ML Interest Tag: cancellation

5 Tips for Taking Family Trips Safely amid the Pandemic

By Melanie Fish

American families have proven the urge to travel after being cooped up from home, with demand for accommodations higher than ever. And while vaccines may be more accessible in the U.S. than ever, the spread of new variants and lower vaccination rates in developing countries continue impact our ability to move freely through the world.

Which is why Expedia Group, the travel giant that includes brands like Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo and more, is working to make sure those who are traveling again are doing so safely and responsibly in a way that ultimately slows the spread of COVID.

5 Tips to Help Keep Your Family Safe while Traveling

1. Mask up while traveling. This one is obvious, as masks continue to remain one of the most simple and effective ways to limit the transmission of the virus, aside from the vaccine. Traveling requires being in close quarters, like planes, trains, in rideshares, etc. so it’s important to mask up to reduce the spread.

2. Travel for the greater good. Expedia Group recently announced an initiative to support UNICEF’s global COVID-19 response by donating of $10 million to vaccine efforts. To get involved, travelers can download any app from one of the Expedia Group brands, such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity and Vrbo, plan and purchase a trip through the platform and in turn, they can help get a vaccine to someone in the world who needs it.

3. Enjoy the great outdoors. Nature destinations have provided solitude for travelers over the last year, due to the ability to easily socially distance and, essentially, disconnect. This trend is here to stay, with beaches, mountains, lakes and national parks remaining the popular areas to visit, even as we head into the fall.

4. Don’t get left behind. More and more businesses, attractions and destinations are requiring people to show proof of vaccination. So, if you haven’t felt motivated to get your shot(s), know that you might not be able to have access to dining, entertainment or other activities during your next vacation without it.

5. Be a savvy traveler. Travelers are eager to get out there again, but with travel guidelines changing so frequently, it’s important to stay up to date with restrictions and policies around your travel bookings. Double check your accommodations’ cancellation policies, keep local advisories like curfews or closures in mind and be prepared to submit documentations like COVID test results or vaccine cards.

Of course, it’s up to each individual family to decide their comfort level for taking trips again, and all are encouraged to check and adhere to local and national health guidelines and travel restrictions. Travelers are known to be passionate about exploring the world and making connections, but now it’s time for each individual to do their part so the world can truly open again.

RELATED: Red Tricycle’s COVID Resource Guide 

Melanie Fish is Vrbo’s travel expert and speaks to journalists daily about the fastest growing segment in the travel industry – vacation home rentals. She has shared travel trends and tips at the New York Times Travel Show, in magazines including Glamour, and on regular #TravelTuesday TV segments.

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The Magic Is Back as Disneyland Announces New Annual Pass Program

by Karly Wood

After a year of park closures and the cancellation of annual passes, Disneyland Resort has finally shared the details of its new passholder program! The Magic Key Program has arrived and its a new take that offers plenty of variety for families.

Officially going on sale Aug. 25, Magic Key brings four pass options that resemble those under the former program. The biggest change is that the theme park reservation system will be integral to every pass going forward.

photo: Courtesy of Disney

There’s much to digest in the infographic above but in a nutshell, guests will all have the option to make at least two reservations at a time and get discounts on food, beverages and merchandise. Missing from the old program is notably the Photo Pass which gave guests access to all their attraction photos.

Another big change is that while monthly payment options still exist, they will only be available to California residents. The Imagine Key monthly payments will only be available to Southern California residents.

Additionally, the programs do not guarantee the ability to park hop daily like in years past. Park guess who want to park hop will need to make sure that reservations are available at the park they want to start the day at. If they are, hop away! If there is only availability at one park, then guests will spend the entire day there. Availability is shown on the reservation calendar when guests go to make their park plans and reservations.

The new program is a welcome announcement for park enthusiasts and Southern California natives who often use the Disneyland Resort as their afternoon playground. While the changes do away with old perks, they continue to offer magic in brand new ways.

You can learn even more about the new program at the Disney Parks Blog.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Disneyland Resort

 

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These Are the Summer Vacation Travel Trends for 2021, According to Vrbo

by Erica Loop

Summer is months away—but that shouldn’t stop you from booking your family’s vacation. If you’re dreaming of warmer weather and a getaway for the whole gang, you need to know about Vrbo’s latest travel-related data for the 2021 vaycay season.

