Globetrotting Mommy

All things family, fun or just plain fabulous!

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation …

By

Attention Frozen fans…Do you want to build a snowman on vacation AND sleep in an ice hotel?  Read on for my Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaway suggestions and don’t worry there are plenty of fireplaces, hot tubs and saunas (as well as one non-ice hotel) so you’ll stay toasty warm…

Frozen, Vacation, Anna and Elsa, Ice Hotel, Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Norway

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaways: Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Norway

1) Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta, Norway

This 21,530 sq. ft. structure is made entirely from snow and ice every year. Frozen hotel experiences include:

·         A new theme each season to offer guests a completely unique experience

·         Reindeer leather sleeping pads and ultra-warm sleeping bags to warm your toes

·         Outdoor hot tubs or sauna to help guests escape the cold temperatures

Det Hanseatiske Hotel, Norway, Frozen, Vacation, Anna and Elsa, Disney Frozen

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaways: Det Hanseatiske Hotel, Norway

2) Det Hanseatiske Hotel, Bergen, Norway

If staying in a hotel made of ice doesn’t give you the warm and fuzzies, head to Bergen, Norway instead to explore the real life inspiration for the Kingdom of Arendelle. Frozen hotel experiences include:

·         As a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Bryggen district, Det Hanseatiske Hotel allows visitors to step back in time

·         Located in a 16th-century building in the heart of Bergen, the hotel features 37 unique rooms with centuries-old timber walls, wood furniture and leather sofas

·         Unique restaurants including a fine dining experience in an intimate and stylish 17th-century atmosphere at Finnegaardsstuene

 

Frozen, Vacation, Anna and Elsa, Ice Hotel, Balea Ice Hotel, Romania

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaways: Balea Ice Hotel, Romania

3) Balea Ice Hotel, Cîrţişoara, Romania
Located in the Făgăraş Mountains of Romania and accessible only by cable car, Balea Ice Hotel provides travelers with a unique Frozen experience including:

·         Rooms and furniture made by local craftsmen completely from ice blocks

·         An ice restaurant, the first ecumenical ice church in Romania and an ice bar where drinks are served in glasses made of ice

·         A variety of experiences including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sleighing and other winter sports

·         For some family fun, the hotel also organizes fun games such as snowball fights, snowman building contests and ice bowling

Frozen, Vacation, Anna and Elsa, Ice Hotel, Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, Finland, Igloo

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaways: Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, Finland

4) Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, Saariselka, Finland

These thermal glass igloos keep guests warm amidst the freezing Arctic surroundings and provide a fun family experience fitting of Elsa and Anna:

·         Each igloo pod has its own luxury beds and saunas, relaxation rooms, terraces, and an open fireplace, all available in adjacent log cabins

·         The village also features the world’s largest smoke sauna

·         Many exciting activities including snowmobiling, dog sledding, Northern Lights bus tours, Artic Ocean trips, and husky and reindeer safaris

Frozen, Vacation, Anna and Elsa, Ice Hotel, Kirkenes Snowhotel, Norway

Top 5 Frozen Inspired Vacation Getaways: Kirkenes Snowhotel, Norway

5) Kirkenes Snowhotel, Kirkenes, Norway

Head to Norway and live in frozen luxury when you stay at the Kirkenes Snowhotel and enjoy an unforgettable Frozen experience:

·         The hotel features unique, snow-sculpted rooms, an ice bar, restaurant and sauna to provide guests with a comfortable experience while staying in the -4 degrees Celsius temperatures

·         From husky tours to Arctic King Crab fishing tours, cross country skiing to ice fishing, the Snowhotel offers fun activities for everyone

Whew, I’m freezing just writing that. Not a snow lover? If you would rather explore Norway by sea this summer, check out Disney cruises aboard the Disney Magic to the Norwegian Fjords. And, if you’d rather explore the area on land, check out Adventures by Disney’s Norway Family Vacation.

Bon voyage!

signature

Thanks to Bookings.com for sharing these hotel offerings. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part …

By

Last week I featured my holiday gift guide for all the kids and parents on your list and today I’m back with some fun family friendly gift ideas! Stay tuned for my picks for the best holiday toys.

FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY:

Holiday Gifts, Aunts, Cousins, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews, presents, jewelry, calendar, games, chocolate, blanket, old navy, globetrotting mommy

Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For jewelry loving aunts, these tres chic Jet Set Candy luggage tag necklaces are sure to please. Moms would love these too – hint, hint…

For the cousins, I think this colorful Novogratz-Designed “Family” Blanket from Old Navy is too cute. Pair it with some DVDs and movie snacks and you’ll be all set.

