travel planning - Pitstops for Kids

How to save on accommodations for your next family vacation

January 15, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

Getting ready to plan your holiday travels? Early planners can reap the benefits of early bird specials, deals, and savings, making family vacations more affordable. Here’s how to save on accommodations for your next family vacation:

Think long-term:

Instead of chasing last-minute deals, parents planning ahead have time to earn loyalty rewards. Start here, with a comparison of hotel loyalty reward programs to figure out which one is right for you. Then, if you have team travel, school field trip travel, or business travel between now and your family vacation, bank those points!

Plan to stay in one place:

Instead of booking hotel room stays in multiple destinations, plan to stay in one place for the length of your vacation. Rent a vacation home instead of paying for rooms (usually the best deal if staying for a week or more). The family will have room to spread out, you can save dough on meals in, transportation, and laundry, and everyone will feel more relaxed. Our favorite home vacation rental sites to work with:

HomeAway: Best for international rentals, city rentals, and off-the-beaten-path rentals.

Dwellable: Best for deals, resort-town rentals.

VacationRoost: Best for luxury rentals, ski town rentals.

Let someone else find the deals for you:

Sites such as HotelsCheap.org can find the best rates based on current room occupancy (and vacancies). What many parents don’t realize: using a discount hotel site can work when planning travel in advance, too. Be sure to add your hotel loyalty program number to your stay when you arrive; the front desk staff can do that for you. I spoke with HotelsCheap about planning family vacations. Read the interview here for inspiration!

For more options, check travel deals at ChameleonJohn.com. They have coupons and deals for 100’s of travel portals and hotel booking sites. Make sure to check them for better deals and savings.

Find hotels with concierge lounges and clubs:

It sounds like upgrading to a concierge level or paying for club lounge access at a hotel would be an extravagance. In fact, it can save families money, if they utilize it properly. For instance, Grand Hyatts offer their Grand Club, which, in most cases, includes a full breakfast spread, cold drinks and snacks all day long, and lunch offerings. In the evening, families can find appetizers and desserts. In some cases, an upgrade to club level is under $75 per night, which, for a family of four or five, can be the cost of a meal out. Plan to eat breakfast in the club, grab drinks for your day out, then eat dessert there at night: even if you’re away from the hotel most of the day, you’ll save substantial money. Select Starwood hotels offer their SPG Kids Pass upgrade during the summer months, which allow kids all-inclusive dining.

Remember that the extras add up:

If you’re staying at a luxury hotel that does not offer a concierge level worth paying for, remember that little things, such a parking, breakfast, and wifi, can add up over the course of a stay. To save hundreds over the course of a 3-4 night stay, it’s often easier to downgrade your hotel for its free amenities than find a web deal or coupon code. Pick a hotel away from a city center to get free parking, free breakfast, and free wifi. Bonus points if it’s right on a public transit line, so you don’t have to pay for parking in the city or resort town, too.

Riding Amtrak: how and when to enjoy an affordable rail trip with kids

January 8, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

I love rail travel: I find a train journey to be restful, peaceful, and productive for a work-from-the-road type like myself. My kids enjoy it as well: they appreciate the mobility afforded (compared to air travel), the extra leg room, and the fun dining and panoramic cars. However, train travel today is not always the economical choice it was just a few decades ago. Price a multi-day rail journey across a portion of the US or Canada on Amtrak or VIA Rail, and your jaw is likely to drop. It’s cheaper for an entire family to fly to a far-flung destination than travel by train. However, there are ways to experience a rail journey in the US or Canada for less. Here’s how to enjoy an affordable rail trip with kids:

1. Take a day trip.

Coach seats on Amtrak and VIA Rail are very reasonable. It’s when parents book passage in the sleeper cars that rates skyrocket. We don’t advise booking coach tickets for overnight travel with young kids—trust us, you’ll be miserable—but day journeys are perfectly comfortable in coach class. We like to utilize Amtrak to commute from our hometown in Southern Oregon to Portland International Airport (PDX) for more affordable air tickets, and save on long term parking fees. The trip takes us six hours (instead of the usual four by car) but no one has to drive, the kids enjoy the scenery through the Cascades, and we make up the train fare in the lack of parking fees.

As coach passengers, families don’t get meals included, but food packed from home is permitted, and a lounge car always has causal meals and snacks on offer. On Amtrak, when all sleeper car passengers have booked their meal reservations in the dining car, the crew opens reservations for coach passengers. Dining car meals are a fun affair, but costly. Parents pay a la carte if traveling coach. We find a happy medium bringing our our lunch and supplementing with a treat from the lounge.

2. Book early for Super Saver tickets.

Unlike air travel, for which the best ticket prices are usually offered during a 6-8 week window pre-trip, families can save the most by booking rail tickets as far ahead as possible. Look for Super Saver tickets, or book your train travel in the off-season. In June-August, families will pay top dollar for both coach and sleeper tickets.

3. Try a single overnight.

If your crew really wants to spend the night on the train—and yes, it is fun—24 hours is usually enough. We spent a memorable day and night riding VIA Rail’s Canadian route, and while we loved watching the stunning scenery go by and enjoying the dining car and comfortable berths (yes, really!), we were more than ready to hop off and stretch our legs after 24 hours. Check Amtrak and VIA Rail routes online to find a one-night itinerary that works for your family: there are more station stops than most people realize.

A few rail travel tips:

Don’t be in a hurry:
If you have a tight schedule, this is not the time for a rail trip. Amtrak runs at its own pace, stopping en route for freight trains (they have priority), at stations, and slowing through towns. Becoming behind schedule is the norm. We never book a rail trip on the same day of a flight departure.

