traveling with teenagers Archives

Medications You Should Take on Vacation

February 3, 2021 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Vacations are all about giving yourself a much-needed break away from the stress of working life. They’re fun, exciting and can give you the revitalization you’ve been looking for. However, the enjoyment you get from a vacation doesn’t mean they don’t take some planning and remembering to bring medications is one of the most important tasks. Here are the medications you should never forget when going on vacation.

Any Prescriptions

Most important of all, prescriptions are necessary wherever you go. Although the chances are you would never forget them, you should still make sure they are at the top of your list.

Anti-Allergies

If you are a sufferer of allergies (and maybe even if you’re not) you should take any anti-allergy medication with you. If you’re going somewhere new, you never know what might trigger symptoms! Some allergy eye drops and antihistamines won’t take up much room in your luggage but will be a lifesaver when your eyes and nose become itchy.

Motion Sickness Meds

Whether you’re traveling by plane, car or boat, you should stock up on some motion sickness meds. The last thing you want half-way through your journey is to throw up everywhere!

Pain Relief

While the chances are that you’ll be able to find pain-relief meds anywhere you go, it’s still handy to have them with you. Take them with you for any sudden headaches, toothaches, or muscle pains, so you can enjoy your vacation without the interruption of pain.

Sleep Remedies

Many people find sleeping on vacation difficult. If that’s the case, then take some sleep remedies with you. You can find some over-the-counter and, if you really have trouble sleeping, you can ask your doctor to prescribe stronger ones. If you’re taking a long plane ride, then they will help you sleep through that, too.

Diarrhea Meds

Travelers’ diarrhea is fairly common, so it won’t hurt to have some meds on hand to combat diarrhea and painful stomach cramps. You should also stay alert about what you’re consuming when away – food poisoning can ruin a large chunk of a vacation!

Tums

When you’re trying new foods, you might get hit with heartburn. That burning sensation in your chest is anything but pleasant, but carrying tums will help you fight it whenever you need to.

Cough Drops

A cough is annoying at the best of times, but on holiday, the last thing you want is for a persistent cough to interrupt your relaxation. Take a pack of cough drops with you to keep it at bay.

Vitamins

It’s harder to keep track of your eating when you’re on vacation, particularly when you’re enjoying a variety of restaurants and street food. An efficient way of making sure you’re getting all the vitamins you need is to take some multi-vitamins with you. If you’re taking a vacation to a colder country, then vitamin D is especially helpful.

Taking a lot of medications on vacation may make your ‘to pack’ list long, but they won’t take up much room in your luggage. Stay healthy and safe by packing all the essential medications you need so you can focus on having a glorious time.

4 Tips for Stress-Free Travel With Kids

June 24, 2020 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Every parent knows that traveling as a family can be difficult, particularly when you have young children. However, you shouldn’t let potential challenges discourage you from going on a family vacation and enjoying trips abroad. Fortunately, there are dozens of ways to ensure that your family getaway is relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. With this in mind, here are four tips for stress-free travel with kids:

1. Get kids involved

Getting your kids involved in the planning process is a great way to get them excited about an upcoming vacation and give them a sense of ownership over the trip. It will also help to prepare your kids for what to expect when you go away, meaning they’ll be more likely to be on their best behavior. Sit down as a family and discuss travel plans, such as what destination to visit, where to stay, and what activities to do while you’re on vacation. Try to be flexible and take your kids’ thoughts and opinions into account when making your travel plans.

2. Organize your travel plans

Booking early and being organized with your travel plans is particularly important when you are traveling with kids. Making plans last minute and being spontaneous may work for solo travelers or couples, but this style of travel is not well-suited to families or those traveling with young children. Instead, make your travel arrangements in advance and book your accommodation and transport as a minimum. You should also consider booking things like tours, activities, and even restaurants before you arrive at your destination, as many of these get fully booked in popular tourist areas. If you are traveling by plane, then you can book parking and transfers online. For instance, LaGuardia airport parking offers a secure online booking form where you can reserve your parking spot of choice before traveling. Having travel plans confirmed in advance will avoid any unnecessary stress and hassle during your vacation.

