Author Archives: Julie Janak

About Julie Janak

Social Media Manager and Content Editor for igoUgo.com. Lover of music, wine, her dog and good travel blogger stories. Believer that travel makes us better people. :-)

Reasons Why I Travel the World with My Kids

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When I was pregnant with my first daughter, Kalyra, I felt as if those close to me were celebrating something other than the life growing inside me.

“So that’s the end of the travels, hey? You can’t travel with kids now.”

I felt as if I was walking a path to the gallows. Why did I have to give up my dreams and turn from a life of joy and freedom to one filled with routine, rocking chairs, and labels?

I was determined to prove the naysayers wrong. I wanted to be like the family I had met only months before on the slow boat from Laos to Thailand. They had an active 3 year old, a bubbly nine month old baby, and they were carted around in prams and backpacks. It looked challenging, but they managed. And they were happy.

“If someone else can do it, I can too.”

Kalyra, now aged six, has accumulated more stamps in her passport than most adults. My youngest, Savannah, now two, has five. In three weeks, we leave to road trip around Australia for 12-18 months.

What do you mean, “You can’t travel with kids”? Here are four reasons for why I travel the world with my kids.

1) Magical memories made while bonding with happy parents

When you go on a family holiday, you leave all the worries of your everyday life behind. There are no schedules to adhere to, no toys to pick up, no errands to run, no school to attend, no bosses to answer to, and no end of day exhaustion that leaves you barely able to mumble a “Hello, tell me about your day,” to your child.

You can even live a little dangerously, like having an ice cream every day, or staying up past 10pm.

The Makepeace family having fun in Thailand

What your children need most are loving, happy parents who spend quality moments with them. When we travel together we strengthen our family bond with shared memories of adventure, carefree living, exploration, laughter and play time.

2) We accumulate experiences, not possessions

I don’t think there is anything wrong with owning material things; it becomes an issue when we rely on them for meaning or identity.

When children start traveling at an early age they learn to live in the present. We want our kids to see life as about enjoying experiences and accumulating memories— it’s what shapes who we are and is the only thing that we can take with us to the end.

3) The world becomes their classroom

Once a child enters school, their innate desire to explore, ask questions, and goof off slowly gets shoved back into a box of rules, regulation, and conformity.

When you travel with your children, all of this is removed.

The world teaches your child based on their curiosities and interests. It’s a natural absorption of knowledge and experiential-based learning that schools can never replicate with such enrichment.

The earth becomes their classroom and all its inhabitants with varying degrees of skin colour, languages and beliefs become their teachers.

Some would call it “The village raising the child.”

4) The ability to make new friends- anywhere

My children are quickly learning that strangers can easily become friends. All it takes is a smile to break down barriers, a common connection, a few stories to share, games to play, and a laugh thrown in.

They are learning about what truly matters: connecting via laughter, smiles, and spiritual essence- not labels, traditions, and beliefs. These differences become something to celebrate, rather than fear or judge.

Savannah making friends with Alida in Vanuatu

“It is because of fear that we judge, it’s because of judging that we hate, and it is because of hating that we hurt”

My daughters haven’t had many opportunities to develop long-term friendships, but the trade off is that they never have any problems making friends wherever they may be.

Traveling with kids is not an easy decision. There are the constant fears of the possible negative impact upon their lives. Staying at home and choosing a conventional life won’t take these fears away. You’re a parent, and that comes with never-ending questions and concerns, but you can’t make your decisions based upon an imaginary future.

The challenges aren’t too different than what you would experience if you were living the settled life; it’s just in a different location, but this time you are managing it as a parent who is happy and fulfilled.

How about you? How has travel benefited your family?

By Caz Makepeace

Caz loves to help people travel more and create better memories. She (and her husband, Craig) share their travel lifestyle and tips on their site, YTravelBlog.com. You can watch their video series here to learn their top 9 travel tips.

You can follow their travels on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

The “Bare” Basics: The Do’s and Don’ts of the Japanese Onsen

You never forget your first onsen experience.

Mine was called “Spa World“, and it sounded like heaven on earth. Located in downtown Osaka, Spa World was like the Disney World of Japanese bathhouses. With ten floors, it’s one of the largest onsens in the world: it’s open 24 hours, has two elaborately themed floors of baths (one is European, the other Asian), a water park, a food court, a gym and of course a salon and spa. It was a beautiful monster.

Onsens come in all different sizes, from tiny city owned outdoor pools to fancy hotel-adjacent spa centers. The hot water is pumped from mineral springs, heated by the volcanic earth. The mineral content of the water is supposed to promote health and healing as well as relaxation.

Never having been to an onsen before and speaking exactly zero Japanese, I was a bit apprehensive. But I wasn’t about to let that hold me back from the inviting hot water, so I figured I’d reason it out as I went.

And I did… sort of. It wasn’t easy. So here’s my guide to help you navigate your onsen experience more smoothly:

Do: Follow the Crowd

The Japanese have a system for everything, which is kind of great…as long as you know what’s going on. Most onsens, even the big ones as it turns out, don’t have signs in English. Luckily you can usually figure out what’s going on by following the people around you.

Don’t: Bother Bringing a Bathing Suit

It quickly became apparent that the shiny red one-piece I’d carried along wasn’t welcome here. Yup, you will be naked. Luckily almost all onsens are segregated by sex. Once you’re in the locker room you’ll only be seeing your fellow men, or women.

