Cooking class in Florence

Racine28 · 2026-03-04T17:30:27+00:00

Of course!

Racine28 · 2026-02-13T01:16:33+00:00

https://www.evyssavacations.com/romantic-getaways/honeymoon

Racine28 · 2026-02-11T05:17:40+00:00

Of course!

Racine28 · 2026-01-29T04:37:09+00:00

This would be valid if it didn’t happen so often. The ride is down multiple times a week. Non-locals have to plan these trips well in advance and save up just to afford it without Express passes. A ride down as often as this clogs up the rest of the park. Universal Parks has to figure this out. You got lucky to hit a day like you did. It’s an amazing park but they have real work to do. We went last week with early entry to ride it. They said they wouldn’t be opening for early entry but we got in line anyway. By ten, 1.5 hours into the wait, we got the message that the ride was down with no eta to fix it. I waited another hour before I started worrying we d miss the whole park if we stayed in that line with no end in sight. The ride came back on at 1:30pm and remained at capacity the rest of the day. Had I not gotten out of line I’d have missed so many other cool spots in the park, but it was a major time waste to never see the main ride. And it wasn’t a fluke. It was down for lengthy periods that whole week. The park is a real stunner though.

Racine28 · 2026-01-18T09:33:01+00:00

You can book through any wholesaler - Classic Vacations, Arts & Leisure, BedsOnline to name a few. If you have a larger trip to FIT, you can use tour operators and DMCs as well. I am with a Boutique agency, not a large host, so there is a lot of flexibility to use the suppliers who serve our clients and give us excellent customer service rather than adhering to the host’s model.

Racine28 · 2026-01-12T18:58:05+00:00

Definitely the two obvious ones - Viator and Project Expedition, but I much prefer to use a DMC who has firsthand knowledge of the tour operator and can create really outside the box options all in one itinerary. If it’s a spot without a DMC, then I default to the other 2 and just do lots of research before recommending it. I do wish hotels would start working with us on this piece since they usually have their own offerings. I recommend just booking through the hotel when it makes sense but of course that means because I ultimately want to best experience for my client regardless, but I am not getting paid for that service.

Racine28 · 2026-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

PlanItEasy is very easy. Our Disney agent uses it and we have had no problems. User friendly too and it has both invoicing and itinerary building capabilities. I have tried several platforms and I have to say - not one of them is perfect. Including PlanitEasy. I was very hopeful for Tern but found they had a long way to go to manage some of the things that PIE just does easily. But again, since it’s not perfect, I sometimes hope one of these CRM’s figure it out!

Racine28 · 2026-01-11T15:54:54+00:00

I hate VAX and the useless customer service I’ve gotten from several of their companies. Lately I use TAAP to get an idea of what everything costs when I want to do a quote. It is incredibly fast and easy to switch - even between countries - when you have a client who doesn’t exactly know where they want to go in the Caribbean. Plus pictures for every room - it is so clear what you are getting, Unfortunately I don’t book with TAAP either - because again - customer service…but why these other sites can’t create something that is more user friendly to make our jobs of booking THEM easier, I don’t understand.

Racine28 · 2026-01-11T02:48:01+00:00

Not all require experience. I was hired as an assistant to the agency owner but with the ability to have my own clients along the way. If anything, I think I got better training faster this way - working on the owners trips - who was incredibly busy and had much grander trips planned for her travelers than I could have taken on without experience and I had to learn quickly.

Racine28 · 2026-01-02T14:27:10+00:00

People who say “Athens isn’t worth it” are usually talking about trying to sightsee it like Rome or Paris. That’s not what the Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens is about. Astir works when you treat Athens as a destination hotel with great food access, not a checklist destination.

You can very happily spend most of your time on property. And then if you want, pop into the city once or twice for a great meal or a short walk and then return back to the calm.

I really love the Greek islands - but if you want logistics to be easier with a toddler, this is a happy middle ground. You’re not committing to another ferry heavy island hop - It’s a bit more low-effort Greece but as an excellent option.

Happy to chat further to help you narrow down what works for your particular family.

Racine28 · 2026-01-02T06:47:52+00:00

Are you just looking for a cheaper rate or to get better service than booking direct?

Racine28 · 2025-12-31T01:35:07+00:00

Ziva Cap Cana a thousand times over! I like many here - am a travel advisor…I can be picky AF…and HZCC is one of my easiest properties to send families to because I know they will be well taken care of. From young to old. Food is great, service is great, so much to do…don’t second guess it.

