Car Trip Survival Kit
We polled staff and site visitors to compile a list of the top 30 health, safety, and entertainment items guaranteed to keep road trip travelers -- from infants to adolescents -- in their seats. So, without breaking the bank or loading down parents with a lot of excess gear, here's a Car Trip Survival Kit any parent can assemble, probably from gear you already own. For Parents To Carry and...
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Disneyland Hotels And Resorts
Three fun family hotels are located within the Disneyland Resort theme park complex in Anaheim, California. Although they may charge more than some local chains, guests receive privileges such as one-hour early admission to both Disneyland and the Disney California Adventure Park (early entry to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is not available at this time); special breakfast opportunities...
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Santa Cruz, California – From Surfing To Redwoods
From playing on the "SC" Boardwalk in summer to apple picking in the fall, some of the best family vacations south of San Francisco happen when you do Santa Cruz with kids. When most people think of excursions from San Francisco, their compass points north toward the wine valleys of Napa, the rocky coast north from Bolinas, the stark hills and pine forests of Sonoma. But turn around, and the first...
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Rome, Italy Hotels
When in Rome, you'd prefer to do as the Romans do, and have a nice villa with extra bedrooms available for your family visit. But Italy's capital can seem unwelcoming if you're trying to find a family-friendly hotel room large enough to lay several sleepy heads. It is expensive and challenging to find accommodations that sleep more than two people; connecting rooms are rare as well. So, here are our...
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50 Tips For Car Trips
Here's our pick of the top 50 tried n' true road trip tips, culled from families who've logged enough road miles to circumnavigate the globe. Whether you're driving to the local mall or across the sands to Timbuktu, there's bound to be a tip for soothing the kids that you haven't thought of! Prepare the Car & Family Before Departure 1. Make sure...
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Sargassum Seaweed Attacking Our Beaches
According to recent media accounts, an influx of the disruptive and hated-by-brides seaweed known as sargassum has washed up around the Caribbean and Atlantic beaches for summer 2019. I first lived through it in 2015 on a trip to Mexico's east coast, embedded with the troops fighting the onslaught of seaweed. It came back with force in the summer of 2018 (1,000 square miles of seaweed)...
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Disney Springs Discount Orlando Rates
It's about time to finally take the family to Walt Disney World, and booking one of the seven value Disney Springs Hotels lets you take advantage of specials for stays almost all year long. Bargain watchers take note: these hotels (in the commercial area formerly known as Downtown Disney) are closest to the parks without being Disney managed, offer free shuttles every 30 minutes so...
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Cheyenne Wyoming Welcomes Families
Cheyenne, Wyoming describes itself as the place to "come live the legend" and during the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days -- one of the world's largest rodeos -- those legendary days of the Wild West really do come to life. At any time of year, though, families can appreciate Cheyenne's colorful...
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51 Great Family Summer Vacation Ideas
Two-thirds of leisure travelers plan to take vacations this summer, according to AAA Travel, with good reason. Summer is the traditional time for families to reconnect. Parents and grandparents strive to recreate favorite childhood memories and make new ones together with the youngest generation. Each year, we present 51 great summer vacation ideas in collaboration with our partners at
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This Summer Will Save The Universe For Star Wars Fans
Start the countdown to May 31 if you’re headed to California, or August 29 if Florida is a stopover on the way to a galaxy far, far away. In a surprise announcement at The Walt Disney Company shareholders meeting March 7, 2019, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revealed the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening dates. Rey, Finn, BB-8 & Friends Land at Disney Both...
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Teen Bloggers Compete for Family Travel Forum Travel Writing Scholarships
Media Alert: 2019 FTF Scholarship will earn Talented Teen Bloggers up to $1,000. Students Explore the Teen Travel Experience in 13th Annual Merit Competition for College Grants (New York, NY- May 1, 2019) Teen bloggers are welcome to apply for the 2019 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship hosted by Family Travel Forum, the award-winning vacation planning...
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11 Driving Tips for Easier Road Trips
Family roadtrips, whether over busy holidays like spring break, the height of summer or for end-of-year festivities, can be made easier with preparation and these handy road trip tips. When it comes to travel, if things can go wrong, they usually do. Do we agree that few things spoil a pleasant journey like car trouble, major congestion, unexpected toll roads or needless fines? What about...
