I recently enjoyed a chat with Sally Jane, owner of Point Pleasant's beloved TravelSmiths and she gave me some great family friendly vacation suggestions to share with readers here on my blog.
Before we get to that-- I need to share. The hospitality at TravelSmiths is FIERCE! I came to our chat toddler in tow and was greeted with cold waters for me and an applesauce pouch and a box of toys to occupy my son. Immediately I knew that this is a business that enjoys and celebrates family-- making it no surprise that they have been helping local travelers for about 37 years! Everyone on the team is LOVELY and we felt so welcomed-- even with the fidgeting two year old who actually didn't even want to leave. Super unique for an office setting-- but gives you a taste of the people you are dealing with here!
Now to the goods. VACATION. My favorite thing to think about is vacations. I LOVE going to new places and can't wait to take my little boy everywhere and anywhere. I asked Sally Jane about some of her favorite destinations (in no particular order) for families with littles and here is the list she shared (along with some of my thoughts!).
Walt Disney World/ Disneyland/ Disney Cruises: Chatting with her team, they shared that even for the younger ones, the parks are built so well for that age group. No need to wait for potty-training before you go-- all parks are very toddler friendly! For something easier and a bit cheaper than a long trip in the parks, the Disney Cruises are a great option for family fun with the classic characters. This especially feels like a good fit if you aren't sure your little one will appreciate the rides yet.
The Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos: I've actually attended the resort in Turks for a wedding many years ago so I can 100% agree! These resorts are PERFECT for little families (or big ones!) looking for an all-inclusive island getaway. Fun, food, the beach and the pool are all steps away from your hotel room. You can't beat the convenience!
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruises: Great options for families who want to skip the plane ride and hop right on a ship from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne. After all-- plane rides can feel stressful when toting rambunctious toddlers and carry-ons. You get to your vacation vibe more quickly after a short trip to Bayonne and onto the ship you go!
The Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana: Great characters and lots of family friendly fun! This is a luxury property that is ALSO kid friendly. You'll get family activities AND a spa. Best of both worlds. This resort is part of the Karisma Hotel properties which are all really beautiful.
Club Med: Don't forget to explore this option. Club Med has TONS of property choices all over the world and cater to families of all sizes. There is even a built in baby-sitter program at some properties for ages 18 months and older. I don't think I would utilize that because strangers watching my kid would make me ridiculously anxious, but if it's for you-- awesome! Their website also shares that some properties have daily champagne service at 6pm and I'm a bubbles kinda gal so that sounds good to me!
Dreams Resorts. Lots of great locations including Greece and Spain! When traveling so far with a family to a place you have never been, having a resort that comes highly recommended is vital! These resorts are ALSO all inclusive. The pictures look like the stuff dreams are made of-- hence the title!
Aulani in Hawaii. This is a Disney property and carries RAVE reviews from anyone who has been. Lots of great family activities here including character meet and greets and ukulele lessons! Super fun way to experience Hawaiian culture with your family and still get a glimpse of that beloved mouse!
Looking for more local suggestions? Sally suggests Boston, The Catskills, Baltimore and Rocking Horse Ranch! She has clients that have had wonderful trips there. I also asked Sally Jane about the benefits of booking through an agency like hers. One of the coolest perks she showed me is their pocket travel app-- where TravelSmiths puts everything you need for your trip in one place in your phone. No hunting through email for confirmations-- it's all right there and organized. Super convenient for any traveler!
Other perks include someone who is booking you RELIABLE (that's the keyword here) transportation, helping you find a great travel insurance policy and assisting you with setting up any possibility of getting through security lines faster (think Global Entry, TSA Pre-check, mobile passport control, and knowing how to get into an airport's VIP line). After all-- lines and toddlers... not fun. Talking to Sally Jane, I was imagining how (not) fun it would be to be dealing with cancelled flights, changing reservations and finding new airport to hotel transfers on the fly with luggage, toddlers and a hangry husband. How absolutely glorious it must be to hand it off to someone else who will call you back with everything figured out lickety split. What a gift to traveling mamas everywhere! The other big bonus to using TravelSmiths would be leveraging their relationships! They know people at ALL of these properties and have known them for years. So when it comes to spontaneous upgrades, and extra special treatment from the staff, your chances for that bonus lovin' is WAY HIGHER as one of Sally Jane's peeps!
I really loved my time visiting TravelSmiths but I don't want you to take my word on their skills and knowledge. Drop in and see for yourself! Click HERE to send them an email, set-up an appointment, and spend some time chatting about one of the most fabulous topics there is to chat about-- VACATIONS!
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