I would like to introduce Kendra Thornton. She's 37 year old and a mother of 3. Before being promoted to the full time position of mom, she was the former Orbitz Director of Communications where she was able to travel a great deal. Kendra has been to 28 countries on 6 continents, and has been quoted in the news about seasonal travel trends and destinations all over the United States. She now resides in Chicago and have taken on the role of being number one wife and mom to her family.
Enjoy a
Fun Family Vacation This Summer!
It's not too late!!
Can you believe it is already August? The summer may be cruising
along, but there is still plenty of time to get a family vacation together.
Whether you have infants, toddlers or teenagers, there are many things to
consider when planning a family vacation. Start planning today, and consider
some of these tips to help with your preparations.
Tip 1: Getting Through the Airport
Getting through the airport is never going to be a quick process,
but there are ways to make it considerably easier on your family. Have your
boarding passes printed out the night before you leave for the airport. Make
sure everyone wears shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as you’ll need to
remove all footwear when going through security. And most importantly, bring
with you what I call a ‘travel pack.’ This should be in your carry-on luggage,
and should have in it anything that might be needed in case of an emergency. I
use this term loosely, but in case of flight delays or long layovers, have
things like snacks and juice boxes, your child’s favorite toy, a change of
clothes for the baby, a pacifier, and whatever else you deem worthy.
Tip 2: Packing Tips
Before leaving, it is imperative to make an extensive list of what
you will need to get done before leaving, as well as what to bring. This should
be done well in advance of the actual vacation, as this will allow you time to
periodically add and cross off items from the list. Some important things
include stopping mail service, getting medications filled at the pharmacy, and bringing
appropriate clothes for your children. If your list is likely to be lost
somewhere in your purse, or somewhere in the house, download
an app to your mobile device like Packing Pro. This will allow you to
create the list right on your smartphone!
Tip 3: Accommodations
Make sure you look for a family friendly hotel when planning where
to stay this summer. While it is tempting to simply pick the cheapest available
option, you will thank yourself later if you research the hotel’s amenities
beforehand. Research and read actual user reviews of the hotels, rather than
just checking out the hotel’s website. When in Florida last year, I used
Gogobot and read
through user reviews of numerous Orlando hotels until I found one I felt
comfortable in housing my family at. Look to see if the rooms are spacious
enough to bring in a rollaway bed, and if this is an added fee or an included
option. Also, check if the rooms have microwaves and refrigerators; you can use
the microwaves to heat up meals and the fridge to store food in, saving you
from having to spend extra money on restaurants for every meal.
Tip 4: Photography
When traveling this summer, make sure to bring your camera as well
as extra batteries and/or a charger. Also, teach the kids a
fun, creative new hobby in photography by providing them with their own
disposable cameras! The kids will love this, as they get to soak in the
vacation fun while documenting their favorite parts of the trip. When you
return home, you can sit down with your children and scrapbook the photos
together, providing you with some wonderful family bonding.
Tip 5: Making the Car Comfortable
Road trips may sound time consuming and the length may be
intimidating, but they can actually be a lot of fun! Especially if you have
little ones who have never been far away from home, they will get excited about
the prospect of a long adventure to somewhere new. Bring games for the car, and
consider bringing a portable DVD player or an iPad to entertain the little ones
(and maybe even the adults!). Also, make the car as comfortable as possible by
bringing plenty of blankets and pillows for all. If you are traveling with
children who still nap frequently, invest
in car window shades to help them sleep easier in the back seat.
There is still time to plan a wonderful, stress free summer
vacation for your family! I hope these tips help you in this process, and
remember: have fun!
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