Family holidays in America
Family comes first with new US holidays
Now more families can enjoy an affordable, hassle-free holiday exploring the great destinations of North America.
Today’s family travels together, and does so more often, taking adventures far and wide. Because many of our holidaymakers are multi-generational families, where children, parents and grandparents travel together, Trafalgar has introduced specially designed Family Experiences holidays in the USA for 2007.
To help families experience an affordable and hassle-free holiday discovering the wonders of North America, these holidays include a Young Traveller (5-17 years) discount, as well as attractive triple and quad room discounts. Departures are from mid-June to mid-August.
Family Experiences are designed for both adults and children to enjoy, perfectly balancing travel with child-focused activities, sightseeing and free time. The itineraries are planned to be fun and educational, with an expert tour director always on hand to give all the information and assistance families need.
Families who enjoy being active in the great outdoors will love the 8-day Canyons & Parks Adventure from $2,099.
For those interested in a more attraction-based, Hollywood-style experience, the 10-day Southern California Vacation from $2,735 is the ideal choice.
Finally, for the family looking for an adventure, the 8-day Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos from $1,999 is perfect.
Traveller's tales
Roslyn Smith and her daughter experienced a Trafalgar Italian Discovery. Here Roslyn shares some of the highlights of their trip.
Trafalgar has provided my daughter and me with special memories. On her long absence from Australia, while working in Britain, I decided to introduce her to travel the Trafalgar way.
What joy on being reunited and flying to experience an Italian Discovery. At 26 years, my daughter was concerned her age-group would be in the minority. Our travellers ranged from teens to seventies, so we both had compatible company.
Andreas, our tour guide, exceeded our expectations of an Italian Signor. Gregarious, humorous, caring and knowledgeable, he appreciated showing us the diverse beauty and history of his country. How wonderful to see my daughter’s reactions to the icons of Italian architecture and sculpture, the romance of Venice and Verona, the sophistication of modern Milan, the peace of a remote monastery and the ancient university of Bologna.
On our last evening, we enjoyed local cuisine and another symbol of Italy – opera. How comical to watch fellow travellers on centre stage having a good lather to Rossini’s Barber of Seville. We remember light-hearted moments too – a pigeon’s message on my hat at the Fontana di Trevi and my daughter modelling an exquisite must-have leather jacket in Florence.
Thank you Trafalgar, for life-time memories.
Carnevale
Carnevale is held during the weeks leading up to Lent as a last opportunity to indulge in almost every excess before Shrove Tuesday signals the end of the party.
The masquerade aspect originated when the Romans celebrated winter with fertility festivals. The social order was temporarily suspended and masks were worn by citizens and slaves alike; rich could play poor and the poor play rich, a representation of a “topsy-turvy world” where different social classes could intermingle.
In Venice, events include masquerade and costume balls, concerts, dinners, gondola and boat parades and a grand fireworks finalé.
In Verona, dating back to 1615, the Papà del Gnocco, a local fictional character portrayed by a masked actor, distributes Gnocchi (potato pasta) on “Gnocchi Friday”. On Shrove Tuesday, Verona hosts a huge parade with more than 500 floats and 15,000 kg of sweets are thrown out into the crowd.
Trafalgar’s 10-day Real Italy tour has regular departures during Carnevale, held in Venice between 9 and 20 Feb 2007, visiting both Verona and Venice.
Smart travel tips
How to make sure your holiday gets off to a smooth start:
- Adjust your watch so that you can get used to the local time.
- Read up on the culture and society of the country you are visiting.
- Learn some key words and phrases in the local language.
- Familiarise yourself with your hotel’s location and surrounding area.
- Keep an eye out for pharmacies, medical centres and other places that may prove useful.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. If you are unsure of the water supply, drink bottled water.
- Allow an easy day or two to recover from jet lag.
- Leave a copy of your itinerary with family at home so you can be easily contacted.
- Ensure you have a photocopy of your passport and credit cards just in case they are lost or stolen. It will speed up the reissue process.
- Avoid conspicuous clothing and expensive jewellery and don't carry around excessive amounts of cash or unnecessary credit cards.
- Avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room; it's likely to attract a huge premium.
Book review
A Year in the World ~ Frances Mayes
A Year in the World is classic Frances Mayes – a celebration of the allure of travel, of unexpected pleasures found in unlikely places and a joyous sense of adventure and discovery. Both a passionate traveller and the ideal travel companion, Mayes allows us to hitch a ride as she wanders off the beaten track and discovers 12 new special places in the world.
Using her beloved Tuscany as a home base, she sets off to find hidden treasures in Spain and Portugal, France, the British Isles, and the Mediterranean world of Turkey, Greece, the south of Italy and North Africa. Along the way, she cooks up a storm in Portugal, follows the classic Homeric voyage across the Aegean, revels in the good life in Santorini and hunkers down in a stone house draped with bougainvillea in Crete.
In Turkey she sails the ancient coast, snorkels over sunken Byzantine towns and hikes to ancient archeological sites. She takes a literary pilgrimage in Burgundy and gathers ideas in the gardens of Scotland and England. In Morocco, she explores the city of Fez, discovers the ideal place to live in Mantova – and much, much more.
Weaving together the simple pleasures of everyday life with fascinating insights into the history, culture and culinary delights of her temporary homes in the world, this is travel writing at its best.
A Year in the World is available at Angus & Robertson stores. RRP $24.95