Trip Ideas By Activity
There are so many ways to vacation with your children.
City explorations, museum sleepovers, condo-style rentals, road trips, mountain and lake cabins, beaches, cruises, and all-inclusive vacations stretch budgets. Resorts run the gamut from moderate to pricey. Staying midweek or during shoulder season saves money.
Dream trips—African safaris, Galapagos treks, polar bear watches—deliver the thrill of wildlife encounters but at a hefty price. Farmstays, state and national parks, and hikes through Costa Rican rain forests let you enjoy animal encounters at a fraction of the cost.
Time travel fascinates kids. At living history parks, march with the militia and meet pioneers. In Europe, tour centuries-old castles, climb atop medieval walls, and stroll streets laced with 18th-century buildings. Go back millions of years to the dinosaur era. Satisfy your kids’ curiosity by going on a dinosaur dig, walking in dinosaur footprints, and ogling fossils of these fierce critters in museums.
Build sandcastles at the beach, canoe and fish at a lake, get tossed, twirled, and dropped on rollercoasters at an amusement, ski downhill, or snowshoe through snowy woods.
Stay overnight, for a few days, or a week. Plan carefully, allow for spontaneity, know that things will go awry, and maintain your sense of humor. Have fun.
Candyce H. StapenCreators Syndicate
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Candyce H. Stapen2020-12-12 13:15:002021-05-20 12:33:04Dream Trips: African Safaris in Kenya and Zambia
© Candyce H. Stapen PhotographyCreators Syndicate
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Candyce H. Stapen2020-09-22 13:02:212021-04-21 17:55:18A Family Gets Away to Virginia’s Blue Ridge MountainsActivities
Trip Ideas Sorted By Activity
All 324 /Adventures 148 /Africa & Middle East Destinations 0 /Air Travel 0 /All-inclusive Vacations 26 /All-inclusives 0 /Amusement and Theme Parks 8 /Asia Destinations 0 /Australia & Pacific Destinations 0 /Babies to 2 Year-Olds 0 /Bargain Travel 13 /Beach Resorts 0 /Beaches 51 /Best Family Resorts 0 /By Activity 0 /By Age 0 /Canada 0 /Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations 0 /Central & South America Destinations 0 /City and Cultural Vacations 68 /College Age & Adult 0 /Cruises 0 /Cruises & Resorts 0 /Cruising 46 /Destinations 0 /Europe & Scandinavia Destinations 0 /Family 167 /Family Travel Tips 0 /Featured News 0 /Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9 0 /Historic 65 /Lake Vacations 13 /Lake, Mountain, and Ski Resorts 0 /Midwest United States Destinations 0 /More Lodging 0 /Multigenerational 0 /Museums 53 /National and State Parks in the US 44 /National and State Parks, International 29 /Nature Vacations 64 /Northeast United States Destinations 0 /Pet Travel 12 /Preschoolers Ages 3-5 0 /Relaxing Getaways 12 /Rent a House, Condo, Villa 4 /Restaurants 29 /Retirement - Where to Retire 10 /Road Trips 5 /Seasonal & Holiday Activities 12 /Ski and Mountain Vacations 23 /Southern United States Destinations 0 /Teens Ages 13-17 0 /Top Destinations 0 /Trip Ideas 0 /Tweens Ages 10-12 0 /Uncategorized 0 /United States Destinations 0 /Video 0 /Western United States Destinations 0 /What to Plan Now 0 /Wildlife and Safari Vacations 27
The Washington Post
Renting a Vacation Home for the first time? Don’t take anything for granted.
The Washington Post||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Family Travel Tips, Featured News, Rent a House, Condo, VillaWhen we sat down to plan our first family trip since the start of the pandemic, we knew we’d have to try something new. The size and composition of our group — four adults, two kids, and two dogs — would dictate our options. We were looking for drivability from D.C. (no one was ready to fly), a seaside walkway for strolling and teaching the toddlers to ride bikes, plus a dog-friendly town. Rehoboth, in Delaware, met the criteria, especially since pooches can romp in the sand and trot the boardwalk, and people can pedal the boards any time of day in the offseason.