There’s no sense in feeling modest- nudity is an expected non-event and most people treat it like the most natural thing in the world (which I suppose it is). Don’t bother trying to hide under your (tiny) towel, you’ll just look silly. After a while it can actually feel quite liberating to walk around without those pesky clothes.

A selection of robes you can borrow at Ooedo Onsen- photo by Ariesgirl

Do: Get Very, Very Clean

Listen up, because this is the most critical step: onsen users are very concerned with cleanliness, so before you even think about getting near the baths, you need to take a shower. There’s no use doing this at home beforehand- it needs to be in full view of everyone to confirm your clean status. If you try to go in the baths without washing first you will get some serious side-eye and possibly be sent back out.

Some onsens have showerheads; other use small vanity stands with a sink and bucket. Wash thoroughly and use the soap and shampoo. Really scrub yourself down. Once you feel thoroughly cleaned you can pick up your (tiny) towel and head into the baths.

Don’t: Have Tattoos

Exposed tattoos are a non-starter. Body art is not really done in Japan unless you’re a card carrying member of the yakuza (Japanese mafia,) so many onsens will not allow tattoos on bathers. If your tat is small you may be able to cover it with a bandage. If you have a full sleeve, you may want to check ahead with the onsen to see if you’ll be allowed.

Do: Enjoy the Hot Water

Now you can relax and soak it all in. The water can be quite hot so ease in slowly. Leave your (tiny) towel on the edge, don’t let it get wet. If you’re with friends, chatting is okay; yelling, splashing or swimming is generally frowned upon.

The bigger onsens have different types of baths to choose from. Some vary greatly in temperature (if you’re feeling brave take a dip in the cold pool before sinking into the warm- you will tingle all over).

Definitely test out all the different options. Spa World had outdoor Japanese style tubs, indoor Persian baths and even a carbonated bath!

Most onsens will also have a sauna. When you use the sauna make sure you sit on your (tiny) towel- nobody wants to sit where your sweaty butt has been!

Onsen with a view at the Kawaguchiko Hotel- photo by Composthp

Don’t: Shower Post-soak

After soaking up the waters until I felt slightly past-prunish, I jumped back into the shower. No no! A woman told me frantically, gesturing at me to get out. Apparently you’re not supposed to shower before you leave- this is when the minerals soak into your skin.

Do: Take a Nice Nap

With all of the warmth and relaxation you may find yourself getting sleepy. Do not fall asleep in the tub, trust me people will look at you funny. Many of the bigger baths have napping rooms. Get a big drink of water and then get ready for some of the best sleep of your life.

For first time visitors, the strict procedure (and the nakedness) can be intimidating, but don’t miss out on this important and really enjoyable aspect of Japanese culture.

Stephanie Yoder

Stephanie is a girl who can’t sit still. Since graduating she has spent her time either roaming the earth or saving up for her next trip, until finally quitting the rat race for good to become a full time writer, blogger and owner of Twenty-Something Travel.

You can follow her travels on Google+ Twitter and Facebook

How to Travel like a Princess…on the Cheap

Many girls dream of traveling like a princess, but trust funds are hard to find. What’s a budget-minded princess to do?

Actually, luxe travel isn’t so unattainable with the right tricks. Trust me on this: I love to travel in style, but there’s no platinum credit card bankrolling my trips!

1. Find the Next Big Thing

One trick for finding value-friendly vacation destinations is scoping emerging locations on the brink of becoming the next hot vacation spot. Prices can be amazing since hotel inventory and services haven’t skyrocketed.

Amador Causeway, Panama City by Saphira

So what’s the next big thing, you ask? Try Panama, home to some outstanding Caribbean beach resorts and spas as well as amazing bargains. Search for a fab Renewal Suite at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama for less than the price of a standard hotel room in the US.

Prepare to be shocked when you see what you can get for your dollar in terms of dining, excursions and spa treatments.

Of course you should head to the spa, right? At the current rates charged at The Sensory Spa by Clarins you can afford half a dozen spa treatments for the price of a single treatment in most US spas.

2. Give Your Camping Experience an Upgrade

There was a time when the words “camping trip” meant uncomfortable nights, air mattresses, doing without a restroom or shower and eating out of a cooler all weekend. It’s fun for some, but one thing was for sure: you’d come home with plenty of dirt under your nails and desperate for a bath.

These days of course gals who love the outdoors and comfort in equal measure don’t have to compromise on either thanks to the joys of glamping: glamorous camping. See what they did there? Clever huh?G

A luxury, pampered camping trip means you can enjoy the great outdoors without having to use an outhouse at the same time. Glamping definitely is not roughing it. You will find everything from Turkish rugs, velvet chaise lounges, to four-poster canopy beds.

Glamorous camping is even available in Peru. Glamping along Peru’s legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu sounds very much like what an Inca Princess would have experienced during their lifetime. The mystique of the region as you trek to the “Lost City” has an exclusive ring to it too!

3. High Tea WithOUT the Queen

There is nothing more refined than taking time for High Tea in the afternoon. You may not have the budget to stay at an urban castle for the entire night, but visiting for afternoon for tea makes one feel like royalty.