3. Avoid planning too much

Vacations allow you to spend quality time with your family and plan lots of fun activities and experiences. However, you should avoid planning too much when you go away, or you risk your kids becoming tired and frustrated. For that reason, you should try to limit your itinerary to one or two activities a day. Make sure you factor in plenty of leisure time where your kids can relax and take naps. You should also remember to pack a good selection of kid-friendly activities to keep your kids entertained when you’re not doing activities. According to advice on pretravels.com, you can keep kids occupied on their own by packing electronic games, coloring books, and healthy snacks.

4. Practice travel safety

Many parents worry about their kids wandering off or going missing on vacation. You can help to alleviate feelings of anxiety by practicing family travel safety. This should involve providing your kids with your contact information including details of the place where you are staying and choosing a family meeting point in case you get split up. You could also consider giving your kids a GPS tracking device to improve their safety and security while traveling.

The Best National Parks To Visit On a Road Trip

February 10, 2020 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

The US has some of the best natural spaces in the world. These beautiful spots are designated National Parks, and there’s a total of 62 official locations to choose from. It’s no surprise that people flock to these spots time and time again, and there is no shortage of opportunities for exploring the best that nature has to offer. The diverse ecosystems in play also open up a new world of experiences and sights to uncover, including some of the country’s most famous landmarks and vast untouched landscapes.

If you’re thinking of visiting a National Park this year, renting an RV is a great option. Road trips make for the perfect getaway, and you can pack everything up and just hit the open road.

However, there are a few things to consider before you travel, including:

What time of year you will be visiting – some parks are more suitable to visit during the spring/summer months due to extreme weather conditions. However, being prepared for anything is also advisable.

Don’t forget the essentials – If you’re traveling in an RV on your road trip, you’ll have plenty of space for the essentials. If your journey takes you off camping in remote spots, just be sure to have everything you need in case of emergencies.

Get insured – Don’t forget vacation insurance while you’re away, including health cover, as accidents can happen.

So once that’s all covered, you can start planning your adventure. So where is best to go? Take a look below:

Great Smoky Mountains

As one of the country’s most popular National Parks, it’s not hard to see why people come to this fantastic location. It’s one of the most biodiverse spots in the world and has a variety of flora, fauna, and wildlife just waiting to be explored. If you want to take the kids on a history lesson, this park is ideal for learning more. It’s packed with history and was home to some of the earliest human settlements. One of the most spectacular sights is admiring the leaves as they turn during the fall season, as the colors blanket the landscape.

Zion National Park

In the west, you’ll find the beauty of Zion National Park. This scenery is ever-reaching and has a distinctive desert-like appearance, which gives us the illusion of how Mars might look. Scattered throughout this landscape, you’ll also see sparkling waters and riverways that break up the striking rock formations. It’s quite hot here in the summer, so spring and fall is an excellent time to visit. There are many campsites inside and outside of the park, so it’s an excellent opportunity to admire the beauty of the area on your road trip adventure.

Denali National Park

If you’re visiting Alaska this year, then a road trip to Denali National Park is a must-visit. This spot is said to be one of the best landscapes for admiring the state’s raw and untamed scenery. Plus, the vastness of the terrain makes it a perfect spot to enjoy total peace and tranquillity. If your family loves winter sports, this is an ideal place to take them. In the winter, the pretty snow-capped landscape is a sight to behold, and there are plenty of activities to enjoy including skiing and snowboarding.

Grand Canyon National Park

As one of the country’s most famous locations, Grand Canyon National certainly upholds its title. It is the largest canyon in existence and covers an expanse of 1.2 million acres in northern Arizona. The vastness of this landscape is breathtaking and is undoubtedly one of those bucket-list moments. You can take a trip to this spot from Las Vegas in a few hours, and there’s also the opportunity to see everything from the air on a helicopter tour if your budget allows.

