Archive for the ‘Family Friendly Travel’ Category

How to Have a Family-Friendly Vacation in Florida

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Florida is one of the top tourist destinations not just in the US but throughout the world as well. This is because it is home to some of the best-known landmarks, including Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld, Gatorland and Universal Studios, which is why many travel companies are offering various Disney World vacation packages that include side trips to any combination of your choice. In addition, such packages also allow any family to choose the type of accommodation they prefer such as a Disney World hotel, condo, or villa. With this article, we present a few simple tips on how to have a family-friendly vacation in Florida.Tip #1 Consult your family and plan an itinerary ahead of scheduleVacations are fun as long as there are activities to do that are appropriate to each type of family member. You may need to consult each member of the family so that you will have an idea what activities should be included in the trip. For instance, if you have small kids in the family, then a trip to Walt Disney world will surely bring in lots of great experiences for them. If this is the case, consider booking from any choice Disney World vacation packages being offered by a trusted travel company—this package will take you to Walt Disney Resort with little effort. On the other hand, teenagers will probably enjoy a visit to Universal Studios for a taste of that Hollywood magic. Fortunately, Disney World vacation packages also offer combination trips to Disney World and Universal Studios.Tip #2 Look for a family-friendly hotelEspecially if you are travelling with kids, it is very important that you stay in a family- or kid-friendly hotel that has kids in mind and not just their adult visitors. Fortunately, a stay in a Disney World hotel will ensure that you and your family—young children included—will be given first-class accommodations and will not be burdened with the inconvenience of making sure the kids will not cause so much trouble. In addition, apart from the kid-friendly décor, kid-friendly hotels also have fun and free activities for young children, such as pool parties, art classes, and so on. Tip #3 Before going out, ensure that everyone is comfortableAs any parent knows, kids who are uncomfortable tend to get cranky for no apparent reason. If you plan on doing a lot of sight-seeing and touring throughout the major tourist attractions in Orlando, make sure that everyone is comfortably dressed and have had enough to eat before any major visit to any of your chosen landmarks. One key in keeping a vacation family-friendly is if everyone gets along well; so as to avoid conflicts, make sure that everyone feels comfortable enough to go out with the rest of the family.Tip #4 Set a budget and stay within that budgetFinally, overspending and/or running out of cash before the vacation is over is one sure way of ruining a great vacation. This is why parents must set a budget and plan activities that will allow the rest of the family to stay within that budget. Of this is your first time to go out with the family, do check some online resources or forums to get an idea of how much you will spend for the number of days you plan to go on a vacation.

How Do You Know If A Holiday Park Or Campground Is Family Friendly?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

If a Holiday Park or Campground is genuinely family friendly they will promote it in their brochures or website info. A few other signs to look for are these things listed, If you find three or more then it most likely will be suitable for family camping and set up for fun.

A big plus with family friendly Parks is that there is lots of company for your kids and parents get to meet some other parents too.

Occasionally long term friendships are created when camping, this happened with my family when we camped at Ayers Rock Campground in 2000. The kids started playing cricket together then the parents met, we come from Victoria and the family we met was from Sydney. We just happened to be going the same way, so we travelled for another 10 days together and went to Kings Canyon, Palm Valley and Alice Springs and parted at Three Ways Roadhouse. Ever since then we have met every year and had some amazing travels together including The Kimberley, Fraser Island several times, Eastern Central Australia in 2008 and more.

Five Family Friendly Vacations Ideas and How To Make Them Inexpensive

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Does the cost of travel have you wondering whether or not you can afford to take your family on a vacation this year? Your much needed and well deserved vacation should be a priority in your life and we are providing ways to make your family vacation time more affordable and more enjoyable. 1. Kids and Cruises -Traveling by ship is a way for families to visit several places on one trip without constantly having to pack and unpack which is a big benefit for parents with young children. Additionally most cruise lines offer children’s programs and kids will love the freedom of life on board a cruise ship.Way to save on cruising: Travel agents specializing in cruises and businesses that book blocks of cabins can offer quite a savings on rooms. Cruising prices are also dependent upon the season you choose to cruise. Look for off season specials or cruises that include airfare as part of the deal. Many of the cruise lines offer a kid sail free program.2. All Inclusive Packages – Look for family friendly locations. Family package destinations will offer activities for both parents and children. Entertainment for everyone plus food, drink and activities are all in one place.Ways to save on packages:  Mid week departure and arrivals will save you money on airfare. Also schedule your travels for off season.3. Renting a House – Renting a house for your family vacation in the location you want to visit will provide the benefits of learning the local culture plus you get more for your vacation dollar. You can experience life with all its local flavors. If find out all the info about a location before the trip you will experience all the fun and excitement and not miss anything once you get thereWays to save on rentals: The internet offers huge resources for finding a rental in the location you prefer. Local newspapers for the areas which are often published on line can help you find a great deal also. Look for coupons to save money on food and activities. It’s a great money-saving idea to split the cost of the house rental with another family whether it be family or friends.4. Adventure Packages – Adventure vacations are designed to teach basic skills and how to respect the environment. Whether you choose white water rafting or hiking in the wilderness, your family’s safety will be a top priority with your nature guide. Most of the time all equipment is provided and often will include all meals for the day.Ways to save on adventure trips: Book your trip with an adventure travel specialist. You will be sure to get the best price with the most features.5. Camping Vacations – Outdoor vacations such as camping provide families ways to work together and play together. Campgrounds normally offer plenty of activities to keep children entertained. Camping can be either in a tent or many places even offer cabins. Additionally you can rent an RV to experience RV camping.Ways to save on camping: Many national campground locations offer membership cards that offer benefits to its regular campers. Cooking your food at camp rather than eating out will help you save money.Wherever you decide on the family vacation, whether it’s an airline ticket or a hotel room, never take the first price your quoted. Always attempt to negotiate for a better price. Ask about any available discounts.  Be a flexible traveler. If you’re willing to give up your seats on a flight for someone flying standby, you’ll be rewarded with free tickets. Set aside the dates you want to travel and then watch for last minute deals.  When on vacation skip the souvenirs and start a postcard or refrigerator magnet collection. If you plan properly you can be assured of your family having a fun and affordable family vacation.