AS INTREPID TRAVELERS, you know some trips allow for meticulous advance planning, dotting all the I’s and crossing every T. However, others are a bit more spur-of-themoment, when a client or an activity pops up unexpectedly and next thing you know, you’re changing your schedule, packing a bag and searching for airfare and hotels. My trip to London this summer was planned over a five-month period, while my trip to Chicago a few weeks prior was booked and planned just a few days before departure. We are not alone, especially when it comes to the more last-minute adventures, and the travel industry is taking notice. Turn to page 38 to learn more about what’s available to assist in those quickturnaround trips.

One aspect of travel that usually requires some advance planning and coordination: family travel. From researching kid-friendly restaurants to coordinating the schedules of several family members or finding places to see to please a range of budgets, there’s quite a bit that goes into planning the perfect family escape. Allow us to help: I’m excited to announce this month marks the launch of our newest web publication, whereverfamily.com. Updated daily, WhereverFamily is the trusted travel source for modern families. We break it down by age group and budget, offer tips and tricks, give you quick hits of important information and cover the premier family travel destinations around the globe. Check out whereverfamily.com today; don’t forget about the other fantastic online offerings from the GT family: www.globaltravelerusa.com and trazeetravel.com. And, as always, you can rely on our monthly Friends & Family article; this month, we island hop around Hawai’i on page 68.

And that’s just one of the destinations we take you to this month. Our around-the-world journey also includes stops in Adelaide, Göteborg, Detroit, Luxembourg, St. Petersburg, São Paulo, Tanzania and the Ribera del Duero. Also, join the party with us as we recap our Leisure Lifestyle Awards event on page 44.

Next month we take a closer look at United Airlines, kick back in Boracay and so much more.