Knowing how to find cheap airline tickets when traveling as a family by plane is a skill worth mastering. Here are a few well known policies that will help you get discount airline tickets:

• The biggest advantage you have is knowing well in advance your date of travel. Book your flight as early as you can to get bargain prices. Booking about a month in advance is good policy if y

  

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  ou are looking for discount airline tickets.

• Don’t book your flight between the hours of 9AM-5PM. These are the hours of business travel and you will pay a premium for booking at these times. If you book at the extreme ends of the day, you will be able to get a cheaper ticket.
• If possible, plan to stay over for a weekend. Airlines are more likely to provide a lower price if it includes a weekend stay.
• Try to avoid holidays if possible. I know with family vacations this is often not possible because of the school schedules, but if you’re planning a skiing holiday, winter school vacation weeks are better than flying over the Christmas vacation time.
• Many times, the price of your flight will be lowered after you’ve booked it. The airlines are open to negotiation in this case. Most often they will refund you the price differential. Sometimes, if you ask, they will offer you free vouchers toward future ticket prices. So why not ask? The worst that can happen is that they say no.

Good research is essential to finding cheap air travel. Start with visiting the regular travel sites such as Travelocity and Expedia. Once you’ve located the best deal, visit the airlines’ website. You can often save money by buying directly from the airline.

Along with the previous suggestions, here is a listing of some of the sites that will be useful for your tracking research:
Expedia Fare Alert

Southwest Fare Alert

Search Engine Software for Airline Travel

Hopefully you’ve found some new info here that will help you save hundreds of dollars on your family travel vacation. If you found this advice helpful, be sure to check out My Airfare Secrets! for many more tips on how to save money on your next family travel vacation.

How about you, my reader. Do you have any tips or experiences to share that would help other families keep to a travel budget? Share your ideas with all of us. We’d love to hear your opinions.

Formally the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, located on the North Bank of the Potomac River and is surrounded by the states of Virginia to the Southwest and Maryland to the other borders.

Washington D.C. is one of the most quintessential American cities there is. There are so many things to do in DC that it’s easy to get lost in all the American history. Renowned DC attractions like the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the U.S. Capitol building pull in a majority of tourists, but there’s so much more to do and see! Arguably the best time to visit the Capitol is on the most American day of them all: the 4^th of July. Just being in the city for the amazing patriotism that is showcased is enough to make anyone feel like a real American, but Washington D.C. pulls out all of the stops to make our Nation’s birthday one to remember for you and yours. Some 4^th of July events are as follows:

• Washington D.C.’s Independence Day Parade beginning at 11:45 a.m. proceeds from Constitution Avenue and 7^th to 17^th street.

• 4^th of July at the  National Archives beginning at 10 a.m. and going to 9 p.m.

• Smithsonian Folklife Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (July 4^th).

• White House Visitor Center Family Events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the White House Visitor Center.

• Concert on the Washington Monument Grounds kicks off at 6 p.m. with the U.S. Army Concert Band right in the shadow of the Washington Monument.

• The famous  A Capitol Fourth Concert that goes from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (admittance begins at 3 p.m.) on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Of course there’s so much else to do in the city that will be boosted up by the fact that it’s the 4^th of July. There’s dozens of D.C. museums that it’s easy to fill your days to the brim of red, white, and blue. Over a 150 museums like  The Smithsonian National Museum(s),  the Newseum, and  the National Museum of Crime and Punishment are all ready to let you see history up close and personal.

Amongst the most popular sites, including The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, there’s a large amount of activities and/or tours to engage in. This includes Ford’s Theatre Tour, Ghost Tours, Lincoln Assassination Tour, and Old Town Alexandria Tour; all of which are walking tours. Before, during or after, you may also want to check out places like The Capital Visitor Center, Whitehouse Visitor Center, or The U.S. Capital Building; all of which are highly popular amongst tourists.

All of these attractions are amazing but nothing compares to listening to “Stars and Stripes Forever” while the sky lights up over the city with hundreds of fireworks throughout the night. Independence Day is an amazing time to celebrate America, but with all these amazing events there’s no place better to do so then the Nation’s Capitol.

Starting a family collection is a great way to get kids involved in the family vacation.  If you can find an item that everyone can get involved with, everyone will be searching for their own way to add to the collection during their travels.  Whether you are attending local events, browsing at flea markets, or shopping at antique shops, if there is a definite item you have in the back of your mind, it adds interest and excitement to the hunt.  Also, whatever you choose as a family collectible will most likely involve learning and research about the product.  This interest may expand into larger fields and who knows where this will eventually lead?

If you decide to start a family collection, what should you collect?  The choices are in the thousands so how do you break it down to managable proportions in order to make a choice?
Here are some hints and guidelines that may help in this area:

1. Is there already a collector in the family.  Does anyone in the family have an interest they are enthused about that they would like to share?  Would other family members also like to know more about this subject and be interested in starting a collection in this area?

