Top 10 Family Travel Destinations for 2011

Atula
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Top 10 Family Travel Destinations for 2011
More people are considering traveling with their family this year. This was found out by TripAdvisor a leading travel website that asked its responders whether they wished to take a family vacation this year. 83 percent said they wanted to take at least one family vacation in 2011 which is higher from 79 percent last year. Also, most wanted a beach, city, theme park vacation, cultural trip or an adventure trip. To help make the decision, Virtuoso, a leading luxury travel network, has come up with top 10 family travel destinations that can lure people in 2011. These are,
  1. Italy – The nation with its extraordinary architectural sites like the Pompeii and Roman Colosseum has topped the list of destinations for 2011. People may also enjoy going to the much talked about Italian wine tours.
  2. England – England is in limelight this year for a multitude of reasons. There is a Royal Wedding scheduled in near future and London is also hosting the 2012 Olympics. There is also the Queen’s Diamond jubilee event in the same year. What makes UK a favourite with families is also the number of things here that can interest the whole family. There are the Countryside castles, city theme parks, cruises on the river Thames and other attractions spread around the nation.
  3. Hawaii – Families with a beach destination is mind can do all their unwinding at Hawaii. While those who wish to relax on beaches are spoilt for choices here, adventure lovers too can enjoy the different activities revolving around the beaches like snorkelling, surfing, kayaking etc.
  4. Costa Rica – Number four in the list is the Central American republic with its Caribbean coasts and evergreen forests. It is a god choice for adventure holiday with its numerous attractions like hiking, biking, white water rafting, canoeing etc.
  5. Alaska – The largest US state has a number of activities for the family. With almost half of world glaciers found here, boating across the glacier lakes is a good attraction. Equally interesting are whale watching trips, visiting the national parks, touring the landscape and enjoying the magnificent rail journeys with the whole family.
  6. South Africa – Wildlife lovers can plan a trip easily for the family to this land of lions and elephants. The country has a formidable coastline and also Wildlife sanctuaries to boast of. There is also the attraction of watching whales, penguins and seals around the Cape of Good Hope.
  7. Mexico – While the Cancun beaches and underwater diving are major pullers to Mexico for the family, what people can also enjoy here is the magnificent architectural marvels like the Kukulkan pyramid at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
  8. Galpagos Islands – Charles Darwin spent six weeks in the island nation studying the fauna and later arriving at his famous theory of natural selection. The island is known for dense forests, unique animal species like the giant land tortoise and the flightless cormorants. The Glapagos National Park is also a world heritage site. Therefore, tourist activities on these islands feature snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, horseback riding, scuba diving and camping.
  9. Turks and Caicos Islands – The islands of West Indies have been found to be very popular in 2011 as family travel destinations. The place boasts of world’s longest coral reefs, a cruise ports, family recreational areas, a diving area and many more attractions.
  10. Australia and Bahamas – Both destinations have tied at number ten when it comes to family travel. While Australia is known for its many adventure sports, outdoor activities, theme parks and amusement parks, Bahamas spell luxury with numerous cruises and family holiday resorts.
Thus 2011 has much to offer from adventure, wildlife, beach to pure bliss in a natural setting for families keen to travel. SOURCE

5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: The Original London Sightseeing Tour

Tanya
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5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: The Original London Sightseeing Tour
Explore all that London has to offer with The Original London Sightseeing Tour while still keeping your kids entertained. Forty years ago the company ,who ran London’s red buses, decided to put on a special double deck bus on a circuit of London’s main attractions. This original idea has now snowballed in popularity to a point where every visitor to London seems to use the tours. The Original London Sightseeing Tour is the only tour operator to offer commentaries specially designed for children. History made fun – for kids, by kids! The, Original London Tour offers two main sightseeing routes (red & yellow) that cover all the main sights in Central London and you have the ability to switch from one route to the other as you please. The City Sightseeing Tour (Red route) has multi-lingual commentaries via headphones and a special commentary for children. Plus, every child also gets a “passport” to London and a fantastic free fun pack with activity/quiz book that will help to keep them entertained.  The main attractions you’ll see are: Madame Tussaud’s, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, The National Gallery, Downing Street, Big Ben, London Bridge, St.Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London & Westminster Abbey. The Original Tour (Yellow Route) takes you to the best of London’s sights with an entertaining and informative commentary in English. The main attractions you’ll see are: Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, The National Gallery, Downing Street, Big Ben, London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London & Westminster Abbey. It’s not very often that you can see all that you want to without boring your children silly. The kid friendly The Original London Sightseeing Tour allows you to do just that making it a favorite! – Tanya, Staff Writer

