Ku-zu-zam-po-la!

Happy New Year from Sam & Rachael!

Small World Travel works with families of all shapes and sizes on a colorful myriad of itineraries around the world. Some of our favorite and most intensive work is, however, reserved for our Around the World Adventures. These trips usually span the course of a year and involve between 20 – 30 different destinations, and typically all seven continents. Each tailor-made piece of these sometimes 150+ page itineraries is created with the purpose of education: our mission is to make your children citizens of the world via new experiences and enriched cultural environments, to expose them to shaping history and tradition, and to create family experiences that will be carried with them for a lifetime.

As 2010 draws to a close, we at SWT are honored to reflect upon the role we have played in the experiences of our clients and their families. Whether uplifting successes or mind-bending challenges, we value every step of every trip as lessons in our own personal education, and for that we extend our thanks and gratitude, and look forward to each Family Adventure to come.

But enough about us!

One of our favorite global destinations is a small, culturally supercharged oasis of timeless peace and joy. Nestled between India, Nepal, and Tibet, Bhutan lays claim to the British author James Hilton’s title of “Shangri-La,” synonymous with a mythical Himalayan utopia, and exists under the mandate of Gross National Happiness. Because Bhutan only opened its doors to tourism in the last 30 years, it has remained relatively isolated from the world, resulting in the preservation of their rich Buddhist heritage. Their exclusivity is accidental, their allure and mystery completely authentic.

The government of Bhutan has strictly regulated the flow of tourism with a policy of “high value and low volume.” A local guide accompanies every visitor in Bhutan, ensuring an experience charged with a wealth of knowledge and adventure. While you may see no large crowds, the Bhutanese tourism industry has grown and now offers five-star accommodations and trekking excursions, not to mention a plethora of touring options that will occupy every minute of your stay, should you choose.

Keys to Bhutan, in particular, has emerged as a leader in Bhutan’s blossoming tourism industry. Offering a variety of adventures, from photography lessons to tented trekking excursions of varying length and difficulty to fishing and bird watching, Keys to Bhutan simultaneously guides you into the magical heart of Bhutanese history and tradition while also providing comfortable, luxurious lodging, cuisine, and amenities. No wish goes unanswered in The Land of the Thunder Dragon, and it is there that your family will find a level of enriching immersion, education, and exclusivity that any other country would be hard-pressed to match.

The W Hotel - Austin, TX

Just a few days before Christmas, I spent my birthday at the new W Hotel in Austin, Texas. Jenny McGlothern, The W’s business travel sales manager, gave me a tour the day prior. Jenny is absolutely wonderful and made the whole experience a blast! The W has been invited to become a Virtuoso property and they are working hard to meet all the requirements, as well as achieve their LEED certification.

Much time and care has been invested in the architecture and aesthetic of the hotel, balancing exposed concrete with red floral patterns. Very contemporary chic, but still with a nice Austin flair (including local Austin photography in every room) that, as a native Austinite, even I appreciate. The staff is attentive, friendly, and eager to satisfy all your unique needs and desires. Valet parking is most convenient; otherwise there is on-street and next-door parking garages for a fee.

Photo is of a typical Deluxe Room, which I viewed during the tour.

Stepping into your room is a breath of fresh air as the vibrant red décor gives way to softer blues. I was upgraded to a Corner Suite with a view of the river and received a complimentary birthday cake (candle and all!) and mineral water. The suite has a plush separate sitting area, closed off king bedroom, and large bathroom with standing shower and separate Jacuzzi tub complete with large, sweeping views of the Austin skyline.

The living room and bedroom were equipped with large LCD TV’s. Alarm clock doubled as a stereo with iPod/iPhone docking/playing capabilities. Very clean and modern amenities. The beds are extremely comfortable. When booking, guests have the option of a city or countryside view – a benefit of The W’s location just north of the river, but still downtown. Suites are available with one king or two queens, and connecting rooms are available.

All rooms at The W come with “The Sanctuary,” or a multi-purpose charging station. No more panicking about forgetting your phone charger!

Photo courtesy of Blue Lounge.

