One way you can save a substantial amount of money on a dream vacation is to travel with another family or gather your friends and escape as a group. Discounts for larger groups are available for lodging, airfare and popular tourist attractions. The trick to making this money saver work for your clan is to select your travel companions carefully. Finding a destination that will appeal to a wide range of age groups can also be challenging. In addition, you have to consider other people’s preferences, as well as safety concerns. Would you feel more comfortable vacationing with your group … Continue reading →

“Are we there yet?” Those four little words can result in major anxiety for parents traveling with children. The dreaded chorus emanating from the backseat of the family vehicle is far from music to parents’ ears. Fortunately, if you are planning to hit the road with your pint-sized clan this summer, there are ways to keep the “Are we there yet” blues at bay. While music is a quintessential part of a family road trip, rather than have your kids sing a melancholy melody, turn them on to classic travel tunes. Sure, “99 Bottles of Root Beer,” may keep the … Continue reading →

For many parents, taking teens on a summer road trip is not exactly a relaxing vacation option. In fact, for some moms and dads, the idea of being trapped in a cramped vehicle with moody kids could be categorized as downright torture. The mere act of persuading a teen to enthusiastically partake in a family road trip is a challenge in itself. However, once you hurdle that initial obstacle there are ways to make the rest of the trip run a bit smoother. And who knows; you may even strengthen the family bond in the process. Choice of Vehicle: Embarking … Continue reading →

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, many families are loading up the van and heading out on the highway for a long weekend at the beach or grandma’s house. According to AAA, nearly 35 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the long holiday weekend. For parents, that means being stuck in a small enclosed space with a bunch of kids whining about how they are stuck in a small enclosed space. While it may be easy to cure the boredom blues by throwing on a portable DVD player or giving your kids extra batteries to … Continue reading →

My daughter’s spring break is quickly approaching. The upcoming 10-day vacation has been a hot topic in the school’s lobby where parents gather to pick-up kids at the end of the day. This year, I’ve discovered that many families are buddying-up and heading out on the road together. Have you ever vacationed with people you were not related to? It’s not a bad idea, especially if your children and their children get along well. However, if only one of their kids is the same age as yours and the rest are either much older or younger, you trip may prove … Continue reading →

I love going on vacation. It’s the stress of planning and packing for the trip that I dread. This is especially true if you are the one in charge of prepping the entire family for a getaway. Having to pack for three or four little ones in addition to getting your personal items together can be a real chore. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the amount of stress that comes with family vacations. For starters, regardless of where you are planning to travel, it’s a good idea to create a packing checklist. Include functional clothing that can be … Continue reading →

Experts predict the weak economy will continue to affect the travel industry well into 2012. Fortunately, there are ways you can escape with the entire clan without breaking the bank. One option that has seen tremendous growth in the past couple of years is traveling with another family. If you love spending time with your BFF and her family, then consider doubling the fun by combining your broods and jetting off on a getaway the whole group will enjoy. Depending on the size of your collective crew, you can save a bundle by taking advantage of group travel discounts. To … Continue reading →