Lady Grantham herself enjoys a tea that closely resembles the one held most days at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

Desserts fit for a Princess! from the Ritz Carlton Buckhead Atlanta by Kataries

The Lobby Lounge’s large fireplace is the optimum location to refresh for the afternoon like a proper lady. Don’t forget to point your pinkie!

4. Don’t Blow the Crown Jewels

Unfortunately, for all the non-princesses among us usually we have no choice but to accept that we’re going to have to stick to a budget during our trip. In this situation I prefer to book into a budget-friendly hotel but then head out to find what facilities and spas I can find elsewhere.

I know plenty of princess wannabes that stay at Disney World’s Pop Century budget resort but still feel like true royalty by making appointments at the nearby luxurious Blue Harmony Spa. The lobby has large paintings of royalty, chairs you could sink into all day and a spa with a private hot tub.

5. Every Princess Needs a Castle

Ashford Castle by MilwVon

One does not have to be a real life princess to sleep like one! How does a stone archways turrets and ancient castle charm feel for a place to lay your head? No princess should be without a castle, and the Ashford Castle in Ireland has made that happen.

The spectacular setting includes 350 acres of woodlands and gardens. The gray stone castle was once home to those who are practically Irish royalty, the Guinness family (yes the beer).

Riding and golf along with a stein of beer or two round out the most popular activities here. You can have a few drinks, since the castle rooms sometime go for as low as $139 per person per night. Most importantly, you’ll feel just like the “Princess and the Pea” in their large high rise beds with fluffy bedding.

Ava Roxanne Stritt

Ava Roxanne Stritt

Ava is a travel writer and editor of the blog Spa Travel Gal. She believes that travel, spa and skincare experiences are not a luxury, but essential to a healthy body and mind. If her family needs to find her they just call the local luxury spa.

A renowned expert in spa and luxury travel, Ava is featured in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Spa Week, Fox News, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, among many other publications.

You can follow Ava on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Seven Kickass Travel Hacks You’ve Never Heard Of

#1: Save Hundreds on Airfare by Pairing Unconnected Tickets

The Wall St Journal recently highlighted a trick that veteran travelers have known for years: you can save big on airfare by pairing unconnected tickets. It simply means that you book the connections of a multi-leg trip on your own. Using their example:

“The tactic can work best in summer when discount airfares are harder to find. For a June 11 to 18, the lowest round-trip airfare from Atlanta to Berlin was priced on Friday at $1,541. The New York to Berlin fare was $680. With discount competition between New York and Atlanta, the lowest round-trip fare to JFK was $258. That is a saving of 39%, or $2,400 for a family of four.”

Keep in mind that this won’t work for every trip or every destination and it will of course require more legwork on your part. But, if you’re a hardcore, “savings above all else” traveler, sometimes the discounts can be huge.

#2: Trick Your Body Into Eating (Almost) Anything

If you’re a picky eater, it’s possible that you just have “texture issues”. These might induce a physical reaction when your brain wrongly believes that you just can’t stomach a certain texture. For some, that might be “mushy” (think: mashed peas), for others “seedy” (think: tomatoes or kiwi) and the list goes on.

Some travelers would like to be more adventurous eaters, but their bodies simply won’t allow it. One trick is to suppress your gag reflex to overcome that psychosomatic response. And the trick to doing that is simple: form a fist with your left hand, squeezing your thumb. It’s a trick dentists have shared with their patients for years.

To be clear, this won’t work for everyone. But if you’re seriously interested in stepping outside your culinary comfort zone while traveling, give it a try.

#3: Beat Jet Lag by Fasting

You already know that the symptoms of jet lag stem from your body’s falling out of its natural circadian rhythm. The Harvard Business Review reveals that fasting can snap it back into place. In short:

Airport food: avoid it before your flight, and enjoy it after you land. (photo courtesy of LenR)

Try fasting both before and during your long flight, then eating in a pattern that puts you in sync with local time. For instance, if you’re taking a 14-hour flight from New York to Beijing, it would work like this:
•   Avoid all food from the time you get to the airport (i.e., about two hours before departure)
•   Don’t eat during the flight — but still drink plenty of water
•   Eat soon after you land, as close to a local meal time as possible

#4: Cancel Your Hotel Reservation at the Last Minute Without Penalties

Almost every hotel charges a penalty when guests cancel their reservations on short notice (typically less than 48 hours).

But there’s a surprisingly simple way around this – so simple, you might wonder why you never thought of it before.

If you need to cancel your reservation, simply reschedule your stay for a future date (say, one month out). Then call back the next day and cancel it completely. Done.

#5: Survive a Mugging Abroad with a “Decoy Wallet”

The key to surviving a mugging is to appease your assailant, and the key to that is to make sure he doesn’t leave empty-handed. Simply carry a “decoy wallet”.

Crowded markets are perfect places for pickpockets to strike. (photo courtesy of rcoffelt)

Think of it as a crappier (read: less valuable) version of your actual wallet. It needs to hold enough cash and cards for the thief to believe it’s the real deal, but not so much that you’re seriously suffering from its loss.

Toss in $100 in cash, a couple of expired credit cards, a receipt or two, and a few customer loyalty cards from places like CVS and your local grocery store and you should be good to go.

