When planning a vacation, there can be several stressful financial factors leading to the actual trip, like how to afford the trip and expenses that could occur during travel. However, many experienced travelers have shared advice on how to alleviate the burden of worrying about finances.  Here is a compilation of some of their best cost-reducing tips:

• Plan, Plan, Plan: There is no substitution for planning. Experienced travelers agree that shopping around for the best deals on the Internet is the most effective way to reduce vacation costs. People should research every aspect of a potential trip and compare the cost of each segment (air, hotel, rental car, etc.), and continue to check rates even after making a reservation, one traveler suggests. People that are proactive in the early stages of planning usually find the very best deals.  

• Look For The Best Deals: Consider calling the hotels directly to inquire about discounts. Another great idea is to sign-up for email notices of sales and promotions from online travel sites, and be flexible with your travel dates when your destination goes on sale or runs a special promotion, recommends one traveler.

• Bring Food and Money: After scheduling for the vacation, people should consider bringing a cooler full of favorite foods and drinks when traveling by car to reduce or even eliminate the cost of dining out. Another tip is to avoid ATM fees by taking cash out at grocery stores. Many grocery and drug stores enable you to request some cash back with the each purchase (even when purchasing just a pack of gum, bottle of water or soft drink). Consider visiting local grocery stores to buy foods that are easy to store and prepare in your hotel room rather than dining out.

• Be Loyal: Frequent travelers are even planning to use their airline and hotel loyalty program points to defer their travel cost. A few even mention redeeming points for gift cards to gas stations, restaurants, and national retail chain stores, such as Target and Wal-Mart, for use on their trips. This will help cut costs in other areas.

• Bundle Packages: If your travels take you overseas to Europe, consider taking a cruise. Cruises typically offer an all-inclusive type package and may provide more “bang for your buck”, which should be considered given current exchange rates.

• Consider Alternative Routes: Several travelers recommended flying to a major European hub to connect to your final European destination on Europe’s low-cost airlines (RyanAir, Easy Jet, etc.).  The trains in Europe are another convenient and economical way to travel to your destination.

Whether the travels takes you on a road trip across the States or overseas in Europe, planning and researching for the best deals in addition to cutting basic costs with the tips from experienced travelers, you’ll be able to vacation without worrying about finances.

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This content is courtesy of Priority Club Connect. Priority Club Connect is an online community for Priority Club Rewards members. It provides a forum for members to connect and engage with other travelers and to learn about the Priority Club Loyalty program and the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands. Topics of discussion range from exotic travel destinations and special offers to packing tips and financial travel information helpful for any traveler. To join the community and contribute your travel tips and experiences, please visit: http://community.priorityclub.com/.

by Diana Rosenthal for GiftedTravel.com

The thick scarlet carpet leads up a white marble staircase. On the third floor of the 17th century London townhouse, Rembrandt’s “The Good Samaritan” hangs beside other canvases, their paint shiny and cracked in the sunlight.

This was the home of Sir Richard Wallace, a wealthy, art-obsessed man whose widow bequeathed his extensive art collection to the public. The Wallace Collection opened as a museum in 1900.

“Sir Richard Wallace was just somebody who was collecting for his own pleasure, to invite friends and enjoy in his own home surroundings,” said Marie Mascot, a gallery attendant.

This is also how it feels when you visit: like an intimate visit to a friend’s posh art-filled townhouse. The collection has not changed since 1897. The walls are papered. The furniture is arranged. The lights are dim. You move freely from floor to floor, usually accompanied by only a few other visitors.

“It’s a really nice house with all sorts of things,” said Matt Zavislan, 12, a tourist from Colorado. Zavislan and his family, who were visiting London for the first time, came for the extensive exhibit of armor from around the world.

“He’s really obsessed,” his mother said.

“No, just with medieval stuff,” Zavislan replied.

There are also life-size knights and horses in full armor. Visitors are invited to try on replica armor.

“It was so heavy!” said Zavislan.

There are also 17th and 18th century paintings, porcelain and furniture. You’ll see many paintings by Jean Baptiste Greuze, Jean-Honore Fragonard and Diego Velazquez.

You’ll also find other family-friendly attractions, such as the often-free art classes and tours. It is easy to plan ahead, as workshops are listed on the museum website.

The child-friendly atmosphere is a unique feature of the collection, but not the defining one. The museum also attracts those who appreciate more esoteric art. Mascot considers part of the collection to be “for experienced art viewers.”

“It is a bit complicated if you don’t have knowledge,” she said, “but it is never overcrowded; you can contemplate and concentrate.”

