The Corliss Group travel review: Tips for travelling with children

Traveling with your kids to different and new places provides them with best experiences where they can grow as individuals. This could also give your children lasting memories with you that they can cherish as they get older.

The Corliss Group Online offers the following tips for your next family trip with your children.

Let your kids engage in the planning process

We all know that kids will be very excited and interested in a trip when you get them involved in the planning process. Ask them for one or two activities they want to do and have some realistic options ready from which they can choose. Search the internet or jot down recommendations from family and friends to find best kid-friendly destinations. If you have older children, they can help you with the details of planning, like booking tickets, checking out the flight schedules of your destination, and helping you decide on what activities you will perform on a specific day. Ready your kids for the trip by involving them in the planning process and explaining to them the details of the trip, so they will have ideas on what will happen.

In addition, take the opportunity of the trip to teach your kids different skills such as budgeting, how to stay healthy when away from home, and how to account for travel time. But this depends on the kid's age and understanding.

If you are planning to travel during the school year, you may also need to work with your children's teachers to determine how your kids can stay updated on their schoolwork. Their teachers might give a special project about the trip and your kids need to present them in class when they return.

During the trip, if one of your kids still needs a nap, while the others, especially the older kids, already wants to engage in various activities, take turns watching them with your partner. One of you can stay with the napping child and the other can take the older kids for an activity they picked. This will give you the chance to spend individual time with each of your kids.

Get ready for the trip

When you are preparing to travel with your children, consider to pack snacks and a variety of entertainment to keep them occupied during the road trip and when you need some time to rest.

Moreover, take some time to do several researches about the culture and the history of the places you'll visit beforehand, and inform them to your kids. The Corliss Group Online suggests that you should make your children read books that are related to your desired destination.

You should bring supplies like wipes or sprays to keep the skin moisturized and to help you and your family stay refreshed.

If your children helped with the planning process, focus in on what they recommended and teach them more about the place or activities they can experience throughout the trip.

Keep your children involved once you get there

Keep your children engaged during your journey to have a memorable and fun experience them. You can make them tell you three things that were different between your destination and your hometown. This can actually make them look outside and involve them in a way that will made them seriously think about their life at home as compared to where you are visiting.

Buy your child a journal and make them draw or write about what they are feeling, hearing, or seeing. You could also give a camera to your older son or daughter to take photos for documentation purposes.

Keeping your kids involved can be challenging when they are hungry, tired, or stressed. Be attentive to what your child needs and learn to immediately provide it to them like food or water. But if they are acting out differently for no reason at all, be prepared to discipline them using similar consequences as what you had use at home.

Remember the value of the trip for your children

In the end of your trip, you are giving your children a remarkable life experience even though traveling with them can be exhausting and costly. You are giving them the opportunity to develop concern for other people by teaching them about other civilizations and their ways of living. They can use these experiences and knowledge in the future.

Children learn a lot from the world around them and you can give a memorable educational experience by showing them to life beyond their own backyard.

The Corliss Group Travel Review: Tips for travelling with children

Traveling with your kids to different and new places provides them with best experiences where they can grow as individuals. This could also give your children lasting memories with you that they can cherish as they get older.

The Corliss Group Online offers the following tips for your next family trip with your children.

Let your kids engage in the planning process

We all know that kids will be very excited and interested in a trip when you get them involved in the planning process. Ask them for one or two activities they want to do and have some realistic options ready from which they can choose. Search the internet or jot down recommendations from family and friends to find best kid-friendly destinations. If you have older children, they can help you with the details of planning, like booking tickets, checking out the flight schedules of your destination, and helping you decide on what activities you will perform on a specific day. Ready your kids for the trip by involving them in the planning process and explaining to them the details of the trip, so they will have ideas on what will happen.

In addition, take the opportunity of the trip to teach your kids different skills such as budgeting, how to stay healthy when away from home, and how to account for travel time. But this depends on the kid's age and understanding.

If you are planning to travel during the school year, you may also need to work with your children's teachers to determine how your kids can stay updated on their schoolwork. Their teachers might give a special project about the trip and your kids need to present them in class when they return.

During the trip, if one of your kids still needs a nap, while the others, especially the older kids, already wants to engage in various activities, take turns watching them with your partner. One of you can stay with the napping child and the other can take the older kids for an activity they picked. This will give you the chance to spend individual time with each of your kids.

Get ready for the trip

When you are preparing to travel with your children, consider to pack snacks and a variety of entertainment to keep them occupied during the road trip and when you need some time to rest.

Moreover, take some time to do several researches about the culture and the history of the places you'll visit beforehand, and inform them to your kids. The Corliss Group Online suggests that you should make your children read books that are related to your desired destination.

You should bring supplies like wipes or sprays to keep the skin moisturized and to help you and your family stay refreshed.

If your children helped with the planning process, focus in on what they recommended and teach them more about the place or activities they can experience throughout the trip.

Keep your children involved once you get there

Keep your children engaged during your journey to have a memorable and fun experience them. You can make them tell you three things that were different between your destination and your hometown. This can actually make them look outside and involve them in a way that will made them seriously think about their life at home as compared to where you are visiting.

Buy your child a journal and make them draw or write about what they are feeling, hearing, or seeing. You could also give a camera to your older son or daughter to take photos for documentation purposes.

