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Photo by Bob Scott
THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO makes a concerted effort to reach out to teenagers. The historic hotel’s Coast Club Lounge holds pool tables and video games and has Web access. “We generally have 15 to 25 kids cruising through there at all times,” says Craig Jacobs, regional director of sales and marketing. Families staying at the Del can also rent volleyballs, surfboards or Jet Skis, with instruction coordinated through the hotel.
Why should hotels care about keeping teens occupied? Look no further than the bottom line.
A “Portrait of Family Travel” survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown indicates kids influence more than half of all family travel decisions. The families of baby boomers generated 241 million household trips last year——more than any other age group in the United States——according to the Travel Industry Association of America. And those boomers’ kids are now teenagers, no longer content with ice cream and pool floaties.
Teresa Alley, well-traveled mother of two teens, says hotels are trying to accommodate a teenage crowd, but not without missing the mark occasionally. “It’s better for them to be in a group, where they feel comfortable with themselves,” she says. “But a year-old movie with popcorn and a bunch of complete strangers may not be good for some people.”
Aiming at kids, Jamaica’s Beaches Negril Resort recently opened an 18,000-square-foot water park. There are spiraling tunnels up to 204 feet long. The park also features a 392-foot lazy river ride for relaxing and soaking up the rays. Beaches resorts on Turks and Caicos islands in the Caribbean also have unlimited-access arcade rooms with multiple Xbox video-game kiosks.
Bruce Scottow, of Pasadena’s cruise-oriented travel agency 7 Blue Seas, has compiled a list of floating resorts that embark with teenagers in mind. “Ten or 20 years ago, you saw one little room for daycare,” Scottow says. “Now, many of the ships’ programs have age-specific facilities and supervisors.”
Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas program includes a teen lounge and nightclub, ice-skating rink, basketball court, rock-climbing wall and miniature golf course. Carnival Cruise Lines’ chaperoned shore excursions for young adults include a Coral Reef and Stingray Safari (in the Grand Caymans) and the Cave Tubing and Rainforest Tour (in Belize).
If budget allows, the sky is the limit for escapes that’ll please parents and teens. San Diegans Kris and Jim Mc- Millan took their three teenage boys on a trip to the site of the Tour de France, where a Du Vine Adventures guide arranged a personalized bicycling trip. “The family creates experiences that are worthwhile,” says Kris. And fun for all ages. ——JARED COHEN
REALITY IN THE AIR
AMERICANS CAN’T GET ENOUGH “reality” TV. The latest intrusion: A&E Network’s Airline.The show exposes the ups and downs of travel on Southwest Airlines. Encounters are shown between pilots, flight attendants, desk clerks, testy businessmen, intoxicated travelers, screaming children and passengers of all types. Filmed in Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore, Airline’s second 10-episode season began July 5 and airs at 10 p.m. Southwest spokesperson Whitney Eichinger answers a few questions about the show:
San Diego Magazine: Have you noticed a travel destination that is most popular? Whitney Eichinger: Around the holidays, we see people traveling to Chicago to shop for Christmas presents. A lot of people also travel to Los Angeles to get the Southern California experience. Another popular destination is Las Vegas for bachelor parties.
SDM: What do producers look for when preparing to film an episode? WE: They want to show a story the whole way through, so they will look for something that is going to have a beginning, middle and end. The producers follow a story throughout an entire episode, such as what happened when someone lost their baggage, or a customer who flew out to compete in a heavyweight boxing competition.
SDM: In your opinion, what is the most interesting thing that has happened on the show?
WE: One episode followed two pilots as they flew to Las Vegas and got married. That was a pretty cool story.
—CHRISTINA BERTSCH
WHERE, AND HOW MUCH?
A LARGE NUMBER of San Diegans spend between $1,000 and $2,000 for a family vacation, and like to do it in Mexico, according to our recent, unscientific, man-on-the-street poll. In July, 92 locals were kind enough to stop and answer questions from San Diego Magazineintern Sam Hodgson.
Nearly one-third of our poll respondents cough up between one and two grand for trips. One in 10 pays more than $4,000 per outing.
The three favorite destinations: Mexico, Italy and Hawaii. More than a third responded with eclectic destinations nobody else mentioned (noted in the accompanying chart as “other.” Six percent said home sweet home was the finest for a vacation spot.
Of the 14 folks who named Mexico their favorite vacation spot, half said they spend less than $1,000 per trip. More than half of all respondents spend at least $2,000 on their getaways.
HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND ON A FAMILY VACATION?
Less than $1,000: 17%
$1,000-$2,000: 31%
$2,000-$3,000: 21%
$3,000-$4,000: 21%
$4,000-plus: 10%
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY VACATION DESTINATION?
Mexico: 15%
Italy: 10%
Hawaii: 8%
Las Vegas: 8%
Paris: 7%
Northern California: 7%
San Diego: 6%
South America: 5%
Other: 34%
Cruise Currents
THE CRYSTAL LINE is offering San Diegans a super deal. On October 9, you can hop aboard the Crystal Harmonyat the B Street Pier, take a 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal——with stops in such prime destinations as Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica and St. Thomas—— then fly back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as part of the package. The cruise originates in Los Angeles, and Crystal is offering reduced fares, starting at $2,895. Call 800-804-1500, or go to crystalcruises.com.
Silversea is offering slashed rates on two Empire of the Incas voyages. The 382-passenger Silver Shadow will make a round trip from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, on October 7 and November 22, visiting Esmeraldas and Manta, Ecuador; Salaverry, Peru; and Callao (Lima’s port). Silversea’s rates, unlike most lines, are truly all-inclusive, covering alcoholic drinks and tipping. 877-215- 9986; silversea.com.
Starting this fall, Carnival will offer a series of voyages to the Mexican Riviera. From October 16 to April 2, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit has slated 22 eight-day voyages to Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa and Manzanillo. It’s the first time Carnival has operated an extended series from San Diego. 800-CARNIVAL; carnival.com.
Small-ship luxury line SeaDream Yacht Club will shift one of its Caribbean vessels to new itineraries along the Mayan Riviera, Yucatán Peninsula and Belize between December and April. The three new seven-day voyages have introductory rates from $1,999 per person and offer the option of continued, back-to-back sailing opportunities for those looking to cruise longer than seven days. Details: seadreamyachtclub.com.
—DON BRAUNAGEL
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