Can I Make That a Combo?

Vacationing in an area with lots of attractions? Look for a combo ticket.

Several areas have tickets available that will allow admission to multiple parks and attractions for a set price. And many times the discounts get bigger, the more days you purchase.

Some to try: Go San Diego card, Orlando Flex Ticket, New York City CityPASS

Just try searching your destination and multiple attraction ticket and see what happens. Though, make sure you do your research to get the best discount prices.

Whats a Gal To Do?

You've chosen your destination. You've booked your hotel. Just when you think the hard work is done, now you're faced with what could be the hardest decision of all. What are we going to do while we're there?

I think most of us fall into one of two categories when it comes to planning your activities. We either schedule every detail and book everything at the earliest possible moment. Or we wait until we arrive and see what's available and what sounds good.

Either way, there's a great tool out there that I like to recommend to my traveling friends. tripadvisor.com

I'm certain many of you have heard of it, if not used it already. But many people do not understand the true power of this website.

My favorite tool on this site is the "Things To Do" option. Just enter your destination and the website will give you a list of awesome activities that are available. The activities are ranked by their reviews. Real users opinions not just some unknown "expert" opinion or promotional materials by the companies themselves.

So, you're going on a trip to New York City and you want to know what kind of tour you and your family can take. Tripadvisor.com will give you hundreds of options to choose from with real reviews, links or contact information, and sometimes actual user pictures. I have never been disappointed in an activity that I have chosen on tripadvisor.

Note: After you use tripadvisor to plan an activity, make sure you leave a review also.

disclaimer - I'm not connected to any of the websites that I mention in this blog. They are just sites that like to use and have had good experiences with.

Plastic Please...

Quick Tip: You know all those gallon size plastic bags you just used to pack your kids clothes in, there's no reason just to throw them all away. Besides being useful for packing home damp swimsuits, you can also use those plastic bags while on your vacation.

Fill one or two of those plastic bags with ice from the machine at the hotel and use to pack a small cooler for a day at the theme park or beach. Save yourself the trip to buy ice at the gas station.

Toss one in your bag to store dry socks or a pair of flip flops for the kiddos for riding those water rides.

Carry your park tickets, map, and cash money in one. And you can even fold it up for your pocket.

Store your leaky toiletries to protect your suitcase.

Place souvenirs inside and layer within your dirty laundry in your suitcase for the trip back home.



Any other ideas? Share in the comments section.

Budget Buster

You've done all your research. You got a great deal on plane tickets. You saved 50% on your hotel. Feeling pretty good about ourselves, aren't we? Well, don't let all our planning and penny-pinching be for nothing. Beware of the unforeseen budget buster!! BAGGAGE FEES!

Oh, the dreaded word! Those terrible fees that blow your vacation budget wide open. Most airlines charge at least $20 for your first bag each way. That adds up to at least $160 for a family of 4 if each one has her own suitcase.

We all know there is no way around baggage fees when traveling with your family for a week long vacation. I don't care how good a packer you are, no one can pack a family of 4 for a week in a couple of carry on bags.

So, how do you save money on baggage fees? Hone your packing skills and show those airline people who's boss. This is the first post in a series of all my favorite packing tips. They are a composite of all my favorite tricks that I have learned from friends, research, and experience!

Here's my #1 trick to packing for my kids: zip top bags.

Yeah, you read that right. My best trick for saving money on baggage fees is by packing my kids clothes in zip top bags. Here's what I do:

I lay out my girls clothes for each day. Shorts, top, underwear, socks for kid #1, shorts, top, underwear socks for kid #2. Put both in a gallon size zip top bag, squeeze out all the air and label the bag: Day 1. Then continue for each day of our trip. What I end up with is a bag for each day, a bag with pajamas, and a bag with swimsuits (usually I pack an extra day's clothes and/or a sundress for each girl also.)

I put the Day 1 bag and the swimsuit bag in my carry on bag, and the remaining bags get packed into the checked suitcase. The method saves so much space, I can usually pack both kids and all of my clothes in 1 suitcase with room left over.

Tip: The plastic zip bags can also be useful throughout your vacation. Pack still-damp swimsuits back in the bag to keep other clothes dry for your trip home.

Stay tuned for more helpful packing tips in the next few days!

Do Not Fear

I know the word Priceline strikes fear into the hearts of many of you, but I have grown to appreciate and even love the strange world that is Priceline. Like many of you, I was once afraid of the mystery behind the Name Your Own Price function. That is until a couple of years ago when I discovered what a great tool it can be to vacation planning on a budget.

A couple of years ago mother of one of my daughter's friends mentioned that they use Priceline to book hotels in Branson. She gave me tons of useful information and what she shared sounded great. So with great trepidation, I convinced my family to let me give it a shot. We've now used Priceline to book several hotel stays and we've never had a bad experience.

The most important thing when using the Name Your Own Price option is to do your research first. Narrow your search to the area within your destination that you would most like to stay. Then choose the star level that you would like to stay in. Most of the time, I even go a star level higher than I would normally choose.