Keeping your kids involved can be challenging when they are hungry, tired, or stressed. Be attentive to what your child needs and learn to immediately provide it to them like food or water. But if they are acting out differently for no reason at all, be prepared to discipline them using similar consequences as what you had use at home.

Remember the value of the trip for your children

In the end of your trip, you are giving your children a remarkable life experience even though traveling with them can be exhausting and costly. You are giving them the opportunity to develop concern for other people by teaching them about other civilizations and their ways of living. They can use these experiences and knowledge in the future.

Children learn a lot from the world around them and you can give a memorable educational experience by showing them to life beyond their own backyard.

The Corliss Group Travel Review: Tips for travelling with children

Traveling with your kids to different and new places provides them with best experiences where they can grow as individuals. This could also give your children lasting memories with you that they can cherish as they get older.

The Corliss Group Online offers the following tips for your next family trip with your children.

Let your kids engage in the planning process

We all know that kids will be very excited and interested in a trip when you get them involved in the planning process. Ask them for one or two activities they want to do and have some realistic options ready from which they can choose. Search the internet or jot down recommendations from family and friends to find best kid-friendly destinations. If you have older children, they can help you with the details of planning, like booking tickets, checking out the flight schedules of your destination, and helping you decide on what activities you will perform on a specific day. Ready your kids for the trip by involving them in the planning process and explaining to them the details of the trip, so they will have ideas on what will happen.

In addition, take the opportunity of the trip to teach your kids different skills such as budgeting, how to stay healthy when away from home, and how to account for travel time. But this depends on the kid's age and understanding.

If you are planning to travel during the school year, you may also need to work with your children's teachers to determine how your kids can stay updated on their schoolwork. Their teachers might give a special project about the trip and your kids need to present them in class when they return.

During the trip, if one of your kids still needs a nap, while the others, especially the older kids, already wants to engage in various activities, take turns watching them with your partner. One of you can stay with the napping child and the other can take the older kids for an activity they picked. This will give you the chance to spend individual time with each of your kids.

Get ready for the trip

When you are preparing to travel with your children, consider to pack snacks and a variety of entertainment to keep them occupied during the road trip and when you need some time to rest.

Moreover, take some time to do several researches about the culture and the history of the places you'll visit beforehand, and inform them to your kids. The Corliss Group Online suggests that you should make your children read books that are related to your desired destination.

You should bring supplies like wipes or sprays to keep the skin moisturized and to help you and your family stay refreshed.

If your children helped with the planning process, focus in on what they recommended and teach them more about the place or activities they can experience throughout the trip.

Keep your children involved once you get there

Keep your children engaged during your journey to have a memorable and fun experience them. You can make them tell you three things that were different between your destination and your hometown. This can actually make them look outside and involve them in a way that will made them seriously think about their life at home as compared to where you are visiting.

Buy your child a journal and make them draw or write about what they are feeling, hearing, or seeing. You could also give a camera to your older son or daughter to take photos for documentation purposes.

Keeping your kids involved can be challenging when they are hungry, tired, or stressed. Be attentive to what your child needs and learn to immediately provide it to them like food or water. But if they are acting out differently for no reason at all, be prepared to discipline them using similar consequences as what you had use at home.

Remember the value of the trip for your children

In the end of your trip, you are giving your children a remarkable life experience even though traveling with them can be exhausting and costly. You are giving them the opportunity to develop concern for other people by teaching them about other civilizations and their ways of living. They can use these experiences and knowledge in the future.

Children learn a lot from the world around them and you can give a memorable educational experience by showing them to life beyond their own backyard.

The Corliss Group Review: Travelgirl tips: Start planning your holiday vacation now!

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) - When it comes to holiday travel, flexibility will always be the key to getting the best rates and maintaining your sanity.

Travel off-peak to pay less and avoid the crowds. For example, everyone wants to travel the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Consider taking an extra day off on either end to get a better deal on your flight and avoid congestion on the roads and at the airport.

Another way to beat holiday travel stress is to create unique traditions. The calendar says Christmas is December 25th, but talk with your family and see if everyone can agree to celebrate the holiday on an alternate date, perhaps the weekend before or after. Flying family members could save a bundle, and the driving crowd will avoid highway crunch time.

Keep in mind that flights usually cost less if you travel on the actual holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Eve.

If you’re lucky to have friends or relatives overseas, embrace opportunities to make international memories. Maybe a student is studying abroad, or a business executive is on temporary assignment. Take advantage of this alternate home base and make it this year’s “home for the holidays.” It will probably require more work and expense than driving over the river and through the woods, but you won’t regret it!

If you do plan to leave New Orleans for a foreign land, check your credit cards. Not only to confirm your credit limits, but also to be sure that the physical cards are chip-enabled. Many overseas ATMs require microchips that your cards may not have if you haven’t received a new one lately.

Call for a replacement card well in advance of your trip, and while you’re at it, ask about international fees. Some companies offer a “travel card” option with no international transaction fees, but these can take four to six weeks to arrive, so check with your credit card companies now, during the planning stages of your journey.

Start the holiday season right by giving yourself the gift of stress-relief when it comes to travel planning.
I’m Stephanie Oswald and I’ll see you next time.

The Corliss Group review: Top travel tips for a hassle-free journey

When is the best time to book a trip to Walt Disney World? What are the niftiest travel apps? How do you arrange a speedy Plan B if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

The answers to these and other travel questions from those in the know could make the difference between a pleasant journey and one you want to forget in a hurry.

