Travel Tips - Pitstops for Kids

Five budget travel hacks you thought you’d outgrown

March 20, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

You traveled extensively as a young adult, but now you’ve settled down with a job and kids. Think your budget travel days are behind you? Think again! The following budget travel hacks can still be implemented with kids in tow. All that’s needed is a little flexibility, nostalgia, and sense of adventure!

1. Take the bus or train:

Train travel is admittedly less convenient in the US than many points abroad, but great deals and experiences can still be had. Get out of the ‘road trip by car’ mindset and save on gas money on your next trip by booking Amtrak or VIA Rail (in Canada). Reserving sleeper compartments is a blast, but often more expensive than flying to your destination. Instead, use the Amtrak Fare Finder to locate Saver and Value coach seat fares for day time rail journeys. Stay the night in cities in-between for a road trip on rails. On VIA Rail, rail passes can be bought for youth, perfect for regular routes (such as to Grandma’s house). Plus, the scenery on VIA Rail cannot be beat. Grab a seat in an observation car and soak in the views for a fraction of the price of airfare. Read an entire post on affordable rail travel.

2. Stay in a KOA:

Have you visited a KOA Campground recently? They’re no longer you mom’s budget campground. KOAs are designated as Journey, Resort, or Holiday campgrounds now, making it easier to discern before booking what might be in store. What’s a Journey campground? It’s a pit stop…a place to stay near major roads and interstates while you’re traveling. Given the choice between a basic roadside motel room or a campground with a cabin and plenty of outdoor space, we choose the latter every time. Want to ‘glamp’ instead of camp? Try a KOA Destination or Holiday property. They’ll be located near major attractions and have plenty of on-site activities. We think there’s a time and place for both types of KOA resorts, and you’ll save money every time.

3. Eat at farmer’s markets:

Remember your bohemian days, when you ate and drank your way around new cities, soaking up the culture and learning about its people and history through tactile experiences and carefree exploration? You can still do this with kids…er, sort of. While the ‘carefree’ aspect of your trip may be lost to nap time schedules and early bedtimes, families can still find the heart of any city’s personality in farmer’s markets and street fairs. Instead of stopping at a fast food restaurant en route, seek out the area’s farm-to-fork offerings. On weekends in cities and agricultural areas, this will likely be in the form of a farmer’s market. On weekdays, look for food trucks or natural grocery stores. Buy the makings of a picnic, and eat at a public park, historical site, or designated nature area. The food is likely to be fresher, healthier, and cheaper, and everyone will burn off energy.

4. Stay cheap on a farm or ranch:

Farm stays are the very definition of family travel chic…they’re adventurous, ultra-local, and an absolute blast for kids. The nightly rate at most farm stays may not be cheaper than your standard B&B or hotel, but all those extras you usually have to buy when traveling with kids will disappear, like entertainment and food. Kids are content to roam the farm, help with chores, and play in a hayloft instead of requiring expensive admission tickets to museums and attractions. Farms and ranches offering stays range considerably, so do your research before pulling in. While some farms offer complete cabins or condos for families, others provide single guest rooms. The best will cater to families with included interaction with any animals on premises.

5. Backpack:

Have you been reminiscing about that summer you backpacked around Europe? Kids can certainly accompany you, though in some cases, hostels that charge a price per ‘head’ won’t be as economical as they were when you were single. Instead, look for European campgrounds located just outside major cities (some of the best we’ve seen are located in Croatia and Slovenia). If you’re craving a wilderness adventure, don’t shy away from backpacking in national parks or national forest service land with kids. Families who are prepared for a backpacking trip, and remain flexible en route, can have a very rewarding and low cost adventure the kids will remember for years. Learn how to plan a multi-day backpacking trip.

What are your best budget travel hacks? What ways does your family save money while traveling?

How to use Airbnb to rent a room (and when to consider it)

February 23, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

We often recommend booking a vacation rental when traveling with kids: doing so allows families to travel more authentically, comfortably, and cheaply. But would you rent a single room in a stranger’s home?

The vacation rental site airbnb offers rental homes and apartments to traveling families, much like companies such as HomeAway or VacationRoost. However, they also list single rooms, which are rented out in local’s homes. Honestly, I’d always prefer renting an entire home or apartment, as I’m a private person, but sometimes, cost or availability in the city to which I’m traveling has me considering a room rental.

