Arwyn Lautenschlager - Travel Agent Partnered with Gateway Travel

Arwyn Lautenschlager - Travel Agent Partnered with Gateway Travel I customize various kinds of vacations for families based on preferences, needs and wants (i.e. motor coach tours and flight/hotel/car vacation packages).

I believe it is my responsibility as a travel agent to create memorable experiences for every family I have been in the travel industry for 9 years and have extensive knowledge of North America. I have experience booking customized travel for families. I have created customized itineraries based on their preferences while traveling around visiting various destinations. Some of the itineraries I cr

eated included activities such as bike riding, white-water rafting and horseback riding. Completed the Family Travel Association's Certified Family Travel Agent program - November 2025

For families considering a true "winter break" trip, there are plenty of destinations that offer activities for the whol...
09/02/2026

For families considering a true "winter break" trip, there are plenty of destinations that offer activities for the whole family.

Of course, there are numerous options in the United States and Canada. Things to consider when trying to determine what the ideal winter vacation would be like:

• How cold is too cold? This will be important to decide when considering how much time will be spent outside
• Match activities to the children – besides skiing it would be ideal to have other activities available. Examples are: tubing, sledding, sleigh rides and wildlife outings
• Consider that there may be a lack of snow or that not enough snow will be made for activities like skiing and snow tubing
• Avoid over-scheduling each day; make sure there is plenty of “down time.”
• Check out ski schools to determine what the ideal for what age(s) for each one and check the policies
• Budget for lift tickets, lessons, rentals and other expenses that may arise during your vacation
• Choose accommodations that make it easy to get to the activities at the resort
• Make sure that the rental vehicle (to explore the area and local attractions) is ideal for traveling in the winter weather

Not sure what destination is the right one for your family. I can help with that.

Let's start planning!

After mentioning the holidays in my post last week, it made me think about the cold weather and the desire to travel to ...
08/26/2026

After mentioning the holidays in my post last week, it made me think about the cold weather and the desire to travel to warm destinations during the winter months.

How about combining the holidays and a multi-generational vacation? What better gifts would there be of spending time with loved ones in a warm destination.

As a travel agent, I have noticed that when considering a warm climate during the winter months, people think of the Caribbean.

Traveling as a family is challenging enough and then add the need for passports causes extra stress.

There is another option....traveling to states in the United States that have warm climates. Some suggestions are:
* Florida ( multiple destination options)
* Hawaii
* California
* Arizona

Want to explore what the ideal location would be for your multi-generational trip?

Let's discover that together!

Beach photo by Lesli Whitecotton on Unsplash
Family photo by grplamondon on Pixby

Have you started thinking about travel for the holiday season? You are probably asking, "Arwyn it is only August, why ar...
08/19/2026

Have you started thinking about travel for the holiday season?

You are probably asking, "Arwyn it is only August, why are you mentioning holiday travel now?"

I am mentioning it now because it is never too early to book holiday travel; especially when it comes to family travel.

Some reasons to consider booking holiday travel early:
1. Pricing for airline tickets is lower in price (the farther out you book your travel the less you will pay)
2. Better flight options - booking early may provide more choices in departure times, nonstop flights and seating options.
3. Plenty of time to coordinate school schedules, work schedules and schedules of extended family members
4. More choices for family-friendly accommodations - suites, connecting rooms, larger room and vacation rentals fill up quickly for stays during the holiday season.
5. Less stress - getting the major pieces of the trip confirmed allows families to focus on packing, holiday preparations and enjoy the anticipation of the trip.

Why is it that when going on vacation it is not truly relaxing?As a travel agent, I have come across the issue of famili...
08/12/2026

Why is it that when going on vacation it is not truly relaxing?

As a travel agent, I have come across the issue of families wanting to cram as much as they can in their vacation. That is why a vacation is needed after a vacation!

Tips for a successful/relaxing vacation:
1. Narrow down the number of attractions and activities that are "must do" while in destination
2. Choose 2-3 things to do a day and to build in time to relax
3. Plan to start your visits to attractions and/or activities the day after arrival (travel can be tiring and may impact the ability of enjoying an experience)
4. Be flexible - don't feel like you have to still to a schedule

Want to make sure you are going to create the ideal vacation? Let me help you with creating a customized itinerary for your and your family's trip.

Have you ever had the experience of trying to decide between a train trip or a cruise?Fortunately, there is a solution c...
08/05/2026

Have you ever had the experience of trying to decide between a train trip or a cruise?

Fortunately, there is a solution called Rail & Sail.

One example is the itinerary for a Rail and Sail to Alaska. The train ride would start from Chicago (or another station located near your home - the starting point can be customized) with an overnight trip aboard, traveling across the northern United States toward the Pacific Northwest; the ultimate destination being Vancouver.

