Family vacation planner

BLACK TOMATO’S FAMILY VACATION PLANNER

+1 646 558 3644 BLACKTOMATO.COM/PLANNER

Our top tips to keep ahea

WHAT’S THE STORY?

of the crowds

Summer’s almost out. The children are heading back to school. Normality is about to return to the family home. Ish. Use September (and the peace and quiet) to look forward to the rest of the year and get planning.

Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains, Morocco blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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Read this calendar front stick it to your fridge. to back and Goes without saying really. »» It might sound obvio us, the kids’ passports are all but make sure up to date. As well as your own. »» Book your time off durin vacation weeks right now. g the school from the office politics an Save yourself something to look forwar d give yourself d to.

Think ahead

Something for September?

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With your last vacation a your heads to Novembedistant memory, turn its way. And will be here r. Thanksgiving is on a lot sooner than you think.

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October already. Wow.

you know The Holidays will be here before time off it. Bet you’re glad you booked thes a public work early. And even better, there’ nth. So holiday to take advantage of this mody (we’ll if you haven’t planned a trip alreaout some resist the told-you-so’s) check within a of these top recommendations, all know how five hour flight from home. We n’t waste precious your time off is, so do uabbling it with really long haul flights. Sqon. children is no way to start a vacati home blacktomato.com/fivehoursfrom

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Something for October?

Grootbos, Western Cape, South Africa blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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NOVEMBER It’s time

Thanksgiving at ours.

Time to start juggling the in laws. with friends. Endless ar Christmas Day at yours. New Ye don’t want to be too We politics. Exhausting, isn’t it? you take it abroad and predictable, so we won’t suggest behind. leave the squabbles

Something for November?

A family villa on Peter Island, British Virgin Islands blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

anyway, and you haven’t But. If you’re thinking about it a… already made plans, we have an ide away. Grandparents and Why not take the entire family ose leftovers have to go all. You can even invite the dog. Thve it, we just so happen somewhere. And as luck would ha to fit the whole family. as to have a collection of luxury vill ok the turkey.

We can even get someone in to co e head to For more on our luxury villa servic blacktomato.com/luxury-villas

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DECEMBER We hope by now you’re packing your bags...

...brushing up on your local lingo and ready on a plane for your winter escape en famille.to jump So bon voyage and Happy Holidays. Right?

Mum, please look away now. Just for this month.

Dad, forgotten to buy presents altogether got it covered. Why don’t you treat them to? We’ve trip in 2014. We’ll plan it, we’ll wrap it and a special you to put under the tree. We might eve send it to n throw in a bow.

Something for December?

Hotel Arenal Nayara, Arenal Volcano Park, Costa Rica blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

No need to panic. Just call us on +1 646 558 3644 and we’ll fix everything

Here’s a little inspiration before you call: blacktomato.com/family-holidays

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Y R A U N JA 2014

No one likes breaking resolutions But thankfully “This year I will travel to… ” is one of the easiest to keep. And we can help.

As a family, create a list of all your travel for 2014. Give us a call and we’ll plan your must do’s (around the school vacation weeks of couyear ahead not make a couple of ‘family challenge’ rse). Why this year. Learn a new skill all togethresolutions er. Mingle with some new cultures. Far more motiva throwing money away on a gym members ting than hip. Again.

So, for some resolutions you can keep this year, visit blacktomato.com/resolutions

Something for January?

Amanwella in southern Sri Lanka blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

Did you know…

On average we spend two months of our in traffic in the US. So use that time wiselylives stuck your next trip somewhere new (and conges and plan tion free).

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The snow is falling and it’s around this time of year that our heads turn to the mountains. We know the best places to learn to ski, favourites for those looking for fresh powder and the best English speaking instructors out there. And ever heard of Lulea? Think Narnia meets Swedish Lapland. Wasn’t it one of your resolutions to try something new in 2014?

And as a gentle reminder, book off your summer annual leave if you haven’t already. You’re only a few weeks away from Spring Break (not to mention the summer) so worth getting ahead of the crowds.

Something for February?

Dunton Hot Springs (and powder fields), Colorado blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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M A R C H

With six months of the school year gone and Spring Break around the corner, treat the family to an adventurous getaway and blow off some steam.

We know better than anyone that distracting the children is the best way to keep the parents happy, so check out our top family friendly hotels and our favourite family adventures.

blacktomato.com/familyhotels blacktomato.com/familyadventures

Top Tip

Something for March?

Hotel Rangá, Iceland blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

If you’re planning an adventurous trip this summer, now’s a good time to start breaking in the new footwear. Call us crazy, but it beats blisters and tears half way through your jungle trek. And make sure you’ve seen your family doctor at least a month ahead of your trip in case you need any jabs before you leave.

