Travelers often find it is easier finding cheap travel options, such as cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages than figuring out how many diapers to pack and which hotels are really child friendly.
The following are commendations from Practical Traveler as to how to plan for a smooth trip with your family:
Do not pack what can be purchased at your destination. Things such as extra formula, suntan lotion, and Cheerios should not be packed in checked luggage. Any potential savings will be more than overset by additional checked bag fees and general inconvenience.
While it is generally true that the more you leave at home the better, there are times when taking along a travel bed or a foldable highchair is worth it. The key is to find items that are as compact as possible to pack.
Do not try to pack everything into a single checked bag. The odds if you do so are that your bag will be overweight and the fee you face will be onerous. While the airlines are losing fewer checked bags these days, you do not want to be in a situation where all of your childs favorite things are in a single bag that does not show up at your destination. When traveling with young children pack a change of clothes for your child and yourself in your carry-on.
Do not limit yourself to only considering purchasing the absolute cheapest airline tickets you can find. While nonstop flights and checked bag fees will make your trip more expensive, it is often better than missing a connection or trying to schlep too many/big carry-on bags. Airlines have started (see Frontier) to reward passengers with no carry-on luggage or bags that fit under the seat by giving them priority boarding.
Be flexible when coming up with ways to entertain infants. A luggage rack can easily be turned into an activity gym by hooking some dangling toys on it. Play-Doh can keep toddlers occupied who are too young to watch an in flight movie and too old to sit in a parents lap.
Although boutique hotels usually lack child friendly amenities such as childrens clubs or waterslides, such hotels often appeal to older children.
If you are going to reserve a suite, make certain you know what you will be getting. These days many hotels refer to a room as a suite even when there is no separate living room. Suite hotels, even those without separate living rooms, are often desirable because they usually offer free continental breakfasts and in room kitchens with full size refrigerators. Only by calling the hotel directly can you be sure that the room you are considering is really a suite. www.cheapfares.com