Another fun bonus is the “Munchie Box,” which includes a variety of yummy snacks and quirky toiletries featuring local brands. Austin has a large homegrown culture and it is obvious that The W – Austin has taken this to heart. If none of the in-room treats hit the mark, the “Whatever/Whenever” service offers 24/7 concierge service that accommodates even the pickiest eaters. I am a vegetarian and the room service menu is not very vegetarian-friendly, but The W talent easily delivered a custom order well after normal dining hours, and for a reasonable cost.

In my opinion, The W’s biggest highlight is their Living Room lounge area. Several connecting rooms make up separate but unique environments, which sit adjacent to their signature restauraunt. Whether you’re looking for a calm, relaxing drink (I recommend the Jalapeño Lemonade and Peppercorn Martini – yum!) or a charged, energetic vibe, The W provides.

Overall, The W – Austin is a great downtown experience. For those seeking a nightlife experience, or interested in a hotel with modern luxury, this is definitely the spot. W also hosts their signature Sweat fitness center, connected to the AWAY Spa and WET infinity pool (both opening in the spring).

The W is within walking distance to Austin’s major attractions like the Congress Avenue Bridge, 6^th Street, all major restaurants and dining, and just a short car ride to Zilker Park and Austin City Limits.

Speaking of ACL, The W is also an official venue for Austin City Limits and is located next door to the new ACL headquarters. A top-secret theatre is under construction on the 37^th floor and, when completed, will make The W the absolute numero uno destination for all music-goers.

Photo courtesy of KUT Austin.

Hello, Cappadocia!

A point made by last week’s deluge into some of the world’s wackiest dining experiences is to keep an open mind about travel locale. Especially for the seasoned traveling family, sometimes it’s not all about the location, but the destination – there is a difference! Choosing particularly unique accommodations can be great to write home about, and make family memories that nobody will ever forget.

Another note about some of these quirky establishments: more often then not, the more unusual the hotel, the less expensive. Being off the beaten path lends itself to inadvertent exclusivity, and that often means a tougher time competing with more conventional establishments. By opting for one of these properties, not only are you ensuring yourself some great stories, but are supporting local business.

Here are some of our top picks!

- If you thought IceBar was cool, check out ICEHOTEL. Constructed anew every winter season, this destination in the Swedish village of Lapland affords its patrons accommodations hand-carved completely out of ice and snow, early morning wake up service, and stellar views of the Northern lights. Enjoy the artfully lit and crafted sculpture, new every year, before snuggling up in a subzero sleeping bag for two. A little too frosty for your taste? Don’t worry – ICEHOTEL has heated, non-ice rooms open year-round.

- Take a trip to the Australian rainforest for a high-rise getaway at The Canopy Treehouses. Situated on 100 acres of ancient rainforest located on the Cairns Highlands, The Canopy Treehouses offers a secluded family eco-adventure with a luxurious twist. Each Treehouse is furnished with furniture crafted from local rainforest timbers, a gas barbeque, and hammock on the spacious balcony. Enjoy a soak in the Jacuzzi tub or cook dinner for the kids in the full gourmet kitchen, all while enjoying a bird’s eye view.

- How about something a little artsy? For the launch of the new Volkswagen Fox 21 International, a group of 21 artists transformed Hotel FOX in Copenhagen into a collection of flowers, fairytales, monsters, dreams, secrets, and more. Each room at Hotel FOX displays a unique environment of art and décor, ranging from whimsical forest spirits to the suits of playing cards.

- For an exceptionally special experience in a less-known place, consider the Anatolian Houses of Cappadocia, Turkey. Cappadocia itself is a magical place – one of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage sites according to Unesco – hosting a plethora of 2,000-year-old homes and churches carved out of the volcanic lava rock, basalt, ignimbrite and ash, all full of rich history. The Anatolian House has utilized these historical structures to create a rich, luxurious environment that resembles something between a cave and a castle. For a total immersion experience on Planet Cappadocia, this is the destination.

Expedition Dining!

One of my favorite experiences abroad comes at dinnertime. New ingredients, flavors, and customs are the perfect finale for a day of family adventuring – and let’s face it, at the end of the day, who doesn’t crave a hot meal?

