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Family of 5: Some Hotels are Right for You!

2010-09-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

In July, the Washington Post carried an article by Christopher Elliott, of Elliott.org. The article precisely pertains to our Sleeps5.com mission of helping families find a hotel room for their family of 5. The title? Outwitting Hotels' Maximum Occupancy Rules. Mr. Elliott describes a common scenario -- to save money and decrease hassle, parents do not reveal the children they bring to hotel rooms. But the article also includes hotel staff reports of discovering the customer fraud (my term) and charging the family.

Cannot Tell a Lie?
At Sleeps5.com, we advocate booking a room with honesty. It's the way I prefer to operate, partly because 1.) I'm a natural-born rule-keeper, with an overactive conscience, worried about offending anyone, incapable of cheating, 2.) I'd be scared of getting caught and would fret all night over being charged extra or thrown out, and 3.) I completely sympathize with the hotel industry from a business point of view.

Can't or Won't
Some hotels might like to be able to accommodate extra persons or beds in a room but will not because of their own safety concerns and/or cannot because of fire codes which require clear escape routes. And some hotels don't care to accommodate extra persons or beds in a room because it would disrupt the atmosphere fostered by the hotel, and potentially disturb nearby guests who are counting on a quiet, calm hotel experience.

An example of a Family Room for 5 - Our Berlin hotel. (5th bed out of view on left):

Kids will be Kids
Even my (mostly!) oh-so-well-behaved boys can exhibit occasional 'horseplay' with punches to a brother's arm, or bickering over a remote control, or just excitable conversing. (See a previous post: Travel with 3 Boys: Incentive to Behave) With two parents and three kids, though we work very hard to be, perhaps we are not as much in control of their behavior as we could be with just one child -- we not only have to contend with the irrational demands, jumping, tumbling, squeals, and crankiness of children, but we also have to contend with their interactions between each other.

Here Comes Trouble?

Furthermore, it feels like a crowd when we file through a lobby, or fill up an elevator. Even when our kids were little, it was noticeable how much space we occupied. I felt conspicuous. Seeing our brood from a bystander's point of view, I can imagine thoughts of impending rowdiness, trouble, noise, and disorder. If I were a hotel guest paying for a quiet room, and hoping for hallway neighbors who won't infringe on others' peace, I, too, would be alarmed and irritated at seeing or hearing a bunch of kids!

An example of a standard Double room with Rollaway bed - Our room in Portland, OR:

Don't Want to be Where We're Not Welcome
A hotel's ambiance is a selling point, and for the reasons above, I really can understand why some hotels choose not to pack a bunch of human beings in one room even if there were enough space. Any hotel may charge more for extra persons, and some do, to account for the extra wear and tear, extra housekeeping, and extra water usage, but still, any hotel has every right to decline such a booking.

Peace of Mind with Hotels that Fit
I'm sure that some hotels probably choose to look the other way when a guest has obviously arranged for too many family members to sleep in a room. But for above-board and guilt-free travel, we work hard (See How to Book (reserve) a Family Room) at Sleeps5 to find the hotels that:

1.) have ample space in one room to accommodate 5 or more and meet fire codes,
2.) have an atmosphere that isn't diminished with the presence of families, and
3.) willingly prepare a room for a family of 5 (or more).

In these hotels, families spend much less money than it would cost to book two rooms or a large suite, sleep without anxiety about blocking emergency exits or being caught cheating the occupancy rules, and share the adventures of parenting and travel coordinating duties by remaining together.

-Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Sleeps5.com includes hotels in London, York, Windsor, Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Salzburg, Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, Corfu Town, Santorini, Billund, Copenhagen, New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Seattle, and more. We add new cities each year, and welcome tips and hotel listings from other families to include, and suggestions for new cities to research.

How to Find Family Airline Ticket Savings

2010-08-11T23:33:00.000-07:00

Anyone can learn how to save money on airfare by reading the articles produced by the staff at FareCompare.com. Their web pages are detailed with easy to follow steps, and some have accompanying video reports. As the CEO, Rick Seaney, says on the company's website, "I want to help travelers fly wherever they want, at the cheapest possible price."

Finding the cheapest price for a family with kids poses additional difficulties. CEO Rick recently posted an article that highlighted a unique airline ticket shopping method for multiple travelers. Airline Tickets -- Shop One Passenger First and Save on Trips for Two or More explains that there aren't many seats at the lowest price-point on any given flight, and the online airline ticket search program may bump your entire family to the next level of price if your family has more people than the number of available cheapest seats. Rick outlines how to find the base ticket price first for one person, then determine if entering the number of seats you actually need bumps the price up, and what to do if it does. There is a way that you can still get the cheapest seat for one of your family members, even if the others are ticketed at the next tiered price level.

I appreciate Rick's writing style because it doesn't assume I have any base knowledge of what I'm trying to do! The FareCompare website how-two articles start at the beginning, explain industry practices in simple terms, and clearly show me how to find what I want. The articles are organized by the navigation bar at the top of the website, and the categories are: When-to-Fly, Where-to-Go, When-to-Buy, and How-to-Shop. The About link at the bottom of the page offers an FAQ link with brief answers.

FareCompare.com is an "independent airline ticket comparison shopping website". I've signed up to receive email newsletters, which include current sales on airline tickets to many destinations, and links to the recent articles about saving money on flights. I've also signed up for FareCompare Alerts, which let me know via email when ticket prices have changed on my selected destinations, so that when I'm ready to buy, I'll know what price to seek.

For example, I am dreaming of taking my family to Montreal. For my email Alerts, I plugged in my home airport, and the main airport in Montreal. Periodically, I receive notices telling me what the current lowest ticket price is, and whether it has gone up or down, and by how much. Clicking on the Find Flights link allows me to enter the month and length of stay for the trip I'm dreaming of, and results in a web page calendar with each day's lowest fare. Clicking on my departure day, and then my return date, the website shows a page of flight results from multiple airlines and multiple travel search sites.

I've now added two other destinations I'm dreaming about visiting over the next two years: Chicago and Madrid. I can see the latest lowest prices for these places in the Manage Trips I'm Watching section.

I like being an educated consumer -- thank you FareCompare!