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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 in 34 countries, Allianz Global Assistance is a leading insurance and assistance company that provides...
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Our Favorite Vacation Deals and Booking Sites
We are often asked how to save money planning a vacation, so we are sharing our favorite sites for discount travel booking. We really do use them all. You can click on any of these site ads, search for your needs and pay for your bookings through them, knowing they are trustworthy. Through our affiliate relationship with them, we will get a small commission payment. Our commission doesn't...
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Unaccompanied Minors – Our Most Vulnerable Passengers
Smooth out the vacation planning hassles when kids fly solo as unaccompanied minors with these travel tips. Especially in summer, kids are off, on their own, to see the Wizard, to visit grandma, or to spend quality time with a divorced parent who's moved to a Caribbean isle to find himself... While each year there's at least one highly publicized mishap in the transport of minors (one year an...
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Adventures By Disney AmaWaterways River Cruises
The Adventures by Disney tour company and AmaWaterways are bringing pixie dust to European river cruises. Family-oriented, luxury river cruises have Disney-trained Adventure Guides, engaging activities for a variety of ages, behind-the-scenes tours and after-hours cultural experiences at Europe's most popular ports. The trips are all-inclusive, too, so there are no surprises when it comes to...
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Las Vegas, Nevada Attractions
We'll roll the dice on this and guarantee fun on your next Nevada vacation -- if you pack our age-appropriate rundown of the best attractions for kids, teens and families in adult-oriented Las Vegas. Great Fun for the Kids (Toddler to Age 8) Circus Circus Adventuredome 2880 Las...
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Gazillion Bubble Show is Back in Town!
It's survived and flourished through those painful tween years, and now a great kids show -- Gazillion Bubble Show -- is celebrating its 13th birthday as one of New York's best value live theatre experiences. It’s hard to believe that it was 2007, when performer Fan Yang brought his unique brand of bubble artistry to New York City for a limited run. Since then, big and small and...
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The Very Best Spring Break Vacation Ideas
Spring break is our favorite time to get away with the family, an ideal time to travel affordably between the pricey winter holidays and crowded summer months. Why is spring break such a wonderful escape? Maybe because you’ve been working so hard all year. Maybe because you get to feel the sun on your shoulders after being cold for months. Or maybe because you get to spend a week making great...
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Washington DC Hotels
Washington DC has approximately 132 hotels with 31,673 hotel rooms, (DC Press - 2019) ranging from economical chains to 5-star blowouts frequented by presidents and kings from the world over. The list below represents our favorites for adults traveling with school-age or older children because we know, with so many DC...
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The King of Tupelo, Mississippi
I recently overheard two guys who'd scaled Kilimanjaro, run Class VI rapids on the New River, and rested their heads on the most expensive pillows in Paris agree that, of all their travel journalism adventures, none was as much fun as the Tupelo Elvis Festival in Mississippi. Turns out Tupelo is one of the best places on earth. From my research, Elvis Presley fans who have been...
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The Baby B’Air Infant Vest For Lap Children
Just because the airplane doesn't give your little ones their own chair, doesn't mean they can't buckle up in a Baby B'Air designed Flight Travel Harness. If you've read our 8 Must Know Tips for Infant and Toddler Airplane Travel you know we are serious about in-flight safety. That's why we love this product. The...
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San Francisco, California Hotels
With so many lodging options and a plethora of unattended rentals, choosing the right hotel -- with a good staff and a convenient neighborhood -- can make your visit to San Francisco, California less stressful. This great walking city full of hills will tire everyone out, so prioritize your attractions, choose...
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Celebrate First Night On New Years
Archaeologists believe the Babylonians were the first civilization to celebrate the New Year, with an 11-day holiday tied to the vernal (spring) equinox starting with a first-night festivity. Sometime during the Roman era, New Year's was set as January 1st, a custom that was adopted in the Middle Ages by many Western countries. For millions who equate New Year's Eve with a party, however, that date...
