Travel Tips – Preparation
View all the tips that will help you prepare for your next vacation

Ask For A Child Discount
Asking for child discounts can really save you a lot of money during your trip. Most people are not aware of these, or they don’t feel comfortable asking, but give it a try, and you’ll be surprised when you see how many places will give you a child discount when you’re traveling.
Some restaurants and other locations may publish their prices and kids’ policies online on their website, but there is usually no mention of a discount. You have nothing to lose by simply asking.
Either send a quick email ahead of time or ask when you’re buying tickets at the location.
Ask for discounts on:
- Attraction entrance fees
- Transportation including buses and trains
- Restaurants
- Private tours and guides
Final Thoughts
The more popular locations and cities will offer a large variety of coupons you can find online. Give it a try.

Athens City Pass
Buy the Athens City Pass! With varying price options, the city pass gives you discounted access to multiple locations with or without transport included.
Final Thoughts
There are other companies offering city passes. Check with your hotel if they have any offers.

Backup your documents
Never forget to backup your essential documents before leaving for the airport. Simply take photos of all those documents and save them on your phone and upload them to the cloud as well or email them to yourself.
Such an approach can be a lifesaver in case if you have lost your wallet or bag.
Final Thoughts
You can also leave a copy with a relative or a friend you trust.

Book Accommodations With Separate Sleeping Areas
Whatever type of accommodation you choose, choose one that offers a separate room for the kids. You’ll pay a little more for this convenience, but a good night’s sleep is the key ingredient to a successful family trip.
If everyone stays in the same room, you also lose privacy when needed, have less sleep, share TV, and more.
If your kids are older, you might even want separate sleeping areas for each one.
Not every accommodation offers one- or two-bedroom suites, so you need to do a little more research.
Most of the big sites like Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com will offer that information.
Vacation villages such as Center Parcs and Landal or Apartment rentals from sites such as Airbnb are the best option for this. They are often cheaper than hotels and offer all of the comforts of home. Try looking for centrally located apartments that provide full kitchens and laundry, saving us time and money.
Final Thoughts
Less moving means less packing and unpacking. This means less trouble and fewer things being lost.

Book Directly with Hotel for the Best Rates
Booking directly with the hotels can sometimes be better than dealing with third-party services that offer more limited choices and higher prices for rooms. The hotel front desk knows the exact hotel status and can sometimes provide upgrades or cheaper rates if they have a low vacancy.
Final Thoughts
Do your homework and compare prices.
When booking online, note that sometimes this is not the final price, and you might have to pay country/state tax at the hotel.

Bring A Car Seat
Kids’ car seat regulations change between different countries. Check the law in the place you’re going to. Regardless of the law requirements, we recommend that if you use a car seat at home, you’ll probably need one when traveling to keep your loved ones safe.
Make sure to bring a seat with you. We always recommend packing light but not at the expense of safety. To make things easier, if you plan to rent a car, most car rental companies have car seats available with your rental, but you should confirm before your trip that there will be a car seat there and available for your use.
Final Thoughts
Make sure the car rental agency has a seat for your kids’ age/weight.

Bring A Stroller Or Sling
- Are you traveling to a warm destination? Do you really want your baby pressed to your chest the entire trip?
- Would you travel mostly on sidewalks and stroller-friendly trails or the wild nature?
- Do you like to pack light or even lighter?
Final Thoughts
If you’re bringing a sling, make sure you know how to use it before the trip.

Bring Plenty Of Diapers And Wipes
It does not exactly match my goal to pack light but, when traveling with babies or toddlers who aren’t potty trained yet, you should always bring far more diapers, pull-ups, and wipes than you ever think you’ll need. Even on an hour ride, you might need to change your child several times.
I’m pretty sure that you’ll always need more than what you brought so bring one more.
It doesn’t hurt to have a few extra diapers at the end of the flight, but it is awful to have too few.
Since “accidents” happen, it’s also a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes and begs to save the smelly ones (preferred Ziplock).
Final Thoughts
Have a spare outfit, within reach, for yourself. Diapers leak, babies spit so be prepared.

Car insurance
Before paying for that expensive insurance offered by the car rental agency, check out if your credit card covers it.
Final Thoughts
If you travel a lot, it might be something to consider when choosing your credit card.

Check-in early
You must check in for the flight either online or using the respective airline’s app. Then, get a hard copy of your boarding pass before you arrive at the airport. That will help you stay on track. As a result, you might be able to skip the check-in procedure and present at the security straightaway.
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can probably use your smartphone instead of a hard copy, but in that case, as much as we try to reduce the use of paper, a hard copy might be a better idea.

Choose Your Destination Wisely
Choosing the right destination can make or break your family trip. When choosing your next destination, consider your children’s needs, but don’t forget your needs. Try to mix between kids’ activities and places that will interest the adults in the group. Most destinations have some form of an amusement park or family-friendly attraction, so when you make your shortlist, look for destinations that have some adult fun for you, too.
Do you still travel with a stroller? If so, consider destinations with proper streets and sidewalks, as it will be easier to get around than trying to navigate jungles and more obscure places.
One more thing to remember is that young kids get tired after a long travel day, so it might be a good idea to plan for a “start” trip, where you sleep in a central location, allowing you to take a short drive to different places and make it back to the room early enough to rest for the next day.
It might also be a good idea to pick a location that offers direct flights. Long travel time is not a wise choice with the little ones.
Final Thoughts
Remember to check the weather in your destination, in the season you plan to travel. You can find the perfect locations using our Trip Planner tool.

Do you book on the weekend or mid-week
Some hotels, especially downtown, are focused on business travelers. Therefore, their prices may be more affordable on the weekends once the business travelers have gone home. On the other hand, cozy B&Bs and romantic weekend getaways might offer lower rates during the week. If possible, book accordingly.
Final Thoughts

Don't Jump Between Hotels
There’s no point trying to cover everything. Take your time, focus on close areas, and cover all the things that interest you in that area. This will also help you avoid the need to just from one hotel to another every night. Try to pick a place to stay the whole time you are in that area. Jump to the next one when you move to another place or a different part of the city.
It’s especially important when traveling with your children since they get used to the place and develop some comfort level, helping them enjoy it more and sleep better.
Final Thoughts
Less moving means less packing and unpacking. This means less trouble and fewer things being lost.

Food Special Needs
If you or one of your family members has any food allergies, I have no doubt you know about them, how to avoid them and how to handle them if they were exposed to food that puts them in danger. It’s easy to maintain a clean environment at home or your local school, but it is a bit more tricky when traveling. As part of the trip preparation, make sure you know how to explain it. It would be better if you’ll know the right words in the local language.
The same goes if you have special diet needs such as vegan, vegetarian, soy-free, gluten-free, etc.
You can even prepare cards with your family’s special needs, in English and the local language. Use them to explain the waiter, the hotel staff, and in case of emergency, the medical caregivers.
Final Thoughts
You can save the cards on your phone or have a printed copy. If you’re traveling to several countries with different languages, prepare a set for each language.

Have an agenda
Business trip schedules are tight. Ensure you plan your stay in advance, set the relevant meetings, and double-check you have received approval from other participants.
Final Thoughts
Remember time zones when you plan your meetings and try to have some time to rest after your flight before you start your meetings.