The Grumpy Garçon: A Family's First Dining Experience in Paris

We just returned from our spring break trip to France, visiting Paris and Provence. I have so many things to write about, but one experience keeps coming to mind. It was our first full day in Paris, so we wanted to see many of the famous monuments.

We spent a leisurely morning walking along the Seine from our Left Bank hotel to the Eiffel Tower, photographing famous sights along the way. We were a bit overwhelmed by the crowds & lines in the plaza beneath the Tower, as it was Easter weekend, one of the busiest times of the year. We decided to cross the Seine and find a quieter spot for lunch on the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Using our map as a guide, we headed up one of the quieter streets that led towards Place Charles de Gaulle. We saw a quiet café on the corner of Rue Monceau, were only a few tables were occupied. It looked like more of a local spot than a tourist hangout which was just what we wanted, and we took a seat outside to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. We appreciated the fact that this wasn’t going to be hectic & touristy, but also realized that we probably would not have the luxury of English translations on the menu, as we had seen in other restaurants. So we were a bit apprehensive at having to try out our limited French, especially when the sole waiter looked like the stereotype of the stern Frenchman who would have little patience for American tourists. And it was clear he did not speak much English (or at least wasn’t going to let us know that he did).

Fortunately, we knew enough French to recognize ham & cheese sandwiches & a few other items, including hot dogs which my fussy daughter figured was a safe choice. (We found throughout our trip that interpreting French menus wasn't too difficult, once you learned to recognize common dishes and the words for ham, beef, chicken, raw, smoked, etc.)

We placed our order and reviewed the map and our plan for the day while we waited. Three of our dishes arrived quickly, roasted chicken with side salad, and two open face grilled sandwiches with cheese bubbling on top. (And they all tasted as good as they looked.) But there was no sign of Katie's lunch. After setting the plates down, the waiter gave a us a quick nod as if to say “there you go” and then immediately turned and headed back inside. While Katie sat looking puzzled, the waiter stopped & pivoted to face her, shook his head, and made a gesture indicating she did not want her waist to get too large. Then he disappeared into the café. Before my daughter could get too flustered or upset, he reappeared with her plate of "frankfurters and frites," much to her relief.

After placing it with a flourish in front of her, he stepped back expectantly, as if waiting to see if we needed anything else. I noticed no condiments on the table, and realized I was going to have to figure out how to ask for ketchup (which, it turns out, is also "ketchup" in French). He just looked at us expressionless as we fumbled around a bit trying to explain what we needed & gestured pathetically, then with a sly grin pulled out the bottle he had hidden behind his back. We all had a good chuckle, including our “grumpy garçon.”

For help with planning your family's dream vacation, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Advisor, at suzette@family-treks.com

Family Vacation
Paris

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Travel Advisor

1) Be honest about your budget. If you really have no idea, a ballpark range is fine. It’s helpful to know if your idea of a reasonable vacation budget is $3000 or $10,000. And don’t give a low ball number assuming that your advisor is going to quote something higher. Trust me, a good travel advisor gets a thrill out of finding a great deal for their client. And if you really were willing to spend a bit more, you might have missed out on a deal on a better resort or cruise line.

2) Tell your advisor early on of any special needs, medical issues, or non-negotiable personal preferences. It’s a waste of time for everyone if your advisor has researched lots of options, only to find out that you absolutely will not stay a resort that won’t guarantee connecting rooms, or you must have a water slide.

3) Answer all questions promptly and thoroughly, especially when it involves traveler information such as birthdates, passport expiration dates, etc. If incomplete information is on a reservation (even a courtesy hold), and it has to be cancelled and rebooked, the price could be higher. And reply to phone calls and emails promptly. It’s very stressful for an advisor to wait for a client to call with credit card information when a reservation is hours away from expiring.

