FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: family travel

  • 10 Tips for Traveling with Kids

    For many of us the arrival of children signals a change from luxury vacations to more modest trips. Perhaps the expansion of your own family is what brought you to the Frugal Monkey blog! We’ve already looked at ways to save money on family vacations, but conserving the bank balance isn’t the only thing we need to worry about. What about your sanity? Traveling with children can be challenging, but we’ve got plenty of tips for helping you survive, and even enjoy, your next frugal family vacation.

    Embrace the off season
    Your kids get a few months’ vacation over summer, so it makes sense to take advantage of that time off and see the world, right? Wrong. That’s the idea everyone else has. And that drives the price of airfares and accommodation sky high. If it’s at all possible, consider yanking your kids out of class and traveling during the school terms. You could save hundreds of dollars, which you can of course inject back into your vacation budget.

    Pack it right
    A family can quickly put together a load of luggage. But no one wants to be swamped with stuff, or pay hefty excess baggage charges. You can cut down your suitcases by choosing simple clothes that can be mixed and matched to create several outfits. Make sure you check your kids’ suitcases too; they’ll typically include far too many things they don’t need and forget other items that they do!

    Location, location, location
    Choosing the right place to stay can make or break your family vacation. Look for accommodation in safe areas that’s close to local attractions or at least public transport. Make sure it has all the beds you need to fit your family comfortably. A place with a pool or games room can keep your little ones entertained. Ask nicely and you might receive an upgrade to a larger room or a discount for staying multiple nights.

    Money matters
    Set a budget for each day of your travels and stick to it. If you want to splurge on a good restaurant meal, arrange to see a free museum or festival during the day. Being conscious of your finances is the best way to avoid a blowout.

    Vacation as a team
    You probably figured this out once your little bundles arrived, but life isn’t all about you anymore. You’ve got new little people to consider, and when it comes to vacations, their opinions matter. We’re not suggesting that you stick to a child’s schedule, but making time to see the attractions that pique their interests will ensure they stay happy. And as we all know, happy children make for a happy holiday.

    Stop and smell the roses
    When we’re footloose and fancy free we want to cram everything into our vacation that we possibly can. But traveling at a rapid pace is a recipe for a few cranky kids. Make sure you account for time spent napping, snacking, and using the restroom for the umpteenth time. Slow things down and you’ll all feel a lot less stressed.

    Remember those toilet breaks
    The age of your children will determine how relevant this point is to you. But if you’ve got young ones in tow, ensuring they have regular toilet breaks is crucial. Whenever you spot a handy toilet, make sure you ask if they need to go. Otherwise you can be sure they’ll feel urgent when a bathroom is nowhere in sight!

    Maintain your routines
    This one might seem like a pipedream, but it’s worth the effort. Read books or play board games before bed, and tuck them up with their favorite toy at the same time they’d sleep at home. This is the best way to avoid hyperactive, overtired terrors!

    Expect the unexpected
    This point might seem to contradict the last, but stay with us. You can insist on regular bedtimes and good meal habits, but there’s only so much you can control. Traveling isn’t always a walk in the park, and sometimes things will go wrong, particularly when you add the unpredictability of children to the mix. Keep a positive attitude and this will flow through to your children, making any challenges much easier to deal with.

    Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland
    Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland

    Hold on to the memories
    Family vacations are all too rare, so make sure you remember the ones you have. Take plenty of photos, and buy your kids cheap digital cameras so they can do the same. Purchase travel journals and encourage them to write stories and draw pictures about the time they’ve had. These all make wonderful keepsakes to look back on years later.

    Feel free to share this article using the social networking buttons below with a frugal family you know!

  • Frugal Family-Friendly Attractions in Vietnam

    Vietnam is heaven for bargain hunters, but tiny tots won’t enjoy the shopping in Hanoi and historical sites the country is famous for. So what are families to do? As it turns out, there’s plenty for the entire brood to see and do in this budget Asian destination.

    The secret to traveling with children is offering a few sweeteners so they won’t tire of the attractions you really want to see. The kids won’t be thrilled with Hue’s striking Thien Mu Pagoda, but they’ll love the journey down the Perfume River so much that they won’t complain about the destination. Time on a boat is always a bit of a novelty, especially when there are working barges and water buffalo to admire along the way. With cruises costing as little as $6US, the experience is also much cheaper than the more high profile Mekong River cruises.

    Lac Thien is one of the most affordable and unique dining experiences in Hue. The café is run by deaf mutes who will offer your children valuable lessons in diversity and tolerance. They’ll be happy with the diverse array of dishes too. The fresh seafood and leafy green vegetables should satisfy even the fussiest appetites. And your wallet will also be satisfied; the meals are some of the cheapest café dishes in the country!

    Hitting the markets is another great way to find affordable food that your children will enjoy. Known as street food, these Vietnamese dishes are whipped up in front of your eyes. Kids will love the theatre of the experience and be more likely to step out of their culinary comfort zones.