#6: Save Big By Calling the Hotel Directly

In an effort to combat dwindling profit margins from online booking sites, many hotels now offer deep discounts to travelers who call the hotel directly. Meta-travel booking sites such as Kayak.com typically offer great rates.

But take their best offer to the hotel directly and see if they’re willing to wheel and deal with you.

I’ve saved as much as 40% off advertised online rates using this method. Bonus: while you’re bending the manager’s ear, kindly drop a request about the type of room you’d prefer (corner room, suite away from the ice machines, etc.).

They’re much more likely to comply when talking to an actual person versus an automated reservation e-mail.

#7: Just Ask!

This isn’t a “hack” per se, but it’s the best possible advice I can offer: if you’re not asking for upgrades, compensation, and plain ol’ free sh*t while you’re traveling, you’re a sucker.

Hotel insider, Jacob Tomsky, lists the phrase “Sorry, there’s just nothing I can do …” among his list of “standard front desk lies””

“There are a lot of these “There’s nothing I can do” situations, when it’s quite untrue. Making a friend and having someone take care of you, it might change your stay. It’s hard to trust what the front desk is telling you because they want to make everyone happy—there are bad rooms and someone has to get them. So being nice, possibly a gratuity, calling ahead—it can go a long way.”

Make new friends with the people working the front desk- they could be your greatest ally! (photo courtesy of panda2)

There’s almost always something they can do in every situation: a better hotel room, a premium airline seat, a better class of rental car. And 90% of the time you simply have to be polite and ask.

Just keep in mind that there’s a big difference between demanding and asking. Remember that travel can tempt otherwise kind, ordinary folks to act like a$$holes.

Hospitality workers often face a daily barrage of verbal assaults and moody, impatient travelers. Be the exception to their day: whether that’s through kindness, flattery, or plain ol’ bribery.

by Mike Richard

Mike Richard is a Rhode Island native and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, hiking and seeing the world. Since 2006, he has edited, written for, and kept the gears running behind the scenes as founding editor of his blog, Vagabondish. He absconded from corporate life in 2010 to travel full time and hasn’t had a permanent residence since.

He has spoken professionally as a featured panelist at the annual TBEX (Travel Blogger’s Exchange) conference. Other noteworthy credits include “Woman’s World magazine contributor” and having once been interviewed by Tyra Banks (seriously).

You can follow him online at Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

Vote Now in the 2012 U GO! Awards

It’s that time folks: time to vote on your favorite IgoUgo contributors in the 2012 U GO! Awards!

We’re doing it a bit differently this year due to some timing constraints, but please feel free to share the voting ballot with your friends and family!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D8RFRDS

Let’s just highlight some of our awesome contributors here for a moment, shall we?
2009 Travel Writer of the year, MilwVon is up for Best Nature writer again this year, as well as Best Overall writer. Could she take home both? Ssullivan, member since 2004, is also nominated in this category and has never taken home the prize…could this be his year?

We have some great- and might I add BRAVE- family travelers up for Best of Family writing. Fiver29 and Meggysmum are the “underdogs” here having never won a U Go! award previously, but veterans Joy S and MagdaDH_AlexH are some steep competition. Joy S is also up for Best Nature writer AND Best Overall writer.

In the Best City Writing category we have rookies two cruisers & jodeci527 competing against heavy hitters tianjinpaul & Praskipark.

RLB2 is the rookie in our Best Food Writer category- going up against some of our best veterans koshkha, Slug & fizzytom.

Go read their stuff, and vote for your favorite! NOW- onto your photo nominees!

Best Photography: Views From Above

View from the Loughrigg Fell Walk- debmercury

Notre Dame Gargoyle- tartlette

The Seine and the City- two cruisers

View of Santorini- raymond longaray

View from Aggstein Castle- Fotorunn

Best Photography: Color and Light

Olympic Village- composthp

Pukekrura Park, New Plymouth, Taranaki- auskiwi

Trafalgar Square at Night in London, England- lavenderdays

Trafalgar Square at Night in London- lavenderdays

Illumination by Lantern- Eric from Aiea

Time photography done at dark- Denton L Thaves

Best Photography: People

Entrada Universitaria 2012- SeenThat

Street Scene in New York- Dutchntasja

Marina Bay Sands Pool- Willie Wandrag

Isle of Skye- MagdaDH_AlexH

Romantic Sunset- BawBaw

Be sure sure to go vote for these fantastic photographers, and then choose your favorite Writer, Photographer & New Member for 2012.

You can also go vote through our Facebook page, and spread the word through Twitter as well.

GOOD LUCK to all the nominees! Voting ends at 12PM CST on February 15th.

Written by Julie Janak- Social Media and Content Editor for IgoUgo

10 Myth-Busters About North Korea

North Korea has earned itself quite a few names: a member of the Axis of Evil, the Hermit Kingdom, and the Iron Walls. Better known as the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), it is one of the most isolated nations in the world, having closed its doors to the outside world since its split from South Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Since then, DPRK has usually been covered in a negative light by international media – but is it all true? I decided to find out.

A recent trip to North Korea gave me a rare glimpse into a world that few people know about. Although we barely scraped the surface of the country – having spent just five days visiting the capital of Pyongyang, the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ (demilitarized) border, it gave me a peek that none of the news or TV documentaries could.

North Korea surprised me in so many ways, here are some of them. As a word of advice, don’t make judgment based on what you see and read on the news; go see North Korea and find out for yourself.