4) If you’re price shopping, be honest about it up front. A good advisor spends a lot of time talking with their clients, to find the best vacation at the best value, not just the cheapest price. But if you know where you want to go and simply want a comparison quote, an advisor may be willing to provide it if it doesn’t require a lot of research. If you send them on a wild goose chase only to book your trip on the internet, don’t plan on coming back to them for future assistance. You’ve made it clear you are not interested in a long term relationship. Travel advisors are also not inclined to ask for special favors from their contacts, such as room upgrades or VIP status, if a client has put them through the wringer to get the rock bottom price.


5.) Similarly, let them know if you are looking for an AAA rate or plan to use airline miles or hotel points. Generally a travel advisor will not be able to book these for you, or will charge separate fees. Quite often travel advisors have put together packages which have specially negotiated airfare and hotel rates, so you might be better off saving your points for another trip.

6) Ask for their advice, even if you are sure you want to stay at Hotel XYZ. A good travel advisor will want to know the reason for your choice. Maybe you are relying on advice from a friend who has a completely different travel style, or you read a biased article in a magazine. Travel advisors love clients who do a lot of research on a destination or resort, so that they start off well-informed. But be aware that your advisor probably has more accurate and unbiased information from their extensive insider network.

7) Don’t tell your advisor “Let me know if you see any great deals.” Unless you really want to be forwarded dozens of emails daily! I literally get hundreds of promotions each week, and unless I know a client is specifically interested in a particular destination or resort, I delete them. (And believe me, there are none that say “Hey everyone, we’re giving our rooms away for free and also paying half your airfare!”) If you are solely going to plan your family vacation around price, then you probably aren’t the type of traveler who needs a travel advisor.

8) Tell your advisor about the trips you have loved most and least, and why. You would be surprised how much insight that gives us to your travel personality. It helps us match you to the right destination and resort for your next trip.

The most valuable piece of advice I can give: interview several travel advisors, and find one with whom you have a rapport and you can trust. And then stick with them. If you build a strong, long term relationship with a travel advisor, they will be able to create wonderful family vacations for you for many years to come.

Family Feeding Frenzy

When airlines quit serving meals, many travelers felt annoyed and inconvenienced. As a mother of two rapidly growing children, I was truly alarmed. How in the world was I going to keep my kids fed on long flights? Because as every parent knows, a hungry child is a an extremely grumpy child!

On vacation last summer, we faced one of the longest flights we have ever been on as a family: 7 hours nonstop from Puerto Rico to California. And my son, almost 13 yrs old, was an eating machine.



As my husband and I were packing up the night before our flight home, we surveyed the kitchen of our villa, wondering what to do with the sandwich supplies we had purchased with good intentions, but never got around to eating. We could certainly make sandwiches to take on the plane, but how were we going to carry them?

Then my husband had a brilliant idea. With the help of our son, he emptied the entire loaf of bread onto the counter and set up a sandwich-making assembly line. In no time they had a dozen ham, turkey, and cheese sandwiches made, which he then restacked and inserted back into the bread bag. We tied it up, stuck it in the refrigerator, and it was ready to go the next morning.


As we walked through the airport with our “loaf” I am sure we got a few stares. (And we did receive a bit of extra attention from a sniffer dog at San Juan International Airport. The DEA agent actually had to encourage him to move away from us.) But I bet some of those looks turned to envy as we pulled what seemed to be an endless supply of sandwiches out of that bag throughout the flight.

We have a trip to France coming up in April, our first flight will be 10 hours long. So we are already talking about using this same strategy for keeping our kids full during the trip.

Do you have any tips for feeding your kids on long plane rides? What foods have you found pack well and keep kids full? Please post your comments here!

Top 10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do in Vancouver

This post is courtesy of Tourism Vancouver.

Vancouver is home to dozens of well-known visitor attractions, activities and landmarks. For visitors and locals that want to steer away from "typical" Vancouver experiences there are plenty of cool things to do that we bet you didn’t know about:

1. Feed, touch and get splashy with a beluga or dolphin during a behind-the-scenes animal encounter at the Vancouver Aquarium.