During a Twitter discussion on Aug. 19 hosted by Reuters, a panel of experts fielded questions about travel. Below, we elaborate on the pundits' responses beyond the 140 characters allowed in a tweet.

The panel comprised Brian Kelly, who runs ThePointsGuy.com; Tim Winship, editor and publisher of FrequentFlier.com, and Jason Cochran, editor of Frommers.com.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BOOK HOLIDAY TRAVEL?

About four to six months in advance will likely give you the best chance to get better prices. Within a month or two of major holidays, prices tend to rise considerably.

It's risky waiting for a last-minute deal. You could end up paying some of the highest fares, or not getting a flight at all.

AT THE AIRPORT, YOUR FLIGHT'S CANCELLED. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Call the airline reservation service to see what other flights they can get you on. If there's a major cancellation, you'll likely encounter a crowd at the airline's customer service desk. If you have airline lounge access, try to find help there, too.

Consider using Twitter or other social media to get answers. But note: You're more likely to get a prompt reply if you have a large social media following.

If your plans are disrupted and an immediate solution isn't in the offing, feel free to show true emotion (without yelling or screaming). It can be discombobulating when you're expecting to travel somewhere but are stuck along the way. Airlines are able and willing to compensate customers who have been thrown off course.

WHEN'S BEST TO VISIT DISNEY WORLD OR A SIMILAR THEME PARK?

Visiting theme parks at off-peak times can make for a very different and considerably more pleasant experience, partly because you'll enjoy lower hotel rates.

If you can swing it, go while school is in session. A trip just before the winter holidays, for instance, will allow you to see the parks all decked out, while avoiding wall-to-wall crowds and multiple-hour-long waits for rides.

WHAT ARE SOME HANDY TRAVEL APPS?

Jason Cochran, editor of Frommers.com, recommends CityMapper. The app provides detailed transit information to help travelers get around in eight cities: New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Berlin.

He also likes Voxer, which turns a smartphone into a walkie-talkie, so you can talk to anyone else on the app for free. HiConverter converts just about any currency or measure.

Brian Kelly, of The Points Guy, likes the Uber app for car services, HotelTonight to get last-minute hotel deals, and TripIt to make his itineraries.

WHAT ARE SOME MUST-PACK TRAVEL ITEMS?

Among the recommendations: An extension cord (for hotel rooms with too few outlets in the wrong places), foam ear plugs, plastic zipper bags, a mini travel charger with USB ports that allows a single outlet to charge multiple devices, and noise-canceling headphones.

Also, don't forget the dryer sheets.

Why dryer sheets? A scented one can be used to take the stink out of a trash can or drawer; it's also handy for wiping lint off a computer screen or removing sticky stuff off a hotel iron.

The sheets, which could double up as bug repellent, may also repel other things - stuff one in a shoe, for example, to keep your suitcase fresh as a daisy.

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The Corliss Group Review : Save yourself from summer identity theft

Ruth to the Rescue has simple steps to protect yourself

During the summer you would like to focus on rest and relaxation, but you can't let your guard down when it comes to identity theft.

Identity thieves do not take the summer off, and they know your summer activities could give them the opening they need to get your personal information.

For example, when you pack your bags for your family vacation, you could be carrying too many personal documents. Consumer Reports recommends you leave things like your Social Security card at home.

It's advice one local mother tells Ruth to the Rescue she's already following. "I only bring one major credit card and my driver's license. Usually American Express so that I know I can have fraud protection. And I always make sure that there's a safe," said Kristin Saracevic of Troy.

If you're traveling abroad you'll need a passport and there are some simple steps you can take to protect that document as well. Creditcard.com suggests you remember the three R's when you travel.

1) Remove! As we just mentioned, don't take documents like your Social Security card and birth certificate on vacation. You don't want them falling into the wrong hands.

2) Record! Make copies of key documents (front and back) and keep them in a separate suitcase. If you lose your passport or credit cards, having those copies will help you get replacements more quickly. You can leave those copies in the hotel safe as well.

3) Recover! Be sure to contact your local police station if your cards are stolen or compromised to make sure you have a paper trail. Also, hang onto that police report, your bank or credit card may need copies later on.

The Corliss Group review: Travel money tips

Credit and debit cards

Using your credit or debit card overseas is one of the most convenient options for accessing money on the go and you can feel secure knowing that your card provider is keeping an eye out for suspicious, potentially fraudulent activity, and that you'll be reimbursed if the worst does happen and your card is stolen (so long as you've abided by your card provider's conditions of use; for example, kept your PIN secret and reported the theft of your card immediately).

The major downside of using credit and debit cards overseas is fees. Most credit and debit cards will charge foreign-transaction fees (generally a percentage of the total) when you make purchases overseas, although some card providers waive these on certain card types (Bankwest's platinum- level cards, for example). Debit cards are generally subject to a foreign ATM fee when you withdraw cash overseas - this is often a flat figure, so taking out larger amounts less frequently can be a good idea. And, just as at home, withdrawing cash from a credit card will attract a hefty cash-advance fee so avoid this unless it's an emergency.

