Feb
05th
  HOTEL OF THE WEEK: Explora in Patagonia, Chile

I hope I don’t say this too often and lose credibility, but this seriously is one of the most gorgeous spots on Earth…Hotel Salto Chico is situated in one of my favorite places for natural beauty.

I visited this Explora resort in Patagonia,Chile 13 years ago this month. A girl friend and I made the stop as part of our South America journey through Argentina and Chile. This particular region is the southernmost point of the Americas, located in the Torres del Paine National Park. What an amazing time we had here.

 
Feb
03rd
  Super Bowl Sunday : Miami with Kids

MIllions of eyes will be upon Miami this weekend when the Colts and Saints face off for Super Bowl XLIV. I’m sure there will plenty of aerial beauty shots of this tropical town, but nothing can quite capture the true essence of this vibrant and diverse city like being there. So I’ll do my best to recapture my experience there, and describe some great things to do with kids.

Many people don’t associate Miami with children – they think nightlife, sexy beaches, art scene..but really, it is a great place to take the kids if you know where to go. Here are some of my favorite family-friendly destinations:

1) Monkey Jungle:

I’ve never been anywhere like this – it was very entertaining. There are hundreds of different kinds of monkeys roaming free on this 30 acre rain-forest like preserve. (Don’t worry – from what I remember the gorillas can’t get out of their habitat!) But there are small monkeys that will jump on your shoulder if you walk through their space with food in your hand…I had about 6 monkeys on me at one time, and had to say my lines for a travel show while cracking up as more monkeys hounded me.

www.monkeyjungle.com

2) Children’s Museum of Miami:

A wonderfully educational and fun experience for children – with enough exhibits and special programs to spend all day here.

www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

 
Feb
02nd
  Travel Tip Tuesday: How to Get the Best Plane Seat in Coach

The middle seat, in the last row of the plane, right near the restroom, on a red eye…can you say nightmare?

There are ways to prevent that dreaded scenario…of course, some airlines are charging now to reserve a specific seat in advance, so you better know what you are paying for.

There are some reasons you may want to pay to reserve your seat – for instance if you are traveling with a companion or children – you’d want to sit together. Or if you are on a perpetually crowded flight. (Think Newark-Los Angeles, Friday at 5PM) If you don’t have a reserved seat, your chances of being bumped from a flight are greater.

So, if you are going to pay to reserve a seat, first check with websites like seatguru.com, or seatexpert.com to get great information like what amenities your plane offers (in flight movie? WiFi?), how close a seat is to the restroom, the width of the seats, and my personal favorite – which seats have power ports so you can charge your laptop, iPod, and DVD player to keep those kids entertained! Especially important for us parents.

The reason this is my favorite is because I can’t tell you how many times I have been on the phone with an airline agent who has no idea which seats have power ports,or if WiFi is offered. To top that, I have asked at the gate agents for seats with power ports, and they didn’t know either.

Luckily, I have done online research in advance with the above mentioned websites, and  learned if the plane had WiFi and which seats offer power ports. I would have been really annoyed if I hadn’t packed my laptop or adapter and listened to the uninformed airline employees who told me there was no WiFi or power ports. Remember to bring an adapter to plug into the plane’s cigarette-lighter-like power ports.

If you aren’t going to pay to reserve a seat, try to check in online the MINUTE the airline lets you (24 hours in advance most times)..that way you can avoid any lines just to pick a seat and beat the crowd. Also, try to fly at off peak times so the likelihood of empty seats is greater; translation: you might not be stuck with a middle seat. And if you are traveling with children, check to see which airlines offer pre-boarding for families so you can get convenient seats all together.

Happy Travels…

 
Jan
29th
  HOTEL OF THE WEEK: Four Seasons Lana’i

There are actually two Four Seasons Resorts on the island of Lana’i…the Lodge at Koele, and Manele Bay. Both very different, but both high end hotels.

You’re probably thinking – yeah but the Four Seasons is expensive…(yes, and sometimes worth it!) – but I have picked these as the hotel(s) of the week because both are running incredible specials right now.

At Manele Bay, the Four Seasons located closer to the beach, if you stay three nights, you can take advantage of a fourth night free. For a basic garden room, that could be just $259 a night for this upscale resort! Make sure right before you leave you call and ask for an upgrade. Most hotels want to keep their guests happy, so if they have open rooms at the last minute that they don’t think they can sell, many will give free upgrades. Be sure to ask!

Every Four Seasons has a kids club, and Manele Bay has great snorkeling that kids will enjoy. It makes for a great, relaxing family vacation if a beach environment is what you are after. And look at the gorgeous golf course there…