It's pouring where we are right now, and it just occurred to us that it would automatically seem like a downer for us to experience weather like this if we were on vacation. So far it hasn't happened to us with children (although it happened plenty enough before they arrived), but the thought of being trapped in a room with restless children when you had planned to let them expend all their energy outdoors is, to say the least, rather frightening.

Which is why you should always prepare for some downtime. Much has been said about preparing for the travel portion of the trip, and games and full travel kits for airplane and car travel abound. Those same items can work well if you're rained in, but what about other options?

Here are some suggestions for those times when inclement weather forces you to stay covered:

-Always check the weather where you're going, first of all. It's good to know what happens seasonally as well as what is expected for your actual stay.
-If your kids are young enough to like coloring, bring along a coloring book or two. Several websites for kids' TV shows such as Dora and Diego have coloring pages that you can print out and take along with you in a folder.
-Move around the hotel or resort. Being stuck indoors doesn't have to mean being stuck in a small room. You can walk leisurely through the lobby and public areas and make up some games as you go - remember, you're paying to enjoy the entire resort. I Spy can be a great game to play, or similar games like finding 10 things of a certain color.
-Watch some TV. We don't mean just throwing on The Cartoon Network or the same cable you get at home. Look for local channels. For older kids this can be an interesting way to learn more about current events and the culture of the country you're in, and we've found that younger ones enjoy watching cartoons even if they have never heard the language being spoken. (This tip isn't only useful for kids, by the way. Once in St. Martin we tuned one night to a French Caribbean soap opera. We couldn't understand a word being said but we were so struck by the hilarious melodrama that we ended up looking for it every night to try to figure out the actual storyline, and it was far more interesting than the usual CNN or ESPN.)
-Keep a pack of cards handy. Tweens and teens can always play a variety of games (and probably teach you a trick or two) but even toddlers can be entertained. Deal a hand and ask them to throw down all the cards with hearts in each hand, or build up their number skills by asking them to identify a certain number on the card in every "round". Use your imagination to make up a game your toddler will like based on what he is learning or already knows.
-Play a story game. Have someone start a story and have each person in the family add another sentence or sequence to the story. Toddlers and slightly older children will get a kick out of it, especially if you remember that there are no rules: don't tell Junior that "that can't happen" or "cars don't fly". Let them use their imaginations, and use yours too!
-Finally, if you're not facing a hurricane, lightning, or other potential danger, go out anyhow! A walk in the rain can be refreshing and unexpected for kids who would probably love it but are accustomed to be tucked indoors whenever the clouds open. Most luxury resorts will gladly lend an umbrella if one wasn't provided in the room, or you can be really brave and go without. Show your kids how the plants and trees look in the rain. Let them stop and watch puddles form, and feel the rain on their faces. It's a great way to loosen up and experience some of the free spirit you had when you were their age. Top it off with a nice warm bath back at the room, and room service lunch or dinner. We bet they'll sleep well, and so should you.

Celebrate 10

That's what the luxurious and child-friendly Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town is calling their celebration of 10 years of excellent service. Rather than merely offering special rates, they've whipped up a menu of 10 sensory experiences, any of which can be booked (some at additional cost) to make an already exceptional stay even more memorable. Here they are, directly from their website:

Number One for Taste
Bold flavours and culinary flair await as you sample dishes from the onewaterfront menu, paired with fine South African wines.

Divine Duo
Create your wedding registry online at www.capegrace.com/registry and receive a free 30 minute back massage each. Book a couple's massage and not only will you have unlimited access to the Hot Spa, but you'll also receive a complimentary hair wash & blow dry in the Vanilla Salon.

A Truly South African Trio
Tantalise your taste buds as you enjoy a selection of three red and three white wines, accompanied by an array of superb cheeses.

Something 4 the Whole Family
'Build' your own picnic basket filled with your favourite treats and let our chauffeurs whisk you off to Cape Town's most beautiful beaches.

Rejuvenate All Five Senses
Enjoy our signature African Cape Massage, followed by a 'mini' Comfort Zone facial or, a full facial followed by a half hour back massage. All whilst taking in magnificent views of Table Mountain and the Mother City.

Six of the Best
Join our Whisky Sommelier in sampling 6 malts from around the world for a private tasting - selected from our extensive range of over 460 whiskies.

Seventh Heaven
Indulge in an array of decadent dessert canapés paired with fine South African sparkling and dessert wines.

Eight Bells at Sunset
Watch the sunset aboard one of Cape Town's historic yachts before enjoying fresh Walvis Bay oysters and bubbly in Bascule bar.

Head for Cloud Number Nine
Hop aboard a helicopter and experience the scenic beauty of the Cape Peninsula before returning to Cape Town via majestic Table Mountain.

Top 10 Thrill
Experience the rush of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle ride to the Constantia Winelands where you'll enjoy lunch at Constantia Uitsig, before your 'chariot' returns you to Cape Grace.