There are the usual amenities. Gratis admission frees you to splurge on the audio guide (£3/$5.50), whose descriptions shed light on acquisitions, and highlight the most famous and important works. Café Bagatelle in the sculpture garden offers morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. The gift shop has a wide selection of postcard replicas of the best paintings, and art books.

Neighborhood residents like to drop in. Deborah Burks and her friend Diana live nearby. Though it was only Burks’ second visit, Diana has been here over 50 times.

“I just like the intimacy of the collection,” said Diana, who asked that her last name not be published. She could not pick a favorite piece of art, or even a favorite room, but did point out her favorite facet.

“It is a stately home, and inside it, you can identify with the way the art related to everyday life.”

The Wallace Collection is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Dec. 24-26. Admission is free.
Hertford House
Manchester Square

Getting there: Bond Street and Baker Street are the closest tube stations; it’s just a five-minute walk from either.
Tel: 44-20-7563-9500

by Dr. AM Benton for GiftedTravel.com

Many parents in their tour of England include a visit to Holy Island to see where the Lindisfarne Gospels were written as well as to enjoy the tranquil loneliness of rural Northumbria. But monastic ruins and ocean views might not go down well with kids hyperactive from a long car journey up north. Not to worry, as there is a little detour along the way that would intrigue even the most picky child—a visit to Alnwick. Alnwick is the home of the castle which served as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies, and it has its own children’s “Knight School.” The surrounding grounds also feature a restaurant in a treehouse and a safe and educational garden dedicated to poisonous plants. The village itself has the “British Library” of second-hand bookshops with an enormous children’s section.

Alnwick is on the A1068 off of the A1, the “Great North Road.” The village is dominated by its quintessentially medieval castle. The castle has been portrayed in television and film—the movie Elizabeth and Harry Potter have used it as a stunning backdrop. When I visited, my inner child was secretly delighted to know she was touring the “real” Hogwarts, seeing where Harry played Quiddich and learned to fly on his broomstick. Alnwick’s Knights School also lets children dress in medieval costume and learn about early warfare and courtly etiquette. When we were there, kids were designing their own shields with a personal court of arms, and there were archery and sword demonstrations. The inside of the castle is also a treat for parents, featuring paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto and evening wine tastings.

Near the castle is Alnwick Gardens, opened in 2002 by the Duke of Northumberland. Entering through the main gates, there was a water sculpture of curved terraces, the water cascading and dancing, and at its base, toy tractors that kids could pedal around if their feet were tired. Budding wizards interested in brews and concoctions would also enjoy a visit to the Poison Garden, which is as its name suggests, is dedicated to poisonous and irritating species. The imposing iron gates, decorated with intertwined snakes and skulls will make the wait for the guided tours go by quickly. While the garden would seem to be best for older children past the stage of compulsively putting things in their mouths, staff were very careful to keep tour participants at a safe distance from the plants. We learned that the cure for nettle stings was rubbing the skin with a nearby plant called dock. Extracts of poisonous belladonna were dropped into the eyes by Renaissance Italian ladies to dilate their pupils and make them more attractive to suitors. I suspect our ancestors would not have been shocked by botox. And, just as these ladies survived their beauty treatments, you and your kids will escape the tour intact with a new respect for botany.

We then headed to the garden tree house, which had its requisite rope bridges and lookout points for children to explore. But this particular tree house was one with a difference, featuring an award-winning restaurant. The surrounding screens created with fallen branches and the roaring fire and low lights created an other-worldly atmosphere. It had started to rain, and we ate our sandwiches to the sound of the patter of raindrops on the leaves.

Alnwick’s town centre was delightful too, with handsome buildings, monuments and tempting restaurants, pubs and boutiques. While I was putting coins in the parking meter, I asked one of the shopkeepers stoically standing under his awning (now it was pouring) what things there were to see. He asked if I knew about Barter Books, and pointed me to the giant Lion’s Column in the distance adjacent to the bookstore.

Barter Books is called the “British Library” of second-hand book shops for a good reason. Comprising 32,000 square feet, it is simply enormous. Housed in the old Victorian railway station, there was a model locomotive meandering its way through the store, and murals of famous authors (though not J.K. Rowling) which are fun to point out to children. Barter’s collection is on a computerized database for easy searching, but if you just want to browse, the store is well-organized according to subject. There is also particularly nice selection of gently used children’s books. I found a book of Russian fairy tales, a reprint of a Victorian alphabet book, as well as old favorites such as Babar and Curious George.

