The Everything Family Guide to Budget Travel: Hundreds of fun family vacations to fit any budget

376 Pages·2011·1.68 MB·English

by  Kelly Merritt

THE
FAMILY GUIDE TO
BUDGET TRAVEL
Dear Reader,
I'm so thrilled you have acquired The Everything® Family Guide to Budget
Travel. This topic is so broad it's difficult to cover “everything.” In this
book I've tried to encapsulate the best places for affordable family travel
that I've come across in eleven years of writing about the world.
Even when your family travels to places you've been time and again,
you'll continue to learn new things — about the destination, about
traveling, and about each other. I encourage you to chronicle your travels
with your family. Take thousands of silly pictures. Write everything down
in a travel journal. Go places where the whole family can learn about other
cultures, interesting foods, and cool customs.
This book is full of travel secrets and trip suggestions. But love is in the
details, so do your homework! Thoroughly review websites before booking
tickets. Things like last-minute travel deals and hot-button specials can
change in the blink of an eye, so check often. Never be afraid to ask tough
questions — after all, it's your money!
And remember, family doesn't have to be limited to mom or dad or the
kids … family can also include friends, coworkers, and even your pet.
Travel with people you care about and want to spend time with. That's what
makes great family travel, and that's what makes traveling fun!
Kelly Merritt
Welcome to the
FAMILY GUIDES
Everything® Family Guides are designed to be the perfect traveling companions.
Whether you're traveling within a tight family budget or feeling the urge to
splurge, you will find all you need to create a memorable family vacation.
Review this book to give you great ideas before you travel, and stick it in your
backpack or diaper bag to use as a quick reference guide for activities,
attractions, and excursions. You'll discover that vacationing with the whole
family can be filled with fun and exciting adventures.
Travel Tips
Quick handy tips
Fast Facts
Details to make your trip more enjoyable
Rainy Day Fun
Plan ahead for fun without sun
Just for Parents
Appealing information for moms and dads
When you're done reading, you can finally say you know EVERYTHING !
®
PUBLISHER Karen Cooper
DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING® SERIES Lisa Laing COPY CHIEF Casey
Ebert
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITOR Jacob Erickson ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Lisa Laing SENIOR DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Brett Palana-
Shanahan EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Ross Weisman EVERYTHING® SERIES COVER DESIGNER Erin Alexander LAYOUT DESIGNERS
Colleen Cunningham, Elisabeth Lariviere, Ashley Vierra, Denise Wallace
Visit the entire Everything® series at www.everything.com
THE
FAMILY GUIDE TO
BUDGET
TRAVEL
Hundreds of fun
family vacations to fit any budget!
Kelly Merritt
Avon, Massachusetts
This book is dedicated to my precious nieces, for whom I would travel the world,
Savannah and Sierra Johnson. I love you dearly and thank you for introducing
me to the world through your eyes.
Contents
Dear Reader
Welcome to the EVERYTHING® Family Guides
Top Ten Tips for Successful Family Budget Travel
Introduction
1. A Vacation Doesn't Have to Break the Bank
The World Is Your Playground
Off-Season Travel Deals
Deciding Where, When, and How Long to Go
“Stay-cations”
Last-Minute Getaways
2. Planning Your Vacation
Vacations That Do Double Duty
Research — Online and Hands-On
Cancellations and Contingency Plans
Planning for Long-Term Travel
Factoring in Extra Time for Travel
Odds and Ends of Family Travel
Travel Consultants and Trade Shows
3. The Well-Managed Budget
How to Save Big on Hotels, Transportation, and Attractions
Budget Travel Detective — Learn to Recognize Travel Scams
Drafting a Budget
Be Prepared for Anything
Budget Travel Dos and Don'ts
Never Go Over Budget on Vacation
4. Gas, Food, Lodging
Hit the Open Road — The Basics
All Aboard! Traveling by Train
Up, Up, and Away! The Basics of Air Travel
Bon Appétit!
All about Lodging
Traveling with Your Pet
5. Preparing for Your Trip
Passports
Take It or Leave It
Vacation Child Care and Safety
Giving Each Other (and Yourself) a Break
Get Fit for Your Vacation
To Pack or Not to Pack? That Is the Question
6. Mountains of Fun
Planning Your Trip to the Mountains
Mountains in the Northeastern United States
Mountains in the Southeastern United States
Mountains in the Central United States
Mountains in the Northwestern United States
Things to Do on Your Mountain Vacation
Make Safety a Priority on Mountain Vacations
7. Water, Water Everywhere
Planning Your Beach, River, or Lake Vacation
Water Destinations in the Northeastern United States
Water Destinations in the Southeastern United States
Water Destinations in the Central United States
Water Destinations in the Northwestern United States
8. America's Coolest Family-Friendly Cities
Planning Your Trip to America's Coolest Cities
City Vacations in the Northeastern United States
City Vacations in the Southeastern United States
City Vacations in the Central United States
City Vacations in the Western United States
City Vacations in the Southwestern United States
9. A Taste of the Past — Historic Destinations
Historic Destinations in the Northeastern United States
Historic Destinations in the Southeastern United States
Historic Destinations in the West and Central United States
Historic Native American Destinations
Ghost Towns and Ghost Stories for the Road
10. National Parks
Planning Your Vacation to a National Park
National Parks in the Northeastern United States
National Parks in the Southeastern United States
National Parks in the Central United States
National Parks in the Northwestern United States
National Parks in the Southwestern United States
11. Eco-Travel
Planning Your Eco-Vacation
Destination: SEE Turtles Baja Ocean Adventure
Destination: Crown of the Continent
Destination: Mendocino County, California
Destination: Snohomish County and the Olympic Peninsula
Surprisingly Affordable Eco-Trips of a Lifetime
Finding an Earth-Friendly Destination Tour Operator
12. Winter Wonderlands
Planning Your Winter Wonderland Vacation
Snowmass, Colorado
Stowe, Vermont
Bryce Resort, Virginia
Alta/Snowbird, Utah
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Top Family-Friendly Ski and Snowboarding Schools
Winter Activities
13. Camping: America's #1 Vacation
Sleeping under the Stars
Camping Dos and Don'ts.
Dining under the Stars
Gear Guide
Ready, Set, Camp! Prepared Campgrounds
Wilderness Camping
14. Adventure Travel