Quebec City

February 2011

Quebec City is beautiful -- cobbled and hilly and crowded with cafes and bistros.  Perhaps in the summer season it might tip over the edge and become precious, but in February post-Carnival, it isn't at all crowded.  What it is, is cold.  Cold as in, you can't walk up the cobbled hill the 5 blocks to get to the fort museum without popping into one store to purchase lined hats for the teenagers who were too cool to bring them on the trip at all because who wears hats in Connecticut and New York; and then again into another store two blocks later to purchase long underwear for the eight year old, who did remember and wear her hat, but didn't think she needed long underwear for a five block walk.

Really, really cold.  Daytime temperatures ranged between 10-20 F (-12 to -7 C); and it was much colder than that after dark; and I hate to be a wimp, but it did affect our experience.   Ordinarily, we like to poke around galleries and shops, peer into fifteen restaurants before selecting one, soak up sidewalk ambiance... There was none of that.  We selected a destination and marched directly to it, and jostled at the door to get into the foyer first.

Ironically, given this reaction to the cold, the purpose and timing of the trip was to go to the Ice Hotel.  Which was amazing.  We all made it through the full night (even my sister in law, who wasn't at all convinced), and even the surliest of the teenagers briefly laid down the cool to whoop down the ice slide.  Everyone should experience it once.

(And, having experienced it once, I personally am prepared to say, Check!  Done that!)

What We Did:

Accomodations:

2 nights at Le Saint Pierre Nice brick-walled rooms in terrific location; good breakfast.

1 night at Hotel de Glace: A night to remember.

See:

Vieux Quebec (walk from Le Saint Pierre)

Morrin Center (old prison converted to library)

Funicular

Musee de la Civilisation

Citadel fortress

Israel

Edited February 2012:
We actually took this trip back in June 2011; just updating here to highlight pieces we actually did that we especially enjoyed.

Finding kibbutz lodging (I can't decide if I like this site.)

IsraLimo - Could be easier than dealing with rentals, though this isn't clear
Van Service Israel - And another option


Upon Arrival:

Mini Israel (ARD and Fodor rec): Miniature overview of whole country with description of all must-see sites giving physical and historical overview of whole (15 minutes from airport; open until 6 on except Fridays)
EDITED:   

This was cute, in a kitschy kids' way, but not worth going out of your way for.  It's not geographically accurate, which is frustrating if your purpose is to orient yourself.  Upon examination my brother-in-law confessed he'd never actually BEEN there, only heard about it.  Sheesh.  It *is* extremely accessible from the airport.

Sleep (Nights 1 and 2): Netanya


BOOKED: Seasons Netanya: On beach; family suites; Fodor rec; TA feedback hilariously bipolar
EDITED:  OK, nothing special.  Food is especially uninspiring.  That said, I really enjoyed being in Netanya, a large and bustling seaside town that tourists don't go to.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed the public beaches, and it was easy to get to Caesarea and further up the coast.

(Also considered: Dan Caesarea; TA feedback so cooked as to be useless)


Day 2: Caesarea; return to Netanya

Overview: Roman port city, into Byzantine capital, into Crusader stronghold; 30 minutes S of Haifa)

Must-sees: Roman theater, Herodian Ampitheater, Roman aqueduct; Byzantine Street; Crusader City (Read kids Josephus account)
EDITED: Caesarea was AWESOME.  Not to be missed.  The bulk of the ruins are within a well-run national park, and then the aqueducts are slowly sinking into a public beach -- you can climb right atop them.

Also: Time Trek (kid-friendly historical re-enactment with big picture overview)

Day 3: Haifa for day; drive onto Tsafat for night

Haifa Overview: Seaside; world center of Baha'i faith; pretty gardens & promenades; 3rd largest city in country. Must-sees: Bahai Shrine and gardens (UNESCO WH site); German Colony pedestrian street
EDITED: Haifa's rare in that different populations actually intermingle on the streets, in restaurants, etc.  Gardens are lovely.  You can't see much of them unless you carefully time to hit one of the tours, which are given in various languages.

