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Looking to visit California in the near future? Planning a vacation to sunny California can be the highlight of any family’s year, well that is, other than the trip itself. Making sure you are able to take the perfect vacation includes a lot of details; from what you will do once you get there, where you will stay, the length of the trip, how you will travel and of course how you will afford the getaway in the first place. Here are some helpful hints in insure you have the best vacation possible.

1. Start saving as soon as possible. By cutting down your expenses you will have more freedom for days filled with nothing but bliss. Start by searching the web for deals on all of your daily needs. Typing in a couple of words such as daily savings or coupons your browser will present you a number of deals. Whether you are saving by eating family meals at home or you find Hancock Fabrics coupons to help you save as you gather your trip essentials, every penny you don’t spend on your daily life can go toward the trip to sunny California this summer.
2. Find a hotel that suits your needs. Free continental breakfast is important for travel with family, as if free wifi and a swimming pool.   Another important item?  The disatnace between the hotel and your daily activities.
3. Free continental breakfast will help you to save, but finding a local grocery store that is conveniently located will lower the amount you spend dining out. Buy easy things that you can make quickly. This will not only save you money, but it will give you more time to explore all that your destination has to offer.
4. Figure out your travel arrangements. Will it be cheaper to drive or fly? If flying is your best bet, it is important to find the best deals. Look for discounted rates. You can often find package deals that include your travel and stay all for one low rate.
5. Arrange your transportation from the airport to your hotel. LAX airport shuttle information will present you with options and rates that you will then be able to compare to other alternatives.  Other airports offer similar assistance.

Now that you know where you are going and how you are getting there, the fun really begins. By planning your vacation – but leaving room for spur of the moment activities- you will be able to maximize your fun and savings. Every day doesn’t have to be a theme park; plan out time for the free activities such as the beach.

California offers many travel destinations, so finding the perfect spot for your family can take a little bit of research. Regardless if you choose to go to Hollywood to walk amongst the stars or you decide on a more secluded destination, there are endless options and one is sure to be perfect for your family.

Taking a vacation is good for the soul and all too often we miss out on the relaxing times because we fear the financial burden involved. It doesn’t have to be this way. Taking control of your daily routine will allow you the freedom to play from time to time. It’s really all about priorities. And after a while you don’t miss what you’ve cut from your life. Trust me- we’ve been living without cable, movie theaters, credit cards and on a tight budget since 2008.  

Family holidays are a magical time of year. What could be better than jetting off with the kids, and watching their faces light up as they paddle in the sea for the first time, or build sand castles on the beach, or splash about in the pool? It can be a great escape for Mum and Dad too. If you fancy nipping off for a quiet lunch together or spending a bit of time exploring the area without the constant chant of “I’m bored…” you could always leave your kids in the capable hands of the hotel kids’ club.

When you travel with a reputable tour operator, for instance if you choose family-themed Thomas Cook vacations, you’ll be treated to a fantastic array of support services to help make your family getaway a fun and memorable one. The hotels have been carefully chosen to offer a high standard of facilities with pretty much everything covered, from child-safe balconies and paddling pools for tots, to extensive menus to appeal to even the fussiest of eaters. Of course every hotel varies and it’s down to you to decide which one has the best facilities and entertainment for your family, but with so much choice you’ll never be short of options!

What’s more, many tour operators choose hotels for their family range that benefit from a variety of locally based attractions. Some are situated close to water parks or theme parks, others are right on the beach, and some are close to the resort centre – perfect for access to local transport, restaurants and shops.

Travelling with a tour operator is a great way to get a good value holiday and enjoy a stress-free trip while you’re at it, leaving you to get on with enjoying your holiday and doing the things that matter – like building sand castles!

Sandcastles photo credit: williamcho via photopin cc
Disclosure:   Links in this post are sponsored content.  Please know that Family Rambling only accepts sponsored material that is beneficial to family travelers.

Welcome to Family Rambling!

I want to thank you for visiting after seeing the travel segment on WHO TV 13.  It was great fun to shoot the segment with Erik Wheater and share my family’s travel tips!

About Family Rambling

At Artist’s Point- the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It’s so perfect, it almost looks photoshopped!

