Traveling with a food allergy is not easy. Meet my youngest.  Although she suffered from birth with some pretty annoying tummy issues, it wasn’t until this sweet age of 7 months that we discovered, through a terrifying trip to the emergency room that she has a life-threatening allergy to all dairy products.

While the momma bear in me wants to hunker down, build a Seinfeld-esce Bubble Boy suit and call it a day, I know that her life needs to be as “normal” as possible; she still needs to play at parks, go to birthday parties, and travel the world.

Prepping for travel, security checkpoints, and language barriers while managing hungry kids in need of healthy food and drinks can be difficult, stressful and overwhelming even for the non-allergic family. Startling facts are surfacing that severe food allergies are on the rise.  According to the CDC, 4 out of every 100 children suffer with food allergies and between 1997-2007 food allergy incidences increased 18%!  If you or a family you know is dealing with this serious condition, here’s a few handy tips I have put together for family travel with life-threatening food allergies.

Medication

Prepare for the worst

• Make a list of all of your child’s regular and emergency medications; check it twice.
• Ask your doctor to place extra refills on your file in case you need more medication while away from home.
•  Properly store auto-injectors for the weather you will be encountering.  (Some very cute insulated epi-pen cases are available in the guide below; no matter how you carry them, always use caution to ensure they are stored between 59° and 86°F)
•  If traveling by air, get a doctor’s note for all required medication and keep original labeling and boxes.
•  Keep medication with you in a carry on. Do not check medication in luggage– you don’t want to risk it being lost or not connected on a flight.
•  If you require more than 3.4 ounces of liquid medication, keep it separate and declare your medication to TSA security upon entering the security line. (Taking all of your allergy medications out of your bag and in a separate bin will help TSA to quickly identify and approve your medications.)

Food

Do your homework

Photo by: Flickr/Jennifer Kumar

•  Pack more than enough safe snacks and meals for the traveling portion of your trip.
•  Research your destination for natural food grocers so you don’t have to pack an entire week worth of food.  I typically look for a nearby Whole Foods, Sprouts or Trader Joe’s to ensure I can get the essential Dairy-free products I need once I arrive at my destination.
• Dining Out:  
  • My favorite  new resource is AllergyEats.  The site functions similar to Trekaroo, but in this case, users rate restaurants based on how helpful the staff and restaurant are towards your specific food allergy!  Best of all, it’s free!
  • If we can’t find our restaurant on AllergyEats, we use our smart phone to look up current allergy information. I almost always ask fast food employees to double check the box and show me the ingredients.  Restaurants are NOT required to state if they have had a change in ingredients on the menu; your ingredient chart might not be up to date.
  •  Still have a question, just ask. A quick talk with the manager can usually get you detailed food ingredients on almost anything in many restaurants.
  •  International restaurants: For about $10, Select Wisely offers explanatory cards to show foreign language speakers the severity of your child’s condition in their own language!!

Airline Travel

Communicate, Be Safe, Communicate

• Note dietary restrictions while booking your ticket, by calling the airline directly AND at check in.
•  If your child suffers from a peanut allergy, take extreme caution in choosing airlines.  Some will guarantee a peanut-free flight or buffer zone, but the recirculated air can pose a threat.  Call guest relations to get details from the airlines on how to keep your child safe.
• Request to pre-board the plane to thoroughly clean surfaces.
• Don’t take a chance; only eat food you are 100% certain is allergy-free.  You are literally thousands of miles up from medical care!!

Accommodations

Upgrades worth the extra cost

•  Many hotels are now offering upgrades to hypoallergenic rooms; although these rooms don’t pertain specifically to food allergies, this upgrade will get you a more thoroughly cleaned area before you arrive.
•  Request a room with a refrigerator to store essential snacks, beverages and meals.  Better yet, upgrade to a suite with a full kitchen to prepare a safe “at-home” meal.
• Numerous luxury chains offer grocery shopping services; you can arrive at your destination with a fully stocked kitchen of all of your favorite allergy-free brands.
•  If you plan on using a resort kids club, use caution.  Many well intending employees don’t understand the severity and risk of severe food-allergies.  This is especially dangerous for little ones not fully able to communicate or understand their condition.  For safety, my daughter wears a medic-alert bracelet and sports some adorable tee shirts reminding caregivers of her condition. A quick discussion with the manager on duty can usually leave you feeling relaxed enough to walk away and enjoy your evening.

