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Outdoor Travel: 5 Tips to Enjoy It With Kids

May 2, 2018 by Mandy

Have you always enjoyed outdoor travel but can’t do it more often because of the kids? These tips will help you enjoy the great outdoors with your children.

While we may have more digital distractions than a generation ago, family trips are still popular.

About a third of families vacation together, with more than half choosing outdoor travel excursions. Not all family vacations work out, of course.

This is especially true for families that have kids. Keeping the little ones entertained can be a challenge outdoors. Don’t worry, we have the perfect tips to make your next trip a good one.

Here are five big ways that you can make sure everyone has fun together!

1. Be Flexible with Destinations

One common, yet fatal flaw, with family vacations is trying to do too much. When it comes to outdoor travel, you definitely don’t want to overdo it. Kids need the freedom to roam and be kids.

The best strategy is to set goals, but only reveal them one at a time. This keeps kids anticipating the next surprise, while avoiding the time crunch.

The journey should be more important than the destination.

2. Prepare and Pre-prepare

Don’t leave any room for regret, shortcomings, or risks of any kind. Your outdoor travel preparations should start at least a month in advance. If you have to save up for the trip, make sure you have your finances in order.

Kids will be able to tell when you’re being “cheap” or holding back on travel items. Prioritize health, convenience, entertainment, and food expenses. Kids who don’t do a lot of outdoor travel may get bored easily. That’s where cool outdoor gadgets are your best friends.

3. Beat the Elements

If you’re going somewhere that has weather outside your usual, buy proper clothes. Buy backup clothes, too, so the kids can get dirty or wet and not be worried. Be the parents who lug that extra bag along to ensure everyone is comfortable.

If you are going camping, you can cheat a bit by using an awning to create more protection. This avoids having to haul big tents along with your gear. 4WD Supacentre has a great selection of awnings for different vehicles.

4. Don’t Overexert Yourself

If you’re going on a trail by foot, make sure you know where all the rest stops are. Pacing is so important outdoors. Nobody wants to explore the woods when they have leg cramps and sore feet.

Use landmarks to keep morale high among the kids. This also motivates them to keep going and not get too distracted along the way. Check with everyone and make sure they are staying hydrated.

Thirsty travelers can get cranky and lead to headaches and cramping.

5. Make it a Habit

The best way to improve your traveling experience with your kids outdoors is to do it often. Once they get used to all the walking, lack of electricity, and problem-solving, they’ll fall in line. Not in the forced punishment kind of way, but in a “Hey, I know what to do!”

More Outdoor Travel Ideas

We hope these tips take your travels to the next level. If you are curious about exploring more outdoor destinations, we have lots of great info.

Go ahead and check out our travel blog to get inspired.

Happy trails!

Luxury or Economy: Which Is Better When Vacationing with Kids?

May 2, 2018 by Mandy

It can seem like an extravagance to spend money on a luxury hotel when you have your children with you, so why not save your dollars and go for budget accommodation? There are pros and cons to each choice, but if you normally only go for the economical option, it’s worth considering some of the advantages of going for a more high-end standard of accommodation. Rather than just fixing on the cost, think about the other factors that could play a role in making your vacation special.

Luxury

A five-star hotel like one of the hoteles de 5 Estrellas en Acapulco, or a palatial cabin with waiter service are great ways to live when you’re away, and as adults, you and your partner will be able to appreciate the luxury and high standards of the rooms, service and facilities. You might think this would all be lost on your kids though, who will take very little notice of whether their sheets are Egyptian cotton and be far more interested in finding out if there’s room to play dinosaurs or if there are any other kids staying there. So why would you consider luxury?

Well, it’s your holiday too, so being able to enjoy the benefits of more exclusive surroundings, excellent cuisine and the accompanying levels of hospitality, can make the trip more special and more relaxing for you. You’ll also have fewer worries, as with such high standards and a reputation to maintain, safety and hygiene will be a top priority.

If you are concerned about the kids running amok in the hallways, or waking other guests up when they start crying, try to put your concerns aside. If the hotel isn’t able to cope with children, they wouldn’t have accept your booking, and wherever you stay, the kids could still cause a disturbance to other guests. In a high-quality hotel, noisy children are probably less likely to wake anyone else up anyway, because the walls will have better soundproofing!

