Banning Kids From Planes?

Most Americans aren’t anti-kids.

Just the ones that fly it seems.

A recent on line chat had a curmudgeonly majority of flyers saying kids don’t belong on planes.

Or if they must travel, then there should be a Family Travel section in the back of the plane.

We were taken aback at the grumpiness of the “no kids allowed” crowd.

What’s bugging them?

It seems kids are cranky, cry, scream …  and too many of them are not toilet trained.

The soiled diaper argument really struck a nerve with one guy (I assume he was a guy) who asked the airlines to “allow access to kids of certain ages only.”

Read: No kids allowed.

Will lawyers yell discrimination?

You bet they will.

So will families everywhere!

Still, it’s a provocative idea, according to some veteran travelers.

Some flyers went to far as to suggest the airlines charge an additional 10% to guarantee a “kid free zone.”

Others insisted kids and their parents should fly in the back of the plane in designated “family sections,” turning the rear of the plane into an airborne playpen.

Farfetched?

Interestingly, several cruise lines are now creating “quiet spaces” or adults-only sections of their ships.

Is this discrimination?

Or will some entrepreneur create a Family-only Airline where like-minded Moms, Dads and Kids can play, fly and relate to each other.

Maybe it’s s good idea.

The on line discussion was very testy with one free market flyer advocating flying only those airlines that make flying an “adult only” experience.

But what about adults who behave worse than kids?

Maybe they were badly toilet trained.

Prince Edward Island: Canada’s Jewel in The Crown
By Kaleel Sakakeeny

In the spring and summer it’s as green as Ireland, and as golden as Vermont on a crisp autumn day.
This is Prince Edward island, one of the handful of Canadian Maritimes, so close to New England and one of the best quick trips anywhere.

Charlottetown, the capital, is as laid back as it gets. A couple of stately hotels line the streets, some interesting-looking B&B’s, and several small outdoor café’s lure passersby with their colorful umbrellas and fresh sea food menus.

The town is a surprisingly rich venue for performing and visual arts, including of course, the venerable, never-ending story of Anne of Green Gables. Lucy Maud Montgomery’s feisty red-headed heroine is a national treasure, and likely a big contributor to the GDP.
The irrepressible Anne stares out at visitors everywhere, and perhaps among no other people is she so appreciated as by the Japanese. The signs in PEI are often in Japanese and many of the Japanese come to get married, posing almost always in front of Green Gables for the wedding pictures.

Not surprisingly, the PEI marketing people married its two biggest exports: Anne and potatoes, creating, yes, Anne of Green Gables potato chips.

The winding roads are empty. No cars, no billboards, no used car lots, no fast food joints. Nothing, except sad-faced cows, green rolling fields and the vivid lupines standing like multicolored sentinels punctuating the deep green farm land.
“Gentle” is the word to describe the Prince Edward Island experience.

Gentle beaches, sloping cliffs and dunes.
Gentle roads, meadows and especially gentle people. Because life on the island is challenging, the people compensate by emphasizing cooperation, not competition.

At the top of the north coast is the town of North Rustico, a former Acadian stronghold. American literature buffs will recall the passionate and heart-breaking tale of Longfellow’s Evangeline, and the expulsion of the Acadians by the British, an early example of “ethnic cleansing. The Acadians fled as far south as New Orleans, where they became known as Cajuns.

The island enjoys the best sea kayaking, and Outside Expeditions (800-207/3899 www.getoutside.com ) is the place to do it. The gourmet trips, and a “Starry Skies” coastal expedition are two favorites.
The Trailside Cafe,(902-676/3130) rents bikes and canoes and offers walking tours throughout the region. In the evening, it jumps with local folk talent, cold beer and gourmet pizzas.

The Indians called this island Abegweit, meaning “cradled on the waves.” After painting the entire earth, the myth has it the chief god, Glooskap, saved his most vivid colors for this gentle place, painting it as only a caring god could.
To which we say, “Well done!”
Travel editor, Kaleel Sakakeeny, welcomes your comments at Kaleels@earthlink.net

Need Help?
Useful Numbers: The Prince Edward Island Tourism: (888-734-7529.  www.peiplay.com )

BOX
Shuck ‘em and Eat ‘em

Home-grown Malpeque oysters and Blue Mussels have earned Canada’s smallest province a big reputation worldwide.
With their sweet meat and glossy black shells, mussels have muscled their way into all the best restaurants. A classic PEI recepie
Mussels A la PEI
2 lbs. PEI mussels, rinsed
1/2 cup dry white wine or beer
2 Tbsp. diced celery
2 Tbsp. diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Place wine, celery, onion, garlic and mussels in a large pan. Cover and steam over high heat for 6 minutes or until mussels
open. Discard any that don’t open. Serve immediately with juice, sprinkled with black pepper and parsley. Serves 2.