Resources

AllergyEats is your go-to source for community based reviews on restaurants, all filtered through the lens of food allergy accommodation. 

Select Wisely offers food allergy cards translated into the language of your destination.  Custom cards available upon request.

Allergy Apparel has some adorable clothing and medic alert bracelets (see accommodations photo above) for the hippest allergy kids on the block. 

Use promo code TREKAROO for free shipping!

Kozi Epi offers a great selection of auto-injector cases, ID tags & accessories.  

Use promo code TFA15%OFF for 15% off your order through 4/24/12.

Sources: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) | Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network | Center for Disease Control

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For our first trip to Cancun, my family chose to stay at a Marriott, a brand we trust to provide the quality and value we’re accustomed to.  CasaMagna Marriott Cancun is located on the beautiful Mexican Caribbean coast where warm days abound and white-powdery beaches inspire sea-shell hunting expeditions. CasaMagna translates to “The Main House” in English, and this six-story property features arched open air walkways leading to beautiful ocean view rooms with flat screen televisions, water purification systems, and marble bathrooms.  These awesome amenities make it an incredible main house where you can truly get away from it all!  The air-conditioned lobby with its shining marble floors, long, gorgeous hallways and elegant chandeliers has my daughter convinced CasaMagna means “the main house to pretend you live in a palace!”

The Marriott Kids Club is a program for children ages 4 to 12 and operates daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. It offers professional supervision, daily play in the pool, and twice a week visits to the beach. Activities include sand castle building, piñata making, cooking classes, and arts & crafts. Every September and October, children are invited to participate in a turtle release program where kids have the unique opportunity to release baby turtles just after sunset. What an unforgettably experience!

Feast like a Royal Family

The CasaMagna Marriott offers a wide selection of restaurants and bars with great variety of cuisines and atmospheres. My favorite, La Capilla Argentina Steakhouse, is a softly lit restaurant decorated like the inside of a chapel. At dinner, a loaf of “Mexican” style focaccia bread is served with butter and a chimichurri sauce. The bread is amazing! My 3 year old practically ate an entire loaf. The chimichurri sauce is pure heaven-in-a-ramekin and I devoured it straight cookie monster style. The salad bar’s selection of exotic cheeses, Italian prosciutto and grilled vegetables would please most any foodie, while their sophisticated children’s menu is one even YOU may be tempted to order from!

The breakfast buffet at La Capilla can best be described as Holy_mother_of_all_that_is_yummy! Yes, it is that good! Every morning the first words out of my daughter’s mouth were “Yay! We get to eat breakfast!” All of my family’s favorite breakfast and brunch foods were beautifully presented in the center of a circular oceanfront dining area. The spread is huge and there are no lines. La CapillaArgentina’s breakfast buffet has become my new happy place.

Purely on accident, I discovered the resort’s gift shop/coffee shop/deli and ice-cream parlor sells really delicious pizza.  I walked in to buy some sunscreen and walked out with a Chai Tea latte, a large pepperoni pizza, a chocolate donut and chocolate ice cream! Turns out, not only was the pizza darn good, it was also a budget friendly way to feed the kids poolside. And although not technically a Marriott amenity, it should be noted there is a McDonalds directly across the street from the resort’s circular driveway. For this alone, I was a hero in my children’s eyes.

Family & Children’s Activities Nearby

A trip to Riviera Maya would not be complete without a visit to Xel-Ha and Xcaret. Xel-Ha is a natural aquarium park known for its rich underwater life and luscious jungle. Xcaret Park is the Yucatán Peninsula’s top eco archaeological park for family fun. Delphinus provides opportunities to swim with dolphins at both locations. Arranging a trip to Xel-Ha and Xcaret couldn’t be easier. A luxurious bus, equipped with your very own tour guide, transports your family to either park directly from Marriott CasaMagna.

