5 things we would get from Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards list

5 things we would get from Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards list

Updated: 2:54 PM CDT Aug 21, 2024

Travel agents were *** thing of the past. Think again, they say they can save you hundreds on every trip, Rosson reports. Now putting them to the test, I’m going to book several trips and this travel agent Shelby Fornet is going to book the same exact trips who will get the better deal. Ok. I’m on the Delta website. I’m gonna book *** set of flights. Let’s go from West Palm Beach to Boston leaving on Friday, September 27th. We’ll take that 7:40 p.m. flight and we’ll return on September 30th on that 310 pm flight, two passengers and it comes up as $393.90. This is if I book it direct, just sitting in my kitchen as I am uh straight through Delta. Now, let’s see what the travel agent. So what were you able to get on that flight? So, on flights, I got exactly the same as you got. So you’re saying on flights going with *** travel agent or booking it ourselves, it’s basically the same. It is unless you want to do groups, *** group of 10 or more generally, we can get you *** really good deal. Ok. What about *** cruise? Ok. I’m on the north, no region cruise line website. I’m gonna book this 10 day cruise across the Greek Isles. Looks amazing. It’s $1393 per person. This is, if I go direct on the Norwegian website, 1393 *** person, travel agent. Can you do better? Yes. On that cruise we got the same rate, but we could have also gotten you up to $500 in onboard credit. So, same price, but I’m getting 500 bucks for what drinks, anything you want, drinks, shore excursions, anything on board that you’d like to buy 500 buckaroos. But the biggest savings we found hotels. Ok. I’m on the website for the Fountain Blue Hotel in Miami Beach. Really nice. Checking in on Monday, August 26th, checking out on Thursday, August 29th. We’ll book this, uh, Bayview room with king bed, this deluxe bayview room for those three nights. The price is $1190.16. If I book myself. What were you able to get? So for Fountain Blue, we were able to $650 650 dollars, same room, same room, same dates, same date, same hotel, same hotel and it’s 500 something dollars cheaper. Yeah, and that’s the savings going through me. Right. How are you getting paid? So the way we get paid is really by the cruise line or the resort or the hotel. So they basically pay us to give you the same deal as what you would get or better in order to hopefully get more marketing out of us. I’m not paying you. They are. That’s right. But I’m reaping the benefit. That’s correct. You know what you also get, which people don’t think about *** lot. But when things go wrong you can call me. I’m *** real human. You don’t have to dial the number two and get like *** robot. Like I’m better than *** bott now. Ultimately, every travel agent is different. Do your research? Ask about their fees and costs upfront? I also want you to make sure that your travel agent is certified. Look for this logo on the website. *** ST ***, it’s the American Society of Travel Advisors. It’s *** good sign. They know their stuff, more tips in my Rawson reports newsletter, plus exclusive bonus content and deals. You can only get there. It comes straight to your inbox and the best part it’s free. Nice and easy sign up right now. No reason not to Rawson reports.com. Back to you.

