Marrakech is a well-known haven for incredible luxury boutique hotels.  I was determined to find a kid-friendly version of one while planning our family trip to Morocco in October.

Boutique Souk, a popular upscale concierge and trip planning service, introduced us to the Beldi Country Club. We are grateful for this recommendation —the Beldi is a gem for families who want an intimate hotel experience with a strong sense of place.

Although the Beldi has just 27 rooms, the property is set on acres of spectacular gardens. To say there is room for kids to roam is an understatement as the Beldi has more nooks and crannies than children can possibly explore in a single vacation. The bigger issue is getting lost!

Kid-Friendly Vibe

Like most of the hotels featured in the Ciao Bambino portfolio, the Beldi is not a family-focused hotel with kids running amok everywhere. That doesn’t mean this hotel is not kid-friendly …

Quite the opposite. The atmosphere is casual, not stuffy or formal, and the service follows suit. Families are present, and so are couples and small groups enjoying the stunning setting. The point is that everyone feels at home here.

Design with a Sense of Place

The Beldi is a true design-oriented hotel; the owners have worked hard to create a sense of place. Wonderful local art and textiles are displayed throughout the property, including the guest rooms.

Pottery Lessons for Kids

The Beldi captured my Ciao Bambino heart when I learned about their pottery program for kids.  There is a working pottery studio on the property where extraordinary pieces are commissioned and sold.

Children can participate in pottery school held every afternoon. Devon spent a few hours there and rolled up his sleeves with local artisans. What a treat! This is the exact kind of experiential activity for kids that engages them in a destination.

Decadent Spa

Even people staying at other hotels in Marrakech opt to spend the day at the Beldi’s decadent spa. It’s an exotic place to be and feel pampered.

For my visit, a traditional hamman treatment and scrub was in order post our unbelievable journey to the desert with Kensington Tours. I have no doubt that you could spend a blissful day in this spa and have it be a “parents-only” vacation highlight.

Other Amenties

There are two swimming pools on the property. Both look fabulous, however, unfortunate weather during our stay prevented us from giving either one a test drive. Two restaurants are available, as well as kids’ menus.

The Beldi is located just 10 minutes outside of the Marrakech Medina and is a welcome escape from any sense of urban chaos.

The Beldi provided complimentary accommodations for our overnight. They did not request that we express any point of view. As usual, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy and the Beldi Country Club.

Relevant Links:

Morocco with kids planning tips

Kid-friendly tour of the Marrakech Medina

Family-friendly sustainable tourism in the High Atlas Mountains

Visiting the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes with children

Ciao Bambino Desert Adventure Tour with Kensington Tours

This is a sponsored post SellMyTimeShareNow.com.

Every parent knows that once their children reach a certain age the demands for a trip to Disney World soon follow.  Do not attempt to ignore these requests.  Your children have been sold on this trip from a very early age with every Disney film they watch and every magical commercial they have seen, and their pleas will only increase in volume and frequency until you inevitably cave in.

So save yourself and your spouse from the days, weeks and years of begging and pleading by making your next family trip to Disney.

Photo courtesy of Christian Lambert on Flickr

Finding Accommodations

Once you’ve made your decision to go, it’s important to find the accommodations that are going to best fit your family’s needs.  The traditional method for traveling families has seemed to always revolve around packing everyone into one of the many hotel or motel rooms in the Orlando-Kissimmee area.  With a family of four this means everyone is sharing a bed, and if you have more than four in your family, someone’s sleeping on the floor or on a cot.

Aside from the sleeping situation, traditional hotel rooms don’t have much space in which to spread out.  When tired children have no way to get away from one another, it can eventually lead to the dreaded “meltdown”.

The other downside of many hotels is the cost versus the proximity to your child’s favorite theme park.  Everyone wants to be closer to the parks, but price increases exponentially as the distance decreases.  Less expensive options are available in towns outside the main park area, but then you have to deal with the hassle (and cost) of finding transportation to and from each day.  The ideal situation would be finding a place to stay that is affordable, spacious, and close to Disney, which is why many families are choosing to rent timeshare weeks from Disney Vacation Club owners.

