Past Travel Mamas Tips of the Day
50 Travel Tips from Time Magazine Read Time Magazine's list of 50 Essential Travel Tips to save money and help make your next trip go smoother. I particularly like their tip to "Suck up to a Blogger!" Hey, you can suck up to Travel Mamas any time with specific questions about travel with children or with questions about The Travel Mama's hometown of San Diego. Have questions? Send 'em our way!Top of the page Always Book a Seat for Baby A link to the USA Today article by Bill McGee, Why You Should Never Fly With a Baby on Your Lap, has been featured on our home page before but we've received so much positive feedback about it, we decided to post it again! Travel Mama Maria Willmann said, "Thanks to this website and its recommended article to not have lap children on a plane, I just spent the last 48 minutes on the phone with the airline purchasing a seat for our soon to be five-month-old daughter. It is definitely worth the piece of mind. Thank you!" Top of the page Avoid First Class with Kids? This article, Flight Fight: Should Kids be Banned from First Class?, from CNN.com makes a good case for keeping youngsters out of the first class cabin on airplanes. What do you think?Top of the page Best Time to Travel is During Economic Crisis Now is the time to book your next vacation while the travel deals are hot. Read about why this is a great time for Americans to a book a European vacation and where to find affordable apartment rentals abroad in Economic Crisis: Best Time to Travel by WalletPop.com.
Top of the page Bring the Kids Along on a Business Trip
Everyone's looking for ways to save money during these tough economic times. If you or your spouse has a job that requires travel, why not have the family tagalong on the next business trip? You save money on airfare for one family member and score free accommodations for all. Even President Obama has brought his family along on business trips! Read this Wall Street Journal Blog article for more on the topic: Is it Appropriate to Bring the Kids Along on Business Trips?
Top of the page Buy a Pre-Packed Bag of Travel Goodies for the Kiddies Don't have time to pack your own entertainment kit for your child? Let TravelKiddy.com do the work for you! Travel Mama Jennifer Untermeyer created this website, which sells canvas bags stuffed with goodies like crafts, activities, small toys, games, and more. Top of the page Celebrate Disneyland's New Character Meal If Disneyland is in your travel plans, mosey on over to Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch for a family style meal, live cowboy music, and visits from Toy Story characters Woody, Jessie, and Bulls-Eye. Cost is $28.99 for adults and $12.99 for children for all you can eat barbecued chicken and ribs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, beans, soft drinks and corn bread. Surprisingly, the attraction was sparsely attended even on crowded Memorial Day, which meant my kids got more attention from the show's stars.
 
On the left: The live show at Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch. On the right: Cupcake sundaes are served in waffle cones for dessert at the Roundup. Top of the page Check Out Dude Ranching for Family Fun
Bond with your family, nature, and a horse at a dude ranch. Read A Dude Ranch Vacation in Cookie Magazine for one family's take on the dude ranch experience. Visit The Dude Ranchers' Association for a list of over 100 ranches "committed to fostering the Western way of life." Top of the page Check Out What's New at Theme Parks
Amusement parks make a great vacation destination for families looking for entertainment for children of all ages. Family Fun Magazine gives the scoop on eight hot new attractions at theme parks throughout the U.S. Read about The American Idol Experience, where contestants belt it out before a voting audience at Florida's Walt Disney World and Pilgrim's Plunge, the world's tallest water ride at Indiana's Holiday World in Family Fun's What's New at Theme Parks.Top of the page If you want to take a vacation that meets the needs and interests of family members of various ages, consider taking a cruise. From babies to teens for locations like Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe, Cruise Critic helps you find the perfect cruise to meet your family's needs in their article on the Best Family Cruises. Top of the page Don't Break the Bank at Disney World There are plenty of free activities at Disney World. Who knew?! Check out this list of Top 10 Free Activities at Disney World by DestinationsInFlorida.com.
Top of the page Don't Give Mickey Mouse Swine Flu! Travelers are nervous about contracting the H1N1 virus on airplanes and in public places like amusement parks. If you've got the flu, swine or otherwise, stay home! Read Theme Parks Confront Flu Jitters from the New York Times for more on this topic.
