Is Your Spy Glass Ready?

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When I’m traveling, I don’t like being a tourist, and I don’t usually enjoy typical touristy things like sightseeing. So, I always look for some fun, local things to do that a typical tourist wouldn’t find. While looking for these things in London, I found HintHunt, a fun family activity where you and a group of people have to work together to solve a mystery. If you’ve ever wanted to be a detective, this is the place for you. The basic idea of the game is this: you are locked inside a room and have sixty minutes to find a way. And no, the answer is not to unlock the door… well it is, but not with a simple key.

The room is filled with different items and locked boxes and drawers. You start by looking everywhere-- look behind things, turning them over, taking them apart and looking inside. Some discoveries might even give you a password for a safe or padlock!

            This is a unique activity that is not currently available in the US.  It is great for a family or a group of friends. You will all be working together! And, what better place to be a detective than the homeland of Sherlock Holmes!

HintHunt and ClueQuest are the same activities, located in Central London and are usually booked solid two or three weeks ahead, so make sure you book pretty early.

The timer is ON. Can YOU get out in 60 minutes??

Some Of Our Favorite All-Inclusive Family Resorts in the Caribbean

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Trip Advisor recently named Club Med Cancun Yucatan the Top Resort for Families in Mexico for 2014. The resort is located North of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and is ideal for vacationing with children and teens of all ages. The resort offers 374 rooms, 2 renovated restaurants and a new lounge and amphitheatre. This summer, a new Petit Club Med will provide enriching activities and adventures for children ages 2-3. New ocean front family accommodations sit just at the shore of pristine white sand beaches and provide privacy and comfort with personal terraces and separate rooms for children. Side note: the pool, restaurants, and beach directly centrally locate rooms starting with 3000’s and 4000’s series.

Franklyn D. Resort, a boutique family resort located in Runaway Bay Jamaica is a G-d send for parents- each family is assigned a dedicated “Vacation Nanny” to care for the kids from check-in to check out! One upfront price includes accommodations in large 1, 2 or 3 bedroom suites with Continental, Italian and Jamaican cuisine from a choice of 4 restaurants, a top shelf bar, 3 pools, a 100’ waterslide and separate toddler, pre-teen and teen programs with supervised daily activities. Side note: Nathalie and Ollisia are two of the most highly rated/recommended nannies at the resort.

Located in a stunning little bay, Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda is considered THE superior luxury family-friendly resort in the Riviera Maya, combining a prestigious Caribbean setting with world-class facilities, including a Family Concierge, the ultimate in spa treatments, state of the art equipment and a relaxed ambiance. The resort has a Mayan ecological feel to it and a lush tropical mangrove preserve with views of Cozumel Island surrounds its oceanfront location. The resort offers 11 different restaurants and 10 bars serving unlimited international Premium brand liquor. Resort activities include tango lessons and sushi making classes. Side note: first floor swim up rooms are extremely popular with older children and sell out the fastest. Also some third floor rooms have had a number of complains about older A/C units.

Just over an hour southeast of Miami lies one of the most beautiful islands in the world- Turks and Caicos. Often described as a jewel-like strand of pearls strung across indescribable turquoise waters, this Caribbean destination is home to one of the most popular all-inclusive family resort, Beaches Turks & Caicos. The resort features a 45,000 sq foot water park, 4 magnificent villages boasting the architecture and ambiance of Italy, France, the Caribbean and Key West. The twelve-mile beach has endless fun activities for everyone and the resort itself has Sesame Street Characters, the new Xbox Play Lounge and a teen disco/nightclub. Side note: we recommend the Key West village for a more quiet environment, the Italian village for a closer proximity to the large pool and beach, and the French village is our favorite for foodies.

My Night with Van Gough

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   Imagine, you wake up in the morning, see the sun shining through the curtains, and think how you are going to have such a wonderful, relaxing day in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. Now imagine your parents coming in and telling you the plan for the day: “We’re going to go to the Van Gough museum!”

I don’t know about you, but I’m not an art person. Although I agree that Van Gough was an amazing and talented artist, my idea of a fun day does not include staring at paintings for hours, or waiting for my parents to finish staring at painting for hours. So, you can imagine that I wasn’t jumping up and down and super excited to go to the Van Gough museum. Luckily, we choose a good night to come.

Every Friday, the museum is open till 10pm, instead of the usual 6; come to the museum around 5pm, enjoy the galleries in a “regular” museum atmosphere and then stay for the fun evening, very popular among locals. The museum becomes a lounge- adults can find drinks served and something with a local flavor is sure to be on.

As we walked into the museum, we saw a DJ playing music and cool lights all over the room. On the walls, a “video DJ” was using parts of Van Gough’s paintings, and making them almost dance to the music! On the night we were there, Fashion Week had come to Amsterdam! There were models in Van Gough inspired outfits throughout the galleries, and later in the evening, a live band playing!