What’s in store for summer vacation travelers this year? While many families didn’t get to go on their dream getaway in 2020, in 2021 it looks like things are changing. According to Vrbo’s stats, travelers are booking some of the company’s top properties earlier this year.

photo: Yulianto Poitier via Pexels

Currently, under half of Vrbo’s vacation homes in some of the top travel destinations are available for July. This represents an increase of more than 25 percent (compared to other years).

Not only are families booking their summer trips earlier this year, they’re also choosing longer stays and planning double-cations. Vrbo’s data shows 44 percent of travelers in the United States will take more trips this year.

Jeff Hurst, Vrbo president, said in a press release, “In years past, we’ve recommended that families book their summer vacations on Vrbo by late April to stay ahead of the curve, but this year, there are several reasons why families are eager and ready to book.” Hurst continued, “These signs are telling us that families should start looking for the perfect vacation home now before the selection and available dates become more limited.”

How can you get in on the summer vaycay rush? Even though your kiddos may still have a few months left of school (or home/cyber school), go ahead and turn your daydreams into reality with an early booking. Along with planning your trip in advance, the travel experts at Vrbo also suggest reviewing your vacation property’s cancellation policy. This adds extra flexibility into your summer-time plans if needed.

—Erica Loop

 

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A Recent Study by Travelocity Predicts Most Families Aren’t Going Home This Holiday Season

by Jennifer Swartvagher

As the holiday season approaches you may find yourself humming along to the popular carol, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The holidays usually see the year’s biggest uptick in travel, but with COVID-19 still active, a recent survey by Travelocity found that almost 60% of Americans report they won’t be traveling this year. Nearly one-in-three said they won’t celebrate the holidays at all. 

That doesn’t mean people are staying at home entirely either. The Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook survey conducted in mid-September, found that travelers are feeling surprisingly optimistic when it comes to leisure travel for the remainder of the year. One-in-four respondents said they have a personal vacation planned later this year, and nearly half of family travelers  with kids under the age of 18 are taking a leisure trip before the year’s end.

Travelocity is predicting the following trends based on the data collected:

  • Stay at a Hotel this Holiday: More travelers (43%) say they plan to stay at a hotel or vacation rental this year, with hotels being the slightly more popular option.
  • Get Road Trip Ready: Nearly 80% of respondents plan to drive for November and December holidays, and 1-in-5 will fly.
  • Pack for a Long Weekend: Holiday travelers say they’ll stay through the long weekend. More than half (53%) plan to stay between 1-4 days opposed to shorter day trips.
  • Celebrate Close to Home: Two-thirds of holidaymakers plan to travel 250 miles or less.

How-To Holiday Away from Home:

  • Keep travel plans flexible: The controlled spread of COVID-19 in a travelers’ origin or destination is now the top consideration in determining whether to travel. Because travel plans can change, search for hotels with free cancellation and flights without change fees.
  • Find hotels using enhanced cleaning filters: One-third of travelers say that safe accommodations at their travel destination will determine whether or not they travel this holiday season. Travelocity provides an enhanced cleaning search filter to make finding hotels and activities easy.
  • Search for flights with safety in mind: More than half of travelers who booked flights this holiday season (53%) said they are worried about flying right now. With new flight badging on Travelocity.com, it’s easy to know which airlines require masks, temperature checks and more.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Marissa Daeger on Unsplash

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Homeschooling Families Are Hitting the Road in RVs

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Between remote learning and working from home, parents have the opportunity to get creative with new schedules, routines and workspaces. According to RVshare, rental bookings are on the rise. A recent survey found that RV rentals are predicted to spike well into Fall with 69% of respondents planning to hit the road within the next 3 months.

With all of this new-found freedom, families are choosing to homeschool on the road. Each destination becomes part of the lesson plan. RVshare connected with 2 families who are hitting the road full-time.

RV

 

Julie Patridge from Mount Airy, Maryland owns an event planning company, but recently decided to take her business on the road alongside her husband, four children and dog Chewy. Her family has been enjoying the outdoors for four years now and quickly noticed they were always happier when camping so they plan to homeschool and transition full-time into a camper by mid-November as soon as their house sells.

