Nine Tips for Air Travel with Little ones

There is nothing more exciting for children or grand-children than to hear they are going to take a trip on a plane, but, once they're aboard, the novelty quickly wears off.  Flying is the exact opposite of what children are about.  There no pots to bang or wide-open spaces where they can run.  In-flight movies are not geared toward passengers who love to sing along, and the noise level s reminiscent of a library, not a fast food restaurant playground.

Here are some great suggestions from  a former flight attendant and a mother of two....

1) Carry-on or check.  When you're traveling with kids or grand kids, checking luggage and being suitcase free despite your balking at the cost, make it fairly simple to get through security, the airport, and on and off the plane.  A stroller is a must for zipping through airports, but leave the big, bulky one at home.  Opt for a lightweight umbrella stroller.  They're easy to fold and they fit most overhead bins; this means you don't have to wait with squirmy 2 year old after landing; they child will be comfortable in the stroller.

2) Plan your seating.  Even if your children or grandchildren are young enough to be considered "lap children (younger than age two), it's safer to purchase their own seats for them.  Buckle infants in their own aviation-approved car seat, which offers familiar comfort.  Toddlers can stand when the seat belt sign is off and use the airline seat a a coloring or play table.  If you've worried about disturbing other passengers, request bulkhead seats facing the partition that divides a plane into sections.  This is a terrific place to park with kids because there are no passengers to disturb in front of you. 

3) Dress the youngsters appropriately.  Slip-on shoes make the security screening process go smoothly, and bring layers - sweater, sweatshirts, sweatpants, even socks - aboard; airline temperatures are unpredictable.  Just to be sure to have an extra outfit, including underpants, ready.

4) Food.  Eating lunch and snacks is a great diversion tactic.  Trail mix, colorful crackers, grapes, and baby carrots are all airplane-friend food.  Turn eating time into fun time with games of counting, sorting, letter sounding, and spellings.  Use sippy cups and bowls with suction cups to keep containers secure to the tray table and to avoid spills.

5) Potty stops.  There are two crucial times to insist your toilet-trained little traveler use the potty: before take-off and before landing.  Simply walking the cabin aisle on the way to the lavatory can amuse toddlers (after beverage and snack service ends).  Kids love company so as you're roaming the cabin, look around for other children to visit.  I've seen families switch seats so the children could sit near one another and the kids end up entertaining themselves for the entire flight.

6) Books.  Children love to be read to and to turn pages of picture books.  Take it a step further with a photo album filed with photos of the family. 

7) Showtime. DVDs have changed the way children travel.  With a DVD player (and headset) and a new show to watch, they will remain busy and in their seat for hours at a time.

8) Make a tent.  Get creative with the tray table and drape a blanket over the seat or between the upraised arm rest and immediately you have a world of fun in your row.  Better yet, bring along dark blanket and charm  the little traveler with glow-in-the-dark toys; they're perfect for night flights too.

9) Surprise.  Have ready a surprise sack filled with new toys, treats (skip the sugar), and diversions.  Pipe cleaners - stickers - traveling play dough equals extended entertainment.

Mardi Gras -The Different Countries that Feast before the Fast!

Just the name Mardi Gras conjures up images of bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of many partaking Countries.  Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday".  Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge - and often overindulge - before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent.  Today all around the world many countries celebrate Mardi Gras with masks, music and mayhem. 

In the United States, Mardi Gras draws millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year.  Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in early 1700s.  French royals, feather-covered showgirls, Energizer bunnies, painted clowns, masked lions - you can find them all in the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras.  By dawn on the most famous Tuesday, people have claimed the best spots on the streets to watch fabulous floats, outrageous performers, and visiting celebrities go by.  Many travel hundreds of miles to be part of the excitement.

In Canada Mardi Gras celebrations are common throughout the country, especially in major cities like Toronto, St. John's, Vancouver, and Montreal.  French speaking Quebec is the province where Mardi Gras is most widely celebrated in Canada.  Quebec City and Montreal hold Mardi Gras celebrations, with events such as music festivals, comedy festivals, food festivals, and street parties.

