A child practises skiing with an elder. -- Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images

As certain as summer follows spring and fall follows summer, Canadians will chase autumn by booking their winter vacation hotspots, regardless of how warm the past summer was. And so it is thus again as travel agent lines heat up with customer calls taking advantage of early booking bonuses offered by most tour operators. Many of this week's questions centred on our predilection to escape winter.

Q: I want to take my young family on a winter holiday before they go to school next year. Are there places that have special prices and programs for children under six?

A: Only a few properties have really good programs for families with children under two or three, but after that you have many excellent options to choose from. While a number of family oriented resorts offer children-stay-and-eat-free programs for children, tour operators will occasionally offer a fly free addition to that during special promotions. Very often however you will have to buy the air seats for the kids and then take advantage of the resort offer. What you receive is much more than a price bargain. Resorts that seek out families also build in tremendous programs which children and parents both seem to love. Children love it because the day is spent with other children partaking in fun games and activities while the parents get an opportunity of getting some vacation time alone. In the evening the children will often perform for the parents and guests, showing off what they did or created during the day. Choices are plentiful, but I have no hesitancy in recommending the Viva resorts program which I personally witnessed. Viva Resorts are scattered throughout Mexico and the Caribbean.

Q: I keep hearing that we now need to be vaccinated for hepatitis before going to Mexico or other similar destinations. Is that true?

A: There is no obligation to be vaccinated against anything going to the most popular southern resort destinations. And each person needs to go for an individual assessment to determine which if any vaccinations they should have. However it is clear that pre-travel health precautions should be an important part of the planning for any foreign travel. There have been many horror stories of people who returned from vacations with tropical diseases which could have been easily prevented. Because it is not covered under provincial health coverage, there usually is a consultation fee involved, but you will receive a three quarters of an hour education on prevention in addition to any designated vaccinations. It may very well be the best investment in your future you will ever make. Travel health clinics get very busy as the high season for travel approaches so early booking is recommended.

Q: I have always gone south for the winter but friends have been to Portugal and rave about the experience. What are your thoughts on this as an alternative to Mexico or the Dominican?

A: It all depends which month you want to get away and the degree to which lying on the beach is an important adjunct to your holiday. Our coldest months are not really hot in Portugal and beach tanning can be pretty much ruled out. The shoulder season months are much warmer. Portugal is a wonderful destination. It is worth spending more than a week considering the extra travel time required, but golf, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities will pull you back to Portugal many times over. There are Portugal seminars being held in Winnipeg on Thursday Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Call 942-500 for details.

Ron Pradinuk is the President of Journeys Travel & Leisure SuperCentre in Winnipeg. Send your questions to askjourneys@wpgsun.com.