Search Results for: blog leaving your child while on vacation

Vacation Reminders

Summer is winding down and for many families that means taking one last getaway before the chaos of a new school year starts. Whether you are planning a road trip to the beach or you’re jetting off to a major theme park, you’ll want to cover all your bases. In addition to packing as efficiently as possible and getting the kids geared up for the haul, you’ll also want to take steps to protect your home while you are away. For starters, don’t use social media to inform the world that you will be flying to Orlando and your home … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Your Summer Vacation—Work It!

Continuing my series on ways to save on your summer vacation I’m turning my attention to a unique alternative that I doubt would appeal to those of you who enjoy leaving the daily grind behind to relax on a powdery white sand beach. However, if you are on a tight budget and can’t stomach spending a summer camping in your own backyard then you might not be turned off by the idea of taking a working vacation. If you have a passion for lighthouses consider heading to Northport, Michigan this summer. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse offers visitors the chance to … Continue reading →

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Good morning and welcome to my personal travel journal as we prepare to leave for London. The great thing about family vacation is the opportunity it affords you to spend time with your family, in this case my mother and my daughter. Our vacation to England fulfills three basic family needs: Quality family time for three generations Reconnection with family roots Chance to share new experiences together and to pass on the past to a new generation Planning Ahead The important thing about a trip like this is to plan ahead as much as is possible. Traveling overseas requires pre-planning. … Continue reading →

Flying Safe—-How to Protect Your Valuables at 35,000 Feet

Because I travel with a young child I often enjoy the luxury of boarding an airplane prior to my fellow economy class passengers. Consequently, I am treated to a solid 15 minutes (at least) of people watching. During that time I observe the creative methods travelers employ as they try to cram as many of their oversized carry-ons in overhead bins or underneath the seats in front of them. During my most recent 9-hour flight I observed a gentleman, who boarded at the last minute, try to find space for his gigantic suitcase (honestly, I don’t know how the guy … Continue reading →

Even More Ways to Save Money on Vacation

For the past few days I have been providing tips on how to save money while on a family vacation. Bottom line: It all comes down to planning. By anticipating certain scenarios you can successfully prepare in advance so your wallet doesn’t take such a major hit. MEALS Next to transportation and lodging, food is what families spend the most money on while on vacation. Think about it; the cost for a family of five to eat three meals a day at a restaurant during a 7-day trip can set you back hundreds of dollars. To soften the blow to … Continue reading →

Vacationing Away From the Kids

I have a bit of a different entry for today’s blog. For the last few days I’ve been in Mexico with my husband celebrating our twentieth anniversary. One of our nieces and her friend flew out to watch the boys for us. Our boys don’t get to see their east coast relatives very often so I was nervous about the whole thing. I left some suggestions for fun things to do while we were gone. I brought out the Whoonu game so they could all get to know each other better. Our niece was so impressed with the game that … Continue reading →

Cancun Vacation – Pirate Dinner Cruise

Let the adventures begin as you join Captain Hook and his swashbuckling crew aboard an authentic 18th century Spanish galleon replica. The high seas adventure begins with the entertaining adventures of past pirate exploits and Captain Hook’s dread enemy Mundaka. The crew relates the hilarious tales in both Spanish and English. After dinner the ruthless pirate Mundaka and his crew draw alongside and the fight begins. Swords are drawn and sparks fly as Captain Hook rescues his bride from the clutches of Mundaka. All the while the passengers wave their flags and cheer the brave captain on. The evening ends … Continue reading →

Ways to Make Disneyland Less Expensive

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Planning a trip to Disneyland? Your children will love it. Your wallet, however, may be cringing already! Family travel can get expensive very quickly, especially when a theme park is involved. Here are some ways to make Disneyland a little less expensive. How to save money on tickets If you live in Anaheim, California, you won’t have much difficulty finding a discount on tickets to Disneyland. There are “Disneyland Good Neighbor” hotels that can legally sell tickets at a discounted price. If you live elsewhere, you can take advantage of the discounted tickets by booking a hotel stay in one … Continue reading →

Finding A Babysitter

Getting a babysitter for the evening when you are a single mom is almost like getting a little vacation. It’s wonderful if you have family that can care for your child, but sometimes you have to get a babysitter, and that can be scary. Most teenage girls baby-sit at one time or another and the majority of them are really good with the kids. They are close enough in age to remember what is was like to be smaller. When you are looking for a teenage sitter, word of mouth is the best way to find a really good one. … Continue reading →

Back-to-School: Keeping Kids on Track

We’ve just hit the midpoint of summer vacation, though you’d never know it by strolling through Wal-Mart or Target. The popular discount retailers have their back-to-school displays front and center, reminding parents that they have yet another financial obligation looming. Personally, I am trying to ignore the stacks of new pencils, tablets and binders. However, I realize that parents of college-bound kids don’t have the same luxury. When Wal-Mart starts stocking Neutrogena Acne Facial Wash next to No.2 pencils, you know that the back-to-school clock is ticking. Thankfully, my daughter won’t be leaving for college for another decade or so. … Continue reading →