2. Is there something you all share as a family?  Are you nature enthusiasts?  Are you a sports family?  Do you all golf or go 4 wheeling?

3.  What are individual interests?  Does one collect coins and another collect Pez containers?  Is the father a wood worker and the mother a quilter?

4.  After the inital assessment, have everyone start making lists.  Has one person always wanted to collect coins while another person wants to collect trading cards?

5.  Collect all the lists and discuss the various possibilites.  Can you find some common ground where everyone has some interest in the field.

6.  Discuss if you would like a broad field such as nature where everyone could pick their own sub-interest such as leaves or shells or rocks.  If you choose sports each person could collect tee shirts, banners, autographs, or equipment owned by famous people.

7.  Perhaps since this a a collectible for family vacations, souvenir memories of the trips would be interesting to everyone.  Post cards, both antique and new, books on the local history, maps and posters of the area, all of these can be considered when trying to make a decision on what to collect.

8.  If no one can agree on a family collectible, perhaps each person could choose to do their own thing.  Even then, each family member could be on the lookout for items that would appeal to that family member.

9. Consider limitations of cost and space.  If you are collecting while on a family vacation, is the item small enough that it can fit in your luggage?  If children are joining in, is the cost reasonable enough that they can enjoy the thrill of the hunt?

10. Is the item going to be something you would like to show in your home.  Consider how you will display this collectible to it’s best advantage.

Once you have made these decisions, it’s time to start your collection.  When everyone gets involved in this family project you may find some great excitement building up when everyone is tallking about what treasure they may find on this trip.

You may even set up some contest or competition among family members such as:

• Who will find the first item to add to the collectible
• Who will buy a great item at the cheapest price
• Who can find the most items, even though you don’t purchase all of them
• Have a vote on which is the best (most valuable, oddest, etc.) item found

Having a family collection is great fun, can set up some friendly competition, create learning experiences, and form memories that will last a lifetime.

Does your family have some special items you collect on your various family vacations?  Comment and let us know of your experiences in this area.  We’d love to hear from you.

Whenever you travel away from home on your family vacation, be sure to take a few basic preventive measures to keep your family safe and healthy when it comes to food and drink.

The major cause of health problems when traveling is dehydration.  Children often become excited and overly active when on vacation.  They can lose fluid very rapidly through sweating and easily become vulnerable to heat stroke.

As a general rule, fluids should be doubled on a family vacation.  Encourage your child to drink regularly.  Plain water is the best choice to prevent dehydration in children. In order to avoid traveler’s diarrhea, here are some important tips to follow:

• Never drink water right out of the tap and avoid ice cubes.
• When purchasing bottled water, be sure the cap is sealed and unopened.  Some unscrupulous dealers have been known to fill used bottles with tap water for resale.
• It’s very important to disinfect drinking water on adventure trips or trips to unfamiliar locales.
• Boiling the water is very effective.
• An alternative choice would be to use water sterilization tablets.  One choice would be Chlor-Floc US Military Water Purification Tablets.  This product along with other water sterilization tablets are available on Amazon.  Sport stores that specialize in outdoor activities also carry these tablets.
• If you are traveling for an extended length of time in an area where the water is questionable, you can purchase a portable water filter.
• Never drink water right out of the tap and avoid ice cubes.

Some health problems can also arise from foods that have been improperly stored or cooked.  Follow the rules below to avoid illnesses and protect your family when on your family vacation: Read the rest of this entry »

Oftentimes on a family vacation there is some downtime you’d like to fill.  Sometimes you are looking for a local event that everyone would like to be a part of, just to get a feel for the locale and it’s people.

Whether it’s clam bake, a blue grass festival or a best chili cook-off, local events can often be fun side trips that can get you off the beaten path and sometimes lead to unexpected locations and local interactions.

If you’ve just arrived and are looking for some inexpensive local attractions, here are some good starting points:

• Use your laptop or iPhone to search the ‘Net.  Google “location + local events” for a listing of upcoming concerts, craft shows, festivals, etc.
• Check the website of the local paper for upcoming events
• Stop by a bookstore and pick up a magazine of the local area
• Check the Chamber of Commerce site to find the events of the upcoming week
• If you are in a hotel, there is usually a listing of events in the room.  If not, check with the concierge for updates.
• If you are a member of a road club, such as AAA, be sure to pick up a book of the area before you head off on your trip.

You’ll be surprised at the number of local activities available at a reasonable cost. We’ve found some really great events on the spur of the moment in our travels.  These ranged from a Moonshine Festival in North Carolina, a Renaissance Fair in Phoenix, to a Lobster Bake in Downeast Maine.

Always take time to check out local events and you may be surprised at the activites going on that will please the entire family on your family vacation.

The mission of this Family Travel Tips site is to help overcome the bad publicity generated about traveling with children.  When people think of traveling with children crying infants on planes, family resorts overrun with obnoxious children, kids fighting in the back seat of a car are just of few of the images that come to mind.