Sharp contrast in the two Koreas

Having visited both South and North Koreas, I was overwhelmed by the stark differences despite being mentally prepared for it. Visiting North Korea is the closest thing to actual time travel – I felt like I had gone back in time to the Korea of the 1950s, from our first step off the Air Koryo flight at Pyongyang Airport to the museums and soviet-style buildings and scenes of people dressed in comrade caps and buttoned suits.

Our group with our guides

Cult-like Juche regime

When Kim Jong-Il passed away, scenes of North Koreans wailing on the streets were all over the news. Many were skeptical about the authenticity of it. There’s no doubt that North Koreans worship their supreme leaders but only after seeing for myself did I realize the extent of it. The locals spoke of their supreme leaders with utmost respect – almost as if they were of heavenly status. At Mansu Hill, where the larger-than-life statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il stand, we were required to bow in front of the leaders as if it were a religious site.

Statue of Kim Jong-Il

Propaganda, propaganda and propaganda on the streets

Walking on the streets of Pyongyang and Kaesong, there was an obvious absence of posters and billboards (only one can be found in Pyongyang from the local brand of cars). I had somewhat expected that, but it was also strangely bizarre to not see any movie poster or circus ads. In their place were colorful mosaic art and hand-painted banners from the Korean Workers’ Party, used to promote the socialist regime. Many of them used representations such as the sickle for farming, the brush for education and hammer for the industry.

Impressive Soviet-style architecture

I’ve seen Soviet-style architecture in Russia and China, but honestly none are as impressive as those in Pyongyang. Massive grey blocks of imposing government buildings dominate the public squares of the North Korean capital, all of them adorning images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, as well as the national flag. In the heart of Pyongyang stands the “Arch de Triumph”, that’s even bigger than its French namesake. Other impressive works of architecture include the Juche Tower and Workers’ Party Monument, both of which are enormous and impressive in scale and grandeur.

North Koreans are just as curious about the world

North Korea is completely closed to the outside world — there are only local channels on TV, they don’t watch any foreign shows and only intranet exists in the country (internet is available to ambassadors or approved journalists). Prior to going there, I had the impression that they would be very wary and suspicious of foreigners. But I was pleasantly surprised to find locals smiling at us, even waving and talking to us. On the subway, we even interacted with them, showing them photos on our cameras and laughing with them. We played guessing games with children in the park and danced with groups of ladies who were having a picnic and drinks.

North Korean Boys

They are not ignorant

Since foreign information is so inaccessible to the North Koreans, I didn’t expect them to know much about the outside world, but there were a few exceptions that surprised us. We met a group of 10-year-old boys who were on their way to soccer practice and we stopped to chat with them. We asked them if they knew footballers from Europe and much to our surprise, they could name plenty of them. They could even understand some English.

Tasty cuisine and home-brewed beer

I had no expectations when it came to food in North Korea. I have had my share of bad, lousy food when backpacking in developing countries and somehow expected that to be the case in North Korea. I was clearly wrong. While the food wasn’t Michelin standard, there was plenty of decent home-cooked Korean food. Besides kimchi and rice, we also had traditional Korean barbecue and even beer in microbreweries (that were surprisingly good). No doubt we were brought to the tourist-only restaurants in town and these foods are doubtless a rarity for ordinary people, we were surprised that they even existed in DPRK.

The deepest subway system in the world

It’s a surprise to many that there is public transport in Pyongyang, not to mention that its subway system is the deepest in the world, at 110 meters (360 feet) underground. Having started its operation in 1972, the subway system was designed based on the Moscow metro system. Most of these trains were bought over from Berlin after the wall fell and haven’t been updated since. Their green velvet seats, old wooden carriages and shiny steel railings reminded me of the 1970s. Each station has a different theme, with impressive mosaic propaganda art and sparkling ´60s chandeliers to add to the atmosphere.

Subway in Pyongyang

A surprising sense of normality

Despite all the negative portrayal of DPRK, the biggest surprise for me was just how normal everything felt in DPRK — people went about their daily business, the public subway system was busy, streets were wide but empty, and children hung out in the park just like we do. It was nothing like how you would imagine a ‘dangerous’ place. Besides the soviet-style attire and grim-looking buildings, there was really little to remind you that this was a country considered by many as evil.

It’s not all choreographed

Before visiting North Korea, I knew that we would be chaperoned around our guides and we were not allowed to leave the group or our hotels at any point. I had many friends who had serious doubts if we were being shown the ‘real’ North Korea. While it was true that we only visited places that the government approved and our movements were restricted, I didn’t feel controlled in any real sense of the word. We were free to interact with locals, we drove by farming lands, we saw shabby alleyways and we were obviously allowed to have our own opinions, which our guides respected as long as we didn’t try to impose our ideas on them.

Nellie Huang

With an eye for adventure and a thirst for the unknown, Nellie is a travel writer and blogger who loves to veer way beyond the conventional trail. Her blog, WildJunket is the child of all her adventures (and misadventures) around the world. Since the success of her blog, along with her photographer/designer husband, she has also launched a digital flipbook magazine, WildJunket Magazine.

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

Family Vacations 2013: 10 New Ideas for Fun Family Holidays

New Year’s resolutions come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a new idea for 2013: Improve relationships, expand your kids’ horizons and make family vacations count.