    A visit to some mountains doesn’t sound too thrilling on paper, but the Marble Mountains in Da Nang shouldn’t be missed. There are five mountains in all, with Buddhist grottos and tunnels carved into their faces. Children will love exploring these historic hideaways.

    Waterside theatres around Hanoi regularly perform shows featuring Vietnam’s traditional water puppets and classic folktales. Young and old will enjoy the wooden dragon, warrior, fairy, and fishermen puppets that appear to float on water. You can expect to pay around $5US for seats up the front, and about $3US for places further back.

    Cham Island is paradise for adults and children alike. Dive boats can take you out for snorkeling and scuba diving, or you can enjoy the waves closer to shore. The water is pleasantly warm all year round, so you needn’t worry about your kids catching a chill.

    If Vietnam’s natural waterways don’t provide enough thrills for your brood then head to the Dam Sen Water Park in Ho Chi Minh City. Adults will pay as little as $3.35US, while kids can enter for just $2.15US, depending on the season. That’s a steal for a full day’s entertainment on the many waterslides, roller coaster, and wave pool. There are also plenty of lifeguards on duty, so parents can chill out under the palm trees knowing their little ones are safe.

    Street Food in Vietnam
    Street Food in Vietnam
    Using peddle-power in Vietnam is much more fun than getting around on foot. Big kids will love hiring bikes, while smaller children needing to save their legs will have great fun in a cyclo. These three-wheeled bicycle taxis are large enough to carry an adult and child passenger, along with the driver. Just make sure you negotiate the fare before leaving to ensure you’re not ripped off. Offer a third of the amount quoted, and never haggle up to more than half the original price. Sometimes walking away from the driver will be all it takes to get the right fare.

    With a little research, it’s possible for adults and children alike to enjoy an affordable vacation in Vietnam.

  • Las Vegas Vacations for Families – Kid-Friendly Fun on a Budget

    Most travelers think of Las Vegas as a destination for uninhibited bachelor parties, quickie weddings, and senior citizen excursions. The Nevada capital admittedly offers plenty for the footloose and fancy free, but it’s also a great place for a family vacation. Indulging in the city’s wild side is costly, but its kid-friendly activities are more affordable than you’d expect. Read on and discover that it’s easier to save money in Las Vegas than you think!

    It’s expensive to stay at Circus Circus, but visitors to Las Vegas can enjoy many of its family-focused activities without checking in. This playful resort is the kind of place where you can spend as much or as little as your budget allows. The Big Top Arena hosts free live shows daily featuring trapeze acts, clowns, magic, juggling, and other circus talents. The shows change periodically, and run as often as every half hour during peak season. As the performances are free, seating is limited though. We suggest arriving 10 to 15 minutes before your show starts to ensure small children can see all the action.

    Unless you have a lot of willpower, you should probably be prepared to splash around some cash at Circus Circus. There are carnival and arcade games at the Midway and amusement rides in the Adventuredome, including a loop-the-loop roller coaster and tamer fare for tiny tots. If money matters we suggest steering clear of the Midway, as playing the individual games adds up quickly. With each ride in the Adventuredome costing up to $8, a day pass is a more economical choice for most visitors. Regular passes cost $27.95 and junior passes cost $16.95 for a day’s unlimited rides.

    Frankly you won’t be able to stay at any of Las Vegas’ prestigious resorts if you want to save money, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid them altogether. You’ll be surprised how much fun it is to look around the lobbies! The Mirage has white tigers, an indoor rainforest, and a giant saltwater fish tank thought to be one of the most high-tech in the world. You can view the lions in the lobby of the MGM Grand from the safety of the walk-through tunnel. The Venetian’s lobby transports visitors to Venice, complete with an indoor canal and gondolas, while New York, New York brings the Big Apple to the west.

    And sometimes you don’t even need to step inside a resort. Watch the lights and magic of the Bellagio’s water fountain show from the sidewalk. And don’t leave The Mirage before you see the outdoor volcano erupting on the hour. Older children will love the spectacle at night, but all that rumbling and fire can frighten smaller kids.

    Despite what you’ve heard, there’s action outside Las Vegas’ casinos and resorts too. The hands-on exhibitions at Lied Discovery Children’s Museum in downtown Las Vegas make learning about the arts and sciences fun. A museum trip is also far less stressful for parents when children are encouraged to touch! Adult admission costs $9.50, kids cost $8.50, and babies under one can visit for free.

    Older children will be fascinated by the El Dorado Canyon Mine Tour. The site, located an hour away from the Las Vegas strip, makes a great day trip. $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids provides admission to the above and below ground tour, which provides a snapshot of life on the trail a century ago. If you’ve got cash and time to spare, you can rent a canoe or kayak from the tour guides and explore the nearby Colorado River.

