Our Articles

Kids Love These 6 Museums

When I was a kid and traveling with my parents, they used to drag me, kicking and screaming, to museum after museum so I could get some “culture.” I hated it! I hated them! My travels were filled with commands and threats like “Shhhh!” “No,” “Be quiet,” “Stop running,” and the all-too-familiar “Just you wait till we get you back to the hotel.” Well, times have changed and now I am a parent. It always surprises me how I much I’ve morphed into my own parents with my kids. But…

What to do if your airline goes under?

What If My Airline Folds? These aren’t the best of times to be an air traveler. US Airways’ chairman has said that in the event of a second bankruptcy filing there’s only a one to two percent chance the airline would survive. And his airline just filed for Chapter 11 protection. Delta is grasping at straws to stay afloat. United is still mired in bankruptcy with emergence nowhere in sight. American has been disturbingly quiet. ATA just went under. Northwest is busy making – and then unmaking – ludicrous pricing…

6 Sure Fire Destinations For Families

As a travel agent, I handle a ton of family travel: traditional families, extended families and, more recently, single-parent families. I’m not sure how I developed the niche, but I suspect it came as a result of being a single dad with three young kids of my own. Sure, we can all head to the amusement parks and theme parks and have a great time — that is a given. But when you dig a bit deeper, there are some fantastic destinations just screaming for families to explore. This…

When is the best time to….

When a client sits with me to plan a trip, I usually get at least one question that begins, “When is the best time to … ” Having been in the travel business for over a decade, and having traveled the world with my three kids, I have considered a lot of these clock and calendar questions. Today, I offer 13 timely tips to make your travels go more smoothly. When is the best time to … 1. Take off in an airplane? Answer: Between 6 a.m. and 7 …

Special Events for Kids

Want to treat your child to something special for their birthday, or as part of a trip, or just treat your child to celebrate life? Here are some unique suggestions around the U.S.A. that will give your child a day (or a night) to remember! We start west and move eastward: PORTLAND, OREGON
Sleep over at the Oregon Zoo (without parents). This is often scheduled around the Saturday night near Valentine’s Day. Dinner, snack and breakfast are included for $45.00. Sleeping bag required. Call 503-226-1561 or click on http://www.oregonzoo.org MONTEREY,…

Boscobel: Bringing The Best Out Of Us All!

I am not going to take credit for this story at all. It has been very slightly edited but I wanted to share perhaps one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. The story is about a Single Parent Travel organized trip to Beaches Boscobel in August 2007. Originally there were to be close to 35 families traveling down, but Hurricane Dean had some other ideas and many canceled or postponed. There were six that braved the winds and what follows is the most touching story I have…

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Green. Forever, it has been my favorite color. Green this and green that. Kermit is green. The Pitons of St. Lucia are green. My face after a particularly rough night out with my friends might be green. But when did travel get so green? Admittedly, I am not entirely on the environmental bandwagon. I could recycle more judiciously, and I probably ought to spring for those energy-efficient light bulbs. As for my SUV, well, I still have a few more payments on it. But suddenly all the travel world is …

Yippee Kai Yay

Back in my youth I used to ride horses, but that was a long time ago. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to check out something new to me — a dude ranch. My three kids and I packed up the old Ford Expedition and headed to New York. Yep, that’s right, New York. Well, not Manhattan, but about 90 minutes north to a small town called Highland and a place called the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. This was a quick getaway before the holidays organized by a great…

Readers Get Peevish

A while back, I laid out some of my pet peeves about cruising. Being ever so humble, I thought I had covered most of the bases, but I asked for readers’ peeves as well, just in case I had missed any. Well, apparently, travel is fraught with peeves. Who knew? My inbox was flooded, but these 16 complaints really caught my attention. I offer hearty thanks to my readers for sounding off. Why do people need to fill a plate like it is their last meal at an all-you-can-eat…

The Internet: Friend Or Foe?

Three years ago, I wrote a column — “Fire Your Travel Agent” — that suggested there are times when you don’t need the services of a professional travel agent. It raised the ire of my fellow travel agents, but I think a lot of the advice remains solid. Well, maybe not all of it. Back in ’04 (seems so long ago), I recommended that if you were “‘Net-savvy,” you might be able to navigate the world of travel on your own and snag some great last-minute deals. Today, I’m not…