Mind-Blowing Trips of a Lifetime

Our list of the world’s most amazing places includes awe-inspiring natural wonders and not-to-be missed travel experiences. Pack your bags for these mind-blowing escapes .

Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The saltwater in Iceland's Blue Lagoon, the world's largest geothermal pool, gets completely renewed every 40 hours and always hovers around 100 degrees. Go to rejuvenate your skin and soul, and throw in some extra time for a spa treatment or massage.

Cinque Terre, Italy

A national park and protected UNESCO territory, Cinque Terre has steep natural slopes that were transformed into fertile terraces for the cultivation of wine. The dry stone walls guide you through a varied network of paths with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Take a hike along the cliffside trail, which passes through 5 coastal villages.

Vieques Island, Puerto Rico

Head to Vieques Island for a quiet vacation to get away from the crowds, tall buildings, traffic and commercialized oceanfront property. The beaches here are pristine, the green flora is lush, and it's located only 6 miles from San Juan. Whisk someone special off for a romantic getaway, and don’t miss out on an illuminating experience on Bioluminescent Bay.

The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong offers an elite experience that makes all guests feel like royalty. In addition to providing top-of-the-line amenities, this historic, 5-star luxury hotel has spectacular vistas of Victoria Harbor.

Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

A must for outdoor enthusiasts in the summer and winter, the Bernese Oberland region in Switzerland captures nature at its finest: snowcapped mountain peaks, fresh air and lush, rolling hills. The quaint town of Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is only a short train ride to the beautiful ski town of Grindelwald.

Secret Beach, Kauai

Nestled at the base of a sheer cliff just north of Kilauea, Secret Beach truly is one of the Kauai's best-kept secrets. Sunbathers will have to hike down a rocky, near-vertical trail to find the magnificent stretch of sand and sea. Their efforts will immediately be rewarded as cares and worries melt away in this hidden Hawaiian paradise.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Experience New Zealand's Fiordland region via kayak, on foot and by air. Visitors are awestruck by the scenery of Milford Sound, including the tumbling waterfalls, ancient rain forests, sparkling lakes and granite peaks that capture the heart and the imagination.

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Two of the world's most active volcanoes — Kilauea and Mauna Loa — stand in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park. There are many ways to experience the power of these natural wonders, including scenic drives, hikes and ranger-led tours.

Venice, Italy

The city of Venice conjures images of stunning architecture, artistic masterpieces and incomparable wine and cuisine. Get lost in St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's Square; experience the sights and sounds of Venice Carnival; and walk across the Rialto Bridge.

Singita Ebony Lodge, South Africa

At the Singita Ebony Lodge, located on the Sand River, travelers experience the perfect combination of luxury accommodation and safari adventure. The resort’s 12 suites all include a private plunge pool. Their external walls of the suites have been removed and replaced by canvas and glass to create safari tent-style suites with great views. Don’t miss out on exploring the African wildlife accompanied by an experienced guide and tracker during your stay in the heart of the Singita Sabi Sand.

Santorini, Greece

The Greek island of Santorini is located in the Cyclades of the Aegean Sea and has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The villages are built on cliffs and overlook a submerged volcano. Those who visit Santorini flock to Oia, a town that offers stunning views of the sunset.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Another UNESCO-protected location, it contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, including the Temple of Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple. Marvel at this jaw-dropping and eye-opening historical landmark.

Dream Vacations - The Operach Team is a travel agency based in Overland Park, Kansas. We take pride in working with clients across the country who love to travel. We build vacation experiences that will create memories to last a lifetime.  Our team has specialties across a wide range of vacation options; custom Europe itineraries, Alaska, escorted tours, all-inclusive resorts, Disney, Caribbean, Hawaii, South Pacific, cruise holidays, and river cruises.   

We look forward to making your dream vacations come true!! 

Traveling With Teens

School has started (where did the summer go) and thoughts turn to Holiday and Spring Break vacations.  With two tweens now in our household we are getting a taste of what is to come when traveling with teens.
There are plenty of ways a family vacation can be ruined. Weather, illness, and natural disasters have all caused grief to families over the years. There’s one factor, however, that can truly ruin a vacation.  I’m referring to the thorn in the side of traveling parents everywhere: an unhappy teenager.

A cranky, bored, miserable teen has the ability to suck the fun out of just about any experience — making parents regret wasting their time and hard-earned cash on travel in the first place.  Side note: I am positive that I was NOT one of these teens when growing up!

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent having to travel with an unhappy teen (really, there are). Companies are paying more attention to this segment more than ever before and are designing travel experiences with teens in mind. Teen programs and teen-only lounges have become common place at resorts and on cruise ships.  If we can make a teen happy on vacation, we have come a long way to guaranteeing a rewarding family vacation.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to family vacations, but escorted tours combine many benefits of other forms of travel in order to please everyone in the family — even teenagers. For one thing, family travel is hard enough, so why wouldn’t a parent prefer to have someone else handle the logistics?
Traveling as a family on an escorted tour removes all the logistic hassles from the vacation so the family can actually relax and enjoy one another’s company and their destination.  All I can think of is Chevy Chase in European Vacation circling the roundabout in the UK yelling “Kids .. Big Ben .. Parliament”   “Kids .. Big Ben .. Parliament”   “Kids .. Big Ben .. Parliament”

Another benefit of traveling as a group is that the teens and all the children bond together as a group.  We travelled with Adventures By Disney to the Southwest a couple of years ago.  We were hesitant to travel with an escorted tour … but it was a trip of a lifetime.  We could have never planned out the logistics as well as Disney did.  The boys enjoyed all the experiences with their new found friends.  