Most International Travelers Ignore Health Advices before Traveling

Atula
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Most International Travelers Ignore Health Advices before Traveling
According to World Health Organisation about 30, 000 travelers are infected with malaria while on their travels. And yet a study by the Journal of Travel Medicine is December finds that most international travelers do not take any health advice before their trip concerning malaria or any other infection they can catch while traveling. The new study found that 44 percent travelers do not take any health advice before their trip. Only 36 percent carry any medications against traveler’s diarrhea and only 20 percent carry medications against malaria when traveling to countries where the infection is known to be widespread. Dr. Bruce Kane, medical director of Passport Health says most people do not ignore the warnings, but are just not aware of the health issues.
“I just think it is ignorance. I don’t think travel agents even mention the thought of protection. And it is only if the travelers wonder themselves and seek out their physician who refers them to us that they would know,” he says.
The recent case of George Clooney being infected with malaria while on a trip to Sudan only shows that the warnings are not baseless. Malaria is still a cause of 890,000 annual deaths and it makes 250 million people sick each year. The malaria parasite is common is Africa, southern Asia, South America and part of the Caribbean. What is a cause of concern is that while the infection plays spoilsport during the trip, it can also remain dormant and strike after weeks or a year too when travelers return to their home. While mild cases resolve with shaking, chills, fever, vomiting and jaundice, untreated malaria can develop into seizures, coma, kidney failure and death. The CDC found that of 508 confirmed cases of U.S. civilian travelers contracting malaria abroad in 2008, 70 per cent had not taken medication to prevent it. On the other hand, usually it is not a drastic illness like malaria but other health risk that travelers may face. These may be accidental injuries, traveler’s diarrhea, respiratory infections or a stomach bug. Although there are number of other illnesses too that might spoil any person’s vacation in an exotic location, most travelers never come in contact with these infections.
“I spend more time talking people out of vaccinations than into them,” says Dr. Jeffrey Band, director of infectious diseases and international medicine at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. He said, “While yellow fever, a fatal disease, has a well-tolerated immunization profile and malaria prevention is common sense, something like Japanese encephalitis is so rare as to make the immunization advisable for only certain travelers.”
The study also shows that travelers who are meeting family or friends or going for a less than 14 day tour are the ones who are least prepared.
“Those visiting family or friends have been one of our biggest problems” when it comes to malaria prevention, Band says.
What is therefore a prudent decision before traveling to any foreign country is to first check with what might result in illness in that country and take the necessary medications and shots. While not all exotic infections may affect a traveler, even a simple case of stomach upset may spoil the trip. The CDC offers a traveler’s page (www.cdc.gov/travel) on which tourists can check real-time health alerts and suggested immunizations for individual countries. Prevention is definitely better than cure especially if you are not in your home country. SOURCE

