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So you want a vacation for you and your family and you don't have a specific destination in mind. One thing you do know is that you want a deal.
If you are at all flexible about your plans, you can find bargains. There are a lot of good sources for discount travel prices. One source of discounts
specifically for family travel is Family Travel Deals at the Travel With Kids Web site. Some samples in November 1999 include a hotel deal in St. Thomas, apartment accommodations in Switzerland, and a Southwest Airlines/hotel/Islands of Adventure (Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida) theme park package.
http://www.travelwithkids.about.com
Another site to check for bargains is Family Travel Guides. On a recent visit to that Web site, we found packages for golfers (including very young golfers) and trips to Cancun, with a newsletter to keep you up to date. These family travel discounts are located at
http://www.familytravelguides.com/deals
GETTING SEPARATED
Losing your child in a crowd, a park, a beach, or ANYWHERE is an experience some parents can't talk about even years later. It feeds upon some elemental fear that reason and numerical odds can't assuage. We've given tips on preventing separation and finding lost children, and no doubt we'll provide more in months to come. Perhaps the easiest, but most often neglected, measure for reuniting separated family members is to establish a routine for everyone. You can teach
even preschoolers to meet at a certain place-whether it's the lifeguard chair, the car, the museum entrance, or a particular destination. Pick a spot even a child can spot, away from the crowd. It takes just a few moments to establish a plan, and it could save you a few gray hairs.
TRAVELING WITH COOL DRINKS
Here's a tip from some kids we know: Fill a plastic bottle about two-thirds full of water and put it in the freezer. On your way out the door, take the bottle
out of the freezer and top it off. The ice melts gradually, providing your kids with a drink that stays cold all day long, even in the hottest weather. You
avoid the hassle of filling and refilling cups from a thermos, as well as unwanted spills. Each kid has his or her own bottle when they go their separate ways. If you prefer, you can substitute juice for some or all of the water.
WHAT TO BRING IN THE CAR
As every traveling family knows, long car trips can be headaches. Planning ahead is a key to avoiding problems. One activity ripe for proper planning is snacks. Many a road trip has risen or fallen on the quality of snack management. You look back later and think, "If only Samantha hadn't rubbed the melted chocolate bar all over her arms and face...." Aside from the problem of what snacks to provide, we suggest a complete array of food accessories. Straws are absolutely essential in a car for obvious reasons--even more essential than in a restaurant. Bring enough. If you bring juice boxes and a 2- or 3-year-old, consider a juice box holder. It has handles and prevents the squeeze-juice-box-and-create-gusher phenomenon. Napkins are good, but moist towels or diaper wipes are sometimes better. Keep a supply of plastic cups and utensils and one real knife for cutting apples or cheese. Storage containers and Ziplock bags are good for half-eaten food. And if you're really good, you can pack it all in something that will fit under your seat.