We’d experienced the beauties and dangers of nature, eaten lunch in a tree house, browsed in a bookstore in an old train station, and visited where Harry Potter went to school. As a bonus, the kids were well fed, tired from all the walking and climbing, and had books to keep them amused. They also learned about medieval history and botany. Now we could resume our journey to Holy Island, but I suspected that at least in the kid’s eyes, it wouldn’t hold a candle to Alnwick.

If You Go:
Alnwick Castle
Tel: +44 (0)1665 510777  24hr Info: +44 (0)1665 511100
www.alnwickcastle.com
Open Daily 5th April to 29th October
10.00 am to 6.00 pm
State Rooms 11.00am to 5.00pm (Last admission 4.30pm)

The Alnwick Garden,
Denwick Lane,
Alnwick, Northumberland, UK, NE66 1YU
Tel: +44 (0)1665 511350
www.alnwickgarden.com
The Treehouse Restaurant and the Poison Garden are on the grounds of Alnwick Gardens.

Barter Books
Alnwick Station
Northumberland NE66 2NP
Tel: 01665 604888
www.barterbooks.co.uk

Dr. AM Benton is a professional travel writer and historian living in the UK. When not travelling the globe, Dr. Benton is a research associate in history of medicine at Oxford University.

Story by Jerre Repass, Photos by Jack Repass for GiftedTravel.com

We live more than a thousand miles away from our grandson, a chipper lad of four who is entranced with words like “echo-location.” We aren’t the day to day grandparents, but our relationship grows and thrives through mutually interesting shared adventures, visiting the wonderful aquariums of North Carolina for example.

About 15 miles south of Wilmington, right on the Atlantic is the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. This is an area where the rivers of the Piedmont run into the ocean. The aquarium experience begins in the Cape Fear Conservatory, a huge and humid space that feels like a movie set for some jungle flick. A fog network continually mists the plants. Are we in a rain forest?

There are ponds and waterfalls, carnivorous plants and freshwater fish. Little kids press their faces up against the transparent walls to go nose to nose with an alligator. Children learn by touch and the aquarium offers that too with hands on experiences in the coquina outcrop touch pool.

One of the starring attractions of the aquarium is a 235,000 gallon tank containing 300 creatures, all enjoying their own space. The moray eels look like something out of an art class on monsters as they leer at visitors from an undersea cave.

Our second aquarium excursion was the recently renovated North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, five miles west of Atlantic Beach. Once again the entrance was stellar: Visitors creep around a waterfall and enter the exhibit area mentally prepared to enjoy creatures from the deep.

The day we visited there were a large number of home schoolers there too enjoying the educational programs especially formatted for their age and interests. A young lady with a microphone became the classroom teacher, helping the youngsters get even more out of the experience by answering their questions and proposing a few of her own.

The big event was watching divers enter the huge Living Shipwreck tank. Holding 306,000 gallons of water and 16 feet deep, this giant fish bowl is home to all manner of marine life including a number of huge sharks. The predators are well fed, but that doesn’t mean that occasionally a small fish won’t go missing – hard to break old habits! Many of these fish were caught in the nearby ocean and transplanted to the aquarium.

Besides the fish, the huge tank contains a three-quarter size fiberglass replica of a U-352 wreck, based on an actual German U boat sunk by the US Coast Guard cutter in 1942 off Cape Lookout. Of course the fish don’t know all that World War II history, they just see the downed boat as a great spot to raise the young’uns!

We have one more North Carolina aquarium to go, it’s located on Roanoke Island and we can hardly wait. More information is available on the web at www.ncaquariums.com.

Jerre Repass is a freelance travel writer and radio broadcaster. Her weekly travel feature, “Come Away With Me,” is heard as part of “All Things Considered” on National Public Radio.

by Liz Lewis for GiftedTravel.com

No visit to New Zealand would be complete without exploring some of the locations featured in movies such as Lord of the Rings, Whale Rider, The River Queen, and The World’s Fastest Indian. After all, who wouldn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Frodo, paddle along side the River Queen, swim with the Whale Rider, and race with the Indian.

Many of the movies were filmed in remote locations well of the tourist trail. Little, if anything, remains of the sets and props built for the movies. But it is well worth the effort to find them. Because the biggest star of the these movies, the landscape, remains.

So what can you see and how accessible is it?

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Director Peter Jackson covered the whole of New Zealand looking for ‘middle earth’ and ended up filming in 150 different locations. Many of the locations were on Department of Conservation land with the agreement that nothing would be left at the end of the filming.

The villages and sets created for the Lord of the Rings trilogy have been dismantled. Except for Hobbiton. Located two hours south of Auckland on State Highway 27, here you can find the remains of the original Hobbiton Village. But as it is set on private farmland near the town of Matamata, access is only available by tour.

