My Top 3 Family Travel Tips
I want to pass along my top 3 tips for traveling with families. Think big picture. I am not going to tell you to bring along an iPad or pack some non-messy snacks. These are tips that will save you time and more importantly keep you from spending time in lines with whining kids. On to the tips.
1. Join TSA Pre-check
TSA Pre-check is $85 for a 5 year period. Children 13 and under automatically get TSA pre-check when traveling with an adult with pre-check. So, if you have a child in single digits of age, it is a great benefit. My wife and I joined and every time we travel with our two children they also get pre-check. Yes, more and more people are on to this great program as security lines at airports get longer and longer. However, every single trip I take I look at my wife and say "This is awesome" on at least one leg of the trip as we avoid a huge security line at the airport.
Plus, once through your shorter line, you don't have to take off your shoes or jacket and you don't have to take your laptop or liquids out of your bags before screening. That frees up hands and time to help get your daughter's Elsa and Anna carry on suitcase up on the xray belt.
Bonus tip: If you travel internationally, upgrade to the Global Entry for $100 which also includes TSA Pre-check. Kids don't receive the Global Entry benefits at customs but think of that as an excuse to take an international trip with just your spouse!
2. Bring a reusable water bottle to the airport
Just about every airport has those nifty water bottle filling stations next to the restrooms and water fountains. Bring a reusable water bottle for each person in the crew and hit the filling station on the way to your gate. You save time (no standing in line to buy a water bottle) and money (you know that water bottle is $5 at the airport). I know in my family that the minute we cross into security one of my kids is screaming "I am sooooooo thirsty". Plus, you have plenty of water on the plane. That same kid says the same thing the minute the plane pulls out from the gate.
3. Avoid the rental car counter
Most of the major rental car companies offer programs that allow you to skip the line at the counter and go directly to your rental car. This can literally save you 10-30 minutes each trip. When you are lugging 2 kids, 3 suitcases, and 2 car seats through the airport, the last thing you want to do is sit in a long line at the rental car counter while someone traveling for the first time ever tries to decide if they should pre-pay for the gas or decline the extra insurance.
Signing up for each program only takes a few minutes and entails providing pertinent personal details (drivers license etc..), credit card info, and preferred type of car (I recommend full size for kids and suitcases). Most send a text close to the start of your rental period with your car and parking slot along with an option to select a different car. Other programs just tell you to pick any car from a certain section of their lot. Either way, you can walk with a smile on your face straight to your car past the long line at the rental counter.
I hope you will find these tips useful in your family travels. Don't forget the iPad.
