Travel companies, from tour operators to hotels and resorts, are realizing that family travel is one of the biggest growth markets for them. They’re designing programs and properties with the kids, mom and dad and even grandma and grandpa in mind. This means more choices for parents in the type of travel vacations they can take and the activities they can enjoy. There’s also more built-in comfort in new larger accommodations, making the trip even better. 

Escorted Tours

Many of the traditional escorted tour companies are launching separate family-focused tours with itineraries geared for the multi-generational travelers, including two—Collette Family Vacations and Tauck Bridges—that have created separate brands from their core business, attributing to the demand of these types of vacations. If you think escorted tours are for seniors and require hours on a tour bus visiting 20 countries in 21 days you’re in for a surprise. These aren’t your grandmother’s bus tours.

Collette Family Vacations launched in December 2010 and the company has already expanded its departures and added more dates to its roster of affordable family vacations. Collette features nine itineraries designed to bring travelers of all ages together to experience domestic and international destinations that range from U.S. national parks and Canada to the Galapagos and Kenya. The new brand offers child rates up to 50 percent off adult rates for kids 14 and under, family-friendly hotels and activities and itineraries designed to keep all generations having fun. Some inclusions are zip-line canopy tours in Costa Rica, wildlife encounters in Galapagos, a ride on the London Eye, making authentic pizza in Italy and watching Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone National Park.
           
Collette Family Vacations is part of parent company Collette Vacations, which has been offering escorted tours for more than 90 years. Rates vary by tour but a range for children would be $999 for the Canadian Rockies, Costa Rica and The Wild West and Yellowstone Adventure up to the most expensive – Galapagos Family Adventure at $2,299 and adult rates range is low of $1,499 for Costa Rica and Wild West & Yellowstone Family Adventure to high of $3,299 for Galapagos Family Adventure land only. Learn more at www.collettevacations.com.
           
High-end tour operator Tauck World Discovery, which has been around for more than 85 years, launched its Tauck Bridges family brand in 2003 and it has been among the fastest growing segments of its business, according to spokesperson Tom Armstrong. The company offers 16 itineraries in Europe, North America, Latin America and Africa designed specifically for families. In general, a minimum age of 8 is suggested for these tours.
           
“The Tauck Bridges trips are built around our ‘shared enrichment’ philosophy, which encourages families to experience the joys of travel together, and build the bonds (or ‘bridges’) that naturally occur as a result of those shared experiences,” says Armstrong.

On Tauck Bridges tours you’ll see three groups of travelers: parents with young children, grandparents with grandchildren and multi-generational groups (sometimes entire family reunion) of grandparents, adult children and grandchildren. The appeal to these types of trips include what Tauck calls its "Do it for you" service, taking the substantial hassles out of family travel, says Armstrong.

“We plan the itinerary and make all the necessary arrangements, and we handle all transportation and navigation in the destination,” adds Armstrong. “We also take care of everything from luggage handling to dinner reservations and entertainment, etc., so guests spend all of their time enjoying themselves, rather than dealing with the logistics of travel.”
           
Whether it’s an after-hours Vatican tour, a workshop/discussion with a member of the Broadway theater community in Manhattan, or a visit to a rural school in Tanzania, Tauck Bridges trips include special access to experiences. Tauck Bridges all-inclusive tours rates vary by tour with a starting land-only rate of $2,094 per person for the 8-day "Costa Rica: Jungles and Rainforests" itinerary. Take $200 off for kids 11 and under. www.tauckbridges.com.

Spas for Kids
           
Another fun trend is that increasingly spas are accommodating kids. Four million teens have been to a spa, according to the International SPA Association (ISPA). Of the 80 percent of U.S. spas that offer special packages targeted at client groups, 31 percent offer teen packages for ages 13 to 19 years of age. But don’t be jealous, little sisters; some spas are offering treatments for the littlest princess in your life as well.

“The spa provides the ideal setting for the next generation of spa-goers to learn proper skin care, nutrition, sun care and other healthy habits,” says ISPA president Lynne McNees. “It’s also a great place to spend quality time with family and friends to build a strong wellness foundation.”
           
A good example is the Spa and Wellness Center at Stowe Mountain Lodge, which opened its KidSpa within its 21,000 square foot spa in December 2010, offering “fun and simplistic spa services” to children from 5 to 14 lasting from 45 to 60 minutes. The KidSpa was developed as a response by guests who requested their children be incorporated into their spa experience, says Morgan Fukumoto, spokesperson for Stowe. Treatments range from $20 for a 25-minute Princess Manicure to $75 for a 25-minute Mini Me Massage (adult must be present in the room.) Visit www.stowemountainlodge.com for more details.
           
At Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, N.Y., children ages 6 to 15 enjoy salon services at the resort’s spa. This age group can enjoy a 25-minute For Me Too! Manicure for $35 or a 25-minute For Me Too! Pedicure for $45. The minimum age for entrance in the spa is 16, allowing older teens of ages 16 and 17 to enjoy additional spa treatments. A lavender massage for this age group is offered for 25 minutes at $70 and 50 minutes at $120. The 25-minute teen care facial or teen clearing facial costs $70. An 18 percent gratuity is added to all of the above. For more information, check out www.mohonk.com.   

More Room at the Inn

Recognizing that families need more space than the crowded standard double bed hotel room, a number of all-inclusive resorts are now offering family rooms. For instance, at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, the 162 Italian Village Family Suites were a large part of the property’s multi-million dollar expansion in 2009. Parents get a separate master bedroom with a sitting area, four-poster bed and plasma TV. The separate kids’ room has their own space with bunk beds and plasma TV. They share a bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and double-vanity.
           
Family suite all-inclusive rates start at $406 per person/night. Children under 2 stay free and children’s rate for ages 2 to 16 is $105 per night. Visit www.beaches.com.
           
Club Med Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, Fla., re-opened this winter following a $25 million renovation that included the creation of Family Deluxe Rooms. These rooms have separate bedrooms for parents and children, each with their own flat-screen TV, and one-and-a- half bathrooms. They’re the largest room category at the resort. A seven-night all-inclusive rate for a family of four staying in a Deluxe Family Room starts at $5,670 www.clubmed.com.
           
Dreams Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic offers Deluxe Family Rooms that connect one king-size bedroom with a two-double bedroom. Both rooms feature their own TV. All-inclusive starting rates for a Deluxe Family Room is $222 per person per night for adults and $65 per person per night for children. Visit www.dreamsresorts.com

Stacey Zable has written about travel for more than 20 years. Her favorite trips are those in which she travels with her husband and two daughters.