The Orbitz Family Travel Guide
Meet the new Orbitz Parent Panel, a group of Orbitz moms and dads coming together to share experiences and advice to help you plan an affordable, stress-free family vacation.
Our focus is on international travel:
- Read two moms' tales from the road and (plane).
- See top destination picks.
- Get the low-down on government and medical requirements.
- Weigh the pros and cons of an overnight flight.
We went looking for travel experts who were also doting parents and found them right under our nose. These Orbitz parents have plenty of experience traveling to a variety of destinations with children of all ages. Join them as they share their vacation adventures, mistakes and successes -- as well as personal strategies, tips, and opinions.
Mary Huerta Liebowitz works in the Caribbean and spends her free time chasing her 3-year old daughter, attending Spinning classes, and reading whatever she can get her hands on.
The easy part about traveling to Denmark with my 3-year-old is that Scandinavians are a very civilized and kid-friendly people. The coffee is good, even on airplanes, the luggage carts are ergonomic, everything is tidy, and nearly everyone speaks English -- not that my daughter would have held back, anyway. "I GOT PANTS ON!" More
posted by Parent Panel | April 2008
Kimberley Myles is the mother of a 4-year-old son born in New Zealand. She spent five years thinking Christmas meant summer weather while living in Auckland. She currently resides in a suburb of Chicago.
Although the flight may seem daunting, it's more than worth it to take the family on a New Zealand adventure. This world-class family-friendly destination has abundant parks, some of the best ice cream, friendly people and endless opportunities for kids to play both on land or water. More
posted by Parent Panel | April 2008
- When you're traveling with children under 18 in your party, you’ll find a unique set of requirements:
- Check if passports and visas are necessary.
- See special requirements for applying for a passport for a child under 16.
- Extra documentation may be necessary for minors traveling with one parent or two parents with different last names.
- Check medical requirements as well as advice on traveling with infants or young children
- And if you need help overseas, note the location of the closest U.S. Embassy in your destination in advance. This is where you go if your passport or visa is lost or stolen, or if something unforeseen occurs.
Orbitz Parent Panelists looked back at their own experiences and chose these destinations:
- London: Lots of sites to see, easy to get around with kids on the Tube, and wonderful parks.
- Paris: Great walking city that is easy to navigate with kids, restaurants are accommodating to families, lots of parks, and EuroDisney is a quick train ride away
- Mexico: Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco. Great beaches, family-friendly resorts, relatively short flights from the U.S.
- Canada: Toronto, British Columbia, Montreal. Extremely clean and friendly cities that are easy to navigate with children. Plenty to do.
- Scandinavia: Lots of child-focused activities. Free puppet shows in the park, free ice skating in the winter, and Hans Christen Andersen-inspired attractions.
- Switzerland: Easy transportation system to navigate, even the cable cars are accommodating to strollers.
- Israel: Very child-centered culture, in part, because many citizens have large families.
"Cabin lights out"
"The hardest thing about a long international flight with young children is having enough books, toys, snacks and other distractions to keep them happy. Mitigate the worst of this by taking an overnight flight. Your kids will be tired by the time the flight departs, and they're likely to sleep for a few hours at least, especially if you've prepped them with the idea that it's "bedtime" when the cabin lights are dimmed. Their sleep time will help you conserve your plane distractions for when you need them most."
Liz Lippow
"Master of distraction"
"Given the choice between getting my kids to sleep on the plane or occupying them for eight hours, I’d choose the latter simply because I’d rather have to entertain them than worry about a brutal combination of overtired kids and a jet-lagged parent upon arrival. Doesn’t make for a fun start to a vacation, and the prospect of my kids sleeping seven hours the first night vs. the usual 10-12 almost scares me to death."
Jim Cohn
Orbitz parents rated these family-friendly hotels hotels on a scale of 1 to 5, based on:
- Service
- Amenities
- Comfort
- Location
- Value
Read their reviews to get first-hand observations, as well as practical tips on what to do, where to eat and how to get around.
Family getaways and reunions
With lots of onboard activities, tons of shore excursions and plenty of meal options to choose from, cruising is a fun and affordable family vacation.
Explore Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico. You and your family will see it all, and unpack only once!