5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Tanya
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5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
Have a close encounter of the furred kind! There’s a host of new friends waiting to meet you at a zoo designed with children in mind.  The Battersea Park Children’s Zoo offers an exciting animal experience that combines a zoo, animal encounters, a play area and a relaxing cafe. From giant rabbits to miniature Shetland ponies, monkey mayhem to the mouse house – this is the zoo that gets you up close and personal.  As well as lemurs, coatis, and the endlessly fascinating meerkats, there are capuchin and squirrel monkeys. There’s also a whole host of farm animals, including donkeys, and pigs as well as a chance for children to pet rabbits and other small creatures. There are also talks throughout the day, in which keepers explain where the animals come from and how they behave (for instance, did you know there is always one meerkat keeping a lookout for the rest?). One thing to keep in mind is that there are no snakes, creepy crawlies, scorpions, praying mantises or tarantulas, nothing gross, scary, or likely to make their mothers squeal. And there are no big animals. So if you have children who want to see lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes, you’ll want London Zoo in Regent’s Park, instead. But for the younger children, this zoo is the perfect place. It’s compact, all on one level (so easy for strollers and little legs). It doesn’t get huge crowds, and the ambiance is relaxed; and most of the children visiting are aged from two to approximately six. The playground is great with lots of interesting climbing things, a digger and a real tractor for kids to clamber around on. There is a cafe, but unlike most tourist attractions, you’re encouraged to bring a picnic if you’d rather. Young kids get bored easily with things their parents find fascinating – and vice versa.  This can make finding the right sights to see in London difficult if you’re in a family group. However, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is one way to save the day!

San Diego Zoo Lets Visitors Sleep with Animals

Atula
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San Diego Zoo Lets Visitors Sleep with Animals
The San Diego zoo is making all the wildest fantasies come true, literally. Taking the zoo wilderness experience to the next level, the zoo has come up with a new sleepover package where children and adults can spent a night at the zoo safari park amidst the animals. Called the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s ‘Roar and Snore’ sleepovers the experience is available for a variety of age groups. There are a number of tents of different price range and with different amenities spread out within the park to allow visitors to not only see the animals but also sleep with them. The tents accommodate minimum two persons and even have windows to keep a watch at the nocturnal activities of the animals. The sleepover begins at 4.30 p.m. and ends 9.30 a.m. in the morning for the visitors. The dinner and breakfast buffet are included in the package and the participants also get to take a t-shirt as a souvenir of the wild experience. Participants also can take craft lessons and gather around the campfire for a group activity. The zoo has designed different packages and tent options. There is the $220 tent available for members aged 12 and above which has electricity and is close to the elephant enclosure. This tent has a queen sized bed with sleeping bags and pillows provided. There are other affordable options as well like the $140 shaded site for 12 years and above. There is a sleeping pad provided but visitors have to bring their own sleeping bags and pillows. The zoo has also different price range for kids 3 to 11 from $120-$160. Infants are charged $30. These pricing are in addition to the safari park entry fee. With zebras, giraffes, leopards and elephants for company, the zoo sleepover experience is surely a unique way to get close to nature and get know the animals a little better. SOURCE

5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Legoland

Tanya
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5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Legoland
Legoland, in Windsor is full of great rides and attractions that the whole family will love. From crazy roller coasters to enchanting mazes, there really is something for everyone at Legoland! You can be the hero of your very own adventure! Fly through the treetops to escape fearsome dragons, or join the Viking fleet and ride the churning rapids. Learn swashbuckling & seafaring skills at the Pirate Training Camp before testing your nerve, and your stomach, on the new swinging pirate ship.  Steer your own course on the Driving School and use laser guns to battle your way through an ancient tomb. Sign the whole family up for some high energy fun at the Fire Academy and enjoy the acrobatic entertainers at the pirate themed Stunt Show. In Legoland nearly everything you see is ingeniously built from Lego. This child orientated theme park brings Lego to life and offers kids tons of fun with over 55 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions. Where else can your child drive a JCB digger, drive a car, fly a plane or sail the seas in complete safety? There are height restrictions on some of the faster bigger rides but plenty of rides for smaller children too. There are loads of places to eat in the park; you can take your pick from Legoland’s five family restaurants or any of the great quick service outlets throughout the park offering a varied selection of food and drink.  If you prefer, you can also take your own picnic to enjoy in the 150 acres of park. Everyone will be fascinated by the incredible Lego models throughout the park. From comical camels to world land marks and a yellow submarine, it’s amazing what can be built with millions of Lego bricks! There are plenty of places to buy Lego merchandise at the end of the day to extend your collection and commemorate your visit to Legoland. With such a vast amount of interactive rides and attractions, daily theatre shows, and an amazing 4D mediaeval experience there’s just too much to experience in one day!