Read more about the Riviera Maya Dolphin Discovery Riviera Maya and Tulum- A History Lesson in the Riviera Maya.

Tina Buell is Trekaroo’s Northern California Destination Specialist, single mom, and mother to a constant ray of SONshine

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For families traveling on a budget, a trip to an all-inclusive beach front resort in Cancun is an ideal way to plan for an enjoyable vacation any time of year.  For those of you unfamiliar with all-inclusive resorts, once you check in, all of your drinks and meals are included.  There are no unexpected fees which allow you to kick back and relax.  AMResorts Now Sapphire, Now Jade and Dreams Riviera Cancun are luxurious full service getaways overlooking the Caribbean Sea.   Their attention to detail is evident in all aspects of the resort’s offerings.  From the varied menu selections to the relaxing spas and energetic youth program activities, the staff happily caters to the needs of each family member.  We easily slipped into a relaxed vacation mindset as soon as we were settled in our spacious room.  The only challenge we had during our stay was deciding which fabulous restaurant to eat in every day.  Somehow, we managed.

Accommodations

Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun Starting at $247 Arrival Date: JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 Departure Date: JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Now Resorts& Spas offer a variety of beautiful accommodations to suit any size family.  Guestrooms are all nonsmoking rooms, have high ceilings and plenty of space to spread out.  The flat screen TVs have familiar network cable programs and internet access allows you to stay in touch with things back home as much or as little as you like.  One room would be fine for a family of four but if you prefer a bit more space, you can opt for adjoining rooms which are ideally set up with one king bed in one room and two queen beds in the other.  Both rooms have large bathrooms with hot tubs, a separate sitting area and great views of either the beach or garden areas.  You’ll pay a bit more for the beachfront views but the sunrises are spectacular!  The plush bathrobes, whirlpool bath, minibar and 24-hour room service really could tempt you into staying cuddled up in your room with good books, but you’d miss out on all of the other fabulous parts of the resort–  like the restaurants!

Dining

Whether you’re in the mood for a romantic fine dining date, casual beach front fare or just want to float over for a drink of the day from the pool bar, these resorts offer plenty of tasty options.  Each day, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet with a wide variety of familiar favorites, local selections, custom omelet orders and exotic fruit juices all while watching the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea.  There are plenty of kid friendly choices to suit even the pickiest eaters and there are lowered buffet counter heights so the kids can see their special menu options.  For lunch and dinner, we decided to try as many restaurants as possible to see if the quality was as wonderful from place to place.  It was!  Everything we ordered was presented so beautifully, tasted fantastic and was full of delicious flavors.  There is a no-reservations policy but we never had to wait more than five minutes to be seated.  The Paramour, an adults-only fine dining restaurant, was an ideal way to spend the last night of our stay.  The food presentation, wine pairing and service were delightfully top-notch.

Kids Activities

The Explorers Kids Club is an adventure waiting to happen for kiddos from 3-12 years old.  Starting each day at 9am, parents can sign in their children for a day filled with arts and crafts, movies, and outdoor games. Under the watchful eyes of the American Red Cross certified staff, the kids engage in all sorts of playground, beach and pool games as well as create some adorable, Mexican themed arts and crafts.  We saw the kids create decorations that were then used on the dinnertime buffet tables for resort guests.  The play areas are clean, colorful and safe.  The Mayan rock climbing wall at the Dreams Riviera Cancun and the Now Sapphire’s kids splash pool and playground look like so much fun that even the grownups want to play there.  But they can’t, it’s for kids only, 3-12 which made lots of the kids feel like extra special resort guests…and they are! The Explorers Kids Club is open until 10pm and babysitting services are also available separate from the Explorers Club.

