The day has arrived and it is time to load the car to head out for the long anticipated vacation. If you live in a big city or have a ways to drive to the airport or train station allow yourself an hour extra over the arrival time required by the airlines. This will account for unexpected traffic, etc. If you are traveling with small children you will need extra time for potty breaks and managing all the extra items you are traveling with. Remember start the trip on a good note by not cutting it too close.
Feed everyone before heading to the airport, or at least before going into the airport or train station. The prices are triple what you would pay for the same thing outside and not nearly as healthy. Be sure to have healthy snakes in your carry on bag. A correction to yesterday's note about a water bottle, you cannot take a full water bottle through security. Pack an empty one in your checked baggage, but you will have to purchase a full one inside security to take on the plane. Also check the TSA site regarding sippy cups, drink boxes, etc. Having these items taken away will only add to the cost and frustration of your trip.
When traveling by air or train be sure to plan for delays once you have arrived at the airport. Pre-planning will help everyone stay calm.
Traveling by car is a whole different experience. There are 2 types of road trips, 1) heading to the destination of the actual vacation or 2) the trip is the vacation, a new place every day or two. No matter what, being prepared will help make for a fun filled vacation.
You have packed a cooler with healthy food and drinks, packed prizes for the kids, they have back packs full of fun things to do, they have picked out special snacks, but 2 hours down the road and the whining. etc. has already begun. Once again you can be prepared and not with just DVD's for them to watch. Look up on the internet fun car ride games, have some books on CD for the family to listen to together, have information about the places you will be visiting to look at and talk about, talk about the places you visited as a child, have a silly song CD with hand motions that everyone (except the driver) can participate in, take an atlas with and let the kids follow the route you are taking. Remember this is a Family Vacation from the start.
Plan specific times you will be stopping and when you get close start watching road signs to choose where you will eat next or if there is someplace that looks like a fun quick break besides the rest area. Picnic lunches are great to take with instead of fast food. Everyone can stretch and have a healthier meal. Be sure to take a football, soccer ball, frizbee, jump rope, etc. for some exercise.
Plan ahead for seating arrangements. If the kids know they are in one spot today and tomorrow will be their turn in another spot this will help. Make sure everyone has a small travel pillow. Let everyone get in the car and try it out before you head down the road. Make adjustments if needed. I like to take a small box to elevate my feet. Look for ways to make the ride comfortable for everyone. Plan on stopping early enough for everyone to have a good dinner and time in the pool if you are staying in a hotel. Do not push everyone to go just a little farther, it just isn't worth it.
When stopping at a hotel even for only one night consider taking pretty much everything you have with into the hotel. Hotel parking lot thefts are rampant and it doesn't matter where the hotel is located. In the summer the lots are so full that many cars are parked where someone can easily break in. If nothing can be seen in the car your chances of a break in are much lower, but don't think just because it is in a closed trunk they won't try anyway.
Stay hydrated and eat healthy as much as possible. You will all feel better. More stops are better than fewer. If you have cut your travel time to a destination too short your vacation will start off on the wrong foot. It is worth the extra time to arrive safe and happy.
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