Travel Tips & Tricks Archives - Page 5 of 5

Why I Want a Kia Sedona

November 2, 2015 by Danielle

I received a Kia Sedona to use for about a week to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone.

I love our current van, I really do – we’ve had it for 6 years now and it’s been fantastic. I even told hubby I didn’t care to ever switch until we absolutely had to because I was perfectly happy with it. After we tried out this other one on our recent vacation, though, there’s so many reasons Why I Want a Kia Sedona instead!

I’ll be honest – the first day I absolutely hated it! I wasn’t use to the many features, since the van I’m use to doesn’t really have ANYTHING special (as I now realize). After I got use to what different things were for, I realized how great it was to have all the bells and whistles! First of all, there’s the dash system – here’s a shot of the navigation/map along with the SiriusXM radio. You can adjust the layout and view on here, this is what we liked best. See the purple arrow there? It’s pointing to a spot where it will show you the speed limit of the road you’re on! LOVED THAT! It doesn’t show here because, obviously, I was parked in a driveway – no pictures while driving, of course!

I especially miss having the speed limit and map feature after our current move to a new area – it would help a ton as I’m getting use to the roads and what their speed limits are! When you put it in reverse, your dash screen looks like this….

….with the great cameras showing your surroundings! This was especially helpful in parking lots, or the Disney parking garage with lots of vehicles and people! Another thing I found really helpful and important were these spots on the side view mirrors….

…that little area where you see the vehicles, it lights up if someone is coming on the side of you. Perfect for avoiding going into a lane that’s already occupied! It also clearly lets you know which doors are still open….

Some other good things are the easily accessible (and multiple) USB ports and such. The ones I clearly saw were, as follows in the photo….top: head of front console, middle: inside the roll-out center of front console and bottom: rear of front console for the middle row to access.

That makes charging phones or tablets so much easier! And don’t you hate getting dings on your side view mirrors while you’re parked? When you lock the Kia Sedona, they actually FOLD IN! So handy – plus it’ll help you know when your car is locked or not 😉

There’s also the built-in window screens, which were a huge hit with our kiddos – especially since it was in the 90s and 100s during our trip! Don’t forget cup holders, of course – they seemed just big enough for most sizes, and not TOO big that things would tip and spill – at least not easily.

As for space – plenty of leg room, and it’s all adjustable forward-back which makes it perfect for different family sizes and ages. The head rests were really adjustable, too, which made it nice as we were driving a lot – and made it more comfortable when they’d fall asleep in the van driving back to our house rental after a long day at Disneyland.

As for driving, it was so smooth that now when I drive my own van, it seems really loud and shaky 🙁

What I Did NOT Like About the Kia Sedona

Honestly, once we got use to the features (because at first they drove me nutty) there’s only really one thing I really didn’t like – okay, I hated – about the Kia Sedona……the tiny gap between the middle seats!

It was such a tight fit – and I’m not a very wide person. My 19-year-old sister road in the back seat with the kids a lot during the trip, and she’s TINY! Yet she had a hard time fitting through this small spot. But honestly – that’s about the ONLY drawback to this van, so I call it a WIN! The kids all really loved it, too – so even though we do like our own van, we’re talking about switching sooner rather than ‘when we absolutely have to’, and the Kia Sedona is at the top of our list right now!

10 tips for holiday travel with kids

October 23, 2015 by Keri Houchin

The holiday season is coming up fast. Chances are that your family will be traveling to visit extended family sometime in November of December. Traveling with kids can be stressful, but planning can make all the difference. These 10 tips for holiday travel with kids are practical and simple.

Hello Busy Mom’s Helper readers! It’s Keri from One Mama’s Daily Drama and today I want to share some really simple travel tips. My in-laws live about 300 miles from my home and it usually takes us about 5 or 6 hours along winding rural roads to get to their house.

Although we don’t travel as much now that my kids are older (ironically), when they were babies and toddlers, we made that drive almost every month. How did I keep from going crazy?