The gallery itself was more interesting than I had expected to be. The different styles of painting that Van Gough used were interesting to see and there was color everywhere! After we finished exploring the galleries, we sat down to listen to the band playing. The Van Gough museum definitely turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be!

To find out what event is coming to the museum during your visit, go to the museum’s website   http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=194&lang=en

Hold the Frog Legs Please

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For all of those traveling to Paris in the near future, we have compiled a geographical arsenal of the yummiest places to fulfill those growling bellies.  

Near the Louvre:

o   Restaurant de Pascades 14 rue Daunou, Paris 2^nd – a locale favorite serving an outstanding soufflé-caramelized crepe 

o   Brasserie O’Flottes 2 rue Cambon, Paris 1^st – casual brasserie, outstanding comfort food

o   Le Soufflé 36 rue du Mont Thabor, Paris 1^st – if you like soufflés….you'll LOVE this place

o   Le petit Vendôme – 8 rue des capucines, Paris 2nd – perfect for lunch or small snacks

o   Café Marly – perfect for for people watching 

Near the Eiffel tower:

o   La Fontaine de Mars – 129 rue Saint Dominique, Paris 7th – specializing in South-west French cuisine

o   Café Constant – 139 rue Saint Dominique, Paris 7th – nice café from a Michelin Star chef  

o   Les Cocottes – 135 rue Saint- Dominique, Paris 7th – everything is served in a crocette

o   Chez L’ami Jean, 7 rue Malar, Paris 7^th – a fantastic little bistrot

Near the Champs Elysees:

o   Le relais de l’Entrecôte, 15 rue Marbeuf, Paris 8th – THE place for steak and frites – reservations not taken

o   Mini Palais – 8 avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8th – great setting behind the Grand Palais with delicious food

o   Villa Spicy – 8 avenue Franklin Roosevelt, Paris 8th – fantastic Mediterranean food

o   Philippe et Jean-Pierre, 7 rue Boccador, Paris 8^th – French classical restaurant

o   Chez Maitre Pierre, 7 rue Marbeuf, Paris 8^th – Italian restaurant 

o   Waknine, 9,avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Paris 8th – one of the highest rated restaurants in Paris

 In Saint Germain des Pres:

o   Le Petit Zinc, 11 rue Saint Benoit, Paris 6^th – nice art , nouveau setting with delicious cuisine

o   La Petite Cour, 8 rue Mabillon, Paris 6^th – cozy and yummy

o   Le Relais de l Entrecote, 20 bis rue Saint Benoit, Paris 6th – do you like steak and french fries? This is THE place for you because nothing else is served on them menu; no reservations taken

In le Marais / near Notre Dame Cathedral:

o   Breizh Café, 109 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3^rd – THE ultimate place for crêpes (reservations highly recommended)

o   Glou, 101 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3^{rd  -} a nice, casual French restaurant

o   Au Bougnat,  26 rue Chanoinesse, Pairs 4th – a true French bistro 

In Montmartre:

o   La Balancoire, 6 rue Aristide Bruant, Paris 18^th, - a modern bistro with great food

o   Crêperie Brocéliande, 15 rue des Trois Frères, Paris 18^th – a great place for crêpes

o   Le Coq Rico, 98 rue Lepic, Paris 18^th – specializing in poultry,      noteworthy Michelin chef Westermann has built an accessable menu fit for all pallets 

Efteling: Holland's own Disneyland

        While Disneyland may be the happiest place in America, Efteling is the happiest place in Holland. Efteling is a magical, fairytale based amusement park that has rides, shows, and other attractions great for the entire family. Although it sounds a lot like Disneyland, Efteling definitely has its own personality. 

        In Efteling’s famous Fairytale Forest, you can walk down a path to find one fairytale after another. Walk through Sleeping Beauty’s castle, try not to eat up the evil witch’s candy house, laugh as the emperor parades in his new clothes, and read some tales that you’ve never even heard about!

        Efteling has some amazing rides including water rides, upside down roller coasters (one has two loops in a row!), and even one where two carts race to get to the finish line first!

        The shows are great! Even though they’re in Dutch, they are definitely worth watching. We watched a show called Raveleijn and the evening water show, and both were amazing.

        And if you can talk your parents into staying a night in the Efteling hotel, prepare to be amazed.

       The outside of the hotel looks like a fairytale castle with its enormous size, tall towers, and large doors. The rooms are amazing, and they even give you a book of fairytales to read! There is a fairytale themed board game inside the room to play with, and the furniture makes it seem like a royal palace. You will find a TV hidden behind a mirror, nightstands that float on the wall. There is a playground and some games in the lobby for the smaller kids. Right outside of the hotel is the park, of course! Hotel guests get to come into the park thirty minutes before its opening, so that they can get to the front of the line one the best rides.

