FAQ
We devote our time to clients who are serious about travel, those who understand and appreciate the level of commitment, professionalism and expertise that we offer. Because booking travel is so complicated, and therefore, time consuming, we have had to implement a consultation fee for the extra time we spend to advise on everything related to covid. The fee includes our time, knowledge, expertise and friendly service from now until you come back home from your vacation. We not only help you plan a great vacation, but will handle seat selection, room requests and other travel planning needs, but I also advise on covid travel requirements, covid insurance, testing and quarantine policies for your destination and answer all the questions you have about travelling during the pandemic. As you may know, we have travelled throughout the pandemic and have personally flown on all the Canadian carriers and to the major destinations and are familiar with their practices. The fee is $100+tax for all inclusive vacations and is not paid until you speak with an agent and are comfortable working with us, fees vary for other vacation planning needs.
Non vacation planning services such as booking air only or car rental are subject to a $50 fee, air only is $25 per ticket.
Like our reviews indicate, we provide 5* service. We are confident that our knowledge and expertise will impress you and the excellent customer service you receive will keep you as a client. Contact us via the form at www.vacationswithkids.ca/contact and an agent will be in touch. We look forward to working with you!
Once you fill in the contact form HERE , one of our agents will be in contact for a phone consultation. If you decide that you would like to work with Vacations with Kids to plan your family vacation, a consultation fee will be required to start your vacation search. For package vacations such as all-inclusive, cruise vacations or Disney planning, the deposit is $100+tax. For more time intensive custom itinerary planning, the deposit is $200. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable and will expire after 45 days. A secure form will be sent to you to submit your form of payment for the fee. Suggestions will be sent to you for your family vacation and you will work with your agent to narrow down the options and decide on a final plan. At this time a deposit will be paid to the supplier to hold the space and an invoice with all the details will be sent. Final payment will be processed approximately one week prior to the final payment date.
We will always offer the best price possible on any travel package, most often it is the tour operator or cruise line that determine the rate and not the travel agent. This means that no matter where you book you will get the same rate. So why book with Vacations with Kids? Service, expertise and our first hand knowledge based on personal and professional experience. If you do, however, receive a lower quote from any of our competitors we will be happy to consider a price match for you.
We are able to plan a family group trip with or with out airfare and/or coming from multiple cities. There are a variety of options based on any budget. The resort will depend on budget of all the members so you need to consult with your family and friends before you start planning and come up with a budget that everyone will be comfortable with. Once we have that we can work our magic and find you something amazing!
Groups booked by Vacations with Kids:
Family/Friends Groups
Celebrations- anniversaries, milestone birthdays
Girls Getaways
Golf Trips
Destination Weddings
Vacations with Kids has a list of favourite resorts based on personal experience and excellent feedback, but we are not restricted to only those. We can book any hotel or resort anywhere that you wish to go, the options are endless! If not offered as a package, we are able to book customs itineraries to meet your family’s unique wants and needs.
While your food, drinks, room and transportation are all included in your package, what isn’t are the gratuities paid to the staff. Those new to the resort are often nervous about tipping. Not because they don’t want to tip, but because they are unsure what the rules are. While every island and every resort is different, there are many common courtesies across the various resort destinations. Please also note that All Inclusive Resorts such as Beaches have a “No-Tipping” policy as this is already included in the price you paid so please be mindful of your resorts policy on tipping.
In the Caribbean, the tourism industry is a major source of employment. Many locals work at resorts and hotels, give tours or work in restaurants that cater to tourists. From the housekeeping staff, to the gardeners who keep the grounds immaculate, to the cooks who man the omelette station each morning at breakfast, these people rely on the generosity of guests like yourself to improve their monthly income. This is their livelihood – the money they need to support their families. So if they do a good job, are kind, courteous, and professional, they have earned a tip.
While tipping is at your discretion and it is an optional gesture, at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, it is certainly encouraged by the staff. Keep in mind that you don’t need to tip every time, and usually the people you’ll tip are those providing a personal service, like wait staff, bartenders, room attendants, tour guides, etc. Also remember that any tip you provide is adequate – this is only a guideline. For a one-week stay at an all-inclusive resort, a couple should budget to spend about $150 US (or the local currency equivalent) total in tips. This means that you should bring between $10 and $20 in small bills with you to spend on tips throughout the day.
A la carte meals:
$5-20 depending on the level of service and number of guests
Bag attendants and shuttle drivers:
$1/bag or $1 for every few trips to and from the room
Bartenders:
$1-$2/group drink order but more if the drinks are complicated and you have many at one time. Keep using (and tipping) the same bartender throughout the week and you’ll get excellent service.
Buffet meals:
$1-$2/table
Buffet station chefs: $1 (your favourite omelette cook!)
Bus driver: $1-$2pp
Butlers: $50-500 depending on the level of resort and how much they do for you.