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Note: We have not received compensation or free items from FareCompare, and we have not been contacted by, nor do we have any relationship with FareCompare at all. This is my unbiased description of my experience with the website.

Sun Valley for the Non-Outdoorsy Family

2010-07-31T15:06:00.000-07:00

What the heck was my family going to do for a summer week in Sun Valley, Idaho -- a place identified with fishing, river rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and horseback riding?! This was my travel-planning problem.

Let me explain.

Zealous fans of the BBC show, Top Gear, my kids completely identify with a phrase uttered by one of the hosts in a 2007 episode. (see Top Gear Polar Special web page) James May, in the middle of a tirade about being forced by producers to participate in an auto adventure to the North Pole, strongly and unapologetically asserted in his English accent, "I hate outdoor pursuits."

My kids are like-minded. They each rejected team sports years ago (though the oldest now competes on his high school swim team, after refusing to even attend meets during middle school), and I fondly refer to our current middle schoolers as "reluctant Scouts" since they prefer the steps to earning a Citizenship badge, which requires knowing all the government branches, discussing current leaders, and writing letters to council members, over the steps required to earn a badge for, say, Wilderness Survival.

They all greatly admire the Top Gear host's keen intellect and quick wit, latched onto his anti-push-the-body-to-find-the-limit statement, and derive a sense of camaraderie and support for their physically comfortable endeavors. Mr. May, who also has his own show (see James May's Toy Stories website on BBC America) that super sizes toys such as Legos, has become one of our boys' role models.

So, what could my family, with our not-so-rugged boys, possibly do to enjoy 5 days in an outdoor recreation area?

Plenty!

In addition to some excellent meals cooked by my kids at the condo we rented (lucky me - they love to cook and grill!), two dinners out, and a couple of easy swims and short bike rides, our itinerary proceeded as follows:

Day One, Monday -- Craters of the Moon
About an hour's drive from Ketchum, through sagebrush and grassy hillsides dotted with evergreen trees, we knew we were getting close when the landscape became black and we realized it wasn't from a roadside grass fire, it was cooled and hardened lava. It is easy to find the Visitor Center, which has documentary video shows, wildlife dioramas, interactive topography maps, gifts, books available for purchase, newer, spotless restrooms and the most refreshing drinking fountain water I've ever had! We paid $8.00 to drive the paved loop through lava fields and abundant tiny wildflowers, with places to park, walk a path, and read explanation boards. We all agreed it was fascinating!

Here are hubby and two of our kids, standing on a path, looking at 7,000+ year old lava:

Look close to see hubby and kids in the distance, walking along a path:

Day Two, Tuesday -- Movie Matinee
On the single day of sprinkles we had during our June week, we took a long drive through other neighborhoods, then went to a matinee. Our theater choices were Big Wood Cinemas in nearby Hailey, or the Magic Lantern Cinemas right in Ketchum. The Magic Lantern sounded great, with plush rocking seats and beer and wine, however its first show was 4:30, so we selected the 1:30 matinee at Big Wood, where the matinee price on Tuesday was only $5 per person! We spent more on the snacks than we did getting in! Big Wood was clean, with friendly attendants, and nice seats. Toy Story 3 was wonderful, and there were only about 15 people in the theater.

Day Three, Wednesday -- Bowling at Sun Valley Lodge
You don't have to be staying at the resort to enjoy its activities; we drove here, and parked for free. The cost for one game with two lanes, four bowlers, and four shoe rentals was $34. I kept score -- which took some thinking and mental calculating since it was not electronic, instead requiring paper and pencil, and I had to read the instructions to learn how to indicate spares and strikes and bonuses. (I had planned to bowl, but they were out of those disposable socks and I was wearing sandals.) We arrived just before the lanes opened at 4:00 and had the place to ourselves! The atmosphere was fun with the 1950s design, low-ceiling, and diminutive six lanes. Bumpers are available for helping kids' rolls avoid the gutters. The light over the scoring table was broken, and the lanes needed the manual reset button pushed hard sometimes, but it was charming. The kids also played a couple of arcade games.

Day Four, Thursday -- Gondola at Bald Mountain
For ticket information, click the link above, but for a better description of the lifts, see this Idaho Mountain Express newspaper article. The gondola is enclosed and very comfortable. We hopped off at the end of its ascent, and walked a few steps to the next lift, which is an old ski lift with wide seats. This one, called the Christmas chairlift, was quite scary at first, since it is open air and very high and this day was very windy. But I got used to it after a bit and enjoyed it, except for the especially windy spots which felt freezing.

We brought our lunch in a cooler (there is food available in restaurants), sat momentarily at a picnic table, and decided it was too windy so we rode back down to the base and enjoyed our food at an outdoor table with an umbrella to shade us from the sun. Be sure to check the lift's opening date -- in 2010 it did not start operating for the summer season until June 26. It is expensive, too: $75 for our family of 5, but a very special experience we felt worth the money.

Gondola ride, going up:

Chilly at the top, but great view!:

View of Sun Valley, and Gondola lift:

Descent on Christmas lift:

Eating our lunch at the base, Gondola start point on the left:

Day Five, Friday -- Paddle Boats and Golf
Renting a two-person paddle boat for half an hour is enough to tire out kids and parents alike! Even the nice young man attending the rental shed near the small dock said most people never paddle for an entire hour. Our 15-year old initially chose to watch us from the grassy slope between the parking area and the lake. After my legs got tired though, I convinced him to take my place and I think he had a good time. We were happy to be the only customers on the small, calm lake! Total for two boats: $22.

View from a paddle boat of the dock and parking area:

Our 15 year old is calling me on shore to tell me to stop video taping them!

Later, my hubby and our two pre-teens played the 18-hole putting course that is family friendly. They reported that it was challenging, and more of a miniature, actual course than the usual, flat putting green. This one had curves and hills and varying heights of grass. Without reservations, they drove to the clubhouse, and didn't have to wait. For $27 the three of them played the putting course the day before, and enjoyed two large buckets of balls at the driving range on Friday (may be an additional charge to rent clubs at the driving range). Putters are provided for the putting course.