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This Year’s Best Ski And Snow Family Vacations
Winter is a great time to get outdoors with the kids, whether it's a family ski and snowboarding vacation at one of North America’s top mountain resorts, snowmobiling or snow shoeing on local trails, fun in the snow on a tubing run or seeing wildlife at a national park. Not only is it healthy to take some vacation days and get the whole family away from their screens; it’s also easy to find...
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Car Rentals: Child Safety Not Included
One would think that at any car rental agency, child seats would be available without much fuss. Think again; our report just may convince you that the only safe thing to do is bring your own. According to Consumer Reports, a number of the major agencies won’t unconditionally guarantee child seat availability. Rates also change depending on location. While they typically run $10-$15...
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Bend, Oregon For High Desert Adventure Vacations
Bend is the focal point in central Oregon for active lifestyles and outdoor adventures, with sun all over, snow fun at Mt. Bachelor and recreation for all ages and athletic abilities. Nestled at the base of the picturesque Cascade Mountains, the resort communities of Bend, Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver, Oregon offer a spectacular year-round setting for outdoor recreation. Each has a lot to offer...
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6 Well Designed Holiday Presents to Delight Travelers
As more of us adopt an active lifestyle, brands that once catered only to backpackers and extreme athletes are rolling out high-performance products for everyday use. That they’re designed with portability, weight, style and functionality makes them ideal for travel, too. Here’s a look at seven items to surprise and delight the travelers in your life. Safety First Means Helmet: 174Hudson...
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Required Documents For Travel With Minors
Solo Parents, Grandparents and Guardians can satisfy legal requirements before crossing international borders with minor children by using these Permission to Travel Letter and Children's Consent forms. The Family Travel Forum community has learned the hard way that you need this paperwork: in the special FTF report “
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8 Ways Travel Alerts Should Impact Your Vacation
Frightening travel alerts, amplified by the 24-hour news cycle and lots of genuinely bad news, have become a daily occurrence… and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Although terror incidents, strikes, swarms of refugees, Zika and extreme politics have affected travelers the past few years, these crises usually don’t deter young parents from traveling the world with their children. But...
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Skiing On A Budget
Mountainside hostels, many private inns and Airbnbs invite families to enjoy snow sports in cheap, comfortable, spotless and private facilities at new style ski hostels. Hostelling has come a long way from your youthful backpacking days; in fact, many refer to young travelers sporting rolling suitcases, iPhones and tablets as "flashpackers" because of their aversion to truly spartan accommodations....
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France Skiing Hostel Style – Six Nights Room, Board from 248 Euros
In a special promotion only a youth hostel could afford, the Serre Chevalier Hostel in the village of Bez, southern French Alps near the Italian border, is welcoming Hostelling International members with a top value full-pension package. The hostel, a recently renovated collection of three...
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Family Road Trip USA: The Grand Canyon From Phoenix To Las Vegas
This great American family road trip, the Grand Canyon road trip, takes you through Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada past red rocks, blue skies and desert on the way to the remarkable Grand Canyon. Passing through and around canyons, deserts, lakes, mountains, ruins and cacti forests, a family road trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas will...
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A Bethlehem, PA Christmas for a Holiday Wonderland
While some of you may hear the name Bethlehem and picture mangers and farm animals, the revitalized former Steel Capital in eastern Pennsylvania has their own take on the Christmas season. Bethlehem, PA Christmas is a sight to behold and taken on with enormous civic pride, since 1937. Picture a Blast Furnace Light Show and expanded holiday programming running concurrently...
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Chill Out in Chile And Argentina
In the southern hemisphere, find snowsports in "summer" and specials for kids at Portillo, Valle Nevado and Bariloche -- top family ski resorts in Chile and Argentina. No matter how avid the skiers in your family, you might not plan on hitting the slopes in August if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. Yet despite the summer heat above, winter skiers can find refuge on the flip side in the Southern...