My airbnb room rental experience:

In anticipation of using airbnb for an upcoming family trip to Europe, I decided to rent a room in Salt Lake City during the annual Outdoor Retailer show. It was the perfect time to try airbnb, as the city’s hotel rooms were sold out or unreasonably priced for this major event. I was traveling to Salt Lake City solo, so I needed less space, and was on a budget. I wouldn’t be in my room much during the day, so a nice hotel experience wasn’t necessary.

Checking airbnb four months prior to the show, I had no trouble finding suitable rooms to rent. My criteria:

The room needed to be on or near a public transit line, in a safe neighborhood.
The room needed to include a private bathroom.
The room needed to be under $50/night. Bonus: it would be great if the home owner on the listing didn’t look too shady.

I quickly found this room listing which met my criteria. It lists for $30/night (far lower than a hotel room rate, of course), and comes with a private bathroom. The host is a woman with kids, which made me comfortable (wrong or right, this was my feeling as a woman traveling alone).

Once I’d contacted the host via airbnb and was accepted, I paid for the room via invoice through the site and was given a receipt, plus additional information from the host (such as the exact address). I was then sent a reminder text the week before my trip. My total payment was $157 for four nights ($30/night, plus cleaning fee and service fee from airbnb).

How did it turn out? I had a very pleasant stay. The house was in a nice, quiet neighborhood only 15 minutes from everywhere I needed to be. While, true, I was a guest in a stranger’s home, I never felt ‘weird’ about it…at least not much. While I was welcomed, the host family did their thing, and I did mine. I was given a key to the house, and told which areas were ‘mine’ to inhabit. My space was in the finished basement, which worked out just fine. If I’d had the whole family along, I would have felt like too much of an intrusion, so for those times, I’ll look for airbnb rentals where families can rent the entire house. For a solo adult, or a couple, however, my arrangement was perfect. Here’s a shot of my room:

Tips for renting a single room on airbnb:

1. Know what you’re getting. Because airbnb rental rooms are listed by individuals and are located in private homes, every one will be different. Some come with a shared bathroom (shared with the host family), while others are shared with other guests in additional rooms. If you want a private bathroom, search with this in mind.

Some room rentals come with breakfast, but most come only with kitchen space, so you can bring your own food with you and cook as needed. In some cases, mingling and socializing with the hosts is encouraged, and in others, discouraged. Searching the site, I didn’t have much trouble deducing which rentals had a lively social atmosphere and which were quieter. It helps to read the user reviews to know if hosts or other housemates were loud, enjoyed music late at night, or were generally unfriendly.

2. Remember you’ll be in someone’s home. Obviously, this means you’ll be respectful of property and people, but it also means there might be environmental elements you are not used to. The hosts may have pets (this is disclosed) or may smoke in the home. Most seem to allow smoking (outside) and alcoholic beverages, but some do stipulate rules, as is their right.

3. Research a potential rental room’s neighborhood. You are not given an exact address until your rental request is accepted by the host, but each room listing does include a city map and a fairly accurate idea of where the house is. Make sure it’s in a safe neighborhood, will offer public transit if you need it, or parking space for your vehicle.

Have you rented a vacation room in a private home? What was your experience?

Five reasons to book Alaska small ship cruises

February 9, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

A year ago, we wrote extensively about our small ship cruise experience with Alaskan Dream Cruises. If you liked what you read (and saw in our small ship cruise review video), now is the perfect time of year to book your summer cruise. However, I realize Alaska small ship cruises are a serious vacation investment. If hikes, kayaking, wildlife viewing and shore excurions are on your list, you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck by booking one of several Alaska small ship cruises.

5 reasons for families to book Alaska small ship cruises:

1. Eco-conservation begins with education.

As outdoor enthusiasts who have done all we can to pass on our love of the wilderness to our kids, we know that nothing makes children respect and value the planet more than a personal relationship with the natural world. On small ship cruises, the emphasis is outward (on the world outside the ship), instead of inward (deck parties and swimming pools). When kids see, hear, and touch the wildlife around them (whether that be while kids are exploring Alaska or the Galapagos), they are changed.

Case in point: the day we disembarked from our Alaskan Dream Cruises small ship cruise, we toured a museum of SE Alaska in Ketchikan. It took my kids about 15 minutes to view the entire facility, so I stopped them at the exit to ask why they’d spent so little time inside.

My oldest replied, “We already saw everything in this museum in ‘real life’ during the cruise, Mom.”