Our 11 year old twins on the putting course:

At the driving range, with Dollar Mountain in the background:

Summer Time at a Ski Resort
A summer week at a ski resort was something I had long wanted to experience. And even my family of indoor-types enjoyed the mellow, slow-paced active fun and fresh mountain air. There were many great restaurant choices, and easy access to a large grocery store for meals prepared in the condo. Best of all, there weren't the crowds that I imagine there might be in the winter season, and the condo and hotel rental rates are reasonable. If we had stayed during the weekends, there was a rodeo, ice skating shows, and concerts to enjoy, some of them free. It was a mostly sunny and warm week that any family would like, even our somewhat geeky one!

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Hosting International Travelers: What I learned at Pike Place Market

2010-07-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

So these thoughts don't have much to do with family travels, but have none-the-less been swirling around my head since a chance encounter at Pike Place Market. I live in Seattle and unlike the throngs of folks who fill the popular Pike Place Market, I actually shop there on a regular basis for groceries and a cup of coffee etc. The other day, I was in line at my favorite bakery/coffee stop behind a thick line of tourists. I was thinking "Crud, this is going to take forever!" The couple immediately in front of me were speaking German (a language I happen to know). The poor folks were having trouble following the odd ordering rules for sandwiches versus coffee and where to pay etc. They had already waited in another line incorrectly (signs were in English)--if you are a regular you know the routine. They barely spoke any English. They finally ordered at which point the harried clerk pointed them back to the sandwich area, which they interpreted to mean that they had to get into another line. Their frustration and anger had them in tears, the clerk was startled and no meaningful communication could be had. I offered in German to help them; translated for the clerk what they wanted and what their experience had been about the confusion in the first place. International crisis avoided. It brought to mind the numerous times I had been confused with various transactions in Europe, not sure who to trust, feeling insecure and uncertain, remembering the few times when the natives had been impatient. Overwhelmingly my travel experience has been one where the local folks were unfailingly patient, willingly to help, translate, steer me and my family in the right direction, stand behind me and my wiggly kids in line without sighing heavily (this includes France--love those people). So I am re-evaluating my attitude when I am at Pike Place or other Seattle tourist destinations. Have I been a good host so-to-speak? And have I extended grace as it has been extended to me?

HollyJ
Sleeps5.com

Travel Search Engines as Reported in the Seattle Times

2010-07-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

Check out Anick Jesdanun's (from off the AP) article from the Seattle Times, TripAdvisor edges out Kayak, Bink in cheap-flights search. The article covers the virtues as well as weaknesses of the big travel websites Bing, Kayak, Expedia, Orbitz and TripAdvisor. Also, a reminder to our non-US followers: Southwest, one of the largest discount airlines in the US, does not show up on any of those sites. So for possibly the least expensive fares in the U.S.A. checkout their website at www.southwest.com.

Happy Surfing,

HollyJ
Sleeps5.com

Walla Walla - Washington Wine Country with the Fam

2010-07-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

Walla Walla is the center of the wine country universe in Washington State about a 4.5 hour drive from Seattle. The outsider may not know that there exists in Washington a Napa Valley-like area complete with bucolic scenery, upscale wineries, charming shops, a historic town, gourmet local food and an excellent liberal arts college. Walla Walla sweet onions were the original culinary claim to fame for the area -- this modest bulb can be turned into all sorts of delectable forms, my personal favorite is the sweet onion jam.

There are numerous wineries to visit. Check the following link for a list and the opening times and locations: www.winesnw.com/wallamap.html.

In the town of Walla Walla is Pioneer Park, a fun stop for the family. A great place for little ones to blow off steam. A rather extensive and unexpected aviary is on the grounds. Look through the windows at the small out-building where you can see some baby ducklings and or whatever else has been hatching. Take a stroll down Walla Walla's main street for some shopping. Stop at the highly recommended Graze on Main and Colville for lunch. Take a walk through Whitman College with its lovely grounds, streams, gardens and outdoor amphitheater. There are various historic sites related to Lewis and Clark and the history of the missionary Whitman family around Walla Walla, as well.

We stayed at the lovely and historic Marcus Whitman hotel right in the middle of town, www.marcuswhitmanhotel.com. Rooms with two queen beds and an additional roll away ($20) will accommodate a family of five. Check their website for specials and or Expedia.com for the best price. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Guests are provided complimentary vouchers for a glass of l'Ecole No 41 and or a nonalcoholic beverage. The bartender made my daughter a fresh raspberry italian soda-- beautiful. An extensive and healthy breakfast buffet is included. Certain rooms allow pets as well. There is a little in-house museum with paintings depicting the life of the Whitman family.

Holly J
Sleeps5.com

Budget Manhattan: NYC with kids

2010-06-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Five for budget family travel to New York City:

1. Here is a great website set up primarily for Dads with lists of inexpensive or free things to do in NYC. (www.nyc.gov/html/hra/nycdads/html/things/borough_manhattan.shtml)

2. Something we like to take advantage of as well is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park. Children under 12 are free. We found that the museum does not charge for adult admission if you arrive an hour before closing. When kids are little an hour may be all you can handle. So we picked out specific things we wanted to see ahead of time and just made a beeline to those exhibits.

3. Another favorite budget activity is shopping in Bergdorf's! Check out all the beautiful window displays then head up to the candy shop on the seventh floor. There you can buy a lovely souvenir at little expense, for example, individually wrapped chocolate covered stir sticks, very colorful (they even provide free gift wrap), just $15.00.

4. A shopping experience my teenager girls loved, and even my son and husband joined in, was at Sabon, at their flagship store located in the SOHO shopping district. Here you are invited in for an immediate salt-scrub hand wash; excellent timing if you are are planning on eating soon. The store is charming and the staff are always super-friendly. Lots of testers and small expense items for a souvenir if you are interested. My girls love the face polisher--made in Israel.

5. The new elevated sidewalk park (free) in the meatpacking district, has become a favorite. The kids were really intrigued by it and the photo opportunities are particularly great. See nyc.com for a description, photos, and a map layout.

