Are You Surviving the School Holidays?
Christmas is now over for another year and the worlds icon buildings including our own Sydney Harbour Bridge have been lit up to celebrate the beginning of another year so now is the time to tell the world about your best/worst/funniest family holiday experience. Having just spent 2 weeks with our 2 year old granddaughter Emily at Nanna and Poppy’s house we now appreciate how hard it is to keep children busy over the long holiday period.
Travelling with children can be fun with research and speaking to an expert. Travel With Kidz has been specialising in family travel for the past 16 years.
Here is our list of top ten things to do with the kids before they grow up:
1) Climb the steps of Angkor Wat Cambodia and view history engraved on the walls.
2) Sit with indigenous Australians at Ayers Rock and learn the art of dot painting.
3) Learn to ski and make snowmen at Thredbo Village.
4) Play volleyball with Fijians on white sand beaches.
5) Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, Hawaii.
6) Walk down Broadway in New York and ride the lift to the top of the Empire State Building.
7) Visit the Pope’s home in Vatican City Rome. Climb the steps of St. Peters and view Rome from its peak.
8) Experience a magical Christmas under the Northern Lights with an unforgettable visit to Santa’s home town in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.
9) Introduce the kids to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland– it never fails to capture their imaginations.
10) Dance with the Masai in the Masi Mara National Park Kenya and watch lions under a tree on the great plains of the Mara.
As today’s children grow up faster and spend less time with their parents than ever before, many families are structuring holidays which offer not only a break from the routine but a learning experience for everyone.
After 34 years’ experience in the travel business – more than a third of that catering to the holiday needs of families – Wendy Buckley, Managing Director of Travel With Kidz, is well placed to comment on how family holidays are changing.
“Many time-poor families are no longer content with the traditional two-week annual holiday to the coast,” she said. “They are beginning to think ‘quality not quantity’ and are demanding more active and interesting breaks.”
“Young children’s brains are more open to learning and far more impressionable than adults,” she said. “Now is the time to spend quality time with your kids before they grow up.”
What is your favourite experience with your kids? Email wendy@travelwithkidz.com.au to post your blogs and experiences.
Happy 2012 from the Travel With Kidz family
Where’s TK? Win a Family Holiday in Phuket
Take TK on your Christmas holidays and be in with a chance to WIN 5 nights in Phuket for your family. TK has travelled the world and wants to come on your holiday. It’s so easy, take a picture with your kids holding TK over these holidays and share click here to enter and read the rules Good luck!
Take TK on your Christmas holiday and be in with a chance a family holiday to Phuket
It’s so easy! Here’s what you need to do:
- CLICK HERE to print the PDF image of Where’s TK?
- Take it on your holiday over December and January.
- Have the kids hold the picture of “where’s TK” in front of where you are ‘holidaying’, for example your local beach, the Gold Coast, Fiji, Vietnam or skiing in Whistler.
- Post on the Travel With Kidz Facebook wall. Go to the Photo Contest on our Facebook Page and upload your entry there.
- Have your friends and family vote for your photo on the Photo Competition tab.
Need help to enter? email wendy@travelwithkidz.com.au
THE PRIZE:
- Peoples’ Choice Winner - The photo with the most votes will WIN 5 nights in Phuket at the Evason Phuket & Bon Island for two adults and two kids.
- Judges’ Choice Winner – Travel With Kidz hamper filled with goodies
Who’s TK?
Travel With Kidz is delighted to introduce TK, the ‘ face ‘ behind fun and safe family travel.
Since 1995 when he was born, TK has been travelling, testing and reporting back on the best, safest and most fun ways to ’travel with kidz’.
TK’s experiences give families invaluable first-hand information on what to expect when they travel worldwide. From a simple beachside holiday through to an adventure in Africa, TK has done it all!
TK is also the voice and representative of the entire Travel With Kidz family, which has built relationships globally over many years with family-friendly hotels, tour operators, airlines, suppliers and companies. These relationships continue to grow and your family now has access to our years of experience through TK.
Family Ski Holidays America
A ski holiday brings the whole family together while being active during the day and snuggling up with a hot chocolate in front of an open fire at night. Family ski holidays include skiing, snowboarding, playing in the snow and for the non-skiers or tired legs in the family we ensure you have lots to do in the day including snowmobile tours, heli skiing, paragliding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and ice skating. Your Travel With Kidz accredited consultant will assist you with planning your personal family ski holiday though we have listed a taste of America family ski holidays.
Aspen Snowmass
Viceroy Snowmass
Snowmass Village is only seven miles from downtown Aspen in the heart of Snowmass Base Village. It is the second largest ski area in the US with the longest vertical rise. Viceroy Snowmass luxury resort offers ski-in/ski-out lodging in the heart of the village, restaurants and Generation V kids club. The hotel is ideally situated for families only minutes from Aspen/Snowmass Treehouse children’s center. Nannies are available upon arrival.
TWK exclusive value add: Book a minimum 7 nights at the Viceroy Hotel and Kids 12 years and under receive free breakfast with every paying adult. TWK price rating 4 star
Aspen
The Gant
Aspen is a winter playground of the finest skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling catering for the whole family. The Gant is located in the heart of downtown Aspen with privately owned self contained condominiums, heated pools and hot tubs. The Gant is renowned for delivering exceptional service including daily housekeeping, van transport and concierge. Nannies can be arranged.
Exclusive value add: Book a minimum 7 nights at The Gant and receive a kid friendly amenity kit upon arrival. 5 star price rating
Vail
Manor Vail Lodge – Vail
The largest ski resort in the US, Vail boasts three distinct areas of the mountain, each with their own features and fortes, including three terrain parks, seven bowls and 5,289 acres of free ride terrain. Manor Vail Lodge is just steps to the Golden Peak Base Area and Children’s Ski school. Our full service condominium property is perfect for families with complimentary hot buffet breakfast and features Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condos all equipped with kitchens, fireplace, and balcony. Amenities include two pools, four hot tubs, sauna, steam room, fitness facility, guest laundry, restaurant and lounge. A nanny can be arranged upon arrival.
TWK exclusive value add: stay 7 nights in a 1 or 2 bedroom condominium and receive a US100 food & beverage credit to be used within the lodge. One voucher per booking.
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel
With 164 trails, 3,668 vertical feet, and nearly 3,000 ski able acres, Steamboat’s 6 peaks are filled with world-class groomed cruisers, bumps, steeps, open meadows, legendary trees and Mavericks – North America’s longest super pipe. Steamboat’s kids’ programs are recognized as some of the top kids programs in the U.S. The Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel offers a variety of hotel rooms, one, two & three bedroom suites & luxurious penthouses. The hotel is located at the base of the mountain and only a short walk to the lifts and the many surrounding restaurants.
TWK exclusive value add: Kids Eat Free Program The Cabin Restaurant: Kids 5 and under eat free any time. Kids 6 to 12 eat free from the kids menu between 5:30 & 7:00 pm with each paying adult.
For more information find your nearest Travel With Kidz expert