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Save on Spring Travel With the Family

Posted 11:27AM 03/08/12 Savings Experiment, Travel Industry |
Savings Experiment: Spring Travel Savings
Have you traveled with a baby or toddler?
No. I'm afraid it'll cost too much.252 (6.0%)
No. The hassle isn't worth the cost.754 (17.9%)
Yes. It was difficult, but we found a way.1646 (39.1%)
Yes, it was much easier and cheaper than expected.1563 (37.1%)
Did you find our video on family travel helpful?
Yes, it's a great idea40 (11.8%)
Yes, useful and entertaining63 (18.6%)
Not sure, didn't watch125 (36.9%)
No111 (32.7%)

Kaamna Bhojwani-Dhawan is a mother of two and she travels all over the world with her children. While most people shy away from traveling with small kids, she finds that it's a great way to save money. Here's how.

Children under two get a significant discount on airfare, sometimes up to 90 percent off the cost for an adult. On some domestic flights, they even fly free. Personally, Bhojwani-Dhawan finds traveling with small children much easier, as they can easily be transported in their carrier or stroller.

Another great thing about taking vacations with babies and toddlers is that you're not limited to the school calendar. You can save a bundle by traveling during off-peak times. Plus, the crowds are a lot easier to manage.

Bhojwani-Dhawan chooses her destinations based on where friends and family are in order to avoid hotel costs. Staying with people you know is not only economical, but it gives you more space to roam, too. Of course, staying in other people's homes offers perks like full-sized refrigerators, which makes it much easier to store baby supplies.

packing to travel with familyRecently, Bhojwani-Dhawan and her brood visited her parents in India, and soon she'll travel to Singapore to see her sister. Not only will she save on expensive lodging, but her children can also have slumber parties with their cousins. It's a win-win.

So, the next time you're hesitant about getting out of town with your children, consider using these tips. You can cut the costs of travel, and get in some quality time with the ones you love.

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kygrl76

I vote yes to take children to visit family and friends, good communication and common courtesy is a big need, to validate time of visit, how long you stay works out with them. This way you get to be closer and decrease the hassels of "backing" the baby, toddler things and "lug" them back and forth. We've been doing this with our families for decades. Always fun, my DAD would always plan a special activity for all the kids and parents, one year booked a room at a hotel with an indoor pool for a full day for a swim in Thanksgiving, another horse back riding in Palador Canyon....it can be fun. I stay with family and when all the beds are spoken for stay in a hotel with an indoor pool so everyone can swim if they want. Our cousins, aunts, uncles and friends became very close over the years because we got to know one another. A follow up thank you card or gift you find out they would find USEFUL is sent after the trip. We shared expenses too, grocery shopping, gas for longer excursions, just be thoughtful and appreciative, it's great.

April 12 2012 at 10:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Agedate.com

oh,nice video , i have heard that a saying goes in China like this "Only one himself knows if the shoes match his feet or not “。If u really love her /him ,nothing matters, let alone the age .i met my BF via~~--Age'date . ℃○M .~~ a nice place for younger women and oldermen, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other! , he is almost 12 older than me ,but we think we did find the true love .BTW,Ever feel that you would best enjoy someone who is not in your age group? Free of the embarrassment and annoyance, go for what makes you really happy.If u are really interested in it, maybe u wanna check it out or tell your friends

April 10 2012 at 9:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Viki

really ??????????????...... really ????????????????????

April 06 2012 at 1:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bruce

So she not only is more than willing to share the conduct of her young children with the other airline passengers, she also sponges off of her friends and family whenever possible. What GREAT travel advice...NOT! SAhe certainly has a very selfish idea of the propriety of foisting her (too young to travel) brood onto others. It would be poetic justice if the rest of her family reads this, and decides to cut off the free lunchwagon.

April 06 2012 at 12:53 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Mel

So what you are all saying is because I have a baby and she may cry, we can't leave home because it might make you uncomfortable? Get over yourselves! Just because you choose to keep your children locked in your hometown, doesn't mean the rest of us should. My daughter took her first flight at 3 months old. She did fantastic, with the exception of about 10 minutes of crying, but there was no way (nor was there on each subsequent flight) for me to know how she would handle a 6+ hour flight. It's the luck of the draw. I choose to explore the world and teach my children there is more to life outside of their house! My suggestion: Buy headphones.

April 06 2012 at 12:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
aevf101

It sounds great for the parents of small children but not so great for full paying passengers that have to endure ear splitting screaming and crying in the seat next to you.

April 05 2012 at 9:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to aevf101's comment
Bruce

I must agree. For every example such as that given above by "Mel" of a "fantastic flight" with a three-year-old ( ! ), there are a dozen examples of flights from Hell, suffered by everyone within a dozen rows of a SCREAMING baby. I don't blame the children, I blame the adults. If a child is too young to be able to be TOLD to be quiet (and to comply), then that child has no business on a crowded airline flight.

April 06 2012 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bonniegschlagel

i think people traveling with small children and overweight adults should have flights to accomodate them That way when littlle Johnny runs up and down the aisles and the overweight person who can only sit in his seat with all the arm rests up can be comfortable.And the rest of us can sit back and enjoy our flights

April 05 2012 at 8:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ajt1025

With the price of gas for the airlines going thru the roof, the price of a ticket will double in a very short time. All these save sites seems to look like they have a deal for you but really they don't. The cost will be carried over. You have to pay for everythind on board and before you board a plane today the only thing left is to charge for the potty and carry ons. I see that happening by the summer. Fly the friendly skys and see who will be standing with the next oil raise.

April 05 2012 at 7:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy

Please keep them away from Business class or First Class. Many of us are forking out $3000 RT ticket overseas to sit away from crying babies. I applaud Malaysian Airlines efforts of not allowing anyone under two year old in their International First Class ($10K-$15K RT) so the real preimum customers can relax without being bothered--Why would you pay those kind of money for them since they can't even enjoy it yet? I don't know if any airlines would try a business model not having young children on board. Some of us will pay more for that perk if it is all possible.

April 05 2012 at 7:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
theseusxx

Totally agree - a waste of time to see this. Suggesting to freeload????WTF??? She said she travels all over the world - but only if she can land on a friend's or relative's doorstep! Golly - and what kind of job does she have that allows her to just get up and go!!!! Grrrr.

April 05 2012 at 7:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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