Holly J
Sleeps5.com

Sleeps 5 in NYC

2010-05-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Just back from NYC. Billy Elliott . . . excellent! Central Park Zoo . . . special. Times Square . . . stimulating. Battery Park sunset overlooking the Statue of Liberty . . . so lovely.
And good news for our fellow families of 5, the Hampton Inn Seaport for approximately $209/ night has rooms with two queen beds, and the hotel will allow a family of five to sleep in it. It is up to the family whether two queen beds is sufficient, but at these rates in Manhattan it is worth it. Children under 18 stay for free and breakfast is included. The hotel is located in the financial district which puts it close to little Italy, with easy access to Ellis Island and the statue of Liberty, Chinatown and Canal Street. And of course with NYC's subway system our family was able to get around quickly and easily to all other tourist attractions. Try this out.

Holly J
Sleeps5.com

One More "Sleeps 5" in Cornwall

2010-05-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

Tagging on to my last post, I have a late addition to the Cornwall cornucopia (thank goodness for spell check). The Hotel Victoria located in Newquay has a standard room with a view of the sea that will accommodate a family of five. There is a set of bunk beds and an extra bed for the kids. Additionally, they have a much pricier and roomier family suite that will also house a family of five. The suite has a living room, a separate room for the kids, and a balcony. Lovely.
All prices include breakfast. Check out their website at www.hotel-victoria.co.uk.

Cheers,

HollyJ
Sleeps5.com

Cornwall With The Family

2010-05-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here in Seattle we are celebrating Cinco de Mayo--not sure why, but we love an excuse to celebrate.
Nonetheless, I have romantic yearnings for windswept seascapes and charming villages. Cornwall it is . . . in England of course.

For the intrepid family of five, I have found the following Cornwall locations that can house you:

Long Cross Hotel and Gardens in Port Isaac has two rooms (room 20 and The Stable) that will take in your family of five. Room 8 will also sleep a family of four with the possibility of a cot. Prices include breakfast (www.longcrosshotel.co.uk).

Old Coastguard Hotel in Mousehole (pronounce Mowzel for you non Brits) has beautiful sea views, cots are 5 pounds a day and children are 25 pounds extra a day. Check with reception to confirm about accommodations for family of five (include ages). Website is www.oldcoastguardhotel.co.uk.

Seaview Holiday Village between Looe and Polperro is more of a budget option with various forms of self catering cottages, caravans, and bungalows. Be sure to have complete details about your accommodations incuding views and location to avoid misunderstandings. Almost all scenarios will take a family of five. There are lots of kid friendly facilities (heated pool) and entertainment available. Check them out at www.seaviewholidayvillage.com.

Tregoninny Farm Bed and Breakfast is further inland, peaceful, bucolic, and particularly accommodating to those with physical disabilities. The first floor of the "barn" has a suite that will sleep 5 including a kitchen. They also have other configurations of rooms with various interlocking doors that could keep a family of five all together (www.tregoninny.com).

These are just a few. Let me know if you have others to recommend. Happy travels, I can feel the breezes now . . .

HollyJ
Sleeps5.com

Nice, France: The Riviera for a Family of Five

2010-04-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ahhh the Riviera. Palm trees swaying; a walk along the Promenade des Anglais; cafe au lait at a side walk table. It's all good. We have had an unseasonable cold snap here in Seattle followed by hail, sunshine, light rain, heavy rain, light rain, you get the picture. I started remembering a lovely vacation I once had on the Mediterranean coast of France. We made Nice our home base. Nice is close to Monaco and many other interesting sights along the Riviera.

In an effort to lift my spirits I searched the possibility of taking our family of five there. Here are two possibilities I found on either end of the financial spectrum. The Villa Saint Exupery is formerly a Carmelite monastery. It is now a hostel with rooms that will accommodate a family of five by themselves. The cost per night is 110 Euros, breakfast, wifi and a shuttle from the train station are included. It is located up a hill with beautiful views. The typical patron is young, but the surroundings are peaceful. www.vsaint.com.

My second discovery is the Goldstar Resort, www.hotel-goldstar-nice.com. This is certainly on the more expensive end at roughly 350 Euros/night for a family of five and does not include breakfast unless you pay more. The presidential suite, which accommodates the family of five, has a kitchenette, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pull-out sofa.

Bon Voyage!

Holly Jacobsen
Sleeps5.com

Seattle for Families: Take a Walk on the Wild side

2010-03-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

Despite its urban feel, Seattle is surprisingly filled with an abundance of nature especially of the winged variety. If your family needs a reprieve from the hyper stimulation of the Science Center, the Waterfront and Pike Place Market, consider a lesser known but memorable tour through Seattle's wild side.
Starting at the University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center on the shores of Lake Washington, take a guided tour by canoe through the Washington Arboretum waterways and around Foster Island. Float through lily pads past blue herons, turtles, and beaver dams along the way. You must be 12 years or older for this one. Alternatively, for the eight years and up crowd, take a "hike" with a master birder through wetlands and woodlands for a chance to see the many species of birds living in their natural habitats. Lake Washington and the Cascade mountain range provide the backdrop. The tour starts near the University District at the Center for Urban Horticulture. For more details about these tours and many more including bicycling tours check out Conservation Catalyst.

Holly Jacobsen
Sleeps5.com

Our Boys' Seattle Favorites

2010-02-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

Visitors and natives like to joke about the rain. I've lived here since I was 13 and am used to the joking and the rain. And, though I'm proud to be part of a family with 5 generations born in super-sunny California, I now find Seattle's frequently gray skies soothing.

Whether it's a sunny or a cloudy day, the city is spectacularly beautiful and I feel so lucky to live here. Everywhere, one has access to incredible vistas that include backdrops of mountains and water, with boats, bridges, and skyscrapers in the foreground. Driving around in my minivan, I often exclaim to the kids, "LOOK! LOOK! WE LIVE IN SUCH A GORGEOUS CITY!!" Instead of guffawing at my uncool overenthusiasm as one would expect from a teen and 2 nearly-teen boys, they look out the car windows, and murmur, "yeah" or "mm-hmm", and I know they appreciate the enthralling views, too.

Here are four of our favorite places in Seattle:

1. Pacific Science Center

Spend at least 2 hours here, and up to 5. Park in one of the multi-story garages adjacent to the Seattle Center, or find a cheaper, $4 to $6 lot a few blocks out. Set in a complex of connected buildings, some exhibits are permanent (butterfly dome, insects, water works for little tots, dinosaurs, giant hands-on physics tools, outdoor water spouts (see photo), weather station, mole rats, live demonstrations, and more), and some special exhibits visit for a few weeks.

