Pennington, NJ — November 9, 2011 — With the holiday season being the busiest travel time of the year, the thought of maneuvering airport crowds or spending hours stuck in traffic can be overwhelming to families traveling with children. Family Vacation Critic(R) — the new family travel site from the publishers of Cruise Critic(R) — offers tips on making the best of holiday travel.
“Prepare for the worst to prevent travel issues from ruining your holiday,” says Lissa Poirot, editor of Family Vacation Critic. “While delays and crowds may be unavoidable, there are plenty of ways for families to lessen the agony of being stuck in traffic or at the airport.”
Book parking in advance. If you’re expecting to use long-term parking at the airport, make reservations in advance, as lots will fill up quickly.
Check seat reservations. Airlines are reporting that flights will be full, so check with your airline that you have seats together, and check-in early to confirm especially if you snagged a last minute deal.
Utilize online shopping. To avoid baggage fees, order bulky items (diapers, family-sized toiletries, etc.) online and have them delivered to your destination; the same goes for gifts.
Prepare for security. Be sure to check TSA carry-on rules before arrival and prepare children for the security process by explaining what will happen and why. If you do bring gifts along, avoid wrapping — they will most likely be unwrapped during security screening.
Prepare for delays.Be sure to pack plenty of distractions not only for the flight, but enough to last in case of flight delays. Let kids take their own travel packs, and also include a few “surprise” items in your own bag to break out when boredom strikes.
Pre-program your GPS. Prior to hitting the road, try to plan stops along the way to program into the GPS such as family-friendly restaurants or play areas.
Download travel applications.
– TripAdvisor: Search for hotels, restaurants, flights, and more. Read reviews, browse photos, and see what’??s nearby with the “Near Me Now” feature.
– TripIt: Turns flight, hotel, and rental car confirmation e-mails into mobile travel itineraries.
– GateGuru: Locate food, shopping, and service options in any airport.
– Sit or Squat: Find nearby bathrooms, rated on cleanliness, with such specifics as operating hours and whether they offer baby changing tables.
– Airline apps: Many airlines offer their own apps with check-in options, airline status updates, maps and more. If your airline doesn’t offer an app, check out FlightAware; it tracks flight statuses, gate/terminal information, and connection information.
For more suggestions, refer to Family Vacation Critic’?s 10 Ways to Amuse Kids at the Airport and Family Travel Tips.
For more information on family-friendly destinations, deals and hotels, visit www.familyvacationcritic.com. Family Vacation Critic features reviews of family-friendly resorts and hotels, as well as family travel deals and destination guides for planning kid-friendly vacations. The site also provides a forum for swapping tips on all aspects of traveling with kids.
About Family Vacation Critic
Family Vacation Critic(R) is a comprehensive online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resort and destinations. The site features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travelers. Family Vacation Critic was launched in June 2009 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 18 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 65 million unique monthly visitors*. TripAdvisor’s travel media brands include: www.tripadvisor.com, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.travelpod.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and www.kuxun.cn.
Family Vacation Critic and The Independent Traveler are either trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2012 The Independent Traveler, Inc. All rights reserved.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor and its subsidiaries, Worldwide, August 2011
(C) 2011 The Independent Traveler, Inc. All rights reserved.
Media Contact:
Aubrey Manzo – (609)730-9155 ext. 274
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