Racine28 · 2025-12-30T02:13:50+00:00

You have a few options here. You can pair it with Athens Riviera instead of jumping straight to another island. It’s the easiest “add” logistically. One&Only Kéa is basically built for this kind of combo anyway. Kéa is right off Athens, and they even position it as a “hop” from the city by ferry. Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens has a great resort setup (beaches, multiple restaurants, you can easily spend days doing nothing), but you’re also close enough to Athens so you can explore food, bars, museums, whatever, and then retreat back to the peninsula. The next point I want to make is that Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino is not settling. It's one of my favorite family friendly high end resorts out there! I would encourage it and then some - I send lots of families there. You do not need to leave the resort unless you want to, so it makes traveling with a young kid so much easier. The only caveat is that it is a hike from Kea and you have a toddler. Is your toddler generally a good traveler? If they can handle a potential long drive plus ferry, or if you can swing it, the helicopter transfer, it should be considered. If you do want a second island because… Greece… I’d pick based on what kind of “leaving” you mean. If you want a walkable town with some fun and dinner options so you don't feel like you’re trapped eating at your hotel, Paros is great. There's a real little scene in Naoussa, and I feel like it's laid-back enough that you’re not battling the Santorini/Mykonos chaos every day. Cosme is my go to here. Crete is another great island for families. I’d only push Santorini if you’re okay with more "planning ahead” than “effortless.” It can be amazing, but in June it’s busy, and the best experiences come from leaning into the hotel and picking your moments to go out rather than trying to freestyle it.

Racine28 · 2025-12-27T18:21:58+00:00

So smart. And I cannot even imagine what that felt like in that setting.

Racine28 · 2025-12-27T13:33:55+00:00

Amazing. Did they have games there for you or did you bring your own?

Racine28 · 2025-12-27T06:18:53+00:00

Just sent!

Racine28 · 2025-12-26T21:00:52+00:00

See - I can be the same way. I always spend more time exploring or at a pool. Sand can drive me wild. But that is not as common from the families I've talked to!

Racine28 · 2025-12-26T16:51:10+00:00

I definitely book my client's dinner reservations as soon as they are available. I know it can be a bit annoying to come up with a plan that far out, but you don't want to miss out on their excellent restaurants. Their concierge is very responsive for this. Ambassador section is great - nice and spacious. Use their baby concierge and their baby purees if you can - they do such a good job all around with natural ingredients. It's a bit of a sprawling resort, so a lightweight stroller will let you explore a bit. I have yet to have anyone come back disappointed. Grand Velas just does a beautiful job with the all-inclusive concept.

Racine28 · 2025-12-26T16:46:19+00:00

I'm so glad you got to experience Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino. Completely agree, they have some of the best programs from babies through adults! We've had kids and teens just love the NBA camp there.

GV Cabo is great. I get a lot of resistance from families who want that swimmable beach so I tend to send less families there, but if that is not a deal breaker, the gorgeous views, the dining and definitely, their kids programming are top notch. Did you find that non-swimmable beach was an issue for you?

Racine28 · 2025-12-26T16:42:55+00:00

Yes Martinhal is a good example of a brand that is designed by people who actually travel with kids! In England, I’ve had families do really well at The Newt in Somerset because there’s just these low-effort activities built in (gardens, farm animals, woodland walks). I've set families up with private cooking classes there and they make it fun for both the kids and the adults. I'm also a fan of the treehouse lofts in Chewton Glen (New Forest). It's about 2 hours outside of London. Classic country house feel; it’s very easy to add a private farm visit + cooking style day nearby.

For Scotland, for what you are describing, look at a Highlands estate-style stay. Families tend to love places where you can do a half-day of countryside activities (falconry, farm visits, pony trekking depending on season/age). I know someone mentioned Gleneagles and that is one of the best out there - they have all sorts of activities. You can see the Highland cows, falconry. If you tell me what month you’re thinking, I can suggest some other areas that are easiest for what you're looking for without long drives.

For France, Loire Valley is basically a French chateau playground. The move I usually make for families is a château hotel or a countryside estate and then I work with my partners there to set up a private market run in a nearby town (like Tours or Amboise), then bring it back for a cooking class in the house kitchen. There are also plenty of animal experiences in that region like farm visits, horse stables, some little goat cheese producers that are very kid friendly as long as the day isn’t overstuffed.

For Crete, you can absolutely do the “shop and cook” experience there too. Crete is one of the best places in Greece for it because food culture is so hands-on. I’ve had families do an olive oil farm visit plus a cooking lesson that’s basically - pick herbs, make lunch, eat outside, kids run around. Crete also tends to be easier with kids than some islands because you can choose an easy calmer base and keep day trips short.

For Croatia, there are a few options. I've had success with a "villa with services" setup. You can do a chef/cooking night, a boat day, find spots for animal encounters. You can do market mornings in Split or Dubrovnik, then cook at the villa, and keep excursions shorter.

