Other Options...

[acndis]

We are also looking into another private touring company for Costa Rica that my dad recommended:

https://www.jacadatravel.com/latin-america/costa-rica/family-trip/

This trip looks amazing. We have a travel specialist pricing for us. I have been very impressed with their responsiveness (our specialist is in London) and they have some great trips. I'll let you know how the process goes.

 

[Aelin1977]

I do wish you a great time in Africa. You might want to consider packing some of your favorite snacks for your time spent in Zambia. I could barely stomach some of the food there and ate just for sustenance (and we were at a luxury lodge!). It is a beautiful country and so different from anywhere I have ever been. Having said that I don't feel a burning desire to go back to Zambia again. We accomplished the following:

• toured the falls and the market on foot
  
• sat in Angel's armchair (positively terrifying but I did it!)
• did several activities (my absolute favorite thing we experienced there was the lunar rainbow {it only happens a few times a year and it was *spectacular* -- definitely once in a lifetime})
• saw a hippo just off the side of the deck of our cottage early in the morning on our last day
• took a 30 minute helicopter tour over the falls and through the gorge, during which we also saw many animals (elephants, hippos, giraffes, etc.)
• had a sundowner on an uninhabited island where we were visited by a herd of elephants up close and personal

So I feel that we covered everything we wanted to despite myself and my daughter each being sick on separate days.

Hi, I'm new to the boards and was curious about your experience in Zambia. Africa's on my bucket list and this was one of the countries I was looking at but when I saw your post I started to wonder if I should consider looking elsewhere. It seemed like you didn't see any animals and had a bad experience with the food. Can I ask where you stayed? And was the food really that bad? From what I've read most of the places serve western style dishes.

 

[EllinK]

[QUOTE="acndis, post: 58728781, member: 439150"

Also, I am planning to write up my experience in New Zealand and at Aulani (pre and post days to our ABD Australia trip). I will probably post it on the Aulani board since it's more relevant there. I will post the link here once I get done with it. Aulani is our new favorite place ever! We plan to go back next summer and every summer after that (just kidding) but after the big trip this year, we are going to stay closer to home for the next few years![/QUOTE]

Would love to see this trip report!

 

[Calfan]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and was curious about your experience in Zambia. Africa's on my bucket list and this was one of the countries I was looking at but when I saw your post I started to wonder if I should consider looking elsewhere. It seemed like you didn't see any animals and had a bad experience with the food. Can I ask where you stayed? And was the food really that bad? From what I've read most of the places serve western style dishes.

I realize you did not pose this question to me, but I was in Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2001 and loved my experience. In both countries, we were mainly along the Zambezi River or Lake Kariba and saw tons of wildlife. Too many hippos to count, elephants, lions, Cape Buffalo, impala, zebras, crocs, etc. Unfortunately, the only camp I can remember specifically in Zambia is Kulefu. I also don't remember any issues with the food in either country.

 

[BluesTraveler]

DH and I have booked this Backroads hiking trip for October. We've been eyeing the National Geographic ones based on Calfan and Californiagirl's reviews, but they are a little too long for us to leave the kids with grandparents. This one is 5 nights, and we'll add a couple nights on our own. Has anyone here done Backroads?

https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour

 

[carpenta]

I (we) did the Yellowstone Family trip with Nat. Geo but it was sub contracted to Back Roads and Back Roads used their guides and transportation. Nat. Geo. supplied a Yellowstone expert guide. It was a flawless trip and one of our favorites. Really professional. Would never hesitate to travel anywhere with Back Roads again.

 

[BluesTraveler]

I (we) did the Yellowstone Family trip with Nat. Geo but it was sub contracted to Back Roads and Back Roads used their guides and transportation. Nat. Geo. supplied a Yellowstone expert guide. It was a flawless trip and one of our favorites. Really professional. Would never hesitate to travel anywhere with Back Roads again.

That is really great to know, thank you.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

DH and I have booked this Backroads hiking trip for October. We've been eyeing the National Geographic ones based on Calfan and Californiagirl's reviews, but they are a little too long for us to leave the kids with grandparents. This one is 5 nights, and we'll add a couple nights on our own. Has anyone here done Backroads?

https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour

Can't wait to hear about it! I've been intrigued by their trips as well and have heard great things.

