So, what do you need to do/know so you can travel indefinitely with peace of mind? Read on to find out.

This article may contain #ads and/or affiliate links and if you click we could potentially make an income.

Answer the Right Questions

By answering a few targeted questions before you plan any trip, you can make sure you’re going to be able to achieve what you want to achieve. Below are a few suggestions:

• What’s your travel style going to be? Luxury, backpacker, full-time RVer or something else?
• Why do you want to travel the country/world?
• What do you want to get out of the experience?
• What’s your budget?
• Are you traveling solo, with a friend, or a partner?
• How long do you want to travel for?

Once you have answered the questions above, you can look into everything else. You need to know what you’re looking to achieve and how you envision your trip in order to have the most meaningful time.

Accommodations Are One of the Biggest Expenses

You’ll spend a huge portion of your budget on accommodations. The kind of accommodations you stay in will depend entirely on the type of traveler that you want to be. If you’re going to be a backpacker, you’ll probably stay in hostels. If you’re a luxury traveler, you might want to rent in singapore whole unit. Whatever you do, make sure you explore your options so you can get the best deal. Sites like Hostelworld and Airbnb can be useful.

Figuring Out Your Budget When Traveling Indefinitely

Once you know your travel style and the kind of accommodations you expect to stay in, you need to consider the rest of your budget. Consider how you like to eat, the souvenirs you might want to pick up, how much you want to sight-see, how much you plan on going out, and so on. Have an activities allowance to guide you. Bear in mind that most travelers will end up spending more than they really want to, so it’s best to have more than you think you’ll need.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Plan Everything

If you have a rock solid itinerary because you’ve already arranged everything and bought all of the tickets, you’re locked in. What if you want to stay somewhere a bit longer or you think a last minute change of plan would suit you better? It’s often better to go with the flow, only planning a few key activities in advance, rather than your entire schedule. You’ll like having the freedom to make the most of different opportunities when you get them.

Visas, Passports, and Other Documents

You should find out well in advance whether you need a visa or not for the countries you’re going to be visiting. It can be super expensive if you have to organize a visa in another town. The last thing you want is to be faced with an angry official and only expensive and inconvenient ways of rectifying the situation.

Make sure you carry printed photocopies of all your important documents and have them saved online so they are accessible.

It’s also important to note that your passport should usually have a minimum of six months left on it, as well as pages. Double check this before you travel!

Buy a Travel Guide

Hard copy travel guides can be an awesome way to enjoy your trip. The internet can give you a ton of great information, but sometimes it can be inconsistent and patchy. You can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned travel guide! You might even want to purchase a phrasebook so you can prepare yourself with a few key phrases.

The Right Type of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance should be a necessity on your trip. If you’re planning on going for a long while, which you are if you’re reading this, you should have insurance to cover you for a range of instances. What if the airline loses your luggage or something valuable is stolen? These things do happen on trips. It’s especially important you are protected if you become sick or get injured.

A quote for indefinite travel can be daunting and expensive, but start with a year and see how much of your budget that will take up. You shouldn’t leave without it, as things always go wrong, even if you’re not going on an ‘adventure’ trip.

Packing Your Bags for Traveling Indefinitely

If you’re traveling indefinitely, light packing is always best. You’re going to feel much more relaxed and comfortable with a backpack, rather than a full on suitcase or two. You will be able to buy most things you need while you’re on the road, so the key is to be as vigilant as possible. You might think that your roller suitcase is convenient and will be a breeze to get to where you’re going, but you’ll have to deal with bumping into people and navigating your way through unfamiliar streets, not to mention just getting fed up of packing/unpacking all of those things over and over again.

Keep in mind that you will have to carry everything you take when traveling indefinitely – that could end up being a very long time! Versatile clothing is a good idea, but probably don’t take items that you’re too attached to. You might have to give away certain items or leave items somewhere because you need to make room for new ones. You don’t want to worry too much about your belongings while you’re supposed to be enjoying your travels.

Traveling indefinitely is a huge decision, but hopefully the information above will help you a little to navigate it. You may only get this opportunity once in your life, so if you have it, go for it!

The post Planning on Traveling Indefinitely? Here’s What You Should Know appeared first on State by State.

#ad This post may contain ads and/or affiliate links and there is a possibility we could maybe earn something from clicks

Access Your Funds

“I always have a contingency plan set up whenever I travel, especially abroad,” says Yamy. Yamy is the creator of Gofamgo.com, a multi-generational family travel blog where she chronicles her family’s adventures. “One of the useful things to know when things go awry is how to access an emergency fund,” Yamy explains. “I have an emergency stash of cash in a safe place on my person, in case of lost luggage or theft.” Being prepared is always a good idea, but even more so when you are far from home.

“You will get the most bang for your buck if you do not try to convert one currency to another in a bank or one of those stands at the airport,” shares Tiffany at Mommy And Me Travels. She says that instead you can “withdraw money with your debt card from an ATM. The currency conversion rate is usually much better because there is no fee involved as there is when you use a bank to change money.”

“Call your bank and let them know that you are going out of the country so they don’t freeze your cards,” instructs Annette. Annette shares family friendly recipes, traveling tips, parenting tips and product reviews on her website Tips From A Typical Mom. Another great tip on traveling internationally from Regina at Full-Time Field Trip is to “find out what your daily withdraw limit is and decide if you need to increase it.” It certainly is important to have access to your funds when you travel internationally.

Learn a Few Phrases

Shannan at Captivating Compass blogs about learning on location using the world as your textbook. She tells us to “learn a few phrases.” Because, Shannan says, “knowing ‘thank you’ and ‘please’, in the local language is a minimum.” You should definitely “improve your language skills before you go, and then try them out in-country,” she recommends.

“Watch some YouTube videos to learn the basics of the language,” Deb at World Wise Kid says. “Choose a ‘word of the day’ that you all learn and practice to keep your language skills developing. Ask the locals for help with pronunciation.” Furthermore, Deb says to “smile and greet people. Allow serendipitous encounters because they often become the best stories.” Don’t let language be a barrier, let it be a learning experience.

Bringing Medication When Traveling Internationally

Many people have prescriptions for medications that they take regularly. This can be a problem when traveling internationally. Melissa is the main writer at Disabled Disney where she writes about traveling with disabilities. She recommends that you “check if you need a physician statement about your medications. You can use http://www.incb.org/ to check for guidelines on controlled substances if you are taking any.” Melissa tells us that you should “also take your original prescription bottle with you,” due to the fact that you can prove it is yours.

Another important recommendation from Melissa is to keep your medications with you. “The horrible truth is, luggage gets delayed, lost, and even stolen. If you keep your medications with you, it’s less likely you’ll encounter these problems while traveling.” This is so true Melissa. Medications could possibly be the hardest thing to replace while traveling internationally. So, in addition to Melissa’s advice, I would say that you should also make sure you have enough to last the entire trip. This might mean a visit to your doctor, so be sure to schedule accordingly.

Safety Standards

Safety is probably the most important concern for parents. When you’re traveling internationally, safety is something you need to consider. “Adjusting to different safety standards (if any at all) can be challenging,” says Kirsty at World For a Girl. “You always need to be aware of potential dangers. From dodgy playpark equipment to street stands with flaming grills or even open sewers, keeping an eye on toddlers and younger children can be hard work. Try carrying toddlers in child carriers as a way of keeping them safe and speak openly to older children about any dangers.” Making your children aware of potential dangers will help them stay safe when you’re in another country.

Bring a Map

Sarah at Dandelion Seeds tells us that “one of the most important things (when traveling internationally) is to bring an old-fashioned paper map of the area. Particularly when I didn’t speak any of the local languages. True, GPS works nearly everywhere on a mobile device. When it hasn’t, however, I’ve found myself in some sub-optimal situations. A paper map isn’t necessary in areas where someone is likely to speak your language, but pointing at a map is a wonderful universal ‘language’ -and a great safety net.”

Traveling Internationally Close to Home

Traveling internationally doesn’t have to mean going far. Kris at Gadsventure says “when traveling internationally, I always try to plan a trip based on short flights. Not only is it cheaper when traveling with a large family, but it also takes a lot of the stress of flying away.” Not to mention that if you have kids under two, like Kris does, they will be on your lap for the whole flight! “The flights around Asia are only between 1.5-3 hours in length, so we don’t have to be cooped up in planes for too long at all. This still maintains excitement levels high with the kids!” I agree Kris, we don’t like to drive more than three hours with our kids.

Culture Shock

“Culture shock can affect children as much or more than adults,” warns Kirsty. “Children like routine and rhythm in their lives. They might find the sights, smells and sounds of new places unsettling. Try to empathize with them, acknowledge the things that might worry them. Give them time and space to adjust to their new surroundings. Bring familiar toys and sometimes spend more money to go to a restaurant or playground that reminds them of home.”

It is important to be respectful of the rules and customs in the country you are visiting. Research what these my be before you go and learn from the locals once you arrive. Doing this will enhance your travel experience because people will notice your efforts and be willing to help you more. Knowing what to expect before traveling internationally can be the difference between a great family vacation and a bad one.

Use Electronics When Traveling Internationally

Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders recommends choosing “a flight with seat-back entertainment” because she says it “is a lifesaver when you have kids!” Nikki also says that “when we do shorter flights to Europe I make sure the kids have their tablets fully charged and a movie downloaded. When they have watched their own movie, they can then swap tablets and watch the other one’s movie!” Sometimes a little screen time can be a big help. Our son keeps his tablet stocked with e-books to read when we travel.