Our menagerie was not likely to be welcome at the city’s inns or hotels. Although some accept dogs under 30 pounds, none allow pets as big as Lily, my 100-pound Newfoundland pup, and almost none take two. Lexa, my daughter’s 12-pound Westie, was part of our pack. That’s why we dove into the listings on a well-known vacation rental booking site with a healthy roster of family- and dog-friendly properties in Rehoboth.
We haven’t even gone on the trip yet, but we’ve already made a few newbie mistakes.
Our search turned up a four-bedroom, three-bath house that we dubbed Ocean Adventure in honor of our long-deferred vacation. It granted my daughter, son-in-law, their two kids, and my husband and me space to be together — and apart. The beachfront location would eliminate the daily drama of loading the car with two toddlers, two dogs, beach chairs, an umbrella and toy shovels, then circling for parking and galumphing to the shore laden with all our stuff. We craved simple.
Of course, we perused the property’s photos and glanced at the reviews. The five images revealed an older house with a sea view from the deck, a one-person kitchen, and ’70s furnishings that would make Edith and Archie Bunker feel at home.
No problem. We didn’t need fancy. But we did need clean, especially in a pandemic. Managed by a top-performing host cited for cleanliness, the property rated 4.9 out of 5 stars. Reassured, we booked the house.
It was the blankets that tipped us off.
A week or so after booking, we read the reviews more carefully. A former guest praised the host’s willingness to wash the blankets before her visit. What? Since the host had assured me that she followed covid-19 cleaning protocols, we assumed we would bed down under fresh covers. Not so: She fessed up to washing blankets only at the beginning of the season, a period that stretched from mid-April through mid-September. Eww. We, too, requested that the host wash the blankets before our arrival.
After that, we parsed the guests’ reviews and probed the host’s answers to our emails like wannabe Sherlock Holmeses. We needed to know if Ocean Adventure’s definition of clean matched ours.
You have probably guessed by now that it didn’t. When we asked about other bedding, the host said she had replaced a few pillows a year ago and she wasn’t sure when the bedspreads had last seen the inside of a washing machine. In response to my concerned queries, she volunteered to strip the beds, providing only the washed blankets. We took the hint. We’ll toss pillows into the car’s back seat, and we don’t need bedspreads at a beach rental.
Another guest mentioned “cloudy” sliding doors that impeded admiring the ocean across the street. You guessed it. Sliding doors are cleaned only at the beginning of the season. Remember, we booked a property rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from a top-performing host cited for cleanliness. She explained that a strong ocean breeze would spray the doors with salt. To us, that’s even more reason to wash the glass between renters, not to mention that the entrance to a deck with a sea view is likely to be a “high touch” area in need of scrupulous cleaning.
Our host did block guests from using the house the day before our arrival. That was nice, even if the gesture was probably made because no one had booked the place the Saturday (typically the changeover day) before our Sunday appearance.
Most mega-rental companies post cleaning protocols on their websites, but that doesn’t mean renters aren’t sometimes unpleasantly surprised. Or there may be domestic details that, like us, you simply take for granted. Keep in mind that what’s nonnegotiable for you may be someone else’s “So what?” The bottom line: If you want specifics about how your potential rental is cleaned, ask on the front end.
The same goes for how it’s stocked: Don’t assume that anything comes with your lodging. For example, Ocean Adventure’s write-up made no mention of linens and towels. Since all the condos, villas, houses, cabins and even glamping tents we’ve rented came with those, we assumed that our top-performing host supplied them as well. Nope. At $715 plus fees per night, we didn’t expect a bare-bones rental.
We learned the importance of carefully reading the list of amenities, and of asking the right questions. Towels and sheets were not listed as provided, so perhaps we should have known the cupboard was bare. Yet blankets, bedspreads and pillows were not listed either, and these did come with the rental. Since the description detailed dishes and utensils for 10 but no pots or pans, we envisioned hauling a box of basic cookware. Not necessary. The host replied that the kitchen came fully stocked. But not the bathroom: no soap, no shampoo, no toilet paper.
We are grateful to be heading to the beach with our family after a year that has been so difficult for so many. We’ll have a good time. The toddlers have new bikes to ride on the boardwalk. We’ll build sand castles, eat pizza, snack on Thrasher’s fries and breathe the salt air through our masks. Lily can rest her head on the packages of softgoods stowed on the back seat. We’ll tote a tub of cleaning supplies and spend the first hours scrubbing. What we forget to bring, we can buy.
