ALL IN THE FAMILY : A CRASH COURSE IN TRAVELING WITH THE KIDS- WITHOUT BLOODSHED.Byline: Judi Dash Special to the Daily News Good news for the family that plays together: Family travel has never been easier - nor a better buy. The travel industry has jumped on the bandwagon, offering special rates and amenities to attract the burgeoning family market. The further ahead you can start planning, the more options you'll have for savings. Look for ads in newspaper travel sections and/or consult a travel agent to find the best deals that can be found. Join the American Automobile Association American Automobile Association (AAA), federation of American automobile clubs, est. 1902. AAA provides a number of benefits to its members, including emergency road service; national and international travel assistance, e.g. (AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association. (Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied. ). Membership entitles you to commission-free traveler's checks, free maps and route-planning assistance. It also gets you discounts on car rentals and hotel rates. With an AAA credit card, you can charge commission-free travelers checks up to your card's credit limit. Join as many airline frequent-flier clubs as you can, even if you rarely fly. There's no charge to belong, and members often are mailed coupons for deals on air travel as well as discounts on hotels, car rentals and sometimes even cruises. Consider getting an Entertainment Book for your destination. At a cost of about $30 each, the books often contain discount coupons for airline tickets, hotels, theme park entrance fees, bike rentals, children's museum Children's museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs that stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children's museums feature interactive exhibits that are admissions, guided tours guided tour guide n → visite guidée; what time does the guided tour start? → la visite guidée commence à quelle heure? , mini golf and a slew of other family activities. Books currently are available for about 125 cities in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada. Order well in advance by calling (800) 374-4464. Local and state tourist boards at your destination may also offer free or low-cost discount coupon books to area attractions, and may know of special family deals in lodgings, food and entertainment. Affordable air fares Comparison shop for airlines, since many popular vacation destinations have numerous competing airlines. Be on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout free or discounted companion tickets. Beware how you book with companion fares, however. Often the paying passenger must be over 18, so a family of four will want to pair one adult with each child instead of the two adults together and two kids together. Best deals are for flights booked three weeks or more ahead of time with a Saturday-night stay. On most airlines, children under age 2 fly free if they sit on your lap, and if there's an empty seat, there's no charge for buckling buckling Mode of failure under compression of a structural component that is thin (see shell structure) or much longer than wide (e.g., post, column, leg bone). Leonhard Euler first worked out in 1757 the theory of why such members buckle. Junior into it. Many airlines offer package deals that discount hotels, meals and theme park admissions. Among those to consider are TWA TWA Time-weighted average, see there Getaway Vacations, United Vacations and USAir Vacations. If no one is picking you up at the airport, check ahead about alternatives to taxis taxis (tăk`sĭs), movement of animals either toward or away from a stimulus, such as light (phototaxis), heat (thermotaxis), chemicals (chemotaxis), gravity (geotaxis), and touch (thigmotaxis). - buses, commuter vans, subways. When flying into an area with more than one convenient airport, opt for the one with the lowest-priced transportation to your hotel, assuming the airline price is competitive. Car savings smarts When renting a car, check ahead to see if your credit card covers the collision damage waiver collision damage waiver n (Insurance) → rachat m de franchise collision damage waiver collide n (Insurance) → - it can save you $8 or more a day. If you'll need a child seat for a rental car, reserve one ahead of time. If you bring your own when flying, check the seat through as luggage, packed in a duffel bag surrounded by clothing, or use it in an airplane seat for your ticketed child. (Check ahead to make sure your airline permits this.) You'll save about $5 a day on the car seat rental. Tracking train deals On long train trips, traveling through the night can save time and money. The cheapest way to travel overnight is to sleep in your seats - their width and pitch (the distance between your seat and the one in front) usually are equivalent to airline business-class or first-class seats. On long-distance trips, consider renting a family cabin, which sleeps four. Dinner and breakfast are included. Call (800) 872-7245. On Amtrak Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., authorized to operate virtually all intercity passenger railroad routes in the United States. Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 in response to more than two decades of continuous operating deficits by privately run , kids ages 2 to 15 pay half the adult rate as long as there's one adult traveling per child. Amtrak also offers weekend specials, particularly on routes dominated by business travelers on weekdays. If you're traveling cross-country, consider buying an excursion fare that gives you unlimited travel within a certain zone, with a specified number of stopovers. Amtrak's Great American Vacations program offers package deals that include discounted train fares, accommodations and tours at popular family destinations. Trips feature National Parks This is a list of national parks ordered by nation. Africa