In the last 12 months, we've visited a train show, and exhibitions of Lucy and hominids, animation, and life on Mars. The latter exhibit is currently showing and there, my 11-year old boys made and launched foam rockets, instructed kids in another area via delayed audio, attempted to put bolts together wearing giant gloves, designed a robot maze, and created a stop-motion photo series.

On any day, there are a handful of 45 minute IMAX movies and we can see 1 or 2 in between visiting other displays in a single day. There are often full length feature movies, too. Tickets for movies can be purchased online.

A small cafe is upstairs from the dinosaur area, offering sandwiches, soup, (my kids say the best) corn dogs, nachos, popsicles, cookies, coffee, juice, soda, milk, and more. If you want more food choices, you can get a hand-stamp as you exit the Science Center, eat in the nearby Center House food court, and then return to the Science Center. There are also full service restaurants surrounding the Seattle Center, including a favorite of our boys': Sport Restaurant, on 4th Avenue, across from the Space Needle, where they can watch football on the giant tvs.

2. Seattle Children's Theatre Don't be fooled by the word 'children'. This award-winning theater, located next to the Science Center, consistently wows kids and adults alike. It puts on multiple productions each year: some for tots and kindergartners, some for elementary school youngsters, and some for teens. Each play or musical indicates the recommended age. I've always looked forward to seeing the shows, and I've been extremely stunned at how they surpass my already high expectations each and every time. I truly wish we could attend more frequently.

3. Museum of Flight

Located south of downtown Seattle, the museum near Boeing Field has free parking in the main parking lot and a free overflow lot across the street. Permanent exhibits include a young-kids' hands-on area that teaches flying concepts such as roll and yaw, display areas for WWI and WWII fighter planes, space exploration, a huge glass gallery full of airplanes, and an outdoor air park including an Air Force One and a Concorde that visitors can walk through.

My kids' favorite activity is the control tower where they look out over an actual runway and watch takeoffs and landings, listen to air traffic controllers, and operate some hands-on tools. We also enjoy the expansive gift shop with books, toys, models, calendars, caps, and more. Visiting exhibits we've seen include helicopters (see photo), Leonardo da Vinci, Space, and the annual Engineer and model show. And each August, we arrive early on a weekday when the Blue Angles visit Seattle. We bring lunch in a cooler, and wait for the times when the stunt planes take off and land on the runway near the museum parking lot. The engines' roar is incredible, the pilots take time to greet visitors, and special booths offer memorabilia. On our way home, we occasionally stop at the Boeing Store, which offers jackets, toys, pens, hats, and other items for flight enthusiasts of all ages.

4. Ballard Locks Our family loves engineering marvels, and so, a short jaunt to the Ballard Locks, a few minutes' drive from downtown Seattle, is always satisfying. Click on this VirtualTourist.com link for some wonderful descriptions of how to get there and what to see and nearby places to eat. There is free parking on both sides of the locks, and grassy hills with paths down to the waterside. It is fun to walk across when the gates are closed, and watch boats enter and tie up, listen to the bells signaling that the gates will open or close, and witness the boaters' camaraderie amongst each other and with the locks' attendants and observers as they position their craft, wait for the water level change, and then untie and cruise on out of the locks. Friendly waving and smiles abound. On the south end, you can descend into a salmon ladder viewing area and learn all about their efforts to swim upstream.

Enjoy our home city!

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Finding Vancouver Travel Deals

2010-02-28T21:04:00.000-08:00

If you watched the Olympics and want to see the beauty and experience the hospitality of Vancouver yourself, here are some travel experts to tell you how:

Vancouver beckons with Post-Olympics deals
TOM PARSONS BEST FARES, from Dallas News
www.bestfares.com

Tourism Vancouver

Vancouver.com

Expedia: Vancouver travel deals and more

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Seattle to Vancouver Olympics Day Trip: Cheap and Quick

2010-02-28T01:25:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Holly (see the previous blog post), who went to Vancouver from Seattle in one day with her husband and son, we decided to make the trek, too. We are definitely not naturally spontaneous people, so this was out of our comfort zone. I tentatively thought Thursday might work best for us, and on Wednesday gathered lots of good advice on TripAdvisor. That evening we decided we'd do it!

Late Wednesday night my husband and I both sent emails to our employers (good thing we are both working contract, part-time jobs right now!) saying we would not be available, and phoned the kids' schools, leaving messages on the attendance lines that they would be absent. By the front door, we placed umbrellas, blankets, clipboards so the kids could do some school work in the car, spare Canadian money left over from prior trips, and passports.

The next morning, we were in the car by 7am, an hour later than we'd hoped, but typical for our family. Not surprisingly, our teenager slept much of the way there and back.

We stopped in Birch Bay at an Olympics store and I bought a fairly loud USA cloth shopping bag, and one son bought a hat. We wanted to represent our country in these small ways!

There was no wait at the border, we drove right up to the booth! Continuing on to the River Rock Casino in Richmond, we entered the multi-story parking garage, and noted fluff scattered on the ground due to those patriotic country flags people have fastened out of the car window scraping gouges in the low-ceiling insulation.

Memorizing our parking spot number, we entered the building and paid the $2 parking fee with our credit card at a machine. We walked over a plush skybridge, into the plush lobby, and down a CURVED escalator that prompted a photo-taking moment, used the very clean, tiled restroom, bought snacks, then back over the skybridge to the Skytrain station right off the parking garage.

Hubby Kurt easily figured out how to buy one-way tickets (under $4 Canadian, each) at the machine, then we each inserted our tickets to be validated, and hopped aboard. Already, some people had to stand, and as the train stopped, it got more crowded. We heard a German conversation, and a French conversation. The mood of the crowd was light, upbeat, anticipatory, and friendly.

We disembarked at the waterfront, and found multiple official, name-badged information attendants on every block, ready to give directions and distributing large street maps left and right. Sides of buildings had large screens with tv coverage of the Olympic events.