In Italy Carnevale is the traditional pre-Lenten celebration.  Carnevale was Mardi Gras predecessor.  The French borrowed this idea and made it popular.  This is a time of merry-making, masquerade processions, masked balls, parades, pageants, jugglers, magicians, stilt walkers, elegant costumes and opulent masks, singing and dancing, fireworks and outdoor feasts in the weeks prior to Ash Wednesday. 

In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen.  It comes from the word "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday).  Originally, this was the only day one should eat semlor (cream filled bun/pastry).  These are now sold in most grocery stores and bakeries preceding the holiday, and up until Easter.

In Poland paczki (comparable to a jelly donut) are eaten on Fat Thursday.  Many Polish Americans celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday.  Traditionally, the reason for making paczki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because they were forbidden to be consumed due to Catholic fasting practices during Lent.

So it seems no matter what type of celebration you are looking for on Mardi Gras you can celebrate with many of the locals in numerous countries around the world.  Enjoy your Mardi Gras celebration!!!!!!!

Resources used wikipedia.org, mardi gra story and info please mardi gras

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

While St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday in honor of Ireland's patron saint, it has become a worldwide celebration of Irish culture.  St. Patrick's feast day was celebrated on March 17 as long ago as the ninth century, and became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903.  Today, all around the world, Irish and non-Irish alike decorate with shamrocks, wear the color green and feast on corned beef and soda bread on March 17, and yes, many of them are drinking green beer.

In the U.S., there are celebrations in New York, Boston, Chicago and many other cities, big and small.  The parade in New York may be the largest in the world, taking about five hours to progress down Fifth Avenue.  Chicago uses a vegetable dye to turn the Chicago River green, matching the attire of the city's St. Patrick's Day revelers.  If you want to see the oldest parade in the world, you'll have to travel to Boston - it's first parade was recorded in 1737, many years before Dublin's first St. Patrick's Day parade, which was held in 1931.

Of course, Dublin, Ireland, is one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  The city holds a five-day St. Patrick's Festival with a big parade on March 17.  There are carnival rides, boat races, craft shows, live music, film premieres, comedy performances and walking tours of the city.  Many other cities, towns and villages in Ireland hold festive St. Patrick's Day celebrations as well.

You can also find St. Patrick's Day fun in some unexpected places.  If you happen to be in Buenos Aires, Argentina, head downtown to Reconquista Street, where authentic Irish pubs anchor a St. Patrick's Day party.  On Montserrat, a tiny island in the Caribbean settled by Irish refugees, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated as a public holiday.  Seoul, South Korea, hold a St. Patrick's Day parade and festival organized by the Irish Association of Korea.

With so many option for places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day travel you'll be able to enjoy the wearing of the green this year or begin planning for next.

Sydney... Australia's Iconic ciy is a must do!

Oprah's been there, now you can too!  From stunning Sydney Harbor to the Opera House you will enjoy the magic of this city and beyond the city there are world class wineries and natural wonders to take your breath away.

Soak up Sydney's gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty.  Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly.  Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee.  Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington.  As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festival and 24-7 fun.

Here are five can't miss Sydney experiences
1. Explore the historic Rocks
Discover Sydney's colorful convict history in the harbour side quarter where it all began.  Just five minutes from Cirular Quay, you can hear stories of hanging and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge.  In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you'll find historic workman's cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney's oldest pubs.  See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when the The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the wold -famous harbour
Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak.  Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Daling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat Islands.  Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney's first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise.  Watch the harbour glitter from the green park lands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge.  Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watson Bay at South Head.  Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay,  on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry
Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour.  Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower.  Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail from Manly Wharf round the harbour.  Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach  Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy cafe culture and top shopping in Paddington
Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra.  Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets.  Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford Street or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores.  Crawl between the lively, historic pubs.  They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled track side finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee
Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee.  Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant.  See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand.  From mid-October to November, the stretch here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition.  You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte.  Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon's Bay.  See the graves of poets  Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs.  Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

 Sydney is a year round destination, with warm summers and cool winters. 
 Join the Aussies for the trip of  a lifetime!!! 
Call today for more details 248-269-9721 or visit us on our website at www.travelexchangemi.com

Info provided by the Australian Toursim

There's Nothing Like Australia!!!

There is Nothing like Australia.   Have you ever thought about traveling to Australia...... 
We have some fun interesting facts on Australia that will entice you to take advantage of our great promotion that we have currently running....