2. Know what you’ll have access to:
Coach passengers are usually offered electrical outlets at each seat, plus pillows and blankets. Seats recline and have foot rests. A lounge car offers snack foods and ceiling to floor windows. Restrooms are in every car. Sleeper passengers also enjoy access to a parlor car with additional dining, a dining car with included meals (3x daily) and wifi. Check the information on the train you’ll be taking online before you go.

3. Pack carry-on only if possible:
Amtrak and VIA Rail both offer checked luggage service, but in our personal experience, getting your luggage back can take a while. Because passengers are allowed two carry-ons (just like when flying), and there’s ample space for your carry-on (unlike when flying), we recommend carrying luggage on board.

4. Let kids bring their own camera:
Our kids love taking photos aboard trains, and the freedom of movement afforded by rail travel makes it possible for kids to walk from car to car taking photos. In most lounge cars, docents are on-hand to offer knowledge about the vistas and landmarks passing outside the window. Encourage kids to ask questions or follow along on a map.

5. Board early for panoramic car or lounge car seats:
Cars with public access, like lounge cars with great views, fill up fast. Usually, boarding a train is a casual affair, with ample time. Instead of sitting in the train station lounge until the last minute, board early to snag good seats.

6. Opt in for Amtrak schedule notifications:
Because Amtrak considers the posted schedule only a suggestion (as noted, they are restricted by many factors, including freight schedules) it’s helpful to sign up for schedule change email alerts or texts. Knowledge of delays can save families from early wake-up calls or long waits.

Have train travel tips to share? Leave them in the comments!

Photo credit: Amy Whitley, Jim Guest

Timeshare Rentals De-Mystified: What you need to know about Marriott Vacation Club

December 25, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

I remember my first encounter with vacation timeshare rentals like it was yesterday: I was thirteen, and bored stiff sitting in a stuffy hotel ballroom on a beautiful Hawaiian beach day. I was waiting for my parents to exit a time share sales pitch so we could embark on the promised snorkeling excursion at its conclusion. We never bought that time share, but certainly enjoyed snorkeling at Molokai.

This image of time shares, with limited, inflexible week-long vacation condo rentals is a thing of the past…provided you’re looking in the right place. To better understand how vacation time share experiences work in today’s travel industry, I visited a Florida Marriott Vacation Club property for the weekend and sat down with vacation club sales members, PR, and real vacation owners in order to give you the skinny on how renting a timeshare can now work. Marriott’s Oceana Palms on Singer Island, Florida provided a good backdrop for our discussion. (I know, I have a terrible job.) If you’re looking for a Florida timeshare, Orlando is another good option.

How Marriott Vacation Club works:

Say goodbye to the concept of ‘buying’ a week of time at a single resort. Marriott Vacation Club destinations abound. So instead, you can find the timeshare that works for you and your vacation style. Marriott Vacation Club members buy points, not hotel rooms or condos, which can be used as currency at literally hundreds of properties. The system is comprised of three main collections:

Marriott Vacation Club (over 50 Marriot Vacation Club resorts)
Marriott Hotels (access to over 3,700 hotels using Marriott Rewards points)
Explorer Collection (which connects to adventure, cruise, and speciality vacations)
World Traveler Collection (use Interval International to use points for international hotels)

Members can use their points in more combinations than I’d realized: maybe they want to take one traditional vacation at a single Marriott Vacation Club property per year (there are over 100, by the way). Or maybe they want to take a few overnight stays at a traditional Marriott hotel for a sports tournament, and then use their remaining points on a shorter beach getaway. Maybe, they’d rather ‘bank’ their points for several years, going all out for a family reunion. Honestly, the possibilities are limited only by the number and locations of Marriott destinations (which, as we all know, are numerous).

When families buy into the club, they choose how many points they’d like to buy. Points are essentially vacation currency. To give parents a general idea of the investment, one Marriott Vacation Club point is roughly equivalent to $10. Families can start by buying a smaller number of points, then buy more should they find they need them, or vice versa: it is possible to sell points. When ready to book a vacation, owners can use the Marriott Vacation Club call center (based in Salt Lake City for US owners) or opt to use the integrated website.

What it costs:

I like that unlike in the past, Marriott Vacation Club is very transparent about price. Here are a few examples of what the lowest point buy-ins can get you. As noted above, one point is roughly $10, so 1,500 points would be $15,000. Most owners finance, paying monthly. Remember, every owner also pays an annual maintenance fee and club dues.

1,500 points = 3 nights in Las Vegas in a 2-bedroom villa or 7 nights in Vail in a 1-bedroom villa
2,500 points = 7 nights at Palm Beach in a studio villa or 10 nights in Miami in a 2-bedroom villa
3,500 points = 7 nights on Oahu in a 1-bedroom villa or 7 nights in Orlando in a 3-bedroom villa

All these examples (and more) are available on the marriottvacationclub.com website.

What Marriott Vacation Club actually looks like:

I had the pleasure of sitting down with two Marriott Vacation Club owners, both local to the Palm Beach, Florida area. Both owners I spoke with were mothers who love traveling with their kids, make most of the travel decisions for their families, and enjoy planning trips. One owner had owned with Marriott Vacation Club for 10 years, and the other had owned for five years.

Both women testified to the ease of using the Marriott Vacation Club booking system. One loved using the call center agents, while the other preferred to figure out her reservations online. Either way, both women agreed that planning trips in advance is crucial to getting the most out of the program. This fact doesn’t have to be a negative; after all, haven’t we been preaching the importance of trip planning at Pit Stops for Kids for years? Vacation planning can be nearly as fun as the trip itself! One of the owners put it this way: Our vacation starts when we start planning it.

And remember all those combinations of trips owners can book, ranging from club stays to cruises? The two owners I talked to actually have used their points for a wide variety of vacations. One had traveled internationally with hers more than once, and the other likes to convert points to Marriott Rewards to book hotel stays before air travel days.