Patridge said, “There is something so freeing about living a simpler life with less stuff and more adventures! I started wondering if there was a way to make it work. I threw out the idea about two years ago and Jeff warmed up to it rather quickly. We’ve been slowly downsizing since then and are almost ready to go!”

Jenny St. Louis from Windsor, California has been traveling since July with her family. They are currently in Montana with plans to go to Idaho this weekend. Since they hit the road, they’ve stopped in California, Washington, Oregon and Montana with plans to visit most of the national parks in other states!

St. Louis said,  “We decided to do it for a life change! We never saw my hubby! He was a general sales manager at a Ford dealership! Worked about 60 hours a week. So we didn’t really see him.”

If you want to take school on the road long-term or just for a short trip, RVshare allows you to do that easily with more than 100,000 rental options nationwide and flexible cancellation policies.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Hanson Lu on Unsplash

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What Is on Your Family’s Coat of Arms?

By Gay Cioffi

When parents take my parenting workshop, one of the most popular exercises when parents create their family’s coat-of-arms. They are asked to think of values that they want to impart to their children to put on an imaginary shield, just as families in the past did for their kin. My family likes to tease me about the aphorisms I am famous for spouting or would display as our family heraldry if I could. Here are some of my favorites:

Find work you love.

Your failures sometimes teach more than your successes.

Be kind to all people.

It isn’t what happens; it’s what happens next.

It isn’t every day that I get to see these values play out in real life. But, that is exactly what happened last week as I tuned into a panel discussion that my daughter, Cinematographer, Mia Cioffi Henry, participated in. The panel, “Through Her Lens: Creating a Truly Inclusive Film Industry,” was sponsored by Panavision and award-winning non-profit, Made In Her Image. It featured a round table discussion about the inequities in the film and television business, through the lens of six women of color, who are behind the camera.

Listening to my daughter’s contributions to the discussion filled me with a myriad of emotions. First and foremost was an appreciation for her passion for her work. Indeed, she has found work that she loves! She is both a natural storyteller and a visual artist, so being a cinematographer plays to her strengths. But just as importantly, she is a teacher and a collaborator, also essential attributes when it comes to filmmaking, which is the ultimate collaboration.

When she answered a question about the obstacles she has faced as a black woman in the industry, she was brutally frank about the challenges. She spoke honestly and bravely about the injustices present for women and people of color, from only being considered for projects about black folks, to being mistaken for the talent or a food service worker upon her arrival on set.

Yet, despite these experiences, she has persevered and thrived. When asked by an audience member about fear of failure, her encouraging advice: to be courageous, do your homework, and don’t give in to your fears…mentioning how much one has to learn from their mistakes, made me proud!

She emphasized an openness to others and a commitment to make the most from every opportunity. Citing the recent cancellation of the SXSW Film Festival, where she was to have her first feature film “The Surrogate” premiere, she explained the importance of “what happens next.” The disappointment and frustration she felt were strong emotions to get through, but a quick pivot by the Director, Jeremy Hersh, and the entire filmmaking team allowed the film to be successfully reborn on Vimeo and other streaming sites.

When your children are young, it is hard to imagine their future journeys—which will be theirs alone to take—but communicating to them what’s important to you, will go a long way in helping them to create their own mottos and mantras.

While I may have witnessed the embodiment of values that I believe in, my daughter gets all the credit for working hard and going out into the world with courage, curiosity, and a positive attitude… words she could proudly display on her own coat-of-arms!

I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.

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Is It Safe to Travel This Summer and Other Travel Questions Answered

By Melanie Fish

Photo: Vrbo

After countless weeks at home, canceled plans, and postponed festivities, some families still want to salvage their summer vacation plans. And while the decision of where and when to travel again is unique to each family, there’s no doubt that they will prioritize safety and comfort on their next journey. To help families stay properly informed and empowered as they make travel plans, Vrbo is sharing the top questions we’ve heard the most from families:

1. Is it safe to travel this summer? And where can I go? There won’t be a moment when all travel is magically declared safe again. My comfort level for my family is driving to a lake house and staying with another family we know has also been social distancing. Another family might have a different set of standards, but all families should check the current situation at the destination before traveling. With COVID-19 cases continuing to fluctuate across the country, it will be hard to predict whether area attractions, restaurants or amusement parks will be open or closed. When booking your summer vacation, consider vacation homes that are a destination unto itself in case area attractions end up being unavailable. There are plenty of short term vacation homes that provide amenities that can entertain the whole family, like a pool, backyard fire pit, game room or home theater. 