He didn’t realize it, but he’d summed up the reason for booking a small ship cruise. During our nine days on Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Baranof Dream family cruise, we visited Tlingit villages, kayaked amid sea lions, jumped into the frigid water of the Inside Passage, watched glaciers calve, stomped our feet to Norwegian folk dancing, eaten king salmon and crab, seen humpback whales breaching, made native crafts, and the list goes on. The entire time, we were surrounded by multiple expedition leaders (for both adults and youth) who pointed out sights, taught us scientific and cultural facts, showed us which berries to sample off the bushes, found eagles nests and bears fishing for salmon, and helped our kids paint, sew, and carve.

2. The kids will sleep well every night.

A common concern of parents considering a small ship cruise is that there won’t be ‘enough to do’ onboard. According to Wien, Alaskan Dream daily itineraries start at 7 am with breakfast and go strong until bedtime, with the goal of making each vessel ‘a moving summer camp’. The small ship may lack a game room and a climbing wall, but kids are always active, both on and off the ship. Because small ship cruise pricing is inclusive, parents can say ‘yes’ to kids all day long: yes, you can join that kayak tour, yes, explore the marine conservation center, and yes, have another cookie.

3. Small ship cruises have a smaller environmental impact.

Due to their significantly smaller size, impacts of on-board consumption and off-vessel discharge for small ships can be limited to population areas which can handle this additional infrastructure (think 30 passengers instead of 3000). Limited on-board space forces small ship crews to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, a practice Alaskan Dream and other small ship companies have mastered by necessity.

4. Small ship cruising allows for a local experience aiding a local economy.

In addition to gaining access to smaller, less populated ports of call, small cruise ships such as Alaskan Dream nurture positive working relationships with local tourism departments, attractions, and groups. In the case of Alaskan Dream, owners Bob and Betty Allen are members of the Tlingit Alaska tribe, a relationship that is fostered in their hiring practices, their cultural presentations, and their ports of call. “Native culture is strong in Alaska,” explains Wien. The Allens are highly involved in local communities, helping local causes and assisting to provide tourism dollars.

5. Small ship foster multigenerational bonding.

While many cruise experiences will prompt families to leave their cell phones and electronic devices at home (or at least stowed in their bags), small ships take inclusiveness a step further. General gathering areas for all passengers encourage multigenerational mingling, and activities that may be out of the comfort zone of both father and son, mother and grandmother encourage familial bonding. Kids and parents absorb new information together, and then experience nature together in an unforgettable way.

Alaskan Dream did not sponsor this post.

Other great eco-cruise providers around the world:

AdventureSmith
Ecoventura
Discovery Voyages

Have you taken a small ship cruise? What eco and vacation benefits did you experience?

Northstar California: a guide to the mountain for kids, by kids

February 4, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

After multiple trips to Northstar California resort with my kids, I asked them what, in their opinion, kids shouldn’t miss on the slopes. Their top picks:

Cat’s Face, the 22-foot half-pipe: Built for Olympic medalist Shaun White (who recently selected Northstar as his home resort), this intimidating half-pipe (with vertical sides 22 feet tall) is used by Shawn for training purposes…but open to the public when he’s away (which is nearly all the time). The kids (and parents!) dared go down it…and had a blast once our hearts stopped dropping into our stomachs!

The Northstar Terrain Park off Vista chair: When snow depth allows, this huge terrain park splits into both medium and small sections, but the groomers and designers in charge of the various features are such masters (Northstar is known for this) that no matter how much (or little) snow the resort has to work with, there are a variety of options for everyone from beginners to experts.

Mom Tip: if you have young kids who are not terrain park experts, but still love to spend time tearing it up there, go in the morning. The park will be far less crowded, ensuring that your kids don’t get hurt by other riders and skiers (and also don’t get in the way of more serious athletes).

Lookout Link: This poma bar lift serves as a quick transfer to Lookout Mountain (which is great for glade skiing, by the way) and is located right below the new Zephyr Lodge. The novelty of a poma bar is fun for those who haven’t tried it (even beginners can do it) and a bit of nostalgia for those parents who grew up with them!

Sawtooth Ridge: For expert skiers and riders, this glade with gated opening to the far side of Backside is a great place to play. Check whether it’s open before embarking on this off-piste section! Additional off-piste terrain on Backside that’s open more often: from the top of the Backside Express, take a left along the ridge to find several gates with tree skiing.

The Stash: The Stash, located toward the bottom of the Zephyr Express lift, is an inspired wonderland of natural elements and features, such as logs to slide along, tunnels, and even a cabin skiers and boarders can ride off the roof of when snow levels are high enough! Consider The Stash an all-natural terrain park, with tree skiing added in! (Smaller ‘Adventure Parks’ are located throughout the mountain for younger skiers, too.)