Need some suggestions beyond the vague notion of “we’re going to travel this year?” Check out these helpful tips.

Plan a Family Vacation Together

Studies show that moms make most family travel decisions, so make it a team effort. Pull out a map and discuss locations or ask the kids to make a list destinations the research online. The kids may surprise you and have ideas you would have never considered.

Personalize Your Activities

After your destination is set, ask every family member to choose a “thing to do” or personalize one day. Get creative. Maybe one day can be spent exploring a regional park chosen by dad, a theme park day chosen by the kids or mom’s choice of afternoon zip-lining. Allowing every family member to have a “day” or activity will build family respect and make everyone feel special.

Start a Family Piggy Bank

We all know travel isn’t cheap. Start a family piggy bank (maybe a cute airplane or cruise ship) and start contributing dollars and quarters. The kids can portion their allowance money. Create special vacation-style chores or tell them to contribute money from completing acts of kindness. When the family vacation arrives, you can use the money for activities or souvenirs. The best part? The entire family feels a sense of pride since everyone contributed!

Save Money: Plan your Family Vacation in Advance

While the piggy bank is a fun idea, it’s best for the parents to plan the trip long before take-off. Make this the year you avoid charging the trip to credit cards. Shop for travel deals and specials, weigh the cost between driving and flying and compare hotel prices.

Plan A Charitable Trip

Global Citizens Network, based here in my state of Minnesota, is just one of many organizations that invite families to travel to remote destinations and assist needy communities. Taking a charitable family vacation will be memorable, educational, and will teach your kids about the greatness of giving.

Educational Trips

Visiting a new country, (for example Mexico,) can offer an array of opportunities for families to learn new languages through immersion classes. Take day trips to the various Mayan Ruins or learn about ocean life through aquatic adventures.

Family photo in Puerto Vallarta by Rick206

Create a Family Reunion

Sometimes extended families are dispersed across the globe. Reconnect with a family reunion-style vacation. Ensure you try new food, attend festivals and visit historic locations. Live the culture!

Smell the Roses and Slow Down

Remember, you don’t have to do everything on your family vacation. It is okay to let the kids sleep in or stay up late and it’s also acceptable to take some alone time with the spouse. My kids love resort kids clubs. If your kids are the same, let them have their kid-fun while you enjoy a few hours alone.

Try Something New

Do you always go to the same destination year after year? This year, try something different. Instead of the beach, head up to the mountains. Rather that the same theme park, try a dude ranch.

User CMeekins03 and their family at Cataract Falls in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee

Start a Vacation Photo Collection

Finally, remember to capture your memories! Snap photos every chance you get (just don’t get obsessed) and instead of letting the vacation photos sit on your hard drive, make a cool scrapbook and share your photos. There are a number of brands that offer fantastic photo book options and they’re very user friendly.

Most of all enjoy your family! The kids are only with you for so long; so cherish every moment with them… even when you’re not traveling.

by Beth Blair

Beth Blair

Based in Minnesota where she lives with her husband and two kids, Beth is a professional traveler, as a flight attendant as well as a professional travel writer and co-founder of award-winning blog TheVacationGals.com. Beth’s won several notable travel writing awards, including Best Travel Blog at the 2012 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition sponsored by the SATW Foundation.

You can follow Beth on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Secrets The Vine Knows How To Shine

Excerpt: Travel Agent Terry Denton tells us about his “preferred” stay at Secrets the Vine resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Those familiar with the resort destination Cancun probably know that Cancun proper is roughly shaped like the number seven. Here is a rather tightly compressed picture of Cancun looking south showing the seven inverted.

The Cancun Coastline

Also, those who grew up playing Monopoly are very familiar with the prized pieces of real estate called Boardwalk and Park Place. Sadly, these board locations are the scene of several avaricious and ultimately disastrous monopoly plays on my part. Notwithstanding Gordon Gekko’s famous assertion, trust me, dear reader, greed is not always good!

So how are these two seemingly random facts connected? About midway down the hotel corridor (i.e., the middle part of the seven) is a stretch of prized real estate that constitutes the Boardwalk / Park Place of Cancun. Within a short distance, you will find such upscale resorts as Ritz Carlton, Sandos Cancun and J.W. Marriott. In the midst of these iconic names is the brand new (opened August, 2012) Secrets The Vine, part of the Secrets Resort and Spa collection owned by AMResorts.

Does Secrets The Vine truly belong in such lofty surroundings? I just returned from a personal stay there and after reading this blog post I hope you will agree with me that Secrets The Vine is every bit a worthy neighbor.

Why I Prefer To Be Preferred

While upgrading to Preferred Club status is by no means necessary for a very enjoyable stay, having sampled the preferred category, I would have to say it is well worth the modest cost. Using my favorite currency equivalent, for a four night stay it is no more that a couple of weeks worth of Grande, French Vanilla, Skinny Lattes at Starbucks. Think of it as taking luxury up a notch.

For example, when you step off the elevator on your preferred floor, you are greeted by a smiling butler. I tried to explain to Jonathan that it was not necessary to stand up and salute each time I entered the floor. The modest red carpet I supplied him to roll out and his occasional reference to me as “Your Eminence” were quite sufficient. As you can tell, I don’t like a big fuss made over me. In fact, I take great pride in my humility.