Top of the page Everything Takes Longer than You Think From packing to parking to picking up the rental car, I am always astonished by how dang long it takes to get from my house to my destination! I know I'm supposed to enjoy the journey, but sometimes I just want to answer that question from the backseat, "Are we there yet?" with a resounding YES! When planning your travel, be sure to pad all of your tasks with extra time for diaper changes, potty breaks, meals for hungry kids who just can't wait, and strapping in the car seat. Today it took us two hours longer than expected to get on the road to Sonoma from where our plane landed in San Francisco. Top of the page Find the Hotel that Meets Your Every Specification Want a hotel with a kid fun pool? Near the beach? With a piano in the room and a pillow top mattress? Go to Blue Hippo Travel and choose from an array of travel amenities, activities, and hotel types to find the perfect place for your family to spend the night. Warning...putting together wacky combinations of hotel perks and features can be addictive! Top of the page Find the Perfect Place for YOUR Family to Stay on Vacation Whether you're looking for a hotel with a kids camp, a resort with family-friendly activities, a bed and breakfast that welcomes children, or you want to find a home to rent or swap, check out the Travel Mamas list of Child-Friendly Accommodations to find the perfect home away from home for your family. Top of the page Follow in the Footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder Looking for a wholesome adventure to share with your kids? Read Pioneer Spirit, an article by Maria Elena Baca, MCT News Service, who set off with her children to retrace the path of the pioneering Ingalls family as described by Laura Ingalls Wilder in the famed Little House book series. Top of the page Foster a Love of Nature by Taking the Kids Camping Want to take your baby or older child camping, but not sure what to pack or how to manage parenting in the great outdoors? Take a peek at OutdoorBaby.net for tips and stories for parents interested in nature activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, and more. Top of the page Get the Right Diaper Bag for the Journey It is so hard to find a diaper bag that is both functional and fashionable. If you want to bring along all of baby's necessities on your next vacation and still look stylish, look no further than Ju-Ju-Be.  Ju-Ju-Be recently sent me a Be Prepared bag to try out (pictured above in the Champagne Bubbles print). It's great for travel because there is plenty of room to stuff it full of bottles, diapers, wipes, snacks, and toys. This tote is good for mamas like me who believe more is more when on the go with a baby. I especially like its nifty features like a clip to keep keys from getting lost and a soft pouch specifically for sunglasses. I think my husband likes the bag even more than I do. Whenever we head out, he says, "This is the best diaper bag we've ever had!"
There are lots of options for light packers too, like their Be Tween, Be Light, and Be Quick bags. Go to the Ju-Ju-Be site to find the right size and color for you.
Top of the page Give a Deserving Kid a Vacation to Remember Fresh Air Fund helps children from some of New York’s toughest neighborhoods to experience a vacation at one of their camps or in a family’s home. You can help by hosting a child or making a donation! Top of the page
Give a Little...Get a Lot! I used to give a lot of time and money to the causes I believe in. But then the economy crumbled. My focus turned away from helping others toward just making it through life. But here’s the thing. Giving feels good. Not giving feels bad. Read Give a Little...Get a Lot to learn how you can make a difference AND win fabulous prizes by donating to Passports with Purpose, a fundraiser founded and promoted by travel bloggers. Top of the page It's affordable, it's natural, it's fun...it's camping! Check out the newest Travel Mamas Resource page, Camping and Outdoor Pursuits. Got a site or product we missed? Send it to us and we'll add it if it helps other traveling parents who want to explore the great outdoors!
Top of the page Go Green and Save Some Green on Your Next Rental Car Check out VroomVroomVroom, a site that makes booking a rental car at the best rate something you can feel good about. It searches the web for the lowest rate from car rental companies like Alamo, Enterprise, and Budget. If you find a lower rate, Vroom will meet the price and give you and extra 10 bucks. The best part? They offset the carbon emissions of your car rental by investing in climate clean-up projects. Top of the page Go Winetasting with Wee Ones Wine-tasting with children is do-able if you limit visits to just one or two kid-friendly wineries, like Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen, California. Half hour tram tours of the gorgeous grounds are short enough to keep everyone content. Parents learn about Benziger's organic grape-growing methods and other wine-producing minutia. Promises of play-time at the on-site playground will buy time for grown-ups to enjoy tastings of four wines, included in the cost of the tour. Tours cost $15 per adult, $5 per child, and babies tag along for free. Open daily 10am-5pm, with tours on the half hour. Top of the page Have a Crib Delivered to Your Destination
Did you know that you can have a full-sized crib delivered to your destination? What's more, the rental company will set it up for you at no extra charge.