For grandparents who juggle a million appointments, what could be better than a personalized photo calendar?  I made this one from Shutterfly but there are so many great options out there. I love that you can add in family photos, birthdays and other special family dates.

For nieces and nephews – Kids love getting games for the holidays but imagine how many bonus points you’ll score for giving them a game with chocolate game pieces?  Yes, edible! Gamesformotion has taken some of the best family friendly games (Candy Land, Guess Who, Monopoly, Scrabble, and others) and added Belgium milk chocolate playing pieces! My daughter and I tried these first-hand and we both think these will be a win with the kids.

FAMILY FRIENDLY GIFTS:

Holiday Gifts, Family, Aunts, Cousins, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews, presents, chocolate, globetrotting mommy, flowers, Teleflora, Trader Joe's, Cookie, Ice Cream

Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For the whole family, I love the idea of a year-long subscription gift so the Jeni’s ice cream Pint Club is a great fit. The lucky recipient gets three pints of Jeni’s dreamy ice cream delivered four times a year. Sign me up!

For chocolate lovers – Small edible gifts are always a win around the holidays and Trader Joe’s has some really fun options. Their Chocolate Passport set and Dark Chocolate Covered Star Shortbread Cookies (and mini stars in mint) are my personal favorites.

Speaking of cookies, cookie decorating is always a fun family activity but if you’re too tired to bake, Walkers shortbread cookies come in festive shapes making them a tasty option. Grab some frosting in a tube and sprinkles and you’ve got a fun no-planning holiday playdate.

If you’re looking for a fun family gift that can be used year after year, I love the idea of sending flowers in a keepsake cookie jar. Teleflora’s Gingerbread Cookie Jar Bouquet is a festive arrangement in a hand-painted gingerbread-house cookie jar that also includes a recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Cookies.

Have a great weekend!

signature

Some samples received, however all opinions are my own.  Special thanks to Momtrends for hosting me at their holiday event.

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: …

By

The Love Boat was one of my favorite childhood shows so its no surprise I’m a fan of traveling aboard the high seas. Cruises are a great fit for family travel and my recent trip aboard the Norwegian Gem was a perfect choice for a multi-generational getaway I took with my mom and daughter. Below is my Norwegian Cruise Line review from our sailing to Florida and the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Gem. (Also check out part 2 of this story: Top 10 Cool Things for Families on Norwegian Cruise Lines)

Norwegian Cruise Line, Family Travel, Norwegian Gem, Family Cruise, Cruise with kids

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

Since our week-long cruise departed from New York City, getting onboard was a piece of cake. No long taxi rides to the airport, no overwhelming security lines and no waiting! Your luggage is magically transported to your cabin from the curb and after a quick check in, you and your family are on the ship and free to enjoy the facilities. I’ve taken cruises from Miami (with and without my daughter) and leaving from NYC was a nice stress-free way to start our vacation. The only disadvantage (which I didn’t realize until I started packing) is that the first and last couple of days will not be so warm outside during the winter months.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers Freestyle Cruising which means travelers can do as much or as little as they want.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Review, Family Travel, Norwegian Gem, Dining

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

For dining, there are no set dinner schedules so you can eat whenever, wherever.  You will never go hungry since the ship offers around-the-clock dining with a choice of buffets, a la carte dining options, specialty restaurants and room service. This is a huge plus for families since you can choose to dine together or separately and kids can eat as much or as little as they want. There are indoor and outdoor restaurants as well as a dedicated kid’s cafe in the Garden Cafe where my daughter begged to sit every day. The buffet options were varied and a great way to introduce my daughter to some new foods while the sit-down restaurants offered dedicated kids menus and waitstaff who doted on my daughter at every meal.

I’m always wary of cleanliness on cruises so I was happy to see several staff members cleaning the ship throughout the day.  In addition, every time you left or entered a restaurant, you were greeted by a “washy washy” hostess spraying hand sanitizer.  My daughter loved running up to them chanting a little “washy washy, happy happy, smiley smiley” greeting with them.  It was very cute and I felt good knowing germs were being kept at bay.

Our cabin had a nice balcony and pull out sofa bed and although the space is relatively small, I was happy to see that there was plenty of room for our clothes, toiletries and my daughter’s toys.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Review, Norwegian Gem, Family Travel, Family Cruise, Activities

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

Some families like to just relax while others like to stay busy and the Norwegian Gem offered plenty of options.  There are several sundecks (including a fabulous quiet zone), pools and kiddie pool area, hot tubs, a water slide, Pulse Fitness Center, casino and outdoor activities like shuffleboard, ping pong, chess, a running track and a sports court. If you’re looking for a little relaxation, try the gorgeous Mandara Spa and Salon, library, game room, internet cafe and several lounge areas. The ship offers a choice of family friendly and grown-up activities all day long and shows every evening so you will never run out of things to do. Stay tuned for a post on my favorite family friendly things aboard the Norwegian Gem.