Communication

Staying connected with friends and family is necessary when traveling internationally. “There are a million ways/apps to stay connected and free WiFi all around the world,” says Regina. She has some great recommendations to keep you in communication when you’re traveling internationally. First, “Contact your service provider and ask about short term international plans, they may be more affordable than you thought.” Second, “get a SIM card in the country you’re visiting. FYI, your phone must be unlocked for this. While we may pay a bit more in the airport or bus station, it’s worth it to have what we need to help us navigate to our next location.” Lastly, “for talking to anyone from taxi drivers to friends back home, we like WhatsApp. Viber is great when you need to make a call, like to your credit card company or airline, for example.”

Travel Insurance

“Get travel insurance,” instructs Shannan. “Without question, you need travel insurance. An accident or illness in a foreign country can be complicated, stressful and expensive. Good travel insurance is worth every penny just for the peace of mind.” Kids get hurt and sick frequently, therefore, I couldn’t agree more with Shannan. Keeping our kids healthy and safe is always top priority.

Paperwork for Traveling Internationally

“In theory, all you need to travel is your passport,” says Regina at Full Time Field Trip. However, not every place is the same when it comes to travel. “In certain places, and for certain types of visas, you may also need birth certificates and a marriage license,” Regina advises. Here are some more great tips from Regina:

• Keep your documents safe in a waterproof, RFID protective case.
• Keep a hard copy of your documents somewhere in your luggage.
• Have a digital copy on your phone. Preferably somewhere that doesn’t require internet access to retrieve, like your notes.
• Ask a trusted friend or family member back home to keep a digital and hard copy of your documents in case of an emergency.

“Passports take a very long time to get, so you should just get one now,” recommends Annette. “Whether or not you are planning on traveling out of the country, it’s always good to have a passport for you and your family members.” Plus, if you get one, you’re more likely to want to use it to start traveling internationally!

Don’t Over Pack

Packing for a long trip can be overwhelming. Trying to decide what you will need, especially when traveling internationally, can be challenging. Tiffany says “first and foremost, you can purchase almost everything you might need in other countries.” In other words, there is no need to over pack. “The items that you need to ensure you have with you are your passports, insurance cards, and prescription medications. If you land in a country and have these three items, everything else can be located in local stores. You might not know what the brand of diapers is that you are buying, but hey, they still work.” This is great advice Tiffany because it’s easy to forget that most things we really need are available anywhere.

Annette says to “pack a bag that works as a carry on and is roll-able. I packed a carry on, but it was a duffel bag and it was the WORST to hold on to in the custom’s lines.” This is an excellent point Annette. sometimes things can take much longer than expected. It’s always important to be comfortable and make things as easy on yourself as possible.

Now that you’ve read this great advice from experienced travel writers, I hope that you are ready to take the leap and start traveling internationally. Don’t forget to check out the other articles in our Planning a Family Vacation Series:

1. 10 Tips For Selecting a Destination
2. 8 Ways to Save on Transportation
3. 10 tips For Finding the Perfect Accommodations
4. 15 Tips For Sightseeing With Kids
5. 13 Amazing Packing Tips and Tricks
6. 11 Ideas For Eating Cheap
7. 9 Ways to Make Road Trips a Breeze

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 12 Experts Advice on Traveling Internationally appeared first on State by State.

This article contains advertisements and affiliate links, we could potentially make money from your activity. #ad

Break Up Long Drives

“Try to plan each segment of a long drive to last around two hours,” says Kirsty at World For A Girl. This is something I definitely agree with for several reasons. Firstly, everyone is in a better mood if we arrive at our destination early. Secondly, giving everyone even just a few minutes out of the car always seems to lift our travel spirits. Lastly, there are so many interesting places on the way, why not check them out? The following are some great ideas from fellow travel writers on how to break up those long road trips.

Picnics Are For Road Trips

“Picnics are a wonderful way to experience the outdoors with young children. They are also a great way to break up long drives,” Kirsty explains. “Even busy motorways can have attractive rest areas. Plan ahead, bring a cool bag, and enjoy some memorable picnic lunches,” instructs Kirsty. We have enjoyed our lunches at some really cool parks and playgrounds on our travels. For example, we once stopped just off the highway, right next to Lake Michigan, at a picnic area. It was a beautiful place we never would have found if we hadn’t been hungry at just the right moment.

Try a New Cafe

“We love a very loose agenda when road tripping – with time and freedom to stop in an interesting looking shop or cafe, or run across a field. We often take breaks in small towns to get coffee and snacks, interact with the locals, learn about their town culture and history, and to download another audio track!” says Deb. Some of the best, most family-friendly, and cheapest restaurants we’ve eaten in have been in small towns.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Bloomfield (@statebystateadventure) on Jul 22, 2018 at 8:45am PDT

Four Hour Limit

Kris is a totally fun-loving Australian on an international gap year with her husband, Brian, and their four kids. They are world schooling and documenting every step on their blog Gadsventure. She explains her best way to make road trips a breeze. “We traveled around Australia for 12 months when our kids were very little. The best road trips tips we have gained from this is to only drive short distances and have plenty of time in between travel times. We find the kids are perfect for the first four hours or so, and then things will start to go pear shaped.” Likewise, our family has found this to also be true. We try to keep our travel days to around three hours, but never more than four if we can avoid doing so.

Safety

“It can be tempting to keep pushing forward when you shouldn’t,” says Yamy at Gofamgo. “You may have a plan that you want to stick to, but you need to listen to your body. If you’re tired, resist the urge to keep pushing and stay well rested and hydrated. Keep caffeinated beverages to a minimum, follow the same advice for alcohol.” Because, explains Yamy, “a jittery or hung-over driver can be just as dangerous as an intoxicated one.” Staying safe on the road is good for everyone, certainly.

Stay Hydrated

Annette writes the blog, Tips From a Typical Mom where she shares family friendly recipes, travel tips, parenting tips and product reviews. She recommends to “only bring water. Do not bring flavored drinks. If you do, your kids will chug them and you will be stopping to use the restroom every 30 minutes.” Water not only helps the kids stay hydrated, it’s also healthier. Bring some refillable water bottles that are big enough to keep them from getting thirsty, but not so big they have to go too often. Adults need to remember to drink plenty of water too.

Leave Early

Kris at Gadsventure says that they “love to leave super early in the morning if we know we have a long drive ahead of us.” I think we’d all agree with Kris that “driving with sleeping kids is a fantastic way to do it!” Kris tells us “for example, on a 10 hour trip to see the grandparents, if we leave at 3 a.m., then we get the first half of the drive under our belts before the kids even wake from their slumbers!!” We have definitely done this a few times.

Play Games

Playing games during road trips is a great way to help pass the time. There are so many options and variations available on car games, that the possibilities are endless. It seems like just about everyone knows some version of the license plate game or similarly, the ABC game. Let me share some of these awesome road trip game ideas form some expert travelers.

Use a Map

“Sick to death of the endless “when will we be there” and “how much longer” questions kids naturally ask? Buy or print a map of the area you’ll be traveling,” suggests Regina. Regina Kay is a world-schooling mother of five, full-time global explorer, and travel writer at fulltimefieldtrip.com. “Next, draw on it each leg of your trip. Pin it on the ceiling of your car for all to see. Or place it on a clipboard to be passed around. On a clipboard, I assign kids to be in charge of this sacred item for an hour or two,” says Regina. She also tells us this is “a responsibility they look forward to. Not only is this educational and makes a nice keepsake; it truly reduces that ever-so-annoying question.”

The ABC Game

Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders suggest playing the ABC game to pass some time and miles. “We like to play the ABC game in the car. First, we choose a topic. It could be animals, countries, or capital cities for example. Then we take it in turns, so the first person names a country beginning with A, the second person names one beginning with B and so on,” shares Nikki. “It can be as silly or as educational as you like! When the children were younger we used categories like ‘girl’s names’ and ‘boy’s names’. You can target it to their age group.” I love that you can tailor it to the kids ages Nikki!

Customized For Road Trips

Melissa at Disabled Disney has some fun suggestions for putting a twist on old favorites like the license plate game, for example. She says to “make up rules just for your family.” Melissa suggest things “like the first person who spots three different states gets to choose the music for the next X time period. Try variations, such as the next vanity plate or even choose a letter or number and the person who spots the most of that…wins!” We have made up our own variation where we try to spot the state farthest away from the state we are in.

Honk Honk

“For my toddler, a favorite game is trying to get the semi-trucks to honk their horns,” shares Tiffany at Mommy And Me Travels. “You play this game by moving your arm up and down as if you were pulling the string for their horn. My toddler gets a big kick out of it. In addition, he also is focused on finding “another big truck”,” explains Tiffany. Furthermore, I believe the truck drivers enjoy it too, otherwise, they wouldn’t do it, right?

Listen to Audio Books

Listening to audio books on road trips is a perfect way to pass the time. The hours pass quickly when you can listen to a good book. Not to mention that it makes a family bonding opportunity because now, you’ve all read the same book! Deb, a California-based environmental educator, polyglot and mother of two adventurous kids, writes her family travel blog www.worldwisekid.com. It inspires educational discussions around the globe. Deb relates that “listening to audio tracks is entertaining and educational.”

Deb is great at including an educational component to her travels. “While road tripping through the Peloponnese region in southern Greece, we listened to interviews of Rick Steve’s free audio guides on the Eastern Mediterranean. While exploring Hawaii, we tune into hula music on the radio or a CD. When we toured Florida, we listened to Hoot, Flush, Chomp, and Scat by Carl Hiaasen – youth fiction that takes place in the Everglades and Keys.” Those are great choices for Florida Deb!

In addition to audio books Deb also recommends podcasts. “We download Podcasts to listen to together,” she says. Her favorites include KidsNuz, StarTalk and RadioLab. “We sync to the car speakers with Bluetooth or an audio cable so everyone can hear clearly,” says Deb.

