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.
This month, our focus is on holiday travel:
- Family air travel tips: From scheduling a flight to boarding the plane
- Gear & games: Gadgets that make travel easier & more fun
- Celebration destinations: Away from home for the holidays
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 Jim Cohn is not running drills with his wife and kids, he can be found at Wrigley Field watching his beloved Cubbies, coaching t-ball or chasing his other passion, a little white ball on the golf course.
As my kids are still young, my tips focus on traveling with smaller ones (under age 7). If flying for Thanksgiving, I’m a big fan of flying out Thursday morning and coming back Monday. Aside from saving on airfare, you’ll avoid the huge holiday crowds and long lines. More
posted by Parent Panel | November 2008
With three boys under 5, Allan Burstyn can be found changing diapers or breaking up fights. He divides his vacation time between local road trips, scuba diving and skiing.
When our family has traveled around a holiday, we try to imbue the travel experience with some of the spirit of the holiday. Besides getting the kids excited about the holiday and keeping them occupied during the trip, it’s also a chance to teach them something. More
posted by Parent Panel | November 2008
If you’re looking for some products to make travel easier – or even help keep the kids entertained on the road -- here are some parent-tested options:
- gogo Kidz Travelmate: This lightweight contraption connects to the back of a car seat and converts it into a stroller – sort of like a dolly for a car seat. I can weave around the airport easily without having to “lug” the car seat to the gate. Bringing the car seat on the plane means no extra baggage charge and provides a safe, comfortable place where my toddler can fall asleep.
- Pac Back: The FAA recommends securing your child in a car seat approved for air travel during your flight. But the FAA has no suggestions about how to carry that car seat on the long walk to the gate, while pushing your child in a stroller. The Pac Back car seat carrier enables an me to carry the car seat like a backpack, leaving my hands free for dispensing snacks and changing diapers. Without the Pac Back, my family of four might never have reached the gate, much less our destination.
- BabyBjorn Baby Carrier: While I had the benefit of having my hands free at the ticket counter and security line, my son kept snug, warm and comfortable next to me. My back never hurt, and I found it easy to take him in and out. The carrier easy to launder too.
- Chicco TravelSeat: This light-weight portable high chair hooks onto the tabletop, providing a safe, convenient place to feed a child. It disassembles easily and didn’t take up much room in my suitcase. We’ve used it in hotel rooms for serving breakfast and snacks, on picnic tables for family events, and at other events, where traditional high chairs were unavailable.
- Eagle Creek Tarmac-Plus-One: While this piece of wheeled carry-on luggage may have been designed for business travelers, my family has gotten a lot of mileage out of it. The carry-on has a detachable backpack with compartments that I’ve used for bottles and sippy cups as well as a built-in sleeve to store a laptop or DVD player. It’s spacious, wheels easily, and has a swanky color palette.
- Leapster2: My 5-year-old son gave the Leapster2 a glowing review: "I love it!" From my perspective, I can tell the Leapster2 will be great for traveling with kids. Long, boring car and plane trips will pass quickly with this tool in a parent's arsenal. It beats some of the more parent-intensive plane activities, like reading to your child for four hours straight. Plus, the content is fantastic: Leapster2 games focus on letter and number recognition, spelling, and arithmetic.
- Rubik’s Revolution: If you thought solving the original Rubik’s Cube could keep you occupied for great lenghts of time, check out the Rubik’s Revolution. The cube holds six games, each based on speed, strategy or both. So unlike the original cube, your strategy has to be different every time. My boys found it “fun and challenging,” especially with the constantly changing buttons.
Cruises: Festively decorated ships, themed dinners and warm weather. Celebrate the holidays on the high seas. Find the itinerary and cruise line that is right for you and your family. You can’t beat the value. See holiday cruise deals
Ski resorts: Snow-covered mountains, cozy lodges and hot chocolate -- a picture perfect way to celebrate the holidays. From Aspen to Whistler, check out some great ski vacation options. Compare ski resorts
Disney: Disney goes all out during the holiday season with decorations and special events for families. Just when you thought The Happiest Place on Earth couldn’t get any happier. See Disney vacations
Yes! Start a New Tradition!
There’s no doubt that heading off on vacation instead of pulling out the ornaments for another chilly holiday can be different. But celebrating the holidays somewhere new can certainly make the season special in new and unexpected ways. A few years ago, we mixed things up by flying to Hawaii for Christmas. We left the extended family behind and found celebrating Christmas with just our immediate family quite liberating. We didn’t make the party rounds, bring hostess gifts or cook endless batches of cookies. Instead we headed to the beach and stuffed ourselves at a Hawaiian luau. We traded the usual church choir on Christmas day with a serenade by a group of area children singing Mele Kalikimaka.
Kimberley Myles
No! There’s No Place Like Home!
Although ski and tropical vacations are tempting, there’s nothing like spending quality time at home during the holiday season. After the shopping and decorating are done, plan some "down time" when you can just focus on sharing your holiday traditions with your children and enjoying each other’s company. Kids grow up fast and there are only a limited number of years where kids are old enough to appreciate what is going on, but still believe in all of the magic that the holidays bring. Enjoy all the holiday themed events your community has to offer too. Check your local paper for holiday light tours, local choir or theatrical performances, tree lighting, and window displays.
Liz Robertson
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!