Mom Tip: Since terrain can change drastically, even during the course of a single vacation, we love that the Northstar grooming team always lets guests know which runs have been groomed overnight. Just check for the orange symbol on trail signage!

The Woods route back to the Village: This (not so) secret route back to the Northstar Village is a great alternative to the super crowded Village Way. (In the late afternoons, that route can become downright congested.) Find the entrance to The Woods run at the end of the Cat’s Face super half-pipe.

Powder Bowl off East Ridge: From the top of the Comstock chair, cruise along the East Ridge to Powder Bowl. If you have advanced skiers and riders, take the black diamond Powder Bowl chute, and if you have intermediate abilities, take the Powder Bowl trail. Either option will drop you into a fun, open bowl with multiple tree glade trails, jumps, and bumps. Kids can make their own path, or stick to wider open intermediate terrain, and meet parents by the Rendezvous chair (all routes lead in this direction).

For moms and dads (and kids): Check out Tost, offered on the East Ridge off Comstock Express at 2 pm daily. This fun Northstar event includes complimentary champagne for adults and sparkling cider for kids. In sunny weather, sit on bean bag chairs or Adirondack chairs.

Tubing! Don’t forget about tubing! Located mid-mountain right above the Day Lodge (look for the Tubing Yurt), the tubing track at Northstar is faster than most (and these kids have tried many!). Tubing tickets are sold separately (buy them for $30/hour in the Village where you buy lift tickets…you won’t need more than one hour). It’s a great choice for non-skiers who still want to spend time on the mountain. Kids can go in a ‘train’ of two or more tubes (at the operators’ discretion), which makes it even more fun. We opted to tube during our day off skiing, and it made for an entertaining morning activity. Parents who don’t want to purchase tickets can easily watch hill-side.

How did the Pit Stops kids’ know where all this cool stuff was? They started their vacation with a private family lesson, during which their instructor, Jon, showed them all over the mountain. Not only did the kids get great instruction, but they got their own private tour guide while enjoying fast pass line access! Families can add up to six people to one private lesson, making it a very good value. And I hear (though I wasn’t allowed to see for myself) that there’s a secret kids-only lodge for lesson attendees, where the hot chocolate and marshmallows flow freely!

Want to see some of the action for yourself? Time for a Pit Stops for Kids’ Kid Cam!

The kids thank Northstar for allowing them to experience the mountain with both a private instructor, and later, with boring old Mom and Dad.

When to rent a car while on a Cancun vacation

February 2, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

During our latest Cancun vacation, we decided everyone in the family was old enough to ‘brave’ swimming with whale sharks. However, it turned out our $90 (one-way) taxi ride from our Riviera Maya hotel to the Cancun resort zone to find these gentle beasts was the only scary part of our experience. Note: always, and I mean always, negotiate cab fare before getting in the vehicle.

We should have known better (and magically, the return fare became half the price when we questioned it), but it wasn’t the only time during our week-long trip we wished we had our own car. Don’t get me wrong: we love staying south of the city on the Riviera Maya, happy to be along a quiet stretch of coastline. But with that lovely isolation comes difficulty with transportation. Here’s when to rent a car in Riviera Maya (and when it might not be necessary).

Consider a car rental if:

1. You’re not staying directly inside a Riviera Maya town (such as Playa del Carmen). Perhaps you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort along the ocean, miles from the next, but still want to explore Riviera Maya attractions outside resort grounds.

2. You know you’ll be zipping up and down the coastline often. Maybe you’ll be visiting Mayan ruins such as Tulum or want to visit a private beach club. Note: beach clubs are a hidden treat along the Riviera Maya…for a low fee (usually the cost of a meal on-site), whole families can enjoy pristine beaches with hammocks, snorkel gear, and even boogie boards. And they’re almost always crowd-free (unless there’s a wedding). Check out our experience at Blue Venado.

3. You have an excursion or night out planned in Cancun. The ride back up the coast can take as long as 45 minutes, and as we learned, the meter runs mercilessly!

You probably don’t need a car if:

1. You have booked a Mayan ruins tour or eco-tour with a private tour company. Most, including the eco tour company we reviewed, Alltourative, have their own vans or tour buses, which will pick you up at your resort. This can save time, and we found our tour guide to be very helpful and knowledgeable. Don’t want to be on a bus tour with the masses? Book a smaller excursion for only your family.