Roads Trips Internationally

“Road tripping internationally only comes with one tip…know before you go,” says Shannan. Shannan writes about learning on location using the world as your textbook on her website Captivating Compass. She says that if you’re planning to take road trips internationally you should consider the following:

• Will you need a special license, permit or insurance?
• What will it cost? Parking, tolls, and petrol are costs you will need to consider in addition to the cost of the car, van, or camper rental.
• Distance vs. actual drive time. The cultural dynamics of driving in a different country are so varied. Knowing that it will likely take 45 to 60 minutes to drive 30 miles in Scotland is incredibly important if you don’t want to spend your entire trip driving. Give yourself ample time to get from point A to point B when you are in an unfamiliar place. It will almost always take longer than expected.
• Become familiar with local road signs and what they mean before your trip. Some are funny, some are confusing. You may even find familiar signs or street markings mean something completely different than what you thought.
• Have a co-pilot, if possible. It’s less stressful if you have a co-pilot to help navigate, read road signs, and manage the phone, snacks, and music selection.
• Have a good mapping app or offline map that you can use without incurring international data charges.

These are some great ways to make road trips a breeze when you’re traveling in another country. To conclude Shannan tells us “these simple, plan-ahead tips will help ensure a more enjoyable road trip through most international countries.”

Pack a Backpack

“Have everyone pack one backpack with everything they need,” instructs Annette. “Most of the time these fit right under their seat or under their feet. This leaves the trunk open for coolers to bring along food to help save you money.” Great tip Annette. We like to have a variety of things for the kids to do in the car. A backpack works great for kids to keep their stuff organized in the car.

Snacks Are Great For Road Trips

While you may not be burning many calories during those long road trips, someone’s bound to get hungry along the way. Melissa says her “first tip is to bring snacks! Kids of all ages can normally be pacified with a snack.” She tells us that “snacks don’t have to be sugary and sweet. For example, you can bring popcorn, nuts, cheese, pretzels, or whatever your family likes! I have even brought snap peas and baby carrots.” Healthy snacks give everyone something to munch on, but without all the unnecessary calories.

Regina at Full-Time Field Trip agrees that snacks are important if you want to make road trips a breeze. “You can never go wrong with extra snacks. When you can’t find a restaurant or you’re stuck in traffic, it will be snacks to your rescue every time. We skip anything sugary or messy and always have wet wipes and a towel within reach,” Regina says. Our snack bag usually contains things like granola bars, fresh fruit, crackers, and similar items. So, in conclusion, bring food, you won’t regret it.

A Unique Stop

Sarah at Dandelion Seeds says that “what works especially well with older kids, is to make the journey part of the adventure. There might not be much between Albuquerque and Las Vegas, for example, but spending half a day to walk around Meteor Crater would be a really memorable adventure for the whole family!” These kinds of things are what make for great memories when you’re on a family vacation. Regardless of how far you have to go, try to make time for stops to get out and do something unique. It will be something you can always remember doing together. Even if it doesn’t go exactly according to plan.

Whether it’s planning for your next road trip or you’re flying to another country, read all of the articles in our Planning a Family Vacation series to help you do it right. If you need help selecting a destination, finding accommodations, saving on food or transportation, we’ve go you covered. We even included some packing tips to keep you organized while you’re away. Share your favorite road trip memories with us in the comments.

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 9 Ways to Make Road Trips a Breeze appeared first on State by State.

With the help of many expert family travel writers, I have compiled this wonderful list of 11 ideas for eating cheap in order to save you a few dollars on food during your next family vacation. Don’t forget to check out the other articles in our Planning a Family Vacation series.

This article contains ads and affiliate links, we could potentially gain from you clicking #ad

Have Snacks

Every parent knows that having snacks within a moments grasp is a vital part of proper parenting, but on vacation this is even more so. Why, you might ask. Well, let me share my reasoning with you. Having snacks means saving money. Because our family spends a lot of time in the car, driving from campground to campground, having snacks on hand means we don’t have to stop and eat somewhere. This is where the saving money part comes in.

Anytime we can prevent having to stop for food it means we don’t have to buy anything or even get out of the car. Some of my favorite car snacks include: granola bars, grapes, berries, dried fruit, trail mix, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and applesauce drinks. These are all fairly healthy, easy to eat on-the-go snacks that we all enjoy. However, we also keep an old coffee can full of candy with us. It comes in handy on those long driving days.

Get it Family Style

Getting a family style meal is a wonderful idea for eating cheap. Yamy at Gofamgo tells us “when traveling with a large party, one of our money-saving strategies is to look for a restaurant that serves family-style meals. The meals often come in large servings on platters.” In other words, you order an entree or two and they bring it out in large servings. The meals usually come with several sides and maybe even a bread and desert.

Ask the Locals

While you’re on vacation you’re probably going to want to get at least one good meal at a restaurant. Deb at World Wise Kid says “we typically have one big, hot, sit down meal in a nice restaurant or cafe each day.” But, says Deb, “we are selective about where this main meal will be. We ask for opinions from locals about family-friendly, non-touristy places. Ones that use fresh, regional ingredients and offer vegetarian options.” The locals are great for finding the less “touristy” places, which are usually better for eating cheap.

Kris at Gadsventure tells us to “try to eat local style food. For example, Nasi Goreng is so much cheaper than a hamburger in Bali!” By eating what the locals eat and where the locals eat, you will truly experience a place. Not to mention save some money.

Eating Cheap at ‘Home’

Kirsty, at World For A Girl, is a British family travel blogger currently living in sunny Malaysia. She reveals that “many of the things we do for convenience actually save us money in the long run.” Two birds with one stone, I like it!

“For example,” says Kirsty, “we always try to book self-catering accommodations. We find it a struggle eating every meal out with young, energetic, and noisy kids. Eating breakfast at ‘home’ not only saves us money, but the children always wake up starving and want to eat straight away. Likewise, after a busy day sightseeing, a simple sandwich with some salad makes a relaxing and easy supper.”

Bring a Picnic

Shannan at Captivating Compass blogs about learning on location using the world as your textbook. She shares her advice on eating cheap when you’re on the go. “On days out, plan on bringing lunch with you or stopping at a market to buy local cheese, bread, fruit and chocolate. This makes for a fun European style picnic lunch. Plan ahead by making sure you have a bottle opener and cutlery in your backpack. Find the perfect view overlooking a canal, countryside, or beach. Then, pamper yourself (and the rest of the family), by trying a fancy coffee or local drink before the next family travel adventure.”

“Pack one meal,” instructs Regina at Full Time Field Trip. “We are always ready for a picnic. Whether it’s hardy sandwiches or carb loaded pasta, we can eat lunch (or dinner) on the go anywhere.” Regina is the creator and author of fulltimefieldtrip.com, a family travel blog. She is a travel writer specializing in budget travel, family travel, and parenting.

Newsletters

“Sign up for the newsletters of restaurants you might visit,” is an awesome idea from Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders. “You are often sent vouchers to use for a free starter or dessert” as a result, she reveals. Just make sure you do this right before your trip because “the vouchers tend to have short use by dates.” I am always cool with getting free stuff! Plus, you can always unsubscribe after your trip.

Eating Cheap at the Airport

“Airport snacks can be pricey!” I’m sure we’d all agree with Shannon. Shannon Elizabeth is the creator and voice behind Grab My Passport, a family-focused travel blog. “We always pack Ziploc bags full of snacks to munch on while waiting around the airport, and for on the plane too,” shares Shannon. This definitely sounds like eating cheap to me.

Another great tip from Shannon is to “bring refillable water bottles” She says to “just dump them out before going through security checkpoints and refill them once you get into the terminal.” Because we all know that even water is expensive in the airport!

Pack Your Backpack

Melissa at Disabled Disney loves to go to Disneyland for her family vacation. However, we all know how expensive that magical place can be. Melissa shares some great advice on eating cheap when you visit Disneyland or similarly, other theme park venues. “One of the best ways to save money is by NOT purchasing food in the parks!” But how would you eat, you might ask Melissa. “Disneyland allows you to bring in food,” she tells us.

“So we will bring in backpacks with snacks.” For example, she brings things like “sandwiches such as peanut butter and jelly, soda, bottled water, and basically anything we like to eat!” We love when we can bring our hydration packs into places we visit too Melissa. It’s a great way to save money. Of course, you are on vacation, so it’s OK to “budget for a small meal or snack in the theme park,” says Melissa. “Because their food is really yummy” and it’s all part of the experience.

Use Coupons

“Use a coupon app, we like Groupon and Restaurants.com,” says Tiffany at Mommy And Me Travels. Because as a result, you are going “to save money on meals that you are going to eat out anyway. You can find deals like 25 percent off your bill or a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree. This will save you a significant amount of money on those “fancy” dinner outs.”

Regina shares her expertise on using coupons for eating cheap. “Coupons are global,” she tells us. “Look for discounts at Groupon, Living Social, tourist boards, those cheesy travel brochures in rest stops, and local blogs. They can connect you to all types of meal deals. Even in Thailand, we found a Taco Tuesday with half-price tacos.” Who knew they have Taco Tuesday even in Thailand?

Share a Plate

“Always have the kids share an entree,” recommends Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom. “Most places give you way too big of a serving for just one person.” However, Annette has teenagers, so she explains that, “this works for our younger kids. But for our teenage boys, we always make them order something that will keep them full for a long time.”

