What's So Special About Family Travel?

Americans are getting more active. Recently, families in the US are going beyond traditional getaways in the quest for newer, broader, more engaging and meaningful experiences.

So, what makes us gear up for that vacation? Is it merely the desire to breakout from the grind and spend time off with the family? Or are there deeper meanings inherent? You'll agree that most family travel planners want to introduce children to different cultures, customs and lifestyles. They want to experience this together and create memories that last for a lifetime.

Unlike a typical nuclear family getaway, a modern family vacation is where we go all out on a multi-generational trip to include grandparents. We all love our parents but we rarely get a chance to show how much we care. So, taking them along with the kids is an incomparable experience. How long we've been craving to see that smile on their face! Besides, grandparents are also traveling with kids, without Mom and Dad.

Moreover, adult children are increasingly traveling with their parents. More and more families are traveling together with family friends as one large group. There's a spurt in blended family vacations, too, where divorced/remarried parents with their new spouses and children are traveling together.

Another important factor is that families are being increasingly drawn to active pursuits, meaning, they're heading out for more outdoor and adventure spots.

Ancient Cities II: Tikal

Going forward, if Chichen Itza is the paradigm of Mayan adaptibility and city architecture, Tikal gives us an insight into what the largest city of the Classical Period of Mayan culture could have been.

Rising all of a sudden from the unforgiving Peten forest of Guatemala, during its prime, Tikal served as home to an estimated 50,000 residents! Time was when Tikal was dominated by pyramids soaring towards the sky, paved streets, water reservoirs and intricate stone carvings reflecting the rulers and the founding myths of the Mayan society.

Thanks to the archaeologists and researchers, many of the ancient temples and structures have been meticulously restored. What you can't miss on a tour of Tikal is the Temple of the Great Jaguar. This is the tomb of Ah-Cacaw, the greatest king that Tikal ever saw. A sight of the statue of Ah-Cacaw on the apex of the Temple of the Great Jaguar illumined by afternoon sun is a feats for the eyes. Besides, over 3,000 buildings and 200 stone monuments remain concealed in the surrounding forest!

Where is Tikal?

Tikal is located in Peten, Guatemala, 60 miles west of the Belize border.

Where to Stay?

Tikal offers fantastic accommodation facilities. Check these hotels:

1. La Casa De Don David
Aldea El Remate
Tel: (502)306-2190

2. Hotel Isla De Flores
Avenida La Reforma
Tel: 926-0614

3. Hotel Bar and Restaurant El Faisan
Ciudad Flores
Tel: 926-1322

Book cheap airfares to Flores

The Best Amusement Parks in the World!!

First, it was the Sea Lion Park, opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York in 1895. Then came the Steeplechase Park, opened 1897. These were followed by hundreds and thousands of themed amusuement parks all over the world, which gave a new direction to family fun and entertainment.

In 1927, Steeplechase introduced the groundbreaking Cyclone roller coaster, marking the beginning of the roller coaster, which still is the most popular off all features packed in a modern amusement park. But hey! Hang a moment! I'm not going to trace the history of amusement parks... I simply want to list down the hippest amusement parks in the world:

10. Huis Ten Bosch, Japan

9. Coney Island (Astroland Amusement Park), New York

8. Parc Asterix, France

7. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

6. Cedar Point, Ohio

5. Kennywood, Pennsylvania

4. Tivoliland, Denmark

3. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England

2. Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

and the coveted NUMBER ONE SPOT goes to

The Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

It's not a random pick, but a carefully selected list based on facilities available and the number of visitors attracted by each of these parks.

Cheapest Fares Guaranteed!!

My wiggly giggly kids are relaxed now. Huh, what a week it had been! It's so hard to please these wacky kiddos. "Snowshoe. No camping. Nah. Disneyland..." Their choices kept changing every day. But I was yet to tell them that we're NOT going anywhere! No family vacation this spring.

My revelation took them by storm. Shell shocked, dejected, and shattered, they'd lock themselves up the attic and won't talk to me. Finally, I bought them a new playstation and yay!!! Tomorrow morning, we're going to the park togther again!!

I've been looking for ways to book the cheapest fares. I found some, I'm convinced, but some do not excite me at all. I thought I'd jot them down a give a whirl this fall. I want to make sure that I'm booking the cheapest fares.

The Latest Buzz is Comparision Shopping
Yes. From industry experts to the hordes of budget travelers, everyone is talking about comparision shopping. What the hell is this? Oy! It's just comparing prices on all the top travel sites, before clicking"book". We shouldn't take everyone's word for it. Judge by ourselves, then plunge into the quagmire. Really. Comparision shopping does help., especially when we're buying travel deals online.

Try a Secondary Airport
I've found that airfares to secondary airports are much cheaper, compared to the hubs. So what I have to rent a cab and drive a few minutes extra? It's really worth the savings, no?

Plan Early
Of course, I'm planning early. I'm talking about booking a vacation in fall. So, I've already started planning. I want to be the first one to book the ticket. The first few tickets are the cheapest of the lot.

Off-season and Off-peak
Yes. Although we're heading out in fall, we're not off from the extravagance of a fall destination. We're going to a place, which is a winter spot. There's a thin line between late fall and early winter. But it's ok. We can save on airfares and splurge on eating out and maybe a tad of shopping. Plus, we'll make sure that we're not traveling on weekends, and the days preceding and succeding a major holiday. We're not taking a mid-day flight either. This is why we have to plan early. There are so many factors inherent. We can hardly take a chance.