Smart Tips Smooth Out Family Travel
By Heidi Stevens
RISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--(MCT)--It takes a village to raise a child, and at least as
many to entertain one on an airplane. With that in mind, Nina Willdorf, editor in chief of
Budget Travel, collected travel advice from her readers for a handy new book, "The
Smart Family's Passport: 350 Money, Time and Sanity Saving Tips"
(Quirk Books, $14.95).
Here, a few of our favorites:
-I write my cell phone number on the inside of rubber bracelets ... and have my
children wear them when we're away from home. That way, should we get separated,
they can show the number to a helpful adult. - Susan Redman, Hebron, Conn.
-When we take our kids to foreign destinations, in addition to spending days at
museums, cathedrals and castles, we visit supermarkets and department stores. We
learn a lot about each culture by perusing the aisles. Some food is odd to us, some is
familiar and we always buy something new to try. - Gwen Gibbons, Thousand Oaks,
Calif.
-Whenever we stay at a hotel whose rate doesn't include a continental breakfast, I bring
several packages of instant oatmeal.
Even rooms without a microwave often have a coffeemaker, so heating water isn't a
problem. We all make our own oatmeal in the coffee cups provided. - Julie Bunczak,
Wausau, Wis.
-We pack a pop-up tent and set it up in a corner with books, a blanket and a few small
stuffed animals. ... My son has his own "room" when we vacation, and we all get to
sleep through the night. - Geri Kronyak, Boonton, N.J.
-While packing for a camping trip to Yellowstone National Park, it occurred to me that
instead of taking pillows, we could place our down coats inside our pillowcases. Just
turn each coat inside out, form it into a pillow shape, and stuff it in the case. -
Kathy Walle, Gettysburg, Pa.
-My husband uses a small soft-sided cooler as his carry-on bag. When we arrive at our
destination, we have a cooler to use in the hotel, in the rental car or at the beach. -
Mary Wohlers, Fairfax, Iowa
-To avoid the "can I have ..." questions, set a trip allowance and stick to it. Upon
arriving, we give our kids their souvenir money for the whole trip, and it's up to them to
spend it wisely. - Nadine
MacLane, Seattle, Wash.
(c) 2010, Chicago Tribune.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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