Wiser, we will not give up on owner-driven rental sites. The homes fill a need, providing lodging that is otherwise unobtainable and often larger and more cost-effective for family groups than several hotel rooms or suites. The host quickly and honestly responded to our requests — and yes, we’re glad she agreed to wash the blankets. Without Ocean Adventure, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy a local seaside getaway with dogs, kids and plenty of living space.
Next time, to calm our fears and lighten what we must lug, we’ll book a property that comes with clean linens, towels, sheets, blankets and all the comforts of home — including toilet paper and soap.
Travel Insurance in the COVID-19 Era
Creators Syndicate||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, Family Travel Tips, Featured NewsAfter more than a year of the pandemic lockdown, we’ve planned a June trip to Anguilla, a Caribbean island known for its gorgeous beaches and great food. We’ve booked a house at Long Bay Villas to celebrate all the missed birthdays and milestones for our multigenerational family.
We’re happy, hopeful and also hesitant. After all, the pandemic still looms large. Many countries require negative COVID-19 tests for entry. If the coronavirus surges, places now open may slam their borders shut, locking visitors in or out with little or no warning.
More than ever, purchasing travel insurance is important. The right policy may help you recover lodging costs and, if needed, pay for healthcare. Anguilla is one of the destinations that require negative COVID-19 test results for entry. They also add a travel application on which each visitor, even toddlers, must show proof of medical insurance covering COVID-19 treatment as well as air-ambulance costs. As more visitors and locals are vaccinated, however, Anguilla announces new, less restrictive fees and rules.
To cut through the tedious legalese of insurance definitions, terms and conditions, we use www.squaremouth.com, one of several sites that compare policies, coverage and costs based on your checklist of requirements.
We chose a Seven Corners policy. Interestingly, the fine print does not explicitly state COVID coverage, but neither does the policy exclude it. An agent explained that Seven Corners treats COVID-19 as it would any other emergency illness. Our eyes rolled back in our heads when we envisioned explaining this to harried immigration personnel in Anguilla. Fortunately, our policy’s summary clearly states coverage for COVID-19 treatment and medical evacuation. We plan to keep copies of the outline with our passports.
Once we receive approval to visit Anguilla, the hefty fees for fully vaccinated visitors staying fewer than 90 days currently are $300 for individuals and $200 for each dependent. This includes two COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, one upon arrival and one later, as well as surveillance and administrative expenses. We have not yet heard whether our primary U.S. insurance will reimburse us for these test expenses. After Anguilla officials approve our application and we show negative COVID tests within three to five days of arrival, we may enter Anguilla.
It’s easy to relax seaside on one of Anguilla’s 33 white sand beaches.
But what if we can’t? Let’s say a storm grounds our plane, causing us to miss two days of our vacation, or our grandkids come down with the flu three days before takeoff. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance should enable us to get refunds. Always pay attention to requirements. Most companies demand you purchase trip cancellation and interruption within 14 to 30 days of paying the initial deposit for your trip.
But what happens if, suddenly, we don’t want to travel? If a coronavirus surge in the states or the Caribbean scares us from traveling, do we get the money back that we paid for our vacation? No, trip cancellation and interruption insurance doesn’t cover fear. As long as Anguilla remains open to visitors, we’d forfeit the villa’s payment as well as any other nonrefundable fees.
“Cancel for any reason” insurance (CFAR), as the name suggests, covers other reasons you might cancel a trip — your new job doesn’t yet give you vacation days, you broke up with your fiancé so you no longer need the expensive honeymoon safari or you want to be in town to attend a close friend’s funeral. The bad news: These policies cost 40% to 50% more than other insurance and cover only about 75% of your costs.
We thought long and hard about purchasing the pricey “cancel for any reason” policy. Ultimately, we did. In a pandemic world, you never know what might happen, even though in June we’re hoping to be beachside, listening to the lapping waves and catching up with our family.
Long Bay Villas in Antigua offers lodgings suitable for family gatherings.
When You Go
Squaremouth compares nearly 100 travel insurance policies from more than 20 providers: www.squaremouth.com.
Long Bay Villas Anguilla consists of three stand-alone seaside properties. Two feature five bedrooms, and one has six bedrooms. Rates include Continental breakfast: www.long-bay-villas-anguilla.com.
