family travel

Family Travel Planning with Tw-oddlers

September 3, 2015 By Jillian

For more than two years we went where we wanted, when we wanted as we traveled around the world. Compromise was relatively easy as a traveling couple, especially since we have the same interests. Fast forward five years and travel with children in tow, let alone two year old twin girls and another on the way, is a whole different story. In fact, those family holiday spots we used to avoid as a couple are looking awfully appealing these days. Marketing slogans like “something for everyone” and “family fun” not only catch our eye, but also factor heavily into our planning family vacations.

Although we avoided these places as a couple, we’ve found they really aren’t bad at all. In fact, the travel industry seems to be adjusting quite well to active, millennial parents, who want the family vacation, memories and the whole shebang as well as a little adventure and excitement.

As we put together our family travel plans for next year there are some options that have caught our eye.

Travel by Ferry. Believe it or not, ferry travel is not only adventurous, but also relatively inexpensive for large families and a great option for covering distance or getting beyond the typical tourist track. Did you know that you can see the Alaskan coast by ferry, getting off whenever you want to do some fishing, hiking or even camping in seaside villages? You can even camp aboard some of the ferry boats. For those of you eyeing the other side of the pond, Brittany Ferries family holidays, which run between the UK and France, even offer booking assistance and excursions once you are in France. Yay for less planning with twin toddlers in tow.

Family Resorts. When the twins were six months old we went on a family vacation to a Club Med family resort to celebrate a milestone birthday for Danny’s grandma. Admittedly we were skeptical, but even though our kids weren’t old enough for the kid club activities, we could totally see the appeal. Plus some of these places have activities that go above and beyond sailing races or sand castle contests – like zip lining, river rafting or ocean kayaking, sparking interest in our more adventurous side. For family travel inspiration check out family adventure activities at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks or places like River Riders outside of our old stomping ground in Washington, D.C., both of which are TripAdvisor award winners.

Sure our two year olds may a bit too young to battle for dominance in floating gladiator style orbs, but we certainly aren’t…

Have you joined the family vacation club? Been to any of the places listed above? Let us know your thoughts, tips and support.

Traveling With Twins: Getting Airport Security Alive

January 12, 2015 By Jillian

Traveling with twins, especially infant twins or twinfants as they are sometimes called, can be a logistical challenge. A friend calls it a choose your own adventure. Do you a) attempt to wear the babies through security hoping that a TSA agent doesn’t make you unwrap what is sure to be a sleeping infant when you get to the X-ray machine or do you b) attempt what is sure to be a nightmarish experience with a double stroller, babies and baby accessories through security. Choose wisely my friend because there is little as difficult as trying to get through airport security with twins as other passengers are admiring them, glaring at you or trying to cut you off and your flight is boarding.

We lost our twin airport security virginity when the girls were 9 weeks old. I read suggestion after suggestion from other twin parents and finally decided that we would go the stroller route – I couldn’t cut the cord from the stroller. As we approached airport security I felt as though we were the opening scene for a new reality TV show: Survivor: Twinfants. Between the oohs and ahhs we got from vacationers to the icy stares we got from weary business travelers I dreaded the inevitable snaking line leading up to security.

As we walked up to the line we were waved into the VIP, more miles than you can ever dream of and crew security line. HURRAY! It turns out that taking the double wide stroller means that TSA doesn’t want you standing in line with everyone else either.

IDs and boarding passes checked, we were politely assisted by a TSA agent who gave us the 4-1-1 on how we could most efficiently travel through the Xray process.

1. Shoes and toiletries first (duh)

2. All car seats must go through the Xray, so wake that sleeping baby up and wrap them to your chest. We went through the machine with ergo baby carriers with no problem. Turn the car seats upside down through the Xray machine, there is less to get caught on the machine.

3. Send the stroller through, if possible. Double wides usually don’t fit, but front/back strollers do. Sending the stroller through the machine is must faster than waiting to be wanded.

4. Let TSA know if you are sending through breastmilk/formula. You may take more than 3 oz through, but our experience with how it is tested/verified varied greatly. Some places put the milk containers in a tester, others poured out a small bit to test, others didn’t seem to bother even looking at it (maybe they felt bad for us!)