Next head for Taupo in the middle of the North Island and walk in the footsteps of Frodo and Sam along the Tongariro Crossing (aka Mt Doom). This challenging 8 hour walk has been described as the best one-day walk within New Zealand. Set up on the central plateau, there are spectacular views to be seen as you walk past steaming fumaroles, lava flows, the Red Crater, and the Emerald Lakes.

Continue further south to Kapiti Coast, just before the capital city of Wellington, and visit Movie Horses NZ, where you can meet the equine stars of the movie.

Then head for Wellington, home of Peter Jackson and the Weta workshop, Rover Tours, provides a number of tours covering film locations in and around Wellington.

But the biggest concentration of Lord of the Rings tour operators are found in the South Island, and in particular, Queenstown and Wanaka. Here you are surrounded by Lord of the Rings locations. But as most of these locations are hidden in remote areas, access is easiest by tour company. For a comprehensive list of tours available and contact information, check out Lord of the Rings Tours.

Another great resource to checkout before you arrive is the New Zealand Tourism website, which offers a number of Lord of the Rings driving routes for the independent traveler.

The River Queen and The Whale Rider

These two movies provided not only spectacular scenery but also introduced movie goers to insights into Maori history and culture.

Visitors to New Zealand can get a glimpse of this by heading out to the Whanganui River and following the trail of the River Queen. Adventure and culture await along this river that was used by Maori as a main transport route for centuries before Europeans arrived. Today, you can canoe, kayak, or jet boat down the river. Alternatively, you can hike along any of the numerous hiking trails that follow the river.

Those choosing the water route can arrange for an overnight stay at Tieke Marae, an old pa (fort) located on the river banks. This cultural experience features a traditional powhiri (welcome) and strives to provide a view of Maori life – past and present.

The small village atmosphere is also available at the beachside community of Whangara (population 30) where Whale Rider was set. Located near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island, Whangara is the hometown of Witi Ihimaera, author of Whale Rider. This small Maori town (population 30) is the ancestral home of the Ngati Konohi tribe.

Base yourself at nearby Gisborne, known for it’s sunny weather and wineries, and take one of the tours to Whangara led by Hone Taumaunu, cultural consultant during the filming of Whale Rider. These tours depart from the Gisborne Visitors Information Center and offer a chance to visit the house where the filming was done and learn about the story that inspired the movie.

The World’s Fastest Indian

Visit the southern city of Invercargill in the South Island to experience the place which inspired Burt Munro in his quest for speed. A city of 50,000, Invercargill has a the appeal of a small town, complete with wide streets and elegant Victorian and Edwardian building. Check in with the Invercargill Information Center to find out where to look for Burt’s shed and other film locations.

Then head out to Oreti Beach for a view of the place that Burt did his original test drives on his 1920 Indian Twin Scout. All that remains is the spectacular landscape – white sand flats, sparkling water, and views out to Stewart Island.

Liz Lewis is a New Zealand based freelance writer. Check out her Travel Café Kiwi blog for all things New Zealand and My Year of Getting Published blog for all things about writing.

by Liz Lewis for GiftedTravel.com

They say on a clear day you can see forever. And in New Zealand, that sure is true. Especially when it comes to stargazing. The southern skies offer some of the most fabulous stargazing opportunities in the world. Many are visible to the human eye, but no trip to New Zealand would be complete without stopping at least one observatory to check out the Southern skies by telescope.

When to Go

Stargazing in New Zealand is a year round activity, providing that the clouds don’t get in the way. Best time to go, though, would be late summer and early autumn when the skies are the clearest. But if you‘re looking for the center of the Milky Way, then go in the winter.

What to See

As well as the Milky Way, the three brightest stars – Sirius, Canopus, and Alpha Centauri – can be seen in the southern skies. Alongside the Southern Cross is the Jewel Box, a collection of different colored stars. But the star attraction must be the great view of two extraordinary galaxies – the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These two cloud-like patches, considered the closest galaxies to our own, are about 170,000 light years away.

Where to Go

Auckland Observatory and Planetarium

Auckland is the entry point for most international travellers, so where better to kick start your New Zealand stargazing experience. The Auckland Observatory and Planetarium (more commonly known as ‘stardome’) is located in Auckland’s One Tree Domain.

The Planetarium, with it’s 360 degree all-sky theater, offers a truly amazing stargazing experience. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, in here the stars are always shining – all 3,500 of them.

Stonehenge Aeoteora

Only an hours drive from the capital city of Wellington, Aeoteoroa Stonehenge sits amongst the farmlands and vineyards of the Wairarapa.