This is a great option when visiting family or friends, renting a condo, or doing a home exchange. You could even have a crib delivered to your hotel. True, you can bring along a travel crib and most hotels offer cribs (typically just a pack n' play). However, my baby sleeps so much better in a real crib.
Follow the advice of child sleep expert Davis Ehrler to bring along your own sheets so it feels even more like home to your little one. See our list of Travel Gear Rental Companies for more details.
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Hitch a Ride to the Airport with your Sitter Avoid inconveniencing loved ones or paying hefty fees for a taxi or near-airport parking. Instead, ask your trusted babysitter to drop you off and pick you up from the airport. It's an easy way for your sitter to make some extra cash, but less spendy for you. You might even want to ask your sitter to stock the fridge with milk and other necessities to feed grumbling bellies quickly upon your return.
Top of the page Keep a Separate Stash of Toys & Books for Travel Why run around the house collecting toys and books for each trip? Simplify your packing by keeping a stash of toys and children's books for trips. Hiding these items preserves their "funability" too. Kids will be excited to rediscover them on each vacation! For more packing help, see our printable family-friendly Packing Lists. For travel toy and activity ideas, read The Best Toys for Kids, from Babies to Teens. Enter our photo contest for a chance to win a fantastic game for travel, Rush Hour by ThinkFun.
Top of the page Keep Wandering Tots Safe with a Harness Using a safety harness helps to keep toddlers from disappearing in crowds or running in front of traffic. OK, it's a leash. And you may get comments from rude passersby about treating your child like a dog. But snide comments are a small price to pay for your child's safety! Choose one shaped like your child's favorite animal or character for a snuggly solution your child just might love. Check out the array of safety harnesses at Amazon.com.
Top of the page Know the Truth About Child Flight Safety Did you know the Federal Aviation Administration recommends purchasing a seat for all children under age two? According to the FAA website, "FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do." For parents who dread lugging their toddler seat on board, check out the CARES restraint by Kids Fly Safe. It's an FAA-approved harness safety restraint that weighs just one pound and easily fits in a carry-on. Top of the page Know When to Go Where You Want to Go To learn at-a-glance the best time of year to plan a trip to numerous global destinations, take a look at the My Little Swans Calendar. Ratings are based on weather, crowds, and events for locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean, South America, and Australia. Top of the page Save 10% at JetSetBabies to have diapers, formula, toys, baby gear and more shipped to your hotel. Just type in travelmamas at checkout. JetSetBabies is sponsoring the Travel Mama's attendance at the Type-A Mom Conference for blogging mamas in Asheville, North Carolina this week.
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Travel Mamas was recommended by the Mom Squad on the local Arizona television show, Your Life A to Z. Check it out!
Top of the page Pack a Book Light for Post-Bedtime Reading Tuck this light by LightWedge into a book to sneak in some reading after the kiddies are in bed while sharing a hotel room with the family. Top of the page Pick the Best Disneyland Hotel for your Family Which do you prefer? Luxe, classic, or beachy? All of the Disney-owned hotels in California have their own feel and amenities. Read my article, Choosing Between Disneyland Hotels, to find out which of the three is best for your family. The story is featured on Ciao Bambino, a hotel review site and travel blog that inspires families to explore the world. Top of the page Sail for Free with Disney Next Spring
What is better than a Disney Cruise? Sailing for FREE on a Disney Cruise! Disney just announced that kids age 17 and under can sail for free on most three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas January 7-April 15, 2010.
Kids also sail free on Disney Mediterranean cruises April 24-May 26, 2010. For help booking, contact TheFamilyTravels.com.
