Where to Stay: Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel
If you are considering summer in the city, top of your list should be air-conditioning or some outdoor space. With both air-conditioned shared and private rooms, the boutique Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel not only delivers on gorgeous design, it has a charming tiled terrace too. It’s a perfect spot to start your night on the town so pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy at dusk or join other guests for paella on Mondays.
 
Berlin, Germany
It’s no secret that Germans love their beer and they have some rather lovely beer gardens where you can enjoy a quaff or two. Summer is the perfect time to sit outdoors and enjoy a cold Pils in Berlin in green, leafy and sunny surroundings. The explosive club scene relocates to the great outdoors and Museum Island becomes a major venue for concerts, dance events and open-air cinema. The palace gardens at Schloss Charlottenburg will be in full bloom and you can take in the French modelled design. For a short trip out of town, take the S-Bahn west to the Grunewald forest for swimming in the lake, walking, cycling or horse riding.

Where to Stay: Baxpax Downtown Hostel Hotel
The perfect place to keep cool in the city, this cheap Berlin hotel offers travellers a sunny terrace where BBQs are hosted in the warmer months. The swimming pool is ideal for a quick dip and the Tiergarten Park is a short walk from the hotel.

Lisbon, Portugal
A good opportunity to combine city and beach break on your summer holiday, Lisbon can provide culture, nightlife and sunbathing rolled in to one. The nearby beaches fly the European Blue Flag for excellence and are popular with locals and tourists alike. At Guincho, why not try your hand at surfing, with their fantastically wild beach just a 25-minute train ride from Lisbon. The shadowy and historic areas of Alfama and the Barrio Alto offer tile-clad buildings and orange tree dotted plazas, great places for keeping cool when exploring the city. Take tram 28 for a 40-minute city tour and lean out the window of this antiquated machine to feel the wind in your hair. Nightlife gets off to a late start around 11 p.m. and crowds spill pleasingly onto the streets.
 
Where to Stay: Beria Mar
Just a few roads back from the shoreline, most rooms at Beria Mar hostel offer views across the Tagus river. The interior is bright and colorful and the surrounding area of Alfama is Lisbon’s historic quarter. They offer a free breakfast, lounge and games room.
 
 
Rome, Italy
Another top destination for anyone InterRailing in Europe in summer, Rome’s fascinating history draws many to admire the architectural vestiges of the Eternal City. Head to the Villa Borghese for romantic strolls in the city’s favorite green space. Bask in Rome’s fashionable coffee culture under a shady brolly and wander the cobbled streets on warm evenings when trattorias spill out on to the streets. Unfortunately, a splash in the Trevi Fountain was reserved for film star Anita Ekberg but you can keep cool attending one of the cities open-air concerts in summer or diving into a church. It’s also the perfect time to explore the sun blushed flowers at the Campo dei Fiori.
 
Where to Stay: Hotel Torre Rossa Park
On the outskirts of the city, a short walk form the pleasant Villa Doria Pamphilj park, this cheap hotel in Rome offers the best of both worlds: easy access to culture and nightlife but a welcome retreat from busy city life. Facilities include air-conditioning, a bar, and the beautifully designed patio area is the place to relax after a day of sightseeing.

Enjoy a personalized experience to selected parts of the U.S. such as New England and the Northeast, Florida, the south, or the west. Professionally planned itineraries ensure you capture all these regions have to offer.

On the week-long Southern Coast Getaway you’ll begin in popular Orlando, Florida, tour the quaint streets of St. Augustine, spend two days in the beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina, and spend a day in peaceful Savannah, Georgia. Drive down to the home of one of the nation’s most popular beach destinations at Daytona Beach Florida, and then back to Orlando for your departure homewards.

Two-week packages such as the Northeast Classic include visits to not only an incredible list of cities such as New York, Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia, but also include Canadian cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, and Toronto. You won’t miss out on some of America’s most scenic and visited attractions either with day trips to both Niagara Falls, and Gettysburg and Acadia National Parks.