Concierge: $5-$10 depending on your usage
Housekeeping staff: $2-5/day (leave it on your bed so they know it’s for them) .If you want extra beer or bottled water instead of pop in your mini fridge, leave $2-$5 with a note indicating your preference.
Room service: $3-5 depending on the complexity of the order and time of day
Tour guide: $5/couple
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Traveling With Babies Be realistic Unless you have an angel baby, choose a destination that will be easy to keep your routine. A busy itinerary or a destination that is not stroller friendly will not make for a relaxing holiday. Pack for the worse case scenario Bring a carry on with enough supplies/clothing for a couple of days in case your suitcase is lost. Divide everyone’s clothes among all your bags, if one is lost each person will still have some of what they need. Pack a change of clothes for both you and the baby in your carry on. International Travel If one parent is traveling with your child internationally make sure you check customs regulations to avoid hassles or denied boarding. Carry a copy of your spouse’s passport with a hand written note and matching signature in case required. Some countries require a notarized letter of permission. On the plane Bring lots of snacks, toys and fun activities. An iPad is usually not enough for little ones. Dollarama is the best place a few new things to play with (i.e. mini play dough sets, toys, puzzles). For toddlers or kids bring a special treat for Slings or Carrier Use slings or carriers to keep your baby safe for take off, landing or turbulence instead of a car seat. Rent baby equipment at your destination. Whether your destination is a hotel or resort or a relative’s home, there are numerous companies renting baby gear such as portable cribs, strollers, seats, and baby feeding equipment. Most will reserve the desired equipment online ahead of time, and will deliver equipment to your door. When renting a car, rent the car seats directly from the car rental company. Be prepared to safely and correctly install the car seat yourself. Food & Liquids Solid food items, such as sandwiches, apples and granola bars, are permitted in both your carry-on and checked baggage when traveling within Canada. If your destination is outside of Canada, any food not consumed, including food in checked baggage, will be subject to the regulations of the country you are visiting. Some food items may be subject to restrictions including: liquids, foods that are mashed, pureed or mixed in a sauce (e.g. mashed potatoes, smoothies, chill or stews). In order for a food to be considered a solid, it must be solid at room temperature. If you plan to prep your food on the go, keep in mind that small kitchen appliances with blades (e.g. personal/hand- held blenders,) are not permitted in carry-on baggage. baby food, milk, formula, water, juice and other baby items in your carry-on baggage.
Packaged foods Granola bars Crackers Non-packaged foods Meat Start planning today! Fill in our contact form or call Toll Free:1-855-303-3255 |
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What to Put in Your Carry-On Take advantage of the carry-on plus purse rule. Each ticketed passenger is permitted a carry-on, and a personal bag or purse. In addition to each passenger’s carry-on, designate one large tote for in-air entertainment, which carries a laptop, iPad, and each family member’s book or Kindle. Be sure to include at least one charger for each different device in your carry-on. • Allow for one back pack for snacks, medications, water bottles (to be filled post-security) and other essentials
Packing For Your Trip Use the ‘roll’ method or packing cubes Rolling clothes instead of folding them saves 30% more space. Line the bag with bulkier items like shoes, then What to pack Pack more shirts than each child needs, and half as many pants.* The majority of messes will occur to your child’s shirts (think food spills, sweat, and sticky hands wiping). Pants and shorts can often be re-worn. It’s nice to have your children in different shirts for family photos. Try to find clothes that do double duty, such as pants that zip off to become shorts, and sun protection shirts that can be worn during outdoor play. Try to restrict each child to two pairs of shoes: a sturdy pair of walking/hiking shoes (to be worn on the plane) and a pair of destination and season- appropriate sandals or boots. * Does not apply if your child is not toilet trained. Packing for Kids • 3pairsofPJs likely to get dirtied, shorts can be worn twice) day time, you don’t really need day time clothes) Grown-ups • 5-7eveningoutfitsdressesforwomen a la carte restaurants in the restaurants wear hoodies on the plane, no coats. Dont’ Forget At the resorts some items can cost up to 5x what you pay for them at home. So don’t forget to pack: • Sunblock • Plastic bags Car Seats If you bring your car-seat to use on the plane you must purchase a seat for the baby and will be required to strap in the baby whenever the seat belt sign is on. You will not be permitted to nurse during take off or landing. Check out the convertible car seat/stroller Sit n Stroll www.lilygold.com or CARES restraint www.kidsflysafe.com. Strollers Bring a reclining umbrella stroller, they are easier to transport, take up less space in the trunk and cost less if damagedbytheairline. Medication Bring everything you might need at 2am. Advil, Tylenol (adult and kids), Immodium, Gravol, Benadryl, Claritin , Tumsetc. Remember the 3-1-1 rule! The 3-1-1 rule states that you cannot bring any liquid or gel that’smorethanthreeounces.Thesemustbecarriedin one quart-sized clear, zip-lock bag. Winter Travel Leave your coats at home even in winter. Use blankets for babies and hoodies for older kids to keep them warm from the car to the airport. • Snacks (Especially for Cuba) |
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