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Top Holiday Lights Celebrations Across America
We love the holiday season, when bright lights, Christmas decorations, menorahs, colorfully wrapped gifts and imaginative retail displays illuminate cities and towns around the world, regardless of whether there is sun or snow outside. For many, ’tis the season to spend time with family, bake and decorate (see our
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James Bond Tricks and Tech in London
Over the last half century, James Bond has become a household name, synonymous with everything that is suave, smart, and sexy. With over 20 hit movies, a massive fan base, and some of the most beautiful machines to ever be caught in a secret agent car chase, London recognizes that “Bond, James Bond” is worthy of its very own, very large exhibit. Why not spend a weekend and embrace it? Bond...
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Christmas Tree Farms: Where and How to Harvest Your Own Tree
Family excursions make the holidays special, so why not take the kids to a Christmas tree farm this winter? We make it easy with this guide to the U-Pick Christmas Tree Farm nearest you. Did you grow up with a fake Christmas tree? According to the National Christmas Tree Association, about 20% of all...
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Top 10 National Parks For Family Vacations
Read "Where Families will Go in 2017" for other great family vacation ideas. Everyone agrees that the national parks are a treasury of great escapes from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Working with an annual budget over $3 billion and a crew of 22,000 to serve more than...
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How To Avoid Typical Travel Ripoffs
As smart as we all are about buying vacation packages online, it's even smarter to refresh our "scam" antennae every once in awhile about new ripoffs. Booking online seems so simple — you search for the lowest rates, you click, and you’re on your way. But being your own travel agent isn’t as easy as it might seem, according to ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports. The consumer...
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Award-Winning Vermont Resort Rolls Out Discount Ski Deals
There are some great winter discount packages coming out of Vermont as more snowflakes fall -- after a big snowy start to the season. At Smugglers Notch in the north country, the #1 Family Ski Resort in the Northeast according to Ski Magazine, they are snowmaking at a furious pace to keep three mountains fully open. Plus, the resort of the same name is offering a variety of packages and plenty...
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The Top Disney World Deluxe Resorts
Wondering which of the deluxe Walt Disney World properties is worth the big bucks? It largely depends on style and location; some are built around the Magic Kingdom, some are adjacent to the other theme parks. While the Magic Kingdom resorts are easily serviced by monorail, we urge families to pick the resort closest to their favorite park to minimize the walk/ride time. Take note that Disney’s Yacht...
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$100 Flights Give Lift to New York – Mexico City Tourism Partnership
Great news! American families now have more access with very affordable flights to one of the world’s great cities – Mexico City -- a destination packed with family activities and attractions. Viva Aerobus has just launched new air service between New York and Mexico City, nearly five years...
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Trends: Halal Tourism, By and For Muslims
Travel by Muslims, whether or not they are actively religious or following Islamic social laws, is a market segment known as Halal Tourism. (Halal means a code of dietary laws, similar to the kosher dietary rules followed by some Jews.) The travel industry, particularly in the Middle East and Arab world, has long recognized that even non-religious travelers have cultural preferences that can be...
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Aw Shucks! Autumn Adventures In A Corn Maze
We think visiting a farm -- one with a huge corn maze the kids can puzzle on -- is a great autumn family getaway and, according to the directory at Corn Mazes America, there are approximately 800 to choose from in the U.S. this season. If you can also pick apples, sit on a hay bale, buy some local produce, and bring home a big pumpkin at half the price it sells for in your home town, it's a value getaway...
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Coping With Gluten Free, Food Allergies And Special Diets At Theme Parks
Today, theme park restaurants are offering gluten-free, vegetarian, and food allergy sensitive menu choices for those with special diets, as well as anyone watching their weight. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 39.8% of American adults and 18.5% of American children were obese. Since more than 335 million Americans visit a theme park annually, it's great to know the standard...
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Haunted Houses, Halloween Ideas and Weekend Breaks
Halloween is an estimated $9 billion holiday -- with more than $300 million of that spent to dress up family pets -- so it's no wonder that kids have ghost stories and candy on their minds from the beginning of the school year. When the chill winds blow, a family Halloween weekend away at any of America's haunted houses for kids, an outing to a creepy place, or just a costume shopping spree may restore...
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Washington Apple Farms – U-Pick ‘Em And Enjoy
The late summer and early fall is apple picking time at the u-pick apple farms and pumpkin patches surrounding the city of Seattle. Did you know that Washington State is the country's Apple Capital? It's true, the state produces over a hundred million bushels of apples annually and, of course, is well known for its cherries as well. The best...