2. What about flying versus driving, what’s safer? We’re seeing a jump in demand for Vrbo vacation homes within 500 miles of home, so it’s clear that most families feel more comfortable taking a road trip. It makes sense that driving in your own car to a private vacation home is the way to go in order to avoid crowds and practice social distancing. The beauty of domestic travel is that there are drivable destinations to explore no matter where you live. And a lot of those lake, mountain, or beach destinations don’t have resorts, but they do have entire homes available to rent. Everyone is looking for the silver lining these days, and for me, it’s discovering the lakes near where I live in Central Texas, that I confess I passed over in the past for places a lot farther away.      

3. What about the vacation rental versus hotel debate—which is cleaner or safer? Everyone expects anywhere they stay to be clean and safe. The best thing you can do is to review your accommodations’ cleaning guidelines. Both hotels and vacation homeowners have stepped up their cleaning protocols—brands like Vrbo have rolled out new cleanliness guidelines that advise homeowners to use enhanced cleaning and disinfecting methods, have antibacterial soap and sanitizers available for guests, offer contact-free check-in and make their homes unavailable for a gap between stays. If the information isn’t clear on what’s been done to clean your accommodations, ask!

4. What happens if there is another flare-up of COVID-19 and I want to cancel my trip?  It’s all about knowing the cancellation policy. People renting vacation homes for the first time need to know cancellation policies can vary among homeowners. Some offer no refunds after booking, some offer refunds with a 30-day notice, and some offer refunds with a 14-day notice. Before you book, review the property’s cancellation policy to see what specific date you can cancel by penalty-free. When COVID-19 began, the vast majority of vacation homeowners and property managers made generous exceptions to their existing cancellation policies and offered refunds and credits to their guests because the pandemic was such an unprecedented situation. Now travelers know to expect the unexpected and they’re looking for properties with those more flexible cancellation policies. Vrbo is making the cancel-by dates very clear on the site and app.

5. Is it safe to return to amusement parks or major tourist attractions? Will that affect how families travel? We predict that travelers will want to take their next vacation to see and spend time with their loved ones who they’ve been missing. After weeks of sheltering in place, people want to reconnect with their extended families, grandparents, and close friends. Even though some theme parks are beginning to reopen, families may be hesitant to return to crowded, high-trafficked places right away. That’s why vacation rentals in mountain, lake, and beach destinations are appealing. Families can enjoy a change of scenery and spend much-deserved quality time together. Also, as COVID-19 rates ebb and flow, I’d rather know the amenities of the house I’ve chosen to rent are enough to entertain my family rather than choosing the destination based on area attractions.

A mom herself, Melanie Fish is Vrbo's travel expert who speaks on the fastest growing segment in the travel industry everyday. 

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All the Details on Getting a Magical Haircut at Walt Disney World

by Karly Wood

You can get a lot of things at a Disney theme park, but did you know you can walk out with a fresh haircut, too? The Harmony Barber Shop located on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World has been providing old school cuts for years and is a must-see on your next trip to the park!

When you step inside, guests are immediately transported back in time, where hair tonics line the shelves, leather barber chairs are front and center and a striped barber pole marks the spot. Harmony Barber Shop’s big claim to fame is the special first haircut service that includes “pixie dust,” bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers, a keepsake lock of hair and a special “My 1st Haircut” set of Mouse Ears and certificate for $25.

 

Older kids can also get their ears lowered! Haircuts for children age 12 and start at $15 with the option to add colored hair gel for $7.50. Adult cuts start at $19, with beard and mustache trims costing a mere $10.