If you're a frequent traveller, you may want to seek out credit and debit cards designed for travellers. GE Money's 28 Degrees MasterCard, for example, has no international transaction fees on purchases, no currency conversion fees and no annual fee (as of the beginning of this year, it does attract a fee of 3 per cent or $4 - whichever is greater - for cash advances). In terms of debit cards, the Citibank Plus transaction account, which comes with a Visa debit card, is popular with travellers. Billed as Australia's only fee-free bank account, cardholders can make free withdrawals at all of Citibank's more than 20,000 ATMs in about 40 countries worldwide and the account does not attract foreign- transaction fees.

Regardless of which card you take, check its expiry date well in advance of setting off. If you're taking a credit card, consider whether your current credit limit is sufficient. Going over your limit can attract fees and it's no good planning to pay for accommodation at a cost of $3000 if your card limit is only $2000. Also check the daily limit on your debit card - often you're not allowed to withdraw more than $1000 per day.

Notify your card provider that you're heading overseas to avoid inadvertently raising a red flag with their fraud detection department and having your card frozen, and ensure they have a phone number to contact you on in case they want to query any transactions while you're away. You should also make note of your card provider's overseas contact number - if your card is stolen or compromised, you should let them know as soon as possible.

For more advice on using credit and debit cards overseas, consult your financial institution - many offer brochures and information online about accessing your money while you're away.

Travel cards

If you want to lock in an attractive exchange rate ahead of time, pre-loading foreign currency on to a travel card may be the way to go. Travel cards work in a similar way to debit cards in that you're spending your own money, which you've pre-loaded, eliminating the risk of an unexpectedly large credit card bill when you arrive home. Generally you'll benefit from no transaction fees on purchases and some cards do not charge fees for using international ATMs. Some cards also come with a free backup card in case yours is lost and you may feel more secure knowing your card isn't linked to your bank account, unlike a credit or debit card.

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The Corliss Group Review on 10 Hotel Booking Mistakes

Booking a hotel seems pretty straightforward, right? And most times it is: Pick a destination, choose your dates, enter payment info and voila, happy travels!

However, there are some big blunders you could be making when it comes to hotel reservations. From booking on the wrong sites to forgetting to check some vital information, these mistakes could easily make or break your trip. Read on to find out what you must avoid when booking that hotel room.

Always expecting the best room

I was recently chatting with a front-desk agent about how her hotel chain distributes rooms at check-in. Curious, I asked what method her staff uses to determine who gets the best-located rooms. She revealed this surprising tidbit: Those who book through the hotel website or are hotel loyalty members usually get first dibs on room assignments, with the better views and quieter locations. Travelers who book through online travel agencies (OTAs), like Priceline, often receive "run of the house" rooms (what she called "ice-machine rooms," or basically whatever is left). The agent couldn't tell me just how many hotel chains do this, but she said it was a "fairly common practice" and that it sweetens the deal for travelers who book at regular rates.

Using incorrect arrival and departure dates

Of this travel sin, I am guilty as charged. On an overseas trip several years ago, I noted that my flight left on May 14th, so I booked my destination hotel starting the night of May 14th. Rookie mistake. I completely neglected to check that my flight was a red-eye that landed early in the morning of the 15th. This means I paid for an expensive (and nonrefundable) room that I didn't need.

Not using a credit card

When booking a hotel, credit cards are king. Not only do credit cards offer rewards like airline miles, free night stays or cash-back bonuses, but they also offer certain guarantees that debit cards and cash do not (such as fraud protection or immediate refunds for mischarges).

Making reservations for the wrong hotel

Travelers, beware: A misleading hotel name or location description could lead you to book an airport hotel when you think you're getting centrally located accommodations. You would be surprised how often travelers see the name of the hotel and reserve it quickly without checking to see if it's located in the right place. After all, some hotels may call themselves "located near the heart of downtown," but a quick search could reveal that it's located at the airport … two hours away.

Not accounting for taxes and resort fees

Back in March, contributing editor Ed Perkins reported one of the most outrageous resort fees we'd seen yet. At a hotel in Colorado, the decent $170 room rate was artificially inflated with a $35 cleaning fee, a $40 resort fee, a $10 pool-and-spa fee, and a $5.10 processing fee. Ouch.

Not checking reviews

If you've ever taken a spin on Oyster's Photo Fakeout feature, you know that hotels go to great lengths to make their properties seem perfect. But upon arrival, that infinity pool could really be the size of a postage stamp, and those sumptuous linens could feel like sandpaper. Take anything a hotel says about itself with a grain of salt (or sand).

Booking at the wrong time

As most procrastinators will readily admit, waiting until the last minute to make travel plans can have dire consequences for your credit card balance. Hotel rates can soar in the days leading up to a particular date, and you could be left without a room if everything books up (or if nothing left is within your budget). On the other hand, being an advanced planner can have its own disadvantages: Sure, you may want to have all of your travel ducks in a row as soon as possible, but it can actually cost you money to book your hotel room too early.

Not comparing prices

Saw a hotel you loved advertised at a "great price!" and immediately plunked down a credit card number and booked? Wrong: Without doing proper research, you could be missing out on big savings.

Booking nonrefundable rates

Every wondered why nonrefundable rates are cheaper than the regular rack rates, even if the room is the same? It's because the hotelier benefits from the lower price, too. Locking you in at that low rate guarantees she or he won't have an empty room, which would cost the hotelier money. Of course, trying to pinch a few pennies will end up costing you if you need to cancel.

READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 10 hotel booking mistakes you don't know you're making
 

The Corliss Group Travel review: De Haan, Belgium

As we settle back with a coffee and a full cooked breakfast, the English Channel stretching before us, calm as a millpond under a blue sky, we briefly consider the rather more stressful trips we’ve taken that began with a plane or train.

But this time was different.

The ease with which we cleared customs at Dover, drove on to our ferry headed for Dunkirk and waved farewell to the “marshmallow cliffs” had got the holiday off to a very good start, despite the early hour.

It is a two-hour sailing, and once we’ve all eaten, stocked up on duty-free and supervised a run-around in the children’s soft play area, our destination port is in sight, and we’ve not heard a single “are we nearly there yet”.

We hadn’t previously considered Belgium as a holiday destination, but the opportunity to indulge the children’s obsession with bike riding and their appreciation for waffles inspired us to give it a go. We fancied an easy trip abroad with the prospect of mussels, frites and mayonnaise, and of course, it would be rude to visit without sampling the Leffe.

We’re staying at Sunparks De Haan, a family holiday park that’s an easy 45-minute drive up the coast from Dunkirk. It offers cottages with gardens, a lake and safe roads, once everyone has unloaded their luggage and deposited their cars in the separate car park. It’s the perfect base to explore 42 miles of Belgian coastline on foot and by bike, with museums and theme parks thrown in for good measure.

One of the park’s attractions is the Aquafun subtropical pool complex with three water slides, waves every 15 minutes and pools to suit any age. We spend our first afternoon, conscious that the children have been up since 5am, very happily shambling around the waterways before hitting the adjacent restaurants and huge outdoor deck for pizza and beer as the sun sets.

We’re careful not to indulge too much though, because the other main draw card here is the cycling. We strap our youngest into a seat on the back of one bike while our five-year-old quickly comes to terms with a tandem. The evening is still blissfully warm so we set off for a ride around the lake, the children waving to all the other youngsters whose parents are similarly merrily disregarding bedtimes.

Being Belgium, there are dedicated cycle paths criss-crossing the countryside, so we take to the bikes the next morning and set off for De Haan, the coastal town with its beautifully restored Belle Epoque neighbourhood, in search of sea and waffles.

It’s an easy 15-minute cycle - marred only by one in our party throwing up his hands in horror when we come across a car - before we find ourselves amid exquisite homes and gardens and the elegant La Potiniere recreation park surrounded by picture-perfect carousels and ice cream vendors.

High-rise building in the town is forbidden and owners are only allowed to build on one-sixth of their plot. The winding streets guarantee peace and quiet and safety for junior cyclists. Restored approximately five years ago, La Potiniere is the “green heart” of the De Haan and has a network of paths perfect for the go-carts available for hire.

We stroll to the promenade and select a beachside cafe where we order the best waffles we’ll ever eat, before making a leisurely trip back to our cottage via a spot of window-shopping at the boutiques selling designer homewares and children’s clothes and accessories.

De Haan is a 15-minute car journey from Bruges - too tempting a trip to pass up. We wrangle the children away from the pools and bikes with the promise of a canal trip, which we make as the sun sets on the city’s plentiful and beautiful spires and bridges.

The city - for all its world-class history and architecture - is a blast for children. Ours spend the afternoon marvelling at the steady procession of horses trotting around with their carriages full of tourists and street entertainers handing out lollipops to those throwing them a coin.

We eat mussels and frites at a reasonable price - by no means a given in Bruges - and top off our visit with yet another ice cream as we wander through the central market square and its extraordinary buildings.

But the trip home is no stress-filled journey back to reality either.

We set off back down the coast at a leisurely 10am the next morning and stop off at the Plopsaland theme park, named after the popular Belgian children’s television character. It’s all Viking-themed swords and helmets across this lovely park, where queues for the rides for youngest children can be fairly long, but those for older visitors can be practically non-existent if you time it right over lunchtime.

The newest section of the park features the ‘Wickie the Battle’ ride where all but the very youngest children can board pirate ships and fire water guns in fierce fights with passing boats, or at unsuspecting bystanders peacefully eating lunch from the Viking-themed grill. Never was more fun had on the way home, and the day’s activities make for a peaceful car journey for the remaining 15-minute trip to the port, gentle snores coming from the back seats.

The Corliss Group Tour Packages Tips on How to keep your food safe while traveling

Tips to keep your food safe while traveling

What makes summer fun – the picnics, the cookouts, the family reunions, the road trips, the beach vacations – often involves traveling with food.

It’s a challenge to keep food safe from pesky bacteria that can make people sick and choose dishes that provide maximum flavor.

We gathered advice[see: http://corlisstravel.livejournal.com ] from experts well-versed in the art of traveling with food: DeeDee Stovel, a former caterer from Northern California who wrote “Picnic: 125 Recipes with 29 Seasonal Menus,” and two North Carolina authors who have written tailgating cookbooks, Debbie Moose of Raleigh, author of “Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home,” and Taylor Mathis of Charlotte, author of “The Southern Tailgating Cookbook.”

Preparing

• Follow sanitary practices when preparing food. Wash hands before handling ingredients, especially raw meat. Don’t cut raw meat and vegetables on the same cutting board.

• Choose ingredients that are safer to eat outdoors in hot weather. Skip mayonnaise-based dressings for salads; try dressings with oil and vinegar or some other acid. Avoid dips and spreads that are heavy on dairy products, such as cream cheese or heavy cream; serve salsa instead.