“Share meals. We often buy only three or four big meals for our family of six and it’s heaps for us,” says Kris. Yamy shares with us that “in the USA, the serving sizes of meals are often good for two servings. If we don’t end up sharing, we pack the leftovers to go for a later meal in the day.” So, in short, you’re getting two meals for the price of one.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Bloomfield (@statebystateadventure) on Mar 1, 2019 at 9:37am PST

Grocery Stores Are Great For Eating Cheap

“One of our first stops at our destination is always the grocery store,” says Sarah. Sarah is a published writer, positive parenting educator, wellness advocate, and world traveler. She invites you to join her adventures at https://www.dandelion-seeds.com. “We make a list of our favorite meals from home. Then, we make the easiest ones while we’re traveling. This means that we can reserve the bulk of our time for adventures outside the kitchen. I come up with a meal plan and shopping list for the week. I buy only what we need,” Sarah tells us. “The more diligent I am about doing this, the more money we save and the more impromptu ice cream we can have as a result!” Sounds great Sarah, we all know that ice cream is a fun, cheap, not to mention delicious, way to do something special when you’re on vacation.

Hopefully these 11 ideas for eating cheap will help you get some great (cheap) meals while enjoying your next family vacation. On the other hand, make sure you take care of the most important part of your vacation, making awesome memories! Share your eating cheap tips with us in the comments. And as always, thanks for reading!

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 11 Ideas for Eating Cheap appeared first on State by State.

Unique Easter Basket Ideas

Get creative with your Easter ideas for Easter baskets this year. After all, how many Easter baskets can one RV really use? If you put your kids Easter morning treats inside something useful, it makes it so much more exciting. The basket becomes part of the fun when its more than just a basket. Here are some cool ideas for unique Easter baskets you can use.

This article contains ads and affiliate links, if you click we might make revenue.

1. Sun Hats

A cute sun hat makes a great place to put all those Easter goodies. This is a terrific idea that works easily for both boys and girls alike. Everyone can use a nice sun hat and with summer coming, it’s the perfect time to start gearing up. Make sure you look for a good quality hat that will stand up to the rugged play your child is sure to be doing this season. If you get them one in a vibrant, bold design, you won’t even have to fight to get them to wear it!

2. Sand Buckets

If you travel much, like we do, you probably find yourself near water frequently and where there’s water, there’s usually sand. This is why we have used sand buckets as Easter baskets more than once. Sand buckets make awesome Easter baskets because they are dual purpose and we all know that in a small space, dual purpose is the only way to go. Sand buckets can be used to gather up all those brightly colored eggs on Easter morning, then, they can become useful for making a sand masterpiece on your next beach trip. Our kids are always using their buckets around camp too.

3. Collapsible Buckets

This one is something every RV needs anyway. So, why not give one as a gift or better yet, a gift filled with Easter surprises. Collapsible buckets work perfectly for Easter baskets because you can make it any size you need it to be. It’s also pretty cool because you can adjust the size for kids of varying ages when they are out collecting their Easter eggs.

4. Reusable Grocery Bags

We all need to get better about remembering to use our reusable grocery bags, right? The more of these Eco-friendly bags you have, the more likely you will be to use them. By using them as a way to give out your kids’ Easter treats, you can provide a fun way to discover those surprises on Easter morning and do something good for the environment too. Many stores offer these bags for a very reasonable price and in some great colors and styles as well. Check your local store to see whats available.

5. Small Mesh Bags

Opening a bag when you don’t know what’s inside is fun no matter who you are. There is an element of suspense until you find out exactly what that bag is concealing. A small mesh bag makes a great Easter basket because kids will be dying to open it to see what it contains. The small holes will provide only an idea to what surprises await. These bags can also be used later to store things like laundry or stuffed animals. Plus, they can fold up for easy storage when not in use.

6. Small Storage Bin/Container

We use small bins with lids for everything in our RV. They make perfect containers to store just about anything. Of course, we have kids. This means that things get broken (all the time!). Including, amazingly enough, our storage bins. So, by using these amazing little containers as Easter baskets, we not only find a unique way to give out Easter morning goodies, we replace a valuable part of our storage container family. An Easter idea you can really use.

What to Put Inside

I’m sure that everyone has a different Easter idea for what to put in the basket. Our ideas about this have definitely changed since we decided to live in our RV full-time. However, I think there are two main things that we all put in the basket: edible treats and cool stuff. Check out some of these ideas for what to put inside their Easter basket this year.

Edible Treats

We aren’t big on letting our kids eat unlimited amounts of candy all day long, but sometimes, there are exceptions to every rule. While we don’t just let the kids eat themselves sick, they are allowed a little more freedom on Easter morning (yes, they eat candy, in the morning). We just don’t go crazy with the candy in their Easter baskets. This makes our job so much easier.

Some of the candy options I choose because they come in a variety of flavors or are easy to use as a basket stuffer. Those carrot shaped bags filled with Reeses Pieces are festive and plenty for one child to consume on their own. Pez are another great option, they come in tons of cute dispensers and a variety of flavors too. You can choose out a pack of their favorite candy or those movie boxes of candy work excellent as well.

Other types of food can be used that kids will still love discovering inside their baskets. Easter Bunny food like carrots, apples, or other fruits and vegetables your child enjoys, can be just as exciting as candy when they think a bunny left it for them. Granola bars, applesauce, those little cartons of Goldfish Crackers, and popcorn all make great non-candy Easter ideas for inside those creative baskets.

Cool Stuff

There are lots of Easter ideas out there for cool stuff to put in your kids’ Easter baskets this year, but more is not always better. Try putting in only things that will get consumed or that your kids can actually use. I know, that bunny puzzle is really cute and the little stuffed chick is just adorable, but do they really need those things? Do you really need those things on the floor of your RV?

When you live in a small space it’s always best to find items that are useful or dual purpose. This holds true even for holidays. When you’re outside as much as we are, things like squirt guns, water balloons, bubbles, and sand toys are kind of a necessity. They make great gifts in Easter baskets. Being around the water more often means the kids need things like swim goggles and reusable water bottles. These things often need to be replaces as we all know kids tend to “forget” things occasionally (or, in some cases, every time you go somewhere).

Alright, so we talked about the outdoor stuff, but as full-time RVers, there’s also the driving days. Kids need things to do in the car on travel days. Our kids go through paper and books while we are driving. So, of course, we try to keep them supplied with books, a sketch pad or journal, stickers, and games. These all work great as basket stuffers. Bonus idea for travel families is a flashlight. My kids go through flashlights like crazy.

Easter Ideas For Making Great Memories

The holidays are all about making great memories with the family. This is why we always try to find something awesome to do with the kids no matter where we are in the country. There are really cool events happening all over the country and most of them are free. One year, we found a museum that had free admission and offered the kids an Easter scavenger hunt in which they won little prizes for each one they found. It was a cool museum and the event was a blast.

Another year we attended an event with music, games, and a huge Easter egg hunt, we even got the kids picture with the Easter Bunny. We got out and were a part of the community, met the locals, and the kids got to have fun! The other part of the equation is spending quality time together. It’s always nice when our holiday camp is a peaceful one. A place we can BBQ and sit around the campfire after a busy day of activities.

Whether you live in a big space or a small one these Easter ideas can help you minimize the stuff and maximize the fun. Make great memories together and enjoy every moment. Happy Easter!

The post Full- Time RV Life With Kids: Easter Ideas appeared first on State by State.

This article contains ads and affiliate links, so clicking can earn us revenue

Let the Kids Help

“Teach your kids life skills that will last a lifetime by teaching them to pack for camping trips or overnight sleep-overs. Teaching kids to pack for an entire trip, regardless of length or destination, in just a carry-on, is doable!” Shannan at Captivating Compass shares. Her strategy comes from a checklist she has relied on for nearly 15 years.

“It’s simple and easy enough for most 7-year-olds to do practically by themselves. The key is to give the kids the checklist and let them create ‘outfit piles’ according to the list. Then, before it all goes in the carry-on, it is checked by an adult” reveals Shannan. “This method has worked so well for our family that we have been able to pack for three weeks in Switzerland (in the winter) using just a carry-on and backpack!” Read more from Shannan on packing with kids on her blog Captivating Compass.

Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom also likes to let the kids help. “I usually make a checklist of things they need to pack so they can feel like they are independent, but I have them lay everything out on their beds and go and make sure they made good choices before they pack their bags.” It’s always a good idea to double check because I know my kids would bring an entire suitcase filled with Lego’s if I weren’t checking!

Make a List

Tiffany at Mommy And Me Travels shares her “quick hitting packing list for each person” with us. The list includes:

• 2 (maybe 3) pairs of pants
• 4 shirts
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 1 swimsuit
• 7 pairs of socks

“I also pack my packing checklist so that if I lose everything, I know exactly what I need to replace” shares Sarah at Dandelion Seeds. Making a list gives everyone a good visual for what they need to have. “You don’t want to arrive in Hawaii and have a bunch of winter clothes and no swimming suits packed!” advises Annette. This is all too true and we don’t want it to happen to you.

Do a Wash

Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom says “when we are choosing lodging, we make sure that they have a laundry facility available to it’s guests. That way we can pack a few outfits and do our wash on a night while the kids are swimming in the pool.” Tiffany says that if clothes do get dirty “just wash them in the sink or the bathtub. You can easily hand wash the clothes and hang them to dry. Viola, clean clothes!”

Kirsty at World For A Girl likes to bring “travel size washing up liquid, an elastic washing line and all the other laundry items we need only when we’re on the road.” Make use of the laundromat if necessary. Keeping clothes to a minimum will really save space and weight when packing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Bloomfield (@statebystateadventure) on Apr 28, 2018 at 10:53am PDT

Packing Cubes are Amazing Packing Tips

“Packing cubes are by far and away the number one best way to pack,” says Kris at Gadsventure. “Each person has their own color coordinated set, with one bag containing five sets of clothing, and a smaller bag for socks, underwear, and swimwear.”

Regina at Full Time Field Trip shares the love of packing cubes with Kris. She says “how much do I love packing cubes? Oh, let me count the ways.” Her ways include color selection, variety of sizes, and their ability to fit in her luggage. “Make the packing cubes fit the luggage. Experiment with various configurations until you get the most out of it,” she explains.