2. You plan to visit Playa del Carmen, or another attraction directly on the public bus line. Rivera Maya does have public buses which run between the resort communities and major towns. (Taxis are not very expensive between points of interest with Riviera Maya, either.) The major eco-parks, such as Xcaret, have bus stations right out front.

If you fall into the ‘don’t need a car’ category, ask the concierge or front desk staff at your resort for the best airport transportation solutions. Often, a private van or shared shuttle service will be more economical than a taxi. If you do opt to rent a car, enjoy the freedom you’ll have to explore the Yucatan!

As I disclose whenever applicable, this post was written in partnership with Alamo rental car.

Tips on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price

January 30, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re a serious lover of travel, it’s crossed your mind at least once, and you probably flirt with the idea regularly: what if we were to move outside the country, and explore a different culture indefinitely?

As a travel writer who could work from anywhere, I’ve considered the idea more than most parents I know. Most recently, I toyed with dipping my toes in the expat waters when I crunched the numbers on a whirlwind European trip and found it would actually be cheaper to stay longer in a less-traveled country and base ourselves in one location with a long-term home rental. Intriguing…

I personally know several expats with families, including my Practical Travel Gear editor Tim Leffel (also of Perceptive Travel and Cheapest Destinations blog). His latest book, A Better Life for Half the Price, came out in late 2014, and is well worth the read for anyone who loves the travel lifestyle. Outside-the-box thinkers be advised: you’ll want to start packing your bags.

A Better Life for Half the Price takes a very approachable and no-nonsense tack; even if you’re not in the serious planning stage of moving abroad, it’s an engaging read that makes you think differently about how to travel on a budget. Leffel writes conversationally, and gets to the heart of an expat’s motivation: the desire to do more, see more, and live more with less. Yes, the book covers the practical stuff, like moving your pets and getting a visa, but does so in a way that makes you feel like you’re sitting down to coffee with a friend to hear his experience and get a little advice, not like you’re reading a how-to book.

The book is structured with the nuts and bolts up front: how to reduce your bills abroad, what you can expect to be cheaper (and what won’t be), and how to make a living. The secondary chapters get into the heart of the planning stage, with 18 separate chapters on specific countries. This is where the no-nonsense part comes in, as Leffel is upfront about the pros and cons of each region. There’s no ‘best place’ to live, but rather a clear best place for each individual or family. Readers are likely to find theirs in this section.

So after reading the book (and talking with other expat friends such as Andrea Fellman of Wanderlust Living), will I be moving my family? Not yet. For the time being, my husband’s job (and the necessity of keeping it) keeps us grounded in the US, but I will never say never. And in the meantime, my mind has been opened to what possibilities exist, even–or especially–for families like ours, on a budget.

Photo credit: Flickr/sweetviscape

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of A Better Life for Half the Price for the purpose of review.

Great Wolf Lodge review: New England

January 28, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Northeast families ready to escape the cold weather and live in their bathing suits for a few days are in luck: the new (ish) Great Wolf Lodge New England is in a prime location just one hour from Boston and Providence. And it comes packed with even more activities than Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound (our fave West Coast location). Read on for our Great Wolf Lodge review:

The New England location is newly acquired, and still going through some growing pains. Rest assured it has all the new activities offered at GWL across the brand, including the ropes course and mini golf areas in the Howlin’ Timbers Play Park, but during our experience (during a busy holiday time period), there was some confusion and customer service could have been improved. Primarily, this was most notable around the dining venues, not the water park. No one wants to get all the kids dressed and bundled up for a New England winter to brave outside restaurants, however, so hopefully we just caught GWL at a bad time.

The ‘dry’ play areas, such as the ropes course, are a very nice addition to the offerings at GWL, perfect for kids less sure about the water play activities or those who just need to dry out (but don’t want to play the MagiQuest game). There’s also a fun laser course, which, instead of tag, is more of an obstacle course, where kids avoid brightly colored lasers. Channel your inner spy and try it out! Also on offer: mini golf, though be advised: you’ll need to pay extra for this activity. We wish GWL (across the brand) would charge one room rate and make all activities all inclusive, but until that time, come prepared for some activity costs on-site.

Kids who are wild about MagiQuest, like mine, will find slightly less in this department at New England than in some GWL locations. They do have MagiQuest, of course, but not the extended games, such as CompassQuest or ShadowQuest. What they do have is plenty for newbies to get on with, but seasoned GWL patrons will miss the additional games. Get specific MagiQuest tips here.