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Share Your Family Travel Blog Do you write a blog about your family's travels? If you do, email a link to your blog so I can add it to this site. Even if you don't have a travel blog, check out this listing of Family Travel Blogs for great tips and trip reports from fellow Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies. Top of the page Secure the Best Seats on the Plane at SeatGuru.com A mom of five daughters, Petra Lingenbrink, recommends SeatGuru.com to fellow Travel Mamas. She said, "I always check out their site before I choose my seats on a plane. You put in what airline and what plane and it tells you the location of power ports, audio/video, good seats, bad seats, etc. Great for traveling with kids!" Thanks for the tip, Petra! Top of the page Ship Baby & Toddler Supplies to Your Destination
Lighten your luggage and save precious vacation time by having baby supplies sent to your destination. Ship diapers, formula, toys, gear and more to your travel location with JetSetBabies. To save 10% on your order, just type in travelmamas at checkout. This company prides itself on its fabulous customer service. JetSetBabies will confirm your shipment, track your package, and call your hotel to ensure everything has arrived in good condition. 
JetSetBabies is sponsoring the Travel Mama's attendance at the upcoming Type-A Mom Conference for blogging mamas in Asheville, North Carolina. I will be blogging, networking, and giving away some fun prizes at the event!
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Sign Up for the Travel Mamas RSS Feed!
Last week Travel Mamas added RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to our website. This allows you to receive notification in an RSS web-based news reader or via email whenever a new blog is posted on our site. Sign up for Travel Mamas RSS now! Top of the page Simplify Packing for your Thanksgiving Travels How? Print a Travel Mamas Packing List! There are columns for every member of the family so you can easily check off packed items as you go. Top of the page Slow Down to Savor the Moment Sometimes I'm so busy trying to jam fun into a vacation that I miss the joyous little moments as they pass.
Yesterday as we walked to San Francisco's famed Pier 39 our family paused to watch a steel drum band performing along the wharf. My 14-month-old son clapped and bobbed in his stroller while my four-year old daughter spun and danced without inhibition. After listening to one song, I was about to gather up the kids to continue to our destination so the "fun" could start. Then I realized the fun was happening right in front of me.
We stayed through two more songs, departing only when Karissa tired of flailing about like Elaine from Seinfeld long enough to remember the promise of a spin on a carousel. I gave her a couple bucks to toss in the tip bucket and we were off. The carousel was fine, but it's the memory of the kids bopping to the live music that I will savor for years to come. Top of the page Stay Healthy when Traveling During Flu Season Everyone's going nuts trying to find the H1N1 vaccine now that flu season has started. Get your vaccination and check out these Health & Safety Tips to keep your family healthy during the holiday travel season.
Top of the page To save money on your next trip, check out HomeExchange.com. A limited one-year membership costs $99.95, which allows you to post and exchange your home with other families around the world. You can view available homes without signing up. Or, do what I did and send out an email to friends which describes your home and details where and when you'd be open to swapping houses. This summer we're trading our our home in Southern California with friends of friends for a spacious lake-front house in Minnesota. The best part is, it won't cost us a dime! Top of the page Take a Road Trip this Independence Day Check out Road Trips for Families' Top-10 4th of July Road Trips. From the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail to Yellowstone National Park, there is a trip for every patriotic family to enjoy! Top of the page Take the Kids on a European Disney Cruise...for Free! Kids sail free on select Disney Mediterranean cruises next April and May. The 10- or 11-night cruises stop in Italy, Corsica, Spain, Tunisia, Malta and France. With childcare for babies as young as 12-weeks, child-friendly shore excursions, and Disney characters greeting kiddos back onboard after a day of touring the sites, this is an fabulous experience for family members of all ages! Contact The Family Travels for more information or help booking.
Top of the page Take the Kids Skiing in the Rockies Here are five deals to lure families to the slopes: Colorado Gets Back in Snow Business by Lynn O'Rourke Hayes. Top of the page Take the Kids to San Diego...and EAT! Trekaroo asked me and six other mamas for our tips on visiting my adopted hometown of San Diego. Trekaroo is a wonderful resource for traveling parents that provides travel booking, chat forums, and parent-submitted reviews. Check out KidsMobile Stops in San Diego –Tips on Kid Fun from Local Moms and scroll down to see my picks for the Five Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego County. Top of the page Take Your Child on a Make-Believe World Tour with Madlenka Madlenka is a children's book in which the title character takes a walk through the neighborhoods of New York City and experiences various cultures like France, China, and South America through the shops she visits and the people she sees on her journey. Author Peter Sis's detailed illustrations and whimsical story-telling engage little ones and grown-ups alike. Top of the page
Teach Kids about Giving while Learning about Another Culture
Kiva provides micro loans to women in men in developing countries. Sponsoring individuals from another country can be a great experience to share with your children. Have your children help you choose who to sponsor by visiting the website together to read about and view photos of those seeking funds. Kids experience the power of giving while learning about other cultures!