“One item that has made our packing and re-packing easier is packing cubes,” says Kirsty at World For A Girl. “Perhaps my favorite thing about using packing cubes is that we don’t need to unpack all the time. For example, right now, in our closet, there are lots of packing cubes already filled.” Kirsty keeps her packing cubes ready for travel all the time. She keeps things like toys, a first aid kit, and other items only needed when traveling in her cubes.

Don’t Put All Your Clothes in One Suitcase

Losing a piece of luggage can really make for a bad start to any vacation. Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders shares “my tip is to divide the families clothes between the bags and then if one is lost at least you all still have some clothes!” This is a great idea because you just never know if everything will end up where it is supposed to.

Packing Tips and Tricks for Carry-on Luggage

“We can usually pack one carry on per person. This way we avoid any fees that are associated with airline baggage,” says Annette. Nikki shares “we usually just pay for one bag and then each take a good sized carry on.” While Tiffany tells us “no worries, you normally can get away with just a carry-on for everyone. How you might ask, well, easy, don’t try to pack the kitchen sink when you travel.”

Deb at World Wise Kid says that “unless we are travel camping, we carry-on our luggage. We know our personal items are safe and will arrive with us.” Sarah at Dandelion Seeds says that “I try to pack light and use only carry-on bags.” If she does check a bag she makes sure that “what stays with me includes everything my family will need within our first 24 hours at our destination”

Pack Light

“Knowing you can survive for weeks on just the basics on your back is empowering. Packing light does involve conscious planning and investing in high quality gear,” says Deb. “We love Osprey packs with their cinching straps, padded electronics sleeves, and thick hip belts.” Deb knows that “all items must be as light as possible – no big jackets, no heavy shoes.”

The best packing tips, whether it’s for a family vacation or living in an RV full-time, are to pack small and light. This can be a challenge when you have kids. They just seem to need a lot of stuff. Diaper bags, toys, books, extra clothes, it all adds to the space and weight when packing. Oftentimes we think we will need something, then end up never using it.

It is amazing what we really can live without. The less you bring with you means the less you have to keep track of and the less you have to bring back with you. Try to stick with the necessities and not over plan for every possible disaster.

Try Grocery Delivery

Shannon at Grab My Passport shares that “one of my latest discoveries is grocery delivery services!” This type of service is great for so many reasons. Let me share what Shannon has to say about this wonderful new service. “On our recent week-long trip to Orlando, and our first with our newborn, I discovered Instacart and it was the greatest!” She tells us more about why this is one of the perfect packing tips. “

“I packed enough snacks and baby formula to get us through two days. Then, our first night in the hotel, we signed up for Instacart’s free trial and placed our first order. We bought snacks, milk, bananas, yogurt, and baby formula. It arrived at our hotel lobby so quickly and everything was fresh! There are a lot of these types of services in the U.S., so check out what’s available in your travel area before you head out to help save some room in your suitcase.” This sounds like a great time saver along with saving room Shannon.

Bring Some Medicine

“Our luggage always has a medicine kit for the most common health issues you can encounter while traveling,” says Yamy, the main blogger of Gofamgo. “I don’t want to deal with figuring out where the pharmacy is in an unfamiliar place. Not to mention if they even carry the medicine that I am used to,” so bringing some with you is one of the important packing tips Yamy.

“Make sure that if you are bringing a prescription-strength medication, you bring a copy of the prescription with you. This is necessary during inspections in airport checkpoints, for example,” advises Yamy. Melissa at Disabled Disney says “I have to make sure I have my medications in an adequate amount for my trip and whatever equipment I need.” Being disable makes packing tips for Melissa “a little different than a healthy person.”

Melissa recommends to “make sure your medications are in your carry on because if your luggage gets lost or held up, you may not have your medications when you need them.” Losing luggage is bad enough, but if you have something as important as medication, it can become a real problem.

You Might Need Ziploc Bags

Melissa tells us “we also travel as a family and when you have kids you have to take Ziploc bags with you!” They come in handy for so many things, which explains why they came in high on our list of packing tips and tricks. “Outfits are put into a Ziploc bag and it’s done!” Says Shannan of her final packing procedure step. “If you go on the water rides having a Ziplock bags can protect anything you don’t want to get wet!” Melissa shares.

Packing Tips For Special Needs

“As a family who travels with a senior with several health issues, we make sure to bring a medical history packet with us. This packet includes medical and surgical history, list of medications with dosages and frequencies, and a contact list for her medical team,” shares Yamy. “That way, if something should happen while you’re on a vacation, the new healthcare team will have more time to address the health issue, not doing guesswork.” Yamy has lots of experience traveling with a senior.

Melissa also shares some advice “I travel with a shower stool and a wheelchair. I also bought a fold-able cane for travel, so if I don’t have a lot of room to store it, it folds up!” Bringing things that can fold and store easily is important when traveling. the more compact and lightweight an item is the more likely you will bring it on your next trip.

Educational Material

Our travel centers around an educational aspect and the kids love to bring books, papers, pencils, and anything else they think they might, maybe, possibly need at some point. So, how do bring these things, but not fill all of our space with them? Deb shares her wisdom with us “It’s hard to leave the paper travel guides and books behind but for minimalist travel,” yes it really is Deb. “We have converted to e-books on the Kindle and tablets.” That is a great idea and one I have recently started doing myself.

“A library subscription gives us access to print resources. We use downloadable audio guides to destinations and supplement studies with podcasts and YouTube videos. Each of the kids carry only an academics notebook and a journal/sketchpad for studies,” Deb says. A library is a wonderful thing. They all have so many great programs. Look into what your library has to offer so you can save space on your next adventure.

Check a Car-seat

“Take advantage of checked car seats,” says Shannon. “Most airlines let you check a car seat for free, but they don’t specify that if you place your car seat in a protective carrier, that you can only put a car seat in it. We were able to toss a week’s worth of diapers in the car-seat, under the protective carrier, with plenty of room to spare! Just tuck the diapers (or whatever) in the seat, buckle them in so they don’t get tossed around, and voilà, more space saved in your suitcase!” Extra storage and it’s free, great packing tips from my team of expert travelers.

Taking time to travel with kids can be a daunting task, but it is totally worth it. You not only get to make incredible memories together, you get to learn together. The educational value of taking your kids out to explore is priceless. This list of 13 amazing packing tips and tricks should help get you out the door!

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 13 Amazing Packing Tips and Tricks appeared first on State by State.

This article contains affiliate links and ads that we could potentially profit from

Booking.com

Explore the Waters

Miami is a coastal city, meaning that, as well as the vibrant bustling city to explore, you also have stunning beaches and incredible turquoise blue waters. Make the most of it and rent boats in Miami. You can choose to hire jet skis, powerboats, a yacht, or you could book a tour on a glass bottomed boat. The kids will be sure to love watching the ocean pass by right below them. You’ll be able to snap some amazing photos from the water. It’s a chance to relax and get out of the city and something well worth doing on your trip.

Interact With Wildlife

Many beautiful and interesting creatures call Miami home and getting to see them up close and personal will surely make it a highlight of your vacation. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding swimming with dolphins in captivity in recent years with it coming under scrutiny that it’s actually cruel to keep them in these habitats. However, in Miami, you’re able to swim with them completely guilt free. There are areas where you can swim with wild dolphins , they’re able to come and go as they please. So, the fact that they continue to swim in this location shows that they actually want to swim there. Miami Zoo also has experience days where you can feed, interact, and get up close to all kinds of different species, a thrill any family would enjoy.

Check out the Incredible Flora

As well as the fauna, Miami has some really interesting flora. Here you will find some of the finest botanic and subtropical gardens in the world. If you’re a bit of a nature lover or just want to enjoy a relaxed day with interesting views, then book yourself into one of the gardens. You’ll love the variety and splendor of colors and smells as you explore the well manicured grounds. They are great places to let the kids run off some steam too.

Get a Birds Eye View

Seeing any destination from above can be really special, and Miami is no exception. During the day you can view the white sandy beaches, gaze at the turquoise oceans, and marvel at the striking architecture. By night, you can see the city come to life in lights. You could book a helicopter tour, or go with a hot air balloon ride. It’s the perfect way to make your family vacation extra special.

Visit a Beach

There are a range of breathtaking beaches to visit in Miami and thanks to the beautiful sunny climate it’s a seriously enjoyable way to spend your time. There are all kinds of water activities you can try your hand at. They include everything from diving to sailing, fishing to snorkeling, and much more. You could build sandcastles at the beach, have a picnic, or just soak up some of the Florida sunshine while the kids splash in the warm ocean waves.

The opportunities for fun are endless in Miami. Take advantage of all of these exciting yet relaxing adventures and book your Miami adventure soon. Everyone is sure to have a memorable time.

Booking.com

The post Five Things You Absolutely Have to do When Visiting Miami! appeared first on State by State.

Make Sightseeing an Adventure

Sarah at Dandelion Seeds says “make the journey part of your sightseeing adventure!” Getting there is part of the fun when you travel, right? Sarah advises us “to incorporate some memorable, fun, and unusual-for-you modes of transportation into your sightseeing activities. Preview the area you’re visiting online, including mapping distances, then decide who in your family can walk, light rail, bike, or tuk-tuk to whatever sights you’re prioritizing. If your kiddos are little, they might get a thrill from an open-air bus tour, and you’ll see places where you want to return and spend more time.”

Check for Free Stuff

Being that we are very budget conscious travelers, we try to participate in family-friendly, inexpensive activities that we all will enjoy. This often includes hiking and playgrounds, but can also be visiting museums and historical sites too. Having an ASTC membership has saved us tons of money and allowed us to visit some incredible museums across the country, for free! If you don’t have one of these ASTC memberships, but you enjoy visiting museums when you travel, I highly recommend getting one.

