Mom's Guide To Travel

Trip Planning, Expert Tips, and Fun Ideas For Family Travel.

Travel Resolutions for 2013

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What are your travel resolutions for 2013?

Most of us go into the New Year strapped with our menu of resolutions, many of them leftovers from the previous year. We shoot ourselves in the foot because we realize that several things are still unresolved. But, yet and still, we make new ones. Raising hand here… I’m guilty too. It’s an issue of semantics for me. I’ve decided: instead of approaching my year with travel resolutions, I’m making travel goals and travel action plans. I like the way that sounds much better.

So, here are my travel goals for 2013.

Save for a rainy day

As we tinker on the edge of this fiscal cliff, I have no clue where my family will land in the “excess funds” category. My son’s medical needs are an additional financial strain. That’s the honest truth.

Travel Resolutions
This little piggy

Some of my travels are sponsored and some aren’t. In the second half of 2012, focused primarily on my son’s health, I wasn’t diligent with my travel savings. This cost me in the long run. Not having a concrete savings plan means I have to borrow money from other places not designated for travel.  That’s poor behavior on my part. So, my goal and very definitive action plan, is to stow away my leisure travel loot in an account that I don’t have easy access to…meaning, an account I don’t have an App for. I’ve done this before and it works. It’s the out-of-sight, out-of-mind principle. Having a savings account at a bank that’s not your primary, allows you to trim money off the top, put it away, and “forget about it.” I paid CASH for my wedding this way. I did it once and I can do it again!

Get Lost

Basically, I need to step away from over-planning. Now let me just say, this is a goal I can only set for leisure travel. If I’m traveling professionally, this doesn’t fly. Unfortunately (and I guess this needs to be another goal), I don’t know when to turn it off. I always manage to turn leisure travel into some kind of work. I neurotically create lists. Hey, I like my To-Do lists! I talk about them all the time when I research a destination. It’s who I am and personally, I feel like it helps me get the most out of my trip. It annoys my husband but I don’t apologize for it. That is my travel personality. We all have one. Every one can’t be a wanderer or travel with a backpacker mentality. That would be boring.

Travel Resolutions
Remembering the days of maps

But…
I was reflecting the other day. I thought about the days when we didn’t have all these sites and apps and other “travel-ready” conveniences, when we just traveled and got lost. It was fun and it was a more organic way to see the world. Now, I have “answers” at my finger tips.

Even New York Times’ Frugal Travel Writer Seth Kugel agrees, as he notes in a recent article about navigating Trip Advisor:

“Before there were online reviews, travelers like me could still arrive in strange places and manage just fine thanks to a combination of curiosity, instinct and local advice. It took a bit more courage, but was more fun and satisfying.”

There’s a certain spontaneity of travel that I miss – even with my kids. So, my second travel goal is to get lost for at least one or two days and be more flexible when I go.

Go Solo

The one time that I’ve traveled solo with my boys was on a flight to San Diego to meet up with my husband. That’s it! I LIKE those extra set of hands. No doubt! But….I need to challenge myself. The truth of the matter: he won’t always be able to travel with us. Mom’s Guide To Travel was born out of the spirit of traveling anywhere with kids, regardless.

solo travel resolutions

Traveling solo with kids is a journey in and of itself. Now, here is where there may be overlaps with my goals. The over-planning self HAS to step in when I do a lone mama trip. My boys need to stay entertained and I need to be organized when I’m traveling by myself with them. The other part of this goal is to instill a spirit of adventure and independence in them, and what better way to exemplify that but travel solo with the boys? And there you have it – my third travel goal for the year.

My final goal is to take more risks. I haven’t completely defined this goal, so I’ll keep it open-ended for now.

Tell me, did you make any travel resolutions, plans, or goals for 2013? Can you share them with me? Let’s inspire each other to do bigger and more exciting things this year!

Happy Travels.