Your fly-drive package allows you to see what you want to see, when you want to see it. Road trips are great holiday options for those traveling with children, allowing them to enjoy more of the country at a slower pace while parents retain control over schedules based on specific requirements.

Travelers will also save money by focusing on destinations and attractions they really want to see with little waste of time, effort, or money. Once your fly-drive package is reserved, you are in total control of your days – whether they span one week or two.

Look for fly-drive vacations planned by travel professionals – and leave the stress behind.

Below is a sampling of some of the many ways visitors can begin to celebrate spring in Colorado. Want more inspiration?  Order a free copy of the 2011 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide by visiting www.COLORADO.com or calling 800-COLORADO.  Visitors can also follow Colorado’s social media channels on the Colorado Connect page at www.COLORADO.com/connect.

Events and Festivals

• FestEVOL in Crested Butte (March 26).  Top touring and recording artists O.A.R. will headline the first ever FestEVOL, a new mountain lifestyle event in Crested Butte.  In addition to live music, FestEVOL will feature the IZSTYLE Reverb Eco Village, an interactive area showcasing environmental groups, alternative energy exhibits, organic food sampling, ski and snowboard equipment demos from Nordica and Burton Snowboards and more. Lift, lodging and event packages start at $149; concert-only tickets are $35 if purchased by March 19, 2011. www.skicb.com/festevol
• Spring Back To Vail (April 15-24). Vail’s epic event to mark the end of its ski season and celebrating the beginning of the spring season includes free concerts from national headlining music acts such as Train and Stephen Marley and the now famous World Pond Skimming Championships. Street parties, live music and entertainment are all part of the experience. www.springbacktovail.com; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Spring-Back-to-Vail/70947529007) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/springbackvail)
• New Belgium Brewing Fruita Fat Tire Festival (April 28-May 1). Experience some of Colorado’s best mountain biking, check out the latest products from the best in the bike industry at the Bike Expo in downtown Fruita’s Civic Center Park and join road rides through the Colorado National Monument, over Douglas Pass, and through wine country.  www.fruitamountainbike.com
• Taste of Pearl (May 1, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.).  Spend an unforgettable afternoon strolling through downtown Boulder’s best galleries and boutiques while exploring Boulder’s culinary arts scene and Colorado’s award-winning wines. Enjoy food and Colorado wine samples from Boulder chefs and restaurants while strolling down the beautiful Pearl Street Mall. www.boulderdowntown.com; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/downtownboulder) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/downtownboulder)
• Estes Park Jazz Fest & Art Walk (May 14-15).  Estes Park ushers in springtime and celebrates its unofficial kick-off to summer with two days of jazz, arts and culture.  Enjoy live jazz performances at Performance Park and visit the town’s many art galleries and shops.  www.visitestespark.com; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/estespark) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/estesparkcvb) 
• Downtown Grand Junction Art & Jazz Festival (May 6-8).  Grand Junction’s Main Street will be filled with jazz music performed by local and national acts and artists and galleries will display unique works of art.  The event also celebrates Art on the Corner, a unique year-long outdoor sculpture exhibit displayed in Downtown Grand Junction. www.downtowngj.org; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/downtowngj) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/downtowngj)

New Attractions

• Crested Butte Mountain Resort will debut a year-round Canopy Zip Line tour this summer, featuring five zip lines ranging in length from 200 feet to 380 feet and a series of features such as an “Indiana Jones Bridge,” a net climb and more.  The addition of the zip line in Crested Butte brings the number of zip line/canopy tours in Colorado to five. www.skicb.com; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/skicrestedbutte) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/skicrestedbutte)
• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park launches a bungee jumping station this spring, the first in Colorado as well as a zipline.  The attraction joins the newly-opened giant canyon swing, which launches riders 1,300 feet above the Colorado River. www.glenwoodcaverns.com; also Facebook (www.facebook.com/glenwoodcaverns) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/glenwoodcaverns)
• Mule’s Eye View of the Royal Gorge. The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, home to the second tallest suspension bridge in the world, will offer mule trail rides through Royal Gorge backcountry and to the gorge rim from March 13-27, 2011 and from April 23 through the fall season. The mule rides, which range from 30 minutes to two hours in duration, start at $25 per person. Entrance to the park is separate: $25 per adult, $21 per senior and $19 per child. Now through April 22, buy one entrance ticket and get one half off.  www.royalgorgebridge.com

