Family Travel Tips

It takes a village to raise a child, and at least as many to entertain one on an airplane. With that in mind, Nina Willdorf, editor in chief of Budget Travel, collected travel advice from her readers for a handy new book, The Smart Family’s Passport: 350 Money, Time and Sanity Saving Tips (Quirk Books, $14.95).

Here, a few of our favorites:

I write my cell phone number on the inside of rubber bracelets . . . and have my children wear them when we’re away from home. That way, should we get separated, they can show the number to a helpful adult.

— Susan Redman, Hebron, Conn.

When we take our kids to foreign destinations, in addition to spending days at museums, cathedrals and castles, we visit supermarkets and department stores. We learn a lot about each culture by perusing the aisles. Some food is odd to us, some is familiar and we always buy something new to try.

— Gwen Gibbons, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Whenever we stay at a hotel whose rate doesn’t include a continental breakfast, I bring several packages of instant oatmeal. Even rooms without a microwave often have a coffeemaker, so heating water isn’t a problem. We all make our own oatmeal in the coffee cups provided.

— Julie Bunczak, Wausau, Wis.

We pack a pop-up tent and set it up in a corner with books, a blanket and a few small stuffed animals. . . . My son has his own “room” when we vacation, and we all get to sleep through the night.

— Geri Kronyak, Boonton, N.J.

While packing for a camping trip to Yellowstone National Park, it occurred to me that instead of taking pillows, we could place our down coats inside our pillow-cases. Just turn each coat inside out, form it into a pillow shape, and stuff it in the case.

— Kathy Walle, Gettysburg, Pa.

My husband uses a small soft-sided cooler as his carry-on bag. When we arrive at our destination, we have a cooler to use in the hotel, in the rental car or at the beach.

— Mary Wohlers, Fairfax, Iowa

To avoid the “can I have . . .” questions, set a trip allowance and stick to it. Upon arriving, we give our kids their souvenir money for the whole trip, and it’s up to them to spend it wisely.

— Nadine Mac-Lane, Seattle, Wash.

There you go. Some great quick family travel tips that you can find in Ninas book.