Here I am with my 3 boys, on our way to see the flames in person! (hubby was taking the picture)

Near the cauldron, two attendants, each seated like beach lifeguards atop platforms with an umbrella, used megaphones to state in English and French, the directions to the line in order to walk up the platform to see an unobstructed view of the flames. At sidewalk level, there was a plexiglass panel with chain link fence above it through which we could see the cauldron.

Everyone was posing for pictures everywhere, and trying not to cross in front of photos being taken. I offered to take the pictures for a couple of people, using their camera, so they can have shots with their friend.

We got in the back of the cauldron platform line, which moved in stages every 15 minutes or so. People were very polite except somehow this obnoxious family, draped in Canadian flags, and joking loudly about drinking, stepped in line a few groups ahead of us. We never did figure out if someone was holding a place for them or if everyone else was just too shocked and wimpy to say anything. Oh well, I don't want to spend any time being aggravated about others' rude behavior. After 45 minutes we made it to the top, just as the wind kicked up and a few sprinkles fell, and hubby took way too long taking way too many photos - the official had to tell him to keep moving along! I was surprised to feel the heat from the flames from so far away.

Here's the view from the top:

As in my description of the Canada Place food choices on Sleeps5.com, we again found the food court directly across the street VERY crowded, but the Sinclair Centre food court, at the corner of Hastings and Howe, quite manageable with tables and chairs available. We had lunch of burgers and fish and chips and then walked the city, marveling at the joyous mood of pedestrians, the buoyancy of store clerks, the multitude of Canadian flags hanging out of windows, along with a few of other countries, the colorful face paintings and clothing of fans, and the occasional chanting of groups.

A few blocks away, we found the Olympic countdown clock and a very polite line, seemingly impromptu, of people waiting to sit in the bobsled to take a photo. We witnessed a very long line and figured it was people waiting to try the zip line two at a time high above the square full of folks watching the ice skaters and listening to live music. An elderly Canadian woman, arm-in-arm with a friend, stopped me, confirmed that I was from the United States, then gave each of us a new Olympics Canadian coin! She seemed excited to see everything and the pair blended into the crowd before I could take their picture.

With pre-teens and a teenager all very interested in tech stuff, we walked to Yale Town, through the Yahoo center, and into the Samsung and Acer tents set up with hands-on viewers, computers, and tvs. With pulsing music and moving lights, the tents were essentialy big product commercials, but still very exciting. The Coke tent's line was hours long we heard. The open square had a stage and humongous screens showing the mountain events going on. We bought beverages and headed for the very high, very long bridge to Granville Island. There were country flag decals along the bridge's sidewalk. Good thing I brought our little flag book to confirm their identification!

Here is the view from the bridge.

Our teenager spent 5 minutes meeting some friends who live in Vancouver. It's all the time we had. Near a display showing an overview of the athlete's housing that is blocked from public access, we were guided along by friendly attendants, and took a free, brand-new streetcar to the Skytrain station. There, we again used a machine to purchase new one-way tickets for each of us, and rode back to the parking garage at the Bridgeport station at the River Rock Casino.

So glad to be seated in the car - our legs and feet were so tired! A little while later, we again drove right up to the border booth, reentered the US, stopped at Dairy Queen for dinner, and were home by 7:00pm. The entire trip, including food, public transportation, parking, and gas, was under $150. I am still amazed at the details - the signage, the attendants helping everywhere, the positive energy of the residents and the tourists alike.

Later that night, my hubby and I put our hands on each other's shoulders and exclaimed, "We did it!"

My Olympic Moment

2010-02-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

The beauty of living in Seattle, when the Olympics are going on in Vancouver, is that you can get a wild hair idea on Saturday night which results in an early morning race for the border. Olympics here we come. I love Canadians -- even the border patrol seemed happy to see us. First stop was at the Richmond visitor center to get the lay of the land. We had five people helping us at once--Canadians are enthusiastic hosts. Next stop River Rock Casino--just for parking, this was a family trip after all. We weren't sure if the machines took atm cards and being the silly US Americans we are, we had no Canadian money with us. The result was an Olympics volunteer gave us 2 Canadian dollars for parking. Again, very gracious hosts. We caught the light rail from there straight to the waterfront; a few steps later we were looking at the Olympic cauldron albeit through a chain length fence. We waited in the viewing platform line for 45 pleasant minutes talking to our new Canadian friends, school teachers from Northern Vancouver. Lovely folks. Lovely view over the bay with the mountains in the background. Then from there on out we walked around town with what seemed like the entire country of Canada within a few blocks' radius wearing red maple leaves. Granville and Robson streets have been closed to automotive traffic creating a party-like atmosphere. There was just a general sense of celebration and joy. Accents from all over the world could be heard. The sun was sparkling off of the water and buildings; people were flying across zip lines over our heads; Canadian mascots were seen patting small children on the head. There was an underground ice skating rink full of children. It was while watching this that I was interviewed by a local television station about my Olympic experience. What a kick. We headed off to Yale town where we managed to get lost and then sorted out by the friendly fire department. Music was playing live on the streets along the way. We headed to the Live City Olympic venue where the sporting events were playing on a jumbo screen; different sponsors had various interactive venues to visit. I am now all up to speed on the latest 3D television technology! My son had a bison burger at the taste of Canada booth. My husband and I went for the, more familiar to a Seattleite, Humbow (pork dumpling) at the bite of Asia. After that we walked along the waterfront passing a long line of inukshuk. These are rock stacks that, I believe, orginate from the Inuit communities in Canada. Then we headed to the Hockey arena to watch the US and Canadian fans stream in to watch the men's hockey game. Lots of hoopla, horns, cowbells. Later we checked out other cultural venues then headed for a pub to watch the game. As it turns out it is fine for kids to be in the pub with their parents, unlike in the US. So in the Gotham bar we watched the game--keeping a very low profile--since team USA ended up winning. After we slunk out of there, we headed back to the cauldron for an evening shot of the flame and the Olympic rings on the water. Beautiful! Then back across the border and home to Seattle. A spectacular day in Vancouver.

Holly Jacobsen
Sleeps5.com

Best FREE Photo Editing Sites - links to reviews

2010-01-31T23:56:00.000-08:00

My family travel photos are so plain. Most are of the 3 kids, who hate when I pull out the camera, try to duck out of the shot, and only stand or sit still after I've threatened or bribed them sufficiently. Typically, each photo has 3 miserable looking boys, positioned stiffly in front of some significant location, each trying not to stand too close to his brothers, because that would be terrible.

