Disneyland Resorts Receives 2009 Environmental and Economic Leadership Award

 
Disneyland Resorts is undoubtedly a successful example of many things in business, but one unexpected issue it seems to also captain, is environmental initiatives. It recently won the 2009 Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for voluntarily preserving California’s resources, building partnerships, and enhancing the environment while maintaining a strong commitment to economic growth.

Here are a few eco-friendly reasons to book a flight to California and visit this green park:

The Paradise Bay Refill:
When the water was drained from this human-made bay to make way for “World of Color” a temporary nighttime exhibit, the removal of water was painstakingly thought our in order to save all environmental cost. Although it took more time and cost more money, the people at Disneyland purified the water, moved it through an extensive underground system, and stored it in a protective underground basin so that it wouldn’t harm any wildlife.

Top Ten Family-Friendly Travel Destinations

Traveling with kids is fun and exciting, and seeing their faces light up with new experiences is always worth the time. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to take them – whether the destination will be safe, convenient or affordable enough for you and your family, or if the vibe of the area is conducive to children. Babysafetravel.com has put together a top ten list of the best places to bring your little ones.

Here are a few we like. We tested flight prices from New York and Los Angeles in the first week of October to give you an idea of what it may cost. Flights are based on round-trip flights for families of four.

Family Travel: Hyatt Resort San Antonio: $500 in Resort Credits for Families

Everything is bigger in Texas, including this deal by Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio.

With the Family Stay More, Play More promotion, guests receive 25 percent off golf and spa services. But even bigger than that are the resort credits from Hyatt. Three night stays will earn you $200 in resort credits, four nights equals $400 in credits and guests earn $500 in credits for 5-night stays.

The credits are good for meals at any Hyatt restaurants, golf, spa treatments, activities for kids and more.

Are Your Kids Flying Alone? New Guide for Parents of Unaccompanied Minors

As kids prepare to embark on their summer vacations, parents are faced with an unnerving fear: who will look after my child if I'm not there?

Millions of children under the age of 18 fly solo every year, but with the recent news of two young girls being escorted onto the wrong Continental flights, parents are more concerned than ever about their kids flying solo.

In an effort to help alleviate the stress of flying alone, Cheapflights.com has compiled an easy to reference chart of 12 major airlines and their policies for unaccompanied minors, including age restrictions, airline services and flight time limitations.

Affordable Family Vacations: Water Parks

Still planning your summer family vacation? Beat the heat by taking your kids to some of the coolest water park attractions all over the country. The LA Times put together a list of new and updated rides, slides, and parks, so we’ve chosen a few that look exciting, and mapped out how affordable your summer family vacation can really be.

We used New York, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale as example departure cities, to cover three different areas of the country and to use only the most affordable departure destinations. Flight samples were taken for the first week in August.

Caribbean Vacations: Family-Friendly Travel for Summer Fun

What's the best thing about summer vacation? Summer vacation! Now that school's out, and the kid's are ready to release, it's time to book a summer vacation the entire family can enjoy.

CheapCaribbean.com launched a flights and hotel sale in partnership with Marriott Resorts. Caribbean vacation packages start at $324 and include everything from free meals for kids to discounts on water sports.

Pack up the kids (and the passports) and head to some of the best destinations in the Caribbean.

Family Fun at the Four Seasons

If family travel is on your summer vacation schedule, consider a little lap around the pool of ultra-accommodations, thanks to a new promotion from the Four Seasons.

The name is synonymous with romance and luxury, but this summer the Four Seasons is offering some great deals that cater to the kids.

The Four Seasons concierge teams at hotels and resorts throughout North America have teamed up to create special itineraries that can help parents get the most out of their family vacation. Packages include recommended day trips, on-site activities and complimentary activities for kids of all ages.

Note to Airlines: Good Customer Service More Important Than Ever

Here’s a solid piece of advice to airlines: Your employees foster customer loyalty. A good experience will lead to repeat use, a bad experience could lead to more than a loss in loyalty (especially in these days of Twitter and Facebook usage). In this tough economic and competitive environment, you need every loyal traveler you can win --  consider that an important safety tip for your use.

I recently went to Bermuda with my family for an early summer vacation (more on this later). We flew on a direct flight with a well known major airline. As we approached Bermuda, the flight attendants walked through the cabin handing out customs forms to anyone who needed them. When I was handed a form, I asked the flight attendant three times whether this was the only form I needed. She assured me it was.

Family Travel: Explaining Tragedy to Little Travelers

I want to start this post by sending my thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the 228 passengers and crew on board Air France flight 447.  I can only hope that the wonderful, personal stories we are already starting to read are providing some comfort.

Those of us in the travel industry aren’t immune to these tragedies. Airplane crashes are just plain unsettling for everyone. They are a shocking event, primarily because they just don’t happen that often.  Not only does a plane crash draw international media attention, but it also resurfaces (or prompts) the average traveler’s fear of flying. It’s human nature and none of us are immune to it.

Now, imagine trying to comprehend the enormity of a plane disappearing from the sky from the eyes of a 6-year-old.

In my experience, kids have very active imaginations and they have little trouble connecting the dots. So it’s no surprise that when I came home from work on Monday night my two kids, 6- and 8-years-old, asked, “If that plane crashed, why can’t the one I am on crash, too?”

U.S. Travel to Cuba: It's Getting (Even More) Personal

A few weeks ago, I wrote an open letter to President Obama imploring him to give American's the freedom to travel to Cuba. In the letter, I shared my 8-year-old son Sam's passion for all things baseball. The same passion, I am learning even more, that Cuban boys possess as well.

My son Sam would love for his Little League baseball team to be able to travel to Cuba and play with the teams there (just like the New England baseball team did in August 2008). I would love to be able to introduce him to different cultural, political, and religious beliefs and practices. I would also love to have my family experience time with the people of Cuba.

After reading the comments left by readers of this blog, I had the chance to have more in depth conversations with a few of them. I have to say, I want to go to Cuba more now than I ever did. I get that Cuba has its problems. I also understand that the tourism infrastructure may not be fully ready for US travelers. Further, I can appreciate Cuban-American arguments against lifting the ban.

However, after a few folks that live there commented on my blog post, it is clear that the positive aspects of Cuban travel far outweigh the negative issues related to U.S. – Cuba relations.