Disney Vacation Club

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is a points-based timeshare membership program in which families can purchase  are an annual allotment of Disney Points which can be exchanged for accommodations at any of the Disney Vacation Club resorts. Because the annual points are purchased in advance for a set number of years, the cost of these points is significantly less than the cost of trying to book accommodations each year as a non-member. Plus, the DVC resort accommodations are far superior to anything available in a hotel  or motel.

On occasion, DVC owners either cannot use their points or reserved week.  Their membership requires them to pay annual maintenance fees on the ownership (whether they use the week or not), so they may choose to rent their week out to cover these expenses.  This then gives Disney travelers the opportunity to stay in suites at some of Disney’s best resorts for prices equivalent to what they might pay for nearby hotel rooms.

Pricing and Cost Savings

Because all DVC members have purchased their accommodation in advance at a reduced rate, they are often willing to pass on these cost savings to renters. Plus Disney’s timeshare resorts offer plenty of perks and additional amenities on-site, so you can save on non-park activities, dining and more.

Unit Amenities

The units themselves are a huge upgrade as most come with separate bedrooms, living rooms, and fully equipped kitchens, which makes it a very attractive alternative to those traveling with families.  Being able to spread out and let the kids play in the living room while you cook a meal is both relaxing and cost effective.  Most of the suites also come with washers and dryers, which can be invaluable for those traveling with babies and young children prone to messes.

Location, Location, Location

The resorts are located right among the various theme parks like Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and the Magic Kingdom, and complimentary shuttles to the parks are a regular feature at DVC resorts.  Within minutes you can be in the parks in the morning and quickly back to your room in the evening without worrying about getting tired children home.

The resorts also offer a number of services and amenities that aren’t available at hotels like activities for the children, complimentary shuttles to and from the airport, beautiful pools and fitness centers.   Disney is a place for families, and so are its resorts.

With all the options available to you, it’s important to research what’s going to be best for your family’s comfort and financial means.  If you’re planning on visiting Disney for a week, look into renting a Disney timeshare from one of the many owners listing their properties on sites like SellMyTimeshareNOW.com.

Relevant Links:

Walt Disney World tips for all ages

Disney World with teens, unexpected magic

10 surprises on the Disney Dream

The Matterhorn is ever-present in good weather. One never tires of this view!

If you’re dreaming of an incredible Swiss ski experience, Zermatt, home of the Matterhorn, delivers. Insane mountain scenery paired with an old-style European village transport visitors to a winter paradise.

Winter and summer months alike, I always urge friends and family enjoying Swiss vacations to experience Zermatt, at least for a night or two. Located just a few hours via car or train from both Geneva and Zurich, Zermatt is surprisingly easy to access given the remote location.

As always, knowing tips and tricks ahead of time makes traveling with kids much easier. I’m running a series on our blog on essential need-to-know points for families at Europe’s top family ski resorts. I started with tips for visiting Grindelwald a few weeks ago — it’s time for another iconic ski area, Zermatt!

The biggest problem after reading this series will be deciding where to go …

Have lunch in Italy and dinner in Switzerland. How cool is that?

Essential Tips for an Enjoyable Family Ski Holiday in Zermatt

Transportation

Zermatt is car-free which means the village is eco-friendly and much quieter than the average world-class ski resort. If you self-drive to the resort, you can only go as far as Tasch and then need to hop on the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway for a 20-minute ride to the village.

Unless you already own a car in Switzerland, there is really no reason to drive a vehicle, as the train system is unbelievably efficient. It’s expensive like most things in this country, although there are a number of passes with more attractive pricing available thorough the Swiss Travel System, including options where children under 16 travel for free with parents.

Luggage

One of the main reasons families opt not to take the train on family ski vacations is the hassle of schlepping equipment, luggage, and children on and off crowded trains.

The good news is that there is a solution to this problem! I just tried Swiss Rail’s Fast Baggage program where you can drop your luggage off prior to travel (must be by 9a for same-day delivery) and pick it up at your destination.