A full scale adaptation of England’s Stonehenge, this New Zealand version marks the stars and constellations that guided the Polynesian navigators years ago during their voyages across the Pacific.

Run by the members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, this is the perfect place to learn both history and astronomy. Visitors are introduced to the art of stargazing while learning how ancient cultures used the stars, moon, and sun navigate the ocean, create calendars, and follow the seasons.

Carter Observatory

Sitting atop Mount Victoria, surrounded by 26 hectares of spectacular Botanic Gardens and overlooking Wellington, a trip to the Carter Observatory is worth it just for the panoramic view of the city and the harbor. But this observatory also offers a chance to reach for the stars, visually, through an historic 23 centimetre refracting telescope. Weather permitting, of course.

There are astronomy displays, computers, audiovisual presentations, and telescopes to check out. The Planetarium offers a 30 minute show, audio visual presentations, and a short talk by an astronomer.

There are two main telescopes for public observation sessions. During the day, the focus in on solar viewing, searching for flares and sunspots through a telescope protected by solar filters. And at night, the search is on for the stars of the southern skies. The telescopes are manned at all times by a qualified astronomer, able and willing to answer your questions.

Mt Johns Observatory

Located three hours south of Christchurch, the Mt Johns Observatory offers some of the best views of both the New Zealand landscape and the southern skies. During the day, visitors can experience panoramic views of the Southern Alps and Mount Cook.

And at night, the stars come out to play.

You can walk or drive up to the observatory during the day. Once there, take a guided tour and look at the sun through the solar telescope. The Astro Café provides good food and amazing views.

Night time tours (at 10 pm each night) are offered by Earth and Sky Tours. They pick you up from the town center and drive up to the observatory. Once there, visitors are provide with a tour of the facility and the opportunity to see the Milky Way, the Southern Cross, and the Jewel Box through telescopes, binoculars, and the naked eye.

There is also a Twilight Tour available, aimed more for those with young families. Starting right after sunset, this tour is shorter, but still provides the opportunity to look through the large telescopes.

Liz Lewis is a New Zealand based freelance writer. Check out her Travel Café Kiwi blog for all things New Zealand and My Year of Getting Published blog for all things about writing.

Written by Sheila O’Connor for GiftedTravel.com

What child of any age hasn’t heard of Beatrix Potter or that famous Peter Rabbit? Well now they both come alive with the movie, “Miss Potter”, which highlights the story of England’s much-loved author and her 23 children’s tales. For adults there’s the story of romance in the famous author’s life. “Miss Potter” stars Renee Zellweger as the passionate and imaginative Beatrix Potter and Ewan McGregor as the man who captures her heart as her publisher and true love Norman Warne.

Alas the romance was not to last. Meeting with only disapproval from her family, who felt Mr. Warne was not a suitable partner, Ms. Potter decided to keep her engagement to him a secret. Tragically Norman died only four weeks after their engagement and Beatrix could do nothing but throw herself into her writing. At this time two more of her Little Books were published, a fact for which many children, can, at least, be thankful. Ms. Potter did eventually marry a solicitor (whose office now houses some of her work) at the age of 47. This again, met with her family’s disapproval but it seemed they pretty much disapproved of everyone! Her first love would always be Norman however.

And when it comes to love, if you happen to be in England’s Lake District, you won’t be able to help but fall in love with places the movie was set in or places which Beatrix Potter herself loved over the years. The Lake District is situated in an area in the north of England where you’ll see the subtle hues of rolling pastures, quaint villages and hardy stone walls. You’ll even smell the earthy aroma of burning peat as it fills the air and be transported to a bygone era – an era that inspired Ms. Potter to write her children’s classics.

In particular, check out the World of Beatrix Potter where those little story books come to life. This is a children’s wonderland where hands-on participation is encouraged, whether it’s flipping through the story books, goggling at the centennial clock whose character come out to entertain you whenever it chimes, or having your photo taken in Ms. Tiggie Winkle’s Kitchen (the most popular of all the attractions). The statue in the front was unveiled by Renee Zellweger during the filming and it has many of the characters featured in the novels. The boy and girl paramount in the display were inspired by the artists’ own young children when he failed to come up with suitable models for the artwork!

“I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me, it is a stronger desire than ever,” wrote Beatrix in her journal. The Lake District was in her heart , and children, drawing and writing were in her blood, even from an early age.

The story of Peter Rabbit came about when she wrote to the son of one of her governess’s but being unsure what to say to him, told him the tail of four little rabbits, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter. She later borrowed that letter back and decided to have her story published. It was a story that was to change her life.