• Chill food thoroughly before packing it in a cooler. Stovel said, “Don’t cool (food) in the cooler.”

Packing

• Cold food needs to be kept at 40 degrees or below to prevent bacterial growth. The key, Moose said, is “ice and more ice and then get some more ice.” If you don’t want to deal with coolers filled with water at outings’ end, Stovel offers this advice: Fill clean, recycled milk containers with water, leaving some space at the top for ice to expand. Freeze until solid. Use those blocks of ice to keep food cold.

• Keep raw meat separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination. Pack burger patties, marinated chicken or other raw meat in a separate cooler, and label it as being used for that purpose. The last thing you want, Moose said, is someone grabbing a cup of ice from the cooler that held raw meat.

• Keep ice for drinks and even beverages in a separate, labeled cooler. If more ice is needed to keep food cold, raid the beverage cooler. “If the choice is between keeping soda cold and keeping raw meat cold,” Moose said, “nobody has died from drinking a warm soda, so act accordingly.”

• Consider investing in equipment such as insulated bags to tote food to outings and to wrap around casserole dishes. Reusable ice packs come in many shapes and sizes: small bags, large blocks, can coolers, flexible blankets and more. Retailers also sell electric coolers that can plug into a car’s outlet or cigarette lighter; prices range based on size from $60 to $150. About the latter, Stovel said, “we got this when we were traveling across the country.”

Serving

• Leave food in the cooler until ready to serve. Once food is served, it should sit out no longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour if temperatures are above 90 degrees. “Pay attention to what the weather is going to be like,” Mathis said. And keep track of the time.

• Keep hand sanitizer and disposable gloves on hand, especially if you are handling raw meat to grill. “You don’t have the sink to wash your hands,” Moose said.

• Some ingredients need to wait until the last minute: Slice tomatoes to top burgers or salads. Wait to toss salads with dressings until right before serving. “I like to dress salads on site so things don’t get soggy,” Mathis said. Another tip: Pack dressing in a recycled water bottle or a Mason jar.

• Put prepared foods on ice to serve. Mathis recommends using sets of nesting bowls for this purpose: Place the food in the smaller bowl and set it inside a large bowl of ice. Other ideas: Use disposable lasagna pans filled with ice, or even a large black trash bag filled with ice, nestled around the food container. “It’s not going to win any decorating awards, but it will do the job,” Moose said.

• If you do a lot of outdoor entertaining, consider investing in some insulated serving bowls that are placed in the freezer beforehand; prices range from $55 to $130.

• Enjoy yourself. “Just have fun picnicking,” Stovel said. “I think it’s one of the best ways to entertain. The food is all prepared, and you just have to bring it, spread it out and the party’s on.”

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The Corliss Group Voyage Hong Kong: Hard-to-get reservations

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/collection-2/hardtoget-reservations-20140428-37dma.html

To properly impress, celebrate, or indulge - and we mean once-in-a-lifetime properly - you'll need to push the fine-dining boat out a fair bit further than usual. Here are our recommendations and tips.

Many of the world's finest dining experiences require more than deep pockets. A certain level of ingenuity and persistence are necessary to garner the “impossible to get reservation”. Intensive research, some local knowledge and foreign language skills can also help to open doors to Michelin-star restaurants' little-known private rooms and to members-only clubs. Some equally special experiences merely require travel to exotic, faraway places.

Here, you'll find a handful of unique dining destinations, hidden rooms and places of pilgrimage,that only those in the know, know about.

Noma, Copenhagen

Claims to be the most difficult restaurant in the world in which to secure a reservation. On the sixth day of the month, every month, reservations open for tables three months in advance. Allegedly more than 20,000 emails flood Noma's computer system on that day. One way around the issue is to book Noma's private dining room, located above the restaurant's main dining room and next door to the prep kitchen and culinary "lab". The long, private space overlooks Copenhagen's waterfront warehouses and a new pedestrian footbridge that links the dockside with the city.

Annabel's, London

London's older clubs, like Annabel's, on Mayfair's Berkeley Square, has been welcoming members since 1963. Established as a private member's club, Annabel's elegant restaurant is complete with Morrocan-style ceiling and its own starlit dance floor.

Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo

Jiro Ono is the 86-year-old chef and owner of this three-star subterranean sushi bar in Gina. Consisting of only seven seats, all of which face the bar, it affords up-close views of Jiro at work. This restaurant is a place of pilgrimage for sushi aficionados. The ¥30,000 per person ($330) 20-course menu of sashimi, sushi and uni (fresh sea urchin) can be matched with sake. The whole experience is over in an hour, but to secure a seat you need a Japanese local (perhaps your hotel concierge) to make the reservation.

Taillevent, Paris

One of Paris' grand dining institutions, Taillevent was awarded its firstMichelin star in 1948 and held three stars for 34 years. Housed in amansion, formerly the residence of the Duc de Morny, in Paris' 9th Arrondissement, Taillevent has two private dining rooms – the Guimet, where the Duc de Morny received Napoleon, and the Saturne, the Duc's bedroom, decorated with Louis XVI panelling. Chef Alain Soliveres offers a choice of four menus, starting at €120–230 ($180–$340).

Longitude 131, Uluru

At dusk, as the desert colours begin to work their magic, a table for two is set on a private sand dune overlooking Uluru and Kata Tjuta national park. As the light changes and rolls over the ancient rock formations, the sun gradually sets, giving way to a dazzling night sky. A billion stars twinkle gently above, the desert is quiet and dinner is served.