Economy

Because it’s cheaper, you can feel you don’t need to worry so much about the noise, or if your toddler draws a self-portrait on the wall with his crayons. The truth is, other guests are just as liable to get put out by noisy kids in a budget hotel as a five star one. If there’s any damage you’ll still have to pay for it, wherever you are. You could also be missing out on the entertainment and activity opportunities a better quality hotel may offer. While safety and hygiene legislation should be adhered to by all levels of accommodation, you won’t get the same quality of food and your rooms are likely to be smaller and less well appointed. If you’ve got a small room with not much space for play, it can result in the kids getting bored more easily, and that’s when the whining starts.

There are hotels and resorts all along the scale between the economical and the luxurious, so you could aim for somewhere in the middle – not so expensive, but better facilities and higher quality than the cheapest places. If you aren’t sure what would be best for your family, have a good look at online reviews to see if they can help you make your mind up.

Family Road Trip Activities

April 24, 2018 by Mandy

Road trips are a great way to leave your responsibilities for a few days and just go on an adventure. In fact, taking one with the family is even better. But, while you’re driving down the road, you and your kids can start to get a little restless, especially if it is longer than two hours.

There are plenty of ways to pass the time; you can tell each other stories play games on your phone, browse through social media, or take pictures and videos.

If it’s an unplugged activity you want, then you’ve come to the right place. Alpha Car Hire has gathered up a few activities you can try with your kids for your next road trip:

Maps

Often in video games, you’ll see a small map that shows where the protagonist is headed and what he can expect in that particular area. So, why not give your kids a map that shows the route your family will take to your destination?

Print out a Google map, show the kids your starting point, the roads you will take, and the places you will stop for bathroom breaks. If you’re up for it, you can also arrange a list of things people living in your destination like to do.

Doing this gives your kids something to look forward to and may even spark their curiosity.

Colouring/Craft Projects

Nothing can make time go faster than arts and crafts. You get so caught up in the work that you surprise yourself when you see how much time has passed. Arts and crafts are usually done on a table while you’re sitting in a chair, but luckily doing that in the car is now possible.

Prepare a small basket filled with arts and crafts materials like crayons, colour pencils, papers, colouring books, and erasable markers.

Before you go, place it next to your child in the backseat and make sure he can reach inside it. If you have a small table for your children that can attach to their car seat, even better. That way they will have enough room to do their art without trouble.

This can help keep them busy for a few hours and can even help avoid the inevitable question: “are we there yet?”

Travel Toys

Aside from doing art, another thing you can give your kids is travel toys. You can have them select the toys they want from their collection or take on additional responsibility around the house to earn money so they can buy new toys for the trip.

This way, they learn the value of money and they can get a new toy to bring for the trip. A win-win for you and your kids.

Car Games

Speaking of playing with toys, car games are another time passing activity you can try. The best part about this is that everyone can get involved.

You can introduce them to classic car games like I Spy. You can also make it even more exciting by playing road bingo, where you print out cards or use an app to check off things you spot along the highway or backroads. Magnetic board games like Snakes and Ladders are also an excellent activity for older kids.

These activities are fun and can help you and your kids bond during the drive.

Audio Books

Ever wanted to introduce your kids to Harry Potter but never had the opportunity to do so? Now is the time to send your kids on a magical adventure with the use of an audiobook.

This is perfect for long car rides. Download a few audio books, play it on the car stereo and be taken away on an adventure completely different from the one you are taking.

Not only is it a great option for kids, it is also great for parents who want to catch up on their reading but has never found the time to do so.

There are plenty of activities to try during a road trip. Whether it’s imagining a running man alongside your car or with toys, it will certainly make your trip memorable and might also inspire your kids to do the same with their own family someday.

6 American Theme Parks That Kids Will Love

April 13, 2018 by Mandy

We are approaching the second half of 2018 and starting to make preparations for everything that those months bring with them. For most Americans, the summer months come with a good dose of warm, relaxing weather. However, for parents with young children, those months can be anything but relaxing.

Once the children have begun their summer vacation, it falls to their parents to arrange childcare and ensure that they are kept entertained. In households where both parents have to go to work every day, these weeks can be particularly stressful. If you are in one of these households, you will probably already be familiar with the routine. You also may well have discovered that things go much smoother if you take the time to plan ahead.

One of the ever-popular options for a family summer’s day out is a tip to the theme park. The United States is home to a number of excellent theme parks, as well as some of the most famous roller coasters and other rides in the world.

With so many theme parks to choose from however, it isn’t always easy to decide which one to visit. This is, of course, further complicated by the inevitable disagreements between the kids as to which one you should go to.

Unfortunately, we can’t help you to convince your family to go along with it, but a trip to any of the theme parks on this list is very unlikely to go down badly. Each of these theme parks offers exactly the kind of experience that visitors are longing for. Not only will these parks provide your kids with the perfect day out, they also have much more to offer adult visitors than most people realize.