Also: Carmelite monastery and nearby Elijah's Cave; National Museum of Science and Technology

Tsafat (Nights 3-4):

Overview: center of Kabbalah. Must-sees: Abouhav and Caro synagogues, Hameiri House, walled city.

BOOKED: Villa Galillee: outside town center; TA feedback largely positive, if confusingly verbatim with Artists' Colony (?!)  (Also considered: Artists' Colony - B&B (no restaurant); TA feedback generally positive; looks beautiful but 8 year olds aren't welcome.  Makes it easy... and Ruth Rimonim (Fodors; TA feedback mixed)
EDITED: LOVED Villa Galillee -- it was by FAR our nicest hotel in Israel, and among the nicest I've been in anywhere -- beautiful, tranquil, small enough to be intimate but large enough to support a real restaurant, whose food was terrific -- you (ahem) wouldn't even know it's kosher, though it is.  You do need a rental car for it to work -- it's quite high up on a steep hill, with no transportation.

Also loved Tsafat.

Day 4: See Tsafat, raft the Jordan; back to Tsafat for the night

Day 5: Golan/Galilee for day; drive down to Jerusalem by evening

Jerusalem (Nights 5-8):

BOOKED: Inbal (HB, Fodor and TA; SW of SW corner of Old City and N of German Colony); Tripadvisor feedback generally positive, if somewhat cooked

Also considered: YMCA Three Arches (TA feedback generally positive); Ramat Rachel (Fodors, DK; TA feedback reasonable, and it looks perfectly suitable but I thought it'd be better to be right in Old City)
EDITED:  Inbal was perfectly adequate, though no value.  Its food was good, it's well located.  A little irritating that its pool closed at 5p every day.  We went to a reception at Ramat Rachel, and I think it would have worked well for families as well, though it is located beyond the true town limits and you'd really need a rental car to make it work.

Be sure to see:

Old City (DK recommends walking on the surrounding wall, starting just to left of Jaffa Gate)

Tower of David museum (at Jaffa Gate)

Herodian Quarter / Wohl Archaelogical Museum

Hezekiah's Tunnel (off Ophel Road) (EDITED: this was awsome)

Machenah Yehuda (market; West Jerusalem)

Yad Vashem (Holocaust memorial, West Jerusalem; open late on Thursday)

Chagall Windows (West Jerusalem; Sun-Thurs 8-1 only; click for times of English tours)

Garden Tomb (East Jerusalem; closed Sundays)

Garden of Gethsmane (Jericho Road, east of city near Mount of Olives)

Chutzot Hayotzer (artists' colony)

Day 9: Dead Sea dip in late morning; Masada in afternoon (or light show)

Dead Sea (Night 9):

BOOKED: Kibbutz Ein Gedi (unstarred but positive Fodor): in Ein Gedi; 175 rooms; related with/free shuttle to Ein Gedi spa; Tripadvisor feedback is mixed

EDITED: I really think this place is the way to go.  The options on the true Dead Sea part of the Dead Sea are really, really limited (everyone seems to do it as a day trip from Jerusalem).  The accommodations were fine, the scenery gorgeous, and the food was more than fine.  We also did a tour of the kibbutz in the morning was really solidified the whole movement.

Also considered: Le Meridien (Fodor): in Ein Bokkek; 509!! rooms and 68 suites; Starwood; Tripadvisor feedback is, alas, unpromising; and Isrotel (HB rec): in Ein Bokkek; 298 rooms; unstarred by Fodors and Tripadvisor feedback makes it sound like a tour group mill...  EDITED: all these places are below the dam -- not the true river-fed Dead Sea -- and it's a pretty unattractive crowded factory mill scene.  Skip it.

