There are two elephants in the room right now in the cruise industry; the sinking of the Costa Concordia and the reoccurring Norwalk virus or Norovirus breakouts. As I watched the news unfold about the Costa Concordia, it occurred to me that I had never given much thought to my family’s safety or health while onboard the Disney Fantasy cruise this week.

I interviewed Rebecca Peddie, a Public Affairs Manager with Disney Cruise Line, to better understand Disney’s safety protocols and procedures for families.

When many people hear the name Davos, the first thing they think of is the World Economic Forum, while Klosters evokes thoughts of Prince Charles and his annual ski trip. That’s all I knew before last week …

The full story is that Davos Klosters is a multi-faceted mountain resort (one of the oldest in Switzerland) in the heart of the Swiss Alps with 700+ km of hiking trails in the summer and 300+ km of ski slopes in the winter. We spent a weekend here this month and got a first-hand look at all it has to offer for my Skiing in Europe with Kids’ series.

A week-long visit to Tuscany is a big part of the most popular family itinerary in Italy for Ciao Bambino readers and clients. This is the best opportunity for families to really dig into their experience together in Italy as settling into a single location for seven or more days engages parents and children alike in the experience.

An essential part of a successful trip to Tuscany with kids is selecting the right accommodations.

It’s relatively easy to fill your days on a family trip to San Francisco. Most don’t even need a guide book to put together the basic must see, must do list. But after you’ve walked on the Golden Gate Bridge, escaped from Alcatraz and jumped on a Cable Car, take the kids to Golden Gate Park.

Peru looks and feels like Indiana Jones territory. And travelling there with kids in tow is an adventure of epic proportions. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart. Transportation difficulties, truly outlandish food, and the country’s rugged nature can be incredibly challenging.

But boy, it’s worth it.

I was a fan of the Montage long before they joined Ciao Bambino’s portfolio of family-friendly hotels. I pass the hotel every day on the way to my daughter’s school and appreciate how the hotel’s craftsman-style architecture blends in with the oceanfront location. As our editor discovered when she stayed here, they also have a spectacular kids’ club called Paintbox.

What I didn’t know is that you don’t have to be a guest to use it!

My skiing in Europe with kids’ series continues this week with a review of Crans-Montana resort in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps.

Those who know about the adjacent ski resorts of Crans and Montana — known together as Crans-Montana — rave about the holiday experience. It’s not a well-recognized international Swiss ski brand like Zermatt or Verbier. Despite this fact, Crans-Montana is not a second-tier ski destination. The opposite is true as the combined resorts have 140 km of skiing available …

Squaw Valley has Olympic history; it hosted the 1960 winter Olympics and is the home mountain of Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley who is now a spokesperson for the ski resort. It also has a reputation for extreme skiing.

What you may not know is that Squaw Valley is transforming itself to appeal to a larger audience; beginner and intermediates skiers, foodies and families take note – there is more here for you now.

San Diego is always a great destination for family vacations. In addition to its natural beauty with the beaches, there are a handful of excellent theme parks, like the San Diego Zoo, the Safari Park, and Legoland. However, unlike other destinations that are defined by their amusement parks, San Diego is simply enhanced by them.

This last trip we explored SeaWorld; this park is always a favorite of mine as they successfully combine marine education and unique entertainment for all ages.

I’m going to admit that I’m torn when it comes to my preference for which “bank” is my favorite home-base in Paris with kids. The Right Bank is grand and home to many of the major tourist attractions, while the Left Bank full of personality and wonderful neighborhoods.

The beauty of CB! Approved Relais Christine is that you don’t have to choose. It’s on the Left Bank in the heart of the coveted Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an area brimming with history, incredible boutique shopping, and kid-friendly cafes …