You can get a standard room, suite, or Wolf Den or KidCabin suite, both of which are fun for kids and get families more space to spread out. These lodging offerings are in line with what’s offered at GWL everywhere; nothing new here.

Great Wolf Tips:

Book midweek or on non-holiday weekends to get those coveted ‘under $199/night’ deals.
Skip the packages that include wands or meals…they’re usually ‘padded’ with fairly useless stuff like plush animals and water shoes (aka, things you weren’t intending to buy).
Don’t try to do it all at GWL New England: some kids will want to spend more time in the ‘dry’ play area than in the waterpark, and there’s rarely time for the laser game, bowling, mini golf, the ropes course, and MagiQuest.
Check out all our GWL tips on our dedicated page!

Date last visited:

January 2015

Room rates:

Room rates vary greatly at GWL, depending on season and room type. A good deal is to find a standard room for $199 or less. In peak seasons, expect to pay 3x as much for a themed room (kid suite). Do you need this? No, but if the price difference is not substantial during the time of your visit, a kid ‘cub’ suite or ‘camping’ style suite does enhance the stay for young kids.

Dining:

There are multiple dining options onsite, ranging from buffets to sit-down dinners (similar to Friendly’s or Red Robin) to counter service in the water parks. We recommend enjoying the buffet on one occasion, then eating out (outside the lodge) or bringing food in. Food is not permitted inside the waterpark, but it’s simple enough to walk up to the room for snacks or meals.

Directions:

GWL New England is located at 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA. From Boston, take I-93 N toward Concord NH. Merge onto I-495 S exit 44B toward Lowell. Merge onto Rt-2 W exit 29B toward Leominster. Take exit 28 for MA-31 S, turn left onto Princeton Rd, and right onto Great Wolf Drive.

Photo credit: Shawn Collins and Flickr/Vox Efx

Travel Gear We Use: Ski day accessories

January 23, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Today on Travel Gear We Use, we’re talking ski accessories. The following ski gear items are products we use either to make ski days more fun or more affordable. Both are high on my list when planning ski trips!

Goggle Graffiti:

Haven’t heard of Goggle Graffiti, or seen it on the slopes yet? Neither had we, until we tried it out. These fun labels attach to your kids’ goggles, and add both personality and practicality to your ski day. With various messages, kids can customize their sayings to suit their interests and personalities, which make the labels fun conversation starters on the ski lifts. (We have one that says Ski Happy, plus additional ‘tags’ with logos from some of our favorite ski resorts.) Plus, Goggle Graffiti make it easy for kids to identify their goggles in a pile, and help to keep them from being lost. You can even add an ID tag to your Goggle Graffiti, so you can write in your kid’s contact information. Buy at GoggleGraffiti.com for $8.95 each, or find a deal at Amazon by following the button below.

Turtle Fur Clavas:

There are a lot of different face masks and bandanas out there, and it feels like we’ve tried them all. For the best fit and least amount of adjustments/hassle/discomfort, Turtle Fur clavas win. These fleece neck gaiters feature a lighter weight full hood as well, which means kids’ heads stay warmer in their helmets and the ‘scarf’ portion of the clava doesn’t fall down off their faces. Pick one up for as low as $12.

Hand warmers:

Don’t buy them at at the slopes! Do yourself a favor and buy hand warmers by the box before your ski trip. We never–ever–go skiing without hand warmers at the ready in everyone’s jacket pocket. On days we don’t need them…yippee! But we’re always ready for when we do. And my kids’ attitudes while skiing are greatly heightened by this small addition to their ski day ‘wardrobe’. We’re not partial to any particular brand, but HotHands seem to be the most widely available. Where to buy: you can pick up hand warmers (and boot warmers) at most outdoor stores and even Costco, or buy on Amazon for as little as $19 a box (expect to pay $2-3 a warmer on the mountain).

Darn Tough Vermont socks:

Do yourself a favor, and don’t skimp on the kids’ ski socks. Darn Tough Vermont socks outlast all our others, and are the coziest and warmest for the kids. They are priced compatibly with other high-end wool sock brands designed for ski days, such as SmartWool (also good). Darn Tough socks are made in America and are Merino wool with a bit of stretch, which kids appreciate. Buy them for as low as $16 on Amazon.

Punkrox Fohawx

Never lose sight of your kids on the ski hill again when they’re wearing these easy-to-attach helmet accessories. Comes in mohawk, dreadlocks, and crown, and they’re easy to take on or off. We get more compliments and questions about fohawx than ANY other travel or outdoor gear!