Lodging logistics All-suite hotels and motels offer plenty of space, with a room for Mom and Dad and a sofa bed in the living room area. Many have kitchenettes or provide breakfast and offer free parking. Renting a fully equipped condominium condominium In modern property law, individual ownership of one dwelling unit within a multidwelling building. Unit owners have undivided ownership interest in the land and those portions of the building shared in common. is also an enticing option for families. Or think about getting two hotel rooms, preferably adjoining. You can save 25 percent to 40 percent by booking one room for each adult with an accompanying child, since each adult may be charged a single rate and kids often stay free or at a discount when staying with an adult. Weekend rates are available at most hotel chains, and many define the weekend as Thursday through Monday. At some places, you get a free third night with two weekend nights booked. All-inclusive resorts An all-inclusive resort is a holiday resort that includes all meals, soft drinks, and most alcoholic drinks in the price. Many also offer a selection of sports and other activities included in the price as well. They are often located in warmer regions. such as Club Med's family villages help you keep to your budget with most food, services and activities included in the price. During selected weeks, one child age 2 to 5 stays free for each paying adult at certain Club Med Club Med (short for Club Méditerranée) is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in highly exotic locations. It is seen by many as having started the all-inclusive resort concept, which is now a popular vacationing style for Villages. Off-season ski resorts can be a great bargain. When the snow melts, rates often go down dramatically. Consider renting a family cabin in a state park. These reasonably priced lodgings often have several bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen (although you may have to bring your own towels and bed linens.) Book way ahead, since demand can be great. Another great resource for bargain accommodations are college campus apartments and dorms, which in summer often are made available at bargain rates. The ``Budget Lodging Guide'' ($14.95 from B&J Publications, P.O. Box 5486, Fullerton, Calif. 92635; (800) 525-6633) lists more than 600 universities worldwide that offer summer accommodations as well as 400 YMCAs and other sites. Let's dine out Verb 1. dine out - eat at a restaurant or at somebody else's home eat out eat - eat a meal; take a meal; "We did not eat until 10 P.M. because there were so many phone calls"; "I didn't eat yet, so I gladly accept your invitation" If you decide to eat at a pricey Pricey Term used for an unrealistically low bid price or unrealistically high offer price. pricey Of, relating to, or being an unrealistically high offer. An offer to sell a security at $50 when the current market price is $47 is pricey. restaurant, consider going for lunch instead of dinner; often the same menu at dinner is substantially more expensive. Many restaurants - even pricey ones - have early-bird specials for dinner, aimed at getting business at slow hours, say, before 5 p.m. Avoid eating meals in hotel dinning rooms unless it's part of the room price (and then investigate whether there's a better room rate without any meals.) Instead, breakfast in the room on cereal and fruit - or if you have a car, take the family to a local diner diner, restaurant resembling the railroad dining car that is its source. In the mid-19th cent., the first dining cars that appeared on trains were nothing more than an empty car with a fastened-down table. George M. instead. Picnic for lunch and have dinner at a family restaurant. Ask if there's a children's menu, which has kid-size portions and prices. Steer clear of room service. Rates are ridiculously steep, and a service charge of up to 15 percent and a per-person surcharge An overcharge or additional cost. A surcharge is an added liability imposed on something that is already due, such as a tax on tax. It also refers to the penalty a court can impose on a fiduciary for breaching a duty. usually are added on. If breakfast comes free with your stay and you or the kids don't want it (either because you've brought your own or don't want to take the time), call ahead and ask for a doggie bag doggie bag n. Variant of doggy bag. Noun 1. doggie bag - a bag for food that a customer did not eat at a restaurant; the transparent pretense is that the food is taken home to feed the customer's dog doggy bag breakfast to eat later. Cruise control See adaptive cruise control. Cruises are great if you need to know exactly how much your trip will cost: Except for some drinks and optional shore excursions, they're all-inclusive. Many have special programs for children and/or teens, offered at no charge. Early booking discounts can save you as much as 50 percent, and some lines offer special air-fare deals and credits for purchases made on board. You also can get good rates if you book at the last minute and are flexible about ship and itinerary choices. Cruise companies often offer bargain air-cruise tie-ins, but comparison shop to make sure you're getting a good deal. Use a travel agent who has expertise in cruises. Familiarity with the range of ships, special programs and deals can make a huge difference in your price and satisfaction level. Shore excursions can cost a bundle and are not always worth the price. You may find your family trapped on a bus for hours or shepherded through shops that give the guide a kickback The seller's return of part of the purchase price of an item to a buyer or buyer's representative for the purpose of inducing a purchase or improperly influencing future purchases. on purchases. You may have more fun exploring on your own. Buy cruise-cancellation insurance. With children's penchant for sudden illness, as well as the possibility of missing a plane connection, you'll want this protection. On Location Need more information about going on the road with the family? Here are some sources: Family Travel Times, a consumer newsletter published four times a year by Travel With Your Children, 40 Fifth Ave., N.Y., N.Y. 10011; (212) 477-5524. Subscription is $40 per year. ``Cruising with Children,'' $15 from Travel With Your Children. ``Trouble-Free Travel With Children,'' by Vicki Lansky (The Book Peddlers; $6.95). To order, call (800) 255-3379. ``100 Best Family Resorts in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. ,'' by Janet Tice and Jane Wilford (Globe Pequot Press; $14.95). ``The Family Travel Guide,'' edited by Carol Terwilliger Meyers (Carousel Press; $16.95). CAPTION(S): 5 Photos, Box Photo: (1--Color) Kids thrive at resorts, where the y can learn a new skill. Many hotel chains - among them Hyatt, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Westin, Wyndham and Loews - have special kids programs that free Mom and Dad to have fun on their own while the kids enjoy their own supervised activities and day trips. (2--Color) The best family vacation can mean spending time "Spending Time" is the first single released by Christian artist Stellar Kart. The lyrics describe the band members desire to spend "more time with God". "Sometimes it’s a real struggle to spend time with God. enjoying each other's company, rather than rushing from place to place. (3-4--Color) In summer, many ski resorts have family programs at low prices. Left, this lift transports kids to hiking and biking instead of skiing. Above, time for physical activity can make kids better travelers. (5) A family vacation will be more fun if the kids can work off their energy with play stops. Judi Dash/Special to the Daily News Box: On Location (See text) |
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