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Kids studying for end of year tests ?

Why not bring their ho doesn’t it. We all wish wemework to life. Sounds nice, history class. Or listened could remember more from each week. But there’s onfor that whole hour of biology in a classroom. So get ouly so much fun you can have and they’ll remember it t there. Inspire them early all.

This month’s homework

»» Make like a gladiator »» Track a rhino in Sout in Rome »» Race the Incas in Pe h Africa »» Discover the lost cit ru y in Jordan

Too young for exams?

Lucky them. Why not get the kids started on vacation-related projects before you head off. Map your route, learn some useful vocab and trial the local cuisine back at home to prepare the kids for what’s to come.

blacktomato.com/homew

ork

Something for April?

Hotel Esencia, Riviera Maya, Mexico blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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MAY

May is our favourite tim safari. Cooler temperatue for a southern African time for a family trip anres make it the perfect thinnest the game is easied with vegetation at its it’s shoulder season, so pr r than ever to spot. Plus ices are on our side.

Why not…

Something for May?

Hire a 4WD, throw the self-drive adventure in Nkids in the back and have a and brilliantly maintainedamibia. The roads are quiet country’s official languag and with English as the e you’ll have no problem asking for directions.

Okonjima Lodge, Omboroko Mountains, Namibia blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

Worried about the mosqu luxury resorts in malaria itoes? Head to one of our -f perfect destination to av ree South Africa. It’s the tantrums, with the added oid those daily medicine wineries to sample on yo bonus of some world class ur way back to Cape Town .

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ju n e

Summer is coming

And the kids are soon to We know that keeping tr be set free off school. can be hard work. So letack of the kids in busy crowds the masses and get the us help you. Get away from our private tours. We can’best in local knowledge with Wall of China but we can t promise a tourist free Great give you room to breath e.

Or for a private lesson a Japanese sensei, an af in the art of the ninja from Sistine Chapel or the Taj ter-hours tour of Petra, the Mahal, look no further th an blacktomato.com/just-for -us

Top Tip

ach sts on what e re li e m o s p u fo Draw to do well be u’re s t n a w u o y o of specially if y you travel (eh a second family) travelling witrrange everything and let us a get out there. before you an as much into ur e ic w t t fi l ’l o You , including y organised triped down-time. much need

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Something for June?

Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

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July The children are going to be home for months. Months.

And we all know they’ll be going stir crazy before long.

Plan something for the end of the Summer Break and give yourself some leverage for your dinner table negotiations.

‘Finish your greens and empty the dishwasher or we’re not going on vacation’ always worked wonders on us…

Top Tip

es ite themselv n. r w o t s id k tio Get the each destina urite m o fr d r a c t s favo a po e and their ntry. It t a d e h t t s u J t the cou thing abou n’t arrive home until probably wo but they’ll make a September, ook one day. great scrapb

Why not do something epic and take a twin destination trip. We know that catering for the whole family’s needs can be tough, so why not double your chances of getting it right with one of these multi-stop vacations...

Think Oman meets The Maldives, Paris twinned with an Indian Ocean adventure playground, a Californian road trip with a French Polynesian chaser...

Something for July?

Awasi Lodge, Atacama Desert, Chile blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

...and the list goes on at blacktomato.com/double-up

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August

Something for August?

Uma Ubud, Bali, Indonesia blacktomato.com/monthbymonth

Travelling in August?

Good plan. This is one of as the children will be ge the last opportunities this year to enjoy some there’s plenty you can dotting back to their studies soon enough. So what extended family time ever to make sure your trip is can do to help... as smooth sailing as poss your travel plans, ible. And plenty we »» Skip the lines at the airpo an hour shuffling your ca rt and let us arrange a meet and assist service. N o need to spend ses and clan towards the check-in desk. »» Take the chaos out of air travel as we arrang e a departure lounge da family. Last minute char y pass for the whole ging of all iPads is a must for any long flight. »» Don’t forget to chec k ha just ask us. We don’t wantnd luggage restrictions just before you travel. If you’ you to have to give up yo ur formula milk at the se re not sure, »» Buy some local toys curity gate. when of trouble, and it’s the pe you’re away. It’s a great way to keep them ente rfect thing for show and rtained and out tell in September.

Oh. And send us a postca rd for our wall of fame, wi post. ll you? Nothing beats som e good old fashioned

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START PLANNING YOUR NEXT FAMILY VACATION

+1 646 558 3644 BLACKTOMATO.COM/PLANNER