 

[sayhello]

DH and I have booked this Backroads hiking trip for October. We've been eyeing the National Geographic ones based on Calfan and Californiagirl's reviews, but they are a little too long for us to leave the kids with grandparents. This one is 5 nights, and we'll add a couple nights on our own. Has anyone here done Backroads?

https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour

I did Backroads several years ago, and really loved them (walking tour of Nova Scotia). Ironically, I haven't booked with them in a while since I find their itineraries too short. When I took my first ABD, Chris Brown was one of our Adventure Guides. He's fabulous, and at least at that time, he also Guided for Backroads. He said ABD used a lot of Backroads' policies as a basis for their own. The Guides were wonderful and attentive, and assuming they're still of the same quality, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Sayhello

 

[acndis]

I started my NZ/Aulani trip report. It's here on the Aulani Board:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...-1-1-6-via-new-zealand-and-australia.3663239/

Let me know if you have questions.

 

[SirDuff]

DH and I have booked this Backroads hiking trip for October. We've been eyeing the National Geographic ones based on Calfan and Californiagirl's reviews, but they are a little too long for us to leave the kids with grandparents. This one is 5 nights, and we'll add a couple nights on our own. Has anyone here done Backroads?

https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour

Not hiking, but I've done two Backroads biking trips (Argentina and Northern Thailand). I loved them and would highly recommend them. Many of people on my tours were on their 5th, 10th, even 25th Backroads trips.

The guides were amazing. Loved the routes and great hotels.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and was curious about your experience in Zambia. Africa's on my bucket list and this was one of the countries I was looking at but when I saw your post I started to wonder if I should consider looking elsewhere. It seemed like you didn't see any animals and had a bad experience with the food. Can I ask where you stayed? And was the food really that bad? From what I've read most of the places serve western style dishes.

You must have misunderstood my post. We did not visit Zambia to see animals. We went primarily to see Victoria Falls. However, not sure if you read that we did see a hippo just off our cottage deck on our last day (which is very rare -- we were within 8 feet of it on foot, which is quite scary) and got very close to a herd of elephants on foot on our sun downer on a remote island, which is entirely different from seeing them from the comfort of a 4x4. We also saw several animals on our helicopter tour of Victoria Falls. We never did a safari experience in Zambia because it wasn't our intent.

I believe you have taken my post of context so I am not going to post the name of our our lodge (I will say though that it was a very exclusive 5* property on the Zambezi river). I personally didn't care for the food, which doesn't mean everyone will feel the same way. Actually most people we met enjoyed it.

If you want to go to Zambia head to the TA forum and read everything you can on Zambia. Also buy travel books about it. Don't base your decision on my experience. We accomplished everything that I wanted to and more. I am very glad that we went. We had several highlights on this leg of our journey.

 

[EllinK]

I am going to Antarctica with A&K in December. I researched the various companies and the 2 reasons I chose A&K are: i) they are the only ones who offer a cruise during the Christmas school break and ii) the cruise offered during the Christmas break is a family cruise and has several teenagers around my daughter's age.

Please let us know about your A&K cruise to Antarctica!!! This is definitely on my list and I'd love to know all the details.

 

[tgeorge]

I started my NZ/Aulani trip report. It's here on the Aulani Board:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...-1-1-6-via-new-zealand-and-australia.3663239/

Let me know if you have questions.

Excited to read this! I think Australia will be out next trip (not a group tour, but hopefully I can either get a custom itinerary from someone or cobble it together using various itineraries), but I want to add some time in NZ too, so looking forward to reading what your family did.

I was hoping for Japan to be our next trip, but looks like Australia/NZ is in the lead

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Please let us know about your A&K cruise to Antarctica!!! This is definitely on my list and I'd love to know all the details.

We didn't end up going to Antarctica in December . I cancelled before the PIF date. A&K was extremely generous (anyone at ABD reading this -- you should do the same -- it earns you A LOT of goodwill) and refunded my FULL deposit, even though their guidelines state they will keep $500.00 per person.

I re-booked for this December (after they refunded my initial deposit for last year), when they go to South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. I hope I have the nerve to cancel Christmas with my family. I host every year and my family wouldn't get together otherwise. It is very hard for me to do. Almost impossible. But I want to do this trip SO SO badly and regretted cancelling last year. I have already booked my flights, so fingers crossed I can bring myself to cancel and spend Christmas with a bunch of strangers exploring South Georgia .

 

[sayhello]

We didn't end up going to Antarctica in December . I cancelled before the PIF date. A&K was extremely generous (anyone at ABD reading this -- you should do the same -- it earns you A LOT of goodwill) and refunded my FULL deposit, even though their guidelines state they will keep $500.00 per person.

I re-booked for this December (after they refunded my initial deposit for last year), when they go to South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. I hope I have the nerve to cancel Christmas with my family. I host every year and my family wouldn't get together otherwise. It is very hard for me to do. Almost impossible. But I want to do this trip SO SO badly and regretted cancelling last year. I have already booked my flights, so fingers crossed I can bring myself to cancel and spend Christmas with a bunch of strangers exploring South Georgia .