We’re a central Iowa family, not so different from you.  My husband works in IT, I am a freelance travel writer and social media educator.  Our daughters are active in Irish Dance and gymnastics.

My family has been rambling since the girls were infants and in these years of travel we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a great family trip, how to spend days in a car without going crazy and how to make flying with kids look easy!

Here at Family Rambling, we share family travel tips, destinations and first hand experiences;  true thoughts about where we go, what we do and what we use.

Family Rambling is all about inspiring families to travel together- no destination is too close to create lasting memories!

Helpful Travel Tips and Links

Though the broadcast portion on TV tonight was only 4 minutes long, we filmed for nearly 3 hours.  Below are the tips I shared, some which made it into the segment, others which landed on the digital cutting room floor.  I hope the tips below will help you to plan your family’s travels and inspire you to get out an explore- both locally and across the US!

• Should you drive or fly?  Here’s how we decide if Flying or Driving is More Economical.
• Flying with the kids?  Here’s our Pre-Flight Checklist.
• Is that airfare in Kansas City or Chicago worth the drive?  Here’s how we decide Should You Drive to a Cheaper Airfare.
• Wondering how your family will like that attraction or hotel?  MiniTime, a review site for families, has the answer.
• Check Groupon Getaways for travel deals.  Also…  check the Groupon site for your destination.  It’s likely you’ll find dining, activity and hotel deals!
• Trip in the planning stages?  Set up a Fare Alert at Airfare Watchdog to watch for price drops on specific routes.
• Use Kayak to search for Flight Prices and airfare price predictions.
• Set a Google Alert to watch for vacation deals.  be sure to put your key words in quotation marks, like “Orlando Deals” or “Disney Vacation Deals”.
• Bing Travel has a flight search and price predictor.  It’s worth it to compare with Kayak.
• TravelZoo lists travel deals across the world.  Sign up for their Top 20 weekly deals email.
• 6 fun spring break getaways.
• Drivable  Midwest Destinations.

Again, thank you for stopping by.  I hope you will return again for travel tips and family travel inspiration!  I’m always happy to answer any questions- please leave a comment or email me directly!

Planning a vacation the whole family can enjoy can be a challenge- especially if you have children of different ages and interests. Cramped hotel rooms with a fight over the television remote aren’t my idea of fun.  One way to combat this problem is to embark on a camping holiday!

Before You Go

When planning a holiday it’s probably a good idea to have a family meeting with a large map. Find out what the majority want to do on their holiday and then discover if there are any campsites near the destination.

If your children are of varying ages then try to make sure that the older ones will take some responsibility for looking after the young ones. Modern campsites are very well equipped with play areas and pools and many of them will offer a child minding service for a small fee. Caravan Club lists details of the best campsites and their facilities on their website so you don’t have to go far to compare different locations.

Economy

One of the major bonuses of camping is the ability to control your finances. All too often, when settling the bill at a hotel, there will be numerous extras tacked onto the account. When camping you know exactly what you are paying for and can make your money stretch a little bit further if needed.

Even if you do not own a tent or caravan you can always hire one in advance and then choose how upscale you want your temporary home to be. ‘Glamping’ is very much in fashion at the moment with yurts, cabins and even tree houses on offer at many campsites as well as many other more luxurious amenities.

Throughout the world camping has undergone something of a revolution and an increasing number of people are using this option to explore the countryside and other nearby attractions.

Climate

The development of modern campsites also means that you are not restricted by the weather. The introduction of communal leisure areas has abolished the image of a noisy family crowded into one very small tent trying to cope with the boredom and the rain.

Camping is a great way to make new friends and also to spend some quality time with your family. The famous adventurer, Bear Grylls said: ‘There’s something about spending a night in a tent that restores a sense of peace and simplicity to your life.’

For those who love nature then a camping holiday is an ideal way of roaming through the local environment and being at one with nature. Most of the world’s national parks will be able to provide you with a map and offer advice as to the best places to spot the local wildlife.

Do remember, though, that if you are planning on a lengthy trek you should let someone know where you are likely to roam. Mobile phones don’t always pick up a signal in remote regions so it makes sense to stick together for safety.

Disclosure:  Some links in the post are sponsored.  Family Rambling only accepts guest content that is helpful to family travelers.