Then, and this is the most important point, read the descriptions and several reviews for ALL the possible hotels. I know, this seems like a lot of work, but isn't saving 50% worth a little extra reading? If you would feel happy with any of these hotels, then go for it.

My husband and I were planning our 10 anniversary trip to New York City and I decided to give Priceline a shot. I chose my area, Midtown West -Times Square. Then I chose my star rating, 4 star. And read the reviews. And really, can you really go wrong with a 4 star hotel a couple blocks from Times Square. And how did it work out? Fantastic! We got a fabulous, historic hotel with a beautiful view and a nice, big room. And for almost half-price.

So here we go... 1. Pick your area. 2. Pick your star rating. 3. Decide on your opening bid and give it a try. If you're first bid doesn't land you a room, wait a little while and try again with a little higher bid.

Good Luck, Go Forth and BID (low)!

Note: Once a bid is accepted, there's no changing or cancellations, so be sure before you bid.

Special Delivery!

So, you've decided to bite the bullet and fly. Now, how are you going to fit everything the baby needs in the one suitcase you can afford to take. My answer: Don't!

No, I'm haven't lost my mind. Of course, I know the baby needs baby food and diapers. But what's the point of packing them. If you're renting a car at your destination, this may seem like a no-brainer. But for those of you sans transportation at your resort, what can you do?
The answer? Grocery delivery!! Just try it and I'll bet you find a local service that will gladly deliver whatever supplies you need directly to your hotel, condo, or vacation home for a small fee. And considering the cost to check a bag on an airplane, you may come out on top. Plus you don't have to spend your time shopping or figuring out how to pack it all in.

Our favorite: gardengrocer.com in the Orlando, Florida area. Awesome service and good prices.

Note: Make sure you don't forget to pack more than enough extra diapers in your carry on bag. Sure wouldn't want to risk running out if your flights get delayed.

The Big Family Spread

Have you ever caught yourself thinking that the walls of your hotel room are closing in on you and you really need room to spread out? My guess is, that you have, especially when your kids start running, screaming through the 150 sqft room that your "living" in. We've been there and I have felt your pain. That is until VRBO.com came our way.

VRBO.com is a website with thousands of vacation rentals, houses and condos. VRBO stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner and the purpose of the website is to allow owners to list their vacation rentals and give good people like us the opportunity to save some money. The rentals can save you hundreds in management fees. Always check carefully, some rentals will be even give you the cleaning fee free if you stay six or more nights.

The choices can be overwhelming to first time users, but the benefits of having hundreds of options far outweighs the negatives. Choose the area you would like to stay, the size of the place you need, and the dates you want to stay. Then start narrowing down the options. And don't give up, sometimes you can find AMAZING deals.

Note: There may be similar websites out there, but I have not personally used them. If you find a good deal on one, make sure you check out reviews of the site and the vacation rental before you book.

To Fly or Not To Fly

Lets be frank, shall we? Flying is expensive!! Especially as our family grows, vacation flights get more and more expensive. But until kids fly free (never happen), we are all forced to answer the question: Do we fly or do we drive?

This has been a major question around our house in recent weeks. We are planning and booking our vacation for this summer and being on an extra tight budget this year, my husband was leaning more toward driving to our sunny destination. I even polled the audience, asking my friends on facebook for their opinions. The response: completely mixed!

So lets break down the pros and cons...

Flying, though usually more convenient, always costs more. Add to the pricey flight, the cost of checked luggage, parking at the airport, and transportation when you arrive at your destination.

Driving, even long distances, always seems to come out on top price wise. But add to the price of gas, the extra travel time, extra days off of work, meals and hotel rooms on the road, and possibly the price of parking at your destination. Things always have a way of adding up.

But the major factor for me when it comes to choosing between flying and driving: the MOM factor. How many times am I going to hear the word "Mo-omm!" during these travels? You mom's out there know what I mean. Twenty-one hours each way driving versus 8 hours or less each way flying. 42 hours adds up to a lot of MOMs.

For us this year, after much discussion and number crunching, we've decided to bite the bullet and fly. Now, if only the weather will cooperate...

Why wait?

I don't know about you, but I love a good bargain. When I find something at the store, even if I really like it, I always think "If I just wait, I know it'll go on sale and I can get it cheaper." Of course, that doesn't always work, but most of the time it does.

Travel deals don't always seem to work out the same way. It never fails, that when I find a great deal on a flight or hotel room, if I decide to wait the deal seems to vanish. Now, I, of all people, am not saying that you should jump in as soon as you see a good deal. It's always best to do your research and make sure you're getting the best deal. But if you are sure it's a great deal, why wait?

Of course, the cheapest seats on a flight and the best rates on hotel rooms will always sell out first. And if your top priority when planning your vacation is price, it's always best to book early.

The exceptions to the rule are always those last-minute, great-deals everyone claims to have. I have never personally found one of these great deals, but then again, I'm always too excited about planning to wait to the last minute to book.