Emily Kaufman
The Travel Mom
Think you might have missed the boat on planning a great summer getaway? Don’t worry. Summer may be in full swing, but it’s not too late to plan a summer vacation if you think you’ve missed out on the good deals. From road trips to air travel, Emily Kaufman, the Travel Mom, has the 411 on keeping the kids entertained when you travel, where to get last minute travel deals, great destinations, where to stay when you get there, and how families can pack the most value into their vacation dollars.
Let Technology Keep the Kids Entertained When You Travel. Emily is a big fan of a boredom buster bag filled with snacks, games, books and technology to keep kids entertained on road trips or long flights. So what’s her latest must have technology essential to pack? A touch tablet powered by Windows 8 – like the Acer Iconia W3. It’s a great in-car or in-flight entertainment center for the kids to watch movies or play games on since it can lie flat on any surface and two people can touch the screen at the same time. The Acer Iconia W3 eliminates excess devices like eReaders, MP3 players and gaming devices since it’s all-in-one. The cool thing about Windows 8 is that it’s made for touch, making it easier than ever for kids and parents to watch movies, play games and surf the web. Find out more at MicrosoftStore.com.
Last Minute Deals Can Be Found Online. It’s not too late to book your summer vacation if you haven’t already and if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, American Express Travel is a great one-stop-shop to book your last minute summer getaway. Go online to check out the current deals or you can speak with one of their travel agents, that are like your own personal travel counselor, for a more customized experience. Although many people associate travel counselors with high costs and lots of hassle, it’s quite actually the opposite since they specialize in specific destinations with an intimate knowledge of each place that turns ordinary vacations into something really special whether it’s a vineyard tour of Sonoma, a Hawaii vacation or a river cruise in the U.S. or Europe, they can create a personalized vacation for your budget. Go to travelinsiders.americanexpress.com.
Don’t Wait to Book a Hawaii Vacation – No Passport Needed. Hawai‘i, the Big Island, has long been regarded as the island of adventure and inspiration for its unmatched natural beauty, warm aloha spirit found in its island people, and unforgettable experiences and now is a great time to visit. Whether exploring by earth, sea, or sky, Hawai‘i Island offers a great value for families this summer and heading into the fall and is packed with inspiring experiences that are perfect for travelers of all ages. The youngest island in the Hawaiian chain and by far the biggest, it has five national parks including renowned Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, featuring one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It’s also where you’ll find amazing stargazing atop Maunakea, the tallest sea mountain on the planet. You’ll find a diverse range of landscape from lush rainforests to volcanic deserts to beautiful white and black sand beaches and sometimes even snow-capped mountaintops. Hawai‘i Island has two international airports – located in Kona on the west, and Hilo on the east – which makes getting to the island easy from major U.S. gateway cities or the neighbor islands. Go to bigisland.org and plan your tropical vacation.
Get 300% More Out Of Your Vacation. Embassy Suites is the hotel brand known for giving guests more with every stay, including two-room suites for families to spread out, free cooked-to-order breakfast each morning, and a complimentary evening reception every night. This summer, as part of their pledge to help families get 300% MORE enjoyment out of their vacations, they have partnered with the Association of Children’s Museums to create opportunities for families to learn and discover, with special perks at nearly 20 children’s museums across the country. One day a month, families staying at Embassy Suites in select cities will have access to special guest-only VIP offerings at local children’s museums like a discount at the gift shop, and some lucky families will even be surprised and delighted with free tickets!
HERE ARE MUSEUMS WHERE PERKS WILL BE AVAILABLE:
- Atlanta: Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- Austin: Austin Children’s Museum
- Chicago: Chicago Children’s Museum
- Dallas/Fort Worth: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
- Denver: Children’s Museum of Denver
- Houston: Children’s Museum of Houston
- Indianapolis: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Miami: Miami Children’s Museum
- New Orleans: Louisiana Children’s Museum
- Omaha: Omaha Children’s Museum
- Philadelphia: Please Touch Museum
- Phoenix: Children’s Museum of Phoenix
- San Antonio: San Antonio Children’s Museum
- San Diego: The New Children’s Museum
- Seattle: The Children’s Museum, Seattle
- St. Louis: Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
- Tampa: Glazer Children’s Museum
- Washington, DC: National Children’s Museum
- Wilmington, DE: Delaware Children’s Museum
Visit www.EmbassySuites.com/300more for a full list of participating hotels, destination tips, and to book your next stay.
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