We get it: broken toilets, gnarly weeds, setting baby mice free outside – to these reasons why it’s so nice to have a man around the house we can now add vacation planning.
Really? Really. Thanks to the forward-thinking team at Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2Suites by Hilton, we welcome a new resource for our men, the TravelMANager program found at MenCanPlanTravel.com.
So, if Dev Shah can plan a surprise weekend in Nashville for his girlfriend Rachel in “Master of None,” your man should be able to come up with a summer vacation idea.
On the site, travelers will find professional advice from six impressive advocates, original research, and trip itinerary suggestions to give men a participatory role in orchestrating the perfect family vacation or couple’s weekend.
Meet Noah Galloway, a TravelMANager
We had a chance to interview one of these very impressive men just before Father’s Day. Noah Galloway is veteran wounded in Iraq, a former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant, current “American Grit” mentor, and a motivational speaker. Yet none of these attributes define him as much as being a single dad of three, who really believes that travel “strengthens the family bond.”
“I have pretty funny kids,” he likes to say, “and it’s fun to travel with them.”
“When I’m home, I live in a neighborhood with a lot of other kids the same age as mine (girl of 6 years, and two boys, 8 and 11),” he explains. “When we travel, it’s family time… those moments at night when we get back to the room, it’s just us. Our close relationship comes from the time we spend together traveling.”
Single Dads Love Family Vacations
Noah’s not alone. According to a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research for Hilton, 89% of men felt traveling alone with their kids was one of the best ways to bond, and 89% were interested in recreating a trip they took with their fathers.
We wondered how Noah kept control of three kids in a hotel room – a challenge for both moms and dads we know. “We decide who’s laying in what bed, we watch TV, talk about what we’re going to do the next day,” he laughs. Dads take note – Noah is the first to admit that the woman in his life — his daughter — is the boss. “Her brothers and I know she’s the princess,” he sighs, “and she gets whatever she wants.”
Why Men Should be Travel MANagers
Noah is still in charge when it comes to travel planning, and recommends it to other men. In addition to his kids being excited about what Dad will come up with next, Noah says being a TravelMANager has other benefits. Women are happy to have someone else be responsible for the vacation planning; fathers can show kids that they’re listening to their needs, fathers learn about kids’ interests, and kids can learn more about their fathers. “As long as I put something in our plans that my daughter will enjoy, it’s ok,” he adds.
Noah’s Helpful Travel Planning Tips for Dads
Noah Galloway gave us a preview of some of the tips to be found on MenCanPlanTravel.com, especially as they apply to single fathers.
1. Pick a hotel with a pool. The kids are more than happy with that, and it’s a great place to connect with them at night.
2. Don’t think of it as a stressful trip. Look at it like ‘I will spend time in the pool and have fun and we can sit in the room and just talk.’ This is great time to get to know your kids better.
3. Kids need just as much quality time with their fathers as with mothers.
4. Fathers can stick to a budget. Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2Suites by Hilton have WiFi and breakfast included in rates, and enough space for all the kids.
Please visit MenCanPlanTravel.com to begin vacation planning (Yes! Women can use the site, in fact, it’s designed to be inclusive and support any one who’s not used to be the primary vacation planner.)
The site welcomes users’ tips and suggestions, as we do in the Comments Field below. Check out Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2Suites by Hilton to learn more about the ongoing discounts they offer to active military, their rewards for HiltonHonors members, the 25% off Weekend Rates special, and about “Operation Opportunity,” their initiative to hire 10,000 veterans in hotel operations.
Look forward to seeing you Dads by the pool!
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