2. Pitch 'n putt into the twilight hours surrounded by giant cedars in Stanley Park.

3. Learn about Vancouver’s darker side with the Vancouver Police Museum’s "Sins of the City" walking tour. 4. Ride a tandem bike around the 8.8 kilometre Stanley Park seawall.

5. Sing your heart out at a real Japanese-style karaoke bar.

6. Embark on a self-guided culinary walking tour of Vancouver’s street food scene: sample pulled pork sandwiches, fried oyster po’ boys, steamed pork buns, chanterelle mushroom poutine and duck salad.

7. Zipline between mountains at top speeds of 80 kilometres per hour atop Grouse Mountain.

8. Learn how to master sword arts such as the rapier, side sword, sword and shield, and long sword at Academie Duello.

9. Sample three different types of locally handcrafted sake at Osake on Granville Island.

10. Staying at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver? Take one of their K9 Ambassador dogs for a walk (their names are Beau and Mavis).


Vancouver is a great destination for families in and of itself, but you can also visit before or after an Alaska cruise, or as part of a more extended British Columbia itinerary.

For more information, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Specialist at suzette@family-treks.com.

The Best Luxury Resort Deals for Families

Here are some great promotions for families offered by luxury resorts and hotels around the world. Some are available only for a limited time, but others can be booked year round (blackout dates may apply).

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Big Island of Hawaii
Second room 50% off through Dec. 23, 2011. A special note regarding this resort: Even their regular rates are a good value because they offer so many complimentary cultural activities, beach activities. And no charge for parking or internet access either!

Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
Virtuoso promotion through Dec 16: 4th night free, bottle of champagne $100 dining credit, upgrade subject to availability, and daily breakfast for up to 2 guests. A family-friendly resort with Kids Town, an extensive children's center complete with tree house, and a full roster of excursions, educational programming and kid friendly amenities.

The Goring, London
“Look Under the Pillow” rate of £525.00 per night for a family with up to 2 children 17 and under. Includes two rooms, full breakfast, cookie making with the pastry chef, non-alcoholic cocktail mixing in the bar, Nintendo Wii in the room, homemade cookies & milk at bedtime, bread bag for feeding the ducks, and a kids’ only competition. And of course, a special gift under your pillow! Available select dates Feb through Oct.

Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
Parents can book a luxurious Executive King Balcony room for themselves, and receive the connecting Superior Twin room with 2 double beds for the kids at 50% off. Includes Virtuoso amenities of daily deluxe Breakfast for 2, $100 spa credit, welcome amenity and upgrade based on availability. This new hotel offers an outdoor infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, and complimentary internet.

Ritz Carlton Hotels, New York City
Exclusive for my clients! Stay at Central Park or Battery Park and receive a 3rd night free, full breakfast daily, and a $100 hotel credit. Central Park guests receive guaranteed upgrades in select room categories, and all Battery Park guests will be upgraded to Club Level.



Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami
Receive complimentary Club access when booking a suite from Jan 28- Feb 6 and from Feb 25th - March 16. A family friendly hotel on 12 acres of oceanfront property just 5 miles from downtown Miami, offering water sports, 11 tennis courts, a spa, and oceanfront Ritz Kids’ program.

The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
Virtuoso Exclusive Experience* is available April 21 - June 19, 2011
Welcome amenity, buffet breakfast for two daily, and free self parking. A family favorite in the upscale Wailea area that has been recently renovated. This all-suite resort features a lagoon pool with a waterslide, a wading pool, and an adult’s only pool. Oceanfront villas with private pools are also available.

Fairmont Southampton or Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Bermuda
Both resorts offering free second room and Explorers Kids Camp is free through April 30. Plus kids eat free from the restaurant children's menus.

