Hotel reviews

After you have decided that you are going on a family vacation, the next step is to decide where to go. The tourist industry offers many destinations that will welcome you but certainly there are better and there are worse choices. Since you have decided that you go on vacation with your children, it is clear that this must be the primary consideration in choosing the destination.

The most common travel mistake with children is Las Vegas or Reno in Nevada. While the tourism industries of both cities have been trying to make the towns into family vacation destinations (Las Vegas a bit more than Reno), these towns are not originally geared toward family.

There is very little in either city that is great for children, and anything that is can be easily replicated in other locations. Besides, if you’re planning on going to Las Vegas, you probably plan on doing at least a little gambling - which is something you should save for an adults- only vacation getaway.

The preferred choice for many parents with children is Disney theme parks. These parks are often the best choice for children over five and under twelve. Children over twelve may well still like it, too. Children under five, especially those under three, might find it difficult to spend the whole day there and later they will hardly remember their visit to Disney.

You should keep in mind, however, that Disney parks are an energetic vacation destination. These are not good places to go for a relaxing time, since they tend to be crowded, and there is always something new to go and see. With younger children, expect cranky afternoons.

For a more relaxed family vacation, you should think about a destination like Hawaii. While Hawaii is not geared specifically toward children, there are still plenty of things for you to do depending on which island you’re staying on.

Hawaii is the best place for a family vacation with children who are ten or older. The reason is that most entertainment activities are suitable for older children - for example Pearl Harbor. If you visit it and your children are too young, they will hardly figure out the significance of the place.

Another suggestion for a family vacation with children is cruise ships. When choosing to spend your vacation on a cruise ship, there are some important facts to consider.

First, it is most likely that you will share a cabin with your family and there won~t be enough room for everybody’s liking. But since there are so many things to do outside the cabin, it shouldn~t be too much of a problem to view the cabin as a sleeping spot rather than a permanent hang-out.

Also, cruise ships are not the ideal choice for teenagers.
Teenagers are in a difficult position because on one hand the majority of programs for children are targeted at children under twelve and on the other hand, teenagers are still not old enough to participate in entertainment for adults (casinos, lounges, etc.) But in any case there is the benefit that you will witness marvelous ocean views and will visit many different ports. Watch out for whales!

The conclusion is that choosing the destination for your family vacation is firmly up to you! You are the one who knows best what is interesting for your children and what is not. Take into account what is suitable for them and what is preferred by you, choose a destination or vacation package which offers the best combination of things which appeal to all of you — and you’re halfway to a great trip already.

Andrew Westforth is the owner and operator of FHT Travel
— a large and comprehensive collection of information on travel, including articles, resources and a free newsletter.

For great travel information, go to:
http://www.fhttravel.com

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We flew into Auckland on a clear Thrusday evening recently. After checking into our hotel we were eager to step outside and explore what the neighborhood looks like. We were in the central CBD district. Kermadec restaurant was recommended to us at the hotel. Having no other recommendations we proceeded to the waterfront to for sightseeing and for some good food.

The entrance to the restaurant is on the opposite side of the street to the restaurant and there is a street bridge to get you to the door. We could not figure out why it was this way. We were asked if we had reservations (which we didn’t). Our server Jurgen was awesome. He obviously has experience in how to treat his guests. He could explain each dish in detail and provide specific suggestions. On my request for a buttery fish, he suggested the Hapuka. It turned out to be amazingly soft and very tasty, beautifully prepared. The bread was wonderful as was the Seafood Chowder and the salads. Pure culinary delight. Need I to say that the restaurant has a view of the marina. With some wine and interesting conversation this proved to be an amazing evening. To top it off we chose a few petit fours and decaf coffee, both very pleasant of course. It was an unhurried evening.

The decor is marine with interesting carvings. Wood dominates the main room. Seemed like everyone was enjoying their time. For the entire experience, the check did not exceed $70USD. Having in mind that we had such excellent service, ambiance, salad, soups, entrees, desert, wine and coffee this is a great deal. Too bad we cannot get this kind of experience in the US for such a price. If you are in Auckland, go there now …

Michael Philip is one of the editors and contributors for the SeeTheGlobe.com web site. SeeTheGlobe.com is a travel information web site and community. Reviews of restaurants, hotels, airlines and other travel resources are provided from first hand accounts.

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Over the years I have planned many trips and far too much time on the phone nailing down details on hotels and airlines for large group trips. I had always wished that booking for groups could be as easy as booking for individuals using online search engines. Until now there simply was nothing available to accomplish this goal. Enter Groople.com, a group rate search engine for hotels, airfares, busses, trains, and cruises. I decided to take it for a spin and see if it was indeed the answer to my prayers.

For my first attempt at using Groople I chose a similar location and duration to a trip that I had run earlier in the year. I chose a set of dates one month away and tried a search for the Los Angeles area for a block of twenty rooms. When the search came back I was not surprised to find roughly the same price ranges as what I found when planning the previous trip. Many of the hotels came up without definate rates, instead offering to send me personalized quotes if I registered and gave up my credit card number. For the hotels with definate rates, there was an interesting mix of everything from higher end suites hotels down to mom and pop style small hotels. All offered photos and decent information about the hotel. Not a bad start to my research. Plus one for Groople.

Then I dug a little deeper. Travelocity and Groople have been partners in the online booking business since February of 2005. I did the same search on Travelocity (except only for one room) and sorted the results by name of hotel. In comparing the Travelocity list to the Groople list I was very surprised. For several hotels the Groople price was actually much higher than the same hotel on the same dates for Travelocity. For others, the price difference was only a dollar or two in Groople’s favor. If you are buying a large block of rooms there is no reason that you should have to pay more than a person buying one single. Minus one for Groople.

In the end, my impressions of Groople were a very mixed bag. It is an interesting service, one that in my opinion has been badly needed. But I can’t help but think that I would still get a better deal calling the individual hotel and negotiating a price over the phone. Plus, going directly to the hotel sales manager gives you a much better feel for a property, and it is always a good idea to build a relationship with your hotel sales manager, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area you are traveling to. Groople and Travelocity are great places to start when planning your next group trip, but in my opinion you should still consult the local hotels directly rather than booking your group online unless you happen to find an incredible deal or don’t want to make the extra effort.

About The Author

Chad Criswell is a well regarded high school music teacher. He has over a decade of experience planning and coordinating trips for school and non-profit groups of all sizes. He is a respected resource person for band, choir, and other activity groups across the country.

Mr. Criswell hosts a web site dedicated to music education topics for students, parents, and teachers located at http://www.musicedmagic.com.

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