Olympic National Park

Located in the northwestern states of the country, you’ll find the beauty of Olympic National Park. This park covers a diverse range of landscapes; in fact, four in total, and it has everything you need for a fantastic road trip. Traveling through it, you will see the Pacific coastline, emerald rainforest, and alpine landscapes. Plus, there are miles of trails to hike that take you straight to the heart of the park.

These are just a few of the top National Parks to visit on a road trip. Each has a unique and enchanting atmosphere that makes it a truly memorable experience for everyone. Why not start planning your vacation now, and see how many of these fantastic parks you can visit.

How to Make the Most of a Short Vacation

October 1, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When you really need a break from work to go on a vacation, but you just can’t fit one in, it can certainly feel like the universe is against you. There’s no need to feel down, however. Two or three days is enough to fit in exactly the break you need. You can have a fun-filled, relaxing or activity-based weekend vacation and make it feel like a two-week stay with these simple tips.

1. Plan Your Itinerary
When you have two whole weeks to plan what you’re going to do, you can easily leave it until when you get there and see what you feel like doing, but when you’ve only got two or three days, you need to be prepared from the get-go so that you don’t waste a second of your time.

If you want to visit attractions, check their opening times beforehand and plan to get there as soon as they open so that you can spend as much time there as you want to. Even more vital: choose the attractions that you want to visit ahead of time! You don’t want to be still discussing where you want to go when you’re having breakfast and need to leave soon.

2. Rent a Car
It can be a pain to rely on public transport when you have limited time. Buses often don’t turn up when they say they will, and this can put a strain on your vacation when you’ve only got so much time.

To avoid this altogether, contact E-Z Rent a Car; they will be able to provide you with a vehicle wherever you are taking a vacation, so you can do it your own way and save time on the highway.

You can also go off the beaten track when you’re driving your own car, so you can fully experience the destination of your vacation without limits.

3. Don’t Overbook It
In most destinations, there are probably many places and attractions that you want to visit and experience, but there simply won’t be enough time to see them all, even on a longer vacation. You don’t want to overbook your vacation and make it a stressful experience for you. After all, it is supposed to be about relaxing and having fun.

Instead, plan to visit a few tourist attractions and be realistic about how much time you can or will spend there. There is no fun in having a fully packed itinerary if you miss half of it and spend the visits you did make feeling tired or run down.

Short vacations make for a great burst of fun and activity and are a nice little break from the routine stress of everyday life. It’s good to keep in mind that if you do approach a weekend vacation like a two-week vacation, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. They can be just the break you need if you plan them well and treat them as what they are: short.

Enjoying a family vacation to the United Kingdom: top tips

August 30, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you consider your family to be the adventurous-type or those who love soaking up the history of an old town, then the United Kingdom is the ideal vacation destination for you. With a temperate climate, countless historical sites and endless hiking and walking trails, you won’t be stuck for activities. So, if you’re not keen on spending your summer vacation lazing on the beach in Ibiza, but would prefer to spend some time in historical Europe, here are some top tips.

Find a balance between history and activities

Kids will love finding out about medieval villains and ancient kings and queens, but they only have a finite attention span. After all, kids need to be entertained as well as distracted. While adults could spend all day walking through the Natural History Museum, children might get a little bored after the dinosaurs. Be sure to find a theme park or adventure playground nearby to break up your educational endeavors.

In Sussex, for example, you will find a happy balance between both history and activity. You can visit Battle for walks around the sites of the Battle of Hastings, as well as views of the English countryside. Not too far from that, you will also find Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings – complete with lizard and underwater tunnel exhibits.

Bring the wetsuits

Just because the United Kingdom doesn’t enjoy a Mediterranean climate doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors. In fact, if you find yourself based along the coast, you should absolutely make the most of potential activities such as swimming, surfing, and paddle-boarding. Truth be told, however, the British sea isn’t exactly balmy in temperature. If you have little ones who are more acclimatized to warmer temperatures, then ensure you either bring or rent wetsuits.