I asked about ease of use: both owners used the call center staff and the forums on the owner website to figure out which properties to book for which days to stretch their points the furthest, and to ask for reviews of each property and get advice about which would be best based on their family’s needs. The owner with young kids frequently asks call center staff for resort information: which property is best for kids who want a beach without waves? Which has the best kids’ program? These women have taken their families on trips ranging from city hotel stays to week-long ski vacations to beach getaways to college-touring overnights. Flexibility is crucial to the new face of time sharing.

Common questions:

I went straight to the source, and talked to the folks at Marriott and the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Q: How much does it cost to buy into Marriott Vacation Club?

A: At the time of this posting, Marriott says points start at 1,500, which equates to $15,000. Financing is available. My first impression: $35,000 (which would buy 3, 500 points) is a lot of money. Our cars don’t cost that much, in our family. But we take multiple vacations per year, as family travel is one of our most cherished activities. Points renew every single year, and yet families pay for these points only once. Conclusion: it’s worth crunching the numbers for your family before dismissing the time share option based solely on price.

Q: Can I sell my points? Can I sell my entire membership?

A: Yes. It’s as simple as that. But we’ve all heard horror stories from former time share owners who didn’t get ‘back their investment’ when they sold. I posed this question to ARDA president and CEO Howard Nusbaum. His answer: vacations are not a financial investment. They’re a lifestyle investment. Just as you’d never expect to get a return on the sale price of a car, you won’t ‘make’ money off your time share. Unlike time shares of 20 years ago, families today aren’t exactly buying real estate. They’re buying time. Much like the ZipCar or bike share model of business, Marriott Vacation Club is all about trading, using, and sharing.

Q: Won’t I have a hard time getting the rooms or availability I want, much like when I try to use airline miles?

A: Not if you plan ahead. The Marriott Vacation Club sales team pointed out that while last minute deals can be found (just as they can be found using any hotel reservation site), the primary reason families cannot get into the properties they want to book is due to poor planning. They suggest families plan their major vacations up to one year in advance. If this recommendation warms your heart, you’re a planner like me, and this won’t be a problem. If it worries you, a Marriott Vacation Club ownership might not be for you.

Q: Are Marriott Vacation Club properties all condos?

A: No. They are resorts, with villas ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. I was pleasantly surprised by Marriott Oceana Palms, which to all extents and purposes is a full-scale beachfront resort. Families certainly don’t have to be vacation club owners to stay there, so there’s much more of a resort feel than a condo feel.

Q: Won’t I be limited if I like to plan my own travel?

A: This is a worry I have, too. Those who love to plan travel don’t want to feel restricted. I felt better when one owner explained how she used her Marriott Vacation Club points as only one tool in her vacation planning. She still went where she wanted to go and booked what she liked best. She cross-referenced her destination picks with the thousands of Marriott and partner properties available to her, but didn’t limit herself to them. Only you can decide whether this approach would work for you.

Other time share programs worth a look:

Disney Vacation Club: a Disney timeshare is a great investment.
Hilton Grand Vacations
Westgate Timeshare Vacation Packages: experience a relaxing accommodation near the most popular theme parks.

Travel Tip: Is a travel insurance annual plan right for your family?

December 18, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Two years ago, just before a trip of a lifetime to Paris and Brussels, we learned of the very unfortunate attack on a Paris nightclub, which of course triggered an extended search across country lines…the exact country lines we planned to cross ourselves on our Christmas holiday. We didn’t cancel our European trip, but we did have to reroute one leg, due to airport closures. As I canceled train tickets and lodging in Brussels and rebought in Florence, Italy, where we decided to go instead, I was very glad I’d purchased travel insurance.

Ditto for the time we booked a cruise to the Caribbean at the edge of hurricane season, when we hiked through Iceland, and again when a snowstorm stranded us in Seattle after a weekend trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. In this case, the cost of a hotel overnight stay wasn’t significant, but I was in a much better mood knowing I’d be recouped for the expense.

We travel hard and we travel often, usually with an adventurous itinerary. Heck yes, we need travel insurance!

Do you need travel insurance as well? I always recommend asking yourself the following questions to determine if you need travel insurance but I now go a step further: consider whether a travel insurance annual plan is right for your family. Unlike single trip plans, which expire as soon as you’re home, annual plans protect a full year’s worth of vacations, with 365 days of international and domestic coverage.

To cover our European trip, we used Allianz Travel, based on recommendations from other travel experts, and I was happily surprised to learn how little it cost me to have peace of mind (which, it turned out, we needed). Truly, it’s just a fraction of the cost all of us already sink into traveling with our families. After learning about Allianz Travel annual plans, I’ve decided that because we travel at least six times per year, we need to upgrade to this level of protection. I don’t want to hassle with purchasing insurance for every trip. And you know it will be the one trip we decide not to protect that turns into a hot mess, right? That’s just Murphy’s Law.

Allianz Travel annual plan comparison (and who needs what):

If you travel as much as we do, you probably need an annual plan, too, but which one? Here’s how Allianz’ annual plans break down, with our recommendations for each.

Annual Basic Plan: This plan does not include trip cancellation protection, which frankly, I think is essential, so it’s not the plan for me. That said, you might have trip cancellation coverage through a credit card you used to book your airfare or lodging, in which case, the basic plan is all you need. It includes emergency medical protection and emergency medical transportation protection (so important overseas where your personal health insurance may not reach), plus trip delay protection, baggage benefits, rental car damage protection, and a 24/7 assistance hotline to help with travel-related emergencies.

Annual Deluxe Plan: The Annual Deluxe plan adds trip cancellation coverage ($2,000 annual maximum), plus everything you get in the basic plan, like trip interruption, emergency medical, lost, stolen or delayed baggage and even rental car damage protection.

