The Orbitz Family Travel Guide
Meet the new Orbitz Parent Panel, a group of Orbitz moms and dads coming together to share experiences and advice to help you plan an affordable, stress-free family vacation.
Our focus this month is summer road trips:
- Preparation tips: The art & science of preparing for and taking a family road trip with little ones or teens.
- Helpful resources: Planning the trip, entertaining the kids and schlepping the pets.
- Car rentals: "To rent or not to rent," that is the question.
- Cool off: at these top mountain destinations.
We went looking for travel experts who were also doting parents and found them right under our nose. These Orbitz parents have plenty of experience traveling to a variety of destinations with children of all ages. Join them as they share their vacation adventures, mistakes and successes -- as well as personal strategies, tips, and opinions.
When he’s not at Orbitz, Allan Burstyn can be found changing diapers or breaking up fights. He divides his vacation time between local road trips, scuba diving and skiing.
We regularly pack our 3 boys -- twin one-year-olds and a four-year-old -- into our minivan and head out onto the open road. See my road-tested secrets to keep the vehicle from overheating and the kids from melting down. More
posted by Parent Panel | May 2008
Donna Mulligan and Liz Robertson are full-time working moms. Donna has 3 teenagers and Liz has two.
Persuading teens to take a road trip can be a hard sell. You have to overcome their fears of being cramped in a car, cut off from friends, and at the mercy of parental decisions. We’ve found some unique ways to give their kids independence and maintain family togetherness. More
posted by Parent Panel | May 2008
Plan your route:
- View family road trip itineraries with pre-planned routes from Away.com
- AAA members can create a free TripTik® travel planner, mapping routes that avoid summer construction.
- Scout out McDonalds restaurants with Playlands™
- Plot unique, offbeat tourist attractions along your route at RoadsideAmerica.com
Entertainment on the go:
- MomsMinivan.com: Road trip games for all ages
- StoryNory.com: Download free kid’s audio stories
- Radroadtrips.com: Resource for ideas and games
Bringing the pets?
- Petswelcome.com. Tips on traveling with four-legged family members
Three destinations top my list this year:
Steamboat Springs, CO – For a great Western town with low summer prices, you can’t beat Steamboat Springs. This real ranching town is probably one of the best places to teach your kids (and maybe yourself!) to ride horses. It also offers excellent mountain biking; gondola rides; and a Kids Adventure Club program for children 3-12. See more
Park City, UT – For tons of activities that will thrill grade-schoolers though high-schoolers, check out Park City. Less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, Park City Mountain Resort has cornered the market on thrill attractions. Among its summer offerings: a zip-line adventure, an Alpine Slide and Alpine Coaster. See more
Acadia National Park, ME - This year, I’m taking my family to Maine, specifically Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We plan to go sailing, take a sea-kayak tour and spend lots of time hiking and riding horses along the secluded trails of Acadia. And we really can’t wait to enjoy the quaint town of Bar Harbor…and eat lobster, of course.
When Drew Miller is not at the Orbitz office, he’s an attentive daddy, avid skiier, and globe-trotting traveler.
"Space to spare"
"With five major road trips under my belt – including two 14-hour journeys and two 7-hour ones -- I’ve learned a few lessons on mastering the art of the road trip. And for me, it starts with renting a spacious car, like a minivan."
Jay
Rent a van, SUV for long family trips
"Home on wheels"
"Not only do I like the familiarity of my own car, I’ve also got it packed with all the gadgets and snacks to keep my daughter entertained, as well as emergency equipment. A car rental is an extra expense that I’d rather put toward a nicer hotel room or tickets to something fun."
Marie LaPlante
Orbitz parents rated these family-friendly hotels hotels on a scale of 1 to 5, based on:
- Service
- Amenities
- Comfort
- Location
- Value
Read their reviews to get first-hand observations, as well as practical tips on what to do, where to eat and how to get around.
Family getaways and reunions
With lots of onboard activities, tons of shore excursions and plenty of meal options to choose from, cruising is a fun and affordable family vacation.
Explore Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico. You and your family will see it all, and unpack only once!