Winter family vacations: Air Transat's tips for a perfect getaway under the sun

MONTREAL, Feb. 4, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - As many Canadians get set for their winter family vacation, Air Transat, named the 2018 World's Best Leisure Airline, has some tips to offer for a perfect family getaway under the sun.

Getting kids ready for an exciting holiday
Parents should build anticipation by making an official calendar and counting down to takeoff, or by adding a vacation theme to the family menu. When going to a country where people speak a different language, learning a few simple words and expressions is one way of showing respect and gratitude for local hospitality.

It's also a good idea to get kids involved in travel preparations, e.g., getting them to make a list of items they want to bring or have them pack their own bag. It can extend the buildup to the vacation. As for the little ones, they'll be proud of having prepared their own backpack for the plane.

Finding the right holiday fit for the family
Finding a hotel that meets the family's needs is a must. It's a cinch with Air Transat's family vacation planner, available on its website and in its brochure. It features the top hotel picks for kids and teens by age, big families, solo parents and people who love water parks. Families can learn all about the 21 hotels in the Family Collection and their exclusive perks, including kids' clubs with extended hours, free stays and meals for kids, free WiFi and a free excursion for kids.

Air Transat's benefits for families
Air Transat makes travel easier for families, with direct flights, attentive staff, exclusive check-in counters and priority boarding for families with young children. There's also the Kids Club, which welcomes mini-globetrotters aged 2 to 11 for free and gives them a membership kit, on-board surprises, and more. The airline even has a certain number of planes adorned with the Kids Club smile and googlie eyes.

With Air Transat, families automatically get free standard seat selection. This way, children 12 and under and their parents (or legal guardians) sit together on board. Also exciting is the new Kids Meal: mac and cheese served with apple sauce, cookies and juice. It's free on transatlantic flights and $6.99 on South flights.

Getting into the spirit
People looking for tips and ideas for their next family vacation can read about Caroline, a public relations advisor at Air Transat with a passion for travel who recently went to the Dominican Republic with her family. Caroline offers some great ideas for kid-friendly activities near the Bavaro hotel area. These include the Foodie's Truck Bavaro for some tasty street food in a festive setting, the magnificent Macao public beach, the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and an easy hike to lagoons ideal for a family swim.

To find out more about other travellers' personal experiences, readers are invited to check out Experience Transat, a blog by and for globetrotters eager to explore new places.

About Air Transat
Air Transat is Canada's number one holiday airline. It flies to some 25 destinations in the Americas and Europe, offers domestic and feeder flights within Canada, and carries nearly 5 million passengers every year. Based in Montreal, the company employs 3,000 people. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., a leading integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday travel and offering vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel. Transat was awarded Travelife certification in 2018 in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development.

Recent distinctions and awards (2017-2018)

  • Named World's Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards
  • Voted Best Leisure/Charter Airline at the Agents' Choice Awards presented by Baxter Travel Media
  • Voted Best Airline at the Trophées Uni-Vers awards organized by the Association des Agents de Voyages du Québec

 

SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.

Caroline Gagnon, Public Relations and Marketing Advisor, Transat Tours Canada, 514-987-1616, ext. 7020