Wednesday
Jun242009
Recession Family Travel Tips
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 01:19PM
As we search and re-search to find a fun, unique, AFFORDABLE family-of-five vacation plan for July 4th, preferably on a nice, quiet beach somewhere within a six- to eight-hour drive from Atlanta...[June 24th: no luck yet]
Hotels.com was the trip saver this time, since we were able to research online ahead of time and then compare prices and hotel information on the iPhone as we were driving around. When we decided upon the Wingate Inn by Wyndham, we walked in to inquire about the rate, but it turns out they couldn't offer the low rate and special advertised sale on Hotels.com. We sat down on the couch in the lobby to make the reservation on the iPhone, and the desk attendant called us over within three minutes, as soon as the reservation popped up on his computer. Great savings and convenience!
It was absolutely gorgeous and peaceful, easy and (relatively) cheap, too - a whole bucket of souvenirs included! The entire family had a great time. When we were at the amusement park the next day, standing in long lines, getting sun burns, losing children and emptying our pockets ($$$) at every opportunity, Dear Hubby and I reflected on the wonderful day spent at the creek. In comparison...we would have rather mined again!
It was fun and we did enjoy our time there, in spite of losing children, incredibly long lines right up until closing and a really, really gross dinner of old hamburgers and pizza...still, we did have that conversation about our gem mining experience in the cool mountains the day before.
Admittedly, when the kids were younger, we'd map our route from McDonald's Playland to the next McD's Play Place along the route, but now that they are older, picnic and potty stops at the Rest Areas are the way to go, to limit calories and sugar intake, as well as the chance to get everybody out of the car to stretch, run around, geocache and gather travel brochures, discount coupons and maps in the Welcome Center. Plus, the potties tend to be a whole lot cleaner.
Recession Family Travel Tips
from our trip to Concord/Charlotte, NC - May 20091) Hotels.com & the iPhone - Awesome!
We'd never been to the Charlotte area to stay overnight, so we didn't know what our options were, as far as accommodations. We were traveling last-minute (as usual), and we didn't want to risk an online reservation commitment sight-unseen and drive up to find a better option right next door, or down the street - closer to where we might want to be, if we knew where we wanted to be, ya know?Hotels.com was the trip saver this time, since we were able to research online ahead of time and then compare prices and hotel information on the iPhone as we were driving around. When we decided upon the Wingate Inn by Wyndham, we walked in to inquire about the rate, but it turns out they couldn't offer the low rate and special advertised sale on Hotels.com. We sat down on the couch in the lobby to make the reservation on the iPhone, and the desk attendant called us over within three minutes, as soon as the reservation popped up on his computer. Great savings and convenience!
2) Gem Mining v. Amusement Park - Nature is Best!
We spent an amazing afternoon somewhere in the outback of North Carolina, an hour north of Charlotte, mining for gems at The Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC. It was an offbeat tourist-trap kind of operation out in the woods, but it was an afternoon spent with the kids wading down a winding creek through the forest, screening for gems and interesting rocks, and then panning for treasure from buckets of dirt ("ore") in the sluiceway.It was absolutely gorgeous and peaceful, easy and (relatively) cheap, too - a whole bucket of souvenirs included! The entire family had a great time. When we were at the amusement park the next day, standing in long lines, getting sun burns, losing children and emptying our pockets ($$$) at every opportunity, Dear Hubby and I reflected on the wonderful day spent at the creek. In comparison...we would have rather mined again!
3) Amusement Parks after 4pm - The only way to go!
When we were there in May, the Regular General Admission price (ages 3 - 61) at CaroWinds Amusement & Water Park was almost $50 per ticket: $250 for a family of five. The Twilight Ticket - valid after 4pm - was half that, and the park was open until 10pm. We decided, given the heat during the day, our family vacation budget (limited) and our capacity as a family to endure 12 hours straight in the heat and crowds of an amusement park - not to mention the expense of a full day of meals and snacks - we went after 4pm.It was fun and we did enjoy our time there, in spite of losing children, incredibly long lines right up until closing and a really, really gross dinner of old hamburgers and pizza...still, we did have that conversation about our gem mining experience in the cool mountains the day before.
4) Downtime Entertainment - Camp Mommy Tip #1
Always, always carry a deck of cards or a game of UNO (UNO H2O is perfect, wet or dry conditions) for waiting with kids - perfect in restaurants while you are waiting for the food to arrive and at Rest Stops and other occasions when it's too hot or inappropriate to run around like wild animals let loose on the unsuspecting public...5) Auto Travel & Fast Food Options
I don't know why we didn't figure this out sooner, after 15 years as parents, but it is far better to pack a picnic basket and a cooler with healthy snacks and drinks for the trip, and stop at Rest Areas along the way than smorgasbord along with Fast Food and gas station Quicki Marts.Admittedly, when the kids were younger, we'd map our route from McDonald's Playland to the next McD's Play Place along the route, but now that they are older, picnic and potty stops at the Rest Areas are the way to go, to limit calories and sugar intake, as well as the chance to get everybody out of the car to stretch, run around, geocache and gather travel brochures, discount coupons and maps in the Welcome Center. Plus, the potties tend to be a whole lot cleaner.
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