In Zermatt, many of the hotels have their own free taxi service to/from the train station; in this case, the hotel can pick up your luggage for you and deliver it right to your room. At 22 CHF per luggage item (17 CHF for Family Card holders), this is a huge perk!

For those flying into Switzerland from abroad, there is also a Fly Rail Baggage program where you can check in luggage at the airport of departure and not pick it up until you reach the train station of your final destination (or in the case of Zermatt per the above caveat, you may be able to not have to deal with luggage again until check-in).

The big caveat is your luggage MUST arrive in the morning at the airport to make it the same day at your destination. Luggage arriving in the afternoon or evening will arrive two days later.

Arrive the old-fashioned way at the historic Mont Cervin Palace hotel

Family-Friendly Zermatt Accommodations

I’ve stayed at many accommodations now in Zermatt. I have a few favorites profiled in our Switzerland family hotel portfolio.

There are a few options we haven’t added to the portfolio yet that are wonderful for families. For a value-oriented 3-star, Hotel Alpenrose has one of the best Matterhorn views in town and is located right next to the gondola. Rooms are simple but spotless and comfortable.

Casa Vanessa is another favorite with apartment-style rooms in an unbeatable location. The quality and size of units vary greatly, but the hotel has nice service and breakfast.

I stayed at La Ginabelle recently. This 4-star has newly renovated rooms including family suites. Best of all, they have a free kids’ club that is open all day through dinner! We loved this amenity and found it to be a huge asset for parents that want some downtime.

I also adore the Zurbriggen. They offer primarily week-long stays in the winter, but these apartment-style hotel rooms are luxurious with incredible views.

For luxury fans, the Mont Cervin Palace is a huge treat! Gorgeous suites and family apartments are ideal with kids. They have one of the biggest and most appealing indoor pools I’ve ever seen anywhere, and a winter kids’ club for babies through age 8.

Stay tuned for complete reviews of these properties throughout the season.

Best burger in Switzerland is at Chez Vrony

Ski Passes

Zermatt offers free ski passes to children 9 and under. This year’s cut off is for children who are born before December 31, 2002. You must have an ID with a birth date available at the ticket window.

Best Beginner Ski Park in Zermatt

Zermatt is vast but fairly easy to navigate. The Zermatt ski map shows an “L” in the parks designated for beginners.

The area called Sunnegga is a favorite for families as it is sunny and not as windy as some of the other parts of Zermatt. There is an area called Wolli Park optimized for first-time skiers (adults and kids).

Hot Tip: If you are skiing in Sunnegga with kids and they can take a chairlift and ski down a blue slope, be sure and hit my all-time favorite Swiss restaurant, Chez Vrony for lunch. Views and food are not to be believed. Adorable owners dash all thoughts of rude Swiss service. Reservations are essential!

Wolli, the beloved Zermatt mascot for kids

Zermatt Ski School for Kids

Like most Swiss ski resorts, there are several ski schools from which to choose in Zermatt. The largest is the official Ski and Snowboard School (known as the “red coats”). Word has it they have great instructors and offer an extensive dedicated children’s area called Snowli Kids Village.

On our last visit, we opted for the much smaller and more personalized British Summit Ski School.  After comparative phone calls, I found that they were easier to deal with by a long shot and were very flexible around our needs. Most important, the kids in our group ranging from ages 4-10 loved their experience!

Hot Tip: There are no standalone group lessons offered on weekends. Group lessons in Zermatt are optimized for week-long stays. It’s best to find kids to create your own private group if you are there just for a quick getaway.

Zermatt Terrain and Ski Experience

Despite Zermatt’s vast size, a massive amount of the terrain has guaranteed snow as they have extensive snow cannons around the area. The top of Zermatt is a glacier and skiable all year around.

One difference between Zermatt and other areas is that the bulk of the skiers are there on vacation and act accordingly. Long lunches and extended après ski time is to be expected.

You never know who may come to the rescue

Ski Patrol

Americans will notice the lack of visible ski patrol. The tourist board assured me they are there when needed, but they are not actively patrolling the slopes like they do in the US.