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Fall Festivals Heat Up The Caribbean
Put on your dancing shoes to get your groove on, because the Caribbean’s biggest cultural music festivals are heating up during the Fall season between the months of September and November. From Aruba to the Dominican Republic, Anguilla, Dominica or Jamaica to Mexico and all across the islands, prepare to be blown away by the biggest cultural events of the year. We find that...
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Fabulous Fall Vacations and Getaways
Harvest season. Kid-friendly festivals. Halloween. Let the fall fun begin! There’s no better time than autumn to get outdoors and get away whether you have a day, a weekend or a week for fall vacations. The climate is ideal; there is the right ratio of visitors to locals and grandparents can savor their preschoolers without the crowds. In many places, shoulder season prices make a fall getaway...
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Autumn Interludes and Fall Family Vacation Ideas
If a uniquely American and slightly eccentric fall festival in North Carolina,Texas, Wisconsin, Maine or Vermont is your idea of a fun fall getaway, read on. Autumn is the time to harvest some of the many free activities and discounted hotel rooms offered in small towns across America. Whether you combine a stay deal with
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Attractions
Take a closer look at spots tourists love and local families' favorites to discover don't-miss attractions when exploring Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the family. To make exploring easier, Philadelphia is a participant in CityPASS, a discount ticket program which lets visitors skip most main-entrance...
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Illinois Apple Farms – U-Pick ‘Em And Enjoy
Stick with us while we drive to countryside U-Pick apple farms in Rockford, Caledonia, Winnebago and other regions near Chicago, Illinois then head southwest across the state to Alton to check out the orchards near the Mississippi River and St. Louis, Missouri. In our family, a day...
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An Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World
Whether you’re a human or a toy, Walt Disney World in Orlando has designed a vacation all about you, with a little sprinkling of PIXAR dust. For humans, there are fresh attractions in all the parks, plus new amenities like extra shaded seating, more FastPasses to reduce waiting time for popular rides, and new water fountains and misters throughout the parks.
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Leaf Peeker’s Guide To America’s Fall Foliage
Fall foliage tours and affordable leaf peeping road trips are easy to plan if you use this How-To, Where-To foliage guide to see leaf colors changing en route. You'll probably find a fall festival at your destination to make it a fun day's outing, or enough events for an entire weekend getaway for the family. Where to see the leaves change Most of the US is open for autumn foliage...
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Beat the Heat on the Slopes of New Zealand
This summer, while some families are lying on beach blankets, others are making snow angels at Southern Hemisphere resorts that are celebrating "winter" with crisp ski deals. For example, June 2, 2018 -- the Queen's Birthday long weekend -- marked one of the earliest openings ever for Coronet Peak, New Zealand. This...
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Travel and Earn as an Airbnb Host
All families try to save money when planning vacations, yet few have thought about making money by listing their house on Airbnb while they’re away. Airbnb makes it simple to earn extra money by being a host and putting your extra space to work for you. You can share a spare room in your apartment,...
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Discover Vienna, Austria
Find museums, palaces, art, shops and even a beach in the heart of Europe, making Vienna a perfect destination for family travelers. Vienna, Austria's capitol city, is a bustling urban metropolis that entices visitors with its picturesque blend of the old and new. Families can explore the historic city center that was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, get their thrills at one of Vienna's...
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Dining is More Entertaining at Major Family Attractions
Sixty percent of millennial travelers – more than half of them young parents -- select their holiday destination based on food according to a recent survey done by Hotels.com. According to the report, a sizable number of travelers chose Paris (27%), Tokyo (23%) and Rome (22%), with additional top foodie cities including London, Barcelona, New York and Madrid. Fortunately, one company is making...
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More Great Summer Vacation Ideas
Will this summer be for mountain hikes and canoeing? Beaches and sandcastles? Shopping, shows and food truck tours? Perfecting your Spanish, celebrating our National Parks? Whatever your pleasure, we know you want to make the most of your time and travel budget. Start your summer vacation planning by sharing ideas and goals with the kids, then listen to theirs. Allow the kids a daily activities...
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