Travelers embark from Vancouver for a seven-night Norwegian Cruise Line voyage along Alaska’s rugged coastline, with opportunities to experience dramatic glaciers, mountain scenery, wildlife, and historic ports such as Skagway.

The package combines rail travel, hotel accommodations, an Alaska cruise, and selected transfers, ending in Anchorage.

Interested in learning more?

Respond in the comment section with the term "rail and sail". I will connect with you to discuss your and family's personalized travel.

Don't like flying or driving to a destination? There is another option...train travel.All you and your family have to do...
07/29/2026

Don't like flying or driving to a destination? There is another option...train travel.

All you and your family have to do is sit back and relax; enjoy the scenery as you travel to your destination.

When booking train trips for clients, I recommend booking one of the accommodations for overnight travel (there are several options). Though it can seem expensive, I know from personal experience that how you choose to travel makes a difference.

When I was a kid, my mom took my brother and I on a train trip to Montreal. The trip itself was great. The sleeping on the train was another story.

We slept in our seats and had the air condition blowing (what seemed to be) on full blast. When I asked for a blanket, it was very thin and did not make much difference. Needless to say, I did not sleep well.

I can assist you in learning the difference between the various overnight accommodation options.

Let's start planning your train trip now!



Photo of a family enjoying the scenery was taken by Behzad Ghaffarian - Unsplash website
Photo of a family sitting in the Dining Car was taken by Lena Polishko - Unsplash website

The final piece of advice for my third post is something that clients of mine tend not to think about when planning a ro...
07/22/2026

The final piece of advice for my third post is something that clients of mine tend not to think about when planning a road trip - how long to drive each day.

Though it is tempting to drive as much as you can in a day to get to your destination sooner, it is not the best of ideas (at least that is my perspective as a travel agent). I recommend driving 4-5 hours a day. There is no benefit to pushing yourself and your children to endure a longer drive beyond 5 hours.

I have created countless road trip routes over the years and can assist you in planning your route as well as determining the best places to find hotels for your overnight stays.

Let me know how I can make your road trip the best it can be.

Last week, I gave tips on packing and preparing for your family road trip. This week I will address how to provide inclu...
07/15/2026

Last week, I gave tips on packing and preparing for your family road trip.

This week I will address how to provide inclusive games for all family members that go beyond the usual car games (I Spy or one of my favorites...the license plate game).

An alternative to the constant screen time, is creating printable games for free that you can create prior to the trip. An example of a website and what game options you can print is Let's Do Puzzles.

Hopefully, that will reduce hearing the dreaded "are we there yet?" that parents hate to hear. I know that for a fact due to my older brother asking that several times during family road trips. It drove my parents crazy!

Designing the customized games takes only minutes.

If you need additional ideas to help pass the time, I am happy to help.

The last two posts were about the transportation option of flying. I would like to discuss the popularity of another typ...
07/08/2026

The last two posts were about the transportation option of flying. I would like to discuss the popularity of another type of transportation that families use to explore destinations: road trips.

Road trips are extremely popular during the summer months since the kids are out of school and parents want to enjoy that time as a family.

This week and the next two weeks will focus on tips for family road trips.

Tips for planning the road trip:
1. Make sure your vehicle is "road ready" by getting it checked out by a local mechanic
2. Know how many hours you will need to drive each day to get to your destination
3. Make sure to stop for gas every chance you get; you may not see a gas station along your route for a while
4. Save money by stocking up on drinks and snacks prior to departing. The prices at the convenience stores may be more expensive than what you would pay normally for that item/product.
5. I know that physical maps are considered "old school" in the age of GPS, but it is important to have them as a back up in case you lose the signal for your directions.

I attached an image that can give you additional insight about preparing for your road trip.

Taking a road trip, but not sure how many hours you should drive each day or how to find ideal hotel allow your route?

I can assist you with figuring those issues out. Let's talk.

Though layovers can save families money, they often add extra stress, extended travel time and opportunities for things ...
07/01/2026

Though layovers can save families money, they often add extra stress, extended travel time and opportunities for things to get complicated (i.e. delayed connecting flight, luggage delay and needing to walk from the gate at connecting airport to get to the gate for the flight to their destination) .

Non-stop flights tend to cost more, but can be an easier option. By paying more, families reduce the amount of stress, shorten the travel day and help in everyone arrive at the destination more rested.

Not sure how to determine what layover option would work for your travel, let me know. I would be happy to answer your questions or concerns.

Note: Picture of the boys was taken by Rochelle Lee and the other photo was taken by Catgirlmutant. Photos were selected from the Unsplash website.

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