Australias Famous Animals; most of which we have only seen in a zoo; include the Koala, Kangaroo, Kookaburra, Lyrebrid, Tasmanian Devil, Dingos, Wallaby, and Platypus.

Their Landscape is a wide, brown land, it is the 6th largest country in the world. 
It's about the same size as the US and 50 percent larger than Europe, but it has the lowest population density in the world.

The Island is their home.
Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. 
The mainland is the largest island and the world's smallest, flattest continent.

Australia Exports  opals, gold, and wool.  
They produce 95% of the worlds precious opals and 99% of its black opals.  
The world's lagest opal is in the opal capital town of Coober Pedy in South Australia.
 Kalgoorlie in Western Australia is Australia's largest producer of gold. 
Australia 85.7 million sheep produe most of the world's wool. 

Australia has Broken Records. 
Queensland's Great Barrier Reef is home to the world's largest oyster.
 The world's longest earthworm is was found in Gippsland in Victoria. 
The heaviest crab was found in Bass Strait near Tasmania. 
Australia tallest mountain is Mt Kosciuszko. 
Australia is also has the world's longest straight road and the longest fence called the dingo fence.

Australia's Hopping Icon.  
The iconic kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of their most easily recongnized mamals. 
There are over 40 million Roos in Australia!

Unique Wildlife and Flourishing Flora.
Austalia has over 800 species of birds, half of which are unique to its country.
80% of Australia's southern marine species are found nowhere else in the world.
It supports over 25,000 species of plants, includes living fossils like the Wollemi Pine and the Grass Tree.

People and Culture.
Australia is an ethnic melting pot more than 6 million people from across the world have come to Australia to live.
More than 20 percent of Australians are foreign born and more than 40 percent are of mixed culture.
In their homes they speak 266 languages - after English, the most popular are Italian, Greek, Cantonese and Arabic.

Big Country Big Ideas.
Australians invented notepads, Surf Lifesaving Reel, Asprin, Pacemaker, Penicillin, Hills Hoist clothesline, Plastic deisposable syringe, Wine Cask, Bionic Ear, Dual-Flush Toilet Fluh, Anit Counterfeiting Technology for banknotes, Long Wearing Contacts.

NEXT TO COME IS ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA....What is there to do? Where to go? What to see? Where to stay.

10 Reasons to Use a Travel Consultant

Are you debating whether to use a Travel Consultant to book your vacation or to go it alone by using the Internet......

Here are 10 Reasons why a Travel Consultant is the way to go:

1) You've Googled "Mexico" vacation, and came up with 17.8 million responses.  Need a little help editing those choices?

2) Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?

3) How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?

4) Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?

5) Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning?  Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.

6) No one explained to you that in July,  it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pair of swimming trunks.

7) How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?

8) Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.

9) I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that, that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.

10) It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you FINALLY landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.

So the question is Who Are You Going to Call?   Our Consultants know what it takes to coordinate a great vacation that is the best value for you.   We are a one stop shop, we can handle every aspect of your trip from  airline tickets to hotels, ground transportation, activities, tours AND MORE!!!


Parts of this Article has been taken from Travel Agent Central - Top Ten Reasons to Use a Travel Agent by Ruthanne Terrero.

Spring Break

If you haven't made your Spring Break travel plans yet, DON'T DELAY.  The good news is that if flights to your chosen destinations are available, you may find good value in accommodations. We at Travel Leaders in Troy are finding that hotels and all-inclusive resorts are still offering deals to attract Spring Break travelers.

Here at Travel Leaders of Troy the cruise options that many of our clients have selected are in the warm waters of the Caribbean.  Cruises of the Western Caribbean - included those that may offer stops in Cozumel, Cancun and the Riviera Maya followed by the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Some other Spring Break travelers are choosing to travel outside the U.S.  International travel to Europe is very popular.  For those staying in the U.S. are heading for the sun and fun of Florida, California, and Hawaii.

Making Spring Break travel plans as soon as possible will not only give you the best selection of remaining flights, hotels or cruises, but the best available values, too.  Keep in mind that overall prices for 2011 Spring Break trips will be higher than last year, prices tend to increase as travel dates edge closer, so making reservations now will help you make the most of your Spring Break.