Good News: new law will require airlines to seat families together
New law will require airlines to seat any children aged 13 and younger “adjacent to the seat of an accompanying family member over the age of 13,
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Traveling abroad in an age of terrorism
I didn’t meet anyone onboard during our trip who was nervous about traveling with their kids in Europe this summer, even though we were in Crete, less than 200 miles from where the Egyptair plane went down
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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Getting There | Lodging | Volunteer & Service | Weekly Column
Vacationing like a 1 percenter in a staffed villa in Jamaica
It’s easy to see why these vacations are so popular with multigenerational families. No one is doing all the chores that typically come with a house rental.
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Families & Groups | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Getting There | Lodging | Weekly Column
10 ways to save money on spring break
on vacation, free is great — a lot better than paying for meals the kids don’t eat, theme park tickets when they’d rather play in the hotel pool or museum entry fees when they are ready to leave in less than an hour.
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10 wishes for happy travel with your family in 2016
Maybe you like nothing more than exploring new places and sharing new adventures with the kids and grandkids, well aware that things may not go as planned, though that can happen wherever you go, of course. Wherever you venture in 2016, give yourselves permission to get off the tourist track, at least for a little while. You’ll be glad you did.
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When is paying premium economy worth it?
Is paying extra for premium economy worth the extra price? Sometimes, you get a lot for your buck; other times you wonder what you paid for.
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Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Getting There | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
In Hokkaido: navigating on our own is not that difficult
The ship staff had warned that navigating on your own in Japan is different than elsewhere. Very few locals speak English and signs are only in Japanese. I understand now why in the U.S. Japanese tourists always move in a group with a guide.
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A long flight to Japan – jet lag cured with spa treatment at Conrad Tokyo
The Mizuki Spa at the Conrad Tokyo is the largest spa of its kind in Tokyo and boasts Tokyo’s only true Hinoki bath. Treatments are inspired by the moon and the water.
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New efforts to convince Americans to take their vacation days
Whatever the reasons, Americans failed to use 429 million days of paid time off last year, the U.S. Travel Association reports. Those who get vacation time are taking less, while a quarter of Americans don’t get any paid vacation at all
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Getting There | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Modern camping with kids – and WiFi
Younger campers say having a smartphone on a camping trip is nearly as important as toilet paper, according to the 2015 North American Camping Report. I’m guessing your kids would agree
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Flying home upgraded – when travel is a pleasure
It’s our lucky day! We’ve gotten upgraded to Club World on British Airways. We’re not sure how it happened but we’re not complaining.
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Infographic: Travel Advice from your kids
10 original ideas from kids to help parents everywhere increase the fun while planning, packing, participating in activities and making memories for their family vacations.
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What price will you pay for your child’s safety?
This week there was news of more incidents in which air turbulence injured passengers — and one case sent a baby flying through the cabin (very luckily uninjured). The FAA and the airlines need to act — and parents need to ask themselves again: Is your small child’s safety worth not paying for the extra seat?
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Outwitting the storm for once for a family ski reunion in Park City, Utah
When the forecast got worse by the hour for the latest storm primed to hit the East Coast, I figured our flight from New York to Salt Lake City would invariably be cancelled the next morning.
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Two new ways families can take the stress out of flying
Want to get whisked through security? It may be too late for Thanksgiving, but if you are flying for Christmas, you’ve got time to sign up for Global Entry, the trusted traveler network that allows you to make your way quickly through special lines and customs by using automated kiosks at 97 domestic airports through the TSA Pre-check Program.
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Passport is a must to teach kids the world
“The passport is the new diploma,” Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler and the father of three, told the nearly 50 influential family travel writers and bloggers who had gathered this past weekend from around the country and Canada at the TMS Family Travel Conference in Niagara Falls, NY.
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10 tips to survive taking your first child to college
You’ll be spending the Long Goodbye shuttling back and forth to stores crowded with other freshmen parents for “essentials” you didn’t bring from home. In our case, that included a tool kit needed to loft the beds in my daughter Mel’s dorm room so the girls had more floor space.
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Kicks on Route 66 – in a Ford hybrid that gets 100 miles per gallon
During the Great Depression, and the Dustbowl, over 250,000 people packed everything they could and set out from Arkansas and Oklahoma along Route 66, heading–they hoped—for a better life in California. Recently I got to drive part of the route in a Ford hybrid vehicle.
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TSA, really?? Knives, bats, golf clubs on airplanes???
You can’t bring a bottle of water onto an airplane. You might get stopped at security with a container of breast milk. But you can bring a baseball bat? And small knives? Come on TSA, which announced last week that these items will be allowed as carry-on beginning April 25. How about a little common sense?
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Learning to cope with weather disruptions when the family travels
Let’s play the what-if game. What if Mother Nature derails your holiday travel plans — as it did for so many people I know earlier this month during Hurricane Sandy and during the Christmas blizzard that crippled the East Coast two years ago?
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The best laid plans, waylaid by Frankenstorm
UPDATE (Wednesday, Oct 31) — It’s Halloween, but the really scary thing is now bad the damage from SuperStorm Sandy is all over the Northeast. We still have power at our house so we are one of the few lucky ones. But we lost cable, which means almost all forms of communication for us these days. I’m updating this blog from our Town Hall where they have electricity and free public wi-fi. It’s impressive the way people are pulling together and helping each other out. Just this morning my husband helped a neighbor jump-start his car. His battery had run down after he and his son tried to recharge too many electronic devices. Meanwhile… if you trying to travel, or get home, during the storm’s aftermath, check out www.johnnyjet.com for some great tips!
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Airline mishandles unaccompanied minor yet again. What can you do?
Yet again, an airline—this time United—lost an unaccompanied minor who was supposed to be escorted to her connecting flight earlier this summer. Some advice on how to minimize the chances of this happening to your child…
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Include Travel Insurance in Your Summer Vacation Plans
As any parent knows, when kids are involved, unforeseen circumstances can materialize at the drop of a hat. Illness can sideline the entire family, resulting in financial losses such as costs for airfare, tickets to attractions and other non-refundable deposits.
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Really? Parents should pay more to sit next to small children?
I can’t agree with the “let the market decide” when it comes to forcing parents to pay extra to sit next to their preschoolers. Even worse, we’re talking about customers who may only fly once or twice a year
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Flying this summer? Get smart before you go
Millions of children will be flying this summer. As we head into the summer vacation season, let’s all try to be nicer to our fellow passengers whatever their ages. Here are some tips for traveling parents to de-stress the experience.
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Accessories for your family car trip
Find out how the right car accessories can personalize your family vehicle. From car seats to bike racks, car accessories let you do more with your family vehicle. (sponsored content)
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Prepping for a Family Road Trip
If you’re looking for family vacation ideas, consider taking a road trip. Driving to your family vacation destination is often more affordable than buying plane tickets for the whole family
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A flight worth enjoying, honestly!
I’m in my Virgin America extra legroom seat with no one in front of me and plenty of room to stretch on this flight from San Francisco to New York. For once the five-hour plus flight doesn’t seem interminable.
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RVing vs camping? Why not both?
Many suggest that despite gas prices RVing is cheaper than other vacations but the Muellers aren’t so sure. That wasn’t why they did it anyway—it was a lifestyle thing, to get outdoors with the kids.
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Prepare for Take Off in a Stress Free Way
Yes, we get reserved parking at the airport. No, we’re not VIPs or parkers with special needs.
