Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Slime Time! Orlando's Nick Hotel Delivers Family Fun

There we are...ready for our close-up! The boys and I are anticipating the big SLIME at the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, where we spent two days filming a VISITFLORIDA video that will air within a few months.

It took hundreds of whines, pleas and commercial-watching to get me to the Nick Hotel. The boys, like most American children, have always wanted to get "slimed." So, we took the camera crew along for the wild ride. I figured I could not call myself a family travel expert without visiting the most family-friendly resorts. And, the Nick Hotel ranks at the top of that list!

The property is an intense paradise of kid-friendly amenities. From the minute I realized that they pump sweet smelling candy-like odors into the colorful lobby, I knew the kids would be in heaven.

Then, came the room. It was totally outfitted with bunkbeds and PlayStation 3. Ahhhh. Happy Kids Make Happy Parents! That's my motto! We were definitely HAPPY! The Arcade was my kids' favorite spot.

The cool thing about the arcade was that you used a special card to keep track of points for prizes, so there were no tickets floating around the bottom of pockets or purses. And, the prizes were giant, so they served as my kids' souvenirs from the hotel. Brandon got a giant blow-up SpongeBob Squarepants bat!

Everything from the waterslides to the pie-in-the-face will be documented on the VisitFlorida.com site as soon as the piece is edited. I can't wait to see us POST-slime. (The picture above is pre-slime, of course)

.....Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes coverage of my travels with VisitFlorida.com. And, don't forget to go to http://www.FamilyTravelPlanet.com for more help with family travel. I will fill you in on what to bring and give you inside tips to make travel with kids easier!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Up Next: Orlando with kids


We are going to be headed to Orlando to the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn next week. We are filming there and I'll be sure to have the boys wear their IDONME bracelets, which you can purchase here on this site or on my Family Travel website, www.FamilyTravelPlanet.com. I forgot to mention another safety measure: Always carry a picture of your kids with you in case you do get separated, you can show people who you are looking for. Safety with kids is never an easy subject, but it is so important to think ahead. Be prepared for the unexpected when traveling with kids.

I am becoming quite the "authority" on family travel. I am receiving so many letters to my VISITFLORIDA.com inbox asking me where to go and what to do with their children. Today, I even got a queries from Norway and Australia. I'm the international mom of mystery! It's nuts. Not only am I planning my travels for my own family, but I'm like a travel agent to the world with my new job as the Family Travel expert.

As I teach them, I am learning myself and looking forward to so many more experiences. My kids don't even realize how lucky they are. I hope someday they appreciate it.

I will report back on our trip to Orlando. We'll stay at the Nick Hotel and catch a dinner, comedy and magic show at Wonderworks. I love checking out some off-the-beaten path locations and attractions. We'll also hit Walt Disney World.

Happy Travels!

Jennifer Michaels, Family Travel Expert