top 10 tips for getting away with great family travel deals

This blog is as much for me as it is for you. Its easy to forget how to plan a trip with young kids, and this would serve as a good reminder...

A little about me - I have a 5 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. We live in California. My son's first airplane trip was at 6 months, to Seattle, after which we've been to Florida (Disney World), India, Utah (Yellowstone National park), New York, Palm Springs, camping at Yosemite (with a 3 month old daughter), and so on. Our latest trip was to Seattle (again, in February), and we're planning one to Europe soon. I am very passionate about travelling. "The Vagabond" by R.L.Stevenson, is one of my favorite poems:

Give to me the life I love,
Let the lave go by me,
Give the jolly heaven above
And the byway nigh me.
...
Wealth I seek not, hope nor love,
Nor a friend to know me;
All I seek, the heaven above
And the road below me.
...

Well, I can't be quite the vagabond, being a mom and wife, but I can give them my passion, and take them along with me.

Here are some travel tips:
1. Vacation rentals have been our saviour with 2 kids. Having a kitchenette ensures a breakfast to start the day, even if its just bread, butter and milk.
Fed kids = less cranky kids
During our (extremely hectic) trip to Disney World, Florida, we stayed at a Marriott vacation villa outside town, and it was wonderful. The kids had their own space, we would eat dinner at home if kids were tired after a long day, and there was a pool to unwind in.

2. Travel before your kids start kindergarten (if this is an option). That way you can have off season advantages. Less money, fewer crowds and smaller lines make the vacation more meaningful and fun.

3. If possible take long distance trips before your child turns 2. That way kids fly free or on international trips you only pay the airline taxes. Yes, the disadvantage may be that the child can’t run around or remember the trip when she's older, but it works great if your child can take afternoon naps in a stroller or is at least a little stroller friendly.

4. If you have 2 kids, and are doing a big walking trip like Disney World, I highly recommend the sit and stand or double stroller. Since my kids are 3 years apart, my Joovy Caboose Sit N Stand stroller was an immense help (for straight roads)

5. Travel with other families, if possible. That way the kids have company as well as you. Finding like-minded people is more important than the exact same age group. It would be possible to babysit the kids alternately, and each couple could enjoy some alone time!

6. I recently discovered yapta.com, which allows you to track flights, with emails if the price changes. It’s a great tool for a vacation in works.

7. Carry all the possible children’s medications as its best to be prepared for emergency situations.

8. Carry extra pairs of clothes in a carryon for air/car travel, in case they get air/car sick and throw up. Don’t forget to pack a pair for you.

9. The portable DVD player really comes in handy on long flights. For long car drives, we love children’s audio books. For the young ones, there are many early reader books in the library that come with an audio cd, which comes in handy.

10. Have your kid carry his own bag or backpack with toys/books packed specially for the trip. Read books to fill time and carry crayons, activity books and even play dough to keep them busy.

11. With kids travel is unpredictable, so if it’s a trip you are investing in heavily, pay for extra trip insurance for peace of mind.

Happy traveling. Remember, its good to start them young on the joy of travel. Hope you
find these tips useful and please feel free to drop me a line if you have comments or questions.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.