Prioritize Sightseeing Destinations

“When you’re traveling, you want to see and experience everything,” says Melissa at Disabled Disney. “This can end up wearing you out. So, we make a list of priorities that are important for us to experience. Everyone gets to pick one thing that they absolutely have to do. This way, everyone gets a say in how the vacation goes.” Melissa is the lead writer for Disabled Disney.

Be Prepared for the Location

Deb at World Wise Kid is a California-based environmental educator, polyglot and mother of two adventurous kids. “Being prepared,” is important says Deb. “We try to do background research as a family before getting to our destination to know about the history, culture, wildlife, language and people. A story helps the kids connect to sights. Maps are fantastic visuals.” Debs family travel blog www.worldwisekid.com inspires educational discussions around the globe.

“Be prepared in case you’re out longer than you plan,” says Regina at Full Time Field Trip. “For us, this means snacks and refillable water bottles. It might be extra diapers or cash for the next family. When you’re in the moment or the commute takes twice as long as planned, be prepared,” great advice Regina because you really just never know what might happen.

Take a Break

“Try to not be tempted to overachieve,” says Yamy at Gofamgo. “Enjoy and relax. Don’t drive yourself nuts as I did when we went to Walt Disney World for the first time. Have time for rest and cool spots. Otherwise, it will just feel like you are running from appointment to appointment.” Yamy says that “doing nothing should be in your itinerary. Take this time to re-hydrate, rest your aching feet from walking, or talk to your family and reflect on what you just saw and experienced.” We want sightseeing to be fun not exhausting.

Check Out Family Travel Blogs

What better way to get some sightseeing ideas than from other families that have been there, done that. Shannon at Grab My Passport shares “we’ll do a good old fashioned Google search for “things to do in [+ city]”. We’ll comb through family travel blogs for the best family-focused activities and tips, as well as “travel hacks” for traveling with younger kiddos.” Shannon Elizabeth is the creator and author behind the family travel blog, GrabMyPassport.com.

Get Your Sightseeing Plan Organized

“You have to be incredibly organized when planning your itinerary, especially when you are on a short trip, and you have a bunch of kids of different ages!” Kris at Gadsventure shares her recent experience in Tokyo. “We had to consider the weather, it was freezing cold. We were really there for snowboarding in the alps which made Tokyo around 5ºC during the day. Unfortunately, Tokyo Disney was not an option for us thanks to the cold weather. We didn’t fancy queuing for ages in a light Siberian breeze. But we made sure that every person had something that really appealed to them.”

Kris made sure that everyone got to do something they enjoyed. “Miss 5 got to go to a Hedgehog Cafe, Mr. 7 loved the robots at the Miraikan Museum and the giant Gundam Statue, while Mr. 9 especially loved all the gadgets at Akihabara Electric Town. Then there was Karaoke Kan, Segaworld VR, a Maid Cafe, Kiddyland Toystore, Takeshita Street, and so much more!” You can fit in plenty if you organize your sightseeing before you arrive at your destination.

Grab Some Coffee

Shannan at Captivating Compass shares her perfect sightseeing formula “Excitement = Museums X Coffee 2- That was our travel formula before we had teenagers. It was perfect for our little crew. It’s my number one sightseeing and activity planning tip.” She shares what works for best for her. “We’d take in a museum in the morning when we were fresh, stop for a spot of lunch near somewhere that had a place to let the kids get rid of some energy while the parents grabbed a coffee (double shot, of course). Then, it was onto the next exciting activity.”

Kids need to take some time to recharge too. Shannan says “we found that our kids regularly needed a time to just play- at a park, in the water, along a hiking path, or out in a grassy field. Museums are fantastic! Art, history, and science are all incredibly inspiring, but don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of free play to let their little brains organize and process all that information.” She says that even with teenagers “we still follow this sightseeing and activity formula. It’s worked for so many years, it’s now a comforting routine for all of us.”

Being Flexible Is Important

“Traveling with young children means that you have to be creative in your strategy for sightseeing,” says Tiffany at Mommy And Me Travels. Being flexible, especially when you have kids, makes a vacation more enjoyable for all. “Traveling with a baby/toddler means a lot of unplanned activities and stops. It’s nice to sit and enjoy the scenery, smell the roses, or chase a bird ;). Welcome these breaks instead of worrying about staying on a schedule.” So true Tiffany, you can’t possibly plan for every stop or bathroom break when sightseeing with kids.

“Just pick your top three to five absolute must see sightseeing locations and let the rest fall into place,” Tiffany tells us. “You will not believe everything there is to discover when actually at your destination. Remember you are on a family vacation, and ensuring it is enjoyable for everyone will help to build the true memories that you and your kids will remember.” This is so true Tiffany.

Go Where the Locals Go

Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom says “I start by finding the website for the destination we are going to and seeing what the locals recommend.” Then you can “plan your itinerary around these activities starting with the most active activity, since the kids have been sitting in a car or airplane for so long,” recommends Annette. “We love to be outdoors so we look for a place with a lot of hiking, camping, swimming or historical sites to see.” We love these activities too Annette and find the locals always have great recommendations.

Take a Sightseeing Vote

“If you are looking to make the most out of sightseeing then what we do is make a list of all the things we want to do at a particular destination. Then we each vote on our favorites until we have a shortlist,” says Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders. “Then we either do all the things, if time allows, or we choose the top three or five attractions that got the most votes and do them. If you’re visiting a city like London, also take into consideration how close attractions are to each other and plan your route ahead of time.” Nikki writes a family travel blog over at www.yorkshirewonders.co.uk.

Slow Down

Kirsty is a British family travel blogger currently living in sunny Malaysia. She recommends “making sure that the children get plenty of time to run around, be wild and have fun.” She says that “traveling with babies, toddlers and young children means very slow travel for us. Sight-seeing is spread out and copious amounts of time are spent in play parks and soft plays around the world. We try to factor in outdoor activities every day, whether it’s beach time or a short hike.” Kristy’s family travel blog “World for a Girl” takes a unique look at traveling the world whilst uncovering women’s history and global feminist issues.

Avoid the Busy Times

Regina at Full Time Field Trip says you should “workaround the busy times.” By this she means “don’t plan to use public transportation during rush hour. Do take advantage of evening or extended hours for sights. Don’t visit at the busiest time of the year. Do go to things early at the opening time when you’re more apt to see the things most important to you. Always look for crowd calendar type apps and sites to stay informed.”

Divide and Conquer

Not all family members are created equal. So, sometimes splitting up might be the best way to get the most out of an experience. Regina at Full Time Field trip has some great advice on this point. “Break up into two groups. One parent with the older kids, the other with the younger kids. Or some other way to divide that suits your family. This works great at theme parks.” Doing this might mean covering more ground and experiencing things in a way that is best for the whole family.

Look for Deals

“We look for deals online from websites like Groupon. There is even sometimes a “City Pass” type of card that you can purchase for each family member that gets you into the most popular places. Take your time and I’m sure you can find some great deals to maximize your time spent at your destination,” shares Annette. Annette is a wife and mother to five kids. She writes the blog, Tips From A Typical mom, where she shares family friendly recipes, parenting tips, and product reviews.

Shannon at Grab My Passport also recommends looking for deals on sightseeing. She says “we’re always checking sites like Groupon or Living Social for deals in the local area. You can find everything on these sites, from discounted shows, activities, restaurants, hotels, and more!” Our family is always on the lookout for a great value. For me this translates to, are we getting a good amount of entertainment, education, or fun, for the price? By waiting until October to visit San Diego for instance, we were able to save a ton of money because kids go free the whole month. So instead of just being able to buy tickets to Legoland, we were able to visit several attractions.

Get the Most out of Sightseeing With these 15 Tips

We hope these tips help you get the most when you are sightseeing with kids. It can be a challenge to fit everything in. Just relax and enjoy your trip, if you don’t fit it all in, it’s a great excuse to return. Read the other articles in our vacation planning series: selecting a destination, finding accommodations, and saving on transportation. Please share your favorite sightseeing tips or destinations with us in the comments.

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 15 Tips For Sightseeing With Kids appeared first on State by State.

This article contains affiliate links that could generate income for us.

Cleanliness Matters

To Tiffany at Mommy and Me Travels price is important, but even more important is cleanliness. “When choosing accommodations for my family while on vacation I find the most important thing for us is cleanliness,” she shares.

Unfortunately, she says that “while this seems like a given, we have found when traveling the USA and the world, the cheap places are not always the clean ones. I have young children that still enjoy playing on the floor and taking a bath. I cannot in good conscious let my kids do either of these activities if a place is dirty.”

Tiffany says “this sometimes makes people refer to me as that person who has ‘champagne taste on a beer budget’. While this might be true, I find ways to make budget traveling work. I accomplish this by researching more and finding other creative ways to save money.” Read more to find out some of Tiffany’s money saving tips for finding the perfect accommodations.

House Swapping

Kirsty at World For A Girl recommends house swapping as a great way for finding the perfect accommodations for a family. “We are huge house-swap fans having had successful swaps in Denmark, Switzerland, the USA, and Jamaica,” reveals Kirsty. “We swapped our 4 bedroom house in London with families and retired couples. Sometimes for just a week and twice for over a month.”

“I can’t even begin to list all the benefits of house swaps here,” she shares. Some of those benefits include “cost (it’s totally free except a small fee to the organising website), the opportunity to swap cars as part of the deal, child-friendly houses filled with toys, meeting locals, and exploring lesser-visited parts of the world.” These all sound like great benefits to me Kirsty!