All stylists are state-licensed cosmetologists, and there are no shampoo services so make sure your hair is clean upon arrival. Due to the popularity, its recommended that guests make a free reservation (cancellation fess apply), although there are limited walk-in appointments available each day.

To make your reservation, simply call 407-939-7529.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Laura at Maidstone via Instagram

 

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Here’s How to Really Reclaim Your Time On Mother’s Day (and Every Day)

By Eve Rodsky

POP QUIZ: Behind the Brunch Imagine your upcoming Mother’s Day brunch. You appear in a springtime sundress. You are handed a special menu and are served warm croissants as your adoring family raises a glass to sing your “Best Mom Ever” praises. The scene is picture-damn-perfect. Snap one before it fades. Leading up to this well-deserved celebratory moment, what was really happening behind the brunch?

Choose one: A. You highlighted the date, May 12th, on the calendar and hoped your husband would take this “cue” to make brunch reservations. When he admitted on Saturday that he hadn’t yet made a single call but, “Don’t worry, I’ll get to it, Babe,” you remind him that, “Ahem, Mother’s Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year!” After spending nearly an hour of your time searching for an open table, the café down the street has a cancellation. You’ve saved your day.

B. An hour before leaving for brunch, your youngest has a seismic meltdown, while your pre-teen sulks, “Brunch is so boring. And, you know I hate eggs.” You consider leaving them both at home to enjoy two hours sans kids, but then that would mean scrambling in the 11th hour to find a sitter. You charge the iPad and pack a snack bag once you realize you’re stuck with them.

C. Having the foresight that A and B are likely scenarios (this isn’t your first eggs benedict), you secure a table a month in advance for you and your best girlfriends. You’re relishing your free time together. That is, until you each begin receiving texts from husbands, babysitters and in-laws who wonder: The kids are coming undone. When are you coming home? Right on cue, you inhale your croissants, pay the bill and return home to relieve babysitters, prep lunches, finish homework, pack book bags, and gear up for another busy week ahead.

If a version of this “behind the brunch” is likely to play out in your own reality show, consider an alternative, a re-imagining of Mother’s Day.

This time around, what if you gave yourself permission to re-imagine yourself beyond your role as a wonderful parent and partner? What if you truly took Mother’s Day “off” and instead, reconnected with other aspects of yourself—all the other things you do, or did, that make you feel vibrant, passionate, engaged, and alive? To be clear, I’m not talking about self-care (getting a manicure), or friendship time (shopping a sample sale with your BFF). These are wonderful examples of back-to-me time that deserve a regular slot in your crowded schedule. I invite you to consider what you would do if you had more time and space to reclaim, or discover and nurture, the natural gifts and interests that make you uniquely you, driving you to be the fullest expression of yourself.

Lady, you say: Who has time for “nurturing gifts” when I have to make a Sunday Costco run?

If you’re like the majority of women who juggle nearly 75 percent of the work required to run a home and a family, the idea of carving out creative headspace may feel like a fantasy. In fact, it doesn’t exist—until you create it. And this requires collaboration with your partner.

Behind the Brunch: Scenario D A few weeks in advance, you clearly communicate to your husband your desire for him to make brunch reservations for Mother’s Day. He agrees to take the lead and when the day comes, he confidently rallies the troops and gets everyone out the door on time. He’s fully owned brunch by remembering to plan, and then by following through on every aspect of executing the plan without reminders.

What a guy! What’s more, because you pre-negotiated for two hours post brunch to take a solo hike where you can contemplate the business idea you’ve back-burnered since having your second child, you feel reenergized about your life in ways you haven’t imagined in years.

When you and your partner can agree on explicitly defined expectations and clear delineated responsibilities within the home, you can begin to rebalance the domestic workload for more efficiency and fairness. From there, a magical thing happens: You will be able to create more time to recommit to the interests that drive you to be the most alive version of yourself, content in your relationship and parenting.

This is the Mother’s Day gift you can give yourself.

 

This post originally appeared on Hello Sunshine.

Eve Rodsky is working to change society one marriage at a time with a game-changing, sustainable solution to the problem of unpaid, invisible work that women have shouldered for too long. With her book, FAIR PLAY, Eve provides a system for rebalancing the domestic workload between partners.

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