Don't miss:

 Ein Gedi nature preserve; float in Dead Sea; climb Masada; Masada light show

Link to Josephus' account of Masada (read to kids)

Day 10: Stop at Ben Guvrim National Park; on to Negev

Ben Guvrim (35 miles south, little bit west of Jerusalem)

Overview: Bet Guvrin national park (ARD, Fodor rec): Underground, well-preserved Roman and Crusader ruins; can register for (expensive!) three-hour Dig for a Day (investigate times).

EDITED: Dig for a Day - priceless.  Anyone with kids, should do this.

Night 10 and 11: Negev

BOOKED:Accommodations: Kibbutz Lotan - Very nice location; looks fun and hot; TA feedback limited and mixed

Also considered: Ramon Inn (Fodors) Tripadvisor feedback mixed up because there used to be an old one in town; now is the new (linked) one overlooking the crater; and feedback includes both; and 

Desert Days Ecolodge (very little info available); where GoEco organizes mud-brick-building jaunts and which I'd love to do but they're just.too.darn.hard.to.get.ahold.of.

Be sure to see:

Mahtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater; ARD + Fodor rec)

Avdat National Park (Nabatean / Roman / early Christian ruins)

Genesis Land (Fodor; TA feedback hilariously uneven): Israeli, or maybe Australian, actors re-enact biblical scenes.  You can stay overnight in a tent just like Abraham's.  (Perhaps mercifully) short camel rides.

Day 11: Head back up to Tel Aviv, stopping in ___


 Night 12: Tel Aviv

Accommodation Options:

BOOKED: Sheraton (Fodor rec); TA feedback generally OK; 2 adjoining rooms plus 1 other-  2/2/3

Also considered: Renaissance Marriott (HB rec); TA feedback generally OK

Be sure to see:

Diaspora Museum (ARD; Fodors)

Independence Hall (ARD)

shopping & beaches (ARD)

Notes:

Polas (they actually did the mud huts in Tzukim)

Hiatus dreaming...

(will elaborate, if and when it upgrades into planning)

Experiences:

Language immersion (see category below). 4 weeks; Latin America and/or Spain

Safari. 1 week; southern Africa. Budget-buster. Feb. - May is the season.

Extended volunteering (see category below). 4-6 weeks; various global locations. Per-week costs scale down substantially at 3+ week commitment. Maybe shoot to do one community-based and another conservation-based? Timing flexible.

Farm work (see wwoof.org under volunteering category). Series of 1-3 week stays; greatest concentration of members in Europe. Family interests: cheesemaking, wool, olives, beekeeping... Budget boon, if family placements really are feasible. Sept-Oct is olive & almond harvest in Spain/Portugal.

Trekking the Inca Trail. 1 week. Budget buster. Season seems to be March-Dec. Sierra Club occasionally runs a lodge-to-lodge trip which has its appeals... but would be tricky to schedule around.

Galapagos. 1 week. Budget buster. Audubon runs occasional family trips on small boats, as does National Geographic, either of which would presumably be well-narrated.

Boat loop. 4 months (!!). Budget buster.

Paradores (Spain) and pousadas (Portugal). Budget busters (see 5-combo package and child rates)

Spanish Immersion:

Conversa Costa Rica: Medium, in town of San Ana just outside of San Jose; homestays and campus dorms. (Frommers)

Centro Panamericano Idioma: 3 locations in Costa Rica: Monteverde, Guancaste, and Heredia. We checked out the Monteverde campus, which looked very comfy and professionally run.

Amauta: in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Same school has facilities in Bariloche, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Cusco, Peru (though I can't tell if all of them accommodate families). Montevideo and the campus in the Peruvian rainforest look especially promising.

Eco Escuela Guatemala: Small, in town of San Adres, closer to Tikal/Belize than Guatemala City; homestays; fly into Flores through Cancun or Belize. (McMillon book)

Vida Verde Ecuador: Combines immersion, classes, a bit of ecotouring and a bit of volunteering in three locations

Simon Bolivar Ecuador: Four locations, of which the beachfront sounds positively lovely

Montanita Ecuador: Named (?) one of 5 best Spanish schools in the world; can combine with volunteering; will organize Galapagos side trips. Not clear if they encourage families but basic framework seems based on 1-1 lessons.

