Monday, November 12, 2018

Expert advice on family holidays

Image: Erik Isakson

Experts at booking bespoke travel experiences for families, The Goldman Group outlines bucket list destinations for their own families in 2019

With so much insight and experience organising other people’s holidays for over 30 years, how do the Goldmans choose where to travel for their next family holiday?


Australian travellers are always keen to experience ‘the next big thing’ when it comes to travel, so what are the new trends for 2019? Multi-generational travel is increasingly popular, with extended families seeking immersive cultural experiences, exploring beyond the beaten path, and developing authentic connections with locals in far-flung places across the globe.

According to Anthony Goldman, joint managing director of The Goldman Group, new destinations which will top the charts for families in 2019 include Iceland; Galapagos Islands; Cuba; Antarctica; Botswana; and Mongolia.

From sleeping in a traditional yurt, catching the Northern Lights, or spotting a blue-footed booby, here’s a taste of where the Goldmans would love to go in 2019.



David Goldman, Joint Managing Director, The Goldman Group

Iceland

Visiting Snæfellsjökull National Park, taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon and seeing the Northern Lights has long been on my bucket list, and I plan to tick it off in 2019. Iceland seems like a nature lovers paradise, from roadside waterfalls, to hidden hot springs, to camping by glaciers it has all the components of a healthy family trip where natural wonders, history and culture can be explored.

Where I would stay: Hotel Rangá offers fantastic views of the Northern Lights, as well as renowned continental suites, decorated and themed after the seven continents.



Anthony Goldman, Joint Managing Director, The Goldman Group

Mongolia

The Orkhon Valley is saturated with history, and home to many ancient states, making it a fantastic excursion for the entire family to enjoy. Recognised by UNESCO World Heritage as a cultural landscape, you can discover old Turkish Orkhon inscriptions from the 8th century, the Tuvkhun Monestry and the Erdene Zuu Monastery.

Where I would stay: Mongolian gers, or yurts, are the traditional nomadic style of housing in the country, allowing you to get closely acquainted with the way of life and culture of the Mongolian people. Manly locals still live in gers – even on the edges of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city. You can find sprawling ger districts full of families who want to live in the classic style while still enjoying all the conveniences of life in the capital city.



Tom Goldman, Founder, The Goldman Group

Galapagos Islands

Arguably the most famous wildlife spotting destinations in the world, the Galapagos Islands is home to the most unique wildlife in the world - including 30,000 giant tortoises. From the opportunity to spy blue footed boobies, to a lagoon filled with pink flamingos, to snorkelling the reefs off San Cristobal Island - visiting the Galapagos Islands is a family adventure like no other.

Where I would stay: Red Mangrove Hotel, an eco-luxury oceanfront hotel located in the heart of Galapagos on Santa Cruz Island in the town of Puerto Ayora. You can share the deck with sea lions, marine iguanas and numerous species of seabirds and even Darwin’s finches.

As far as other destinations on the family’s buckets lists, Cuba, Antarctica and Botswana are the pick of the bunch.

“Destination diversity, and the creation of bespoke itineraries is a specialty of The Goldman Group. We receive requests for customers to explore far flung places around the globe on a daily basis, and are constantly inspired for our own family travels,” says Anthony Goldman. “The only problem is – sometimes it’s hard to choose!”

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