Good Housekeeping has unveiled its Family Travel Awards for 2024, offering insights for families planning their next adventure. The list, curated by a panel of experts, highlights the best travel destinations, accommodations and products designed to make family vacations smoother, more enjoyable and filled with unforgettable memories. Related video above — Rossen Reports: Travel agents vs. DIY booking; who saves more?From innovative travel gear that simplifies packing to resorts that go above and beyond in catering to young children, the list serves as a guide for parents looking to maximize their travel experiences. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long-haul journey, these top picks promise to enhance your trip:Here are five standout recommendations from Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards that will undoubtedly make your next family vacation the best one yet.Samsonite Elevation Plus Hardside Carry-On Spinner: Bring stylish convenience on your next journey with this sleek carry-on from Samsonite. Keep your most important essentials within reach with the innovative QuickEntry pocket, featuring air-mesh sleeves that safely hold up to a 15-inch standard-size laptop and a 13-inch tablet. The case’s interior offers sturdy packing capabilities, keeping your belongings organized and secure while on the go. Click here to shop this suitcase.Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Solid Hard-Sided Spinner Luggage: Child-friendly in both style and size, this Pottery Barn Kids hardside luggage is made of lightweight ABS plastic and has an adjustable handle to grow alongside kids. It’s ideal for children ages 7 and up and many testers said it was useful and their kids enjoyed using it. Head to the Pottery Barn Kids online store today to learn more.Ecoflow Power Station: This is an excellent option for families that love camping. Plug in lamps, laptops, cameras and more with this portable power station from EcoFlow. It boasts a claimed charging time of just one hour and can even be recharged on the go via solar panels, USB-C, in-car charging or AC outlets. A convenient carrying handle makes it easy to transport, and a variety of ports and plugs let everyone charge their devices. Check it out on Amazon today.Calpak Compression Packing Cubes: These cubes are the perfect solution for over-packers — especially those who want to fit several days’ worth of clothing into a carry-on. Calpak’s cubes expand for packing, then compress to take up less space in your bag. Click here to learn more on the Calpak website.Radio Flyer Trav-ler Stroll ‘N Wagon: Traveling to a theme park, big city, national park or any destination that requires a lot of walking? This is the perfect solution for kiddos who can’t handle heavy walking just yet. Not only does Radio Flyer’s wagon fold compactly for families on the go, but it also has plenty of storage to transport all the things kids need. Add it to your Amazon cart now!For more coverage of our fall travel favorites, click here.

Good Housekeeping has unveiled its Family Travel Awards for 2024, offering insights for families planning their next adventure. The list, curated by a panel of experts, highlights the best travel destinations, accommodations and products designed to make family vacations smoother, more enjoyable and filled with unforgettable memories.

Related video above — Rossen Reports: Travel agents vs. DIY booking; who saves more?

From innovative travel gear that simplifies packing to resorts that go above and beyond in catering to young children, the list serves as a guide for parents looking to maximize their travel experiences.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long-haul journey, these top picks promise to enhance your trip:

Here are five standout recommendations from Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards that will undoubtedly make your next family vacation the best one yet.

Elevation Plus Hardside Carry-On Spinner

Samsonite Elevation Plus Hardside Carry-On Spinner: Bring stylish convenience on your next journey with this sleek carry-on from Samsonite. Keep your most important essentials within reach with the innovative QuickEntry pocket, featuring air-mesh sleeves that safely hold up to a 15-inch standard-size laptop and a 13-inch tablet. The case’s interior offers sturdy packing capabilities, keeping your belongings organized and secure while on the go. Click here to shop this suitcase.

Mackenzie Solid Hard-Sided Spinner Luggage

Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Solid Hard-Sided Spinner Luggage: Child-friendly in both style and size, this Pottery Barn Kids hardside luggage is made of lightweight ABS plastic and has an adjustable handle to grow alongside kids. It’s ideal for children ages 7 and up and many testers said it was useful and their kids enjoyed using it. Head to the Pottery Barn Kids online store today to learn more.

Ecoflow Power Station: This is an excellent option for families that love camping. Plug in lamps, laptops, cameras and more with this portable power station from EcoFlow. It boasts a claimed charging time of just one hour and can even be recharged on the go via solar panels, USB-C, in-car charging or AC outlets. A convenient carrying handle makes it easy to transport, and a variety of ports and plugs let everyone charge their devices. Check it out on Amazon today.

CALPAK Compression Packing Cubes

Calpak Compression Packing Cubes: These cubes are the perfect solution for over-packers — especially those who want to fit several days’ worth of clothing into a carry-on. Calpak’s cubes expand for packing, then compress to take up less space in your bag. Click here to learn more on the Calpak website.

Radio Flyer Trav-ler Stroll ‘N Wagon

Radio Flyer Trav-ler Stroll ‘N Wagon: Traveling to a theme park, big city, national park or any destination that requires a lot of walking? This is the perfect solution for kiddos who can’t handle heavy walking just yet. Not only does Radio Flyer’s wagon fold compactly for families on the go, but it also has plenty of storage to transport all the things kids need. Add it to your Amazon cart now!

For more coverage of our fall travel favorites, click here.