Recommend March 2016 - (Page 6)

E d it o r 's N o t e s You'll notice that the cover of the magazine reads "Family Travel," a line usually gracing the cover of the September issue, but with family travel taking a front row seat in consumers' travel plans-multigenerational or otherwise-the Recommend editorial staff will now be bringing you two family travelfocused issues (the other issue continues in its September slot). With that in mind, we've covered all sorts of family adventures in this issue-from horseback riding and ziplining in Costa Rica (page 85) to sheparding in Ireland (page 9). In fact, tour operators are opening their treasure chests and creating an array of very unique family-focused tours that work for all sorts of families. Nowadays, there are even high-end tours of Thailand and Cambodia that include kid- and teen-specific activities. According to Susan Farewell, the owner of Farewell Travels LLC in Connecticut, family travel is essential. On page 18, she offers various reasons on why travel is "an investment," and "no longer a 'luxury' expense." Farewell, who'll be a regular contributor to Recommend, opining on travel trends and providing a unique insight into the art of selling travel, writes, "Travel is the ultimate classroom. New cultures. New foods. New people. New landscapes. When the kids get to see the places they're learning about in school, it makes learning easy and fun." Exotic lands are not the only ones calling families. All-inclusive resort vacations in the Caribbean and Mexico are still top of mind, because, as I outline on page 16, it offers an activity-filled vacation under one roof that takes every member of the family into consideration. Theme parks, too, are attracting more families than ever before, with Orlando's various parks continuously upping the ante with new themed hotels, new largerthan-life attractions and various elements that continue to draw families in. Read through the Florida feature on page 78 and you'll see that Florida is not resting on its laurels when it comes to cementing it as a one-stop family fun shop. As travel advisor Staci Kimball says, "Florida consistently raises the stakes on new and exciting offerings for visitors to enjoy...." We've also got Hawaii (page 75) and Alaska (page 82) covered, with plenty of offerings your clients are going to want to jump on, and when it comes to the high seas, cruise editor Vivian Holley points out on page 72 that today's cruises are "captivating enough to convince kids of all ages that they've plunged down the rabbit hole into a seagoing wonderland." -Paloma Villaverde de Rico 2016 Delta Air Lines Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide In this issue, we've included the 2016 Delta Air Lines Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide, which highlights the must-do experiences-insider tips, if you will-for each of Delta's gateways in these regions of the world. From taking in a summertime jazz concert in Warsaw to museum-hopping in Cairo, not to mention cityside wildlife viewing in Nairobi, Delta's gateways in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa offer an array of vacation experiences. E-mail me at paloma@recommend.com let's get social Hang out with us @Recommendmag on both Twitter & Instagram, as well as on facebook.com/recommendmag. And if you want to see what our editors are up to away from the office, follow them @EdWetschler & @AreanWanderlust. 6 march 2016 group publisher/editorial director associate publisher editor-in-chief associate editor art director latin america editor caribbean editor cruise editor web editor/copy editor contributing writers corporate director of marketing production manager ad traffic coordinator laurel a. herman terence k. murphy paloma villaverde de rico michelle marie arean janet del mastro carla hunt ed wetschler vivian holley melissa bryant susan farewell, lane nieset sharon lewen estrella bibas daimee feliz chairman/founding editor hal herman president/editorial director laurel a. herman executive vice president gary herman miami corporate headquarters: 5979 nw 151st. st., suite 120, miami lakes, florida 33014 tel: (305) 828-0123; fax: (305) 826-6950 caribbean, central & south america: terry murphy, terry@recommend.com tel: (305) 828-0123; ext. 120; fax: (305) 828-0799 northeast usa, eastern canada, europe, africa, middle east: monique agaliotis, monique@worthit.com, tel: (917) 244-7000 florida, midwest usa, caribbean: brenda goodwin, brenda@worthit.com, tel: (305) 828-0123; ext.160; fax: (305) 826-6950 southeast usa, colorado, utah, idaho, montana, wyoming, texas, north & south dakota: karen smith, karen@worthit.com; (561) 419-8397 western canada, california, oregon, washington state, nevada, arizona, new mexico: lisa marie costa, lisamarie@worthit.com, tel: (949) 244-4760 hawaii: alan rock, alanrock1@gmail.com, tel: (310) 721-2825 cancun: margarita alvarez, margarissima@gmail.com tel: 011 52 998 287 1545; fax: 011 52-998 884-1716 RECOMMEND, Vol. 31, issue number 6, (ISSN 0034-1452) is published monthly by Worth International Media Group. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 5979 N.W. 151st St., Suite 120, Miami Lakes, FL 33014.Periodicals postage paid at Hialeah, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RECOMMEND Circulation Department, P.O. Box 171070 Hialeah, FL 33017-1070. RECOMMEND is distributed at no charge to qualified travel agents and tour operators. Paid annual subscriptions are available for $48 in the U.S., $96 in Canada, payable in U.S. dollars in advance. Published for North American distribution. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Pitney Bowes International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Copyright© 2005 Worth International Media Group. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Recommend is not responsible for unsolicited photography, art or manuscripts. 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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2016

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Growth of Barcelo
Tour Talk: Are We There Yet?
The New All-Inclusives For Families
Onsite Review: Sandals Ochi Beach Resort
New Happenings at All-Inclusives
2016 Delta Air Lines Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide
Family-Friendly Sailings
Spring into Hawaii’s Family Fun
New Choices for Families in Florida
Onsite Review: Icy Strait Point, Hoonah
What’s New in Alaska
Adventure-Lands Ripe for Family Travel

Recommend March 2016