Tiffany at Mommy and Me Travels also has some great advice on house swapping. She says “many sites are now available that let you stay in a house for a few nights to several months. You can find places such as houses that are only used for rentals to true house swapping where you and another family agree upon a length of time and pretty much free accommodations and everything in between. Depending on your requirements and level of comfort this could mean your accommodations only cost you pennies a night.”

Free Breakfast or Kitchenette

Anytime we can get something for free or even less expensive it’s great. Almost everyone agrees that if a hotel offers a free breakfast or has a kitchenette it’s perfect for families (and anyone else looking to save). Let me share what some of my fellow travel experts had to say about this benefit.

Regina at Full-Time Field Trip says to “only stay in hotels that offer free breakfast and have a mini fridge. Free breakfast means one-third of our food is free. Mini-Fridge means we can pack our own lunches and save money. And while it’s usually against the rules, I’ve been known to bring a crock-pot on vacation to prepare dinners.” I know we love having a crock-pot with us.

“The things that we need are handicap accessibility, refrigerator, and microwave. If our stay will be longer than a few days I try to get an extended stay with a full kitchenette,” says Melissa at Disabled Disney.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Bloomfield (@statebystateadventure) on Feb 15, 2019 at 3:40pm PST

Sarah at Dandelion Seeds also shares “with food allergies, we need a rental home with a full kitchen so we can have home cooked meals.” And Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom asks herself “Is there a kitchenette so we can prepare some of our own meals to save money?” When she is finding the perfect accommodations.

So, the ability to save money on food is important when it comes to accommodations. Being able to prepare some of your own meals or have them provided will save you tons of money. It also helps reduce the stress of having to find a restaurant everyone can agree on for every meal.

Finding the Perfect Accommodations Might Mean Adjoining Rooms

Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders highly recommends separate rooms and if you can afford it, I totally agree. She says that it is her number one tip when getting a hotel with kids. She has some great advice.

“The best arrangement is adjoining rooms. If you have older kids then they can have their own space. More importantly, with younger kids you can maintain their bedtimes. You can settle them into bed and keep the room quiet, without having to sit in the dark yourself while they fall asleep!” This is so true because kids need to maintain a schedule.

“If you can’t afford adjoining rooms (and it does make it very expensive) then try and get a room with a balcony. Then at least you can sit with a book and a glass of wine on your balcony while the kids fall asleep!” This is something I haven’t considered before, but it makes so much sense. Nikki writes over at Yorkshire Wonders check it out at www.yorkshirewonders.co.uk.

Camping or RV Stays

Our family travels full time in our RV. This is a great way to travel because you always have all of your stuff with you. Plus you bring your own kitchen and bathroom too. Tiffany at https://mommyandmetravels.comMommy And Me Travels has some great advice about this option when looking for accommodations.

“Think outside the box for accommodations,” she tells us. “We have flown to other countries and rented an RV to stay at campgrounds while we drove around to visit different locations. This not only saved us hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars, but it also gave our kids more stability as we traveled because they weren’t unpacking and repacking their suitcases. I was able to stop by a grocery store and buy some cleaning supplies to ensure that the RV met my standards of cleanliness too.

Deb at World Wise Kid says “for wildlife and nature-based trips, we love car camping. We fill one big check-in duffel bag with tent, tarp, sleeping bags, and pads. We rent an economy car at our destination and seek out small campgrounds at beaches and parks.” Beach camping is great Deb, parks are also some our favorites with the kids.

Camping is great and Deb shares “wherever we pitch the tent the kids call “home” – and we get to use our own personal bedding! When the kids wake up, there is wild space to run around. We’ve toured Hawaii, Costa Rica, Alaska, Florida, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand this way.” We are hoping to do the same in some of these places.

Hostels

“Consider Hostels” suggests Shannan at Captivating Compass. “They aren’t just for backpacking college students anymore. For any size family, but especially large families, this is a great money saving option to consider. If traveling mid-week and off season, hostels are generally very quiet.”

She tells us that “many hostels have family-friendly game rooms and lounges to relax in. Perfect for kids that want to blow off steam and parents that want to relax. Most are family friendly, but make sure you ask before you make reservations, just in case.” Read more from Shannan at Captivating Compass where she blogs about learning on location using the world as your textbook.

House Sitting Is an Option

Shannan also has some great tips on house sitting as an option for finding the perfect accommodations. She says that “if the price of lodging has put you off international travel, house sitting is the way to reduce your travel lodging budget to nearly zero.” This is definitely something worth looking into.

“Joining websites that offer house sitting opportunities, preparing a profile to share, and asking plenty of questions during any house sitting interviews will secure you the perfect lodging arrangement while helping out a fellow traveler,” shares Shannan. You can read more from Shannan about affordable accommodation options for families visiting the UK on her website Captivating Compass.

Airbnb’s Make Great Accommodations

Airbnb is a popular choice for family accommodations and Kris at Gadsventure shares her wisdom on this with us. “When choosing accommodation for our family holiday, I just can’t go past Airbnb . We have had a series of wonderful bookings worldwide and totally think it is the best way to go.” She has a few reasons for this.

“A family of 6 has little options with hotel rooms, often having to pay double for interconnecting rooms. However, with Airbnb we have so many beautiful homes to choose from, and the prices give you a much better value. Our kids are still little and don’t mind sharing beds.”

“Sometimes the owners fill the fridge with enough food for breakfast! Or I have seen welcome baskets of fruit too. Hosts are the best point of contact if you need to organize an airport transfer, or local ground transport too,” Kris shares.

Sarah at Dandelion seeds shares some great advice on Airbnb’s and other sites like it as well. “Airbnb and VRBO, and some of their lesser-known international counterparts, let us “tour” potential accommodations before we go.” which is great when you need something specific.

“If the place looks good for sleeping and cooking, we’ll gladly walk a few extra blocks for sightseeing. My advice for renting a home is to Google “best website for lodging in [the country you’re visiting]”. Know that it might be a different site than the one you use in your home country. You’ll likely get the best rates, security, and overall experience this way.” Sarah invites you to join her adventures at https://www.dandelion-seeds.com.

Booking Sites can Help in Finding the Perfect Accommodations

Using booking sites can save you money if you know how to use them. Melissa at Disable Disney says the “first factor we look at is price. When I am researching I use Travelocity to compare prices. I also look on Priceline and Hotwire if we are flexible on location.” Being flexible is key when traveling Melissa. She also says “if I can, I also try to use Booking.com to reserve our hotel room because I can earn Kicks from ShopKick, plus they have rooms where you can wait to pay until arrival!”

Shannan at Grab My Passport says that “Our two favorite online booking tools are Airbnb and Booking.com. Typically, I’ll check Booking.com for prices and reviews and then I’ll head to the hotel’s direct website to check their price. Booking.com runs great specials sometimes that can’t be beat, but I prefer to book directly with a hotel if possible, as it’s usually easier to make changes when you do so. Traveling with young children, accommodations are the most important part of our trip!”

Credit Card Rewards

Yamy at Gofamgo shares some great money saving tips using credit card rewards to help when finding the perfect accommodations. “When booking for accommodations, our family usually prefers to stay at 4-5 star hotels that we can get for the price of a lower tier hotel or maybe even “free”. We’ve saved hundreds of dollars on hotels through the use of mileage and points accrued from a travel credit card,” says Yamy.

“One such credit card, available to travelers in the USA, is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. When I applied for it, I received a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points and an annual credit of $300 towards travel expenses. On top of that, I also earn triple points when using it towards any dining and travel related expenses. Everyday expenses such as groceries, eating out or even filling up the gas can turn into a free vacation once you accumulate enough points,” Yamy shares.

She also tells us that “these credit card companies have online travel portals where you can book your hotels at a discounted rate. Otherwise, you can easily transfer your accrued points to their hotel partners in a 1:1 ratio. The points are not exclusive to a certain loyalty program.” This sounds like it can really help defer some of the travel expenses.Yamy writes about her travels with her family including tips she learns along the way in Gofamgo.com

Finding the Perfect Accommodations

Shannan says “choosing accommodations for traveling families can always be a challenge.” Hopefully this list gave you some inspiration and guidance for choosing your accommodations. Check out the other articles in our series, choosing a destination and saving on transportation, for more helpful family vacation planning tips. Feel free to leave your suggestions too we’d love to hear form you!

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 10 Tips for Finding the Perfect Accommodations appeared first on State by State.

Airfare

Plane tickets are so expensive, but plane tickets for a family can be outrageously expensive. But don’t worry because we have compiled some great ways to save on transportation, especially those plane tickets. There are really so many options available for trying to find deals on airfare that it might be a little overwhelming. Use the following ideas to get great deals for your next family vacation:

Skyscanner

“Saving a few dollars on each plane ticket can add up to hundreds of dollars saved when traveling with a big family. With that in mind, the best trick I have discovered to find savings when booking is using Skyscanner’s ‘Whole Month’ function. This enables the user to compare and choose the cheapest day in the entire month to fly.” This advice is from Kris and Brian, they are totally fun-loving Australians on an international gap year with their 4 kids while world-schooling and documenting every step on their blog Gadsventure. “Skyscanner is a fantastic tool and I use it to research prices every time I look for international tickets. Another great tip when using Skyscanner is to search using an incognito window so your cookies are not being used and prices remain low. Hit Shift+command+n to go incognito on Apple, or shift+control+n on a PC.”

Google Flights

Deborah is a California-based environmental educator, polyglot and mother of two adventurous kids. Her family travel blog www.worldwisekid.com inspires educational discussions around the globe. She likes to use Google Flights and has some great advice on using this tool to save you money. “A favorite research tool is Google Flight to follow prices on different airlines and understand the options. Airline websites offer the low-price calendar and the route map to compare dates and locations. We save money by choosing the no frills, low-cost airlines, traveling with carry-on backpacks, and bringing our own food, water, and entertainment.” She also knows that “researching and choosing the lowest cost options takes energy and time, but results in a higher quality travel experience.”

