Survival Tips for Travelling with the Kids By Daisy Tran  Getting ready to travel with the little ones?  If you are not experienced, you need to be equipped and take some sage advice from others.  Give yourself a budget.The first thing you should probably consider is your vacation budget. Knowing how much you have to spend for a trip will help you narrow down the unlimited amount of trip options. Once you’ve decided where you’re going, allocate a specific amount for everything you plan to purchase on the trip, from food to transportation to emergency costs. Budgeting also allows you the peace of mind that you won’t be spending more than you can afford for a vacation. Once you set a limit, you’re more likely to be aware of your transactions and making sure you’re not exceeding your budget. Keep in mind that budgets are only effective if you actually commit to them - don’t increase your funds if something comes up. Adjust your budget and allocations to make sure you stay within your means. Consider the type of accommodations you want.Where do you want to stay? A fancy resort or a more affordable beach motel? As this is something you need to consider in your budget, your accommodation options might be limited. Maybe even more importantly, consider your kids. This vacation is a family affair, and staying somewhere you know is family-friendly and will make your kids comfortable is another priority. If housing is ideal for your children, it will result in a more stress-free zone for everyone. If you decide to make this an all-inclusive vacation for your family, don’t discount vacation home rentals and Airbnb-type stays. Some of these homes can offer the most luxurious stays. Bottom line - you should consider all your options before deciding on a location. Don’t forget about dining discounts.If you have never visited local parenting websites for your vacation destination, this is something you should definitely do for your next trip. Food is an enormous cost during any vacation, and feeding an entire family does not make it any more affordable. However, you can save big on meals and attraction tickets if you simply visit these local parenting websites. Local parents often share restaurants that offer the best promotions for family dining, such as “free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree” deals as well as discount codes and online coupons. If you’re looking to save where you can, make sure you get tips from the locals. Drive your own car instead of flying or renting a car.A good way of avoiding more costs for your vacation is using what you already have - which means drive. The price of car rentals per day can easily add up, even if just for a weekend, and it’s no doubt that flights for an entire family will probably reach hundreds of dollars even if you’re able to snag a great deal. Traveling with kids can test your patience, but there are ways to make it more manageable.  If you’re traveling within driving distance, highly consider driving. There are plenty of benefits to driving your own. There is less potential for one (or more) of your kids to have a crazy, embarrassing meltdown on an airplane or at the airport, and placing your children in a car everyone is familiar with is comforting. You know how everything works, and you might even have video players installed in your vehicle that will keep your kids occupied during the ride. Moreover, you can combine the comfort of having your own vehicle with the added perk of not worrying about baggage check fees and dreaded airport security lines.  Ask before you rent. You’d be surprised by what can happen if you simply ask. Don’t automatically fork over your hard-earned money for rentals for your kids (i.e. a crib, a high chair, a stroller, etc.) when you can take advantage of the power of social media and see what you can find. Post in parenting Facebook pages or even your own status with requests for specific items, and you may just have a friend or a friend of a friend in the area with a garage of goods they’d be happy to let you borrow. ****