Be sure and always carry a ski map with emergency numbers. Zermatt has their own helicopter evacuation service called Air Zermatt. For an extra 4 CHF per day, skiers can take out insurance covering this service. Note, it only covers official Zermatt slopes (not closed or off-piste areas).

Should your plans include off-piste skiing, be sure and check with your own provider regarding evacuation coverage.

Other Activities

At the end of the day, winter in Zermatt is really about skiing. There are a few toboggan areas, but nothing extensive like you see at other resorts like Grindelwald.

There are a few snowshoe and hiking trails where you can trek to a glorious lunch spot. Recommended for non-ski days! In addition, there is a free ice skating rink in the center of town.

If you’re staying at a hotel that doesn’t offer a kids’ club (most don’t), there is a daycare center in town called Kinderparadies for ages 3 months an up.

Relevant Links:

Navigating skiing in Grindelwald with kids

Ciao Bambino recommended Switzerland family hotels

Zermatt ski tips from a local

This post is sponsored by HomeAway, offering the largest selection of worldwide vacation home rentals online.

As my kids get older, our vacations are changing. Though my tween and teen are always up for a good adventure, time to relax and just hang out as a family is inching higher up on the wish list. The trick then becomes getting just the right balance. Too much down time can quickly turn into boredom.

Photo courtesy of WayneConcepts on Flickr

Growing Bigger & Wiser

As a family of four, we’re by no means a big family, but now that my girls are close to full grown size, being packed into a standard hotel room doesn’t quite hold the allure it once did. Necessary hotel accommodations can also be tough on a family budget.

Room to Breathe

We’ve had great success renting apartments around the world. A stunning summer week in a quintessential Paris apartment, a long winter weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland (we needed extra room for all our coats and scarves) and a Spring Break in Disney dominated Orlando. On each trip, our home away from home added to the enjoyment and success of each trip.

Dream Digs

Which only leads me imagine, dream actually, what it would be like to rent a house for a special family trip.  Not just an ordinary house, the kind of house you dream about. The kind of house that WOWs you and makes you feel good the moment you walk in the door.

Location, Location, Location

For me, a dream rental vacation home is one where you can see warm, turquoise water from every window. A home where you can count the steps from your bed to the beach on two hands. A home where you can escape it all, but quickly make it back when your taste for modern comfort, adventure or simply incredible fudge kicks in. Chocoholics stay tuned!

Key West

I’d love to spend a week with my family at a dream rental home in Key West. Surprised? Don’t be. Though many think of the island as an adult destination, there’s plenty for families to enjoy.

Key West is a fun, seaside cottage style town for all ages to explore. Where much of Florida can look shiny and new, Key West takes pride in its unique look and vibe. It’s a place that likes to party when the sun sets, but in my experience the party rages on in a way that revelers and families can enjoy together. I spent a couple days in Key West with my teen daughter in December. Not enough to learn all its in and outs, but long enough to decide it’s a place I’d love to take the entire family.

Looks Mean (Almost) Everything in  My Dream Rental Home

No two homes in Key West are exactly alike.  My dream rental home would be brightly painted with a palette of colors that would raise eyebrows on my block at home. It would have three bedrooms, one for mom and dad, and one for each of the kids. Three full bathrooms; yes we’ve been practicing sharing since kindergarten, but everyone deserves a week off.

The kitchen should be sparkling and spacious with tons of natural light. Stainless steel, top of the line appliances please. Not that I’m planning on cooking every meal, but preparing seafood fresh from the water is a tasty and fun way to spend an evening when the whole family can and wants to fit into the kitchen. It has all the makings of a comical pilot for the Food Network. I doubt we’d even set a formal table. With plates in hand, the beach has the best seat in town.

The fridge would be stocked with fresh squeezed oj and the requisite family breakfast basics. But running out of milk would be ok too. I can’t think of a better way to start your day than an early morning stroll or jog on Key West. Pick up some fresh baked muffins or pastries and help the kids hunt for the islands seemingly thousands of roosters that roam the seaside roost. Getting up early is no big deal when you know taking an afternoon nap in your dream rental house’s master bedroom is an option on the day’s itinerary.