One of the highlights of our trip was the complimentary Splash Academy kids program. Programing is based on children’s ages and my daughter loved her time in the 3-5 year old Turtles group.  She enjoyed arts and crafts projects, games, story telling, face painting and special parties.  At registration, kids get a schedule of the week’s activities so they can plan their vacation activities out. Be sure to ask the staff about special character visits which are not always on the schedule. If your kids are night owls, you’ll be excited to know that Splash Academy is open as late at 1:30 am!

I was really impressed with the Splash Academy staff and how well they got to know the kids over the week. My daughter can sometimes be shy with new people but as soon as the counselor started telling me that my daughter told her all about her “hilarious kindergarten boyfriend” I knew she felt very at home. It was nice to see the counselors interact with the kids at various family friendly activities throughout the week like cupcake decorating classes and balloon twisting lessons with Bubba and poolside parties with Milo.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Family Travel, Norwegian Gem, Cruising with Kids, Splash Academy, Nickelodeon

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

In addition to the Splash Academy activities, Norwegian Cruise Line has a partnership with Nickelodeon so there are several opportunities for kids to meet-and-greet their favorite cartoon characters (Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, etc.), participate in special Nickelodeon themed arts and crafts classes and attend character dance parties. On the last day at sea, there is a Hilario Big Top at Sea circus production and you will definitely enjoy watching your children perform in it. I was so impressed how much the kiddie performers had learned in one short week.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Family Travel, Cruise, Review, Family Cruise, Bahamas, Atlantis

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

The port days were great opportunities to get out and explore nearby beaches, shopping areas and attractions.  One of our favorite excursions was a day at Atlantis where we enjoyed visiting the resort’s famed aquarium and DIG exhibits. There are several organized excursions for families at each stop which can be planned in advance or onboard.

What I enjoyed most was the easiness of planning everything.  I’m usually the one in charge of making all the plans, figuring out the directions, and handling all the details which can be exhausting day after day. On the cruise, the ship was easy to navigate after a couple of days and all our decisions were spontaneous. This is such a plus when traveling with young children and grandparents who tire easily since going back to our cabin for a break was super easy.

Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL, Review, Norwegian Gem, Family Travel, Cruise, Kids

Norwegian Cruise Line Review: Family Travel Aboard the Norwegian Gem

Another thing that made this cruise so nice for us was the friendly staff members. Since many of the international staff go months without seeing their families, they were so happy to engage with my daughter and the other children on the ship.  From the captain who gave her a high-five at the welcome party, to the waitstaff who made her animals out of napkins and brought her extra cookies and our friendly cabin steward who crafted the cutest towel animals every night, the friendliness of the staff exceeded my expectations. Throughout the ship, each and every staff member seemed genuinely happy with their jobs and very proud of their work.  When you’re on a cruise, you don’t necessarily see all the staff members at work keeping you safe, well fed and entertained but at the farewell show when they come on stage to say goodbye, its quite impressive.

If you’re looking for a fun-filled getaway the whole family will enjoy, a cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line will not disappoint.

Have you taken a cruise with your family?

signature

Special thanks to The Moms and Norwegian Cruise Line for hosting us on the cruise. As always, all opinions are my own.

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

I AM ELEVEN: Sneak peek into …

By

When I was a new mom, I remember venturing out to the movies to see a documentary called Babies that chronicled the lives of four babies around the world.  I was amazed to see how different moms (and babies) had it in other countries (no wipes, no plush stroller buntings, oh my!) but the unifying theme was how the babies were loved and cared for in their communities.

I AM ELEVEN, Documentary, 11 year old, around the world, children, movie

I AM ELEVEN

I recently had the chance to see I AM ELEVEN, a new documentary that follows 11-year olds all over the world and it was a great sneak peek into the future for me. My daughter is almost five now and she’s so grown up in so many ways but clearly she’s still a little girl. Filmmaker Genevieve Bailey traveled to 15 countries to explore the world through the eyes of 11-year olds and the result is a fascinating look at the fleeting moment between childhood and adolescence aka middle childhood.

I loved seeing the children’s different environments and learning about their concerns and hopes for the future.  Some children were orphans while others were living pampered lives but the overall message was one of hope, curiosity and excitement for the future. Their dreams varied from becoming a ballet dancer, actress or secret agent to being a famous rapper or getting engaged in college, yet they shared a love of singing and dancing.

The film is currently playing in New York City with plans to open in California this month followed by Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and other markets.  I think its a fascinating must-see for children, parents and grandparents so be sure to check it out in a theater near you.

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Recent Posts

Meta

Recent Comments