Annual Executive Plan: This one is better for the most frequent travelers who need who need higher trip cancellation and interruption limits (tiered levels up to $10,000 annual maximum). Of course, you still get all the other benefits listed above. If you’re planning that epic, once-in-a-lifetime bucket list-worthy trip, you may want to upgrade to this plan.

Lastly, there’s a Premier Plan, which requires a phone call to learn more about, for the absolute greatest coverage with worldwide protection. If you want or need the most extensive concierge service, call about this one.

Note:

Allianz has recently upgraded their annual policies in light of the recent pandemic. Their newly filed policies now include permanent accommodations for epidemics, not only the current COVID-19 but others that may form in the years ahead. This benefit is now offered beyond single trip products and I am sure it will help many travelers.

Learn more about the Epidemic Endorsement Product (EEP) benefits here:

Do you purchase travel insurance? Would you consider an annual plan? Let us know!

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Allianz Travel, for the purpose of educating my readers about available plans. All opinion remains my own.

Tips for planning a family reunion

November 13, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Planning a family reunion can take as much effort and attention to detail as planning a small wedding. Bringing far-flung family members together in a way that’s both convenient and fun for everyone is possible, however, if you know when to start, where to look for lodging, and what to plan to ensure success. Use the following family reunion planning hacks to become the hero of your next family get-together!

How to Pick a Family Reunion Destination

The first step in family reunion planning is to decide where to hold the grand event. It’s important to take into account invitees’ geographical location, budget, and the overall theme of your reunion. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Choose a central location. Depending on distance between family members, pick a central location within driving distance, ideally near a major interstate, or adjacent to a “hub” airport everyone can fly into with minimal stress and cost.

2. Decide on a focus. Your reunion will be all about family time, but will you spend it outdoors enjoying a common activity, in a city with access to museums and culture, or primarily indoors?

3. Decide on a budget. Before determining a destination and lodging option, it’s essential to set a general budget. Will every family member be responsible for their own transportation and lodging? Will some costs be shared among the group? An informal poll among family members can be valuable at this stage.

4. Decide on lodging type. The cost and theme of a family reunion will vary based on the type of lodging chosen. Ask yourself whether your family will want to stay all together, or spread out in individual units or rooms. Do you want meals and activities to be included, or would you rather plan your own?

5. Think “large group” as you plan. Ask hotel or resort booking agents for a deal on booking multiple rooms, or for their group rate. Consider what lodging options are less likely to be at capacity during your reunion, to ensure you can get the space you need. For example, a ski resort has plenty of rooms (with discounts) during the fall, and a warm-weather golf resort will have extra space during the hotter months.

Determining a Family Reunion Timeline

Once you’ve decided where to go, what type of lodging would be best, and what type of activities family members would enjoy, it’s time to start booking.

8-12 months out: Book lodging, depending on the popularity of the destination. Many lodging options have limited space for large groups, making early bookings essential. Be aware of the cancellation policy at your venue before making the decision to book. Send out reunion invitations to family members. Sending invites out now ensures invitees have enough time to plan and book travel.

Six months out: Buy airfare for domestic travel.

Three months out: Plan a daily itinerary of any activities or events. Three months is the standard amount of time needed by hotel or resort personnel you enlist, concierges, or tour operators.

One month out: Organize family members with meal lists, menus, or cooking duties.

Two weeks out: Email or mail driving directions, reservation numbers, or any other detailed information guests will need when they arrive.

Day of event: Greet family members and have a great time!

Planning Food, Dining, and Activities

Once you’ve determined where to go and where to stay, the next step in planning a family reunion is to organize activities and dining. To ensure your family members don’t scatter to the wind (or become bored), keep them in the loop with the following hacks for organizing family members:

Make a meal list and share cooking duties: If your lodging option leaves the cooking (and cleaning) to you, share the load. After all, that’s what family is for, right? Assign each night’s main meal to a different family member. Decide ahead of time whether groceries will be bought together or separately.

Create an activity itinerary: Not every family member will have the same interests, but you’re hosting a family reunion to be together, so plan at least one activity per day that everyone can enjoy together. This activity can be as simple as a family walk or as elaborate as a family photography session or scavenger hunt, depending on ages, mobility, and interests. Have additional daily activity options, which family members can join at will.

Book group tours and experiences: Book a class, tour, or experience that will be new (and accessible) to everyone in the group, such as a cooking class, bird-watching tour, or nature or historic walk.

Communicating With Family Members

Finally, it’s essential to have strong communication with family members during the planning process as well as during the actual reunion. Use the following tools to aid communication:

Download resort or vacation rental company apps: Most resorts have their own app, which includes maps, walking tours, activities, and cost information. Some apps, such as vacation rental apps, even include secure messaging between home owners and renters.

Use HipChat or WhatsApp: Talk among family members for free both before and during the reunion, no matter what carrier or data plan is used. Family members must have a smartphone, however, to use these mobile apps.

Use TripIt to share vacation plans: TripIt can be used on a desktop or laptop computer or on a smartphone, allowing the trip planner to share important travel information, reservation numbers, and itineraries with select people.

Use a Facebook private group to share info: Provided family members use Facebook, a private group page can allow members to share photos, itinerary ideas, links, and lodging picks in a free-form way.

Enjoy your family reunion, and remember to take plenty of photos!

Source: Fix.com Blog

Disneyland California Adventure MaxPass and how to use it

October 25, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Have you heard of the new Disneyland and California Adventure MaxPass yet? Here’s what you need to know about Maxpass, in order to maximize your time in the parks.

