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August 21, 2008

Travel Trends — Babymoons! Well, whatever floats your boat…

Filed under: Family, Children, Luxury Travel — anne @ 8:13 am
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I’ve been reading about the babymoon trend for some time — a last big travel fling for expectant parents. ABC recently has this story on it.

The whole idea is “last minute pampering” before Junior arrives — at resorts that include such things as massages and even “craving chefs”.

Wonder if these guys have ever been pregnant? The last thing I wanted to do was “travel” — that’s just work, these days. And forget that “glow” everyone talks about — sometimes, pregnant women don’t look their best — and may not be all that keen on frolicking in public.

Another thought — do we really want to blow Junior’s college fund on a last minute fling?

Relax. I have an alternative:

1.) Stay home. 2.) Sit on couch. 3.) Surround self with snacks. 4.) Watch old episodes of the Mary Tyler Moore show, to remind you what it was like to be carefree, single and childless. Or watch the Brady Bunch.

Note: this do-it-yourself “babymoon” can be enjoyed by all. Try it today!

August 14, 2008

United Ruins Vacation and Doesn’t Seem to Care Too Much

Filed under: Family, United, Hawaii — anne @ 12:48 pm
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Saw this on Consumerist — and they got it from Gerry Braun of the San Diego Union-Tribune — and we bring it to you. Got that?

Anyway, it seems there was going to be this big family reunion in Hawaii. Tickets were purchased months in advance, a beach house was rented, all was in readiness. UNTIL — the day before. United told them the flight was canceled.

Only, it wasn’t. United reportedly, just bumped the family. Eventually they admitted that but never said why (couldn’t be because tickets purchased closer to the trip — more expensive tickets — would be more profitable for the airline, could it?).

The alternatives offered by the airline didn’t work — family members would have missed most of the vacation. Oh, and it wasn’t just a vacation: these people were getting together for a farewell visit to a family member who was dying in Hawaii.

You guessed it. Vacation was a no-go. Family member died. Read all about it.

July 14, 2008

Can “family-reunions” save the airline industry?

Filed under: Family — anne @ 8:45 am
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Well, I doubt it.

But…people do indeed fly to these things (and according to a report from the Florida Sun-Sentinel, as many as a third of reunion attendees will travel 500 miles which boggles my mind).

Now let me boggle yours: a poll by the Travel Industry Association “found one in three adults - about 72 million - in the United States attended a family reunion in the three previous years.”

What’s with these guys? All this…(shudder)…togetherness?

I thought avoiding Uncle Fester and Auntie Em was one of the reasons they invented email.

July 7, 2008

VIDEO: Mom and “unruly” kids kicked off flight

Filed under: Family, Children — anne @ 12:47 pm
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UPDATE: Southwest gave them refunds. If you ask me, Southwest went way above & beyond.

Okay, a mother and her four kids (and a pregnant aunt) were flying Southwest from Detroit to Phoenix to Seattle.

But Phoenix was the end of the line as far as the airline was concerned. According to Southwest, the kids were “disruptive and unruly” and the airline feared for the safety of the passenger and crew.

A news report noted that two of the children have medical problems, but Mom admits the kids “were a little bit out-of-control” and heck, this was their first flight.

Anyway, the family did get to Seattle, but the report gives us no clue as to what airline eventually flew them. Wonder what was that flight like?

See the video. Were you on the plane with them? If so, describe.

January 10, 2008

What do Ted Kennedy and a 5-year old Kindergartener have in Common?

Filed under: Airport, Family, Children, Security — anne @ 12:42 pm
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No, no, that’s the wrong answer and you should be ashamed of yourself. The correct response is, both have made the “No Fly” list.

The senator has since gotten himself off the list, but not so our young hero. The 5-year old Seattle area lad was at Sea-Tac last week, heading to LAX with his mom.

Then, the long arm of the law reached out: Not so fast, son! You Are On Our List.

Of course, it was Mom who got frisked. Go figure. But eventually, they got on the plane.

Saw this on Consumerist. And Consumerist never leaves you hanging–here’s their link to getting yourself OFF the “No Fly” list. Oh, and here’s some video of the kid. He seems harmless…

January 8, 2008

Celebrity Pregnancy: A Lesson in Air Travel

Filed under: Family, Tips — mike @ 11:54 am
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You can’t walk through a check-out line without learning which celebrities are pregnant, which celebrities might be pregnant, which ones are lying about not-being pregnant, and who might be hiding the always elusive “baby bump.” Luckily, the folks at Jaunted have taken the celebrity pregnancy craze and used it for Good instead of Evil.

They break down Nicole Kidman’s and Nicole Richie’s pregnancies and give a lesson in safe air travel. Check out the Jaunted post to find good tips and sources for information on healthy air travel for mothers-to-be.

January 7, 2008

Disney World: Kids Not Welcome

Filed under: Destinations, Family — mike @ 11:35 am
Comments (10)

OK, so the House that Uncle Walt built isn’t really banning kids, but one of Disney World’s restaurants doesn’t want your youngsters to dine with you. Victoria & Albert’s, Disney World’s only AAA Five-Diamond rated restaurant, will no longer allow children under the age of 10 through its doors.

Just so you know, dining at this fine establishment runs you a minimum of $100+ per person, harp music fills the air, and a dress-code is enforced. Not really a place for the little ones, I suppose.

Of course, I think you’re better off grabbing a funnel cake and a bucket of popcorn and heading to Expedition Everest, but maybe that’s just me.

August 15, 2007

Hot Tip: Flying the Kid to College

Filed under: Airlines, Family, Children — anne @ 2:48 pm
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Okay, you can’t load up the car; too far to drive. So you fly, and heres how ya do it:

1. ONE PARENT: Save money; have just one parent travel with the incoming freshman. Also, this will prevent many bad words being exchanged between Mom and Dad as they try to cram all the kids stuff into a 5 by 5 cell, I mean, dorm room.
2. DO MAXIMUM BAGGAGE: Each of you (parent/child) checks 2-large suitcases, and each takes a carry-on.
3. PARENT PACKS LIGHT: Make sure the parent packs almost nothing so the freshman can fill all 4-suitcases.
4. SHOP ON ARRIVAL: Once you get to the university, bring the suitcases to the dorm; then proceed to the big-box of your choice (Target, Wal-Mart, whatever) to shop for sheets/pillows/towels, toiletries, etc.
5. WEATHER: Note that, no matter where your kid goes to school, you can be sure it will be about 100-degrees on move-in day, and of course, the dorm will not be air-conditioned. Plan accordingly (actually, there is no way to plan; just sweat and try not to die).
6. SHIPPING: Await email from freshman, which will detail all the things they left at home, which must be immediately shipped to them in the most expensive manner possible.

 
 
 
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