The Cultural Explorer, a tour operator specializing in culturally authentic and philanthropic trips throughout South Africa, has created a unique Mothers & Daughters – African Adventure tour that focuses on women’s experiences and triumphs. This special itinerary, with stays promised at boutique properties and luxury coastal hotels similar to those pictured above, includes visits with South African women like a traditional healer and entrepreneurs who are working to make a difference in their communities, and offers travelers the opportunity to work with several organizations themselves. (more…)

Villa Marinasmir, copyright Wimco Villas

Unlike many Moroccan villa rentals, this villa doesn’t place you in the souk in a riad in Marrakech, but rather right on the Mediterranean shore, with a white sandy beach accessed directly from the villa’s terrace.

For large groups, this villa is exceptional – Villa Marinasmir sleeps 18 guests. The main building includes 9 ensuite double rooms including the first-floor air-conditioned master suite. A separate pavilion hosts 2 additional ensuite double rooms and enjoys direct access to the lovely garden.

Villa Marinasmir is comfortable and casual, with white marble exterior and interior and an infinity pool that lend to its minimalist style. An outdoor terrace embraces the pool on either side, and each is covered by Moroccan-style domes that lend shade for relaxing. One side of the terrace is the dining area, while the other side’s comfortable sofas lend themselves to lounging and napping. There are also teak sundecks around the pool, and direct access to the beach.

The villa offers daily maid service and as with all of our villa posts, is child-friendly.

Villa Marinasmir seating area, copyright Wimco Villas

Rates for Villa Marinasmir begin at $27,500US a week. In August (high season) the villa must be rented for the entire month. For further information or to rent this villa, contact Wimco Villas at 866.483.4071.

The Pyramids of Giza

Find a babysitter for December 12, 2008. Apparently that’s when top chefs from around the world will be flown to Egypt to cook a dinner beside the Pyramids of Giza. This announcement comes on the tails of last month’s $25,000 per person dinner in Bangkok, which was the first in the Epicurean Masters of the World dinner series being planned by the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok. With this event being relatively cheap at just under $10,000 a head, it’s still being touted as a Millionaire’s Dinner, but who’s to say you can’t just bust open the retirement account and live it up for once, if that’s what you want to do?

And what, exactly, does this have to do with traveling with children? Maybe you have a son or daughter graduating from high school or college that you want to splurge on. Or, it could be a really expensive way of getting your toddler to finally try something new for once. Who are we to judge? We’re just providing the facts.

Just one thing: if you need a chaperone to accompany either the teen or the toddler to the dinner, please let us know. We can make ourselves available.