Inn of the Week
Mozart and crystal; egg soufflé and lemon cranberry muffins…hot tubs and Jacuzzis are the hallmarks of The Greenfield Inn’s celebration of “Victorian Splendor.”
About 90 minutes from Boston, the Greenfield (NH) Inn is really a village mansion specializing in romantic getaways. Large suites, cottages, classical music, fireplaces and one of the best deck wraps anywhere make it happen for friends and lovers...or both.
Gift certificates available. 1-800-678-4144 www.greenfieldinn.com

No question, the web is great place for finding hotel and flight deals.

But top hotels are complaining that the wrong kinds of guest are filling their rooms because of on line hotel bookings.

Call it the snob factor, but one hotel’s general manager urged his colleagues to keep prices high this summer to discourage the internet from filling rooms with the wrong kinds of people.

What are the wrong kinds of people?

The GM says it’s those customer who are seeking cut rate prices and are socially out of their depths and badly behaved.

The cut rate part sounds a like me. But the same hotel executive points out that it’s not really about dress codes It’s about a person's inner values and self-esteem.

He means, will the children of the wealthy meet the right kind of people.

I’d like my daughters to meet the right kind of people, but I’m not sure an upscale hotel with such snob appeal is the way to do it.

So, I’ll keep on seeking quality places at the best price and hope I don’t behave badly

It’s no surprise that 71% of kids said they need vacations…

And half of them said their needs influence their family’s choice of destinations and accommodations.

What is surprising, is that the kids say they spend less time in front of the TV while they were away, and were less likely to argue with their parents.

They don’t like golf vacations or getting up early, and their top choices of where to go are theme parks followed by a beach or a lake.

How much time can they stand to be away from their friends?

It seems that the ideal vacation lasts about a week…and most of the kids said they enjoyed eating together with their families while on the road.

Favorite activities? Hands down it was staying up late and eating out.

And a hefty number of the 6-17 year olds said they were much more likely to talk with their parents when on holiday.

And it certainly doesn’t get much better than that!Kids on Vacation

Drugging Kids on Planes Redux

When we created a Travel Video PostCard video a year or more ago about the practice of some parents giving their kids Benadryl or a related “drug” to keep the kids calm during a flight, we were not prepared for the volume and intensity of the feedback.

Full-fledged arguments broke out among viewers and followers, and it often wasn’t pretty.

We were interviewed by the Associated Press on the topic, spoke to health care providers, posted our results...and the comments kept coming from parents, flight attendants, health care workers, and others.

We are fascinated by the range of opinions and the passions stirred up by the topic, so every so often we update readers with the most recent comments.

Here are a few, unedited except to take out the expletives:

You can watch the Travel Video PostCard at www.travelvideopostcard.com


“Nevertheless, there comes a point where a parent can't control all the stress factors involved that can make a kid go into a tantrum. Adults who travel know how hard it is to keep OURSELVES well fed, hydrated, rested, and entertained, and even when we aren't and become stressed we (mostly) know how to control our impulse to let people know we're unhappy.
Children do not, and I don't see a problem with THEN using a chemical aid to help them overcome that stress and calm down until journey's end.”


Why not (drug kids)?
I (expletive) hate it when I have to sit there defencelessly with that little (expletive) crying for something stupid like toys and their tiny cake stuffed ears hurting. Kids are menace!
 If the medical proffesions have no opinion, it could be because they are not giving a (expletive), or it's the right thing to do.
DRUG THEM!”


“Naturally, I strongly advise everybody viewing this video to ignore this person.”


“It seems like the medical community HAS made a statement: let the parent decide. Benadryl is NOT a controlled substance. I think it SHOULD be up to the parent - not a doctor - to decide if s/he will give a child a chemical aid to help them overcome the stress of travel. Doctors should be on hand to advise on the possible side effects of its use, and offer alternatives, but in the end that's all they can do in this case: advise. And that's what they have done.”


“I think the medical profession refusing to comment is more of a moral issue they don't want to touch rather than refusing definitive medical advice. I mean, why wouldn't it be safe if we can give kids benadryl anyway for allergies? If docs said it was safe they could be perceived as committing to a moral position on this rather than strictly providing medical advice for parents to use. That would put their **** on the line in the eyes of the general public and no doc wants that...”


“you obviously have no kids and are probably very young- ive flown twice when my daughter was only 3 and 4. its all about how the parents prepare them for a flight; plenty of coloring books; & other things they can bring on to keep them occupied. youde be amazed at just how well just doing the right thing works! your obviously not very well-informed; because there ARE airlines that have stopped & kicked a family off with a misbehaving child. drugs arent the answer you idiot.”


That’s the tip of the iceberg. What do you think?? Provoative?