The Now Entertainment team also coordinates daily activities for teens ages 13 to 17 in the Core Zone Teens Club.  We saw Spanish lessons, water polo, beach volleyball and ping pong tournaments that kept the kids engaged, laughing and making new friends.  The schedule of activities changes daily and is announced in the resort’s “Sundial” newsletter which is delivered to your door each morning.  With the kids safely engrossed in their activities, it was time for some pampering at the spa.

Spa

If you want to really indulge your senses, there are wonderful spas at all three of the resort properties.  We were warmly greeted with cucumber water then given a tour on what amenities were available to us during our spa visit.  As I slipped on the warm, fluffy robe and slippers, I felt my tensions melt away.  Besides the massage, my favorite spa experience was the outdoor cascading Jacuzzi but I did not have the courage to take the cold water plunge as the final step in the hydrotherapy circuit…maybe next time.  The staff was friendly and professional and the décor was a tropical paradise.   Take the time and treat yourself to a spa visit.  You’ll be glad that you did!  Additional costs apply and vary depending on the services provided.  Spa promotions are offered daily so check with the concierge or read the “Sundial” newsletter for the latest deals.

Ground Transportation and Airport Shuttles

Getting to the resort from the airport was a breeze!  After clearing customs, we followed the AmResort signs and easily found a uniformed representative from the shuttle bus company.  We were directed to wait for our driver at a designated spot and just moments later, we were climbing aboard a new, air conditioned van on our way to the resort.   The drive took about fifteen minutes on a four lane highway.  We even passed a few familiar fast food restaurants!

Ground transportation via airport shuttles can easily be arranged through the resort as part of any type of vacation package.  Of course, an additional fee would apply but the convenience is worth it!  You can always opt to rent a car and drive to the resort but unless you plan to go sightseeing on your own, I would suggest taking the shuttles.

Holiday and Family Specials

To add to your holiday cheer, there are a variety of family friendly discounts available at the Now Resorts.  Special holiday dinner menus will be offered at each of the Cancun Now Resorts and the Kids Explorers Club will feature unique holiday-themed crafts.  Rest assured, NFL games will be shown on big screen TVs in the sports bars as well as outdoors at a starlit tailgate party.  In between the games, you can work off your holiday meal while playing flag football on the beach with other guests.

Please visit the Now Resorts website to take a virtual tour of these beautiful resorts and to see the latest travel specials available.

Disclosure:  Thank you to the Now Sapphire Resort for hosting me on this Mexican adventure.  As always, the opinions expressed in this article are my own. 

Lisa-Marie Leihy is Trekaroo’s Florida Destination Guroo

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Congratulations to Art Riddle. Your comment, number 40, was randomly selected by Random.org. Enjoy your time in Puerto Rico!

Every decade or so, there is talk of adding another star to our flag. Puerto Rico, typically the territory in question, seems to be happy with the way things are for now because polls have shown a majority of the islanders prefer to remain a US Territory. Lucky for us mainlanders, Puerto Rico’s status as US Territory means that we have a Caribbean destination to visit without a passport.  So where exactly is Puerto Rico? To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure until I saw it on a map for myself.  I knew it was in the Atlantic but had no idea that it was actually closer to Venezuela than the United States! Puerto Rico lies just east of the Dominican Republic, making it a warm escape for travelers looking to thaw out during our chilly winter months.

San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital city, is home to the history and culture of Old San Juan as well as the azure beaches of Condado, an upscale district popular with tourists.  San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino is one of the top  luxury hotels along this stretch of sand, and a great destination for families. Kids will love the game room, two outdoor swimming pools complete with a water slide and whirlpool, and the great stretch of beach that the resort calls home.  Parents will love all of the above but are sure to add the casino to their list as well.

So what is better than a few nights at the San Juan Marriott? How about a few nights in the presidential suite of the San Juan Marriott!

The Steal: Win a 4 day/3 night stay at the San Juan Marriott valued at $5,600!