With the proceeds from that, and eventually her other books, she went on to buy up property in the Lake District, donate it to the National Trust and thereby allow millions of families from far and wide to visit this beautiful area. Don’t miss it.

“If I have done anything-even a little-to help small children on the road to enjoy and appreciate honest, simple pleasures, I have done a bit of good” said Beatrix Potter.

You’ve done a lot of good, Miss Potter. Children everywhere, and of every age, will never forget you.

If You Go
Fly into Manchester and from here you can get a coach or train to the Lake District. For free maps, brochures, vacation-planning advice and wide selection of passes and transport tickets, contact VisitBritain toll free on 1-800 462 2748 or visit http://visitbritain.com/usa

Sheila O’Connor is a freelance writer living in San Francisco.  She loves all things British.  She is an associate editor with Romantic Traveling and runs a markets newsletter for writers that includes both US and overseas markets. Sheila can be reached at email

by Susan Stephenson for GiftedTravel.com

“Aw Mum, how come he gets the window seat?”

“We’ll all take turns with the window seat, Brittney.”

“Oh-oh, I think I’m gonna throw-up…”

“Ryan, we’re not even flying yet!”

Kids will be kids Flickr image by Fenchurch

Overseas travel with kids is not for the faint-hearted. Flying inside a pressurized cabin and hours spent waiting at airports take their toll on all of us. Kids usually like to let everyone nearby know about it, too. Maybe you think such travel should be left until they can afford to buy their own tickets? Be brave! Here are ten strategies to make your trip overseas a positive experience for the whole family.

Before you go: “Why can’t we stay home with Grandma?”

Organized, practical preparation is the key to successful trips, particularly with kids.

1. With all children, even teenagers, check what they’ve packed. They’ll need comfortable walking shoes/hiking boots, several pairs of socks, a hat and enough comfortable clothing for the duration of your holiday. Encourage them to compile their own checklists for packing/re-packing. This may help avoid the trauma of leaving Teddy or a game machine behind.

2. It’s a great idea to have baby wipes or antibacterial hand-wash in your backpack or handbag. Some public toilets can be horrific even for adults, but the offer of a germ-destroying clean-up can help avoid dramatic scenes and put health fears to rest.

3. You need a small first aid kit. Mine’s a lightweight, water-proof bag containing bandaids, antiseptic, bite/sting reliever, eye drops, tweezers, and tiny sewing kit. For bigger emergencies, I look for a pharmacy.

4. Pack prescription medications for each member of the family who needs them. They should be accompanied by a letter from your family doctor. Remind him to include any non-prescription drugs you plan to travel with such as headache or flu tablets. Customs officials in some countries take exception to ingredients in these preparations.

During the trip: “Are we there yet?”

Packing thoughtful extras improves the quality of your trip.

Kids Playing on Cart Flickr image by xcode

5. Carry water and packaged snacks in case hunger or thirst strike at inopportune moments. Think of four-hour stopovers when you don’t want to change money. I always pack a little candy to soothe a dry throat.

6. To alleviate boredom during journeys - “Oh no! We saw that in-flight movie last week!”- consider new books, magazines, paper and coloured pencils, electronic games, a pack of cards, a laptop computer with charged-up battery, even a favourite puzzle, toy or board game. A book of paper and pencil games is worth its weight in excess luggage. I offer to play make-believe for an hour and then opt for my old favourite where I’m the sick mother who must rest a lot.

7. During the journey is a great time to discuss your plans with kids. Teenagers may take an interest because there’s nothing better to do. Encourage younger children to draw their version of the coming attractions. These drawings make a great basis for the beginning of a holiday journal. The more your kids are involved in choosing your itinerary, the more likely they are to be happy, willing participants.

When you arrive: “Ergh…yuk…that’s disgusting!”

The journey has only just begun.

8. Locate some eateries with food familiar to your children. Of course you didn’t travel overseas just to go to fast food places, but until everyone adjusts, an occasional visit to McDonalds or Pizza Hut will offer ingredients kids recognize. As my gloomy 16 year old son said in a Pizza Hut in China, “At least I know its dead.” When you’re going to other local restaurants, try to find ones which encourage you to share dishes as this is a great way to offer kids a taste of the local cuisine.

9. Make it a priority to get hold of tourist information about the places you want to see. Visit places of interest to all family members, or at least limit the time you spend at “boring” ones. Family theme parks are knocked by some people as “culture for the masses” but often they’re the very places children will remember from a trip overseas.