Habla Ya Panama: Medium, in town of Boquete, bit of an exercise to get to; homestays.

Don Quixote: in multiple locations in Spain, and also Mexico, with partners throughout Latin America. Recommended by Book Bus; good TA reviews. Frankly I can't navigate the website without getting a headache.

Quorum: in Nerja, Spain (Andalusia)

Volunteering:

Idealist.org:  Vast searchable database of volunteer projects all over the world (>12,000 projects, including both agency and direct volunteer placements). Focus in on a specific country, then search for specific parameters. Some countries (Thailand) are far better updated than others, but it's worth trying anywhere. Affiliated with Points of Light Institute.


Cross-Cultural Solutions: Agency with opportunities for families in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil; China, India, Thailand; Ghana, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa; and Russia. (McMillon book; references) 501(c)3; program fee deductible; programs from 1-12 weeks. Reviews emphasize handholding and comfort (not a bad thing) and weak connections/ support to underlying projects, FWIW.  IVPA member.  NAA.

United Planet: Non-profit agency with opportunities for families with young children in Chile, Peru, Romania and Nepal. Many other locations for older aged kids. Their program in Peru seems an especially appealing way to acclimate / immerse / see Cusco and Machu Pichu. 501(c)3; program fees deductible; both short term programs as well as 6- and 12- month programs. IVPA member.  Program fees vary by country (use multiplier of 3.3X for us); generally NAA but some (Tanzania basic) are NQM.  Peru, Tanzania (check on families) and Costa Rican turtles (check on families) all look very cool.  Tibet, alas, entails a 16 hour bus ride to get out to the site.  Reviews are limited and mixed.

Globe Aware: Non-profit agency, based in Canada but registered as US 501(c)3, with short term (1 week - 6 month) opportunities in wide range of countries. Working with children with Downs in Cuba among the most intriguing (see FAQ for US citizens); also see Peru, Laos and Cambodia (Nepal, sigh, is currently on hold due to political situation).  Families welcome.  Project costs vary; generally NAA.

Global Crossroads - For-profit agency that advertises family volunteer stints in a wider range of places that seems quite plausible... has a critical mass of *volume* of gap-year age  placements and many reviews compared to other agencies.

Projects Abroad: For-profit agency with opportunities for families in Peru, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka. NOT 501(c)3; does full year placements. IVPA member.   Reviews here.   NAA.

Global Volunteers: Non-profit agency with opportunities for families in Costa Rica, Ecuador; China; Greece, Poland. 501(c)3; program fee deductible.

Global Volunteers International: Different (!) agency with various family projects around the world; conservation in Borneo and Ecuador, and orphanages in Nepal and India, worth looking into.  Kids under 18 pay 33% of full program fee. NQM  Have 12 week teaching projects, and shorter term volunteer vacations, in Swaziland, though these are not currently encouraged for families.  They also coordinate gap years, though not in Ghana.

Global Vision Internation: Yet another (!) agency; reviews here

Global Volunteer Network: Different different (!) non-profit agency out of New Zealand with many projects in LA, Africa and Asia. 2 week to 6 month durations. Unclear how many of the projects are open to families, though some seem to be. Cited by Bill Gates. Not deductible because it's NZ.

Global Citizens Network: Agency with opportunities for families in Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Brazil; Tanzania, Kenya; Nepal, Thailand; native American communities in US and Canada. (McMillon book; their links to newsclips). Short term trips, mostly less than 3 weeks. Appears not to be 501(c)3.

VentureCo: For-profit travel agency based out of UK specializing in voluntourism. Used by Book Bus. Also organizes volunteer trips to Jatun Sacha.

GapAdventures: For-profit travel agency which organizes family and voluntourism trips in Galapagos, Machu Pichu, Tanzania and elsewhere. Used by wideworld.

