Tips on Taking a Vacation with Your Kids

If you think you can't afford to take a vacation during the summer or any other time you and the kids have off, think again. It takes a lot of preparation and planning, but if you do your homework, you can have a memorable vacation that you and the kids will talk about for many years. Following are important ideas:

1. Start out by including your kids in the plans. Your older one can help you request pamphlets and brochures from information services in the areas you'd like to visit, such as chambers of commerce, state tourist bureaus, and automobile clubs. Older children can also use their online skills to hunt up travel bargains. Obviously, mom has the final say, as well as the credit card information.

2. Consider traveling with one or more adults to share some of the expenses. It's cheaper to rent a whole beach house and split the cost than to pay for daily motel rates. Be sure to investigate travel deals through your church, school, or any organization to which you belong and look for group rates, whenever possible.

3. Think about house swapping. If you're a city dweller, for example, consider spending your vacation in a farm house with plenty of room to spare. If you live in the country, a week in the big city apartment might be quite the adventure. Consider trading your beach for time in the mountains.

Try house exchange or house swapping in your favorite search engine and see if any possibilities appeal to you. Explore networking with other families to make this money-saving vacation opportunity happen.

4. Investigate hostel accommodations. Hostels offer bargain basement prices on dorm-like arrangements and private rooms. These are not luxury accommodations, and you need to bring along your spirit of adventure. Checking in a hostel is a great way to meet interesting people from all over the world.

5. Remember to check out the features of any hotel or motel. See if the rates include a pool or access to workout facilities, and ask if they offer babysitting services on any kind. Try getting a fridge and a microwave in your room to defray the costs of restaurant every time your kids are hungry. Bring along lots of easy to carry and nutritious snacks. Remember to keep everyone out of the pricey room minibar.

Above all, lower your expectations and raise your enjoyment threshold. Start preparing now because it's never too early to plan for a good time.