Take-a-Trip Tuesday: What to Pack for a Family Getaway

Kids Need Lots of Stuff...

So how do you decide what to pack on your family vacation?

 

One of the biggest mistakes parents can make when they travel with kids is that they bring TOO MUCH STUFF! While it certainly becomes much more challenging to "travel light" when you've got kids in tow, there are a few easy things you can do to make traveling and vacationing more efficient (and help stick to your budget, too)!

How to Find the Best Deals on Airline Flights

Flights: Thriftiness is a Points Game

But if you put in some work, the payback is awesome!

Welcome to the third installment of Take-a-Trip-Tuesday, our February special series about affordable ways to travel with families. Over the last two weeks we've talked about why we are devoted to traveling with our kids, how to save money on high-end lodging, and negotiating the airport with young kids. Today Ben is guest posting again, and this time he's sharing how he nabs us some amazing deals on airline tickets.

Negotiating the Airport with Young Kids

You Can Survive an Airplane Flight with Little Ones!

Part 1: The Airport Experience {with Kids!}

I've talked to many parents who avoid taking far-away vacations with their families for two main (and legitimate) reasons: (1) They dread the experience of negotiating the airport with the kids and (2) They worry about how the kids will behave during the actual flight. I can totally understand the anxiety associated with both experiences, but if you take the processes one step one at a time, it really becomes do-able, and you'll thank yourself for it when you're relaxing on the beach or admiring the Sistine Chapel later that week!

When I started this post, I had planned to discuss the airport AND flight experiences in the same post, but after I started, I realized that's just too much info for one post. So today is PART ONE of SURVIVING THE FLIGHT: The Airport Experience. FYI, I'm about to throw a lot of info out there, so this may be a "Pin Now, Read Later" post for you ;)

Forgo the Hotel Room, Stay in a Villa, and Save Money

Stay at a High-End Resort for Less Than the Price of a Hotel Room

Yes, it's possible to travel in style AND save!

 

 

Take-A-Trip Tuesdays: The Secret to Affording Luxury Travel

 

Welcome to the first installment of our Take-A-Trip Tuesday Series! As promised last week, my travel-savvy husband, Ben, is guest posting for me today! Yay! He's figured out some awesome ways to travel at a HUGE DISCOUNT; I don't know how he does it, but I'm soooo happy he does! We make a great team, because he focuses on the big travel pieces, like airfare and lodging, which allows me to focus on the little details that help to keep everyone happy during the trip!

Just a note: this is a pretty content-heavy post, so be prepared! Lots of info about to come your way ;)

 

 

 

Winter Blues Got You Down? Start Planning a Family Getaway!

How to Plan an Enjoyable and Affordable Family Vacation

Announcing a New Series for February!
Take-a-Trip Tuesdays: Stress-Free & Fun Tips for Travel with Kids

Remember those times when your vacations consisted of simply lounging around and relaxing? When you could wake up late and take your time deciding what fun activities you'd do that day? Go surfing or play tennis? Take a hike or explore a new city? Sunbathe by the pool and read a book without interruption? Sadly, as a parent to young kiddos, that version of a vacation is no longer the same (at least for a few years).  But don't let that scare you off! Things may be different now, but it's still possible to have a fun and relaxing vacation, even when you add your kids into the mix. It's easy to shy away from traveling with kids, especially young ones, but with some careful planning and a {mini} shift in expectations, you can enjoy your family vacation, and even return home feeling rested!