10. Get to know other tourists and locals. Be friendly and introduce yourself to parents with kids. This is called “sharing the load” – it can be difficult surviving 24/7 with your loved ones. Younger children enjoy having someone new to play with and even teenagers may grunt sociably together. Share babysitting with another family so you go to the opera without your kids.

Travelling overseas truly can be a wonderful time for the whole family. Put these strategies into place so your junior jetsetters will be jumping for joy before, during and after the journey. If your kids are healthy and happy, chances are you will be, too.

Susan Stephenson is an Australian freelance writer, published in print and online. Both editors and readers applaud her ability to weave factual text with creativity and humour.

by Ernest H. Robl for GiftedTravel.com

Train travel is like going into another dimension.

People simply behave differently on trains. Being able to get up and walk around on the train, people talk to each other in ways they would never do while traveling by plane or car.

Planes put you above everything. Between struggling through the departure airport, the transfer hub airport, and the arrival airport, you are usually sandwiched into a confined space that’s often rigorously defended against intrusions.

Travel by car, especially if you are driving, forces you to concentrate on the road and, almost anywhere in the world, shows you mostly the roadside world of fast-food restaurants and gasoline (petrol) stations.

Train travel puts you among a moving community, whose members join and depart over a long trip. You see both spectacular scenery and people’s back yards — without having to concentrate on steering the car, watching for directional signs, or finding the next gas station or restaurant.

Train travel has its appeal, whether you travel alone, with family, or a group of friends. Particularly for family groups, a long-distance train trip allows for togetherness without the forced confinement of travel by car. For larger groups, multiple compartments let members spend time by themselves watching the scenery, reading, listening to music, napping, or any combination of these. Yet, trips to the dining or lounge car inevitably bring you into contact with others — people you might never encounter elsewhere.

Alike and Different

While train travel all over the world has some similarities, the trains of each country, continent, or region of the world have their own character.

If you’ve only traveled by train in the United States or Canada, you’ll find the trains of Europe a completely different experience. Throughout most of Europe, a dense network of passenger trains reaches into almost every corner of each country.

You can take super-fast trains that reach speeds of 200 miles per hour between major cities. And you can take regional trains that wander through appealing scenery at a slow pace — with cars where you can still open windows to let in the mountain air or to make photographs unobstructed by glass panes.

America’s long-struggling Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system, falls short of the best trains found elsewhere in the world, but it also isn’t anywhere as bad as some of its critics sometimes paint it to be.

While this probably isn’t the place for a detailed analysis of Amtrak’s financial situation, it’s worth noting that no passenger rail systems anywhere in the world make a profit. Yet, most developed countries find investment in good passenger rail service a good choice. (Other modes of travel, such as the highway systems also don’t make a profit, yet most countries have no problem spending money on these. And, airlines would not be able to make a profit it weren’t for such publicly funded parts of air travel as airports and the air traffic control system.)

Amtrak’s Scenic Routes

Amtrak offers some wonderfully scenic long-distance routes. At the same time, service on shorter routes, often within a single state and supported by that state, is becoming more frequent and more reliable.

Amtrak issues an annual travel planner — available from Amtrak stations and travel agents —that helps you understand the services and accommodations available on various routes. The travel planner is a different publication from the national timetable, which is usually updated twice a year. Both are about the size of a weekly news magazine.

Among Amtrak’s most popular long-distance routes, on which trains often sell out during peak travel seasons, are

• The Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest;
• The California Zephyr which takes you between Chicago and Oakland over both the Rockies and the Sierra Mountain ranges; and
• The Southwest Chief, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles via Topeka and Albuquerque.

Other trains follow the East and West Coasts and reach much of the U.S. Heartland.

The Empire Builder, which runs through the northernmost tier of states in the West, skirts Glacier National Park and provides good connections to many of its facilities. The Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Mont., popular with railroad enthusiasts, has its own station platform. You can rent a car there to tour the surrounding area.

The Empire Builder runs a combined consist between Chicago and Spokane, Wash., where the train splits. One part continues to Seattle and another to Portland, Ore. On the return trip, the two sections from the West Coast are again combined at Spokane.

The California Zephyr features almost non-stop mountain scenery west of Denver, including a trip over famed Donner Pass.

Sleeping Accommodations

While coach seats are fine for trips of up to half a day, sleeping accommodations, which come in a variety of sizes, configurations, and price ranges, are well worth considering for longer trips. They not only give you some privacy when you want it, but also include meals, which otherwise have to be purchased individually.

Amtrak travel can be an enjoyable experience, as long as you are not absolutely dependent on punctual arrival. Amtrak’s long-distance trains often run late due to congestion on the tracks that its trains have to share with freight trains of railroads that own most of the tracks Amtrak operates on.

