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Six Tips for an Easier Family Getaway

In a post last week, I mentioned the many disasters that seemed to befall TV’s Brady family while on vacations. From losing Bobby in the Grand Canyon to getting locked in an old jailhouse, all on the same trip, one might be left with the impression that a family getaway is akin to playing with fire.

vacation1.jpg

Why even bother going anywhere?

We go because trips can be a lot of fun. I have some great memories as a kid going from here to there in the car. A change of pace can be a good thing for everybody involved. But frustrations do naturally arise when a family ventures from home, which is why it’s a good idea to try and prevent them from happening in the first place.

Michelle Higgins is a travel writer for the New York Times and recently offered six practical tips that I thought I’d pass along:

Don’t Pack What You Can Get There

Instead of loading up your suitcase with things like suntan lotion and diapers for the kids and possibly incurring extra bag fees, consider picking them up at a grocery store near your hotel.

Think Compact

Leave the regular stroller at home and go with the small umbrella version. Better yet, call ahead and ask if the place where you’re staying might have a few extra strollers available to borrow.

If You’re Flying, Don’t Pack Everything in One Bag

vacation2.jpgTo play it safe, especially when traveling with kids, make sure you put a change of their clothes in your carry-on. If a bag is lost or delayed, you’ll be ready.

Don’t Scrimp on Airline Tickets

The cheapest way isn’t always the wisest way. It’s tempting to buy the lower-fared ticket, but if the connection is tight and it’s the last flight of the day, what happens when you miss it? You’ll be stuck with an extra night in a hotel and a large serving of aggravation. Don’t be penny- wise and pound-foolish.

Get Creative with Entertainment

For long car trips, the old standards, like the license plate game, still work well. Play-Doh could be a bit messy, but it’s always a favorite way to pass the time. Don’t feel as though you need to immediately succumb to techno toys or DVDs. Keep the kids looking up and out the window.

Make Sure the Suite is Really a Suite

Many hotels consider any room with anything more than a bed and a desk a suite, so don’t forget to ask.

The Dalys will be camping again next week, so I might just see some of you on the road as we haul our fifth wheel through the mountains. Don’t worry – I’m getting better at it. Happy trails!

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Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, parenting June 27, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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Jim-Daly President of Focus on the Family
Jim Daly
with Paul Batura

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Daly Focus

Jim-Daly Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.

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