Top 2011 Destinations for Budget Travelers

Atula
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Top 2011 Destinations for Budget Travelers
Newsweek Budget Travel has come up with its annual list of travel destinations that are fun as well as affordable. The list includes places like Tallinn, Estonia’s capital as well as popular tourist destinations like Dublin that have become more pocket-friendly for the travelers. Here are the Top Budget Travel destinations for 2011 Dublin, Ireland The tourists will find traveling to this city cheaper this year because the country is still stabilizing itself after the economic turmoil. Ireland is giving tourists exchange rate better than last year with 7 percent hike. Even lodging in Dublin is costing 7 percent low than in 2009. In fact cost of staying in Dublin may be less than any other major city in Western Europe. Restaurants are decently priced as well as the transportation. A good bargain is the Dublinbikes, the city’s cycle-share program, that  rents out bikes for $2.50 for three days, and rides clocking in at 30 minutes or less are free. In order to boost tourism the $13 tax levied on Dublin International Airport travelers will soon go down to $4. Budget Travel suggests visiting Dublin in June when the weather is much the same as peak season (July-August) without the peak season prices. The month also has added attractions like the Bloom in the Park, a massive garden show; Taste of Dublin, and Bloomsday; a celebration of Ireland’s literary patron saint—James Joyce. According to the expert the three-star Harcourt Hotel, located in the former Georgian home of George Bernard Shaw, is a good stay option with doubles from $91. Lisbon, Portugal According to hotel.com’s 2010 hotel prices, Lisbon comes third in the list of places where luxury is cheap. On an average a five star hotel bill here may come to just $153 per night and a four star hotel rate may be 5 percent less than 2009. The country has in recent years supported liberalisation as well as put funds in infrastructure development with improved highways and public transport system. Flights to the city are abundant and the UK budget airline Easyjet is soon to set up base in the city. Even now one flight from Lisbon to London may cost just $44. Lisbon has a climate like southern California. That is why going in May can be advantageous for budget travelers to avoid crowds and also not compensate on the sunny and warm weather. It is also a time when outdoor festivals like the IndieLisboa, a Portuguese film festival are organized. The list writer suggest staying in four-star LX Boutique Hotel restored in 2010 and with five floors dedicated to different themes. Tallin, Estonia Estonia was under Russia two decades ago, but now it is a full fledged member of the EU and has also adopted the Euro since Jan 2011. The capital city Tallin is fast developing as a vacation hotspot with beautiful attractions and very low pricing as compared to other popular cities nearby like St. Petersburg and Helenski. From the cathedrals in medieval old towns, fun restaurants to funky night life, Tallin offers everything in budget. A a shot of Estonian vodka averages $1.75, and a bottle of domestic beer generally costs $2.50. The city plans to host 7000+ events in the coming year including dance, music and museum exhibits. This is to celebrate its title of being named 2011 European capital of Culture.Estonian Air is planning to double its flights to London and budget airlines like easyjet and Ryanair too are increasing trips to Tallin. Best time to visit is May or June and the von Stackelberg Hotel built in 1874 for a german nobleman with its original limestone walls, heated bathroom floors and free Internet is a steal. Houston, Texas According to the listing, Houston is a must-visit destination for 2011 because it has the biggest shopping mall of Texas at 2.2 million square feet,  56,000 acres of green space and the third most Fortune 500 companies. But what makes it worthwhile is the definite decrease in pricing from hotels to restaurants. A typical meal hear costs $2.50 less than national average. The city is encouraging its tourists to take a Houston CityPASS, which offers access to any combination of six attractions including Space Center Houston, Houston Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts for $39. The