Four Seasons Costa Rica
Fifth night free in rooms, and sixth & seventh night free in villas, through Dec 16. features ladybug & butterfly releases and fish feeding daily. Lots of on-site activities including bocce ball, volleyball, tennis, cycling, and more. A note to families regarding all Four Seasons resorts: The children's program is always complimentary, and exclusive Preferred Partner amenities for my clients include daily full American breakfast for two, upgrade based on availability, free internet in suites and one amenity of the hotel's choice (for Costa Rica, it's a $100 spa credit).

Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort, Riviera Maya
Virtuoso Exclusive Experience available through Pleasant Holidays May 1 - July 5 Includes upgrade upon arrival (if available), welcome bottle of tequila, 20% discount on spa services, roundtrip private airport transfers. A new all-inclusive resort which has been receiving rave reviews from travelers and agents for its spacious family suites, some with private plunge pools.

Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes, Orlando
Exclusive Harry Potter package including back stage tour of the Hogwarts Castle and early entrance to the theme park. The resort sits on 500 acres of a nature preserve and features ladybug & butterfly releases and fish feeding daily. Lots of on-site activities including bocce ball, volleyball, tennis, cycling, and more.

Hotel Esprit Saint Germain, Paris
Paris for Families offer including connecting Deluxe Rooms, daily breakfast; wine and French cheeses and breads upon arrival; complimentary mini bar in your room; and much more. Virtuoso rates from 700 EU per night for four people for travel March 1 - May 31, 2011.

For help in planning the family vacation of your dreams, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Advisor at suzette@family-treks.com.

Tips for Teaching Kids to Snorkel

One of my family’s favorite activities is snorkeling, and it’s not uncommon for us to spend several full days in the water when on vacation. My kids started snorkeling when they were very young, so I’d like to share a few tips from our experience.

Don’t forget the sunscreen! Nothing ruins a vacation faster than a nasty sunburn on the back of the legs, back, and shoulders because you didn’t use high SPF, waterproof sunscreen in those exposed locations.

Buy an inexpensive set of snorkel gear before your trip. Have the kids practice using the mask and snorkel in the bathtub or a swimming pool. You can also practice in the hotel pool before heading into the ocean. The first skill they need to master is breathing calmly through the mouthpiece while floating face down.

Pick calm water for your first outing, preferably a lagoon or protected bay. Waves can be intimidating, especially if your child is not a strong swimmer. (For extra safety, have your child wear a life vest, it does not interfere with snorkeling.) Ask a local dive shop for advice. The “best snorkeling spots” in a guidebook aren’t necessarily the easiest. And while you want to see some fish or coral in order to get your child excited, at this point you don’t need anything more exotic.

Make a game of it. In a pool or calm shallow area, make a path for them to follow out of rocks, bright toys that won’t float away, or shells. Encourage them to follow the path to the “treasure” without raising their head from the water. If your child is ready to try diving in snorkel gear, put rocks or pennies on the bottom of a pool for them to retrieve.

Book a guided snorkel tour later rather than earlier in your trip, after your child has time to practice and become comfortable with their gear. This is where having your own set really pays off, as you will save time having to re-adjust new gear for them, and you won’t have meltdowns because the tour company’s gear “feels funny.” (Parents of sensitive kids know what I am talking about. My 13 yr old STILL only tolerates one particular brand of socks.)

Don’t book an open water excursion. It’s can be intimidating even for an adult to jump off a boat and have to tread water while adjusting their mask. And as we learned on our trip to Puerto Rico this summer, it’s even more difficult to get in & out of a kayak in open water! Find a boat trip that lets you off on a beach or anchors in shallow water. If you have any doubts, call the tour company to get more information. Also ask if they have a snorkel raft/kickboard with a window as a backup plan in case your child gets fearful using the mask.

Buy a disposable water camera (I've found inexpensive ones at Wal-Mart). Though my daughter has years of experience snorkeling, at times we have been in situations which frightened her, such as a sudden downpour during our aforementioned kayak trip. But when I pointed out fish or pretty coral formations, she became so engrossed in taking pictures she completely forgot her fears. In fact, she pushed me out of the way to get a better shot!