A personal butler to cater to your every whim!

When you are initially led to your room, your butler provides you a detailed description of the services available to you such as garment pressing, shoe shining, complimentary hydrotherapy privileges at the spa, the private infinity pool on the twelfth floor and the private lounge on the twenty-first floor. For a full list of benefits and options for the Preferred Club status, click here.

Where The Wine Is Divine and the Dining Is Fine

At the risk of being labeled a wine tease, I am going to postpone for a moment telling you where to find out more about the incredible wine experiences available at this resort. Let’s focus first on the dining options. There was a time, thankfully long since past, when eating at an all-inclusive resort meant three endless buffets a day. Now, deluxe properties like Secrets The Vine afford a wide variety of venues and cuisine. Click here for a quick list of the choices available at this resort.

I must admit that on more than one occasion I savored the ceviche at the Sea Salt Grill. They offer several varieties of ceviche all enhanced by the smell of sea salt wafting over from the nearby beach.

The most touted restaurant by some accounts is the Bluewater Grill. While the food was savory I almost made a fatal mistake, for a man of my limited means anyway, when the waiter offered our table a special selection of wine. While almost everything is included at Secrets The Vine, they do offer the option of special wines by the bottle in the fine restaurants. In my giddy exuberance at being away from the daily drudge, I almost ordered a $110.00 bottle of wine. While that would hardly make some of you blink, I confess it made me blanch! Do you have any idea how many boxes . . . ahem; I mean bottles of wine that would buy back home? I quickly recovered my composure and ordered something a little more modest.

My personal favorite dining spot, however, was Ólio Mediterranean Cuisine. When they say Mediterranean, they don’t just mean the northern half of that great sea. In addition to samplings from Greece and Spain, they provide delicious offerings from Tunisia and Morocco as well.

Olio Mediterranean Cuisine

One of my very favorite moments from my trip was reposing beneath the canopy of a brilliantly lit cloudless sky in this stunning twelfth-floor setting, being caressed by a light ocean breeze while enjoying a fashionably late repast surrounded by convivial companions and lighthearted conversation.

How To Learn More

It just so happens that I have written a couple of other posts regarding other aspects of this little sparkling gem set among other jewels. You can also read the naked truth about my visit to the spa, or you can learn about the guilty pleasures of being ever so slightly over-served.

So next time you find yourself planning a Cancun getaway and the Ritz Carlton or JW Marriott come to mind, take my sage advice and split both the difference and the distance and select the incomparable Secrets The Vine.

Written by Terry Denton, President of Travel Leaders / Main Street Travel

A Romantic Escape to Bahamian Sandals

In our last installment on the best of the Bahamas, Eileen Ogintz of “Taking the Kids” describes a luxurious kid-free stay at two of the couples-only resorts.

Where’s my butler?

That’s right. Not only are there no kids anywhere, but we have a personal butler to satisfy our every whim.

Emerald Bay

Welcome to the away-from-the-crowds Bahamian island of Great Exuma and Sandals Emerald Bay, an hour’s flight from Miami. This is a grownups’ getaway – no one under 18 admitted.

That means we don’t have to feel guilty about leaving our kids behind because we won’t see any one else’s kids building sand castles on the beach or doing cannon balls in the pool.

It is kind of unnerving at first to have someone cater to my every wish but I get used to it-fast. Sparkling water with lime? Glasses for martinis? (Since this is an all inclusive, the room is stocked with liquor.) No problem. He even stops by the pool to see if we need anything. Some chips and guacamole, perhaps, he suggests. We joke with other guests that it’s hard to think of things for the butler to do for us.

If you prefer Nassau, you have another romantic Sandals Option– the Sandals Royal Bahamian that was voted the Top Spa Resort by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and back in the day was a playground for British royals.

It’s home to spectacular Nassau beaches as well as cottage-style suites and a private offshore island where you can pretend to be a castaway. (One with access to a swim up bar, though.)

There is something to be said for an all-inclusive resort where you don’t need to pull out your wallet whether you want a Piña Colada pool-side, play tennis, snorkel or enjoy a wonderful meal.

Gorgeous pool views at the Sandals Royal Bahamian

Sandals Royal Bahamian, for example, has 10 restaurants to choose from and eight bars serving premium brand drinks—take your pick of fresh seafood on the outer island at Stew fish, made to order Teppanyaki at Kimonos or the antipasti bar at Casanova, among others. Dig in! You’ve already paid for your food, drinks and activities. Even better when you can snare a deal that includes free nights and an air credit.

My favorite dinner at Sandals wasn’t at any of the resort’s restaurants. Mine was one that cost extra at an elegantly set table for two in a private “tower” overlooking Sandals Emerald Bay pool . We could also have opted for the beach (too windy) or the Wedding Gazebo (taken) but this proves perfect, complete with champagne. We’ve chosen a decidedly Bahamian menu–conch fritters, Bahamian conch salad, cream of carrot soup, roasted Jerk Chicken and lobster, ginger crème Brule and bittersweet chocolate parfait.

Earlier, the hardest thing to decide is how should we spend all of our well-earned idleness? We thought we’d go scuba diving but the waters were too rough. We didn’t mind, actually. After a breakfast on the terrace), we go for a long walk along the beach dotted with palms and grasses.