• 4 day/3 night stay in the PRESIDENTIAL SUITE at the San Juan Marriott in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• $200 resort credit per day
• Valid for travel through December 2012.

Valued at approximately $5,600

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Get even more additional entries:

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Like Trekaroo on Facebook
• Follow San Juan Mariott on Twitter
• Like San Juan Marriott on Facebook
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to  Online Sweepstakes and CashNet Sweepstakes,.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Once my 10 year-old daughter and I had settled in on our flight home from Canada, I asked her to tell me her favorite part of our weekend in Richmond, British Columbia.  I expected this to take some time.  Tourism Richmond had hosted us for four days.  It was a getaway itinerary kids dream about, loaded with things like a waterpark, go-karting and kite flying.  She caught me completely off guard when, without an ounce of hesitation, she said, “The Richmond Olympic Oval was my favorite.”

Don’t get me wrong, I was incredibly impressed with the Richmond Olympic Oval, I just didn’t expect it to garner such rave reviews from my daughter.  Her sole purpose of existence tends to revolve around places that have pools.

All eyes were on the Olympic Oval when it served as the home to long track speed skating events during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  And though the world spotlight may have disappeared, residents and visitors are still reaping the benefits.

Life is Sporty

I’ve never seen a sports venue quite like it.  Venue isn’t even the right word.  Think phenomenal health club, meets amazing community center, meets fabulous place to take the kids.

The Stats

The world class facility is more than 47,500 square meters in size.  It’s huge!  It has to be to hold everything that’s inside.  Some of the highlights include:

• Over 100 pieces of strength and cardio equipment
• 2 Olympic sized ice rinks
• 18 badminton courts
• 13 volleyball courts
• 10 basketball courts
• 3 indoor soccer fields
• 16 international sized table tennis tables
• 5-Lane track
• Indoor rowing & paddling tank

And the list goes on and on.  It’s enough to make you tired just reading it.

Most folks don’t dedicate much time to working out when they’re on vacation.  It is vacation after all.  But if you’re feeling guilty about over indulging the Oval offers drop-in classes that will help you burn off any extra calories.  The reasonable drop-in rates include a variety of activities including fitness classes and ice skating.  Did I mention they also offer childcare?

We couldn’t get it to work schedule wise for us, but my daughter was enamored by the dueling ice rinks. A few hours at the rink could be just what a family needs when the weather doesn’t cooperate or the kids just need time to be kids.  And as someone who has a reputation for being cold, it’s the first ice rink I’ve ever been to where I wasn’t cold.  I think I could have skated in my shorts and t-shirt.  Throw in a little ping pong at one of the 16 tables, some time at the rotating mini rock climbing wall and you’ve got the makings for a family fun-filled day.

Even if you don’t hours to spend taking advantage of the facility, find an hour to take a tour.  The Olympic Games might be over but its Olympic persona is strong and the facility conveys a certain “wow” factor.

The Richmond Oval has picturesque view of life, sitting on the Fraser River with views of the North Shore mountains.  The riverfront property that surrounds it is in the midst of a building boom, so I have a feeling more good things for residents and visitors are on the way.

Getting There

You could jump in a cab, but the Oval is an easy walk from Richmond’s Westminster Highway where you’ll find an assortment of hotels.  If you’re in Vancouver, jump on the Canada Line.  During my stay in Richmond, I was hosted by the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel.  Don’t let the name fool you, the hotel is in Richmond, an incredibly convenient 5 to 10 minute ride from the Vancouver International Airport.  Its central location made exploring Richmond by car, train and foot a breeze.  The pool and hot tub were a hit with my daughter during our few moments of down time and as a way to unwind before bed.  With rates ranging from $170 – $240 a night, you get more hotel bang for your buck in Richmond than you would in pricier Vancouver.  In other words, two great cities for the price of one!

Dana Rebmann takes pride in passing on her travel bug to her two girls ages 10 and 13. And though her favorite trips require a passport, she always sets aside time for a summer stint on the Jersey Shore. You can find her on Twitter @drebmann.