Rent when possible

Family schedules never run according to the time they were originally destined. Children refusing to go to bed, too much time in the bathroom and hectic breakfast times mean that we often find ourselves rushing out of the door at the last minute. It’s for this reason that renting a cottage to stay in will make your trip to the UK much easier. After all, Britain is renowned for its quirky and quaint cottages, which are ideal for basing yourself when you have small children. If you were planning a trip to Sussex and the South Downs, for example, Amberley House Cottage Holidays would be able to find you a place to stay. You can hunt through tons of images and features until you find the place that is right for you and your family.

Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous

Thanks to its dramatic scenery, but mostly tame wildlife, the UK is a cozy country to go exploring in. For example, if you were driving through Scotland’s glens, you would find plenty of brown road markers detailing nearby hikes and monuments. While your children might not be down for climbing a cliff face, you will still find plenty of easy-to-moderate walks to explore – and you might find these by pure accident.

Family vacations are all about balance. It’s about getting up when you want to, exploring, discovering, but providing plenty of downtime to enjoy your well-earned time off. When visiting the United Kingdom, you will quickly learn that you can happily strike a balance between fun and education, as well as adventure and relaxation.

4 Smart Ways to Finance Your Travel Plans

August 25, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Is your wallet restricting your wanderlust? You certainly aren’t alone. Most of us end up setting travel plans aside because we haven’t saved enough. And while saving for travel should definitely be your priority, there are times when sudden or unexpected trips are simply unavoidable.

So what can you do when you have to travel, but don’t have the money for it? Should you take a travel loan or personal line of credit for travel? Are there any other options available, and which is the best one? We’ll answer all these questions for you!

Here are four instant funding options you should explore:

Personal Loan for Travel – Smart travelers often choose this option when they have to travel unexpectedly. Rather than taking money out of your emergency savings or high-yield investment portfolio, using a holiday loan, personal loan or personal line of credit to fund travel expenses helps you keep your finances on track. Of course, you need to make sure you can repay the loan on time, so make room for the EMIs in your monthly budget!
Travel Credit Cards – You could opt for a travel credit card, or use a credit card with an option for converting expenses into EMIs for travel funding. Credit cards allow you anywhere from 20 days to almost two months for repayments, interest-free. If you can convert spends to EMIs, you get even more time for repayment. Travel credit cards, on the other hand, are set up specifically for travel-related expenses, so they may be more competitive than regular credit cards.
Payday Loans – A payday loan is very similar to a personal loan, except that the interest rate is higher, with a shorter repayment period. Payday loans may be approved faster than travel loans and personal loans, so these can be a good option when you need funds urgently. However, you need to make sure you can repay the loan amount quickly, since the tenure for these short-term loans is generally between 3 months to a year.
Travel Operator Financing – Many travel operators partner with banks and NBFCs to offer financing schemes, where you can pay for tickets, stay, meals, sightseeing and other planned or unplanned travel expenses after your trip. Interest rates for these schemes are comparable to rates for personal loans, and repayment may be spread out over 1-5 years. There is typically an upper limit for how much these schemes will cover, though, so keep that in mind.

Remember, dipping into your savings or investments should be your last resort, unless you have set aside a separate fund just for travel. Even if you have saved enough, learn how to travel on a budget. And when you need to make last-minute plans, such as attending a wedding in the family or traveling for medical treatment, take some time to compare prices and select a loan option that really works for you!

Adventuring In Food While Traveling

July 30, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Traveling is all about experiencing new cultures, learning about parts of the world far removed from your own and connecting with people of different nationalities and religions. If you happen to love eating, then it’s also about the food.

Food has long been a great way for a traveler to integrate with locals, whether it be fish and chips in the United Kingdom or something a little more exotic from a Vietnamese street market. Nobody, after all, wants to be the other side of the world and eating in a fast food chain that exists in their hometown.

Here are four ways in which you can experience the best local cuisine while you are traveling.

