Whoever said that you shouldn't act with kids or animals also should have said, you shouldn't travel with teens. Ok, jokes aside, I am going to provide some tips and tricks on not breaking the bank and having an enjoyable holiday while traveling with your teen.
As a single mom, I am always pinching pennies. It actually is a good thing, in my opinion. While we save up for luxurious moments such as our recent Easter Vacation to Barcelona, Spain, we find ways to save before, during, and after our trip (so we can go on other trips- of course).
1) Check out your phone plans. A T& T allows you unlimited talk, text, and data usage for $10.00 per day. T Mobile allows the same thing for $5.00 per day. All airports have free wifi, and most hotels if not all also provide free wifi or a small pay per day plan.
2) Stay hydrated. You are not allowed to have a full water bottle when you go through security at the airport, you are however, allowed to have an empty water bottle or thermos. Avoid the high price of water at the airport, not to mention the very long airport lines to purchase water. Instead, opt to fill your water bottle for free at one of the many water fountains, or water stations (some are clearly marked by the restrooms) though trust me, you'll have to ask around, they aren't easy to find. At the Barcelona airport, for example, the cost of bottled water was 3.60 euros, however, if you traveled down to the bathrooms, which in our case were downstairs, you can find water for 1.60 euros by the restrooms.
3) Stay safe, avoid crowds.
4) Save time and money while on the airplane, bring your own eye mask. Did you know that the air masks (which were so popular in California this summer due to all of the fires and smoke in the air) can be used as eye masks as well? Well, they can, and I bought a box of 5 at my Local Dollar Store this past summer, as was able to bring them on the airplane to use as eye or air masks (if you have a cold, not a bad idea to cover your cough and wear an air mask), maybe just while you sleep. It's up to you.
5) Always bring lotion for hands and moisture for the lips.
6) Bring your own tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, creamer, stirer stick. Airlines will give you FREE hot water, but usually not FREE cold water, and they charge in excess of 3 euros for bottled water. This goes back to number 2 point, stay hydrated.
At the Dublin airport, I saved 4 euros by requesting hot water, it was FREE. At the San Francisco Airport, I requested hot water, and they only charge for the cup.
7) Bring your own food, snacks on the plane. Air France, Aer Lingus feed you, and they are delightful meals, in my opinion, plus ice cream, warm towels for the face, etc. They really pamper their passengers. Noreigian, which wasn't cheap, charges for meals, charges for seat assignments, charges for water. I was not impressed with Noreigian, if you do pay for a meal, they do seem to have a type of elitist status going, whereby they really bring them coffee, tea, wine, beer, water, food, snacks, etc. Didn't like the feeling of a class system honestly!
Bring your own fan favorites, I'm just going to throw it out there, you don't have to be rich to travel, you do need to be flexible and willing to familiarize yourself with the customs, cultures of where you are traveling to.
In my opinion, always, always, always, when you have your health, a little money, and a little time, I would highly recommend traveling. but making memories will last a lifetime.
Gina Meyers is a cookbook author, writer, and owner of Serendipity Media Group, a marketing, promotions, and publishing firm. http://www.serendipitymediagroup.com
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