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FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS

If you have a flexible schedule, avoid travel on Fridays, Sundays or Mondays which are the heaviest travel days. For lower airfares, purchase your ticket at least 21 days in advance and travel in the evenings or overnight. For additional legroom, request exit row seats at the airport when checking in or fly American Airlines.

Check-in 75-90 minutes before your domestic flight and 2 hours before your international flight. If traveling with an infant, check-in early and request an extra seat to accommodate the car seat. If the airline has extra seats, they will usually accommodate your request at the gate check-in area.

Question: What exactly is Jet Lag and how can I get rid of it?

Answer: Jet Lag is caused by missed sleep or disrupted sleeping pattern from crossing time zones when flying. Aside from reduced energy, it is accompanied by a lack of concentration from hours to days after arriving at your destination. It can happen anytime you make at least a 3 hour time change.

There are many ways to combat Jet Lag, such as making sure you are not over-tired, stressed, nervous, or hung over before your flight. Even too much excitement can cause a little Jet Lag. Airplane cabin pressure combined with the dry air can make you a little dehydrated, so it's a good idea to drink plenty of water. In fact, many flyers always carry a bottle. Although you may want to unwind with a drink or glass of wine, like you would at home, it can add to your Jet Lag. The impact of alcohol on the body is reportedly 2-3 times more potent when flying, so you might want to skip it until you land. Exercise is another great way to stave off the effects of Jet Lag prior to, during, and after your flight. While on the plane, rotate your ankles, stretch your legs in front of you (if at all possible), walk up and down the aisle and/or do stretching and bending exercises. This keeps your circulation going. There are some "anti-Jet Lag" drugs available on the market, but it is always advisable to consult with your physician prior to using these.

Question: I know that tipping in restaurants should be 15-20%, depending on the level of service. But I'm not sure how much to tip others, such as doormen, bell hops, etc. Are there specific rules?

Answer: A tip is a voluntary reward for good service, and you should not feel obligated to do it. At the airport or hotel, tips for a Skycap or Bellman/Concierge are usually $1-2 per bag, up to about $5. If you are a generous tipper, the latter will remember it, and you'll probably receive special treatment if you need it for the remainder of your stay! Room Service is the same as restaurant food servers (15-20%), and for Housekeeping, $1 per day, left in a marked envelope in your room, upon departure. Bartenders and cocktail servers usually command $1 per round for parties larger than two, more for larger groups. A tip on an $8 fare for a Taxi or Limousine Driver would be about $1 or so. Over $8? Two dollars or more. Both can be increased if they help you with your bags. Valet Parking attendants usually earn $1, $2 if the service is quick.

If you attend a show where seating is not pre-assigned, like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, a $5 to $20 tip will insure desired seating. At other shows, $5 is appropriate. If there is a fee for the Coat Check, a tip is not necessary. If there is no charge, nor extra care taken with your coat or bags, a $1 to $2 tip is acceptable. For Tour Guides or Charter Bus Drivers when a tip is not already included in the price, tip $1 for a half-day tour, $2 for a full-day tour, or $10 for a week-long tour. Private tour guides usually command more. These rules-of-thumb apply throughout the U.S., but you should find out what the customs are for foreign countries prior to your travels.

Question: Sometimes I experience long airport layovers, and reading, eating or sleeping don’t do the trick. I am still bored! Any ideas?

Answer: Being stuck in the airport is definitely one of life’s less desirable events. But there are ways to alleviate your boredom. Since you have been sitting on the plane, are sitting in the airport, and will be sitting on your next flight, get off your duff! If your layover will be long, find the closest coin lockers, secure your things and take a power walk! This is a great way to increase your circulation, and get a little change of scenery (albeit limited). If the weather is favorable, take it outside as well. It might not seem like fun, but it’s better than sitting and staring at the couple sleeping in front of you. If you’re traveling with children, it’s probably worse because their attention span is a lot shorter than that of adults. This is a good time to encourage them to write an essay about the trip they are about to take/just finished. They might want to share it with their classroom back home, or you can put it in the family scrapbook. What about writing a letter to another family member? This will not only keep them occupied (and possibly give you a little break from "When are we going?"), but engage their writing and composition skills. Why not play the Celebrity Look-Alike Game -- "Doesn’t he or she look like...?" Airports are full of good "subjects" for people watching, so use it to your advantage!

Question: I am about 3 months pregnant, and would like to do some more traveling before the baby is born. Do you have any tips?