First, the facts of Disneyland California Adventure MaxPass:

Disney’s optional MaxPass designed to do two basic things: 1. take FASTPASS paperless in the parks, and 2. streamline your PhotoPass experience. Here’s how:

With MaxPass, families can reserve FASTPASS tickets for rides on the MaxPass app, which eliminates the need to run across the parks to get FASTPASS tickets out of the kiosks. I know what you’re thinking…how will we get our steps in now? MaxPass does not alter the way FASTPASS works: you’ll still only be able to hold one FASTPASS at a time (unless you’ve reached the window of time in which an new one is available), and the rides offering FastPass are the same as before.

I tried out the Maxpass system recently, and I did notice a few small changes going paperless. The longest period of time between making reservations is an hour and a half with MaxPass (instead of two hours with paper FASTPASS), and the return time windows are often sooner than with paper FASTPASS.

And if you use MaxPass, you can have your park photos (you know, the ones taken by official Disney photographers) and character photos put directly onto your app account, instead of having to buy them later. (You have until your park tickets expire to download them). You can also scan your ride photos and put them in the app, too.

When I used the app, I had trouble with the ride photo option: it notes that it can take up to 20 minutes for ride photos to appear, but I didn’t get mine until the next morning…hopefully this is just a temporary or isolated glitch.

How to get MaxPass:

Download the Disneyland app.
Enter the park you’re visiting using your tickets.
Open the app.
Tap the circular character icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a Mickey).
Sign in to the app with your Disney account (or create one).
Tap “Get FASTPASS”.
Select all family members who want to use the Disney MaxPass feature (if someone is not listed, link their ticket or pass).
Purchase the Disney MaxPass feature (right on the app).
Go to the FASTPASS section and reserve.

MaxPass facts and tips:

MaxPass is optional and it’s a paid upgrade. I’m disappointed about this, because I loved that Disney resisted adding paid upgrades until now. It’s $10 per family member. (I’ll get to whether I think it’s worth it in a bit.)

The regular (paper) FASTPASS system is still in place. You don’t have to upgrade to MaxPass.

You can pay for MaxPass as an add-on when you purchase your park tickets, or later, right on the app.

MaxPass is unlike Magic Bands (in DisneyWorld) in that you must reserve your FASTPASSes the day-of, in the parks, not before your trip. You can’t even do it in your hotel room….you must be in the parks (though either park is fine).

If some members of your group are using paper FASTPASS instead of MaxPass, you can still link those people to your MaxPass. You won’t be able to reserve FASTPASSes for them, but you can see their schedule and return times.

If you have problems with MaxPass, any Guest Service location can run tech support.

You’ll want to get the app and register as a user before your trip. It’s a hassle to do in the parks.

You can’t get World of Color or Fantastic FASTPASS with MaxPass…just rides.

You’ll absolutely need a portable charger to use MaxPass, as it drains your phone! And it takes data, because the WiFi in the parks is simply not adequate.

If you have kids who don’t have their own phones, one adult can ‘hold’ their FASTPASSES on their device (but the kids will still need to ‘buy’ MaxPass).

Is MaxPass worth the upgrade? It is, if you answer yes to at least a few of these questions:

1. Your family often changes plans mid-day (you can cancel FASTPASS reservations right on the app and start over).

2. You hate running around to physically get passes.

3. You want to see all available ride and return windows at once (the handy map on the app shows you all this, plus your personal reservations for your whole group). If this is your main ‘want’, simply upgrade ONE person to MaxPass.

4. You often buy PhotoPass photos or ride photos (making the $10 worth it for unlimited downloads).

Tip: I recommend trying MaxPass on one or two phones to start with, and if you love the system, splurging for everyone in your group.

How to physically use MaxPass to get FASTPASS:

Follow the prompts one the app to reserve FASTPASSes (you’ll see a list of all available, plus their return windows). If you already have a FASTPASS, it will not allow you to get another one (unless you’re in the time window).

At your return time, go to the FASTPASS return lane and scan your FASTPASS at the computer kiosk at the entrance to the return line (a Cast Member will be there to assist you). Don’t put your phone away yet, though, because you’ll need to scan it again before loading (just like you have to show your paper FASTPASS twice).

After your ride, your FASTPASS will disappear from the app. In the event of a ride closure or breakdown, you’ll automatically receive a Multiple Attraction FASTPASS, which is good for one ride on any attraction with FASTPASS.

Have you tried the new MaxPass system? Do you like it?

10 tips for using ferries for Northwest travel with kids

October 6, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

If you travel extensively throughout the coastal northwest, your route will eventually necessitate using Washington State (WSDOT) ferries or BC Ferries. Both are well-run ferry transportation options, but can seem intimidating to the occasional Northwest traveler. My family and I learned the ropes (at least, most of them) the fun way on a 10 day trip throughout coastal BC and Washington islands. What we found families need to know before traveling by ferry with kids in the Pacific Northwest:

10 tips for using ferries:

1. Know which ferry passages can be reserved in advance.

Most BC Ferry routes can be reserved ahead of time (though not all…more on that below), whereas most Washington State ferries cannot. If you’re traveling during peak tourist season (summer), reservations are at very least helpful, and sometimes crucial. BC Ferry schedules are listed clearly, and travelers can create an account on the BC Ferry website to make reservations for most routes. Reserving ahead of time is helpful not only because it ensures your passage, but also because it allows you to use the website to receive email alerts for any schedule changes to your route. Smaller routes, such as the ‘most scenic short-cut in the Northwest’ from Mill Bay, BC to Brentwood Bay, BC, are not reservable, but the heavily traveled routes, such as Vancouver to Nanaimo, always are.

Schedule your ferry passages at the time you plan your travel itinerary.

Ferry passages (and their schedules) just might change your plans. For instance, I was surprised to find out that my preferred route of travel from the San Juan Islands straight to Seattle was not possible, despite being geographically close by, nautically-speaking. Neither was my plan to traverse from Victoria to Friday Harbor. No worries: once I’d seen where offered ferries do travel, I was happy to adjust my plans. After all, there’s really no bad place to be along the Pacific Northwest coast.

