BABY ELEPHANTS SIGHTED AT ANGSANA LAGUNA PHUKET

Families staying at the Angsana Laguna Phuket are in for a real treat: housed at the resort are two baby elephants available to make friends with children playing at the resort’s tree house-inspired Kids Club.  Chokdee and Yindee can be accompanied on their leisurely strolls along the sandy shores of Bang Tao Bay, during their bath time in the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, or during their afternoons spent at the Kids Club.

Baby Elephant Angsana Phuket

 Comfortably housed and cared for in a spacious pavilion within Laguna Phuket’s integrated resort complex, the elephants are a symbol of Angsana’s commitment to driving sustainable development on the island. Chokdee and Yindee might otherwise be walking the streets of Bangkok performing circus acts for tourists, which is the unfortunate fate for many domesticated young elephants as a result of the mechanisation of the logging industry.

“Despite their iconic status in the country, these gentle animals are oftentimes mistreated,” says David Campion, Group Director of CSR Operations for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. “By developing systems and practices approved by Richard Lair, Advisor to the National Elephant Institute of Thailand, we offer a more pleasant way of life that also helps to educate our guests about Thailand and its unique environment.”

Chokdee and Yindee visit the resort daily, and gladly accept invitations to private functions. Imagine having a baby elephant at your childrens birthday party, now that would be cool! The elephants can often be found simply playing, walking and swimming with their mahouts, or full-time caretakers, who form a life-long bond and nurture them as if they were their own children. For something really special on your next family holiday book an elephant!

Call the family holiday experts www.travelwithkidz.com.au/agent-finder

On board Air New Zealand with kids

Flying with kids is never easy though Air New Zealand has introduced a Concierge to help us parents

Skiing in Steamboat, Air New Zealand is a great family friendly airline

Air New Zealand is the first in aviation history to have an International Airline Concierge on long haul flights. These IAC’s are destination experts and are there to ensure that each passenger travelling in each class receives outstanding customer service. These IAC’s are also available to assist with heating bottles and baby food when the cabin crew are committed to other in-flight duties.

Only fold-up strollers are allowed on board (due to storage limitations). Only fold-up strollers are allowed to the door of the aircraft. If you have a larger stroller/pram, Air New Zealand will supply a “loan stroller” to assist you in getting to the door of the aircraft for your departure.

the white sand Cook Islands on Air New Zealand

 Children and Infant meals are no longer available on Tasman or pacific services (except for services to and from Perth, Noumea and Papeete). Please note that meals are not available on Air New Zealand Domestic New Zealand services. Our cabin-crew are happy to prepare, heat and wash bottles whenever needed.

When travelling on Air New Zealand long-haul flights (including Perth, Noumea and Papeete), disposable diapers, drinking cups and formula are available. Pre-prepared baby food is also carried on board. Due to limited aircraft space, only a small amount of these products are loaded for emergency use. Infant meals are available on our long-haul flights including services to and from Perth, Noumea and Papeete and must be requested through your Travel With Kidz agent at the time of booking. Where possible, the cabin crew serve children’s meals before serving adults, so you can feed your child before relaxing and enjoying your own meal.

Air New Zealand caters for children with special dietary needs on long-haul flights including flights to and from Perth, Noumea and Papeete.

Entertainment on board for kids is a critical component of the receipt to success. Available on board are movies on demand, back of seat entertainment, Interactive games, Music  and Junior packs.

Air New Zealand has developed an exciting Kids Pack with a wide range of activities and entertainment to keep the little ones occupied. We have two (2) different Packs. The first is for children aged between 3-6 years called “Buzz & Poppy” and then second pack is for children aged between 7-11 years called “Air NZ Gang”.

“Buzz & Poppy” the friendly little bugs, take our junior Air New Zealand Flyers on a fun activity filled flight, whilst our “Air NZ Gang” packs feature native New Zealand characters “Kerry the Kiwi’, ‘Phizz the Fantail’ and ‘Ted the Tuatara’, who help kids learn a little about New Zealand in a fun way. The colourful bags contain a range of items including an activity book, colouring pencils, magic slate and stickers.

Please Note: Kids Packs are not available on Domestic New Zealand, Tasman or Pacific services (except for services to and from Perth, Noumea and Papeete).

Travel With Kidz specialises in family holidays worldwide and ensure you family travels safely while having the ultimate family holiday.

Visit www.travelwithkidz.com.au/agent-finder to find your nearest office

TK has been busy travelling the world over the Christmas school holidays. Travel With Kidz invited you to take TK on your holiday and be in the chance to win 5 nights in Phuket at the Evason Phuket and Six Senses Spa. We are pleased to announce we have a winner of the Travel With Kidz “take TK on your holiday” competition, Lizzy from Sydney NSW. Lizzy is pictured holding TK in Times Square New York City where she was on holidays with her family in December 2011. On behalf of Travel With family we thank you Lizzy for making the effort to enter our competition.

Lizzy and her family are off to the beautiful island of Phuket where they will stay at the family friendly Evason Phuket and Six Senses Spa. Located at Rawai Beach on the south eastern side of Phuket Island it is set amongst 64 acres of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, facing the Andaman Sea. Travelling time from the hotel to exciting Patong Beach is an easy 25 minutes where there is heaps of cheap shopping and family friendly restaurants. Evason service standards ensure great attention to detail and a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for families

The hotel offers “Just Kids” program catering for busy kids on holidays.

Just Kids has been specially set up as a centre for kids, aged five to twelve where they can explore, experiment, express their ideas and talents and creations, and have a jolly good time! For children under the age of 5yrs our facilities are free of charge; however children must be accompanied by a parent or babysitter. They do ask that you do not leave the property whilst the child is in our care.