Though the beach and warm water would pull my family like a magnet, a pool and even hot tub at the house would be lovely. And of course an outside shower. No one likes walking on sandy floors.

Learn About a Legend

I like to sneak a little learning in our family vacations. A trip to the Hemingway Home and Museum fulfills that requirement. The kids will learn about the famous author, but my guess is the 44 six-toed cats that currently call the Hemingway House home will be the highlight.

Evening Entertainment

Though I’m sure the entertainment system in the house would be state of the art, we might not even need a television in the house. (My husband will no doubt disagree when he reads this). Once you’ve watched the sunset from Mallory Square, it will be hard to keep from going back night after night.

After the sun sinks into the sea, street performers come to life, entertaining crowds of visitors and locals. Artists load tables with wares like paintings and hand woven baskets. My daughter fell in love with a bracelet made by local dad and artist Matthew Boa. When it was to small, her disappointment was short-lived. He custom made another in what seemed record time, while teaching her a few things about beads and gemstones along the way. We made it to a late dinner, eventually.

Room for Dessert

An after dinner stroll is a must, whether dinner was in a restaurant or my dream rental house kitchen. And if we’d happen to wander near Mattheessen’s and come home with some freshly made fudge or ice cream, that would qualify as a successful day. No worries when my youngest gets chocolate everywhere, there’s a washer and dryer at the house.

Now, that I’ve thought this all out.. What am I waiting for? Spring Break is right around the corner.

Brought to you by HomeAway, offering the world’s largest selection of vacation home rentals that provide travelers with memorable vacation experiences and benefits, including more room to relax and added privacy, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations.  Make memories where you stay, not just where you go.  HomeAway.com – let’s stay together.

Elizabeth Thorpe of Poshbrood shared her exciting plans to go to Dordogne over Spring Break with me last night; our conversation reminded me how much I adore this region of France. It’s not widely known as a tourist destination — surprising, as the Dordogne is brimming with wonderful attractions and scenic villages to explore.

Our last visit was with three boys under 11. In addition to our fantastic farmhouse dinners and zip-line adventure, we all adored the village and castle of Beynac above the Dordogne River. This stunning attraction is an excellent subject for this week’s Photo Friday post.

We’ve visited many castles in Europe and the Fortress of Beynac is one of my absolute favorites for kids and adults alike.

The views of the surrounding countryside and Dordogne River are exceptional.

The castle is well-maintained and atmospheric. It’s easy to imagine what it was like to live here hundreds of years ago. It’s staged just enough to make the castle come to life, but not enough to make it feel contrived.

Big doors, dark and dank spaces — all the castle essentials are here.

The 12th century chapel, Notre-Dame de Beynac, is a mesmerizing sight perched on the edge of a cliff.

If you are dreaming of the Dordogne be sure and catch Budget Travel’s feature about where we stayed as part of their Best Places You’ve Never Heard Of report. Kristi vacationed in the Dordogne last summer and fell in love with the seriously kid-friendly Le Chevrefeuille.

For more Photo Friday posts go to Delicious Baby.

Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family hotels in France

Rick Seaney is the CEO of the airfare news, research, and tracking resource FareCompare.  This website is always my first stop before booking tickets as it provides instant price and route information through multiple channels at once to easily compare and contrast options.

Rick is an incredible source of industry information and insight.  I interviewed him earlier this week for his take on the important airline industry happenings that will impact family travel in 2012.

FareCompare Getaway Map

What are the major airline industry updates planned for 2012?

A big change happened just last week.  Airlines now have to disclose the entire flight fare inclusive of taxes and fees to consumers in published prices. If they don’t, they can incur a stiff fine. This new rule will help travelers get to the real price quickly so they won’t feel hoodwinked.

We may see an expansion of benefits for trusted travelers like allowing liquids and shoes for people giving up information.  Customs services will be expanded as well to let these people get through the customs process faster.

I saw President Obama speak in Florida a few weeks ago. He’s making a pitch to develop programs to accelerate travel into the US from foreign nations. We haven’t seen this kind of promotion of the US as a travel destination for 10 years.