Sample Spring Travel Packages

• The Family That Stays Together… The Inn on Fall River in Estes Park is offering a “Get Away Together” family package, which includes two nights in a two bedroom cabin with wood burning fireplace and private hot tub; half day snowshoeing adventure (10 and older); wildlife tour (10 and older); or a photography safari (12 and older) plus hot cocoa and S’mores for the fireplace. Package cost is $480 plus tax; available through May 19, 2011. www.InnonFallRiver.com; 800-255-4118
• Plan a Colorado Springs Getaway. The Broadmoor Hotel is offering a Spring Break Getaway package from March 1-April 30, 2011.  Starting at $90 per person, per night (a 40 percent savings) enjoy luxe accommodations at The Broadmoor; 50 percent discount at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; 15 percent discount on retail purchases; complimentary spa day pass and access to The Broadmoor Movie Theater. Kids 10 and under eat free with an adult. Subject to availability; restrictions apply. www.broadmoor.com
• Boulder Ski Escape.  Now through April 17, the Boulder area offers spring escapes as little as $67.50 per person at nearly every hotel in Boulder.  The package offers accommodations and ski lift tickets at Eldora Mountain. Some deals include breakfast and transportation. www.boulderskiescape.com

ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2011 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to think of everything yourself. The editors at HaveKidsWillTravel have done a lot of the research on behalf of travelling families everywhere. And the result is a website packed with tips about holiday resorts, family cruises, flying with kids (or while pregnant) and many more topics – including top destinations guaranteed to satisfy even the most hard-to-please member of your brood.

HaveKidsWillTravel also includes gear reviews, family travel news and an assortment of checklists that every parent should access when planning a family holiday.

One of the most useful, we found, was this list of things to do to childproof your hotel room upon arriving at a resort or any other holiday destination.

Childproofing 101

Here’s what you can do to keep your new environment safe for your toddler:

• Get on your hands and knees and explore the room from your curious, climbing, active toddler’s perspective.
• Secure any loose phone cords or electrical wires your child might be tempted to tug on with a strip of duct tape.
• Ensure balcony doors are locked and there is no climbable furniture near the railing.
• Make sure no furniture is placed or can be moved near open windows.
• If necessary, bring along a portable guardrail or push the bed against a wall with a chair along the other side to protect your toddler from rolling out at night.
• Look for sharp coffee table corners and other bumping hazards. If possible, move this furniture out of your toddler’s play space or pad the corners with a padded edge cushion (a standard baby proofing item) or simply tape a washcloth over them.
• Check under beds and in low drawers for small objects that might be harmful – for example, a dropped pin, pill or button.
• Pack some plastic covers for electrical outlets – or cover with a strip of duct tape.
• Tie up cords on any window blinds so they aren’t a choking hazard to your exploring child – a twist tie or pipe cleaner will do the trick.
• If you’re a guest in someone’s home, check that medications and household cleaners are secure from your child’s path of exploration.
• Make sure you don’t leave your own razors, medicines or other toiletry hazards where your child may discover them.
• You might want to bring an adjustable safety gate to secure a stair case if that’s a potential danger zone for your toddler.
• Pack some cupboard latches – or wrap some pipe cleaners or strong rubber bands around the handles or knobs of cupboards you don’t want your tyke getting into.
• Make sure you test the water temperature where you’re staying before giving your child a bath – it might come in hotter than what you’re used to at home.
• Pack a toilet latch if your little one is fascinated with this porcelain water toy or secure it with a strip of duct tape.

You can learn more by checking out this great family travel website.