Hutong, Hong Kong

On the 28th floor of 1 Peking Road, elevator doors open to reveal glamorous Michelin-star Hutong. Dimly lit to take full advantage of floor-to-ceiling views across the harbour and the city's famous light show, Hutong is wildly romantic. And the private rooms. are even more so. Its northern Chinese dishes are fiery and beautifully presented, especially the signature soft shell crab served with deep-fried chillies.

Kee Club, Shanghai

The sister club to Hong Kong's legendary private members' Kee Club, this newer, Shanghai outpost permits non-member visitors to its restaurant. Housed in two grand 1920s villas, it is also home to an impressive art collection, and offers four private dining rooms.

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The Corliss Group Voyage Hong Kong, Top deals: Cruise with Shannan Ponton or Tim Webster, on Russian rivers or Melbourne’s biggest ever cruise ship

BRAD Crouch has sought out the week’s best cruise specials. These fabulous deals are sure to be snapped up fast.

HONG KONG PLUS

CRUISE from Hong Kong to Sydney with stops in Vietnam, Singapore and the Top End aboard the 1990-guest Sun Princess. The package starts with a flight to Hong Kong and a night at the Citadines Ashley Hotel, followed by the 17-night cruise visiting Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Darwin and Port Douglas before finishing in Sydney. The package departs on October 11 and is priced from $2499 a person, twin share.

LUXURIOUS RUSSIA

APT will introduce a newly refurbished Russian river cruise ship next year, which it promises is the most luxurious vessel to grace Russia’s waterways, with features such as five dining options and a pool with two hot tubs. APT is offering river cruises aboard the Anastasia as part of several itineraries for 2015, including the 14-day Russian Waterways from Moscow to St Petersburg via the Volga, Svir and Neva rivers. Priced from $7795 a person, twin share, highlights include sightseeing in Moscow and St Petersburg, visits to the Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, as well as Goritsy, and lakes Onega and Ladoga.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

FEEL like a winner by getting health and fitness tips on a fun cruise with The Biggest Loser coach Shannan Ponton. Cruises on Carnival Spirit this winter will have Ponton on board helping with workouts and suggesting healthy meal options. Cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu with Ponton from $979 a person, twin share, on a nine-night cruise departing Sydney on July 23, or on an eight-night cruise to New Caledonia departing Sydney on August 12, priced from $909 a person, twin share.

ATLANTIC TRIP

NEW York, London, Paris and 5-star luxury in between feature on an escorted transatlantic cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2. Priced from $8500 a person, twin share, this 17-day trip departs September 24 and includes air travel to New York and return from Paris, a seven-night cruise aboard the QM2, three nights in New York, two nights in London, three nights in Paris, dinner and show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and sightseeing tours in all three cities. The trip is hosted by TV personality Tim Webster.

BIG AND BEAUTIFUL

PRINCESS Cruises will base a record five ships in Australia next year, with the 2600-guest Golden Princess debuting down under as the biggest ship ever to have Melbourne as its home port. Its five-month season over 2015-16 will include holidays to New Zealand, the South Pacific and Tasmania, with fares starting from $1849 a person, twin share, for a 13-night New Zealand cruise. More than half of the 108,000-tonne ship’s staterooms have private balconies and it has four swimming pools, 10 restaurants and cafes and a spa.

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The Corliss Group Voyage Hong Kong - Tips to find the best package holidays - plus 10 of the best deals to book now

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/holiday-deals/tips-to-find-the-best-package-holidays-plus-10-of-the-best-deals-to-book-now/story-fnjjv328-1226887821149

TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR butler service? Free kid’s club?

What would grab your attention to book a package holiday? Australians have been touted as the second-biggest holiday spenders in the world (after the Saudis), and travel companies are working hard to nab a lucrative share of that travel dollar.

On average, Australians spend $3962 on an overseas trip, shadowing the global average of $2300, according to Visa’s latest Global Travel Intentions study. The report also revealed Aussies plan to increase their holiday budget by almost 10 per cent on their next trip to an average $4331.

So what are travel companies willing to do to turn a holiday-maker’s head?

Colin Bowman, Flight Centre’s general manager of marketing, says companies are always looking for ways to add value to a package. “I was in Hong Kong recently and the hotel we stayed at offered guests a mobile phone for the duration of their stay with calls charged at a local rate,” he says. “It’s the small but very important inclusions like these which can set a package aside.”

Matthew Cameron-Smith, managing director of Trafalgar Australia, says savvy Australian travellers want an experience that offers authenticity.

Cameron-Smith says: “Anyone can pay to have dinner on the Champs Elysees in Paris, but how many can organise a meal in a private 100-year-old goat farm in rural France or a lemon grove in Tuscany?”

Creative Holidays managing director James Gaskell says everyone loves a bonus – welcome cocktails, free massages, upgrade offers, late check-out or return airport transfers – which they offer through Creative Club packages.

The perfect travel package depends on the traveller – a family group, those after adventure or couples looking for a little luxury.

THE FAMILY PACKAGE

Leah Squire, owner of family travel specialists BYOKids.com.au, says parents love all-inclusive holidays where they can pay upfront and know in advance what they’re up for. Companies such as Club Med and family-friendly resorts in Fiji often offer packages that include all meals, beverages and entertainment, which BYOKids can package with flights and accommodation.

