Glamping - glamorous camping - is, to us, the best way to camp: outdoor fun with indoor comfort, because really, when we’ve been chasing children and moose all day in kayaks and on horseback (and on foot), the last thing we want to do is lie down in a sleeping bag. Doesn’t a large bed with fine soft linens sound - and feel - so much better?

The people at The Resort at Paws Up (Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Preferred Boutique) have been doing glamping in style well before the term was coined, as the tent below can attest to:

Really, doesn’t it make you feel straight out of a British expedition to India or Africa in the 30s? (more…)

Hope you had a good summer. This week brings us crashing back to the reality of work and school - which is all the more reason to plan your next vacation. Coming up, some sites of interest for you family travelers:

• In another country and have no idea what (or if) to tip? This handy chart from USA Today gives you the gratuity lowdown for 77 countries.
• Showing an understanding of other cultures can go a long way to improving your reception overseas. Check out this site, which offers advice on interacting with the citizens of Japan.
• Want to see if your next destination is as pretty as the guidebooks say? Go to Travelistic, a site featuring travel videos made by John Q. Traveler. Anyone can submit videos, meaning you’ll see some raw but authentic footage of destinations around the world. The Travel Channel it’s not - but that’s exactly the point.
• Check out this recent NY Times article on how to tell if your luxury hotel’s room rate is the bargain they say it is.
• We wrote about glamping some time ago, and the trend towards camping in high style continues unabated. Forbes offers 10 Ritzy Rustic Resorts where you can get your glamp on.

The 3-ounce rule for carry-on liquids when flying may not be such a bad thing. Time was when we used to laden our carry-ons with enough to strain a pack mule because we were scared of items exploding all over our newly purchased resort wear. Now, our Kooba bags have much more room for stuff because the liquids are going in the checked luggage (see our previous post for a stylish way to keep your Frederic Fekkai products off your clothes).

If you’re traveling with small children, though, you definitely don’t need industrial sizes of their hair and skin care to get you through a week or so of vacation time. California Baby, a member of the Organic Trade Association that makes products with essential oils and free of the usual drying irritants, has little ones covered with a great suncare tote that packs a lot into a little space. Along with a smart pair of kid sunglasses, the Suncare Basics Tote includes:

• 1/2 ounce Everyday/Year-round SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick
• 2 ounce Soothing & Healing Spray
• 2 ounce Tea Tree & Lavender Shampoo & Bodywash
• 1/2 ounce Everyday/Year-round SPF 18 Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion
• 1/2 ounce Citronella Bug Blend SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion
• 1/2 ounce No Fragrance Sunscreen Lotion
• 1/2 ounce Calming Hair Conditioner
• 1/2 ounce Calming Everyday Lotion

Whether glamping or beaching it, the only thing left for you to decide is whether to carry this nifty tote on board or stash it in your luggage, leaving you with more room for that novel you have yet to finish…

Available from California Baby
$22.95