Natural Habitat Adventures: For-profit conservation-focused travel agency that partners worldwide with World Wildlife Fund. Runs family programs and does voluntourism extensions to trips.  Programs include Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Kenya (voluntourism), Namibia, Tanzania and more.

Earthwatch Institute: Non-profit running limited number of family service trips. Locations and trip dates vary; some trips include accommodations and others don't.

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Partial or full accommodation in return for farm work; some opportunities for families; article by mother of young child who's done it in Spain (repeatedly affirmed by Frommers, LP and others) Many intriguing listings in Denmark.

The Book Bus: UK-based non-profit with highly credible founders that runs mobile library to circuit of schools in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador. Organization looks very cool; not clear if they accept kids. Review in Guardian about Zambia; another here about Ecuador. African season is October - May. Not deductible because it's UK.

Idealist.org: vast searchable-by-country database of opportunities; linked to Thousand Points of Light


WorkingAbroad: UK based for-profit; opportunities for families in rural Thailand and (specified elsewhere) cloudforest in Ecuador

GoEco: MB  For-profit matchmaking agency with opportunities for families.  They originally set up shop in Israel and that still appears to be where they have the most opportunities, including living on a kibbutz, construction of an eco-village, and working in a multicultural school.  Projects in South Africa (schools and sustainable agriculture), Thailand (school and orphanage) and Lotan kibbutz (sustainable agriculture) look like nicest fits for us.  (Check back in.)


Rogpa Charitable Trust and Ramana's Garden - JM's school in Dharamsala, India

African Centre for Volunteers: Places education and medical professionals in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Ghana, and Zambia for 3+ week durations. Far lower placement fees than through agencies. Not at all clear that placements can accommodate children. Affiliate of Brookings' Building Bridges Coalition.

Global Service Corps: Non-profit with placements in Thailand, Cambodia and Tanzania. Only Thai education program is currently open to families (rural locations throughout Thailand). Affiliate of IVPA.  2 weeks NQM; 3 weeks MB

ProWorld: For-profit with placements in 10 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Ghana, and Thailand.  Not clear about families; NAA.

Jatun Sacha / Ecuador: Two-week fairly hardcore conservation projects, including in Galapagos; also runs education-focused trips with lighter volunteer duties. (McMillon book). GVI does placements here; others coordinate directly. Nice review, including slideshow, by youngish backpacker; another here by 54-year old woman.

WorldTeach: Originally founded in 1985 by a group of Harvard graduates, focused on teaching; wide range of placements. Not really suitable for families but looks like a neat organization; file for EG and/or a later stage of life. IVPA member and 501(c)3.

Voluntourism.org: Prior volunteers' experiences, eco-lodges hawking, advice, and more.  Nice newsletter.

Pack for a Purpose: Devote 5 pounds of your suitcase capacity to bringing in school or medical supplies when you're otherwise staying at a participating eco-lodge (just drop package off at the check-in desk).  US 501(c)3 affiliated with Sustainable Travel International.  (Many of my already-discovered gems, including Hotel de la Paix and Black Sheep Inn, participate -- site is probably useful just to search for funky accommodations.)

Due Diligence:

International Volunteer Programs Association - Seal of good housekeeping from Brookings' Building Bridges Coalition (inclusion on list does not necessarily mean organizations are 501(c)3 -- only that their programs are legitimate and cleanly run; and certainly does not mean their programs are appropriate for families)

Charity Navigator: Evaluates non-profits largely according to admistrative costs/efficiency

GiveWell: Run by a bunch of hedgefund refugees; evaluates non-profits on basis of efficacy as well as administrative efficiency.  Not many organizations meet their bar.  Good reading for anyone interested in development.


Acumen Fund: 501(c)3 focused on providing seed capital to sustainable businesses with development impact.  Itself seeded by Ford Foundation and Cisco foundation grants; roster of corporate refugees on board and management.