I made a few small plans that had a big effect. I want to share them with you so that when you are traveling with the kids for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or any time, really), it can be pleasant for everyone involved no matter how far you are going.

Plan for stops on the road.

Kids have tiny bladders and the rocking of the car doesn’t help. Expect to stop every hour or two (depending on how old your kids are) for a bathroom break. If you check the route ahead of time, you can plan to stop at the cleanest rest stops instead of funky gas stations.

Consider your child’s nap schedule.

The rocking of the vehicle can lull a cranky baby to sleep. If possible, plan to drive during nap time. This way, when you arrive at grandma’s house, baby will be ready to wake up and play and hopefully her sleep schedule won’t be off too much.

Make lists and delegate responsibilities.

If you are not an uber-organized person, keeping track of everything you need for the trip can be a chore. Make a list for each person’s suitcase and let the kids pack themselves if they are old enough. You’ll also want a list of gifts, car essentials, and a few emergency items.

Bring plenty of snacks.

When kids (and adults) get bored, they also get hungry. Pack easy travel friendly snacks that don’t need refrigeration, like granola bars, pretzels, and dried fruit.

Pack some new entertainment.

Fun car activities don’t have to be expensive – or even cost. Before each trip, I print off several free coloring pages and puzzles. What makes them interesting is that they are new.

Borrow an audio book from the library.

Christmas carols on a CD will get old pretty quick. Instead, pick up an audio book from your local library for free. Find something that will be interesting to kids and adults. We like classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Bunnicula series.

Spread out the fun.

If you give the kids all of the snacks and entertainment at the beginning of the trip, they will be bored in 20 minutes. Instead, make sticky notes with times on them and stick them near the clock. When each special moment arrives, hand out a new coloring page or snack.

Give your child a map.

In an age where technology is everything, the simplicity of a paper map is magical. Trace the route you will be following and highlight a few landmarks that your child can look for. It will help with the inevitable “are we there yet?”

Plan for emergencies.

Nobody wants to think about the dangers of traveling, but it’s important to be prepared. If it will be cold, make sure you have the essential emergency supplies. Check the air in the tires and pack a spare. Let others know when to expect you so that if you are very late, they can take appropriate action.

Don’t stress too much.

Sometimes this is easier said than done. It’s important to remember the reason for your trip: to visit loved ones. The holidays are a joyful time when we get to visit the people we love and don’t see as often. If you need to make a few extra stops, they will understand if you arrive a little late. If you forget to pack something, you can almost always find an alternative.

Which one of these tips for holiday travel with kids do you think would help your family?

My New Favorite Gadget for Kids

October 22, 2015 by Danielle

I received a free VTech® Kidizoom® Action Cam to facilitate this review. All opinions and ideas are mine alone.

I’m a blogger (obviously), so my kids often see me with a camera, whether it’s my DSLR or my phone. They like to get in on the action, and have shown a major interest in photographing and recording their own adventures, creations and life. So I was THRILLED to try out this new product hitting shelves, and it turned out to be My New Favorite Gadget for Kids! And guess what? You have TWO chances to win one for your family!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Although I occasionally let them use my gear, it’s hesitantly and with great supervision because I don’t want it broken or damaged. Luckily, the new VTech®Kidizoom® Action Cam is child-friendly and withstands drops and bumps. You can even have your choice of yellow/black or purple colors to match your kids’ personality! It’s even eligible for Prime shipping on Amazon!

Our recent vacation to California seemed the perfect opportunity to test it out, including it’s waterproof case for underwater adventures, mounting accessories for bikes and scooters, and a wrist strap. They had a blast with it – and I really enjoyed going through all of their images and videos. It did take an initial ‘lesson’ to get them use to the buttons, and teaching them NOT to keep their finger in front of the lens, but after that they were on their own!

One thing they never really got when they used my stuff was their freedom – entirely what THEY wanted to photograph, from their own perspective. At our rental house pool, they did a lot of close-ups for the beach toys – which makes me realize how big certain things must seem to them compared to us. They also REALLY like to get close to people!