VIA Rail Canada fulfills the same function as Amtrak in Canada — and offers some connections with Amtrak trains from the U.S.

Europe

But, to experience the world standard in train travel, you need to spend one or two weeks in Western Europe. Trains are not only extremely punctual, except under the worst of weather, but also so frequent that you usually don’t even need a timetable.

On main routes, trains often operate at intervals of as little as 15 minutes. Simply go to the platform serving a particular route, and take the next train.

Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and much of Scandinavia offer scenic routes.

Railpasses for non-European residents are still a good value, but have to be purchased before departure from North America.

Tourist Trains

Finally, don’t forget about tourist trains, both in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. Often operating with historic equipment, including steam locomotives, these railroads focus on the experience of train travel, rather than getting you from one location to another.

Train Publications

And for those of all ages interested in trains, here are some American magazines worth considering:

Passenger Train Journal
Trains
Railfan & Railroad

Though he’s written about and photographed many subjects, Ernest H. Robl is best known for his coverage of railroads. He’s produced more than 40 magazine features on railroads and related subjects, with these ranging from travel pieces to examinations of technical aspects of railroading. He’s also produced several books for railroad enthusiasts. Visit his extensive Web site at www.robl.w1.com.

by Blake Gernstetter for GiftedTravel.com

Each year, thousands of young people shove their lives into suitcases and move to New York to make their dreams come true. The urban air is full of possibilities; every step down a new path is a sensory feast. They settle in, learn the subway system and acquire that blasé, nothing-can-faze-me New Yorker attitude. Life is great. And then people from home start visiting.

Just how many times can you go the Statue of Liberty? Do even first-time tourists really enjoy this experience, with the intense press of crowds and the interminable lines?

The New York City Board of Tourism expects more than 44.4 million visitors in 2009. Don’t become a statistic. Here are some alternative places that will give you a feel for the real New York, without the feeling of being surrounded by every other tourist in the city.

Tourist Trap: The Statue of Liberty
Savvy Substitute: Hudson River Park

Catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty from a fresher vantage point. Walk south along the waterfront Hudson River Park near Pier 40, and enjoy the breeze, the view and the people-watching. Then explore the up-and-coming Meatpacking District nearby, where butchers and Barbies cross paths on wide cobblestoned streets. Check out the upscale designer boutiques. And stop at Little Pie Company for a slice of homemade pie à la mode. Owners Mike Deraney and Arnold Wilkerson keep the old-fashioned sweet spot small and personal. The shop’s been around for 21 years, and the house specialty, sour cream apple walnut pie, is “what made the store,” says employee Hunifred Gourgue, who enjoys her crumb-top pie with a heap of ice cream on top.

Tourist Trap: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Savvy Substitute: The Cloisters

Take a scenic subway ride uptown to The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum. It’s a mélange of original neo-medieval architecture and modern touches, and the only American museum dedicated to medieval art. It sits atop the 66 acres of a Fort Tryon Park, of the highest points in Manhattan, so you get a panoramic view of the city skyline and Jersey Shore.

“You can sit, you can have a picnic, and you can actually hear someone, because it’s not overcrowded,” said Jessica Hallermann, a metropolitan studies major at New York University.

Tourist Trap: Times Square and Broadway
Savvy Substitute: Union Square

Shuffling down 42nd Street with a herd of bewildered tourists might be a masochist’s idea of a good time, but you’ll probably enjoy the lights and life far more at intimate Union Square. The huge subway hub and famed Greenmarket draw chefs and vendors, artists and musicians, strollers and skateboarders.

“It’s better than Times Square,” contends vendor Colin Shapiro, who sells pretzels at the Greenmarket. “Less foot traffic, less neon. More cultural diversity, more options.”

The area is becoming a foodie mecca, with a new Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s moving in; there are also plenty of fine restaurants in the area.

The park is especially alluring before Christmas, when it’s transformed into an outdoor holiday market. And at the Union Square Theatre, Off-Broadway shows mean Off-Broadway prices.

Tourist Trap: Central Park
Savvy Substitutes: Prospect Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Central Park is one of New York’s most overexposed spots, which can detract from its fun factor. For a parallel experience, step outside the borough box and visit Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, like its more famous sister also designed by Frederick Olmsted.

“You still get all the crazies of New York, but in a quieter, friendlier environment,” says college student Sasha Awn. Like Central Park Prospect has its carousel, zoo, ice rink, lake, open fields and live summer concerts. And don’t miss the Brooklyn Botanic Garden across the street, where you can lounge under a stunning collection of blossoming cherry trees in the spring, or stroll in rose gardens in summer.