Cape Grace pool


Furthermore, Cape Grace does a superb job of welcoming children: their website's Family Stays page opens with "Our younger guests are important to us," a statement they follow up on with the detailed attention they pay to the offspring. Children receive a welcome gift upon arrival, and are treated to storytime in the library every day. The hotel offers a selection of videos and DVDs for kids, with free players for each media available upon request. They've also you covered in emergencies, keeping diapers, bibs, thermometers and even pacifiers in stock. And should you not wish to schlep your carseat with you, you'll be covered here. They even have small toilet seats (which we love, because we carry ours everywhere so that dear daughter can have her 15-minute potty visits without being us being held hostage in the bathroom.)

Cape Grace is offering a special Family Time package through December 19 2007. The package includes:
-children's welcome gift upon arrival
-4 hours of complimentary babysitting
-full breakfast daily in the waterfront restaurant or in your room


Cape Grace coloring book, offered upon arrival


Both children and adults can enjoy such additional complimentary features as:
-African storytelling in the library every evening
-Daily turndown of homemade gingerbread men and flavoured milk
-"Things to do for Kids in Cape Town" list of family activities
-Heated outdoor swimming pool
-Luxury private transfers to town and nearby beaches, subject to availability
-Cape history and wine presentation at 18h00 every evening
-Use of hot spa with sauna, steam room, mineral spa bath, rain shower and body shower
-24-hour Internet access in the Communication Centre
-Port and sherry every evening from 17h00 to 23h00 in the library
-Tea and coffee delivered to your room with your wake-up call

Ahhh...it all sounds lovely.



Cape Grace room
www.capegrace.com
The Family Time package starts at approximately $621 a night (based on current conversion rates) for a superior room in low season (May 1 - August 31) and go up to approximately $727 a night for the same accommodation in high season (January 6 - April 30 & September 1 - December 19). Contact the hotel at reservations@capegrace.com or at +27 21 410 7100 for exact rates and other accommodation options, including 2 and 3-bedroom suites.

Stroller Couture

We have to admit that being a parent now is super-cool. Aside from the joy of just being a parent, there is so much out there that caters to kids and parents in a more sophisticated and dignified way. From room design to family vacations to nursing covers, options abound to express your style - and your child's - with nary a puppy dog, cartoon character or flower in sight.

Add stroller covers to that growing list of products. In our last post, we noted that a pediatric dermatologist advised that the best way to protect baby from the sun was to keep her out of it altogether. Bellah May LLC, out of Orange County, California, has a line of reversible sunshades for the stroller that will expose nothing but style. Okay, there is a dog or two in the mix, but they're featured in the modern (or totally retro) way that today's fashionable parents are accustomed to sporting.

We like that the shades are reversible. Junior can check out his ABC's on the inside while the world sees a gingham check outside. But what we really love is that the sunshade comes in its own also-reversible bag, which then hangs off the stroller to hold all that "stuff" that you'll inevitably have with you. The website has a cute and quick tour on how the sunshade and bag work. (Don't worry, it's very simple, but the owners must know that tired parents can be notoriously slow.)

Bellah May also says that proceeds from sales will go to a child-focused charity, meaning you can feel good about helping someone else's child while protecting your own from the sun.


Sunshade in Paige pattern
www.bellahmay.com
$80

We Had Joy, We Had Fun, We Had Seasons in the Sun

Unless "we" included your baby, of course.

When we were growing up, sun protection consisted of our parents slathering on the same oily coconut-scented concoction that they were using to protect themselves. That was if they remembered to put anything on us at all.

Times have changed. Now, parents don't feel they're doing a good job of protecting their kids from one of the evils of the world - skin cancer - if the little ones aren't lathered in 100+ sunblock before the slightest hint of sun touches tender skin. To that we've had sun hats, bathing suits that hide shoulders and backs (and sometimes legs), and sun shades in the car. We have to admit, we're not as rabid about this as perhaps we should be. We put on the sunblock, to be sure, and we keep dear daughter shielded from the sun in the car, mostly because she yells "I can't SEE!" if it's in her eyes. But we no longer buy a separate kids' sunblock for her (she's 3) - and now we've learned that perhaps we never needed too.

We came across some advice from Babycenter's pediatric dermatologist, who had these points to make about applying sunblock to baby skin:
-keeping baby out of the sun altogether is preferable to applying any sunscreen
-you should look for sunscreens that have zinc oxide or titanium oxide, which provide physical barriers to the sun as opposed to chemical ones. Chemical blocks may cause allergic reactions and irritation.
-If you have to use chemically-based sunscreens, look for PABA-free ones. PABA has been linked with skin irritation.
-If you're concerned about blocking both UVA and UVB rays, definitely go with the physical barrier sunscreens, which block both.
-You don't really need to go above an SPF of 30. The added protection is minimal and doing so with the chemical sunscreens just means more bad stuff on baby's skin. Go lower and reapply as necessary.

In short, many of the sunscreens for kids with the super-high SPF's and chemicals are not advisable or even necessary. Buy a physical-barrier sunscreen for the family, and baby can use it too.

Next: Adding style and sun protection to your stroller

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