Answer from Lysa Allman-Baldwin: In my 6th month of pregnancy, I traveled as well. First of all, you need to discuss it with your doctor. He or she is the most qualified person to assess whether you can travel, how far, or for how long (into your pregnancy). The general rule, I believe, for healthy women without problems, is as long as you feel comfortable. But you want to take into consideration the location where you will be traveling. For example, it is not a good idea to go to a third world country or somewhere where the level of health services/practices/sanitation levels, are not as great as those you may be accustomed to in the United States. Also, let's say you travel out of state within a few weeks or a month of your due date. Would you feel comfortable delivering in a strange hospital, with a doctor who is unfamiliar to you, and possibly without your home support systems? These are all things to consider. Plus, once you start to show, some airlines and cruise lines have specific regulations about pregnant travelers, so you really need to do your homework. Two good sources of information are available at www.babycenter.com and www.freep.com/fun/travel/qpregg31.htm. Other than that, I would say, get those trips in girl! You may not have time for a few months after your child's birth.

Question: I have heard horror stories about crib accidents when traveling and staying at hotels. Are there any guidelines that I can reference?

Answer: Many traveling families use cribs and play yards provided by the approximately 65,000 motels and hotels in the U.S., and estimates show that children under age 2 spend more than 7 million nights per year in hotels, motels and resorts. Sadly about 40 babies suffocate or strangle in their cribs each year. Crib safety and recall information is available at the CPSC website www.cpsc.gov or by calling the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772. They can also inform you about a recent report of spot checks conducted in 90 hotels and motels in 27 states and the District of Columbia by Safe Kids.

Question: Many times when I come home from vacation and review my photos and memories, everything starts to run together and it is a real let down. Do you have any ideas how I can keep the memories fresh and remember all that we did?

Answer: The best "keepsake" of your trip will always be in your mind and heart. However, there are several things you can do. I travel with a small travel journal, where I write down my thoughts and impressions each evening. It doesn't take much time and you can capture your innermost thoughts while they are fresh. I also write down in the journal, especially for long trips, what we did that day, where we went, and where/what we ate. A friend also suggested that in addition to taking photos, that you buy a postcard to keep from each place so that you're sure to have at least one good photo for your scrapbook.

Question: What should you really have in your carry-on bag, if you also have checked baggage?

Answer: It could depend upon the distance, location, and time of day you will be landing. But generally you want to have some basic toiletries, a change of clothes, and women may want to have a curling iron. If you experience an unusually long delay, you may want to freshen up, and if your bags are lost or misplaced, a change of clothes may be necessary. Especially if there are no stores close by or open when you reach your destination (or if you refuse to pay $25 for a simple sweatshirt in an airport shop!). For those traveling with infants or children, we always pack extra clothes, etc. in case they spit up or spill on themselves. Don't forget these events could also happen on you!

Question: Are there special precautions for women traveling alone?

Answer from a business traveler: I was staying at a very well known highly respected hotel in a roof level end room (meaning that the building was 15+ stories, but designed with a connecting lower level roof, for the pool, deck, meeting rooms, etc.) I intuitively KNEW it was a bad idea to take a room on this level, but shrugged it off, mistake #1. I've always used the menus you hang outside your doorknob to order breakfast when on business trips. I thought it would be easier because I would have my order delivered during a specific time frame and then I did not have to worry about a room service delay. On this order form, one writes her name, how many will be eating, your room number, time of delivery, and your order. I had given someone all the ammunition that he would need. That someone went to my door-tag, got my name and room number, and then told the front desk that he was my husband and that he needed a new key. The clerk, WITHOUT ASKING FOR ID OR CALLING MY ROOM GAVE HIM MY ROOM KEY! At 2 a.m. I was awakened by my door opening with a man's hand trying to figure out how to get the bar undone. Luckily I had put the security bar across. I started yelling at him and told him that I was on the phone with the police.

From SoulOfAmerica.com: Fortunately, these events rarely happen anymore due to hotels taking measures to reduce their liability. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to use the chain lock and avoid staying on the ground floor.

Question: My daughter is a year and a half, and we would like to take advantage of traveling with her via plane before she turns two and before we have to pay for her. But without a ticket guaranteeing her a seat, she has to sit on our lap. How safe is that?

Answer: You are correct in that children travel free via air until they reach two years of age. Since you are not required to purchase a ticket for them, if there are not empty seats on the flight, they have to sit on your lap. As you know, the airlines advise that whenever you are in your seat, you should have your seat belt fastened (regardless of whether the seat belt sign is on or not). This is for your safety as well as that of other passengers and the crew, as sudden turbulence can easily throw passengers around the aircraft. We have a newborn baby boy, and fortunately for us thus far when we have traveled there has been an empty seat almost everytime where we strapped him in his car seat. Other times, he can be strapped to our chest in his baby carrier, and we, in turn, are strapped in the seat (by the way, the infant car seat will fit in the overhead bin upside down if you are unable to use it). Unfortunately he will not always be small enough to do this, and holding an older, more active child on your lap can be difficult, particularly on a long flight (especially if you want to eat or drink!)