3. Be on time.

And by on time, I mean at least 1 hour early, if you’re driving a car onto the ferry. Yes, even if you have a reservation. And yes, even on the small ferry routes. This seems inconvenient, but on our recent trip throughout Vancouver Island, Washington, and Vancouver BC, we didn’t mind. Once you’ve queued, you’re free to turn off your engine and get out of your car. At every ferry terminal we encountered, restrooms were available at minimum. At maximum, we enjoyed restaurants, scenic views, gift shops, and more.

4. Consider purchasing a Waves2Go or Experience Card if you’ll be using ferries for an extended time (or numerous passages).

Waves2Go is WSDOT’s monthly pass, and the Experience Card is BC Ferries convenient swipe card that can be preloaded with fare (at a discount).

5. Budget in the cost of bringing your car along for the ride.

The most expensive passenger on any ferry ride is your car. On our BC Ferry passage from Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) to Nanaimo, our car cost us $75, and our Washington ferry ride from Sidney BC to Friday Harbor, WA cost us $45 in car fare. (Passengers are typically around $15 on longer passages, and as low as $7.50 on shorter passages.

6. Consider your ferry passage as both transportation and a scenic tour.

Northwest ferry passages are downright beautiful, and often wildlife can be spotted. (We saw jelly fish swimming on our shorter passage, and harbor seals in the San Juans.) In poor weather, most viewing decks have covered areas; go outside rain or shine!

7. Get out of your car as soon as you’re given the go-ahead by ferry personnel.

We quickly learned that there’s precious real estate on every ferry: window seats. The sooner you’re up from the car decks, the better your chances of snagging some. A few seats do have outlets, so don’t forget to bring any devices that need charging from the car. The ‘get out of the car early’ rule goes double on large BC Ferries if you’re planning to purchase a meal (at mealtime) onboard. Lines at breakfast and lunch go long.

8. Entertainment on board a Northwest ferry varies.

On large BC Ferries, you can expect gift shops, child play spaces (similar to what you’d find in airports) and even small arcades. Inter-island and Anacortes ferries in Washington will have snack shops and viewing decks, but little else. Tip: look for partially completed jigsaw puzzles on random ferry tables…they’ve been left for the next passengers. See how many pieces you can contribute before disembarking.

9. Remember to convert your money before leaving BC for Washington, or vice versa.

Washington ferries no longer take Canadian currency for on-board purchases, and shops and restaurants on the Sidney, BC side will not take American as a rule.

10. Don’t forget your passports.

Crossing the border by sea requires the same documentation and immigration process as crossing by land. All adults will need a passport, and kids will need a passport or birth certificate. If you’re traveling without one custodial parent, a letter of consent is required. (We didn’t have one from my husband, who was not with us, and we were allowed to enter Canada anyway, but the officer let us know it is needed.)

15 ways to fill the dog days of summer: late summer getaways and tips

August 30, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

By this part of summer, some families have already begun the school year, and the rest of us are in the last leg of vacation. If you’re like us, the planned summer trips are behind you, yet empty days still stretch ahead. How to fill these dog days of summer? We have 15 ideas for late summer getaways, day trips, and pit stops.

1. Check ReserveAmerica for last-minute cancellations at a local state park.

Yes, you’ll remember we recommended getting summer camping reservations months ago. But last-minute cancellations happen all the time. If your dates are flexible (the days seem to stretch out endlessly at this time of year), make a habit of checking the reservation page for your favorite local campground each morning when you check your email. You never know when an overnight opening may pop up!

2. Find a summer festival.

Look in your local paper or the tourism website of your state or city, and make a plan to experience a new-to-you festival. Last summer, we were happily surprised by both a local brewfest (surprisingly kid-friendly!) and local kite festival. Other popular festivals include music festivals and art festivals. Make a day of it, packing a lunch or even planning an overnight.

3. Take a day hike.

Too worn out to plan a camping trip? Take a long day hike. Use the long summer daylight hours to plan a multi-hour hike on a trail near home, and bring enough provisions (such as swimsuits, food, water, and towels) to really make a day of it.

4. Backpack in a nearby national forest.

Feeling more ambitious? An overnight backpacking trip can make you feel as if you’ve really gotten away from it all, without too much time or cash investment. If you have your own gear, all you need is a local national forest (and possibly a permit, usually granted at the forest service office nearest the trailhead). Don’t have backpacking gear? Rent it!

5. Try a new museum.

Do you have a membership to a science or children’s museum? Are you sick of it after visiting all summer? We hear you. Try a new one in another city within your region. Most museum memberships come with to perk of visiting others in a network, which will honor your local membership with free admission. Learn more here.

6. Use a summer hotel deal.

Many hotels offer great incentives to visit at the tail end of summer. Check the website of your favorite hotel nearby or in an adjacent city for an easy getaway. Look for back-to-school specials or themed deals, such as museum packages, mother-daughter packages, or dining packages. Here are some deals available nation-wide at one of my favorite hotel brands, Kimpton.

7. Take the dog to a public pool.

Look for the announcement: at most public city pools, the city offers a ‘dog day’ on the day after the last day the public pool is open for swimming. This is a fun time to let the dogs swim before the pool is drained for the year. If your local pool does not offer a dog day, or you don’t have a dog, look for other fun end-of-summer pool events, such as rubber duck races or boat derbies.

8. Find a wine or ale trail.

Surprisingly, wine tasting and cider or ale tasting can be a family-friendly activity. Many agricultural regions around the country now sport wine or ale trails, where families can drive from location to location for tastings. Many wineries have nice outdoor spaces perfect for picnics or lawn games like bocce ball. Don’t have a wine trail near you? Look for a farm trail with farmsteads to frequent, or find a farmer’s market. Here’s our local wine trail.

