South America Archives - My Family Travels
woman at laptop computer
Article
14 Travel Hacks You May Not Know For Planning A Bucket List Adventure

Make Bucket List dreams come true, and affordably, by using a few of my favorite travel hacks. Current research and a lifetime of travel experience taught me some new tricks to...

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Busy dad is rading and his girls playing in the aisle of an airplane.
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Shoes Off? Shoes On! The Latest Air Travel Tips To Ease Family Vacation Hassles

The Dept. of Homeland Security just announced the end of their shoes-off mandate, proclaiming the new policy will increase hospitality for travelers. Really? Given the...

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Family at airport security
Article
Required Documents And Travel Consent Letters For Travel With Minors

Whether you’re married and leaving a spouse behind to work; grandparents taking grandchildren on vacation; same sex couples with adopted children -- even a military family trying...

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Teen Travel Trends Report cover from 2015.
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Teen Travel Trends: A Look At Where And Why Teens Travel

Thank you for your interest in "Family Travel Forum Reports: Teen and Student Travel Trends." We have collected a lot of anonymized data on where teens travel and why they go....

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Group of skiers on the slopes at Portillo in Chile.
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Chill South American Ski Resorts in Chile And Argentina

Find snow sports in "summer" at top South American ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere. Long known to international elite athletes, the names Portillo, Valle...

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woman at laptop computer
Article
Best Sites for Vacation Packages – Top Travel Deals

We are often asked how to save money with vacation deals, so we are sharing our favorite sites for discount travel booking. As a network of frequent traveling parents, we do a...

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Dominica Carnival women in costumes
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Our 18 Favorite Mardi Gras Carnival Celebrations Outside New Orleans

Here are the top 18 places known among party-lovers and Catholics for superb Mardi Gras Carnival celebrations. The Mardi Gras or Carnival is such a popular and...

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Bus brings skiers and snowboarders to the slopes in Park City, Utah. Photo c. Visit Park City.
Article
12 Favorite Family Winter Getaways And Travel Deals

Sun or snow or stay close for your family winter getaways? Maybe your winter escape is that long-delayed trip to Orlando. Perhaps it's a cruise with extended family or experiencing...

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Rendering of an eVTOL air taxi developed by Eve Air Mobility. c. United Airlines
Article
Green Skies Ahead: Education Builds A Sustainable Aviation Industry

Sustainable aviation, technology, and customer education have joined forces to make seeing the world a less environmentally damaging activity. That’s because aviation is arguably...

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chlldren's play group
Article
Traveling With A Caregiver? Tips For Negotiating The Road With Mary Poppins

Need some help to negotiate a deal when traveling with a caregiver? If you're not sure how to arrange for your family's own Mary Poppins, read on for helpful advice.

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Road trip snacks are essential car trip accessories. Photo c. Ladislav Sturcell for unsplash.
Article
Car Trip Essentials And Survival Kit

We polled staff and site visitors to compile a list of the top 30 car trip essentials. Let's dive into the health, safety, and entertainment items guaranteed to keep road trip...

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Volunteers sort clothes at a clothes bank near to home to help others. Photo by Julia Cameron for pexels.
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Teen And Family Volunteer Vacation Opportunities

Family volunteer vacations, once known as voluntourism, are back in action as the global pandemic comes under control. From community service to building homes, environmental research...

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Adult points out a country in Europe on a huge outdoors globe to a young blond child.
Article
Predictability Is The Key to Successful Special Needs Travel

Predictability is the key to every family vacation’s success, not only for special needs travel. In researching

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Tina Fey stars in a Super Bowl ad for Booking.com and dreams about travel from her Miami villa.
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Traveling Tina Fey Rocks Super Bowl Ad For Booking.com

Did you tune in to watch the NFL’s biggest game, check out the Super Bowl ads, find Taylor Swift in the crowd or revel in Usher’s halftime show? If your house is like ours,...

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Diver free diving underwater off the island of Bali wtih a shark swimming above.
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How Health and Wellness Trends Impact Family Travelers

It’s hard to pick up a magazine or listen to a podcast without noticing how wellness trends impact family travelers. Personal wellness, now estimated to be a $2.2bn market worldwide,...