city can be visited in late spring, early autumn or even in January. Hotel Icon is a good place to stay with its lavish, Euro-style setting. Colombia Gorgeous colonial cities, Caribbean beaches and Amazonian jungles can all be found in Colombia. To attract US travelers the destination allowed low cost carriers alongwith an 11 percent reduction in air fare and that has helped the country more tourists. Ocean cruises have also increased in the past year. Booming construction business has resulted in an additional 47000 new rooms especially in places like Bogotá, with its boutiques, restaurants and nightclubs. The climate is warm throughout the year though monsoons need to be avoided. Ideal time to visit therefore is from December to March or April when the prices are a bit lower. The website suggests trying out the Celebrities Suites with rooms dedicated to different stars as a budget but stylish accommodation choice. Shanghai, China Thanks to last year’s World Expo, Shanghai has been completely renovated with new roads, subways and ease of commutation for non-Chinese speaking travelers. After the expo room rates have fallen drastically with over a 100 new hotels in the city. According to Chinese travel website Qunar five-star hotels slashed prices to an average of $197, down from $334.Shanghai is also well connected to Nanjing and Hangzhou—home to several ancient Buddhist temples and the scenic West Lake, respectively. To get good weather and fewer crowds, late March or late october- early November is recommended by Budget Travel. The Eton Hotel is a good stay choice. Gulf Coast This 1,680 miles of white-sand shoreline is ready to do business after the oil-spill scare. Average hotel rates have gone down drastically from 12 to 43 percent and experts believe that the destination will not see many tourists till late 2011. For budget travelers therefore it is good news. The coast also has lots to offer from a museum Frank Gehry-designed Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, a 12-years-in-the-works project dedicated to Mississippi potter George Ohr to golfing at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Florida’s Panama City Beach which averages 320 blue-sky days per year is the place to be for beach goers. The website suggests going in April or May and avoiding the time from June to November to be safe from the Atlantic hurricane. With double room for $ 100 Hotel Magnolia in Foley, Alabama is a good place to stay. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka tourism department has declared 2011 as the Visit Sri Lanka year. The country also has a goal to get 2.5 million visitors by 2016 with a a second international airport opened last year in Hambantota. Therefore, there are offers galore for the traveler. The island country is known for its beaches, coconut groves and elephants and a mere $1 could buy you an exquisite Sri Lankan Fish Curry lunch. With the civil war ending the country is now a safe destination to travel. As monsoon showers hit different parts of the country in different times Budget Travel suggests travelling from December to March to the west or south coast. Colombo’s Victorian-inspired Galle Face Hotel is recommended for its oceanic view. Jamaica Compared to Bahamas, St. Lucia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Jamaica is already known as an affordable destination. Now it is becoming more affordable for tourists with a new international airport and a boom of 3000 new hotel rooms. Also in 2010 Jamaica became connected to 16 US cities with 6 new flights. Historic Falmouth Jamaica, a new port of call on the island’s north coast also ensures booming cruising business. Low season is from mid-April to mid-December. Historic Falmouth Jamaica, a new port of call on the island’s north coast, is a good staying option. Banff, Alberta, Canada Some of North America’s best slopes are found here with also a choice of hot springs, bike trails and golf course. The destination is still offering cheap air tickets and a low price of $10 for the park entry. Although the prime skiing season is from December to March, April provides less crowd and sun up to 12 hours. For hikes and bike trails, September is a good time. Deer Lodge is the Newsweek Budget Travel recommendation for a stay with its rooftop hot tub that overlooks Banff’s Victoria Glacier. SOURCE