We could play beach volleyball or join in the “name that tune” games around the pool bar but we are content to adjourn to our yellow-striped cabana and read. Our “pool butler” comes by every so often to see what we need — water…Bloody Marys…a snack?

We only move from our beach chairs for lunch at the Barefoot Restaurant—yes our toes are really in the sand while we eat conch salad and conch chowder.

Did I mention there were a pair of swans fashioned of towels on our bed with flower petals scattered around them when we checked in, that our butler greeted us when we arrived?

No Bahamian vacation is complete without….a towel animal

One night, there was a bubble bath drawn for us, complete with candles and flower petals, when we returned from dinner. Love was spelled out in flowers on the bath mat.

OK a little hokey but it made us smile. And that’s why we were there, after all.

I sure missed my butler when I got home.

EILEEN OGINTZ

Eileen Ogintz is a leading national travel expert, syndicated columnist of the weekly column Taking the Kids and the creator of TakingTheKids.com whose special sections including the latest 50-plus places to Light Up the Holidays and Fun in the Snow have become a go-to resource for families planning getaways.

She is regularly quoted and featured as a family travel expert in newspapers, magazines and websites across the country. Eileen is the author of nine travel books, including the most recent The Kid’s Guide to New York City, and The Kid’s Guide to Orlando.

Follow @takingthekids.

Where to Eat In Nassau

Local lobster or grouper?

Maybe you want to try some conch fritters. (They’re delicious!) But if a burger or pasta is what you are in the mood for, you can find that too. The restaurants of Nassau offer virtually every type of cuisine—Chinese, South American, Italian, Steaks, Mediterranean, Sushi, even Indian (at the appropriately named and popular Taj Mahal).

Nassau, after all, is a city of 170,000-plus people—the capitol of the Bahamas and one of the most popular cruise ports in the world less than 200 miles from Florida.

The Fish Fry at Arawak Cay is famous for Bahamian delicacies like conch salad and fried fish as well as the traditional drink of coconut and rum, while the stalls at Potter’s Cay dock serve up scorched conch – all made in front of you.

One night we ate overlooking the sea at the terrific Dune at the One&Only Ocean Club where Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten developed the menu. Think pumpkin soup, roasted grouper, sweet rice in a banana leaf. How about banana cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert?

Dine in style at Nobu Paradise Island

The island’s famed Atlantis Paradise Island, of course, boasts 21 different restaurants, including the famous Japanese restaurant Nobu. We loved Bobby Flay’s Southwestern cuisine with a Bahamian twist at Mesa Grill with dishes available only here. (How about Bahamian spiced chicken Crispy Squid and Cracked Conch Salad with Orange-Chipotle Vinaigrette, Bahamian Lobster Tail with Red Chile-Coconut Sauce and Green Chile Rice.)

The Bahamian Club at Atlantis is considered one of the Bahama’s leading restaurants. (You’ll think you’ve time traveled back to British Colonial times.)

At Atlantis We also loved Virgil’s Real BBQ and Carmine’s—both welcome imports from NYC.

The gardens of the Graycliff Hotel

Another night we were treated to a gourmet feast at the historic mansion hotel Graycliff that has become Nassau’s first five star restaurant known for one of the most extensive private wine cellars in the Caribbean—from escargots to tenderloin to cappuccino cake. I loved the dining rooms set with candles and overlooking the gardens. There is also a cigar factory here where you can make your own or buy one for after dinner.

While you are in Nassau, sample peas and rice, a Sunday dinner staple, with peas, bacon, celery hot peppers and rice. Remember that beyond Nassau, the outer islands like the Abacos, Exuma and Bimini boast some of the best fishing sites in the world, delivering fresh fish to restaurants and hotels there and on Nassau and Paradise Island. Have you ever tried grouper fingers? (Think fish sticks but a whole lot better!)

One of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had was a beach barbeque on a deserted island off of Green Turtle Cay where our host free-dived for spiny lobsters and conch, cooked the lobsters over an open fire and prepared a fresh conch salad. Yum!

Frommer’s recommends Sun and… originally built in the 1930s as a private home and now serving international cuisine in Red Mill House in upscale residential neighborhood. Have you ever tried grilled octopus? Go for the Bahamian fisher’s platter—all local fish.

Other foodies suggest Café Matisse, an Italian restaurant in a century-old Nassau house. Eat in dining rooms decorated with Matisse prints or outside at tables with candles. This may be the place to splurge on local lobster.

For down-home Bahamian food at modest prices, you can’t beat Bahamian Kitchen located next to Trinity Church in downtown Nassau. This is the place to try fried red snapper, curried chicken, okra soup and peas and rice. You can get take out here for a picnic.

Looking for a fresh catch at Cable Beach!

If you’d rather have lunch with a view of Nassau’s famous harbor, try The Poop Deck, a fixture here since 1972 just across the bridge from Atlantis and Paradise Island. (There is a second location SandyPort on the beach with ocean views just west of the Cable Beach hotels. Here’s the place to eat fish or Bahamian lobster caught the same day you are eating it. Try conch fritters, cracked conch and conch chowder. But you can also get a grilled cheese sandwich, burger or fried chicken here. This is also a great spot for dinner.

Pass the grouper fingers please.

EILEEN OGINTZ