Lego Land, California

Who doesn’t love Lego?! If you are a lover of Lego – a normal person in other words – then you will be unable to resist the unique charm of Lego Land. This place is overflowing with activities and rides for children of all ages. Over the 150-acres that this theme park covers, there are 50 or so attractions to be seen, including a beautiful botanical garden which is sure to please more adult visitors.

One of the great advantages of Lego Land is that it contains attractions to entertain visitors of all ages, no matter how young or old. Adult visitors to the park will no doubt get a decent nostalgia hit out of the whole experience.

Disneyland, California

Perhaps the only company that can offer the same kind of nostalgic experience as Lego is Disney. Much like Lego, possibly the most wonderful thing about Disney is that they are responsible for giving your children just as many precious memories as they have given you. Many of the characters they feature, and the stories that they tell, will resonate between generations.

There is a reason that Disneyland has the international reputation that they do. Disney are of course titans in the movie industry. For over almost a century now, they have told their own unique stories, and also given their twist on a number of classics. The result is a theme park which is bursting at the seams with beloved characters and treasured memories.

But apart from the nostalgia, Disneyland is also home to some of the most thrilling roller coasters in the United States. Their rides are, naturally, themed according to various Disney IPs. Girls and boys of all ages will surely get a thrill out of riding these rides alongside many of their favorite characters. Disneyland is one of the biggest theme parks in the world and it isn’t hard to see why.

Universal Studios

The first T-themed theme park in the United States, Universal Studios Park has gone on to become one of the most popular theme parks in the world. In fact, with over 40 million guests every year, Universal Studios is the largest theme park operator in the world. The Universal brand now operates theme parks in a number of different locations across America, including Hollywood and Florida.

With a plethora of beloved movie franchises, including Indiana Jones, Jaws, and E.T, under their belt, Universal has plenty of IPs to play about with, and they take full advantage of them all! You can even book a VIP tour with a group such as Magic VIP Tours. Click the link to check it out!

Sesame Place, Philadelphia

If your kids are big fans of Sesame Street then this is the park for you. They will get to meet all of their favorite characters, including Big Bird, Elmo, and The Cookie Monster, among many others.

As well as the opportunity to actually meet some of the characters from the show, there are also a number of different water-based activities for kids to have a go at. The theme park even puts on shows, most notable being Elmo – The Musical.

Hershey Park, Hershey

This park started life as a recreational area for Hershey’s employees but has since evolved into a full-fledged theme park in its own right. This massive theme park boasts an impressive selection of rides and roller coasters. All of these should appeal to kids, but adults might even find a few of the rides are enjoyable enough for themselves.

In addition to the many rides on offer, there is also a shaded zoo, and even an air-conditioned chocolate world.

Victorian Gardens, New York

This is one theme park that won’t burn a hole in your pocket just from the entrance fee. Located in New York’s iconic Central Park, Victorian Gardens is home to a dozen or so handcrafted rides. These include bumper boats a flying swing, and even a miniature roller coaster.

A number of interactive live shows provide further entertainment for younger children, and might just be enjoyable for adults as well.

The United States is home to many of the world’s most renowned theme parks. Many of the biggest players in the theme park industry operate in the US, including the biggest of them all – Universal. The theme parks on this list are just a selection of the huge number on offer.

Top 10 Road Trip Essentials for a Fun Family Holiday

April 10, 2018 by Mandy

Traveling with kids isn’t easy. You never know what they need and what problems may arise. For a fun road trip, take these road trip essentials with you!

Do you dream of exploring the open road with your family, leaving your household duties and your job and commitments in the rearview mirror?

Nearly 35% of Americans are planning to go on a holiday road trip this year, traveling at least 50 miles or more away from home. If you’re anything like one-third of the country, you’re expecting to clock some windshield-time in the next year.

Road trips are a great family adventure: there’s room for unexpected excursions, random stops at places with interesting names, and plenty of time to get quality moments in with everyone.

Whether you’re traveling to a neighboring city, statewide, or across the country, there’s a few road trip essentials that every family can consider to make the drive as smooth as fresh pavement.

Have your kids start packing some books and crayons while you read on and figure out the rest!

Road Trip Essentials for Everyone

We could all benefit from a checklist to keep things in order. Especially when there’s kids, a spouse, yourself, and maybe even your grandparent involved.

Every family could use a little help in packing for a trip. Worrying about yourself is stressful enough without making sure everyone else has a form of entertainment, snacks, and extra shorts!

