Everyone wants to stop but you’re completely off schedule.

Solution

You are going to have to stop. You are going to want to stop. You need to let those little beasties out to run around! Map out playgrounds or even fast-food places with playlands ahead of time. Check your GPS — most can locate parks and rest stops closest to the route you are driving. More important, face this fact: You can’t control everything, so don’t try. Plan for as much as you can and enjoy whatever happens. You might arrive later than you wanted, you may have gotten lost, you may have gotten sick – who knows – but whatever it was, it will probably wind up being the best story of the trip. Try to enjoy it all – while it’s happening and forever after.

Wherever you go, whenever you leave, whatever you decide to do, use these ideas to make getting there a little more fun!

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Traffic is bad but the GPS alternate route is worse. There are times when you’ll want to go off the GPS’ main route and unfortunately the alternate routes offered can be confusing and frustrating.

Solution

Have a road atlas or at least a printed map of the area. You can then get a big picture of where you are, where you want to go and possible alternate routes.

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Everyone is a mess, uncomfortable (and complaining). Someone’s nose is running, another just spilled some juice and a third has cookie-crumb hands. Things are getting gross, legs are getting cramped and tempers are getting short.

Solution

Be sure to pack — in easy reach — tissues, paper towels, and wipes. You may want to consider toilet tissue and hand sanitizer for those emergency pit stops. Also bring blankets, pillows, and other favorite comfy things from home. It’s cool for kids to have that stuff in the car because it’s unexpected. It’s also helpful when one person is hot and another is cold. And if they are comfy, clean and relaxed … maybe they’ll sleep (fingers crossed).

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You realize something you really need is stuck in the back of the van or trunk of the car and you can’t get to it. Making the situation worse is the trash strewn about and the impending carsickness!

Solution

Give each child three bags that remain close to them. One should include all their toys, books, snacks, etc. (including an extra outfit, so you won’t have to unpack the whole car to change them). One is for trash. The last is for queasiness. Explain how to use the last one. Accidents usually happen because you can’t get to your little one in time and they don’t know where to point their mouth. With their own bags and instructions, these situations can be avoided.

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You’re leaving later than you planned. When you travel by airplane, you’re on someone else’s schedule. You have to be on time or they’ll leave without you. Taking a road trip gives you lots of flexibility, which is great. However, it can create a lack of urgency to get out the door.

Solution

Save your yelling voice for breaking up your kid’s car-ride disputes and pad your departure time by 30 minutes — even an hour if you have really slow movers or toddlers. And be sure to fill the gas tank the night before!

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Reno Reservations

Merry Christmas – Comments and Glitter Graphics!

TSA encourages travels to remember 3 simple steps to security:

• Have ID out
• Coats & Shoes off
• Laptop and 3-1-1 bag out

The absence of proper identification will result in additional screening. Children under 18 are not required to show identification.

Individuals who are accompanying passengers, such as a child or traveler with medical conditions, through the security checkpoint but are not flying should check with the airline for required documentation.

tsa.gov

In addition, certain clothing and accessories can set off an alarm during metal detector detector or advanced imaging technology screening and slow passengers down. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints:

• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Hidden items such as body piercings may result in additional screening, including a pat-down. If selected for additional screening, passengers may ask to remove their body piercing in private.
• Take metal items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) out of pockets and place in your carry-on baggage before going through security.
• Pack all coats and jackets in baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection. These include, but are not limited to, trench coats, heavy winter coats, suit jackets, sport coats and blazers. Passengers who choose to wear an outer coat or jacket to the checkpointwill need to either place it in carry-on baggage or put it in the bin.

Individuals are permitted to wear disposable footwear during the screening process. The disposable footwear may be removed and placed into the individual’s accessible property prior to exiting the screening checkpoint. . In addition, TSA recently implemented modified screening procedures for certain eligible frequent flyers and for passengers 12 and under. Click here to learn more.

Gel-filled bras are permitted through security screening and aboard aircraft.

TSA Security Officers have to resolve any alarms that are detected at the checkpoint. Passengers who alarm during security screening will need additional screening, which could include a thorough pat-down.

Passengers can reduce the chance that they will need additional screening by removing all items from pockets – including metallic and non-metallic items such as keys, wallets, and jewelry –and placing in bins prior to being screened.

tsa.gov

Carry Enough Cash:  Do not assume that everywhere accepts credit or debit cards. Cash is king and can often get you out of a tough bind. That said, carrying too much money can be problematic, too. Consider taking a couple hundred dollars in cash, and then using your ATM card to withdraw currency as needed.

Leave the Plastic (credit cards) at Home:  Only bring one or two credit cards with you. Credit cards and bank cards can be a hassle if stolen abroad because it can be difficult getting in touch with your bank to stop any charges. Leave all your other wallet clutter — shopping club cards, gift cards, membership cards — at home.

Make Copies  Keep photocopies of your passport, driver’s license and credit cards. Always keep the originals with you, but tuck away copies in case anything is lost or stolen. (You might even want to leave a set of copies with a trusted friend or relative back home, in case you’re left with nothing at all.)

Pack Accordingly  Do yourself a favor and check the customs of the country you are visiting before you pack — this will help you pack appropriately. Some cultures have different views on what is appropriate dress for women. To stay safe and out of trouble, this is something you must look in to.

Keep In Touch:  Whether you are traveling abroad or taking a cross-country road trip, keep in touch. Let someone at home know when you’re leaving and when to expect you back — and if you decide to change your travel plans at the last minute, let them know

Leave a Trail:  Leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member or friend back home. This way if something happens, they know where you can be found. (This is especially important if you are going somewhere with bad weather conditions or political problems.)

Get Travel Insurance:  Hopefully nothing happens to you on your vacation, but you must be prepared. If for some reason you need to go the hospital or for a doctor’s visit, make sure you have insurance — otherwise you can expect a large bill or inadequate medical attention.

Don’t Wear Flashy Jewelry:  If you are wearing eye-catching jewels, all you are doing is attracting attention… from the wrong type of people. You may as well wear a shirt that says, “Steal from me, I have money.”

Dress Casually:  Dressing too flashy in brand names will draw unwanted attention, which can lead to being followed and attacked or robbed. Remember, you are on vacation in an unfamiliar place, and your goal should be to blend in.

Don’t Accept Drinks from Strangers:  This sounds obvious and something you already know not to do, but sometimes while on vacation, we sometimes let all cares go to the wind. However, in an unfamiliar place that is the last thing you want to do.

Steer Clear of Unmarked Taxi Cabs:  Getting into an unmarked car is extremely dangerous. You don’t want your family back home to be informed that you have gone missing while on vacation. So do yourself a favor and stick to public transportation and marked taxis

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