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Japanese silk ornaments decorate the Keio Plaza Hotel lobby for the Hina Matsuri Girls Doll Festival. Photo c. Keio Plaza
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Travel Without Leaving the Lobby: Immersive Hotels for Unforgettable Family Getaways

Immersive experiences, entertainment and technology all contribute to a new trend: immersive hotels. More than ever before, travelers want to be fully engaged in their next travel...

Read More    6 min read

Kids jump into the water with a Carnival cruise ship in the background at sea.
Article
5 Reasons To Feel Good About Family Cruising In 2024

It’s time to feel good about family cruising and gift everyone an unforgettable experience. After a swift recovery from the pandemic pause – cruise vacations are hotter than...

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Firefighter battles wildfire in field.
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Why Travel Insurance For Families Is Essential

We love family travel insurance and won't leave home without it. Our family has found it essential since the very first holiday spent battling storms and re-booking missed flights...

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Infographic shows Americans confident about travel at an all time high since 2009. Graphic c. Allianz Partners
Article
Americans Are Confident About Vacations Again, Traveling More

If you don’t believe families have regained a confident mindset about vacations and travel, just ask Ron Bozman. He’s one...

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Teens and group leader
Article
How To Volunteer On Vacation

Choosing to volunteer on vacation with so many options available can be a daunting task. This is especially true for families and teens...

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Parents and children in a step or blended family smile at camera.
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Step And Blended Family Vacations

Planning a family vacation with your step or blended family? We share resources and expert advice to make step and blended family vacations -- and any travel together -- a success.

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The Beko Survey asked households what they would do to support the environment. Graphic c. Beko
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Sustainable Cruise Brands Invest in Our Planet

The theme of Earth Day 2023 -- #investinourplanet – has prompted the Carnival Corporation cruise brands to share their investments in sustainable cruising.

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Indonesian rupiah and US dollars sitting on a straw mat with an offering of flowers piled on top.
Article
Make Or Break Spring Travel Plans – Hassle Free

It’s never too late to make (or break) Spring...

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14KY gold engagement ring with a purple spinel and champagne diamonds. Hand fabricated by Lindsey Scot Ernst
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Traveling With Jewelry To Avoid Damage And Theft

Traveling with jewelry may seem as simple as packing up your favorite pair of jeans or a nice outfit for dinner, but it is a little more complex than that.

Read More    6 min read

Flightroutes.com search results for all flights between Newark, NJ and Hong Kong Airports.
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Search And Compare Flights Made Easy

Did you know that travel planners visit an average of 6.5 different websites on different devices to search and compare flights? Two new websites, Directflights and flightroutes,...

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Native American style boat is rowed close to the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska as part of a Cunard Line adventure.
Article
What Is Wave Season and How Can You Take Advantage of It

Ready to ride during Wave Season? No, not a surf lesson. We’re talking about Wave Season, the period from January through March when you will find some of the...

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Gifts in brown paper boxes with string ribbons.
Article
Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers

Looking for a holiday gift guide for travelers? We know that people who love to travel want to encourage wanderlust in loved ones. There’s no better way than presenting them...

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Photographer in silhouette taking a picture of the mountains at dusk.
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Insider Tips on Taking the Best Photos on Your Vacation

Here are 10 helpful suggestions from travel writers and photographers for taking the best photos on your next vacation. The...

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Lone skier finds perfect powder at Valle Nevado in Chile. Photo c. Valle Nevado
Article
Skiing in South America at Valle Nevado

North American families have historically overlooked skiing in South America, as the ski season in countries like Chile begins when beach vacations tend to be top of mind.

Read More    4 min read

Man wearing mask talks into cellphone.
Article
Heads Up! Negative COVID-19 Test Among Revised Traveler Requirements for the U.S.

In revised traveler requirements, only non-citizen, non-immigrant travelers with proof of vaccination will be allowed to board an airplane for the United States.

Read More    4 min read

People wander through the light display during the annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lighting ceremony at Ethel M Chocolates
Article
Holiday Travel Plans Holding Strong Says New Survey

Surprise! Despite Biblical plagues swirling around the globe, families are holding strong to holiday travel plans. More than three quarters of residents recently surveyed in Spain...

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Travelers choose to distance themselves from others in the PUJ Airport departures lounge.
Article
The Latest Holiday Travel Tips and Trends for Winter 2021

Eager to travel this season and wondering about the latest holiday travel tips and hacks? We got you covered. There’s good...