Here's an example:

See what I mean? Look at those smiles on the two shortest. Can you tell they are just hoping to get the picture-taking over with, and that I had to delete 3 or 4 shots of them glaring or appearing stone-faced, and that finally they complied with a fake grin? Except the teenager in the middle never did comply! Rest assured, that once the agony of my picture taking was over, we continued on our way to a fun viewing of Fourth of July fireworks together, sitting on a blanket in a park.

I'm sure I'll never get them to enjoy having their picture taken, so I'll give up on that aspect and stick to what I can control, which is the angle, lighting, distance, and so on (see my previous post with links for "How to Take Great Family Photos) and then, when we've returned home and are planning and editing the travel photo album, fixing the flaws and adding fun stuff.

To help me improve the interest-factor of my shots, I gathered the following links to websites and blogs that showcase free photo editing sites.

Ask a Geek Girl: Which is the Best Free Online Photo Editor?
From one of my favorite slick and snappy blogs, all about everything tech: geeksugar.com.
This article lists geeksugar's suggested, Photoshop Express, as well as a "current obsession", Flauntr. Geeksugar tells why they are recommended, and links to a lifeclever.com article listing 10 online, free photo-editing sites, with an image of each, and just one phrase about why the author, Chanpory Rith, likes it. The lifeclever.com article is dated 2008, but comments from visitors span 2009 and into 2010.

Five Best Online Image Editors, on lifehacker.com, by Jason Fitzpatrick.
For each of the five listed photo editors, a screen shot is included showing the features and page layout, along with a full paragraph about the pros and cons. Over 2000 visitors tried the editors and voted on their favorite. Click on the lifehacker.com link above to find out which was deemed best.

15 online photo editors compared, on CNET.com, by Josh Lowensohn.
The well-researched, detailed chart of 15 photo editors includes 13 free options. Compared are whether the editors use Flash or HTML, the maximum photo size and resolution, effects, and the one "killer feature" that sets it apart. The author makes two personal recommendations, Picnik and Fotoflexer, because they "strike a good balance between serious editing tools and things that tweenagers would go ga-ga for." I love that!

To get the best overall impression of the photo editors, use the first two links to visually see the websites, and start choosing your favorite features, then use the chart in the last link to help finalize your selection.

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Sleeps 5 in Innsbruck, Austria

2010-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

Gruss Gott - I wanted to pass along three hotels I located in Innsbruck, Austria that have a room that can sleep five -- one can even sleep six. Hotel Tauterman is in the budget/moderate range; located 15 minutes by foot from the city center; breakfast is included; baby cots available. It has a room that can sleep as many as six as well. There is no elevator. The second hotel is Hotel Heimgartl in the moderate range of price. They have an attic room that will sleep 5 all in single beds. Breakfast is included; 15 minute walk to the city center; bring your own shampoo. The last one is Hotel Dollinger. It is also in the moderate price range with breakfast included and free parking. It is a 20 minute walk to the city center. Let us know if you have stayed at any of these and if you have others to recommend. Tchuss!

Holly Jacobsen
Sleeps5.com

Carry-on Kids' Play-Doh May be at Risk

2010-01-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

We love Play-Doh! I even included it in a previous article about favorite travel items to keep kids entertained on planes and in hotels.

But at travel site Gadling, Scott Carmichael shows us a news clip (below) about TSA agents confiscating a family's tiny play-doh tubs.

The fun, colorful, squishy stuff is not officially prohibited on planes, but as I explained in a recent article, we should be expecting and even thankful for purposeful unpredictability by TSA at security checkpoints.

Perhaps to minimize potential loss of a portion of your travel toy investment, take just a small amount of Play-Doh in your carry-on. That way, if it is confiscated, you won't be out much money. The easy cleanup and long-entertainment factor of Play-Doh are benefits that make losing a bit of it worth the risk. And chances are, the agent will let you keep it!

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

New Year's Family Travel Resolutions: Sorry Couldn't Help Myself

2010-01-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am succumbing to the resolution frenzy brought on by the turning of the yearly calendar. You will be happy to note it does not involve exercise of any form. My family travel resolutions are as follows:

1. Invest in a portable GPS system -- self explanatory.

2. Do not over schedule: as in, it is not possible to visit Notre Dame, the Bastille, the Louvre, the Tuileries and Arc de Triomphe in one day, on foot, without serious spa treatments and family therapy. Can't afford either spa or psychiatrist anyway, therefore "under scheduling" is better for the budget minded.

3. Kennel pets while traveling, thus eliminating phone calls from house sitters regarding the whereabouts of runaway Rover.

4. Pack a wad of toilet paper and small change at all times when traveling in Europe, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua . . .

5. Along the same lines as the former, call iPhone company and request "app" for public toilet locator when traveling in London (not sure this app actually exists). Most unfortunate memories here for family Jacobsen . . .

Finally,

6. Worry less and travel more.

Now send me your resolutions.

Update - there is an app for public toilet locator! - see the comments.

Holly Jacobsen
Happy New Year from Sleeps5

Travel Info Video Uses "Family of 5" Phrase

2009-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

We keep hearing that the travel industry is focusing more and more on families -- with kid-friendly hotels, cruises, and activities on the rise. But it's still nearly impossible to search for accommodations to sleep a family with 3 or more children. Travel experts usually steer family travel planners toward booking two rooms or a large suite.

A family travel video I recently ran across shows that travel providers may be hearing our frustration. On Fox News' online Lifestyle Magazine, http://www.fncimag.com/, the video below actually includes the phrase "family of 5".

Listen closely, as first, the host, Audrey Hasson, asks a question about budget travel for a "family of 5". And later, the expert guest, Beth Collins, Associate Editor for Budget Travel Magazine, speaks about airline tickets vs. car trips in regards to a "family of 5":

You may notice that neither of them specifically addresses how a family of 5 would be able to sleep in the mentioned tourism dependent locations, or find a hotel to sleep 5 in the off-season ski destinations mentioned, or book a cabin on the mentioned kid focused cruise ships...But at least the video offers an awareness, and a glimmer of hope for easier budget travel planning for families with 2 adults and 3 children in the future!

