We are travelling a lot this Christmas so I thought I would share some of the strategies that have worked for us.

1. Make a packing list several days if not a week in advance.  This allows you to work with your list and add and take off as you have time to think it all through.  Having a list also takes away that panicked feeling of forgetting something when you know you have a complete list in advance.
2. Make sure to have snacks and activities packed in an easy to reach location.  Packing some treats is also a necessity when things get really hairy.  They tend to bring a fussy kid back around and having them to offer as a reward for good behavior can be very helpful as well.  Having both of these can also be great for those times when you get stuck in the car or a hotel room with nothing to do.
3. Think realistically about what your kids can handle and respect their limits.  If you know that your kids normally get 12 hours of sleep and a 3 hour nap, don’t expect them to make it on 10 hours and then pack their days full of activities.  That can be setting yourself up for a disaster.  It is ok to protect your family by saying, “we are going to have to go put the kids down for a nap” or “I think we are going to go have a little time with just our family.”  Allowing your children, and yourself, to refuel your energy tank can make the rest of the time much more enjoyable.  Know what your kids can handle and plan accordingly so that you will all be more happy.
4. Be flexible with your plans.  Things, and people, change from day to day.  Travelling and vacations are meant to be enjoyable so be willing to change plans if plan A is not working as you expected. 
5. Plan your travelling budget ahead of time and stick to it.  This will help you keep from feeling guilty later for all the money you spent.  It will also keep you from being worried about how much you are spending while you are travelling.  Make sure to plan for gas, meals, snacks, entertainment and anything else you know you plan to do.

There is a new offer out for the 2011 Entertainment Coupon Books.  I think the 2010 ones expire in the next week or two so if you faithfully use these, now is the time to buy your new one.  As time goes by, the promotional offers will get better and better but you will have less time to use all those coupons so weigh it out.  Right now you can get them for $5.00 off AND FREE shipping.  You can view the books by zip code to see what coupons are available in your area, your friends area or where you plan to vacation.  Get started HERE!

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this year with several Fee-Free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.

Fee-Free days for the rest of this year include:

• August 14-15, 2010
• September 25, 2010
• November 11, 2010 – Veterans Day

At many of the parks, there are special offers specific to those parks. See HERE for a list of all special offers at assorted parks across the United States. For those who live locally, the parks here in California who are participating are:

Cabrillo National Monument
Death Valley National Park
John Muir National Historic Site
Joshua Tree National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument
Pinnacles National Monument
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Sequoia National Park
Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area
Yosemite National Park

If you are looking for a way to save on travel this summer here are two great options to consider:

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You can also go through Shop At Home to get an extra 2% cash back when you arrange travel through United!  If you are looking for plane tickets, this could be a great additional savings.