Twice a day the children will have the opportunity to play on the water slide and will be enticed with challenging games as well as fun play for the not so competitive. There are experienced hosts close by to supervise all games.

Phuket is an exciting family friendly island with white sand beaches, beautiful Thai culture, elephant trekking through lush jungles, Thai food we all love and best of all so much great value shopping suitable for the whole family.

If you would like more information on Evason Phuket and other exciting family friendly holidays click here to view the World of Travel with Kidz 76 page travel guide online http://epublishbyus.com/the_world_of_travel_with_kidz/10019386 and contact your near licensed Travel With Kidz office.

TK would love to hear from you and share your holiday photos from Christmas. The next thing you know the Easter bunny will be delivering chocolate eggs and you will be thinking “why didn’t I book our family holiday sooner”.  Warm regards from the Travel With Kidz family.

Christmas is now over for another year and the worlds icon buildings including our own Sydney Harbour Bridge have been lit up to celebrate the beginning of another year so now is the time to tell the world about your best/worst/funniest family holiday experience. Having just spent 2 weeks with our 2 year old granddaughter Emily at Nanna and Poppy’s house we now appreciate how hard it is to keep children busy over the long holiday period.

Travelling with children can be fun with research and speaking to an expert. Travel With Kidz has been specialising in family travel for the past 16 years.

Here is our list of top ten things to do with the kids before they grow up:

1)    Climb the steps of Angkor Wat Cambodia and view history engraved on the walls.

2) Sit with indigenous Australians at Ayers Rock and learn the art of dot painting.

3) Learn to ski and make snowmen at Thredbo Village.

4) Play volleyball with Fijians on white sand beaches.

5) Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, Hawaii.

6) Walk down Broadway in New York and ride the lift to the top of the Empire State Building.

7) Visit the Pope’s home in Vatican City Rome. Climb the steps of St. Peters and view Rome from its peak.

8) Experience a magical Christmas under the Northern Lights with an unforgettable visit to Santa’s home town in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

9) Introduce the kids to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland– it never fails to capture their imaginations.

10) Dance with the Masai in the Masi Mara National Park Kenya and watch lions under a tree on the great plains of the Mara.

As today’s children grow up faster and spend less time with their parents than ever before, many families are structuring holidays which offer not only a break from the routine but a learning experience for everyone. 

After 34 years’ experience in the travel business – more than a third of that catering to the holiday needs of families – Wendy Buckley, Managing Director of Travel With Kidz, is well placed to comment on how family holidays are changing. 

“Many time-poor families are no longer content with the traditional two-week annual holiday to the coast,” she said. “They are beginning to think ‘quality not quantity’ and are demanding more active and interesting breaks.” 

“Young children’s brains are more open to learning and far more impressionable than adults,” she said. “Now is the time to spend quality time with your kids before they grow up.”

 What is your favourite experience with your kids? Email wendy@travelwithkidz.com.au to post your blogs and experiences.

Happy 2012 from the Travel With Kidz family

Gold Coast offers visitors a variety of must see tourist attractions. Vast golf courses, wonderful theme parks, famous beaches, ancient rainforests, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves, a great night life and a lot of other nature adventures can all be found in one great city.

Anyone visiting Gold Coast should not miss famous wildlife events and nature destinations that you can visit using a 4WD hire. Some of these attractions are the  Australian Outback Spectacular, Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tour , Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary,  Sea World, Araucaria Lookout Track, Bellbird Circuit, Best of All Lookout, Caves Circuit, Coomera Circuit, Dave’s Creek Circuit, Dreamworld, David Fleay Wildlife Park , Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, Gwongoorool Track, Historic Rivermill, Illinbah Circuit, Lower Bellbird Circuit, Mount Hobwee Circuit, Mount Merino, Natural Bridge Rainforest Circuit, Purling Brook Falls Circuit, Ships Stern Circuit, Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, Tullawallal Circuit, Wagawn and Warrie Circuit. These and a lot more sports and recreation activities await the willing traveller, the agile tourist or the active visitor.

However, capturing every moment, enjoying every minute and indulging in such experiences can only be made possible if you have all the stuff you need to experience nature. A good digital SLR camera or any other video cam, a nice umbrella or a big hat, a wide mat or a foldable bed, a foldable chair or even a laptop will definitely allow you to enjoy nature better. And yet this can only be possible when you have a a 4WD hire because with a rented car you can bring all your stuff everywhere and you get to choose whether to stay in the same place longer or pack up and go somewhere else better.

Travel With Kidz Caringbah – formerly Travel With Kidz Surry Hills has been operating under the leadership of Lisa Allan for the last  4 years.

Now situated in Caringbah under Shire Travel we have the ability and knowledge to advise on any family holiday. We love to travel ourselves with our families and tend to search for destinations that not everyone has been to so we can offer different and interesting product.

Anyone can send you to Fiji but we at Travel with Kidz Caringbah know the best camps in Africa for children, the most unique children experiences in Europe and the ski fields that operate the best ski schools for all ages.

NO matter what age your children are, where you want to travel, or at what budget we have the expertise and creativity to make this happen.

We will sit with you in our office or visit you in your home if this is more convenient – especially if you have a new born to design your perfect family holiday experience.

Contact Lisa and the team at Caringbah Travel With Kidz:

• 349 The Kingsway
• Caringbah NSW 2229, Australia                          
• Ph:  +61 2 8264 7890                                         
• Fax: +61 2 9281 5411                                          
• Web: www.shiretravel.com.au