5 Tips for Traveling with Kids this Holiday Season

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Your holiday journey can be as enjoyable as your destination

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 17, 2013

Over the upcoming Christmas period, tens of millions of Americans will drive to a destination several hours from home, and many will encounter heavy traffic or inclement weather along the way. Even so, your holiday journey can be as enjoyable as your destination, according to Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, family travel expert and managing expert of MiniTime.com, a leading family travel website that provides parents with travel recommendations based on the ages of your kids.

Kelleher recommends these five tried-and-tested strategies for stress-free road travel, whether you’re heading to a hotel or grandma’s house.

1.    Come prepared with entertainment. “Classic car games such as “I Spy” and Road Trip Bingo not only keep your kids entertained, but they don’t cost a dime,” says Kelleher. “MiniTime offers a selection of free, printable car and travel games that can keep your kids happily busy. And if your kids are a little younger, think about bringing a portable DVD player and a few of their favorite films.”

2.    Get an early start. Leave before the sun rises to take advantage of less crowded roads, and consider letting your kids stay in their pajamas for the first hours of your journey. It may help them stay comfortable and get more sleep.

3.    Find the cheapest gas. Nobody wants to pay more for gas than they have to. “I recommend a free app called Gas Buddy, which directs travelers to the cheapest gas stations along any route,” says Kelleher. “It also helps you estimate how much you’ll need to budget for gas in total.”

4.    Keep essentials nearby. “Long hours in the car may mean you might need extra batteries for DVD players and portable video games,” says Kelleher. “And with babies on board, pack extra changes of clothing, diapers, food and bottles. Be sure to keep these items in the front seat, not the trunk. Also make sure you have ample snacks and water handy.”

5.    Stay hands-free. If your car is not blue-tooth enabled, it’s important not to talk on the phone while driving. “You can go hands-free with FreeHeadset.org, a worldwide automobile safety program that distributes free cell phone headsets to anyone who wants one,” says Kelleher. “To get a free headset, you simply sign up and select the make and model of the cell phone you use.”

For more tips on travelling by car and by plane, check out MiniTime.com.

MiniTime.com makes family travel planning easy by providing parents with detailed information, recommendations and trip planning tools, all based on the ages of their kids. Only MiniTime combines editorial curation, algorithmic recommendations, an enthusiastic community of parents and powerful user tools to help parents plan, book and share their family travel experiences.

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