Giveaway Rules and Details

Lisa Arneill
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1. North American Residents of the 48 states and Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 Territories may enter only. Unfortunately we cannot ship to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or Alaska. 2. No cash or substitution will be issued. 3. The winner is responsible for any duty and/or taxes associated with receipt the prize. (Shipping is included) 4. Once the winner has been notified, they will have 2 days to respond. If we do not hear from them in that time a second name will be drawn. 5. ALL entrants information will be deleted after winner(s) has confirmed prize. You will never be added to a mailing list.

5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Hamleys

Tanya
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5 Destinations around London That Are Perfect to See With Your Kids: Hamleys
It’s one of London’s must-see destinations and for over 250 years Hamleys has been known as the finest toy shop in the world! Hamleys flagship store, on Regent Street, has seven floors (54,000 square feet) of toys to explore! People come from all over the world come to visit Hamleys and buy the most wonderful toys and games, as well as to experience the magical atmosphere. The staff will often dress up in costumes to entertain, and there are always lots of toy demonstrations, so you can try before you buy. Frequented by celebrities, the flagship store contains toys from the much loved brands, to more traditional and nostalgic toys as well as quirky and unusual products. Each floor at Hamleys is devoted to playthings, with different categories of toy on each floor. The ground floor is traditionally for soft toys, and decked out with a remarkably diverse array of stuffed animals, from regular teddy bears to more exotic ones such as turtles, dolphins and even two enormous life-sized giraffes and elephants.  The other floors include:
  • 5th floor: Boys — Action figures, vehicles, and an open cafe.
  • 4th floor: Hobbies — Model kits, remote-controlled vehicles, model railways, etc.
  • 3rd floor: Girls — Dolls, Arts & Crafts, Hello Kitty, Dress up etc.
  • 2nd floor: Preschool — Toys for young children.
  • 1st floor: Games — Board games, science, jigsaws; also a Build-A-Bear Workshop and Sweet Shop.
  • Ground floor: Soft toys — a wide variety of stuffed animals, and also a Marvin’s Magic section.
  • Basement: Interactive — Lego, construction toys, Red 5, novelties and GAME (retailer).
Being one of the greatest toy shops in the world, makes Hamleys one of our 5 must see locations in London!

Three Generation Family Travels on the Rise

Atula
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Three Generation Family Travels on the Rise
Family travel has take a whole new meaning according to a recent estimate by US Travel Industry Association that says more grandparents are now planning their vacations with their kids and grandkids. As many as 5 million travel vacations in the US have involved families spanning three generations with the grandparents paying the bill most often. While in 2007 only about 22 percent of grandparents traveled with their grandchildren, the trend has grown to 32 percent last year called as multi- generation travel.  The good news for the travel industry is that these travelers are bringing business to cruise lines, hotels and theme parks. According to travel guru Peter Yesawich the trend will only see a rise in the future as US population in general ages and grandparents get eager to spend time with their grandkids. Cruise liners have especially started marketing their holidays based on the multi generation travelers. From emphasizing on activities for all ages, included meals, preset packaged price to group discounts, the deals are becoming better for the travelers.
Jeff Sherota, senior vice president in Fort Lauderdale for cruisesonly.com says, “Before, cruise lines tended to cater more to one group: Carnival or Disney to families with kids or for seniors, Celebrity or luxury lines. Now, ships appeal to a larger spectrum.”
Even all inclusive resorts and vacation rentals are an option more and more groups are looking at for their family vacations.
“An all-inclusive is better for kids, because they’re going to want snacks two or three times a day. And a la carte at a hotel, that can run you an extra $100 or $200 a day,” said Weiss, co-owner of Happy Trails Travel of Boca Raton, Fla.who often books all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic.
As adults work more, even at night and weekends, the vacation times are now doubling as family times as well.
“So if you have three or four days off, and you have kids and grandkids, there’s a higher probability they’ll come along with you on vacation,” said Yesawich, who heads The Y Partnership in Orlando.
Family travel specialist Suzanne Rowan Kelleher thinks the trend has also risen because present generation grandparents are more accustomed to travel, physically fit and more able to afford vacations.
“Many see their children struggling in two-income households to meet rising costs, when they recall days with greater job security. To cope, it’s a common set-up for Grandma and Grandpa to pay for that family trip to Disney World,” says Suzanne
According to Yesawich, more travel business should tap at the trend. Traditional hotels could offer multi-unit pricing where each extra room booked costs less for the family and some freebies like allowing kids to eat and drink free. This will only help larger groups getting booked.
“The family traveler puts a premium not just on family time but value,” Yesawich said. “The cruise lines have that figured out.”
If travel businesses do take the hint, more grandparents could be globetrotting to spend quality time with their grandkids and family.  – Atula, Staff Writer SOURCE
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