**By Jeanne Muchnick**
At the heart of every good vacation is knowing you're getting what you've paid for. Somehow sipping a pina colada poolside while your kids frolic in the pool feels that much more relaxing -- and sweeter -- knowing you've gotten a deal. For Leah Ingram of New Hope, PA, a recent trip to Disney World was made more enjoyable knowing she and her family were doing everything they wanted -- within budget. How'd she do it? By shopping around for bargains, flying into Tampa, rather than Orlando and staying off Disney property. All told, she spent $1,160 for a four-day trip for her family of four. "We were willing to be flexible, and I think that helped," she says. For example, she used Priceline.com to find a hotel room. Her original bid was $50 a night in the Lake Buena Vista area (where Disney is located). When that didn't work, she raised it to $75 and widened her net, this time including Orlando proper. She found a deal at the Sheraton World on International Drive, where it turned out Priceline and Discover were doing a promotion and would knock the nightly rate to $50 if you applied online for a credit card.
Whether you want to admit it or not, money is a big part of your vacation experience. Feeling like you're being nickled and dimed to death puts a dent in your wallet -- and in your fun. There's nothing worse than waking up in an expensive resort room feeling like you'd rather be home -- a scenario that happened to me and my family on a recent trip to Florida's East Coast.
Simple planning and forethought are all that's needed for a good experience. My Florida mistake was that I hadn't done my homework. Ingram did. And you can too.
**Budget Know How**
The first rule of thumb, say travel industry insiders, is coming up with a detailed budget and sticking to it. You can even go so far as to create a vacation account (if putting money aside won't cost extra at your bank). If you have your paycheck direct-deposited, have a certain amount put into a separate account.
Another money-saving option: get a credit card that offers frequent flyer miles and use it everywhere, so you can cash in come trip-time. Or look for promotions, as Ingram did with Discover and Priceline.
Advance planing also helps, as Ilene Gordon of Potomac, MD can attest to. She and her family sit down and talk about where they'd like to go, then book within reason -- a year in advance.
"Booking ahead is important to getting a fair rate," confirms Cathy Palaez of New Jersey-based Liberty Travel. "Family travel is centered around school holidays, making space at a premium. The farther out you book, the better your chances that you will get what you want. It's a question of supply and demand. When demand is high, prices are high." She suggests planning trips ten months to a year in advance, so you "get what you want and don't feel like you have to settle for what you can get."
Gordon also involves her sons, 9 and ll, in their vacation discussions. Before a trip,
she and her husband give the boys a certain amount of money (or have them use their allowance) so there's a limit to souvenir spending.
Kathy McNally, Vice President for National Financial Literacy with Silver Spring, MD-based National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), a non-profit
organization for consumer credit counseling, says involving kids at a young age, say five plus, makes for a good lesson in money matters. "Children begin to understand the meaning of budgeting when they have to empty out their piggy banks or use their own money for souvenirs."
Last, but not least: save change: it can add up. Kelly Newcomb of Summit, NJ, says her family keeps a gallon jug in their kitchen and periodically fills in with coins and the occasional dollar bills. When they emptied it last year, they had a whopping $500 -- enough for a trip to Grand Cayman. While your jar may not have that much, just emptying it at vacation time can mean extra spending money for your kids -- or you.
**Do Your Homework**
Once you've figured out how much your budget is, you can narrow down your vacation options. Do you want to beach-it? Visit a city? Go back to a favorite theme park? Opt for skiing? Tour a national park? Often, just being a native in your own city is a wonderful inexpensive vacation option, as is staying with friends (within reason). Think about staying one or two nights with a friend -- as Ingram and her brood did in Tampa -- then opt for a hotel room for the next few evenings. Or think about tacking on vacation days to a business meeting Mom or Dad may have to attend, as at least one airfare is already covered.
As you're doing your research, think creatively: may want to stay in all-inclusive resort, like Beaches or a family-run resort like The Tyler Place in Highgate Springs, Vermont (my family's favorite), so you know up front how much you're spending and don't have to worry about hidden extras. I personally like budgeting $3,000 for our week (food, taxes, activities, cabin costs) at The Tyler Place and knowing we won't go over that. Family-friendly cruises such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney are other viable options as you pay for just about everything beforehand.
