The destination is booked. Your hotel is set. Now, how do you transform a trip from ordinary to extraordinary?

You can always wait until you arrive and ask the concierge, a fine option for many trips, or you can take advantage of Internet to try and find those few unique experiences that will ensure your are creating a trip your family will remember a trip for a lifetime.

I know, kid-friendly + romantic getaway is an oxymoron. If you have unlimited access to childcare you need not worry about combining the two. If not, you’ll want to read on.

We just got back from a romantic and kid-friendly Valentine’s Day weekend in Northern Italy at the Four Seasons Hotel Milano and L’Albereta near Lake Iseo. We don’t have family here to help with overnight childcare so all-family excursions are a must. How do you create a kid-friendly-yet-romantic getaway?

Every time I jump on a plane with my kids I learn more about them. Maybe even understand them a little better. It’s part of the beauty of travel. But the fun isn’t limited to airport departure and arrival gates. The weeks and sometime months spent planning the trip is an adventure in its own right. The more involved the kids are, the more excited they get.

And though I’d never admit it to my girls, the more they help plan activities on vacations, the more they learn.

One of my favorite family travel writers, Mara Gorman, has weekly post on her website, The Mother of all Trips, called “Mondays are for dreaming” about those extraordinary travel experiences Mara (and all of us!) dream about.

Today, I’m dreaming of a family safari in Africa.

Over the New Year’s Eve holiday a few of the Ciao Bambino writers got together and brainstormed on a “must go back to” family travel list.

This is an interview with Nicolas de Rochambeau, the founder of Switzermatt, a company offering travel services in Zermatt including accommodation booking, ski instruction, shopping, and babysitting. Nicolas is that resource we wish we had in every destination—an insider with impeccable tips and advice.

We found him during an emergency calling frenzy a few weeks ago when we realized we had to unexpectedly bring our dog skiing with us and needed to find a dog sitter. After about 30 calls …

Traveling with kids is a practiced art. The more you do it, the better you get. Just when you think you mastered it, another curveball comes your way. That great little traveller you’ve taken to Paris and Spain, turns into a tween and all the rules change. It usually happens somewhere between 9 and 10 years-old, and you may not realize its happened until you’re on a plane halfway around the world.

Take a deep breath. The once traveling “givens” may have changed, but it’s not as bad as it might seem.

As a busy mother of four kids, an avid traveler and self-proclaimed foodie, I was panicked when the doctor told me that in addition to my 7-year-olds’ nut, shellfish allergy, he also needed to go off all gluten, soy and dairy.

For those of you with children that have allergies who are afraid to travel, I certainly understand where you are coming from. That said, that while my son has many allergies …

Literally, our best family memories are from the multigenerational vacations we take each year with grandparents, siblings, and cousins. Not only are memories formed, but the lasting bonds between family members who live far away are fortified.

These trips are key in keeping our bi-coastal families very close. But, let’s be real, some of our biggest family blowouts have also been on these vacations. How do you maximize the good time while minimizing tension?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is waiting silently in the wings. Are you headed to Grandma’s to get your fill of turkey and cranberry? Join the crowd. Best to fly armed with my Thanksgiving travel tips in mind. It will make for a better trip and help your wallet cope with the ever growing list of airline fees.

Turn on the news and it seems like every other day there’s a story about another charge being imposed by one of the big carriers.

There are a myriad of ways to explore the world with your kids. You can share travel, friends, music, culture, food, photos, books, videos, games, and more in order to teach about the world.

But when you think of raising a global citizen, there are also other factors to consider. One of the most important facets of being a global citizen is CARING about others. On Good Global Citizen, you can learn many different people’s ideas about being a good global citizen. From famous stars and athletes to kids …