Shannon at Grab My Passport says that “if we can’t drive, we try to use airline miles and tools like Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best airfare deals. Then, we pack as light as possible to avoid luggage fees.” This is a great tip Shannon because we all know that those luggage fees can really come as a surprise. Even the kids can pack their own bags with things to keep them entertained on the flight. This can help them get excited about the adventure of traveling on an airplane.

Rewards Credit Cards

Regina Kay is a world-schooling mother of five, full-time global explorer, and travel writer at fulltimefieldtrip.com where she brings you real-world tips to make your life easier and your travels exceptional. She offers some great advice on ways to save on transportation by redeeming reward points. “I focus my money-saving energy on reducing the cost of plane tickets. The absolute best way to save here is to redeem reward points for FREE fares. That’s not always a possibility. My next best tip is. Drum-roll please. Break up your airfare into two separate reservations.”

Regina also says that “ticket pricing is often tiered by the number of seats reserved. So when you move from a party of two to a party of four, your price increases. To combat this, you can make two reservations rather than one and get a cheaper rate. It can be super tricky to make two reservations at the same time. We’ve made plenty of mistakes. You may need separate devices and separate credit cards to be successful. But as a family of seven, we save tons of money this way.”

Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom agrees that using rewards points can save you money on flights. She shares her insight, “let’s start with the flight. Did you know that flight prices are not going to fluctuate that much between the airlines and sites like Expedia, Priceline and Agoda because the airlines just don’t discount their airfare that often? And when they do, they have about the same rates as everyone else. So the best way to get good deals on flights is to get an airline credit card and earn free flights.” Annette is a wife and mom of 5 who writes the blog Tips From a Typical Mom where she shares family friendly recipes, parenting tips, family activities, and travel and product reviews.

Rental Cars

There are plenty of ways to get around once you reach your destination. Renting a car is just one option, but it is a popular one. Having your own transportation can be great, but it’s also expensive. Shannan at Captivating Compass says that “while it can be a complete sensory overload to drive in a foreign country, it is also one of the least expensive and most time efficient ways to get around most countries, especially if you want to get out of the city and explore sights off-the-beaten-path.” Read more from Shannan at Captivating Compass where she blogs about learning on location using the world as your textbook.

Shannan also shares that “many major car rental companies in Europe have one-way rentals that are very affordably priced (ie: 2 GBP/day in the UK!), if you are willing to drive a specific vehicle back into a more popular city or airport. In the UK, returning a car from Scotland to London helps out the rental company, since more people fly into London than anywhere else in the UK. For helping the rental company out, they offer ridiculously cheap rental fees and then you just pay for your own petrol. It’s a genius way to save big on in-country transportation in Europe!”

Annette says that “unless I am staying in an all inclusive resort that we won’t be leaving, I always rent a car. My family loves to drive around and see everything there is to see in the area we are visiting and it’s just so much easier to have your own form of transportation.” This is so true. Having your own transportation makes getting around less stressful, plus you can control the schedule. She also shares “there are a lot of discount places you can rent cars through, like Costco, AAA, AARP, and wholesalefamilytravel.com. My friend saved about $650 over the Costco price on Wholesale Family Travel when renting a car for their trip to Hawaii, so that’s something to look into.”

Uber and Lyft Are Great Ways to Save on Transportation

Sometimes renting a car isn’t necessary. Maybe you just need a ride somewhere close by or only over to your hotel. This is when the wonderful, fairly new, convenient Uber or Lyft service comes in handy. It is available in most large cities and maybe even some smaller ones too. Kirsty at World For A Girl shares with us “Grab is Asia’s Uber,” so it’s something that is available even in other countries.

Kirsty is a British family travel blogger currently living in sunny Malaysia. She has traveled to over 100 countries, including 25 with her young children. Her family travel blog “World for a Girl” takes a unique look at traveling the world whilst uncovering women’s history and global feminist issues. She tells us that “at the moment, we’re based in Malaysia. If you’re coming out to this part of the world, my biggest family travel tip is to download the Grab app on your phone.” This is one of the ways to save on transportation because “fares are really cheap AND you can pay the driver cash.” She recommends to “think twice before using tuk-tuks and rickshaws. They’re mostly used by tourists now and drivers often demand exorbitant prices.”

If you are looking for a way to save even more Annette at Tips From A Typical Mom shares her secret to getting great deals on Uber. “If you are planning on taking an Uber, you can get some pretty good discounts through Groupon if purchased ahead of time. The most important thing to think about though is that your whole family stays safe, so bring or rent a proper car seat for your littles. You won’t regret it!” She highly recommends that “for the little ones who still need a booster seat, use the MiFold. It’s a tiny little booster seat that can fit right in a diaper bag or large purse.”

Take the Train

Tiffany from Mommy And Me Travels is always excited to discover new ways to save money when traveling. On her blog, https://mommyandmetravels.com, she regularly shares inspirational ideas on transportation and how to make your dollar stretch further. She says that her family “likes to think outside the box (be creative) when finding ways to save money. Instead of flying, look at taking the train/Amtrak to your next adventure location. This will add to your children’s enjoyment on the trip. In many cases, you can buy a first class train ticket for a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket. This means, if you buy a regular class train ticket, you can save even more money and you’ll still have the enjoyment of relaxing and socializing while traveling.”

“Of course, this only works if you are staying on the same continent. But if you are looking to save money, staying on the same continent will usually save you on the cost of a flight or allow you to consider taking the train.” The train is a unique way to travel Tiffany. For kids, the train seems like a great way for them to enjoy traveling to your vacation destination. Watching the scenery pass by while they stare out the window or being able to get up and move around are both benefits of taking the train. And of course, if it saves your family money it is definitely a win-win for everybody.

Drive Yourself

“There are so many ways to save on transportation. Personally, we try to drive to as many places as we can, if time allows. Not only can you save time by driving, but you can cut the costs of needing a rental car or taxis, plus you can pack your own snacks and other items you may have had to buy if you flew to your destination.” This money saving tip comes from Shannon at Grab My Passport. She says that with the cost of flights these days they rarely fly anywhere. I can totally relate to this. We chose to travel in our RV because plane tickets for a family of five don’t leave much in the budget for fun and entertainment.

Shannon Elizabeth is the creator and voice behind Grab My Passport, a family-focused travel blog. She wants you to know that “road trips can be fun, even with little kids. Just be sure you are properly prepared and enjoy the ride!” Melissa Temple is a disability travel blogger who loves Disney. She says that “we normally drive to our destination because it does tend to be a less expensive choice for us. If you’re also driving, try gasbuddy.com to check gas prices. Normally we don’t fly, so we have our car. This means that we will not need to use a taxi service.” Which is always a great way to save on transportation Melissa.

Parking

If you are driving to your vacation destination you will most likely have to deal with parking. Finding deals on parking is not as easy as some of the other types of transportation. Most parking garages don’t list their prices online and parking meters never do. When we first started our full-time traveling adventure we were not accustomed to paying for parking. This is because we are from a small town where paid parking is non-existent.

So then, how do we find ways to save on parking? First, we read lots of Google reviews. If you read enough of them you can find the ones where people mention the price. Parking garages can be run by the city, county, or privately owned. This makes it so that the prices can vary between them quite a bit. Check all of them in the area to find the best deal.

Second, we ask the locals. They usually know the best parking garages or even where you can park for free. If you are willing to walk, you can sometimes find free parking. It is often found a few blocks from downtown or major attractions in the city. In Washington DC we found a great place to park by asking a local policeman, it was half the cost of many of the other choices in town.

Walking

Sarah at Dandelion Seeds says that “rather than spending money on a car rental (and car insurance) or taxis, I walk absolutely everywhere that’s safe.” Sarah is a published writer, positive parenting educator, wellness advocate, and world traveler, she shares her passions on her blog, www.dandelion-seeds.com. She knows that “although I don’t save time walking, I do save money on transportation.”

Walking can be a little tricky when you have small children, but Sarah has some great advice to assist with that problem. “When my kiddo was smaller, I’d put her in a good carrier with a 45-pound weight limit to keep my walking easy. It lasted for years.” Walking is also a great way to “find local cafés and grocery stores, and save money on restaurant costs, too,” says Sarah. Walking is definitely a great way to really experience a new place.

Complimentary Shuttle

Anytime something is “complimentary” or free, I try to take advantage of it if at all possible. Yamy at Gofamgo agrees and reminds us that “most hotels offer complimentary airport transfers or have some form of shuttle service for a small fee.” She knows that family travel can be stressful. “A complimentary shuttle service from your hotel gives you one less thing to worry about, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the locality. Ensure that you communicate your needs to the hotel prior to arrival. Let them know how many are in your traveling party and when to expect you.” This is great advice Yamy. By planning ahead you can make sure your vacation is the best it can possibly be.

We all know that going to Disneyland can be expensive. There are ways to save on transportation though and Yamy shares her insight. “One way to save money while in Disney is to make use of their Disney Magical Express, a free shuttle service from Orlando International Airport to their resorts. They also have other forms of transportation like the ferry, the monorail and the bus within the campus.” This is great to know Yamy for those of us that have been putting off a trip to Disney because of the expense.

8 Ways to Save on Transportation

Whether you are traveling abroad or staying here in the US, these are some great money saving tips. No matter how you end up at your next vacation destination, Melissa reminds us “don’t think of the transportation as getting to or home from your trip. Use that time as part of your trip and making memories with your family!” Because making memories is really what the adventure is all about.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links that we could potentially make money from. Learn more about it at our disclosure page.

The post Planning a Family Vacation: 8 Ways to Save on Transportation appeared first on State by State.