FareCompare offers a valuable service where travelers can receive alerts when fares fluctuate. This is helpful for families because when you multiply even minor price differences across multiple tickets, the savings can be substantial.

What are other tips to keep pricing down when traveling with kids?

Kids’ Discounts

First of all, most kids under 12 receive a 10-25% discount on airfare. European carriers tend to be more generous than US carriers with family discounts.

For the most part, most airlines treat teens as adults so there is no break there.

Baggage Allowance

Bags are not as big of an issue with international flights as the allowance is bigger and fees are included in the fares. As far as kids are concerned, every now and then there are special deals for kids. Usually, families have to travel before mid-March and after the last week in August to get them.

Timing

The cheapest airfares are from Monday through Thursday for transatlantic flights. One tip is to fly during this period for at least half the flight to reduce costs.

Note that traveling before the last week in March, the last week in May, and during the last week in August (or later) can save hundreds in dollars in airfare.

Routing

When we fly to Europe, we like to fly to the East Coast first and hang out before continuing on our trip. The pricing can be less than buying one roundtrip ticket to Europe, especially if you can fly a low cost carrier in the United States.

Ireland is the cheapest country to fly into. Spain and Switzerland also cost less than other countries in Europe. Rome, Paris, London are expensive — at Healthrow the tax alone is $200 per ticket compared to $150 at Gatwick and $83 in Dublin.

Use Low Cost Carriers in Europe

Save money by traveling like a native in Europe and using Low Cost carriers for internal flights. FareCompare doesn’t concentrate on the low cost carriers in Europe like Easy Jet and Ryan Air.  We partner with Skycanner who has broad coverage of low cost carriers.

What are the destinations that are the best bets for affordable airfare this spring and summer travel season?

If you look at seat capacity, Florida in the US is the best bet. There are many flights landing in an array of cities, including Southwest who has started flying to the Panhandle.

For coast-to-coast travel, Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) are good bets this year because Virgin America is strong and driving costs down for these markets.  Meanwhile, Boston and New York City will be expensive this year, as is Canada where there is strong demand and no pricing deals at the moment.

In general, flying to the Caribbean costs more than Mexico given the ongoing security concerns there. Costa Rica is sky high right now. Better deals can be found to the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

Are there any tips for securing better pricing for business class fares?

The new world order is Premium Economy and lots of airlines are adding more seats in this class of service; pricing is $1,800 to $2,000 where a typical Business Class seat runs $4,500 per ticket.

If you really want to fly Business Class, the best way is to use Loyalty Programs to redeem a full ticket or get an upgrade award.

Most airlines offer a discounted First Class fares with a 45 or more day advance purchase. To secure the fare you must buy the ticket well ahead of time and it is non-refundable.

What is the optimal time to buy tickets to Europe from a price perspective?

Transatlantic fares are the least expensive one to 5 months before departure. Typically, you don’t want to shop earlier than this to optimize pricing.

Oil prices should continue to remain in the $90-100 range so they will not be a variable in airfares this year. The best you can do for travel to/from Europe is $690 round trip.  Any ticket for $1,100-$1,200 round trip for June and July departures is a great deal as this is the peak period.

Daddy daughter adventure in Costa Rica

What is your favorite destination with your family?

It sounds trite but my favorite destination with my family is all varieties of Disney.  We’ve had fun at Disneyland Paris three times and at the Orlando and LA versions a half-a-dozen times.  Anytime I can go to Disney on a quick trip we go. For ages 5-10 it is the best place to experience the world through a child’s eyes.

Our 11-year-old’s favorite city is Florence, Italy. We love going to Europe as a family — our daughter has pushpins on a map showing all the places she’s gone in the world. It’s cool!

Relevant Links:

26 countries in 365 days with Wandermom

Meet Pauline Frommer

Meet Eileen Ogintz

Meet Erica Ehm

Meet Melissa Biggs Bradley

Meet Wendy Perrin

Flying with kids, avoiding airline fees

Tips for Award Travel and Upgrades

Essential tips for traveling long distances with a baby