How to decipher travel lingo, get a passport in a flash, and other useful travel knowledge
Klas Fahlén/Art Department
Tour, Choosing One That Meets Your Needs
Adventure Tours:
G.A.P. Adventures: Try anything from a sailing trip to kayaking in Patagonia. www.gapadventures.com
Mountain Travel Sobek: Options span the globe — there’s ice climbing in New Zealand and a “first-timer’s trek” near Mount Everest, in Nepal. www.mtsobek.com
Intrepid Travel: This company introduces you to local culture (you often stay with families in foreign countries) and caters to travelers who like adventure but may not be ready to skydive. www.intrepidtravel.com
Epiculinary: Tours hit major food destinations in Europe. There are also U.S. options. www.epiculinary.com
Hiking And Biking Tours:
VBT Bicycling Vacations: These global vacations are rated by difficulty. www.vbt.com
Backroads: Bike the Natchez Trace, in Mississippi, or volcanic slopes in Hawaii. www.backroads.com
BikeHike Adventures: Trips come in four fitness levels. www.bikehike.com
Family Tours:
Thomson Family Adventures: This company plans family tours across the world, with activities like horseback riding and nature tours of the Galápagos. The staff also arranges for your kids to have pen pals in the country they visit. www.familyadventures.com
Adventures by Disney: The company offers guided tours of countries from Costa Rica to China. Trips are based around fairly large hotels and kid-friendly activities (like zip-lines through the rainforest). abd.disney.go.com