Connect to the local restaurant scene

The best way to experience local cuisine is obviously to go where locals go – and that can often mean heading off the beaten track. Take New York, for example. How many locals ever eat in and around Times Square unless they are going to a show on Broadway? Not many is your answer.

To experience a real taste of New York (or anywhere else for that matter), you need to look to the suburbs of a city or town, to where the real people live. In a world where TripAdvisor exists, that is now a lot easier. Find the number one rated pizza joint away from the hustle and bustle of downtown New York, and you’ll be enjoying a far more authentic taste of the city with authentic New Yorkers.

Don’t be afraid of going down the cliché route

Having said that, you shouldn’t be afraid of going down the cliche route when it comes to eating out. If you’re in Paris, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample genuine French snails, frog’s legs, or any of those other weird things that the French eat.

This is true of anywhere in the world. Don’t be afraid to gulp down a huge steak or burger in between sticking it all on red in casino restaurants. Why not go for a barbecue in Australia or have a burrito in Mexico – sometimes, cliche food can give us experiences we can’t get anywhere else.

Visit a local food market

Over the last decade, food markets have become popular tourist destinations for travelers. Food market bucket lists are now a thing, and National Geographic has even produced the Best Food Market in the World list – with Toronto’s St Lawrence Market coming top if you’re looking for destination inspiration.

It isn’t hard to see why, as these markets are a great way to understand and experience local cuisine. It’s quite easy to lose yourself for hours at a time in a food market, wandering around and taking in the sights and smells. You can sample and purchase authentic local ingredients in a way that really takes you to the heart of the city or country you are visiting.

Eat with a local in their home

Airbnb brought travelers into people’s homes as an alternative to hotels, and now that is extending into locals inviting strangers in for a dinner party. Websites such as EatWith allow travelers to seek out locals who are looking to throw a dinner party for guests they don’t know. This can provide the unique opportunity of actually being able to go and eat a local meal with a local family in their home. You won’t find many experiences more authentic than that.

Learn While Having Fun: How to Make Your Family Vacation Educational

April 26, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Family vacation time is sacred because it does not only help improve your family’s physical and mental health due to stress relief. It’s also a perfect opportunity for bonding as people connect better when they have to rely on each other in a foreign land. However, you can add more benefits to your family trip by including some educational elements into it. This will be very important for your kids because traveling provides them with experience that will help them succeed in studies and life (Journal of Travel Research). But you’ll need to plan how you can interest them in studying during the vacation.

Get children involved in the planning

The first learning opportunity comes at the planning stage. Get children involved in creating the itinerary as well as budget for your vacation. This will not only be a chance to learn how to do those things but also a help in motivating your children for the trip. They will need to research the country’s main attractions in order to work on an itinerary, so you can easily slip in some lessons on history and culture.

Working on the budget with you is even more important. According to Chris Ceballos from Bright Star Credit Union, learning money management from a young age can help prevent impulse spending in the future. It’s also an essential life skill that one should master as early as possible. Learning through creating vacation budgets will definitely be more fun than creating a grocery budget at home.

Take walking tours through the cities you visit

A walking tour is one of the best methods of learning about a new city and its history. They are even more useful for families with kids because walking through the streets will provide enough of visual input to keep them from getting bored. Anthony Jones from Strawberry Tours also points out that “The best way of learning a city is to walk its streets, breathe its air, and meet its people.” This allows you to immerse yourself into the foreign life around you and observe it from an outsider’s position.

For kids, such observations will be an important lesson. All of us are the same, yet all of our cultures and traditions are different. Therefore, one must always learn where the person comes from and what their culture and traditions are before passing judgment on their behavior. Observing details is another handy skill that can help one in life. You should turn this into a game. For example, observe your tour group and share details over ice cream afterward. Whoever noticed most details about the other tourists wins.

Read together about your destination

Reading to your child, or better yet with your child, is essential for their mental health and intelligence. According to data from the University of Melbourne, reading to children from age 4 provides significant benefits to their cognitive development and helps them develop necessary academic skills.

