Cruise Planning Part I: Why Cruise?

By Disney Family Travel

One thing you probably won’t hear from your kids when you are on a cruise: “Are We There Yet?”

The reason?

Many cruise lines, once considered havens for the “newlywed, nearly dead and overfed” have turned their attention toward families – and making sure yours has the best vacation ever is their top priority.

By adding more family- and kid-focused programs and expanding public areas around the ship, these floating resorts have reached out to a group that was once ignored.

Some ships now have cabins that come with bunk or pull down beds so the family can stay in one cabin, as well as split bathrooms where more people can get ready at the same time; some lines offer rotational dining where you get a chance to sample several restaurants, but stay with the same waitstaff, others have specialty restaurants like Johnny Rockets or Ben and Jerry’s; kids clubs, teen clubs and even family clubs are becoming more prevalent; and an entire staff of youth counselors has been added on many ships to cater specifically to the needs of younger cruisers.

While many families believe a cruise for four (or more) is too expensive, they might be surprised to learn how cost effective it can be to cruise.

Airport Travel Tips

Reducing Waiting Times by Marisol Boatwright

Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint. Before you go to the Airport

• Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport.

• Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only.

• Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.

• Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

• Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.

How to Expedite Your Passport Renewal

By William Manor   

There are three ways to expedite a passport renewal. The method you pick out will depend on how speedily you need to acquire your renewed passport and how much time you have to devote to the process. The details below will help guide you in making the decision on how best to expedite your passport renewal.

Apply for Expedited Service by Mail to the National Passport Processing Center

Download and complete the application form DS-82 to renew a passport. Put it in an envelope with your current passport, two photos and payment. The application fee and expediting fee can be made with one payment. Provide proof of your name change

Top Ten World Destinations

By World Travel Tips based on study by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)   

Let’s say you have some time off, a little extra cash, and a bug in your ear making you need to travel. Here is a review of the top countries to visit to help you build your own list of “Top Ten Destinations”.

If you were looking for fun and excitement, where would you want to travel? Would it be to smell African spices, European architecture, or South American rain forests that grab your attention? Would you even be able to choose between neighboring countries which all seem the same from the other side of the world? Here are the world’s top tourism destinations based on the World Tourism Organization:

1. France
2. Spain
3. United States
4. Italy
5. China

Travelling with Children

If you’re planning on taking a family trip that involves children, here are some tips to make sure that everybody enjoys themselves.  

If you’ve ever traveled with children, you’ve probably heard the dreaded “Are we there yet?” more than enough for one lifetime, but there are definitely things you can do to keep everyone occupied and happy. With a combination of advance planning and strategies while on your trip, you can avoid frustration, keep everyone busy, and improve the experience for the entire family. Planning in advance for kids should definitely include more than getting everything packed. Take a trip to a dollar store and buy a collection of small cheap toys, including travel games and things that you know the kids will like (avoid fighting by making sure you buy separate things for each child), then wrap each of them up individually. Once you’re on the plane or in the car, tell the kids that if they’re good they can have one every hour (make sure you have enough for the entire duration of the trip!),