Travelling with children made easy

1. Involve them in the planning process

Involve the children with the decisions such as you’re going to travel to. You can ask them to give you a list of suggestions (or have them draw you a picture). For older children 7+ you can present this decision making process as an opportunity to participate with family decisions as well as  learn about different cultures and places. Children are full of personality; an opportunity like this will present some interesting ideas.

2. Keep children entertained

Portable personal devices such as iPads ($519.99) or any other tablets ($199.97+) are a small price to pay for keeping children entertained. Tablets have the capability to play movies, music, games, books and can be used as an educational tool. Ensure you have some new apps downloaded before you head on your journey.

*Tip: A tablet will also help free up packing space. Tablets are small and thin, and can replace all the spaced big heavy novels and other personal devices such as laptops.

3.Take extra snacks

Hungry children make grumpy travel companions. Keep an array of snacks on hand to satisfy even the pickiest little one. 

4. Keep them involved

I came across a great tip in an article; it suggested giving your child a disposable camera and allowing them to take their own travel pictures. I love this tip. This is a great way for kids to create mental memories and photographed memories.

River Cruising in Europe

Experience Europe’s historical cities and travel with ease. Wake up in a new place every day. Aboard a river cruise and explore the world in comfort. River cruises offer all the luxuries of a 5 star hotel and offer spacious stateroom and unbeatable views. Sail aboard a River Cruise and travel to the heart of Europe on ancient waterways and wake up with history at your footsteps.  

With luxurious accommodations, exquisite excursions and exceptional services, rivers cruises are a great way to travel. Offering an intimate cruising experience, river cruises usually accommodate 120 to 260 guests.  Often on a river cruise you’ll dock in the heart of the city, allowing you to experience the city up close. Whether  you wish to take a tour with an expert guide or wonder at your own pace, history and adventure await you.  Itineraries are available for summer through winter 2012. Make your next vacation a memorable one, travel aboard a river cruise.

Tour the land of Peru

Dive into the ancient culture of the Incas and explore the majestic earths of Peru. Adventure into the lush Amazon rainforest, walk in the footsteps of the ancient Incas and savour the native foods. Whether you’re interested in nature, history, culture or food, Peru takes adventure to new heights. Never a dull moment, a tour to Peru makes a great way to travel the lands and experience the most of your trip. Whether you are a single traveller wanting to broaden your knowledge while making friends along the way, or travelling with a partner to a land with substance or taking your family on an adventure of a lifetime, there is a tour that fits.  

Surf the northern coast, climb the pyramids in Caral, explore the ancient temples and visit famous monuments.

photo by mikebaird on Flickr

Surf the Coast:

Huanchaco has always been a resort city however its popularity for surfing has only increased in the last decade. The beach is 560km long and while the Humbolt current makes the water cooler and skies cloudier it makes the perfect spot for serious surfers.

Las Pocitas is a rowdy surf hangout in Mancora, 1,200km north of Lima making is a popular destination. Las Pocitas Beach has big rocks that form different sizes of pools, great for those kite surfing and windsurfing enthusiasts.

Lobitos beach is approximately 1,000 km from Lima and has amazing long waves. The best time to surf these waters is from May to October.

photo by edgar asencios on Flickr

Explore the ruins:

Peru has the oldest officially recorded pyramid in the world, located in Caral, Peru. At least ten remnants of pyramids have been discovered on the coast of Peru. Archaeologists discover more pyramid complexes as they continue to dig. One of the major concentrations of pyramids in South America can be found outside the city of Sipan.Tucume Pyramids: There are 26 structures in total however most archaeologists work has focus on Huaca Larga, Huaca One and the U-shaped “Temple of the Sacred Stone”.Measuring 2,300 feet in length the Huaca Large (Long pyramid) is the longest adobe structure known to date. Long corridors and divided walls partitioned the complex into what researches suggest are ceremonial area in the north of the building and a cooking and manufacturing area in the south.Huaca One (pyramid one) rises 98 feet high. It is a stepped pyramid with a long, high, narrow access ramp that makes several right angle turns up the body of the pyramid. A series of rooms situated at different levels which are accessed by ramps and stairways stand atop the Huacas one. These rooms are thought to have been living quarters of the Lambayeque elite.The Lambayeque Valley leads straight to the “Temple of the Sacred Stone” and then on to Huaca Large. The temple is a small U-shaped structure found to the east of Huasca Large. It is said that pilgrims had to pass through the temple in order to enter the complex.