 
All images are under Copyright (c) for Mom’s Guide To Travel and 123RF Stock Photos.

5 Tips for New York City Tourists (video)

If you’re going to be visiting New York City in the summer time, and you want to avoid being elbowed by a local, standing in long check-out lines at your hotel, and a few other key suggestions, watch this video of 5 tips for New York City tourists from a New Yorker.

Here’s a wrap-up if you don’t have 6 minutes to watch. No worries, I won’t take it personally.

1. Avoid summer travel if you can.

2. Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk to sight-see. Seriously.

3. If you pay for a cab with your credit card, it’s an automatic 20% tip. Use cash-ola!

4. If you drive into the city and park at a hotel, parking will usually run you $50-$60 per day. Don’t do it!

5. If you’re flying out on Sunday, take an early morning flight to avoid ginormous crowds.

Group Travel: 5 Things to Look for in the Ideal Travel Roommate

Travel roommate

The first time I ever had a roommate other than my sister, was when I was 13 years old and went off to boarding school. All I knew about her was her name and that she was from Maryland. My main source of anxiety centered around personal space and privacy, something I won’t have to worry about when I travel to London to meet up with four other female travelers. We’ll be relaxing in a spacious well-appointed apartment provided by Go with Oh!

Back in my boarding school days I knew a stranger and I would be sharing some small sterile space, so far removed from what we called home. I knew we’d be in that tight room for four months and it would take a little time for us to make it cozy. Privacy was nil and we had never had a conversation with each other.  A dozen (plus) years, roommates, and conversations later, I have a pretty good idea what to look for in what I’d call an ideal travel roommate.

First off, it’s unrealistic to think you’re going to find a roommate that’s a clone of yourself. We’re all very different types of travelers. Even my best friend and I set ground rules before we take a trip with each other. Well, I wouldn’t call them rules, but more like, understandings. Some of the things we discuss are:

  • going off on our own to explore (specifically, if we’re not in agreement about an activity)
  • personal must-do or must-see activities
  • shower times (she prefers evenings, I prefer mornings)
  • night time noise (radio or television)
  • contingency plan for snoring

travel roommate apartment

In general, the most important parts of sharing the space are the bedroom and the bathroom. What I like about the Go with Oh! apartment that I’ll be staying at with my London roomies is that there’s plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for 5 women to share so that we won’t be stepping on each other’s toes. Plus, at some point before our trip, the 5 of us will have spoken together or even met in person.

Here are five suggestions I’d recommend when looking for the ideal travel roommate:

  1. Be Communicative – Be upfront but respectful. If you’re a light snorer (uhummm), let people know.
  2. Stay Open-minded – It’s okay to do you but why not step outside the box just this once?
  3. Practice cleanliness – Cleanliness is next to Godliness…enough said.
  4. Display Basic Manners/ Be courteous – Treat others as you’d like to be treated.
  5. Have fun – Your time is short, so why not keep it sweet?

I’m looking forward to returning to London and hanging with these ladies while practicing what I preach at our Go with Oh! London digs.

Here is an updated bit of advice that I lend in this video replay:

Flying with Kids and Leukemia: Port-a-caths and Medications

Traveling is a big element of our family life. However, my youngest son’s recent diagnosis has put that on hold for the time being. In coming to terms with our “new normal” and making adjustments, one of the first things that has come to mind (outside of when will we be able to travel as a family again?) is HOW do we travel with my son’s new medical needs? How do we fly with his port-a-cath? How do we fly with his medications?

It’s crazy but you never think about these things if you’re not living it. I’ve walked briskly by hundreds of passengers maneuvering the screening process with their wheelchairs. I’ve seen people hand special bags over to security agents. And I’ve watched travelers be escorted for special security screenings. Thoughts like, “Hmm, why does that person get screened separately?” or “Wonder what’s in that bag?” have briefly crossed my mind. And then I’d go on about my business.

Now I know.