9. Look for a living history day.

Give the kids a history lesson before school starts. We’ve found living history days locally that cover everything from pioneering history to Civil War battles. Most living history days will be hosted by a local history association chapter, historical site, or state park. Start your search at the National Historical Society.

10. Raft a river.

While we certainly love multi-day rafting trips, day trips can be wonderfully fun as well. Take your own inflatable rafts on a tame river, or rent a raft from a local rafting company. Even fairly small rivers tend to have recreational enterprises along them. Don’t want to plan it yourself? Go with an outfitter. Some of our favorite day tripping rivers include the Deerfield in Massachusetts and the Deschutes in Oregon.

11. Have a stay-cation.

Eat out at your favorite restaurant, get tickets to the latest blockbuster, and round out your day with a game of mini-golf. Better yet, plan a ‘local food’ day, and head to the farmer’s market, followed by a trip to a local farm, orchard, or factory, sampling local foods along the way.

12. Camp in the backyard.

Tried and true! We have a large tent set up in our backyard most of the summer, and the kids enjoy inviting friends for tented sleepovers. Don’t forget to move the tent every few days to keep your grass alive, and be sure to turn off any automatic sprinklers! Place a small table in your tent and keep a deck of cards or a board game at the ready, along with a camping lantern.

13. Plan a bike trip.

Take your bikes and find a local trail. Many towns and cities now have specialized cycling paths, or families can find single track mountain biking trails. Be sure the trail system you chose allows bikes (as opposed to only hikers) and if you can’t transport bikes easily, find a route from your own neighborhood. Find trails near you.

14. Rent a new water toy.

Head to your local lake and rent a row boat, stand-up paddle board, kayak, or raft. The cost of the rental will be worth it when you don’t have to haul the toy to and from home, and having a novel pastime will keep kids busy for a number of hours. We love playing on SUPs (stand-up paddle boards) the best!

15. Take a tour or have an experience with Groupon or Cloud9.

Find a local activity at a discount with Groupon, or search Cloud9 to find out what adventurous or new experiences are offered in your area. Activities range from paint ball to sky diving to kayaking. Either site can help you find something new to do that you may not have tried otherwise.

What are your end-of-summer plans? How do you beat August boredom?

How to get kids to sleep while traveling (no matter what age)

August 25, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

I’ll be honest: we’ve had some insanely sleep deprived family vacations. We followed every parenting book in the…well, book, but when our kids were babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, they struggled to sleep anywhere, no matter what we did. This torture, of course, followed us on any trip we took. Now that our kids are older, we all sleep better, but there are still nights on the road when we need some extra help getting everyone enough rest.

If you, too, struggle knowing how to get kids to sleep while traveling, this post is for you. I polled family travel experts across the globe, soliciting sleep ideas from everyone with babies to teens. Not every idea will work for every family, but hopefully at least a few of these tips will resonate with you and your crew. Our own Pit Stops for Kids tips are listed first in each category, with tips from other experts below, marked by author and a handy link to each external site.

For parents with babies, toddlers and preschoolers:

Try to keep your child’s nap and bedtime schedule as close to normal as possible. This may mean skipping an afternoon activity or returning early from a tour to respect nap time, or settling kids in bed earlier than you’d like at night. Of course, short trips can survive a less rigid sleep schedule, while longer trips require more planning. Check out this nap guide from Nicole Wiltrout of Arrows Sent Forth. As an alternative viewpoint (parents have many styles!), try Jessica Bowers of Suitcases and Sippycups idea of doing whatever it takes to get kids to sleep, even if it means changing the rules.

Get a suite whenever possible! The good news: more and more hotels offer suites or ‘family’ room configurations than ever before. Having two separate spaces, even if it’s a bedroom and a living area, is immensely helpful when family members have different bedtimes. We often put the kids in the master bedroom and slept on the pull-out couch in the living space, just to ensure four walls and a door around our sleeping kids. Nicole Wears of Traveling Canucks echoes this tip!

Turn off air-conditioners and heating units. In mild seasons, turn off those noisy air conditioner and heater units that kick on and off all night long, waking everyone up. I’m embarrassed to say how long it took me to realize I could pull the plug on these and sleep better though the night.

Use a white noise machine. Cue up white noise on your phone (there are many apps for that), or bring along a travel-sized white noise machine. I know for a fact that my love of white noise machines is shared by Li Ling Pang of Trekaroo and Keryn Means of Walking On Travels!

Black out windows. The darker the room, the more likely it is you will all get more sleep. Robin Hutson of Luxe Recess says, “You can still make the room nice and dark by packing six dark black garbage bags and painters’ tape. Yes, garbage bags! If you tape the garbage bags up to the windows, it will create a serene sleep environment for you and your family. If you forget your garbage bags and tape, you can clip together curtains that won’t shut using the skirt hanger clips from the closet.” See more tips from Luxe Recess.

Break up the day. Marisa Langford of Trekaroo says, “Having four kids spanning from 2-10, we have 2 “fun shifts” on vacation, early and later. We are up early playing pool side or out and about in the new city, but them it’s back to the hotel to nap….and typically everyone naps, including my 10-year-old. We get up and we are back at it. This prevents melt downs from the baby and doesn’t push everyone to the brink of exhaustion.

Bring comforts of home. Hilarye Fuller of Dotting the Map says, “It really helps my little ones sleep in a new place that is unfamiliar with them if they bring a few comfort items with them that remind them of home such as a blanket, baby doll or stuffed animal.” Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel takes this idea a step further, and always brings baby’s own sheets from home to acclimate him or her to a new crib.