photo by Matito on Flickr

Manchu Picchu:

Located in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu was hidden from the outside world for hundreds of years. The Inca Trail is a popular trip for many travellers wanting to explore new cultures and are ready for a challenge. Travelling in the footsteps of the Incas will test your mind, body and spirit; however the challenge does not come without its rewards. Once you reach the “Sun Gate” and Machu Piccu is in your sights, you’ll see the climb was undeniably worth it.  

Get out and experience the luscious lands of Peru.

Lom Stave Church

One of the highlights of our trip to Norway last summer was visiting the town of Lom and the beautiful Lom Stave Church. Stave churches are medieval wooden churches constructed in the post and beam style. This old style of church is unique to the northwestern region of Europe and there are not many left.

Lom Stave Church is one of the most beautiful stave churches in Norway. Dating back to the mid-12th century, the church boasts the largest collection of paintings of any church in Norway. The oldest parts of the church were built in Romanesque-style and it was completely rebuilt to cruciform during the 1600s.

The area around Lom and the Stave Church is absolutely stunning. We rented a cabin with bunk beds for the kids, and where we could cook our own meals. There was lots of hiking around the area and trails for lovely walks.

Have you visited Norway? What was the highlight for you?


-Wendy

Vacation Packing Tips

When packing for a vacation, packing less is always best. Resist the temptation to pack your entire wardrobe and consider only bringing a carry-on.

Opting for a carry-on only is a great way to save money, time and potentially reduce stress. Some airlines now charge for checked baggage, so you avoid this extra cost by going with a carry-on. You also save time as you can walk right off the plane and into a new city, rather than having to wait to pick up your luggage. Further, you don't have to worry about any lost baggage!

When opting for carry-on only, don't forget to ensure that your liquids are the right sizes and properly packed.

Summer Flowers in the Baltics

One of my favourite things about traveling through the Baltics was the little markets that you find throughout Baltic cities along the side of the road. Some markets feature rows of beautiful flowers. Others sell fruit, vegetables and delicious treats, as well as local crafts and artwork. If you rent an apartment, a bouqet of tulips is a lovely way to make it feel a little more home-y.

-Wendy

An Ensemble Hosted Cruise Experience

Last year, my husband Bruce and I embarked on a seventeen day Ensemble hosted cruise that went from Singapore to Dubai. The journey was remarkable and we had a fabulous experience. One of the highlights of our cruise was the private tours offered by Ensemble. When traveling on an Ensemble hosted cruise, you get to enjoy a number of additional amenities such as private tours, or cocktail parties.

On our cruise, our favourite Ensemble amenity was the private excursion was in Kerala, India. We had a wonderful guide from the local university that had an extensive knowledge of the history and culture of Kerala. The guide took us to an art gallery in the old Jewish settlement in Kerala and we had a beautiful lunch. After lunch we enjoyed a private Kathakali performance - a classical Indian theatre form involving dance and drama.

The themes of Kathakali tend to be based on one of the two Indian epics. The performance we saw was based on the epic Ramayana.

We arrived early enough that we were able to watch the performers prepare for the performance by applying elaborate makeup. Overall, it was a fascinating experience that we would not have enjoyed had we not been on an Ensemble hosted cruise. I would highly recommend a hosted cruise to anyone who loves cruising.

-Wendy