Packages are another buzz-word when it comes to looking for bargains, but beware of hidden amenities you don't need. You don't want to stay at a resort with amenities you're paying for, but will never use. Be on the lookout for family-friendly plans offered by many hotels and resorts, such as Hyatt, Loew's, Holiday Inn and Radisson properties. Some will offer substantial discounts (25 to 50%) off a second (adjoining) room, along with other amenities such as babyproofing, cookies and milk at turndown, coloring kits, as well as an array of children's activities. Holiday Inn Buena Vista Family Suites, near Disney World, is one example of a hotel that is big on discounts. Every room is a themed-suite, the most desirable for families being the Kidsuites, complete with bunkbeds, Nintendo, a kid's desk, TV and games.
Be money savvy when choosing accommodations. Staying at hotel or motel that's two blocks away from beach instead of right on beach will save you some money as will considering a condo or house rental. Any room with a kitchen can help you cut back on restaurant expenses by making some meals yourself instead of eating out three times a day. Los Angeles mom Laura Travis says it's easier to pour a couple bowls of cereal in a kitchenette, rather than getting three sleepy boys out of pajamas and into a restaurant -- where cereal is often over-priced anyway.
No matter what, always ask for discounts, and don't forget to mention to a reservationist if you're a member of AAA or another organization that offers occasional savings.
If you want to stay somewhere really inexpensive, say $15 to $25 a night, consider a hostel -- they're no longer catering solely to the backpacking crowd and many are family-friendly; 202-783-6161 for Hostelling International or www.hiayh.org. Camping is another inexpensive option.
Thinking creatively also works when considering transportation. Look into taking a train ride (a trip in itself!) Consider the age -- and fatigue factor -- of kids, however. Some parents find it's worth paying for a nonstop flight simply for less aggravation.
Ask questions before you book so you're not surprised by hidden costs. I didn't know that the Florida resort we stayed in last summer charged extra for the kid's program. At
$20 a day and two kids, that added up -- something I would have known if I had done my homework better.
Be flexible, too, with your travel plans. "Everyone wants to stay over Saturday night," says Palaez, "but if you can go Tuesday to Tuesday or Monday to Thursday, that helps, as these are often less-traveled days."
If you can, consider travelling off-season. Think about going hiking or camping at a destination that's primarily a ski resort. Or go to the Caribbean in the summer. You'll generally find fewer crowds and less expensive airfares.
If your kids are not yet in school full-time, you can avoid peak travel simply by traveling when other people's kids are in school.
Most important: shop around. Here's where the Web comes in. Doing research online has become one of the most popular ways to surf the internet, according to Linda Daly at Yahoo Travel. Many sites make it easy by giving you spending limits and offering departing and arriving cities so you can figure out airfare. Some easy to navigate sites include yahoo, libertytravel, 1travel.com, and travelocity. It's also worth checking out the travel guidebook sites such as frommers.com (the Arthur Frommer site), and Fodors.
Travel agents, travel guidebooks and your local Sunday newspaper are another way to find bargains.
**Once There**
When possible, pay cash or travelers checks. Hotel, car, and airlines are often more convenient on a credit card. If you plan to use credit, keep a running list of purchases, says McNally, as they can add up fast. Decide before you leave how much of your budgeted funds will be credit purchases and have a plan to pay off the balance within three months of your return.
Buy miscellaneous items, i.e. batteries, film, and even "kiddie staples," like Goldfish, fruit roll-ups, peanut butter, bread and Cheerios beforehand as these items are guaranteed to be more expensive at your vacation destination. Stock up, too, on medicines, such as Tylenol, Calamine lotion, Band-aids-aids, sunscreen, etc.
*Jeanne Muchnick is a multi-tasking mama who's been writing about her two girls ever since they were born. She's the former Editor of Baby Magazine turned InTown Senior Editor whose parenting stories have also appeared in a variety of national consumer magazines including Woman's Day, Healthy Kids, Parents, Parenting, Pregnancy, FamilyFun and more. She lives in Larchmont, NY with her two girls: Corey, 14 and Sydney, 11, her husband, Mark and her flat coated retriever, Chip.*
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[Source: Family Vacation Survival Guide ]
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