Special Notes: If you carry a baby through the Xray machine, your hands will need to be tested. When your twins are walking, walk them through right in front of you – then no one needs to be tested.

After almost a year and a half, our kids are true frequent fliers and we often get through security faster than families with one baby or even older kids. It’s all about being prepared and practicing!

We’re Going to Disney World!

December 10, 2014 By Jillian

No, we didn’t win the Super Bowl, but yes, we are going to Disney World.

The last time we went to Disney World was in 2011. We drove up to Orlando to visit family and decided to go to Disney World just for the heck of it, because frankly, who doesn’t love Disney World. We planned nothing and spent our time running from ride to ride trying to get in as much as we could in one day. Fast forward three years and now we are planning a trip to Disney World around nap times, looking at height restrictions and thinking about stroller parking. My times have changed.

Planning for Disney with Toddlers

Orlando is home to the most famous theme parks in perhaps the world – Disney World. It’s actually four parks in one: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Thankfully it’s only about three hours from our house, so it is an easy weekend and an easy trip with kids. That being said, we aren’t planning to spend three days at the theme parks with 1 ½ year old twins – that seems like a bit too much for them and us – so we wanted to find ways to maximize our time at the parks and minimize the chances for toddler chaos.

Turns out in the last three years A LOT has changed at Disney World. The fast pass system, which allows you to skip long lines on the rides has changed from a paper ticket you got at the ride, to an electronic system you book in advance. And you can book a “fast pass” for character meetings, parades, shows and all sorts of activities. The reviews on this new system are mixed, but from my perspective, not having to haul the kids around from ride to ride to get fast passes for later sounds like a good idea to me! We booked our fast passes online before going to the park – you select which rides or attractions you want to fast pass and Disney offers you four options on fast pass times. That was terrific for us since we could plan to group together rides and activities in each of the lands. If you have a chance of heart or plans, you can always update your fass pass selections online or at the park.

Transportation within Disney World is easy and convenient. We had planned to stay at a Hilton property on Disney property, to maximize the convenience of the shuttle, but other plans got in the way and now we’re staying about a 10 minute drive away. That’s ok though, because we heard from a local that the hotel/resort shuttles are slow and time consuming if you aren’t at a Walt Disney World Resort or aren’t planning to park hop. She recommended we bring our own car (with car seats) instead of waiting for a bus with cranky toddlers. We’ll see if we made the right choice.

For now though, it’s off to Disney World!

So we’re going to Barcelona… for four days.

December 3, 2014 By Jillian

Ever have an overwhelming feeling that you need to jump on a plane and go somewhere? Well that happens to us pretty regularly and more often than not we end up spending hours online looking up an amazing trip only to realize that there is something preventing us from going. Well that cycle repeats and repeats until finally – like magic — we actually book something and find a way to make it work.

Yup, San Fermin, or the running of the bulls. This was the last time we were in Spain. Incidentally we also went through Barcelona that weekend.

This time the constraints were our children. Well, not in the way that you think. We’re happy traveling with our twins – in fact they are super baby travelers (14 flights and counting!), so that doesn’t scare us at all. What we wanted out of this trip though was a trip without kids. There I said it. An adults only vacation without the twins where we pretend at least for a few minutes that we can be wildly impulsive and go to Barcelona… for a long weekend.

And so we booked. We just did it, recklessly without looking back. Ok, so we did confirm the availability of some pretty amazing babysitters (err… Grandparents) for the weekend, but then we quickly pressed purchase. We looked at the incredible amount of frequent flier miles we’ve amassed in the last two years and decided that there is no time like the present.

But then there are those constraints to consider – the fact that my heart basically stopped when I realized we would be without our little munchkins for four days. Yikes. Four glorious and terrifying days. Flooded with excitement and yet already, months away from the flight, trepidation at being away from our girls for SO LONG. I tried to wrap my head around it. Because as a parent, a weekend can feel like an eternity. That’s the paradox of parenthood.