Reading interesting stories about your destination will do that as well as get the child more excited about the trip. But most importantly, visiting the places you’ve read about can help make children more interested in reading itself.

If your kid looks at a book as if it will bite them any moment, creating positive associations with the activity is a must. To achieve this goal, you should focus on fiction because it’s more exciting and easier to understand for kids. For example, read Harry Potter books before your vacation in London where you will take one of the Harry Potter tours.

The main goal of any vacation is to relax and enjoy yourself. However, traveling presents such a fantastic learning opportunity, you can’t afford to miss it if you want to help your children grow up the best and happiest they can be.

The Best Holiday Destinations When Traveling With Teenagers

November 17, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Family holidays can become tricky to organize when your kids become teenagers because they may no longer want to do everything that you do and you will, of course, want to avoid having a grumpy teen while away! This is why you need to carefully pick a destination that has great variety and preferably somewhere where they can explore while you get some peace and quiet. Where this place will be will depend on the type of family that you are and what your budget is, but read on for a few places which are particularly well-suited to parents traveling with teens.

Greece

Greece is somewhere that has it all which makes it perfect for families with teenagers. It has many astonishing ancient ruins, cool culture, friendly locals, stunning countryside and gorgeous beaches to go along with an incredible climate. Greece villa holidays are particularly good for adolescents because it gives you somewhere they can relax and make their home if they do not fancy a trip out and many are well-positioned to take in the highlights that this great country has to offer.

Barcelona

Destinations do not come as glamorous as Barcelona, and even the grumpiest of teens will find it hard to disprove of this fabulous city! One of the best aspects of this destination is the fact that it has something for everyone, meaning there are sure to be activities and highlights that you can all enjoy. The architecture and art scene is world-famous, the shopping opportunities are excellent, the food and drink scene is unlike anywhere else in the world, and it is home to Barcelona F.C and the iconic Camp Nou stadium which is a must-visit for sports fans.

Costa Rica

It is impossible not to be dazzled by Costa Rica’s incredible natural beauty, making it a great place to take active teens because of the opportunities for hiking through the thick rainforest where there are all kinds of amazing creatures. It is also a good spot for surfing or simply relaxing on the beach, while the intriguing capital city of San Jose has a lot to offer for families.

Canada

America’s neighbors to the North have a number of top destinations for a fun family holiday. One excellent idea is to check into a ski resort. Winter sports can be fantastic and exciting to try, and the range of activities and facilities that are available in these resorts means that there is always something to do. Additionally, you do not have to spend every waking moment together as the resorts are friendly, welcoming and safe. Alternatively, head to one of the major cities to soak up the atmosphere and the multiple attractions that you find in places like Toronto and Vancouver.

Slovenia

Slovenia is a real hidden gem and one of the prettiest countries in all of Europe. Here you will find incredible scenery including dramatic snow-capped mountain ranges, thick forests, picturesque cities, and the breathtaking glacial fed Lake Bled. It is a beautiful and fun place to explore whether you are cycling through the countryside, skiing in the mountains, boating on the turquoises lake waters or discovering the many attractions in the capital city of Ljubljana.

USA

The United States which are well-suited to those traveling with teens. One good idea is to embark on a road trip as this can show you the great beauty of this country and allows you to experience a handful of different places on one trip. Plus, there are many classic road trips to choose from too. The USA offers plenty of options, with beaches, forests, ski resorts and deserts, so no matter what kind of holiday you want to have with your teenager you’re bound to find the perfect fit. You can visit the iconic New York City, which will be particularly enjoyable over the Christmas period, and will be a shorter flight than heading to the West Coast and opting for California, for example. No matter whether you fancy a road trip, skiing holiday, or bustling city vibe, you’re bound to find the right choice for you in USA.

Picking a destination for a family vacation gets a lot harder when you have teenagers as you will need to pick somewhere that you can all enjoy, but it should also be somewhere that you do not have to spend every minute together. The above are all great options which should make your next getaway a special one that you will all remember fondly and bond over.