Seeking out the perfect eatery can be both challenging and exciting, depending on how adventurous your palette. A city’s best food can be hard to call between refined, gourmet dining and that little hole-in-the-wall that only the locals know about. Either way, culinary exploration is a quintessential experience when it comes to knowing the heart of any culture.

For some restaurants, however, the quality of the food is only the tip of the iceberg. Have you considered what it would be like to eat under water, or up in a tree? These folks have!

- Ithaa Undersea Restaurant offers a menu of fine Maldivian-Western fusion cuisine and panoramic views of the ocean – literally. The first-ever underwater restaurant, Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, is located in the Maldives 16 feet below the surface of the ocean. Boasting 180° views of life beneath the surface, this is one meal you will surely never forget.

- For the warm-blooded, jet over to Finland’s Snow Village, and specifically to their IceBar. Constructed completely from natural snow and ice (and accented with ambient colored lights and candles), IceBar offers frosty cocktails in ice glasses as well as an á la carte menu sporting Lappish delicacies. Don’t wait too long, though – Snow Village is open December through April of each year before the warmer months melt the ice!

- Sometimes it’s hard to get away from the hustle and bustle of the day, especially in popular Thailand. Fortunately the Soneva Kiri by Six Senses hotel has found a solution to this problem with The Dining Pod. Climb into your tree pod – rigid frames covered with woven rattan fabric – and be lifted nearly 20 feet into the air where you shall be served fine Thai cuisine via flying waiter (zip lines). Talk about a bird’s-eye view!

- If heights aren’t your thing, go underground instead! Playa del Carmen’s Alux Restaurant & Lounge offers beautiful, contemporary décor and Mediterranean specialties set against the stalactites, stalagmites, and rock formations of a natural cave. Said to be home of mystical beings and guardians, the “aluxes,” Alux Restaurant & Lounge may enchant more than just your taste buds.

An Arctic Christmas

While some people like to avoid the cooler months at all costs (like me!), others embrace wintertime as a welcome relief from the summer heat. There are certainly plenty of picturesque locales around the globe to choose from, each with their own sparkling version of a holiday wonderland. However, for families looking for something a little different this year, considering checking off your seventh continent!

Antarctica is a totally unique experience in every way. Uninhabited save for a few thousand semi-permanent researchers and scientists, the white desert plays host to a variety of wildlife including penguins, whales, seals, and more. It is the coldest and driest continent on Earth, accessible by a typically rough sea crossing aboard ice-strengthened vessels and, recently, via air. During Antarctica’s summer months there are 24 hours of sunshine, and, conversely, 24 hours of darkness during winter. It is a land of extremes, but is also breathtakingly gorgeous, and invaluable to understanding the Earth’s ecological balance and history.

Don’t be dissuaded by our frosty continent’s challenging environment, however – there are several options for a comfortable, luxurious experience while still embracing all the adventure Antarctica has to offer:

- For a more relaxed pace, Abercrombie & Kent offers five-star cruising out of Buenos Aires aboard the Le Boreal. Activities aboard the continent are always tailor-made to the unique opportunities of the day, as well as guests’ needs and desires. Spend your cruising days getting pampered in the on-board spa, or take a swim in the heated outdoor pool. Upon arrival at Antarctica, embark on zodiac trips around giant blue icebergs, visit research stations, and snap photographs with fuzzy seal pups. At the end of each day, return to your warm cabin and an al fresco meal.

- Feeling a bit more adventurous? By far one of the most established organizations to explore the Antarctic with is Lindblad Expeditions. Aboard the National Geographic Explorer, a state-of-the-art marine expedition vessel, enjoy more modest accommodations in exchange for staff scientists and experts, National Geographic photographers and videographers, and on-board exploration technology. From the moment of embarkation, you become a part of the exciting investigation of Antarctica and its waters. Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to kayak through berg fields, identify penguins, and trek with famous explorers and researchers such as Peter Hillary, John Evans, James Balog, Roz Zavage, or Rick Hauck.

For an economical yet equally unique experience, consider the opposite end of the Earth: the North Pole. While Antarctica is far-removed and rare, the Canadian Arctic is a vastly underappreciated land of equal awe and beauty... and far less tourism.