Booming at 69%, one of the most popular holiday vacations are road trips. Those families are on to something! Luckily for the busy household organizer, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten road trip essentials you should include in your vehicle before setting off.

1. A Solid GPS

Trial and error with technology (like maybe taking the wrong turn three times in a row because your phone won’t calibrate) will tell you this: it doesn’t always work the way you want it to.

This goes for GPS as well. Not every phone app is as good as the next, so dabble with different styles before committing to one. Once you get one that keeps up with your movements, predicts accidents and traffic, and gives you the shortest and smartest distances possible, you’ve found the one.

2. A Cooler Full of Goodies

This is a definite road trip necessity. You won’t want to be stopping more than you need to, so make sure that the in-between time is filled with nutritional, yummy foods and drinks.

Plenty of water (but not too much – the less pee breaks, the easier!), coffee to keep those eyes open, and snacks like pistachios and sandwiches will make the drive much better.

3. Toiletries in Easy Access

If all you need is a quick brush of the teeth to make you feel good after eight hours of driving, you won’t want to be hunting through tons of baggage for your toothpaste.

For restroom stops, keep everything related in close range to be used if needed. Baby wipes, diapers, antibacterial soap, body wash, hand towels, even a tube of mascara to perk mom’s sleepy eyes up for dinner, can be fit into one toiletry bag that accommodates everyone.

4. Good Audio

Make sure your drive time is accompanied with some good audio pleasure. To avoid having to look while driving, compile music, audiobooks, podcasts, and anything else ahead of time.

The whole family can listen to Because of Winn Dixie on Audible. Or the religious family can download some Christ Like Media on their podcast app. Make sure Dad remembers his Led Zeppelin CDs.

5. A Pillow, Blanket, or Both

Let’s be honest: while Dad drives, Mom and the kids can nap. And vise-versa. Not only is napping an awesome way to pass some minutes (hours if you’re lucky!), it’ll rejuvenate your passengers before you stop at Dinosaur World or the local Mexican restaurant for tacos and guacamole.

To ensure everyone sleeps tight while on the road and wherever you stay, bring along some pillows and blankets from home.

6. Books, Magazines, and the Like

Bring reading material, whatever your go-to method may be. Magazines can be acquired at gas stations if you forget them, but your favorite book with its dog-eared page shouldn’t be left at home! These are road trip essentials, especially when the cell phone battery dies!

7. An Extra Set of Clothes

Because you never know what could happen.

“They’re called curb checks for a reason!”, says Dad as he accidentally bumps the sidewalk’s edge and sends Diet Coke spilling onto your kid’s white shirt. Avoid making them sit in the sticky mess until the next rest area; bring back-ups for the whole family.

8. An Emergency Kit

This kit concerns the car. While getting your whole family ready, don’t forget the most important part of this excursion: your vehicle.

Make sure your oil has been changed, tires filled with air, and everything cleaned and organized before you take off. After that, prepare for the worst, and have the supplies you need ready for action.

9. A First-Aid Kit

Think of this as the emergency kit for your family. Once again, expect the unexpected. Kids are unpredictable, so make sure that a first-aid kit filled with the appropriate items (and then some) is close-by.

10. An Imagination

Nothing like a game of “I Spy” or “20 Questions” to get everyone laughing and thinking!

Let the miles inspire your family: play fun games, make up new ones, and tell stories. Keep a list of every unique license plate you see. Commentate on quirky road signs. Wonder where everyone else is headed, and make up tales for them.

Remember to Be Minimal in Your Packing

Think about your day-to-day schedule and activities.

Whatever you and your family uses all the time, you should bring with you (i.e. soap, toothbrush, deodorant, socks, your favorite soft t-shirt.) The velvet heels or fancy button-down may sound great while packing, but try and make yourself stick to the necessities. Same goes for the kids.

No one wants to road trip in an overcrowded car! Less is definitely more in this case, especially for the person in back squeezed next to everyone’s bags. Plus, then there’s more room to bring home some special souvenirs.

It’s Time to Go

You’ve made it to the end! Or should we say beginning?

We hope these ideas got you excited for all the adventure that is sure to come out of an epic family road trip. This list is not all-inclusive, so pick and choose what is best for your family, adding and subtracting as you see fit.

Now that you’re an expert on road trip essentials, everything else should pan out great (you’ve got a spare tire, right!?). All that’s left to do is assign one person as DJ and one as map-reader, and you’re good to go.

Let us know when you’ve made it home safely and if you have any questions!