“It’s a real benefit to a family to know what a holiday will cost upfront,” Squire says. “Once they arrive at their destination, all they need to budget for is their spending money.

“Family groups also love the idea of value-added inclusions, things like free kids club and kids eat-and-stay free bonuses.”

Squire says the family holiday package industry is booming as parents become more time-poor. “Ten years ago families were going on less complex holidays so they could make the arrangements on their own,” she says. “But families have shifted from two weeks at a caravan park to Bali, Fiji, Europe and the US and they need help planning it.”

THE LUXURY PACKAGE

Luxury packages are all about the added touches – even little things like thread count in sheets and exclusive toiletries – that make the difference between a good hotel and a great hotel, says Mark Hoenig of LuxuryEscapes.com.

Even though luxury seekers are willing to pay a little extra, they still seek a good deal.

“People will often pay a little bit more if they’re getting amazing value,” Hoenig says. “Ultimately, if the accommodation itself isn’t of a sufficiently high standard, it doesn’t matter how many meals or spa treatments are included.

“We don’t have set rules for what goes into one of our packages, it depends on what the provider does well. If a resort is famous for its restaurants, we’ll try to add a significant gourmet aspect, such as special dinners and cooking classes. If the hotel has an award-winning spa, we’ll include a variety of spa treatments.”

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EXPERT weekly advice on your travel dilemmas.

My husband and I will be arriving in Hong Kong in June at 5am and departing at 8.15pm the same day. Is there anything we can do during this time?

Doc: With comfy shoes and lots of energy you should be able to make the most of your day. Start by jumping on the Airport Express to Kowloon – it takes 24 minutes and departs every 10 minutes. Then take an early- morning walk along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. You’ll get a great view of the busy harbour and see the Avenue of Stars, with statues and handprints of celebrities. Next to the ferry terminal is the Museum of Art showing collections of ancient art and antiques (note: it’s closed on Thursdays). Hop on the Star Ferry across to Central then head to the Pier Eight bus terminus and take shuttle bus No. 15 to the Peak Tram Station. Board the tram for the climb up Victoria Peak for fantastic views. Grab some traditional Asian food at one of the restaurants, then do the one-hour walk around the peak. You may then have time to go back to Central Pier Six and catch the ferry to Mui Wo. From here take New Lantao bus two to Ngong Ping Village (about 40 minutes), where there’s the giant Tian Tan Buddha and the reconstructed village showing traditional Chinese architecture. Or, for a more relaxing afternoon, head back down to the Central MTR train station and take the 10-minute trip to Mong Kok. This is known as “the area that never rests” – it’s hectic but there’s plenty of bargain shopping and good cheap eateries. Make your way back to Central where you get the Airport Express back to the airport. You’ll find a check-in service for many major airlines at the main MTR stations. There you can check in and receive your boarding pass. It’s best to check with your airline whether this is possible.

My husband and I are planning a three-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia this year. I would like to buy some good-quality mementos of our holiday – perhaps having clothes made, a painting or jewellery. Do you have any tips for not getting taken advantage of and finding that you paid triple the price, or worse, finding out when you get home that your purchase never arrived?

Doc: Having clothes made in Vietnam, particularly if you are going to Hoi An where there are more than 400 tailors and loads of shoemakers, is amazing. It’s simple, unbelievably quick and good quality. If you have a favourite item, it’s a good idea to take it with you, or even a photo or magazine cut-out and the tailors will copy it. Usually, if you see them in the morning you can go back later in the afternoon for a fitting. Then, all going well, it should be ready for collection the next day. The range of material on hand is huge but I suggest that if you have a particular fabric in mind, take enough with you. The prices are cheap and I haven’t heard of anyone encountering any problems. The people are very kind and honest. Art is also readily available in both countries and can be original or copies of other works. Shop around – prices can vary considerably. Buy only the canvas and have it framed at home. That way you alleviate any freight issues. Regarding jewellery, you will come across many stores offering a huge array. It’s OK to buy costume and traditional pieces but unless you’re knowledgeable about gemstones, this is not the best place to buy them. Be sure to get official receipts of purchases for Customs.

My husband and I would like to travel from Zurich to Venice by train. Would we have to change trains in Milan and how much time would we need to get from one platform to another. Also, what are the fares?

Doc: There are two options and both require a change in Milan. Firstly, there’s the slower, more scenic journey called the Bernina Route. Start by catching a train from Zurich to Chur. They run every 30 minutes, take 1.5 hours and cost about $80. See the website sbb.ch. Then change to the 8.30am Bernina Express, with its special panoramic sightseeing carriages, to Tirano. It’s about $90 a person for this sector and a reservation is needed. You’ll need to leave Zurich before 6.30am and the Bernina Express will be on the other side of the platform. The ride on the Bernina is a spectacular four-hour journey through 55 tunnels and about 200 bridges. In Tirano, hop on a local train to Milan for about $17. They run every two hours. Option two is to take the EuroCity train from Zurich to Milan for about $40. Both will require you to change in Milan to a high-speed train, which will take about 2.5 hours to reach Venice and cost about $80 in first class and $57 in second (italiarail.com). Changing platforms is usually quick and easy, as there’s no check-in or physical barriers. The high-speed trains run at least every hour from Milan, so don’t worry about running.

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