Read More    6 min read

Airline pilots wear face masks in the cockpit of a United flight.
Article
This Will Make Flying Safer

A lot has been done to make flying safer since the age of coronavirus began. Yet, it's still a big topic as confidence in leisure air travel -- and crowds -- increase. U.S. passengers...

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Amtrak ticket buyer in facemask.
Article
Health & Safety Guidance for Holiday Travelers

I won't tell you not to be among the holiday travelers, because my family is, but I will share the health and safety guidance that we practice to keep everyone safe. We follow...

Read More    2 min read

Frustrated woman at computer
Article
How To Avoid Typical Travel Ripoffs

As smart as we all are about buying vacation packages online, it's important to refresh our scam antennae to avoid travel ripoffs.

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Girl with sun tan marks from face mask.
Article
Reopening Soon? Summer Travel in the Untied States

Look ahead to travel reopening during summer 2020 and you’ll know why we call it the Untied States of America. The...

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International Living report.
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Expats Living Abroad Are Sheltered During the Pandemic

Americans and other expats living abroad have been sheltered by their adopted communities during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, say correspondents for InternationalLiving.com,...

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5 tips to prevent spread of coronavirus
Article
How Coronavirus Will Affect Your Travel Plans

Updated Mar. 29, 2020. As Passover, Easter and summer vacations approach, families around the world are very concerned about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and its impact on...

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Bernina Express sightseeing train runs past scenic Lake Poschiavo in Switzerland.
Article
Top 25 Recommended Rail Journeys Worldwide

Do you enjoy the rumbling of the rails? Rail journeys combine the contemplation of slow overland travel with the pleasures of getting somewhere, letting you take environmentally-friendly...

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FlightsFrom.com route map.
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More Time for Family Fun with FlightsFrom.com

Forget boring layovers, airplanes without in-seat video screens and expensive airport food. With FlightsFrom.com it’s easy to find a non-stop flight that meets all of your requirements...

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FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship logo by FamilyTravelForum.com
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Family Travel Forum Announces Winners Of 2019 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship

(New York, NY – September 24, 2019) Family Travel Forum (FTF) and its travel industry partners congratulate the winners of the 2019 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship. Completing...

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AllergyEats popup tents
Article
11 Tips For Traveling and Coping with Food Allergies

For the millions of people with food allergies (and their families), traveling can be a source of tremendous anxiety. Dining in unfamiliar cities and restaurants -- which may or may not...

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High school students in class
Article
Sponsor Allianz Global Assistance Helps Student Travelers Every Day

We want to thank Allianz Global Assistance for their sponsorship of the annual FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship for 2019. Did you know they assist student travels every day, in many other ways? Operating...

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The thatch-roofed bar at the Sacha Lodge, Ecuador
Article
5 Green Hotels that Lure Families

If you're into responsible tourism - and who isn't these days? - check into ecolodges and green hotels in the Caribbean, Central and South America and even in the US, where families can have fun while...

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Tom's Cove on Chincoteague Bay, Virginia
Article
Great Grandparent Adventures with Road Scholar

Grandparents know the most valuable presents, the ones that never break and don’t need batteries, are lessons learned and memories made together.

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Tivoli Resort pool deck
Article
Tivoli, Brazil’s Family Eco-Resort and Spa

Tivoli Ecoresort Praia Do Forte, Bahia is a family-friendly paradise and recipient of TripAdvisor’s “Best for Families Award.”  Now that one can apply for a visa to Brazil on the internet, and LATAM...

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Chart of the economic impact of business travel on the U.S. economy prepared by the Global Business Travel Assocation. Graphic c. GBTA
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Making Travel Sustainable

Travel close to home, stay longer, and don’t go at all are key takeaways from ITB Berlin on how to make tourism sustainable.

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Article
Innocents Abroad: Students Traveling Alone

For teens and college students, the freedom of their first trip or study abroad program without parents can be a rush. Empower them to stay safe by sharing this advice. Parents often...

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Article
Inca Threads, A Peru Immersion

Andean weavers are widely respected for their handiwork and, in the rural Peruvian highland villages we explored around Cusco, the woven textile tradition remains much as it has for centuries. Time...

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Article
What are the Best Airfare Life Hacks?

What are some good ways to save on plane tickets and on air travel in general? Because of the emphasis on price competition, consumers may choose from a wide variety of air fares. It is easy...

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