Travel: A Gift that Spans Generations

(ARA) - Have you ever returned from a trip anxious to share your stories and pictures with family members, only to be disappointed as you’re going through them? It’s a common occurrence; photos don’t always capture the true essence of your experience.

So what’s the best way to truly share your travel excursions with family? Take them with you! In fact, intergenerational travel (grandparents taking their children and grandchildren on trips) has increased in recent years. More than 30 percent of grandmas have taken at least one trip with a grandchild, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. And those numbers are expected to climb, with a large increase coming from international travel.

Joan Wyer and Sherry Lund, both from Minnesota, are two such grandparents. They’ve taken family members to domestic and international destinations alike and say it’s a wonderful, fun and enlightening way to build relationships.

“I could travel alone or with friends,” says Wyer. “But I’d much rather share these memories with my family.” Wyer has taken her family of 18 (four children, their spouses and nine grandchildren) on three excursions in the last several years including Alaska, the Sea of Cortez (Mexico) and the Galapagos Islands.

“There is no better way to build deep relationships than by traveling together,” says Wyer. “There are definitely bonding moments as you experience unique places and people away from the day-to-day routine of home.”

Lund couldn’t agree more. “Traveling with my grandchildren has given us a gift – a special bond of memories that only we share, no one else.” Lund has started a family tradition with her grandchildren. When they reach 10 years of age, she takes them on a unique trip that helps broaden their world view. To date, she’s shared the Galapagos Islands with her granddaughter Laurie and Peru with granddaughter Libby.

Both Wyer and Lund sought guidance from Travel Beyond, a 30-year-old international travel consultancy in Wayzata, Minn., to design their trips. The consultancy has invested more than 25,000 hours personally visiting and pre-screening destinations around the world. This first-hand knowledge was a big comfort to Wyer and Lund.

“Many of today’s baby boomers want an experience that doesn’t involve a tour bus and hoards of people,” says Craig Beal, chief executive officer of Travel Beyond. “They want to get out and explore new destinations in a way that’s unique to them. That’s why we agonize over the details and customize every aspect of their travel.”

According to Beal, several international destinations have emerged as excellent options for intergenerational travel.

Three to 10 Day Tours – Experience the Uniqueness of Canada
* Observe the polar bears in Churchill
* Ride through the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer
* Visit the 400-year-old city of Old Quebec

Five to 15 Day Tours – Enjoy the Diversity of South America
* Explore the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru
* Visit the Galapagos Islands, known for its impact on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection
* Star gaze through a private observatory in the Atacama Desert of Chile
* Experience ‘March of the Penguins’ in real life in Antarctica

10 to 20 Day Tours – Discover the Wild Side of Africa
* Interact with one of Africa's oldest tribes (Himba) and see the largest collection of ship wrecks in the world in Namibia
* Seek out the “Big Five” (lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, rhinos) on a safari through Botswana
* View the impressive Victoria Falls in Zambia, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World

“Many of the trips I’ve taken through Travel Beyond are experiences of a lifetime,” continues Lund. “I’m fortunate to give those experiences to my grandchildren as a special gift. Walking among the iguanas, seeing birds and animals that are unique to that location and exposing them to parts of the world they’ve never heard of before. Those are cherished gifts any grandparent would love to give.”

To learn more about intergenerational travel or general travel to the destinations mentioned above or many other locations, contact Travel Beyond at (800) 876-3131 or visit www.travelbeyond.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

$925(a) from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle to Africa with South African Airways’ “Fares for All Seasons” Sale

BUSINESS WIRE--South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline, announced the “Fares for all Seasons” sale, with prices as low as $925^(a) round trip for travel on flights from the West Coast to South Africa and Senegal during the late summer season, as well as the upcoming fall, winter and spring seasons.

The $925^(a) fare is valid on certain flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and other west coast cities connecting to South African Airways’ flights from New York or Washington, D.C. from Oct. 5 through Dec. 6, 2008 or Jan. 7 through March 31, 2009. Fares start as low as $1,025^(a) for travel from Aug. 20 through Oct. 4 or Dec. 24, 2008 through Jan. 6, 2009. The fares apply for travel to Dakar, Senegal, or Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Reservations must be ticketed by June 20th through www.flysaa.com, or the airline’s reservations center at 1-800-722-9675. Taxes and fuel surcharges apply. Low fares also are available for travel from many other cities in the U.S.

“Africa is an amazing place to visit during any season, and for many reasons, so we decided to offer low fares for travel from many cities in the U.S. as early as late summer and as late as next spring,” said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways. “Whether a visit to the wineries and Table Mountain in Cape Town, a safari outside of Port Elizabeth or a jaunt in Dakar at some of their exciting new resorts, we have low fares that make it easy and affordable to get there at a time when the U.S. dollar goes very far in Africa.”

The U.S. Dollar is currently exchanging at approximately 1:7.5 against the Rand, making prices for dining, lodging and attractions in South Africa amazingly affordable.

For an even greater vacation value, SAA offers a line of affordable luxury vacations through South African Airways Vacations. Customers can learn more when they call to make their flight reservations, or by visiting www.flysaa.com.

South African Airways features the only nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with daily departures from Washington, D.C., and daily direct service from New York that offer travel convenience and award-winning service. Customers in premium class enjoy 180° flat-bed seats with individual entertainment systems, and customers in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors and individual on-demand entertainment systems. SAA’s unrivaled network, featuring connections to more than 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 20 cities across the rest of the continent, make the airline the savvy traveler’s “gateway to Africa.”

As a member to the worldwide Star Alliance, South African Airways is able to offer its customers 965 destinations in 162 countries and 18,000 flights daily, including convenient connections from more than 25 cities in the U.S. through code share service with Star Alliance partner United Airlines. Members of United’s Mileage Plus, US Airways’ Dividend Miles and Air Canada’s Aeroplan programs are able to earn and redeem miles on all South African Airways flights. For more information on South African Airways, please call (800) 722-9675 or visit www.flysaa.com, where travelers can sign up to be notified of other great South African Airways travel deals and vacation packages.

^(a) Taxes and fuel surcharges apply. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Fare is non-refundable and non-endorsable. Minimum stay of 3 days, maximum stay of 1 month.