It's time to think about hitting the open road again. Whether you plan to travel during the summer months, a bit of planning will make your jaunt a whole lot easier. If you'll be staying at a hotel, try to book your room as soon as possible. Here are some tips for those overnight stays.
- Hotel rates frequently can be negotiated over the phone. Ask about special promotions, coupons and weekend family rates as well as discounts for senior citizens and the military. And be sure to ask if the hotel has a pool, a must after a hot day on the road.- Bring along a night light to use in the hotel room and never, never leave home without your child's security blanket or a cuddly toy.
- If traveling with a toddler, take a few minutes to child-proof the room upon arrival. For example, hang a towel over the top of an open bathroom door. If your child wanders into the bathroom and tries to close the door, he/she won't accidentally be locked inside.
- Eat a simple breakfast in your room before you strike out for the day. You save both money and time. Serve cereal, milk (keep cool overnight in an ice-filled sink covered with several layers of newspaper) and juice. A clever breakfast-on-the-road idea comes from a reader, Charlotte Duchesne of Silver Spring, Md. She suggests serving cereal and milk in a scooped-out cavity of a cantaloupe half.
- If your final destination is Walt Disney World, compare hotel prices both on and off Disney property. Take into consideration that staying on the property allows you to use an efficient and free shuttle bus service to attractions. Be sure to ask if the gates to the Magic Kingdom open an hour early, before the general public arrives. Your kids can fly through many of their favorite rides almost "line-free."
Send your thrift travel tips to share with other families to Donna Erickson, P.O. Box 16188, Minneapolis, MN 55416. Wishing you Happy Trails!