For information on Anguilla: www.ivisitanguilla.com
What to Know When You Share a Vacation Rental
Creators Syndicate||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Babies to 2 Year-Olds, Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, College Age & Adult, Family Travel Tips, Featured News, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Multigenerational, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, Rent a House, Condo, Villa, Teens Ages 13-17, Tweens Ages 10-12It looked so good on paper — a week in a Caribbean villa with my two sisters, their children and mine. By sharing, we cut costs, gained more space than a hotel room and added such luxuries as a private pool. The rental house in Jamaica, our first villa rental, gave us time to reconnect instead of merely catching up between the turkey and apple pie at family gatherings. From the grade-schooler to the 20-somethings, the cousins bonded.
Over Scrabble on the veranda we laughed at anecdotes about Grandma Ray, who rationed french fries for svelte Aunt Ellie every Sunday because Ray told Ellie her bottom would grow too big. My nephew spoke about the difficulties and triumphs of teaching middle school, and my niece shared her joy at starting work at a New York City magazine. My son helped his cousins hone their golf strokes and taught his aunts tennis serves. My daughter perfected her backstroke, learning tips from her big cousins who spent summers as lifeguards.
My sisters and I agreed to split the house, rental car and food costs in thirds. Our hillside villa overlooked the turquoise sea and white sands of a resort where we had guest privileges. The villa’s staff cooked and cleaned, freeing us from chores. What could go wrong?
It turns out that even in the most picturesque settings, negative family patterns can pounce, clawing away at closeness.
Alas, our villa lacked enough bedrooms and bathrooms, causing me to bunk with my middle sister Rose (name changed to protect the guilty), just as we had growing up. Like then, she shoved my clothing and books into a corner in the closet, tossed her things all over “my side” and monopolized the bathroom. She also thought nothing of coming in at 1:30 a.m. after dancing at clubs, turning on the lights and talking so she could “wind down.” After a few nights, I found quiet and the evening stars by bedding down on the veranda.
Write it in blood: A rental property must come with sufficient bedrooms and baths to provide a sanctuary for the adults.
One day we packed into the van and drove from Montego Bay to Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios. Linking arms with the other tourists, we climbed the slippery rocks, getting doused by sprays and giggling. The next day, Joy (name changed), the oldest, commandeered the van to go shopping with Rose without telling me, leaving me scrambling for cabs to ferry six people to the beach and back.
Family rule two: Decide ahead of time how to share the rental vehicle. Not even sisters want to do everything together. Dedicate certain days for group exploration and other days for individual forays.
As the organizer, I found the rental, negotiated with the manager, informed my sisters and paid the upfront money. You know what’s coming. At the last night’s financial reckoning, recently divorced Rose refused to pay her share, arguing that we should cover her costs since Joy and I had husbands. After much talk, Rose plunked down about 25% of her bill, Joy added 20% to her payment, and as the family clean-up person and the contract signer, I paid the rest.
Family rule three: “Trust, but verify,” as Ronald Reagan said, is a good idea. Before the trip, ask each group to place their share of the fees in a vacation account managed by the trip organizer. See any hesitation as a warning of trouble ahead.
Despite the sister issues, I cherish the good moments and becoming closer to my niece and nephews. My children and I liked the privacy and pampering afforded by a rental home. Since our Jamaica trip we’ve booked many other properties — all vacations without my sisters.
A villa in Otago, South Island, New Zealand, provides a perfect spot for a family to gather.
When You Go
Popular vacation rental companies include:
Among the biggest vacation home rental companies in the world, HomeToGo compares more than 18 million vacation homes from 2,000 rental websites. Along with condos, homes and villas customers can find castles, boats, hostels and other lodgings: www.hometogo.com.
VRBO, part of Expedia Group, has been operating for 25 years. VRBO represents more than 2 million homes worldwide. Listings contain ratings and reviews, virtual tours and trip boards that allow groups to comment on the pros and cons of lodgings: www.vrbo.com.
Villas of Distinction vets each of its 4,000 properties in some 50 destinations, ensuring that the units maintain high cleanliness standards and feature modern amenities. Locations include Europe, the Caribbean, Central American and the United States. Customer service representatives are available 24/7: www.villasofdistinction.com.
Instead of a hotel for a Texas holiday, a dockside home in Galveston can serve as a family’s base of operations.