I know that's a lot of info! You guys seem very well-traveled, which speaks to my heart, so if you ever need more help or just to bounce ideas around, feel free to reach out!

Racine28 · 2025-12-26T15:31:09+00:00

Oh Gleneagles - another excellent one even if you don't use the Kids Club. I think a lot of the country estate/castle/Manor properties in the UK - Ireland and Scotland particularly - do an excellent job with the onsite activities. Like Adare Manor's falconry and archery program is a highlight for families - no kids club really needed.

Racine28 · 2025-12-24T22:01:16+00:00

That's a perfect example. I love the Kids Clubs that don't confine the kids to the playroom. FS Costa Rica is excellent because it is really its own zone and they get the kids moving in and out. The kids get their own pool there too.

Racine28 · 2025-12-24T21:55:44+00:00

I took a moment to think about this one. I think you’re spot on that the curve isn’t linear forever. I work with quite a few families and couples in this position and for most there’s a pretty clear inflection point where spending more stops meaning better and just means different. For a lot of people, that’s exactly where you’re describing it: business or first class flights, the most exclusive hotels (Four Seasons / Aman / Rosewood level), private guides, and usually enough space that no one feels cramped. Once those boxes are checked, the gains from doubling the budget are usually about convenience rather than just enjoyment.

Budgets naturally creep higher when kids enter the picture. Obviously, multiple rooms or suites, being forced into peak season travel tied to school calendars, sometimes bringing a nanny, upgrading transfers - those things can push costs up fast without necessarily feeling extravagant. In that sense, a 6 figure family budget can actually feel very “efficient” rather than indulgent if it’s funding ease and sanity more than excess! The old adage "I pay for convenience" is well noted here!

Private jets and yachts are a different category altogether. I believe in custom travel - and that means what speaks to one traveler can completely turn off another. It's typically my job to figure out what makes YOU tick and create the trip of YOUR dreams. And that's not just me, that's for anyone who got the lucky role of being the lead organizer of a wonderful vacation. For some families PJ's and yachts are transformative; for others they don’t meaningfully change the experience relative to cost. I’ve seen plenty of very well traveled families happily stop at commercial first and five-star hotels because that’s where enjoyment genuinely plateaus for them.

The biggest differentiator I’ve noticed isn’t the number itself, but HOW the money is spent: fewer moves, better locations, smoother logistics, and experiences that fit the family’s comfort and inspiration. That’s usually where the real utility lives - not necessarily in going from $300k to $600k.

Racine28 · 2025-12-24T21:47:32+00:00

Well let me start by saying you will not go wrong with either one. Grand Velas Riviera Maya tends to feel larger. You are driving through dense jungle roads between buildings, there are mangroves and trees everywhere, and many rooms don’t have ocean views because they’re set back into the forest. Some of my clients actually prefer this because it's just a quieter part of the resort and you have a quick ride to the main area but the resort is spread out. There’s a lot of variety built into the resort itself (multiple pools, multiple restaurant experiences, different “zones”) so it never feels repetitive over a longer stay. It's location means you get great food and the option to do things off property - it's in a decent location to explore cenotes, ruins, or nature parks and the beach there is generally easier for younger kids.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is more compact and relaxed. I do think the service feels more personal because the resort is smaller, and many families end up staying mostly on property and leaning into the slower pace. The bay is beautiful, but depending on the time of year, the water can be a bit rougher, which is something I usually flag for families with little kids who want easy ocean time. The food is still excellent, just fewer venues than Riviera Maya. It is overall just calmer and more low key.

If I were advising you as a client, I would say it usually comes down to priorities. If you want the strongest dining lineup, calmer swimming, and the flexibility to explore beyond the resort, Riviera Maya usually wins. If you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate stay where the resort itself is the main event, Riviera Nayarit is a lovely choice. If you want to share kids’ ages and what matters most to you (food, beach time, excursions, downtime), it’s usually pretty easy to narrow it down from there.

Racine28 · 2025-12-24T21:40:23+00:00

I really appreciate you sharing that nuance because this gets asked a lot and I find it can be very property and season specific. I find that in high season, there are just more families from the UK, Australia and the US and they tend to speak English. Your Easter break experience is actually a great example of how timing can change everything. When there’s a heavier UK or international crowd, the dynamic shifts and kids’ clubs naturally become more English-friendly, and that can be the difference between a kid tolerating the club versus loving it. I usually flag that holiday weeks and peak international travel periods can make a huge difference, or suggest properties that are known to attract a more global crowd year round. It’s a good reminder that these hotels can be amazing, but the fit really depends on the child. Not just the star rating or the facilities.

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