Passengers with implanted medical devices have the option of undergoing different security procedures. In preparation for the next time we fly, I consulted the TSA website, which gave me all the answers I needed in regards to my son’s port and his medications.

Flying with Medications
Flying with Medications

To Do

  • Let the security officer know that my son has an implanted device and where it’s located.
  • Request the security officer to do a pat-down inspection or a discreet screening.
  • Declare that we are traveling with medications and carry doctor’s documentation.
  • Request a visual inspection of medications before the screening process begins if I don’t want meds to be X-rayed.
  • Separate medications from other property and place in a pouch or bag.
  • Hand the medicine bag to the Security agent.

Remember that

  • My son’s clothing isn’t required to be lifted as a part of the inspection process.
  • All medications and supplies are allowed through security checkpoints after they’ve been screened.
  • I will be asked to handle and repack my own meds (uhh, yeah!) to prevent contamination or damage.

Although the TSA site doesn’t mention this, I’d also request that the agent switch gloves when they need to pat him down. Can you imagine all the germs on the gloves that they’re using? Yeah, that’s the last thing any mom of a child with cancer wants touching their child: a plastic glove that’s touched…God knows what.

The number one thing any parent of a child traveling with a disability is looking for is sensitivity, then consistency, then efficiency with the process. What I liked most that I saw on TSA’s Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions page was: “it is the manner in which the screening is conducted that is most important.“

Understanding that TSA policy isn’t always consistent with practice, I’ll be sure to present the site’s official language to gate agents the next time we fly.

Saving on Travel – Three Tips for the Family

Earlier this year I mentioned that I’d keep my eye out for specials and ways to save on travel. With fuel costs up 13% since that January post, the need for savings has become even more relevant for families looking to travel. Road trips and air travel have become more expensive, thwarting the hopes of some families to get a little much needed R &R.

I’ve never been much of a coupon-clipper. I admit the thought of going through the weekly circular or Sunday newspapers makes my eyes roll. It seems like such a tedious task, robbing me of precious minutes to do something else. And there’s usually not that many coupons for the stuff I buy. However, last week, I found several coupons lying around. When I got up to the register and the cashier rang me out, I realized that I was over my grocery budget. “Darn it!”, I thought. By the time she scanned all my coupons, I saved $30, coming 4 cents under budget! Ding Ding Ding! I was so excited. It was like somebody handed me $30. Actually, they did! I might be a new convert and may find coupon-clipping fun.

photo courtesy of onlinecouponsx dot org

All this goes to say that many of us will be looking for ways to save in order to continue living the way we have in the past. Here are some ways that families can save on travel:

  1. Traveling during the off-season – Besides there being less crowds, prices tend to be lower across the board. Airline tickets as well as hotel prices can be significantly cheaper during non-peak travel. Consider doing a staycation when everyone else is on Spring Break or Christmas vacation. Not every destination has the same peak travel season so, even if you don’t want to do a staycation when it’s your child’s Spring Break, research to see what destination may have low visitor rates during that time and go there. I can tell you where you shouldn’t go this time of year if you’re trying to avoid the crowd: the Disney World area!
  2. Vacationing with another family or 2 – Lodging is a large part of overall travel costs. Going in on a vacation home with another family can easily lower the total cost of accommodations. A 5 bedroom home for a week is often the same price as a two-bed hotel room for the same time period.
  3. Use deal sites or even coupon sites like Expedia.com coupons. This is a great resource for finding savings on travel. The site has a variety of discounts and promo codes that may come in handy. Deals are refreshed often so you’ll need to check back regularly You’ll find savings on resorts, all-inclusive vacations, hotels, cars, and other travel products within the Expedia portfolio.

As much as some of us aren’t willing to change our grocery buying habits, there are those of us who don’t want to eliminate our travel habits. And I don’t think we have to. We just have to change them and figure out new ways to save, possibly doing things we once thought were inconvenient.

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