For parents with school-aged kids:

Consider meditation. Sounds too far out there? I get it. But for our kids, it has worked. Especially if kids listen to meditation CDs or audio at home, they will find the familiar routine soothing. We have recently been introduced to the kid-specific meditations at JoyOhBoy.

Only loosen bedtime rules if kids have time to sleep in. The way we travel, we’re busy during the day, and often getting up at the same time we do for school in our daily life, to meet guides, take tours, or explore. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to extend bedtime for ‘vacation mode’.

Read together before bedtime: I know, that hotel TV has a zillion channels, and the kids haven’t gotten their Nick fix in a long time. But studies have proven that reading before bed instead of watching a screen helps kids relax. Get that required reading for school out of the way and allow the kids to doze off with books in bed. Better yet, read aloud to kids nightly as a family activity.

For parents with teens:

Adjust travel itineraries to allow for sleep-in days. This has been a lesson I’ve learned in the past few years. I’ve adjusted our go-go-go schedule slightly, to allow the kids to sleep in (even just until 8 am) a few mornings. This way, they can take up later at night to enjoy the destination or resort.

Eat healthy. When kids travel, they often eat differently while rules go out the window. Extra sugar, processed foods, and caffeine can affect sleep, as we all know. Stick to your usual diet, or at very least, limit sugar and soda after dinner.

Allow teens some ‘downtime’ with TV. Everyone, including teens, should read right before lights out, instead of looking at a screen, but first, some TV time can ease teens into a less-than-desireable bedtime. Note: if you watch programs via Netflix and you’re traveling outside the U.S., you may need to ‘unlock’ first with a vpn that works with Netflix, so you’re not blocked from viewing internationally.

On jet lag and time zones:

Don’t try to adjust to slight time zone changes. Leslie Harvey of Trips with Tykes says, “On short trips (2-3 days) where you are only changing a few time zones, don’t try to adjust your child to the new time zone. Stay on the time back home to avoid too many changes in such a short period of time. This method works especially well for West Coasters heading East, as you can keep your children up until 9 or 10 pm Eastern time with no problems. Just make sure your hotel has good blackout shades to prevent any early wakeups with the sunrise.

Embrace jet lag when it can’t be helped. Keryn Means of Walking On Travels says, “Embrace the 2 am or 4 am wake ups that come with jet lag, especially when traveling outside of the U.S. Have snacks or breakfast ready at those times so you can get up, have a little breakfast, watch a TV show or play for a little bit. After an hour or so go through your bed time routine again and hope the kids will go back to sleep.

Get sunlight. Becky Morales of Kid World Citizen says, “I really believe in getting outside in the sunlight to reset our natural, circadian rhythms. When it’s not the time zone change, but just the long days of traveling that’s causing stress, I like to get an early-ish start on the day, but then come back to the hotel for a siesta in mid-afternoon. Everyone can rest/read/sleep and then head back out for more sight-seeing and dinners outside enjoying the evenings.

Photo credit: Flickr/Ryan Dickey

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Renting an RV: Tips for RV summer travel

July 5, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

As a parent, I understand it can be appealing to rent an RV for a family road trip. Your schedule is your own (and so is your bathroom!), and you’re not confined to airports, flight delays, or even hotel reservations. On a whim, you can detour to visit something new, or delay a day to remain somewhere special. Before you take the plunge and rent an RV for a family road trip, however, read the following tips gleaned from hard-earned experience.

Weigh the costs to have an affordable RV experience:

Consider what is typical for you while on vacation: do you seek a relaxed experience? Are you content exploring a single destination for longer stretches of time, and do you want the flexibility of making your own meals? Would you rather have your own space (which is mobile!) than nightly hotel rooms that are less flexible? The amount of vacation money you’ll save by renting an RV depends on your road trip style.

Ways to save money with an RV:

Stay in one place longer to save on fuel.
Plan to cook in your RV or over a campfire.
RV reasonably close to home.
Skip hotel rooms (more on this below).

If, for example, you normally spend a decent chunk of your vacation budget on hotel rooms, the $30-$45 per night on an RV camping space will be a deal. Of course, if you’re accustomed to renting tent sites, you’ll need to budget for the upgrade necessary for an RV space. As a beginning guide, use this Vacation Value Generator from Go RVing to directly compare vacation prices.

Embrace the RV vacation lifestyle during your road trip:

Repeat after me: you’re not in a hurry. You’re not in a hurry. You’re not in a hurry… The beauty of RV vacations is the slower pace. Plan a route that takes you along scenic byways and off the interstate. Create an itinerary that ensures less mileage and more pit stops. In most cases, it’s more affordable to rent and return your RV at the same city. In other words, travel in a loop instead of in Point A to Point B style.

Consider driving or flying to your destination, then renting an RV:

This combination seemed perfect for us. We knew we wanted to fly from our hometown to our primary destination (in this case, Chicago). From there, we wanted to take it slow, so we planned an RV road trip around the Great Lakes. We didn’t need to rent a car, and skipped all hotel and dining costs while in the region. After our Great Lakes tour, it made since for us to fly to our next destination. The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and create the transportation combination that works for your family.

Eat on the road so you don’t feel deprived of restaurant dining:

If the thought of preparing all meals while RVing doesn’t appeal, try these ‘tricks’ to feel less deprived of restaurant food:

stop at farmer’s markets and roadside stands en route
eat a big breakfast out (the cheapest meal of the day) and skip lunch entirely
let the kids cook: in an RV, it’s somehow fun to plan and create meals
cook over a campfire (we love this Guide to Campfire Cooking)

Get more tips on RV rental affordability at GoRVing.com. As I disclose whenever applicable, this post was written in partnership with Go RVing. I found the information on GoRVing.com to be useful for planning an RV trip, and hope you will, too.

Photo credit: Trekaroo/mcfam

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