Meanwhile, we'll continue to help. At Sleeps5.com, we are always researching accommodations for one room to sleep 5 people, and adding cities to our website every year. Feel free to email us with questions and requests for the next location, or with hotels we should add to our website at contact_us(at)sleeps5(dot)com.

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Travel Tips from Homeland Security - a Very Friendly Blog!

2009-12-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

The most comprehensive travel tips for all travelers, straight from the rulemakers, Homeland Security, are in a blog article called Gobble, Gobble: TSA Helpful Holiday Travel Tips.

With a tone that is warm, conversational, friendly, even funny, I would have thought it was written by a favorite optimistic-so-happy-mom-blogger, not a government representative (no offense!), and especially not a government representative of a department with the main task of keeping us from being killed.

Easy to read sections of the article include detailed descriptions and links to more information about the by-now-very-familiar stipulations about liquids, ID, boarding pass, and shoes; plus, the not-so-familiar rules about foods, family lanes, and gifts.

The details answer questions like:

Is stick deoderant limited to 3.4 ounces? (no)
Is gel deoderant limited to 3.4 ounces? (yes)
Is powder makeup limited to 3.4 ounces? (no)
Is liquid eyeliner limited to 3.4 ounces? (yes)
May I bring a pie on board? (yes)
May I bring a turkey on board? (yes)
May I bring gravy or jam or sauce on board? (no)
(Keep in mind that all of the above general guidelines are subject to closer inspection if officers notice any "anomalies".)

Situations with snow globes at checkpoints are apparently frequent enough to warrant a separate section in the blog entry, and NO they are not allowed on board -- you must check them or mail them.

Most interesting to me was the note about inconsistencies, as in why we are asked to form a queue or show id or partially undress differently from one airport to the next. It is partly because agents are allowed to modify activity as needed, but also, (and here's my 'duh!' moment) so that the processes are similarly confusing for "those who might wish to do us harm".

Now, every time I have the thought, "Hey, they didn't do it this way in San Francisco...", I'll instead think, "Hurray for unpredictability! And Thank You, TSA!"

A tip from me that wasn't included in the Homeland Security article: NEVER try to take a photo while waiting in an airport customs area. When returning from our trip to England in 2005, we passengers were all standing around, waiting for our luggage. I was bored, and thought the kids were cute and snapped this picture. Suddenly, two security agents swooped in and demanded to see the image. Having not yet entered this century, technologically speaking, I had to apologetically explain that my camera was a simple 35mm and I had no way for them to see the image. I was embarrassed with all the passengers now looking at me, expressed my remorse, and must have convinced them that I meant no harm since they thankfully allowed me to keep my camera, with the film inside. I really had seen the 'no cell phone' signs, but there weren't any 'no camera' signs. The photo I took of my silly twins is above, and yes, I had to scan it in order to create the digital version. (I now have a digital camera!)

Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

Expedia Deals in Paris

2009-12-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

My favorite Expedia deal this month is Hotel Migny Opera Montmartre in Paris, France which is described in further detail on our web site Sleeps5.com. I found prices on Expedia advertised for this Spring (2010) as low as $221.00/night for a room with a double and three twins. Also, in the environs of Paris-Disney, check out My Suite Inn Lognes. Expedia rates for a room that sleeps up to 6 are as low as $129.99/night. C'est magnifique!

Click here for more hotels in Paris and Disneyland Paris that can sleep a Family of 5 on Sleeps5.com.
Paris Dining with Kids - Skip the Fast Food links blog article
Paris with Kids - Things to Do links blog article

Holly Jacobsen
Sleeps5.com

Sleeps 5 Hotels in Seattle, London, San Francisco - Family Rooms

2009-11-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

Check out our new pages for hotels with a Family Room to sleep 5 in Seattle, London, and San Francisco. We scoured all kinds of travel resources for hotels, then contacted each one to confirm a room exists that can accommodate a family of 5.

The Seattle page is the newest, just in time for the Vancouver, Olympics!, and will soon include more details about all of the hotels, and will be organized by downtown area. (Photo is of our kids in front of the Olympics digital countdown in Vancouver, BC in August, 2007.)

The London and San Francisco pages each have a Google map that shows all the hotels we list in those cities. I am still working on how to number those little flags, or have the hotel name appear when scrolled over, so viewers can tell which hotel it is without clicking open a text box.

Special steps are usually required of the travel planner to reserve a Family Room. We have found:

Some hotels have only one large room;
Some hotels have a few large rooms;
Most large rooms are not listed anywhere online as a quintuple room, not even on the hotel's website;
Many of the large rooms require reservation of an extra bed or crib to sleep 5;
Many hotels don't include their large rooms on discount hotel search engines.

To reserve a room for 5 at some hotels, a traveler must book a certain room online, then phone the hotel to request the large room, or an extra bed or crib. Or, a traveler must inquire with the hotel directly to book (reserve) a particular room with available space and an extra bed or crib. On Sleeps5.com, those special steps are all revealed in the hotel descriptions.

Email us with any questions!

-Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com

London Family Dining, Restaurants, Cheap Eats

2009-11-29T23:19:00.000-08:00

Here are 4 links to help you find places to eat in London. As I mentioned in a previous post, next time my family travels, I plan to use Google maps to plot the restaurants that sound great and are in close proximity to the things-to-do my family plans to visit.

View London Restaurants
Sort by tube station, area, or deals. Under 'recommended' scroll down to see the Best For 'family friendly' or 'child friendly' or 'cheap' restaurants.

Going Underground's Cheap Guide to London
Lots of travel tips, and though not that recently updated, likely valid and helpful information and links. It's not particularly geared to families, but does provide many cheap eateries, and many links to other cheap restaurant lists.

London Eating - London Restaurants Guide
Filter by area or meal (lunch or dinner...) or 'kid friendly' or '15 pounds and under' or 'outdoor' and more. Amazingly easy navigation with full site tabs on the left and above each page choice and at the top of each page.

NileGuide Kid Friendly London Restaurants
Sort by rating, cost, cuisine type, or proximity to attractions like Tower of London or British Museum.

-Sandy Nielsen
Sleeps5.com