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Traveling with young children can be difficult, and during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it may even seem impossible. e fear of packing suitcases full of diapers and lugging heavy strollers in and out of taxis and airports is enough to make many new parents forgo the wanderlust of their past lives and settle for some neighborhood caroling and a visit with Santa Claus at the local mall. Aware of all of the concerns and inhibitions of parents with young children, Mark Allvey, managing director of Niquesa Travel, curated a holiday excursion tailored specifically to these families. "Keeping the Magic Alive," a three-night adventure in Lapland, was designed to take the stress out of traveling so families can venture out and experience the magic of the holidays together. "Over 60 percent of our trips are arranged for families—many with young children," Allvey attests. "e key to a successful holiday is preparation, planning, and making sure that parents get their own time as well as family time. In terms of preparation, we are fortunate to offer a service which goes beyond the holiday itself. We can arrange for limo pick-up from home, fast track through an airport, nannies to accompany the trip or to greet upon arrival at a destination, and arrange for baby/child supplies to be waiting in the hotel room. We will always ensure that our villas or hotels are 'child safe' so parents can relax more, and that the venues we recommend have well-respected kids and teen clubs." With Niquesa Travel attending to the long checklist that oen deters parents from bringing their young children along on trips, parents will feel confident embarking on a family adventure during the holiday season. With the travel arrangements taken care of, supplies and babysitting arranged, and safety guaranteed, parents with young children will look forward to their vacation rather than stressing about the details. While Niquesa Travel curates trips for families, couples, and friends to visit a wide variety of destinations around the world, "Keeping the Magic Alive" is unique in its ability to capture the enchanting magic of the Christmas season. Set in a subarctic climate, home to Father Christmas and the Northern Lights, the Lapland Christmas excursion is a once-in-a-lifetime experience families will treasure for years to come. When we asked Allvey how he envisioned this whimsical idea for a family trip, he explained that he and his team were dissatisfied with previous excursions to Lapland; other supposedly well-designed trips were simply unauthentic, and Niquesa Travel knew they could do better. "When we first launched Niquesa Travel one of our directors had previously taken his family to see Santa in Lapland and came back quite uninspired," Allvey explains. "He felt it was too manufactured and that he was 'just part of the crowd'. We believed we could create a Lapland Santa Claus trip that was as magical and enchanting for adults just as much as the children and that the excitement and anticipation should begin well before departure. We wanted to include other more obvious magical family moments such as visiting a husky farm and reindeer sledding, but we would also include our trademark of doing things differently. We sourced unknown log cabins, beautiful spots near frozen lakes for al fresco dining around a fire, the chance to see the Northern Lights with an astronomer, and an ultimate visit to Santa at his cabin in a clearing in the woods. e most important factor was to plan these trips as independent from the crowds so our clients felt the freedom, peace, and isolation that Lapland deserves." anks to Allvey and his team, "Keeping the Magic Alive" affords families an authentic Lappish experience minus the crowds and tourist traps that the holiday season oen brings. Niquesa Travel extensively researches destinations before curating trips and personally visits these exclusive locations to scour the best local sites and restaurants and take travelers beyond what they might find searching trip recommendations online or taking tips from friends. Let us take a closer look at the itinerary for "Keeping the Magic Alive," an unforgettable journey into the heart of Christmas. V U E N J . C O M 130

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