Recommend September 2011 - (Page 65)

Opposite page and below: Thomson Family Adventures’ tours offer unforgettable highlights such as a visit to Chengdu’s panda sanctuary and an 18-course dumpling dinner in Xian. “...I have seen my own kids eagerly looking forward to cultural things they would never consider while at home. They were fascinated by a kung-fu show that combines martial arts, dance and acrobatics in Beijing; by a Sichuan opera in Chengdu, where actors transform their faces in microseconds;...the shadow puppets, fire breathers, and comedy skits; and a music and dance performance in Xian....” Kerina Rowley, Asia Destination Specialist, Journeys International book it Travel agents booking family-oriented tours to China will find the list of tour operators aiming their sights to that highly profitable aspect of the industry growing by leaps and bounds. Next summer, Thomson Family Adventures, for instance, will feature three departures for families. The tour stops at some of China’s most iconic spots like the Great Wall, Guilin and, of course, includes a Giant Panda Tour to Chengdu’s panda sanctuary. According to Pamela Bracken, marketing director, the adventure starts during the early stages of planning the trip when young Western clients are introduced to a Chinese pen pal in order to facilitate understanding and local mores. The pen pals have the opportunity to meet face-to-face during the tour. The trip, she explains, is essentially a wide variety of activities that is sure make a lifelong impression. Bracken adds that the tours “offer a special opportunity to travel as a family, while experiencing a nation bursting with future possibilities and at the same time discovering its fascinating, millennia-old history.” september 2011 65 Eduardo Canabarro It has a Cinderella castle where a Snow White lookalike marches around with seven munchkins, not dwarves, in tow; a Minnie Mouse clone is “a cat with big ears” and fun rides and fake Disney characters make any time spent in the park more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Beijing also offers a large number of other attractions specifically designed with youngsters in mind. Two of the megacity’s most vibrant family destinations include an aquarium regarded as one of the finest in Asia, and LeCool, a gigantic indoor skating rink that draws increasing record numbers of visitors every year. The most interesting and unique setting that never fails to captivate, however, is the Beijing World Park, a vast theme park that presents a “chance to see the world without leaving Beijing.” More than two million visitors pass through its gates every year, a testimony of its wide appeal. Within it, one finds miniature replicas of practically every significant world landmark. The pyramids at Giza, Moscow’s Red Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are all there. The park astounds by the attention to detail paid while replicating these landmarks. More than a quarter million white marble tiles were used to build the pyramids, while Red Square used a numbing five million thumb-sized red tiles. She says that during the China trips “learning comes naturally, whether it’s practicing tai chi, ascending the Great Wall, learning to make dumplings in a traditional Chinese home, or admiring the alluring giant pandas. The groups are led by local guides who reveal the subtleties of authentic Chinese culture, adhering to a well-balanced itinerary designed for active, inquisitive families who love to explore and learn.” In addition, the tours include riding a bamboo raft along Yangshou’s gasp-inducing scenery, stops in monasteries, taking in acrobatic shows, studying the Xian’s terracotta warriors up close and even a climb to the world’s tallest observation deck to admire the dazzling panorama of Shanghai. And once the kids are ready to hit the sack after an adventure-filled day, accommodations include Western-style hotels such as Hilton Hotel Shanghai, Crowne Plaza Beijing, Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel, Sofitel Xian and Green Lotus Yangshuo Hotel. ÍÍ

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011