So yea, we’re going to Barcelona for four days.

We’re crazy.

We’re insane.

We’re just in love with our constraints.

Budget-Friendly Ways for Families to Travel Europe

July 22, 2014 By Guest Blogger

If you have big travel dreams with a pocket size bank account, you may think that Europe is out of your reach. Fortunately, you and your family can take in the sights and sounds of traveling abroad without spending a great deal of money.

Frequent Flyer Miles: Planning a European vacation with your family can seem like an unrealistic adventure, especially if you’re drowning in a sea of expenses. However, switching to a credit card such as United Airlines MileagePlus that offers frequent flyer miles for your chargeable living expenses can help your travel dreams become a reality explains an expert at MileCards.com. If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can save substantially and have enough miles for the entire family to get overseas and back. You can also check family-friendly travel sites for competitive pricing on flights. International airlines also offer discounts for children between the ages of two and 11, so you shouldn’t be afraid to ask.

Flexible Schedule: Popular times of the year can be more expensive than others. If you have a flexible schedule, you can save a substantial amount of money during the off season. While you may not want to travel during the winter months, you could still enjoy the attractions of Europe and take in some amazing weather before and after the peak months.

Lodging: After the flight, one of the costliest parts of a trip abroad is the lodging and accommodations for your family. The big hotel chains can be significantly higher than a bed-and-breakfast or home of your own. If you’re looking to lower your costs when making your way through Europe, you can take advantage of the many budget-friendly hotels. Here you can find clean, simple and no-frill accommodations in some of the most popular destinations. For travelers looking to experience what life is really like in Europe, you can choose to stay in a B&B. Many of the places in Europe offer family-friendly rates, especially if you stay for more than one night. Since your breakfast typically comes with an overnight stay, you can save on family meals. For European vacations that are scheduled for longer than a week, you may be able to save even more money by renting an apartment or home of your own for the duration of your trip. In addition to saving money by being able to cook your own meals, your children will get to enjoy a larger setting where they can run and play. Farm stays are another inexpensive and popular way to enjoy Europe. For approximately $100 per night, you can make your home at a working horse ranch or farm.

Transportation: Getting around Europe can be another costly way to take in the rich history of https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/achat-viagra/ the city you’re visiting. While a train and bus can be a convenient way to get cross country, you may find a car rental to be a more economical way to go. With insurance, gas, and the cost of the rental vehicle, you can set your own pace and travel at your leisure. You’ll find a number of American sites where you can compare prices and take advantage of discounts.

Family Discounts: Between museums, art exhibits and famous attractions, you can spend an exorbitant amount of money while traveling abroad. Fortunately, many of the most popular European exhibits and museums offer family discounts. Before you set out for you daily excursion, you can check with your hotel or local travel bureau for deals and concessions. If you can’t find any discounts listed, you can always ask if they offer any deals for families. In Paris, you’ll find most of the monuments and museums are free to individuals under 18. You can also experience the many free exhibits offered throughout Europe. From festivals and vendors to street performers and free concerts, you can soak in the cultures of the region without spending money.

Meals: No matter where you travel with your family, you’ll want to budget enough money for food and meals. The local markets are great for stocking up on fresh foods such as fruit, vegetables and meats. This is especially helpful if you have a place where you can prepare and store your own groceries. Lunch menus are also always cheaper than the dinner time meals. If you have a large family to feed, you can make your mid-day meal the primary one. You also get bigger portions than those served at dinner. Street food vendors are typically plentiful when traveling abroad. You can make your own picnic out of the foods the vendors sell such as sandwiches, breads, lunch meats, gelato and pizza.

Staples from Home: Your children may have their own favorite foods and snacks that they want to bring from home. Breakfast bars, coffee, oatmeal and fruit snacks can be safely stored in your luggage and enjoyed throughout the duration of your trip.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Family Travel Planning with Tw-oddlers

Traveling With Twins: Getting Airport Security Alive

We’re Going to Disney World!

So we’re going to Barcelona… for four days.

Budget-Friendly Ways for Families to Travel Europe

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