Do it! Do it! Do it! Let them fend for themselves for one year! You have to take care of YOU!

Sayhello

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Do it! Do it! Do it! Let them fend for themselves for one year! You have to take care of YOU!

Sayhello

It's complicated. My brother is not well and each Christmas could be his last. His kids LOVE coming to my house for Christmas every year. His wife doesn't really interact with her family, so I'm pretty much all they have for the holidays. My sister and brother only interact when I have everyone over for the holidays so, there's also that. And her kids also LOVE coming to my house (what can I say -- my dh is a kid at heart and we have an arcade-like basement with a theatre, Foosball table, tabletop hockey, billiards table, pinball machines, arcade games, etc.). So a lot of pressure on me to host the holidays every year. And of course the enormous guilt I'd feel if I let them down. I'm thinking about doing "Christmas for Thanksgiving" this year.

 

[sayhello]

It's complicated. My brother is not well and each Christmas could be his last. His kids LOVE coming to my house for Christmas every year. His wife doesn't really interact with her family, so I'm pretty much all they have for the holidays. My sister and brother only interact when I have everyone over for the holidays so, there's also that. And her kids also LOVE coming to my house (what can I say -- my dh is a kid at heart and we have an arcade-like basement with a theatre, Foosball table, tabletop hockey, billiards table, pinball machines, arcade games, etc.). So a lot of pressure on me to host the holidays every year. And of course the enormous guilt I'd feel if I let them down. I'm thinking about doing "Christmas for Thanksgiving" this year.

Christmas for Thanksgiving was going to be my suggestion. Don't cancel, re-schedule!

Sayhello

 

[Tsunami]

DH and I have booked this Backroads hiking trip for October. We've been eyeing the National Geographic ones based on Calfan and Californiagirl's reviews, but they are a little too long for us to leave the kids with grandparents. This one is 5 nights, and we'll add a couple nights on our own. Has anyone here done Backroads?

https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour

Backroads is fantastic! My parents have been on about a dozen+ Backroads trips, with a Spain one coming up in two weeks. We've also done two of them as a family with younger kids, one to the Big Island of Hawaii and the other to Costa Rica. We've only been on one ABD (Australia December 2017), however, so my comparisons are limited.

In our experience, the Backroads trips have been smaller and more intimate. On the family BR trips, we've had no more than 22 people for 3 guides and they use vans rather than buses. Given the size and ratio, they are able to do things like dine in local homes and take the children for a day on their own adventure. The trips are also a lot more active and the moving from hotel to hotel can be more creative. For example, on the Big Island, we biked from Volcanoes National Park down to the coast, and in Costa Rica we hiked through the rainforest to one hotel, and the next day white water rafted out of it. Also, compared to Disney, they give a lot more suggestions for OYO time and will arrange more things for you.

The main negative we experienced was that our kids were the youngest, whereas with Disney, they are right in the mix at ages 10 and 12. Also, the trips are quite short. On ours, this wasn't a problem as both places are easy to travel and we extended them on our own. My parents have paired up their trips with other ones.

My parents have been on the Cinque Terre trip so let me know if you have questions specific to that one and I can get that information to you too. You are going to have a great time!!!

 

[Tsunami]

Have you looked at Thomson Family Adventures? We did China with them in 2016, and it was a fantastic experience and trip. Their itinerary is very similar to ABD (minus the parks of course, although we added on two days in Shanghai at the end of our trip to do Shanghai Disneyland). It does not go to Hong Kong but the overall trip is 2 days longer than ABD's, so there is more time spent on mainland China. For example, Thomson's trip spends the night in Xi'an instead of flying in and out the same day, and their trip spends three nights in Yangshuo, which was my favorite area we visited. Thomson's group sizes max out at around 20, and our trip had 10 people total. They also guarantee their trips to go once they have one family booked. This could be a great option for you guys for China if you are looking for a small-group experience, which is also our priority.

I have also done two NatGeo trips, but those were Adventures hiking trips. There were no kids/teens on those trips, but that could have been because both were in Sept. when kids are back in school or because of the hiking orientation. If your 15 and 17 year olds are well-traveled and on the mature side, then I think you might be ok to take a chance with NatGeo. Their trips have been fantastic as well. I am doing my third hiking trip with them this Nov. (Patagonia), and we have our first family trip booked with them for June/July 2018 (Peru).

We are looking at Thomson as a possibility for China in 2019 and it sounds like you had a wonderful experience with them. I will have an 11 and 13 year old at that point. Do you think that trip would be doable for them? Any suggestions as we evaluate Thomson versus ABD? Thanks!