In this difficult economy, it can be hard to make donations to any charity, no matter the cause. What's great about Kiva is that your money helps others but then you can be paid back. The small donation I made a few years ago is still helping people today because each time I am repaid, I reinvest in someone new.
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The Little Disney Guidebook that Could
Check out my guest blog post "The Little Disney Guidebook that Could" about the beloved PassPorter series on the popular blog site, Have Kid Will Travel. The article is based on my interviews with Coauthors Jennifer and Dave Marx. Read what inspired the couple to create PassPorter, how they feel about their readers, and what they really think about Disney.
PassPorter is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with a "Decade of Dreams" tour with readers. The tour's finale takes place October 16-20 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
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Traveling with an Infant? Here are 12 Tips for Traveling with an Infant, written by Vacation Gal Kara Williams. She gathered up tips from a bunch of Travel Mamas (like moi!) to share with you on FamilyVacationCritic.com. Top of the page Trick-or-Treat with Mickey Mouse For a very special treat, take the kiddos to a Disney Halloween party! Halloween music, decorations, and costumed characters add to the "spirit" of the events. Children and grown-ups dress in their favorite costumes to trick-or-treat their way through the Magic Kingdom in Florida at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or through Disneyland in California at the and Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party. Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong Disney offer their own Halloween parties. Click on the links above to take a peek at how the parties are promoted differently for each of the locations. Hong Kong Disney's party seems the scariest of the bunch!
Top of the page Try Queasy Pops for Motion Sick Kids During a recent class I taught on How to Travel with a Baby or Toddler...and Stay Sane! an attendee asked for suggestions for her travel sick toddler, who apparently throws up non-stop while flying. Teresa Abshire, a Travel Mama from San Diego, suggested Queasy Pop Kids motion sickness relief lollipops. Have you tried the pops? What did you think? Send us your suggestions for motion sick kids.Top of the page Vacation in San Diego this Summer For five unique ways to experience San Diego, from snorkeling with leopard sharks to spending a night at sea aboard the world's oldest active ship, read my article San Diego Staycations in the July issue of San Diego Family Magazine. The tips work for Southern California residents and visitors alike. Top of the page Take a road trip to visit a corn maze this autumn. Kids of all ages get a kick out of wandering through a giant maze cut into a corn field. To find a maze near you, check out The Maize, a site that provides a map listing over 200 corn mazes throughout the U.S.
Top of the page Visit a Museum for Free on Museum Day Enjoy free admission for you and a guest to hundreds of museums and cultural venues throughout the U.S. on September 26, 2009. You can enter your address to find the participating museums nearest you and download a Museum Day admission card from Smithsonian.com.
Top of the page Visit an Old School Amusement Park Check out Cookie Magazine's Old School Amusement Parks Directory. The list includes eight amusement parks, all of which were built between 1906-1971. The focus at these parks is more on sweet storybook fun than on high-speed thrill rides.
Top of the page Visit Vancouver Before the Olympics Read Try Vancouver Before the Crush by the Chicago Tribune for eight reasons you should visit the Canadian city before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Top of the page Watch TripFilms for Inspiration For a plethora of informative videos shot by real travelers in destinations throughout the world, check out TripFilms. For ideas on where to take the kiddos on your next vacation, watch this video, Best of Family Destinations. Top of the page Win the Ultimate Princess Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort
Submit a photo of your little princess for a chance to win a five day/four night vacation for four to Walt Disney World Resort, including accommodations at a Disney hotel, theme parks entrance tickets, princess dining experience and more! Enter the Who's the Fairest of Them All Contest now.
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