A Grand New Trend

By Amy Gallman

TWO YEARS AGO, Jeanne Jones and her husband went to Oahu with one very special travel partner in tow: granddaughter Riley Beek.

“I told her that when she was 7, I would begin taking her one place a year that she wanted to go,” says Jones, a spry San Diego cookbook author. “We went to Hawaii that year, New York when she was 8, and this year we are going to Orlando.”

Jones and hubby Don Breitenberg are not alone in vacationing with family while skipping a generation. In 2002, 15 percent of all trips made with children were done without Mom and Dad, according to a survey by the Travel Industry Association of America.

The trend of golden-agers traveling with grandkids has actually spawned a cottage industry. An agency called Grandtravel specializes in organizing trips for grandparents and grandchildren. Excursions are taken worldwide, and the company’s past trips have included destinations like Australia, Kenya, Peru and Alaska.

“The value is that children and grandparents get to share time together,” says Grandtravel spokesperson Helena Koenig. “It provides a great cultural background to the kids.”

No doubt Mom and Dad don’t mind the at-home vacation from the siblings, too.

Some hotels offer discounts that fit the “grandtravel” mold. The Hilton chain allows children 18 and under to stay free when accompanied by their grandparents. Another plus already in place at most hotels: children’s programs. These adult-supervised activities allow kids to do water sports and other adventures while giving Granny and Gramps a chance to catch their breath.

Jones says she plans her grandtravel trips as if she and her husband were children too, incorporating activities that appeal to kids. Jones and Breitenberg say they enjoy the trips as much as Riley.

“We’ve had more fun than we’ve ever had,” says Jones. “Grandmothers are no longer blue-haired women baking cookies. We’re more active, and we like to play with our grandkids the same way we once did with our own children.”

In Hawaii, Jones surfed with her granddaughter. They walked miles and miles of city streets in New York, and even flew in a helicopter over Manhattan. In Orlando, they plan to visit Universal Studios and explore the Everglades.

“Each destination correlates with Riley’s age level,” says Jones. “When she’s 10, we’ll take her to Washington, D.C., because she’ll be curious to see what she’ll be learning about in school.”

To top off each trip, Jones makes a book full of photos and memories for her granddaughter, illustrating the time they spent together.

Picture perfect.

Baby Onboard

Written By Noora Raj

BAD FOOD, BUMPY RIDES—such are the joys of flying. But nothing burdens a trip through an airport terminal more than juggling overstuffed luggage and young children. “My kid had to ride on top of my roller luggage,” says American Airlines flight attendant Darryl Lenz.

A light bulb went on, and the Ride On Carry On was born. It converts any piece of wheeled luggage into a stroller. The idea came in the Atlanta airport, when Lenz was traveling with her 2-year-old son, Dawson. The prototype was constructed in Lenz’ garage.

Good for kids weighing up to 40 pounds, the Ride On Carry On features a padded headrest, which converts to a tray table. This glorified snap-on chair folds to fit in an airplane overhead compartment. “It started as a fluke to make my traveling easier,” Lenz says. Other flight attendants begged to borrow it, and the device was soon featured on Good Morning America. It’s sold at retailers nationwide, and on-line at www.rideoncarryon.com.

Yoga on Demand

NOW AVAILABLE at the 39 hotels within the Kimpton Group: in-room yoga. The Strike A Pose program includes a looped yoga tape on the television; complimentary baskets with mats and other yoga essentials are available. How popular is the program? A spokesperson says it’s hard to keep the comp baskets in stock.

It Pays To Be an Ally

THE NUMBER-ONE overseas destination for Americans in 2003 was London, according to the Airtreks Web site. Just making the top 20—but uncharacteristically low in the rankings: Paris.

Cruise Currents

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES will do eight-day cruises from San Diego to Mexico this year on the Spirit. Twenty-two Mexican cruises are planned, with stops in Acapulco and other cities. Cost: $649 per person. Call 800-CARNIVAL, or go to www.carnival.com ... Carnival is also expanding its “Fun Ship” program of short cruises from Jacksonville, Florida. Original plans called for two ships—including the new Miracle, which has an interior inspired by icons from novels, films, Broadway and such—to do three- to six-day cruises to ports like Key West and Nassau, the Bahamas, in the spring and fall ... 2004 marks the 10th anniversary for Silversea, and the luxury line has designated nine of its voyages for special celebrations. There will be anniversary dinners and balls on each of Silversea’s four liners, and selected voyages will offer a complimentary shore excursion. Call 800-722-9955, or visit www.silversea.com ... To help the cruise market to Asia rebound, many lines are slashing fares. An impressive offer comes from luxurious Crystal Cruises, which halved its minimum price on four spring sailings. Call 800-820-6663, or go to www.crystalcruises.com ... Is your Valentine a golf nut? Surprise him or her with a fall jaunt from SeaDream Yacht Club. The “Mediterranean Golf by Sea” cruise, September 11-18 aboard the 55-stateroom SeaDream II, provides the opportunity to play six of the region’s best courses, from Cannes to Corsica. Call 800-707-4911 or check the site at www.seadreamyachtclub.com ... Boarding procedures can be a hassle, especially with tightened security, but several lines are making the process easier. Carnival and others are offering on-line registration, and Holland America lets early arrivers board at 11:30 a.m., before the “official” time. Yes, the buffet is open.