Find more gear in the Travel Gear We Use series (click below):

Packing tip: How to pack only a carry on!

January 7, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Have you lost luggage lately? Not much fun, is it? How about those baggage fees? Not a fan. But can an entire family really pack carry-on only? Yes! We’ve done it for years, for everything from a weekend trip to two weeks away. We’re full of packing tips, including how to pack only a carry on during your next family vacation, no matter where you’re headed. Read on!

1. Use the ‘roll’ method or packing cubes when packing.

Thousands of Pinterest pins can’t be wrong: rolling clothes instead of folding them saves 30% more space in a duffle or suitcase. Line the bag with bulkier items such as shoes, then roll heavier clothing (like pants and jeans) on the bottom, layering next with shirts, t-shirts, and lastly, delicates and socks. Better yet, use packing cubes. Personally, we love Eagle Creek. (Check out all our best packing cube picks.) I use shoe cubes to keep kids’ socks and underwear organized, but many families ‘cube’ by day, packing complete outfits for each child in each cube.

Tip: Get all our travel tips in one place!

2. Pack more shirts than each child needs, and half as many pants.

Assuming your family vacation is not taking you too far into the wild unknown, the majority of messes will occur to your child’s shirts (think food spills, sweat, and sticky hands wiping). Pants and shorts can often be re-worn with minimal noticability to their wear. Try to find clothes that do double duty, such as pants that zip off to become shorts, and sun protection shirts that can be worn during active play. Our favorite is Columbia’s Silver Ridge pant. Likewise, try to restrict each child to two pairs of shoes: a sturdy pair of walking/hiking shoes (to be worn on the plane) and a pair of destination and season-appropriate sandals or boots.

3. Rent baby equipment at your destination.

By far the bulkiest part of the packing equation is baby gear such as portable cribs and play spaces, strollers, seats, and baby feeding equipment. Whether your destination is a hotel or resort or a relative’s home, there are numerous companies renting all of the above to vacationing families. Most allow parents to reserve the desired equipment online ahead of time, and will deliver equipment to their door. One I have used and recommend is Hotel Babies. And if your child is still in the logistically-difficult baby food stage, companies such as Petit Organics will deliver organic, hand-processed baby food as well.

4. Be prepared to do laundry.

No one wants to do laundry on vacation, but with a little preparation, it doesn’t have to ruin your day. We always pack 2-3 mesh laundry bags, which compact to almost nothing while empty. Travel-sized laundry detergent containers and stain remover can be purchased in TSA-approved sizing, and a roll of quarters can make finding change for washing machines far less painful.

5. Take advantage of the carry-on plus purse rule.

In addition to each ticketed passenger’s carry-on, he or she is permitted a personal purse, tote, or backpack. Since hauling a family’s worth of carry-on luggage can be challenge enough, consider foregoing each passenger’s right to bear a backpack and consolidate to only one or two totes or packs for family use. In addition to each passenger’s carry-on, we designate one large tote for in-air entertainment, which carries our laptop, iPad, and each family member’s book or Kindle and one backpack for snacks, medications, water bottles (to be filled post-security) and other essentials.

6. Board as early as possible.

Because so many travelers are now packing carry-on only to avoid luggage fees, those bulk-head luggage bins fill up quickly. And when they’re full, you’ll be forced to check bags against your will. If you’re carting several large carry-on roller boards or duffles, board the plane as soon as you’re able. Doing so will ensure there’s still space for your carry-ons. It helps to have high-quality carry-on luggage like the brands on our Pinterest page, that can stand a few bumps and bashes (from your kids and others).

7. Gate check for free.

If you’re carrying-on only for the cost-savings, and don’t mind waiting at the baggage carousel for your bags at your destination, almost all airlines will offer free checking at the gate, as an incentive for travelers to save some cabin space. On smaller commuter flights, gate-checked bags will usually be waiting for you on a cart directly off the plane, but beware that on longer flights, they’ll be checked all the way through to your final destination.

Note: Don’t forget about the 3-1-1 rule! The 3-1-1 rule states that you cannot bring any liquid or gel that’s more than three ounces, and these must be carried in one quart-sized clear, zip-lock baggie. We love the reusable kind for this purpose (find them at eBags and Timbuk2).