    After all that activity, everyone will be hungry. Las Vegas has its fair share of fancy restaurants, but you can cut the costs and cater for fussy eaters at the local food courts. The ones at The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shops are some of the city’s best. Your dollar also goes a long way at The Mirage’s Carnegie Deli. One sandwich is so enormous that it could probably feed your entire family! As long as you stay away from the cocktails, a meal at Margaritaville is also inexpensive and great fun. The kids menu is comprehensive, and little ones will love the balloon-animal making skills of the pirate staffers!

    Get a Las Vegas Travel Deal

    After a busy day, the family will need a place to lay their heads. We’ve discussed plenty of hotels out of the price range of most families, but Las Vegas also has several good options for budget travelers. The Flamingo has an appealing central location, which cuts down on traveling costs, and a pool for keeping the kids entertained during summer. With a little research you can unearth some great deals for this well-placed gem. The Monte Carlo has few frills, but it’s well-kept and relatively inexpensive. The fast food focused food court will please young appetites, but you can find more substantial, well-priced meals at The Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery.

    As you can see, a stay in Las Vegas can be about much more than adults-only entertainment. Do your research and pack the kids into the car to discover a different side of Nevada’s jewel.

  • Family Fun in Hong Kong – Kid-Friendly Tourist Attractions in Asia

    Most of us think of Hong Kong as a fast-paced destination designed for adults with cash to splash or healthy dim sum sized appetites.

    But it's actually a great family vacation spot. Here are a few tourist attractions that kids and their parents will enjoy. Hong Kong's most popular tourist attraction is Victoria Peak, a summit which offers more than picturesque views. Little ones will probably enjoy the ride on the hair-raising funicular railway more than the view at the top, but don't let that worry you. Once they're tired of the scenery you can let them burn off some energy in the playground or virtual sports zone. Once they've worked up an appetite visit one of dozens of onsite restaurants. Make sure you don't miss Ocean Park, which is regarded as one of the best amusement parks in the world. Once a humble aquarium, it's now home to roller coasters and giant pandas! The marine animals still draw crowds though, especially the Sea Jelly Spectacular. Bright lights and classical music add a sense of theatre to the graceful movements of more than 1000 stingers. [caption id="attachment_4213" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland"]Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland[/caption] You’ll find more animals at Hong Kong Wetland Park. The 60-hectare space has crocs, birds, and butterflies. The kids won’t even realize their learning as they engage with the interactive games dotted around the park. Of course, a list of children's tourist attractions wouldn't be complete without mentioning Disneyland in Hong Kong. If you've been to any of the Disneyland's around the world you'll know what to expect, with all of the familiar lands populated by the iconic characters. While it's formula is tried and true, it's easy to get swept up in the magic of this theme park. So don't leave the children at home when you head to Hong Kong. This Asian metropolis has plenty of attractions to keep them entertained.

    [Image Source: Tommy Wong/Flickr]

  • Fun Vacations for the Family in Tropical Fiji

    If you want to treat your whole family to a South Pacific vacation, make sure you consider Fiji.

    While many island locations cater for couples, this is one country whose tourism industry puts family first. Many of the island's resorts have child-friendly clubs and activities designed to give mom and dad as much private time as they wish. The Shangri-La Fijian is one of the oldest resorts in Fiji, and one of the largest. The Shangri-La has its own island with a sheltered lagoon for safe swimming. There is also a children’s pool open during daylight hours, and a games room equipped with arcade games and snooker and table tennis tables. The biggest drawcard is the Children’s Stay and Eat for Free program. Under this scheme, up to two children under the age of 12 can stay and eat in selected restaurants within the resort for free. Another complimentary service is The Little Chief's Club. This program amuses children aged between two and 12 with a host of activities including sports, games, and lessons in Fijian culture. [caption id="attachment_3479" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The Lagoon Pool at the Shangri-La Fijian"]The Lagoon Pool at the Shangri-La Fijian[/caption] Not far from the Shangri-La you'll find the Hideaway Resort. There are some great family-friendly facilities here, including a waterslide, putt-putt golf course, and traditional craft classes. Its Hermit Kids Club offers personalized attention, with one staff member for every three children. The club leads children in a host of cultural activities, including rainforest walks, excursions to local villages, and fancy dress parades. A day trip on the Coral Coast Scenic Railway is great fun for the entire family. The revamped steam train runs from Cuvu Station, outside the Shangri-La, to Natadola Beach. Along the way you'll enjoy throwing precious candy to the village children who line the tracks. Once at the beach your guides will treat you to a barbeque lunch and Fiji's famous kava. You'll have time for a swim in the ocean before catching the train home. Another family favorite is Kulu Eco Park, Fiji’s only wildlife sanctuary. The park is home to many endangered animals, including the crested iguana and peregrine falcon. And of course, families vacationing in Fiji can also make their own fun enjoying the country's beautiful beaches and tropical weather.