        Efteling is definitely something that should be on your agenda on your next visit to the Netherlands! 

THE BEST KIDS FRIENDLY TOURS AROUND THE WORLD

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This week we are presenting THE BEST KIDS FRIENDLY TOURS AROUND THE WORLD.
This list is compiled based on personal experience while traveling with own three kids and feedback from our multiple clients.

1. Orientation tour around St. Petersburg by Best Guides.

One word to describe this kids friendly tour is FANTASTIC! They act as a true concierge servce working with clients before and during the tour satsfying any crazy request clients might have. Kids are completely engaged for duration of the tour whether it lasts 4 or 8 hours. During the tour families visit 'standard' landmarks and many off beaten path places. Our kids still remember Treasure Hunt conducted on the premises of Small Academy of Arts.

You can read one of our older blog posts
http://familytravelconcierge.blogspot.com/2012/09/st-petersburg-russia-excellent-private.html


2. Orientation tour around Barcelona Gothic Quarter by Runner Bean Tours

A fun walking tour for all the family filled with activities for the children, stories, games and songs that will keep your kids begging you to bring them back to Barcelona.
Giants that come alive. Trees that speak through their leaves. Medieval legends of kings and queens. All this and more while learning, playing and walking through the magical background of the Gothic Quarter surrounded by its hidden corners and beautiful squares. Travel back in time with us listening to the medieval stories of the past. Visit the workshops where giants are made, hear about the Romans who founded the city, enter the trendiest candy shop and sing your way into Catalan traditions.

3. Ancient Rome Discovery by Context Travel

Ancient Rome Discovery brings families into the archaeological heart of Rome where we encounter the stories of Romulus and Remus, the artistic and political achievements of the emperors, and the everyday lives of ancient Roman citizens. Centered around the Colosseum, the emphasis is on engaging with the young people in the group and helping them begin to frame and understand some key concepts about ancient Rome. We have so many parents who told us that after this tour kids told them that they want to be archeologists.

4. British Museum for families by Context Travel

The walk will focus on the idea of collecting and how it developed in England around the eighteenth century. We will also pick a theme or a particular civilization and follow its development throughout time while navigating the museum. We may, for instance, focus on the development of scripture from cuneiform to hieroglyphic to our modern alphabet, using tools like the Rosetta Stone and other ancient inscriptions.

5.  The Louvre Treasure Hunt by Unique Paris

This Louvre treasure hunt was designed for families with young children (between 6 and 12 years old) to visit the Louvre museum with a licensed guide in a more kid-friendly engaging way. Most of the time, with a classic guided tour, young kids lose attention within the first 15 minutes and only their parents are truly enjoying the visit. With this treasure hunt, a true prize competition will split the family in 2 teams. At the beginning of the tour, the guide will explain the rules and hand over 1 questionnaire with around 40 different questions/enigmas to solve and paintings/sculptures to recognize or photograph. The treasure hunt visit will go through a broad range of collections (Greek and Roman, Renaissance Italian, French), asking specific and detailed questions about many of the Louvre's masterpieces.

Teenager's survival guide for Amsterdam - Food

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We are introducing our new young blogger, Allie Yusim, who shares her experiences from the latest trip to Europe.

Although Amsterdam has a huge variety of unique sights to see, the food alone is enough of a reason to come. From cheese to pancakes, Amsterdam will not fail to excite your taste buds.      

Who says that there is no free lunch? On almost every street is a cheese shop where anyone can come in and sample dozens of different cheeses, from smoked cheese with ham to aged goat cheese. There is red cheese, green cheese, cumin cheese, herb cheese, and much, much more. In addition, different flavors of mustards are available as delicious dipping sauces.      

Pancakes. Amsterdam is a pancake heaven. The pancakes are as big as crepes, but a bit thicker, or you can get a sort of mini- pancake called poffertjes. You can get them covered in Nutella, berries, sugar, or all of the above! Or you can have them with eggs, ham, and cheese for a savory snack. Think this will make a great breakfast? Nope, sorry. In the Netherlands, pancakes are eaten for lunch or dinner. In fact, most cafés aren't even open before nine

 
Can't get enough of those pancakes? A pancake river cruise might be a perfect option! Imagine, cruising down the river with unlimited delicious pancakes and toppings! The ball pit in the boat makes this a perfect.

Want to get away from the touristy stuff? Why not go down to the Saturday morning farmer’s market on Noordermarkt  where you can grab all the fresh picnic food you can think of!

If you get tired of all of this exotic food and want a good-old burger, the Burger Bar,conveniently located across the street from Tuschinski Theater is a great place to eat. There, you can get amazing fresh burgers and, of course, fries with mayo instead of ketchup.

With all this incredible food, you’ll definitely never go hungry in Amsterdam!