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.
Dog Halloween costume parade packs in the pups in NYC
USA TODAY||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Northeast United States Destinations, United States DestinationsDogs costumed in their Halloween best will accompany their fancifully attired owners on parade in New York’s Tompkins Square Park on Oct. 26. One of the largest dog Halloween events in the USA, the East Village park last year saw more than 500 terriers, bulldogs, Labradors, pugs and lovable mutts put on the dog.
The “pawsitively” clever outfits earn rewards.
Winners in various categories can howl with pride about their Broadway show tickets and the cute four-footers can wag after receiving $50 gift certificates plus treats from Purina’s Beggin’; one of this year’s sponsors.
In past years, a golden retriever wearing antlers and a Santa suit pulled a sleigh, a corgi came as a bus stop, a West Highland terrier packed in the spinach for his Olive Oyl and Popeye pet parents, and small dogs dug deep into their inner superstars, appearing as John Lennon, Evel Knievel and even Michael Jackson, complete with one glittering silver bootie.
This year marks the 23rd annual fundraiser for the dog run located in the park. Admission is free. Attendees may purchase $5 raffle tickets for a mini-iPad.
The event is a way to share hilarious moments with pets and their owners,” says Garrett Rosso, volunteer manager of the dog park. “One year all the pugs came as Chinese take-out. Martha Stewart liked the costumes so much that she made them for her dogs.”
Shopping stats show that Martha’s one of the pack: Last year Americans spent $370 million on Halloween pet costumes, $70 million more than in 2011.
Details: Tompkins Square Dog Run, 500 E. 9th Street between avenues A and B, Tompkins Square Park. Noon to 4 pm.
Discover underwater wonders at Toronto’s new aquarium
USA TODAY||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Canada, City and Cultural Vacations, College Age & Adult, Family, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Multigenerational, Museums, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, Teens Ages 13-17, Trip Ideas, Tweens Ages 10-12Where can you see a 100-year-old lobster with claws the size of footballs, a 396-pound grouper and a three-inch seahorse?
They inhabit Toronto’s new Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. The largest such facility in Canada debuted Oct. 16. Its 135,000 square feet showcases 16,000 marine animals from around the world and more than 450 species in 1.5 million gallons of water.
In the Canadian Waters Gallery, view mega-lobsters, as well as largemouth bass and a giant Pacific octopus. A moving sidewalk takes you through the Dangerous Lagoon, a 315-foot clear tunnel, the largest in North America. Look up to see sandbar sharks zigzag above your head and come eye-ball to eye-ball with barracudas and sawfish.
In Planet Jellies, admire moon, spotted and upside-down jellies as they pulsate and float. In the Gallery learn about fragile ecosystems and delicate critters such as red lionfish, leafy sea dragons and seahorses as tiny as three inches. At the touch tanks and pools, pet bamboo sharks, Atlantic stingrays and horseshoe crabs.
Limit your wait at the popular facility by obtaining timed-entry tickets online. Tickets from $29.15 adults, $19.43 Youths and Seniors, $9.70 children ages three to five. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
It’s Becoming a Breeze to Rent Caribbean Villas
USA Today||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, Cruises & Resorts, More Lodging, Rent a House, Condo, VillaSometimes a hotel room just isn’t enough. For those in search of parlors and patios to gather a far-flung family or privacy in the form of their own moonlit pool, booking a villa, cottage or condo is the way to go.
“The biggest benefits are more space, more privacy and the convenience of having a kitchen,” says Jon Gray, senior vice president of HomeAway, a vacation rental company. Rentals often come at less cost than booking multiple hotel rooms.
“The average rental is $1,500 a week for a two-bedroom, two-bath property,” Gray says. “The average hotel room is 325 square feet, and the average vacation home is 1,850 square feet.”
Some villas, especially in the Caribbean, come with a butler who can serve you a daiquiri at sunset on your private deck and a cook who dishes up lobster curries for dinner.
But how to choose? Vacation rental marketplaces, such as FlipKey and HomeAway, function like digital bulletin boards, enabling owners and renters to meet. With huge inventories, these companies do not inspect units. The owner-written descriptions may be accurate or inflated. Typically, there’s no on-site management or local team to contact if something goes wrong.
Villa rental companies, such as WIMCO and Villas & Apartments Abroad, may provide concierge services and destination expertise, and they help match properties to clients’ personalities.
Here are some prime companies for vacation home rentals in the Caribbean:
FlipKey
FlipKey offers condos, cabins, houses and villas. Users can book about 40% of the lodgings online, and properties with the best combination of reviews, rates, photos and other factors rise to the top of their lists.
Properties: 240,000 listings in 12,000 destinations, including 15,000 in the Caribbean.
Filters: Search by deals, Internet availability, lodging type, bedrooms, price, pool, child-friendly.