Stay in touch, literally. While snorkeling, it’s hard to see people directly in front or behind. My daughter and I hold hands so we can both relax knowing that we won't get separated. And nothing is sweeter than holding hands with my little girl as we float silently through a water wonderland.

For help with planning the perfect vacation for your family, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Advisor, at suzette@family-treks.com.

Las Casitas Village Review (Puerto Rico)

In June we spent 8 nights in Puerto Rico at Las Casitas Village at El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa. With a 13 yr old boy and 10 yr old girl, we need more spacious accommodations when traveling. So when reviewing hotel options for this trip, it was obvious that a villa at Las Casitas was going to be the ideal choice.

(NOTE: These pictures do not do the island justice. A low pressure system which turned into Hurricane Alex after our departure was parked over the island, causing rain & clouds.)

When we checked in, our expectations were exceeded as our casita was absolutely HUGE! It was 1800 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 3 full baths, a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and separate dining area. The master bedroom had a king bed, lots of closet space, and opened to a balcony with table & chairs. The kids’ room had two queen beds and a large dresser, plenty of space to store their clothes. Their bathroom was smaller but had 2 sinks and a tub/shower combo. The living room also had a sofa bed so it could have easily accommodated two more people.

Guests of Las Casitas can use all of the facilities of El Conquistador, but the privileges are not reciprocal, so we always felt like we were members of an exclusive club. Because they are perched on a bluff, both resorts offer beautiful views of the ocean and other islands in the distance. I would highly recommend booking an ocean view casita, as the views were gorgeous. We could see St. Thomas from our balcony on a clear day.

The walk from Las Casitas Village to the main hotel was quite long and involved many steps, so those who are mobility-challenged might find getting around difficult. But there is a shuttle service between the resorts as well, and if it was raining, they would drop you off as close to your casita as possible. I have to admit, I was at first at bit dismayed to see how far we had to walk, but I quickly got over that. It was enjoyable because of the lush landscaping, and the kids could look for geckos and lizards along the way. I also appreciated the extra exercise after indulging in treats all day.

A funicular, or tram, runs from the resort down to the marina, where there were more shops & restaurants, a small water park (additional fee), and a ferry to the resort’s private island. The ferry ride was only 10 min, and it was nice to have exclusive use of a beach, so we didn’t see this as a huge inconvenience. There is also a very nice public beach a few minutes’ drive away.

As villa guests, we had the option of eating at the main hotel buffet, but more often we chose to eat at the small outdoor dining area at Las Casitas. It was rarely crowded and service was more personal, but we had the same buffet and cook to order options. There was a small café next door to the infinity pool, but most dining was at El Conquistador, and there was quite a large selection from casual diners and poolside pizza to four gourmet restaurants.

The casitas are ideal for families traveling together, because of the extra space and conveniences of home. But they are also grouped in courtyards so several casitas share their own “private” pool & hot tub - an ideal setup for a larger group of travelers. For a change of scenery, or activities like pool volleyball, casita guests can also venture over to El Conquistador.

The large resort complex offers lots of options for all ages and interests, which makes it an excellent choice for family reunions, weddings, or corporate events. Activities on-site included tennis, golf, & scuba lesson, and excursions could be arranged through the activity center or the marina. On rainy days, movies & games were offered for kids, and for adults there was a small casino, plus live music in the lobby in the evening. We really enjoyed having the many activities of El Conquistador available to us at the, but being able to retreat to our quiet oasis at Las Casitas when we needed some downtime.

The resort is located about 1 hour from of San Juan, in a location convenient for enjoying the many outdoor activities for which Puerto Rico is known. You can read about those in one of my earlier posts.

For more information about planning the family vacation of your dreams, contact Suzette at suzette@family-treks.com.