American Institute of Philanthropy: Another US 501(c)3 watchdog

Guidestar: Another devoted to vetting US-registered 501(c)3's.

Ashoka Fellows: Good place to start when looking for in-country projects (Kristof and Betty Longergan both utilize well!)

Good list of diligence questions to ask when considering a volunteer agency, compiled by IVPA

Teach Me 123: Well-ultilized user reviews and rankings of language schools

For further investigation:

Volunteer Thailand: Vast database from idealist.org of local NGOs in Thailand.  Most want 3+ month commitment, but some are shorter term and a handful explicitly welcome families; peruse anew closer to timeframe.

AboutAsia Schools: Cambodian non-profit, also registered as US 501(c)3, supporting 6 schools in Siem Reap.  Affiliated with Points of Light.

BridgeVolunteers in Swaziland (not clear re: families)

Orphanage Outreach in Dominican Republic and Nicaragua; 501(c)3; take families; NQB

South African Volunteers: From pictures, appears that families have done it

Cloudforest Conservation in La Hesperida, Ecuador (90 km from Quito); specified elsewhere that they are very flexible with families; have Montessori school on premises; on-site Spanish classes as well; 4 week commitment preferred

Butterfly Conservation in Costa Rica (also listed under wwoof)

Ceiba Foundation / Ecuador: runs conservation projects in several locations. Shorter term visits OK; not sure about families

Living Waters Children's Center / Arusha, Tanzania

Bead for Life / Uganda: beadforlife.org/5curriculum.html (WTM)

Rising Star / India: www.risingstaroutreach.org/ (sixintheworld)

Conservation AfricaNet/ South Africa: http://www.conservationafrica.net/projects/tutuka-family-conservation-project

Volunteers Making A Difference: Siem Reap orphanage / street kid program; accepts families

Daktari / Limpopo South Africa: Animal rehabilitation and community development (?) near Kruger National Park

Unvetted links to various short-term (as short as 1 day) volunteer opportunities throughout South America

Deep Griha / Pune, India: medical facility (Canadian Carlsons)

Making a Difference: Siem Reap; article from couple who'd done it

Mom's Tree-Hugging Organizations' Excursions:

World Wildlife Fund: Runs once-a-year trips to varying locations including Galapagos and southern Africa.

National Geographic: Runs very regularly scheduled trips to Galapagos and occasional forays to many other locations including southern Africa and Peru.

Sierra Club: Runs once-a-year trips to various locations including Galapagos, lodge to lodge (!) Peru, Costa Rica and southern Europe. Very nice list of recommended books corresponding to each location...

Audubon: Runs two trips a year to Galapagos; others on Amazon and in Central America

Appalachian Mountain Club: Runs trips to various locations; Alaska, Central America and southern Europe seem to be frequent.

Earthwatch: Runs many good-looking trips; but family offerings are limited, sigh; and kids have to be 10, double sigh...

Smithsonian: Limited family trips, including one to Galapagos

Heifer Study Tours: Intriguing.  Snailmail newsletter suggests they're strategically re-directing away from these, but they seem still to be planning new ones.

Logistics:

RTW flights http://wikitravel.org/en/Round_the_world_flights

Star Alliance RTW fares.  Frustratingly, Star Alliance is peculiarly ill-suited to handle South America (would that LAN would join them!!).  It would appear that our best bet would be to do the South America piece with a OneWorld South America Pass, and then start a Star Alliance RTW out of Buenos Aires.  (Frankly OneWorld's interactive fare-builder is loads and loads better than Star Alliance's also...)

Within Star Alliance, best partner for Latin America is Continental and their local partner Copa (Copa hub is Panama City)

Promising-looking but unvetted list of Airpass programs in Asia (sure wish I could find South American equivalent...)