Yes, traveling with children can be frustrating and exhausting at times.  However, everything has an upside, and family travel definitely has some great ones.  Here is just a partial listing of some of the advantages of traveling with children. Check out this listing of 10 great reasons to travel with children.

• In these times when everyone is going their separate ways and having a hard time even finding time for a family meal, this is one time everyone can actually spend some quality time together and share some great experiences.

• Taking some time to really get to know and enjoy each other in various settings will bring an appreciation of each individual’s special traits and talents.  Watching your children as they explore different surroundings and cultures can give you a fresh perspective on your children.

• As they are exposed to a world outside of their home town, your children will blossom with unexpected views and ideas and you’ll find that you will be totally caught up in their excitement of the world around them.

• Children are more apt to reach out and interact with other people.  In most cultures children are welcomed and adults are more apt to talk with and respond to a child.  As a parent, you are apt to be caught up in the interest generated by your child and as a result are apt to have closer encounters with the local population.

• As you travel with children, you are giving them the opportunity to appreciate cultural diversity and tolerance for other people.  This is a great gift to give to your child.

• Children will learn some great lessons in adaptability and overcoming obstacles while traveling.  If you’ve been on any trips at all, with or without children, you know something, somewhere is going to get totally out of your control.  By keeping your cool and coming up with solutions or alternate plans, your child will get a bird’s eye view of how you handle problems and obstacles life throws at you.  By providing this example to your children, you are once again teaching them valuable lessons, and hopefully you will grow in their esteem as they watch you problem solve and protect them. Read the rest of this entry »

When packing your child’s suitcase for your family vacation, you should have your destination and length of stay in mind.  You probably already have some idea of the weather and activities you have planned so here is a listing of some hints you may not have thought about:

Choosing Traveling Clothes:

Don’t pack all new items.  Comfort and familiar objects are important to kids.  Let kids help pick out the travel clothes they’d like to bring.  Bring washable and wrinkle free travel clothing.  Allow for emergencies such as spilled spaghetti and motion sickness. Select coordinating colors and no stand alone outfits. Stay away from white and light colors. 

I’m sure many of you have heard the saying, “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans”.  Well that’s exactly what’s been happening with me.  While I’ve been busy reacting to events happening in my life lately, this poor blog has been languishing totally ignored out here in cyberspace.  Now however, I’m back on track to pick up threads where I left off.  Hopefully, everyone hasn’t totally deserted me and will return for new info as I pick up speed again.

I know this is a travel blog, but right now, because I going through this change, I’d like to know,  how about your life.  Do you find yourself reacting to totally unexpected events while you put everything on hold?  Did you have a hard time getting back into the swing of  normalcy after that?  Do you have any advice that may be helpful when people get stuck and can’t get back on track?

Jump in, share and comment.  I’d love to hear your views.

Before making a final decision on a destination for your family vacation, take a virtual vacation trip.  Becoming familiar with the area you intend to visit is a great way to add another level of enjoyment to your family trip.

Here are some ideas to get you started on the virtual vacation trip:

• Visit your local library and check out any books you can find about your destination choice.
• While you are there, also check out any videos they may have of the area.
• Read the TV guide schedule looking  for any programs that may involve the area.  Good channels to scope out are the travel, history, discovery, and food channels.  All of these channels cover various locales and you may find some interesting historical facts and locales along with some great places to eat that you may overlook if you are just driving around.
  Read the rest of this entry »

For some great winter family vacations, try Quebec City, Canada.

If you are looking for a great family vacation activity, Quebec City, Canada is the place to be.  Quebec City hosts one of the longest running and most popular winter carnivals around.  This carnival runs for 17 whole days and the range of activities and festivities is large enough to please everyone in the entire family.

This carnival is now the largest winter carnival in the world! Singing, dancing, dog sledding, ice sculptures, and even zip lining are all events at the Quebec winter carnival.  Be prepared to spend 17 days filled with fun outdoor activities.

After an active day at the carnivals, what could be more relaxing for parents than a visit to the Siberia Station Spa.
The spa is set in the woods and boasts in ground hot tubs, saunas, and cold pools.  What could be more romantic than relaxing in hammocks next to a wood stove?  Be sure to check out this attraction while in Quebec City in the winter.

Along with the carnival there are standard attractions available all winter such as riding horse drawn sleighs, miles snowmobile trails, along with the ever popular sport of skiing, whether downhill or cross country. There are also several snow tubing parks in the area with rope tows to help you enjoy long downhill slides on your tube.

If your family has never seen snow, this is the place to get your first taste of the fun winter activities available for an active family vacation.  If you are familiar with snow and outdoor winter activities, you’ll be sure to find plenty to keep you busy on your Quebec winter family vacation. Travel with your children to Canada for a unique family travel destination.

More info on the Quebec City Winter Carnival
Look here for more information on Quebec City, Canada, a family vacation destination