As an example, all of the tour programs at Adventures by Disney emphasize storytelling and unique ways to experience a destination. For instance, guests see the pyramids in Egypt while riding a camel, learn about the architecture of Versailles from the seat of a bicycle or discover the natural history of Costa Rica from the harness of a zipline. This approach is especially popular with active teens.

Another benefit of escorted touring — is value.  Families can save up to 40 percent on an escorted tour versus putting the trip components together separately.

Cruising is also an excellent value and ideal vacation for families with teens.  Teens often are allowed a bit more freedom while on a cruise with their own teen club and activities.  Then there is the surfing simulator, water parks, pools, 4D movie theaters, ice skating, comedy clubs, bowling, mini golf, rock wall climbing, 24 hour food, and zip lining ….. all while onboard !!  What teen would not have an outstanding bonding with new friends and enjoying some of these activities?

The opportunity to travel with family and children before they move out on their own is a special one.  We know firsthand how crazy schedules can get, and a vacation may be the only time a family has to slow down and take the time to truly be together — not just rushing to a practice or quick meals at home,  but actually laugh together, have fun together and have real memories together.  Time is precious and children grow up so fast, there are very few opportunities in today’s hectic world to truly connect.   We fully understand how important these memories can be which is why we are diligent in finding the perfect experiences for our clients.  Do not wait – time is short - get out there and start planning that vacation (even with your teens!).

Happy Cruising!!

Are We There Yet?

For those with kids this is a familiar chorus while traveling during a spring break or summer vacation.  We are fortunate that we can travel so much with our boys.  We have travelled to places that they will remember for the rest of their lives whether it is Alaska, Grand Canyon, Mayan Ruins, or Rocky Mountain National Park.  We have also captured memories that are priceless.  We are a strong believer that travel opens up a child’s mind and helps with their school work and now our youngest want to see the Tower of Pisa and the Coliseum!    With summer coming upon us and some thoughts for next spring break … here are some value destinations for families (or that family reunion that you have wanted to plan).   Here we go in no particular order….

Europe with a Tour Operator

With the euro still presenting an unfavorable exchange rate having an affordable European vacation does take some planning and help of an expert, but it can be done.  With a tour operator they have relationships with vendors and attractions where they purchase services at a much lower cost than the average consumer.  Families also do not need to worry about transportation details or the ‘mechanics’ of the vacation.  They can spend valuable time exploring and learning about the fantastic destinations.   Many tour operators also have family focused tours that are a great vaule with everything that is included.

Hawaii


With careful planning, families can enjoy the islands while sticking to a budget.  Going in the off-season can make pricing considerably lower. We have access to partners that have affordable vacations that might include value coupons on dinners and activities as well as free stays and meals for children. Traveling between December and April can give you a free show of whales and dolphins playing off shore.

Thailand

If you thought of experiencing the exotic beauty of Asia then you should consider a trip to Thailand.  This destination is considered one of the world’s most affordable options thanks to a favorable exchange rate, affordable dining, and great hotels with great service. The Thai are incredibly friendly and consider children to be honored guests.

National Parks

There are 390+ US National Parks around the country that make for an affordable getaway, especially if you are road tripping and taking advantage of campsites and lodging available on site.  Families can also take advantage of packages that we have with preferred partners.  These maximize your time, handle all the details, and give you a lot of vacation bang for your buck.

Mexico and Jamaica

Heading to warm weather destinations is always a family favorite especially for winter or spring breaks.  Both Mexico and Jamaica are a great cost-conscious choice due to the quality of the many all-inclusive resorts.  Families can have a five-star experience while controlling costs.  Most resorts have several restaurants on site with a variety of cuisine.  Also, many activities are included in the rate, such as snorkeling and even scuba diving.  And do not forget the on-site kids’ clubs and teen centers, which provide entertainment to young guests at no extra charge.

Disney Package

‘Budget’ is not usually associated with Disney.  Although working with a Disney expert a Disney vacation can be made very affordable.  For example Disney offers ‘value’ resorts including the brand new Art of Animation Resort with rates starting at $82 per night.  Staying on site saves you money as you do not need to rent a car and you experience extra park hours as an on-site guest.  Lastly Disney occasionally offers a free dining plan that really makes a Disney experience affordable.

An Alaska Cruise

The best for last and our personal favorite!  The opportunity to visit one of the most awe inspiring destinations can be a great value.   Where else can you visit Alaska ports that are only accessible by plane or ship, watch whales from your balcony, and experience glaciers calving right in front of your eyes.  On an Alaska cruise you have a nearly all-inclusive experience visiting these multiple ports and only unpacking once.  A family of four can travel to Alaska from Seattle at a very reasonable cost, especially if you can travel in May or September.