- Arrive at your arctic safari camp via plane—luxury heated tents on the ice—and greet your Inuit guide. Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions offers small groups (up to 12 people) the opportunity to explore any and every possible activity in land-based excursions. Learn to build an authentic Igloo, observe curious polar bears and pods of narwhal and beluga whales, or dine in view of the northern lights. Have you ever wondered what the Arctic looks like from above? Find out during a hot air balloon tour over the glaciers. If you can imagine it, Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions can make it happen!

The Way of the Onsen

For most of us, colder weather has set in, and it seems like an awfully long time until spring! What better way to beat the chill than a holiday escape that not only warms your bones, but improves your health as well?

Beneath the ground, heat from the Earth’s core comes into contact with ground water. The scalding water works its way upward, warming rocks and soil until collecting in the pores of the earth, forming geothermal hot springs. Hot springs have been praised for their comfort and health benefits – mostly due to their high mineral content – for hundreds of years and have received millions of visitors around the globe since ancient history.

What are the benefits?

- opening peripheral blood vessels which helps to improve circulation to the body’s extremities

- eliminating toxins while increasing metabolism and absorption of essential minerals

- steam bathing allows for a comprehensive cleansing of the skin and sweat glands

- increased body temperature helps kill harmful germs and viruses

- soaking in warm water has proven to provide relief from arthritis, spine disease, disk problems, stenosis, circulation problems, asthma, and chronic bronchitis

Choosing your hot springs destination can be a daunting task – there are hundreds scattered around the globe, each with their unique style and atmosphere. For now, we’ve picked a few of our favorites:

- For those dreaming of a European Christmas, check out the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest. Once upon a time, Budapest was called Ak-ink, or “Abundant Water,” and has been celebrated for its curative baths since Roman times. The Szechenyi Baths are an enormous, sprawling neo-Baroque complex located in the middle of City Park, housing 12 indoor and outdoor pools of different size, temperature, and mineral content, as well saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and a spa. Locals and tourists alike can be found lazing about in the steamy waters year-round, swimming, playing, and chatting.

- Heart set on a tropical destination? Cruise on over to Hot Water Beach in Waikato, New Zealand – and bring a shovel! Located just south of the North Island’s Mercury Bay, for two hours before and after low tide, your hand-dug pool will fill with spring-fed water laced with calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, and fluorine at a scalding 147°F (use regular ocean water to lower the temperature). Take some time to relax between trips to the warm summer waters of the Pacific Ocean – just a stone’s throw away – or watch the sun set from your private, sandy tub. At the end of the evening, the incoming tides wash the sand back into the holes, erasing the evidence.

- If the family would like to play it a little closer to home this year, nothing beats the remote beauty of Dunton Hot Springs in Dolores, Colorado. Originally used an oasis by weary Ute Indians, and then later by American miners, Dunton offers the perfect blend of a luxurious, all-inclusive resort experience with an intimate commune with nature under an open sky. Dunton is a perfectly restored ghost town nestled into the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies that blends five-star accommodations with the natural architecture, saloon and all. Spend your time soaking for hours on end, or partake in numerous winter activities that include helicopter skiing, snowshoeing, fly-fishing, and more.

- For families with younger children or large groups, travel south to The Springs Resort & Spa in Costa Rica. The Springs is an oasis straight out of Jurassic Park, situated outside of La Fortuna on a shared ridge with the Arenal Volcano. The volcanic activity provides the heat for the natural mineral springs, which The Springs pipes into several pools and natural waterfalls throughout the resort. Due to a naturally high chlorinate content, these springs have the benefit of being organically sanitized. In addition to a whole slew of tropical activities and adventures, The Springs also operates a preserve for Costa Rican wildlife, including pumas, ocelots, monkeys, and birds – the nature-lover’s dream come true!

- Last, but not least, for all those in search of a truly authentic hot springs experience from the masters, your destination is Gora Kadan outside Tokyo in the Hakone National Park. While hot springs exist around the world, Japan is a particular hot spot for “onsen.” A Western-friendly traditional ryokan, Gora Kadan offers complete cultural immersion in an unparalleled atmosphere of luxury and relaxation. Rice-paper doors, tatami mat floors, authentic wood architecture, and open-air tubs are but a few details that comprises this gem. If your family is in the mood for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Gora Kadan will not disappoint.