These 101 Practical Travel Tips are sure to make your next family vacation a wonderful trip that everyone remembers fondly. I am all about making our family travel easier on everyone. That means I put into practice tons of little things that keep us organized and in budget. I also use lots of apps, lists and organization to make sure we keep track of everything we are doing. Travel really is our favorite thing to do, and working from home makes it much easier for our family to accomplish. These tips will make it easier for your family to manage this year.
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50 Practical Travel Tips
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- Use Google Maps for GPS instructions to your destination
- Pack extra trash bags
- Pack a first aid kit that includes emergency medications
- Travel in off season for better prices
- Drive instead of fly when taking the whole family to save money
- Bring a cooler with drinks
- Pack surprise bags for kids to open on the road
- Keep an atlas and compass on hand just in case GPS fails
- Always pack extra chargers for phones and electronics
- Pack snacks, candy and treats so gas stations aren’t a temptation
- Book hotels through deal sites like Groupon, Priceline or Booking
- Take advantage of free local attractions
- Plan your route around historical or national landmarks and monuments
- Pack car bags with books, electronics and comfort items
- Bring your pillows from home
- Pack sanitizer for hands and counters
- Bring toilet paper
- Bring paper towels
- Invest in travel neck pillows for easier naps in the car
- Bring kids friends along for extra fun
- Book close to home for longer durations
- Save loose change to help pay for vacation expenses
- Take advantage of kids eat free restaurants
- Book condos or kitchenettes to cook meals in your room to save money
- Don’t forget your emergency paperwork
- Have a designated person at home who has copies of important papers for emergencies
- Bring a spare prescription for regular maintenance medications
- Drive at night while younger kids sleep
- Plan bathroom breaks around playgrounds and parks for kids to run off energy
- Check your cellular phone plan ahead of time for roaming areas and charges
- Buy an AAA plan for roadside assistance coverage (around $100 for a year!)
- Make sure spare tire and jack are accessible and in working order (use an older tire as a full sized spare)
- Get oil changed and a tune up prior to departure
- Bring along motion sickness medications
- Check air pressure in tires and get tires rotated
- Pack extra change of clothes in car bag in case of accidents when traveling with kids
- Wear sunscreen in the car year round (sun shining through windows easily burns)
- Use a weather app to know in advance what your destination will be like
- Use Foursquare to determine the best places to eat at your destination
- Write your phone number and name inside kids luggage, bags and electronics for safety
- Check Endless Vacation Rentals for great resort, condo and home rentals at a fraction of the cost.
- Make sure kids know their name, your name and your telephone number in case you get separated
- Pack laundry detergent pods and dryer cheats for cheap laundry service on the road
- Don’t bring a lot of cash
- Use prepaid cards or Paypal debit cards instead of your main debit card for safety reasons
- Notify your bank and credit institutions of your travels so purchases won’t be flagged suspicious
- Use reward programs for flights, hotels, restaurants and entertainment purchases
- Travel near friends and family to visit as well as potentially save on lodging costs
- Never book a hotel or condo without researching for the best price online
- Purchase Citypass for metropolitan areas like Southern California, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Tampa and more. These save you hundreds of dollars on local entertainment.
These practical travel tips are just the beginning of the ways we save and make our vacations easier and better. We love travel and love to share our favorite ways to save.
Check out some of our other best travel posts for savings and practical tips!
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Tips For Using Public Transit While Traveling
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