Actually, ask and you shall receive: South America Air Pass - too bad it's OneWorld when all our miles are on Star Alliance.  Nonetheless, it looks like the best program for anyone looking to do multiple countries within South America (must book outside South America)

ITA Software: Air travel software used by many travel agents; not set up as retailer but you can use it to see what flights exist from point A to point B and it's much faster than travelocity, orbitz etc

International Volunteer Card: Unvetted; but appears to have plausible affiliates (including many of the above IVPA volunteer agencies).  If real, it would cover its costs in LP travel book discounts alone.

Car purchase / repurchase and again here (for longterm European stint; appears to work best within France)

Rick Steves on Combination RailPass / Car Rentals, available by country or throughout Europe. Might make sense if we did long term stay in city where we didn't need car.

Agoda.com: Global hotel search of large network, that allows you to earn points towards subsequent stays within network (unvetted; associated with Priceline)

House / Apartment rentals:

Across Europe (high end): Interhome

IHA / Internet Holiday Ads: Western Europe

Homelidays: Western Europe (particularly wide range in Spain, Portugal, France and Germany)

O Espana (links to city- or regional-sites in Spanish)

Granada rural houses (Spanish speaking!)

Agriturismo (throughout Italy; short- and long-term stays)

Hostels:

Hostel International

Guide for Europe: Includes reviews and more detailed descriptions than HI listings

Hostels in castles or other very cool places: Breuberg Germany, Monschau Germany, Nurenberg Germany, Bacharach Germany, Burg Altena Germany, Koblenz Germany, Libertingen Germany, Windischleuba Germany, (for more/smaller hostels in Germany, do an advanced search on DJH and click off "family suite" and "castle") Domburg Netherlands, Carbidsdale Scotland, Isle of Rum Scotland (non-HI), St. Briavel's England, ; Celtic Castles link to wide range of (non HI) castles throughout UK and Ireland

AO Hostels: Non-HI chain in Germany that is supposed to be especially targeting families

Online country / city guides:

In Your Pocket: online guides to (largely off-the-beaten path) cities in Europe

Rick Steves' podcasts on most European countries (include audio tours of major museums)

RTW Family blogs:

Polas on the Go (3 younger boys; still going; remarkably parallel itinerary; have done Spanish immersion and family volunteering)

Our Travel Lifestyle (The Burnses; still going; little kids)

rtwferrers (2 boys 10&12; still going; very wordy!)

Livin on the Road (couple with 4 kids under 10 RV'ing in Australia since January 2010; god bless them)

The Wide Wide World

Sixintheworld (Family of six. Happily, Anne is doing well and recently wrote a new post for the first time in many many moons.)

Gilladventures (teenaged girls)

Canadiancarlsons (5, including 13 year old boy)

Tims (5, doing it 5 star)

Jo's Great Adventure (solo backpacker, not family; but very nice write-ups and photos of year in Latin America)

Connecting Locally:

SERVAS: http://http://www.usservas.org//

Progressive / trilingual congregation in San Jose, CR

HandsOn Tokyo: Offshoot of New York Cares; affiliated with 1000 Points of Light (check in for one-off soup kitchen-type activities)

Our Cabana: Girl Scout Global Center in Cuernavaca, Mexico (B&B, volunteering as well)

Sangam: Girl Scout Global Center in Pune, India

South American Explorers' Club: has "clubhouses" in Lima, Quito and Cusco; various info services throughout region

Good advice on selected subjects:

Upfront thinking process before you start actual planning by Adam S

Upfront self-reflection questions before you plunge into voluntourism, by voluntourism.org

Pre-departure logistical checklist by idealist.org

Refueling / Longer stops in SE Asia by the Burnses

Good iGear for kids by the Burnses (they're total MacGeeks, FWIW)

Gear, generally by Anne of sixintheworld

Volunteering as way to slow down and connect by 58-year old woman who did it in Bhutan

Lowdown on Argentine bus travel (headline: full cama or bust...) by Adam S

Country-specific booklist by rtwferrers (otherwise too wordy to be helpful! but just right for this purpose)

Communicating / Posting pictures

Travelpod: free photo site with blog & map links

Global phones from Cellular Abroad, Mobal