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10 Family-Friendly Destinations for a Holiday

Holiday packages are an ideal way to plan a getaway, as all the details are taken care of for you. When organizing special holiday packages for the family, consider some of the top family-friendly destinations there are on offer.

1. Florida

Florida is an obvious choice for families on holiday, with Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and great beaches. It’s fun for the whole family, ensuring you get to spend plenty of memorable time together.

2. Spain

Visit the Spanish islands for a holiday break, or getaway to bustling cities like Barcelona and Madrid. With such diversity, a Spanish holiday ensures there’s always plenty to do for visitors of all ages.

3. California

California is a great theme park alternative to Florida, with Disney and Universal parks scattered around Anaheim. In between rides, relax with the family on one of this great state’s beautiful beaches.

4. New York City

There’s a reason so many people flock to New York City; it’s filled to capacity with things to do. Adults and kids alike can get lost in all of the sights here, with everything from Broadway to the Statue of Liberty.

5. Genoa

Genoa is a gem of a city in Italy, offering all the culinary delights of Italy with the beach feeling of the Riviera. Families can spend plenty of time together here, swimming about in the water then breaking for a bit of gelato in the afternoon.

6. Chicago

The windy city of Chicago is like a mini New York, giving it plenty of charm without all the hubbub. Kids in Chicago enjoy the Great American Doll headquarters, as well as the Sears Tower. For adults, catch a comedy act or try one of the fine dining establishments.

7. French Riviera

The French Riviera is a sunny paradise for any family on the go. The beautiful beaches will set adults at ease, and the sparkling waters are great for children to splash about in. In the evenings, enjoy family meals outdoors, right on the beaches.

8. London

The bustling city of London is a one stop shop for anyone looking for a holiday with family, as there’s plenty for both the adults and kids to look forward to. For the grownups, look into great nightlife and stunning museums. For the little ones, there are amazing West End shows and entertainment venues to occupy plenty of time.

9. Hawaii

It’s easy to see why so many people look to Hawaii for a holiday in the sun. The beaches themselves are enough to encourage anyone to go. The islands of Hawaii offer amazing sunsets, great dining options and plenty of local culture and history to experience.

10. Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fantastic spot to take relatives with a thirst for history. The city boasts a treasure trove of historical palaces and fortresses, all of which can be explored for days. Plus, the city itself has plenty to lend itself toward visitors, from great dining to amazing shopping.

photo by flickrized

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USA

Finding Family-Friendly Las Vegas

With a nickname like Sin City, it’s easy to overlook Las Vegas as a potential destination for a family vacation. Everyone who’s been to Vegas before has seen the scantily-clad women on billboards and taxi placards all over the city, not to mention the guys on every street corner handing out flyers with even more scantily-clad women.

Las Vegas has tried over the years to market itself as more family-friendly, which hasn’t been nearly as successful as the whole “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” campaign – which is yet another indication of the challenge of making this a good spot for a family trip.

It’s a challenge, perhaps, but it can be done – and with so many great deals on offer for Vegas pretty much year-round, it can be an easy way to take a family trip without spending a fortune. Here are a few reasons why taking a family vacation to Las Vegas is a budget-friendly and fun option:

Airfare is Cheaper

As anyone who travels with their kids knows, buying airline tickets for a family can be enough to make the budget-conscious cry. Whereas international airfare for four or more people is prohibitively expensive, however, buying tickets to Las Vegas is often a bargain. There are often special vacation packages available to Vegas as well that combine accommodation with flights, and can include activities as well.

Off-Strip Hotels are a Good Deal

The bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip are appealing to young and old alike (I recall my eyes bugging out of my head the first time I saw them at the age of 12), but the hotels that line the Strip are often too costly to consider for a family. You may find a great deal on one room, which is fine if you’re just traveling with your spouse, but getting a room big enough for the kids as well (or getting a second room) is another story. Looking at hotels off the Vegas Strip is a good way to find better deals, and that’s where many of the family friendly hotels in Vegas are, too.

Kid-Friendly Activities

As mentioned above, there are plenty of things to do in Vegas that are decidedly not family-friendly – but there are also excellent options that parents and kids will both enjoy. The area around the city offers a veritable plethora of outdoorsy activities, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and off-roading. In the winter months, there’s skiing in the nearby mountains. There are day trips you can take to places like the Hoover Dam. Within the city itself, there are lots of great shows that kids will love as much as their parents, and although Circus Circus isn’t exactly the place most people want to stay in the city it does offer a whole kid-friendly section full of carnival-style games. There are lots of options in Vegas for teenagers, younger kids, and their parents to keep everyone entertained.

Further Reading:

photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

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Things to do, places to go for 22 January 2009

I want to support the travel industry in tough economic times, so on occasional Thursdays (when I have time) I’ll put up a post with short excerpts from relevant PR pitches that have come to me via email.

It has to be something that I think my readers will like, it would help if it included links, and I’m not copying/pasting a whole press release. Readers should know that this is PR info and not independently vetted by me.

Here are a few recent items that might interest you….

  • Kid-friendly Hollywood Holiday Inn – The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn is nestled on seven acres in North Hollywood, less than a mile from Universal Studios Hollywood.  The 255 room property, which has been owned and operated by Hollywood actress Beverly Garland and her family since 1972, features seven “KidSuites” that are ideal for families. In addition, the property offers discounted VIP packages with Universal Studios.
  • New York City tourism site revamped – The site NYCgo.com features a comprehensive one-stop hub of information for visitors and residents, tailored to the interests of a variety of lifestyle categories, with select information available in nine foreign languages….Additionally, the website for the first time will house a dedicated cultural calendar from the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, featuring more than 300 event and exhibition listings submitted by cultural institutions across the five boroughs.
  • Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada – If you are looking for a unique, entertaining and educational experience that ties together nature and the environment, you absolutely have to visit the Hôtel de Glace in Duchesnay, Jacques-Cartier region….With its towering snow archways and crystalline ice sculptures alongside inviting fireplaces, North America’s only ice hotel stands out both for its ethereal beauty and excellent service.  The ice hotel is completely redesigned each year.  January 4 to March 29, 2009.
  • Hawaii Whale Watching –  Humpback whales are being spotted in Hawaii’s warm waters as the whale watching season is in full force around the islands, which typically runs from November through May. While the whales are here, visitors can enjoy the impressive acrobatic displays of these large mammals from the sea or from the shore. Besides the various whale watching tours available, humpback whales may be spotted from just about any beach park around the state with the right timing and with some patience. Make a family day out of the activity and see how many you can find.
  • MonteLago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas – A mere 17 miles from the bustling neon of the Vegas Strip, this incredibly child and family-friendly resort encompasses condo-style accommodations with kitchenettes (great for preparing quick snacks and/or meals for the kids without breaking the bank at restaurants every day) and multiple bedrooms, if desired. There are a plethora of outdoor activities like swimming in the year-round, kid-friendly, shallow pool (adults have one with a hot-tub, as well), boating (paddle, kayak, gondola), golfing, hiking and ice-skating in the winter (there is one casino on the property.)  Visit www.montelagovillage.com
  • Frommer’s top destinations for 2009 –
    1. Cartagena, Colombia
    2. Cape Town, South Africa
    3. Saqqara, Egypt
    4. Washington, D.C., United States
    5. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada
    6. Civil Rights Trail from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, United States
    7. Lassen Volcano National Park, California, United States
    8. Berlin, Germany
    9. Belfast, Northern Ireland
    10. Istanbul, Turkey
    11. Cambodia (but not Angkor Wat)
    12. Waiheke Island, New Zealand