Pros: Large inventory with user reviews. Pay through FlipKey Payments and receive free insurance up to $10,000 if the lodging proves to be significantly different from what’s described or is unavailable.
Cons: Lodgings not inspected. A booking fee may be required. No concierge service.
Sample fee in Jamaica: $400 a night for a three-bedroom, beachfront, staffed villa.
flipkey.com
VacationRentals
Also owned by HomeAway, it’s a smaller site that focuses on special offers and last-minute deals, which appear at the top of lists.
Properties: 35,000 in 70 countries; concentrated in Florida and the Caribbean.
Filters: Search by deals, last updated, bedrooms.
Pros: Easy to find deals.
Cons: No online booking. Lodgings not inspected. No concierge service.
Sample fee in Jamaica: $208-a-night average for a three-bedroom rental.
vacationrentals.com
Villas & Apartments Abroad
Owner Sylvia Jones has been advising clients on rentals for more than 40 years. She focuses on high-end lodgings, particularly those that can host multigenerational families and VIPs.
Properties: 400+ worldwide; Caribbean is a top destination.
Filters: Search by bedrooms, budget, golf, horseback riding, piano, gym and staff.
Pros: Service and ultra-luxury listings. Showcases some villas that can handle weddings.
Cons: Luxury villas are pricey.
Sample fee in Jamaica: $7,000 for seven nights in a five-bedroom villa in summer, staffed with a cook, butler and maid.
vaanyc.com, 212-213-6435
WIMCO Villas
WIMCO focuses on luxury villas, each of which has been viewed by a staff member. Arranges snorkel outings, boat charters, restaurant reservations and other services.
Properties: 1,200 villas, including 800 in the Caribbean.
Filters: Search by villa name, location, size, date, pool, child-friendly and more.
Pros: User-friendly site; 24/7 concierge service.
Cons: Luxury villas are pricey. Fewer user reviews than on mega-sites.
Sample fee in Jamaica: From $277 per bedroom, per night for a five-bedroom villa that can be rented as a three- or four-bedroom villa. Includes staff.
wimco.com, 800-449-1553
HomeAway and VRBO
With 775,000 properties in 171 countries, HomeAway Inc., which includes HomeAway, as well as VRBO and VacationRentals (see below), is the world’s largest online vacation rental marketplace. HomeAway and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), the older company, post essentially the same inventory, with some exceptions. VRBO has fewer filters to sort material. About 15% of HomeAway and VRBO’s inventory is bookable online. Instead of concierge services, the sites encourage renters to contact owners for local information. Rental insurance is available for a fee.
Properties: 575,000 in 139 countries. About 50% U.S. inventory; other concentrations in the Caribbean, Europe, South America, Asia.
Minimum stay: Varies by owner.
Filters: HomeAway: Search by price, bedrooms, accommodation type(apartment, condo, cabin, castle, villa, etc.), location (mountain, beach, skiing, golf, lake), luxury, budget, air conditioning, pool, child-friendly, wheelchair-accessible. VRBO has fewer options.
Pros: Useful filters narrow the huge inventory. Many user reviews.
Cons: Lodgings not inspected. A listing’s position is determined by the package purchased by the owner. No concierge service. A booking fee may be required in addition to the rental fee.
Sample fee in Jamaica: $176-per-night average for a two-bedroom rental, and $341-a-night average for a three-bedroom rental.
homeaway.com; vrbo.com
TIPS FOR RENTING A VILLA
Villa vacations come with many great bonuses but also some big bewares. Here are some tips to make your time away as sweet as the location.
* Use a reputable site or agency that’s been in business for awhile.
* Decide how much customer service you want. Vacation rental marketplaces don’t match you to a property and don’t arrange outings at the destination, but a villa rental agency will do both.
* Find out if a booking fee for the property you want is required. If an owner has purchased a low-cost posting plan with the vacation rental marketplace, then you may be required to pay the company an additional fee of about 5%-10% of the rental price.
* Get the rental dates, fees and rules in writing before you pay.
* Understand what is and isn’t included in the rental fee. Some properties may not come with sheets, towels or pots and pans, or the owners may charge extra for these items.
* Know the payment schedule and cancellation policy. Typically, a 30% deposit is required to hold a reservation and full payment with no refund is required 60 to 90 days before departure, although these rules vary by owner and by agency.
* Find out whom to contact at your destination in case of a problem, lock-out or an emergency.
* Pay online with a credit card or through a payment service such as PayPal. These provide more protection should something go wrong than does payment by personal check.
* Get suggestions about outings and area restaurants before departure from the owners or from the villa rental agency.
* Discuss how expenses for groceries, car rentals, outings and restaurant meals will be shared by your group. Never assume that everyone plans to share the costs equally and don’t leave home with this gang, even if they are your best friends or family, unless you are comfortable with the financial arrangements.