A while back, we posted about our quest to figure out our next vacation spot.  We ended up choosing the Cayman Islands; a huge factor was knowing people there (built-in babysitting?), ease of travel (the essential non-stop flight), and the wonderful mix of laid-back life with a healthy sprinkle of interesting things to do.  Grand Cayman’s assortment of casual and “scene” restaurants in a wide hue of cuisines is also a huge draw - and did we mention that they all deliver via a unique dining-in program that any visiting family would love?

So there you have it.  And it seems, as we pack our bags and look frantically for passports and email confirmations and all that stuff, that now is the perfect time to bid you adieu.

On a somewhat more permanent basis, we mean.

It’s been a whole lot of fun blogging here, and traveling with our kids without sacrificing quality is definitely a passion of ours - but at the end of the day, we have to let this venture go - at least for a while.  For one, as much as we love this work it’s definitely not lucrative - at all - and this labor of love has become so time-consuming without any draw that we’re actually losing money, if you consider that time = money. That’s probably our biggest consideration, but coming in a strong second is the fact that, in this economy, people are redefining how they travel.  Not that family travel of the type we’d prefer can’t be accomplished, mind you, but it seems somewhat ridiculous to post about trips specializing in excess right now.  And while we can redefine our mission and purpose to include more realistic trips, the truth is - well, that takes us right back to the non-lucrative part.  As in, more work - and still no money.

We’re sure we’ll be back, because we haven’t at all given up on our idea that family travel can be done with nary a cheap (as in ambiance) hotel or cartoon character in sight.  But for now, we’re closing the laptop on this gig.  Happy travels to you and your family, from us and ours.

Complimentary daily breakfast, “Nanny-On-Call” service and children’s cooking classes highlight the five-night “Family Fun in the Sun” package offered at the exclusive, 29-suite Esencia estate in the Riviera Maya. The package, available through Oct. 31, features five nights’ complimentary accommodations for up to two children under the age of 12 in the same suite as parents, breakfast each morning, two hours of “Nanny-on-Call” service each day while parents enjoy a treatment at Aroma Spa or dinner at Sal y Fuego, and a two-hour children’s cooking class for each child. Roundtrip transportation to and from Cancun International Airport is also included in the package. Rates start at $1,999 for accommodations in a Garden Room. Taxes and service fee is additional. For reservations, please call 877-528-3490 or visit www.hotelesencia.com.

Philadelphia, PA - Context, the network of scholars who design and lead critically-acclaimed walking tours of major world cities, has partnered with St. HOPE to offer a one-of-a-kind travel fellowship aimed at youth achievers from economically-disadvantaged communities.

The Context Travel Fellowship includes roundtrip airfare, accommodations and at least six days of on-site classes, seminars, and workshops with the scholars in the Context network. The Fellowship aims to expose intellectually curious students to the history, art, and culture of Europe, and use the power of travel to broaden the horizons of promising youth who may not, for economic reasons, have the opportunity to travel abroad.

“Although there’s much talk about the ill effects of travel on the environment, indigenous people, and fragile economies, travel is still one of the most transformative experiences anyone can have—especially a young, intellectually curious, and creative person who is open to its possibilities,” says Context founder Paul Bennett. “This fellowship is an incredible opportunity to broaden the reach of travel and make a difference in a young person’s perception and understanding of the world at large. It’s a new way of thinking about sustainable travel—travel that sustains society.” (more…)