When packing carry-on only may not work for you:

Carry-on travel is possible even during extended or long-term travel (thanks mostly to the laundry tip!), but there are situations in which it just may not be practical, such as 1) during winter vacations, for which bulky snow or ski wear or multiple layers are needed, or 2) during adventure travel, during which a wide-variety of clothing types will be needed (think hiking gear and snorkeling gear, or 3) during multi-climate travel, during which several drastic weather changes may necessitate bringing both winter and summer wear.

Photo credit: Flickr/m01229

Winter vacation home rental process made easy

January 2, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Ever rented a vacation home for a family holiday? Worried it might be a complicated process? Not sure how to go about it? Pit Stops for Kids can help! This post was originally published in 2010, when we rented our first winter vacation home in Lake Tahoe through HomeAway. In the years since, we’ve rented homes several times, including two more Tahoe homes (once through Northstar California, and once more through HomeAway). Most recently, we rented a beautiful West Tahoe home for Christmas week, which was big enough to house our whole extended family. In March, we’ll be renting from HomeAway again on the island of Kauai.

There are other great vacation rental sites (we also use VacationRoost), but because the bulk of our knowledge is in renting from HomeAway, we’ll focus on this company for the purpose of this post. There are many reasons why a vacation rental might be the right choice of accommodation for a winter stay, including space to spread out (and bring all that winter gear), washers and dryers, perhaps a hot tub, and the ability to cook in-house.

HomeAway makes it easy to find the right vacation rental for you and your family. Starting at their homepage, just click on ‘Find a Rental’. Enter where you’d like to go and when, and browse the available rentals. You can sort the selection by price, bedrooms, or even number of reviews. I like that the weekly and daily rental prices are listed right on the main page, so I can quickly get a feel for what homes in my desired location will cost. When you click on ‘details’, you get a map, tons of photos, and a list of amenities.

Once you’ve selected your desired rental, contact the owner. This, too, is easy: the rental owner’s contact information is listed right on the main page of each rental property description. I really like that with most rentals on HomeAway, customers work directly with the owners, the people who know the rental and surrounding area personally. Keep in mind that since all owners are different, the HomeAway process may feel different each time you rent. During our first Tahoe rental experience, after making contact, I got a confirmation from HomeAway immediately, telling me exactly what to expect. In my case, the owner of my first rental (this beautiful home in the Twin Bridges community of South Tahoe), emailed me a rental agreement within hours, along with a friendly greeting filled with such enthusiasm for her property, I wanted to pack up and go right then and there! During my second Tahoe rental experience, the owner preferred to call me and set up the rental agreement via phone. In this case, I worked with HomeAway less (though still had their support).

Pay your deposit (if applicable), sign your rental agreement, and count the days until your vacation, secure in the knowledge that HomeAway has your back. I was glad to see that even after I’d taken care of business with my property owner, the support for HomeAway continued. I was offered rental insurance, additional deals and incentives for future stays, and assurance that any additional help I needed was only a phone call away. Note: in most cases, a deposit will both hold your reservation and be applied to the total cost of your rental. In the case of our second rental experience, our owner preferred to keep the two separate. We paid our deposit, then paid our total cost for the rental, then got the deposit back in the form of a check. Be sure to ask owners which way they like to conduct business so you know what to expect.

Expect a warm welcome. Both times we rented a winter home through HomeAway, we hadn’t even arrived at our vacation rental yet, and I already knew the home fires would be burning brightly (so to speak). Both property owners went above and beyond, sending me a full inventory of items and supplies available to me in the home during my stay, just so I wouldn’t need to wonder whether to pack a snow shovel or a set of sheets. They also sent information on the local scene, grocery stores they recommend personally, and local service numbers should I need them.

Ask questions about the possibility of power outages, local snowplow schedules, and alternative heat sources: This is crucial when renting in winter! During our 2010 winter vacation rental experience, we enjoyed an epic snowstorm. The power went out several times, but our home had a back up generator, which we knew how to use. Our owner had included full instructions. In our second rental home this past Christmas, we had ample parking space away from snow plow routes, but during our first rental experience, we had to move cars on snow plow days. Ask for this information so it doesn’t blindside you! Find out whether you’ll need fire wood, and know where candles and matches are kept in the home just in case.

And if you’re not sure what you’re looking for? If you’re undecided as to the sort of vacation you want, or if you’d like HomeAway to keep an eye out for the perfect rental for you and your family, fill out their Ultimate Travel Picks form to be sent alerts and info on rental availability tailored to you.

Pit Stops for Kids partnered with HomeAway for some, but not all, vacation rental reviews. All opinions are our own.

Read more about vacation home rental in our Home (Away) for the Holidays series.