The quality of the pictures, even with the waterproof casing, was actually really great! Our kids from age 4 on up to the bigger girls all loved taking turns with it, and plan to make scrapbooks of their own footage from our trip.

While walking Downtown Disney, they captured a lot of what most interested them – and it turned out it was things I hadn’t really noticed myself! We also let them use it during the new Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland, and although it wasn’t the best at dark night-time pictures with bright, moving lights – it did surprisingly well.

The VTech®Kidizoom® Action Cam features three built-in games, stop motion and time-lapse options, as well as special effects including customized photo frames and filters. And yes, it got banged around TONS with the kiddos, especially in the parks and while swimming (they took it down the slide so many times I lost count) and is still top-notch condition. Seriously, it’s a sturdy beast! As far as cost, it’s priced perfectly – in my opinion at least (Ages 4+ years, MSRP: $59.99) or check the great prices available on Amazon! This is the perfect holiday gift, so get a jump start on your shopping this year!

And Guess What?!?!

This fall, VTech will also be hosting the Action Cam Back-In-School Contest in which parents can upload a photo or video of their child participating in their favorite sport or after school activity for a chance to win a Kidizoom Action Cam of their very own! So go have fun, take some pictures or a video, and send it in!

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Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements

October 1, 2015 by Danielle

I’ve heard of a lot of people that have trips coming up – it’s getting into the slower seasons at major theme parks, so it’s the perfect time to go! Whether you’re planning a visit to Universal next week or next year, get your kiddos prepared with these Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

Before we went on our first-ever visit to Universal last month, I made sure to look up the height requirements. Knowing ahead of time what each of them could and couldn’t ride saved a lot of fits and meltdowns! I still suggest using your own judgement – even if a child IS tall enough to ride, doesn’t mean it’s best for them. For example, Black Widow would’ve been ‘fine’ going on Revenge of the Mummy, but she would’ve been terrified!

You can download and print either a full-page 8.5×11 height requirement sheets – one for Universal Studios park and one for Islands of Adventure park – or a sheet with BOTH parks lists fit onto the 8.5×11 page.

Download Universal Studios Park 8.5×11 Here

Download Islands of Adventure Park 8.5×11 Here

Download BOTH Parks on one 8.5×11 Here

Several of the larger rides, such as Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, have ‘test’ seats outside the ride so you can see if it will fit safely and comfortably. If you’re not sure, try them out! I personally LOVED Escape from Gringotts – the kids’ favorite was Flight of the Hippogriff over in Islands of Adventure. We went on that coaster more than any other ride!

So get your plans all set for your next vacation to Universal Studios, print off these height requirements, and have a fabulous time! Book through Get Away Today for the best deals – and use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Heading to Disneyland instead of Universal Florida? We’ve got Height Requirements for there, too!

Happy Kids on an Airplane Without Electronics

June 27, 2015 by Danielle

The kids and I recently went on a trip to visit our families in Utah, and although the flight was making the travel part much easier, I was worried about the kids. It’s not a horribly long flight, except we did have TWO due to a plane change in the middle. That long sitting still in a plane doesn’t do well for these littles! Luckily I brought along a ‘secret weapon’ so I could have Happy Kids on an Airplane Without Electronics!

If you know us, you know we absolutely love LEGO® – hubby grew up all about building and creating with them, and still has totes of them that we love to play with as a family. I love the imagination it brings out in my kids – but I never considered taking them on a flight before, at least until I heard about LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcases!

Each of these come in a neat little suitcase (easily carried by the kids, which means less in YOUR hands) and inside are packed sets and simple-to-follow instructions.

My boys needed just a tiny bit of guidance as we put them together – but Black Widow did just perfect by herself!

Once we got the sets built, they didn’t need any help at all playing and using their imagination with their new pieces!

They were really excited about the little people that came in each set (2 sets per suitcase, if you were wondering).

They were happy to use their creativity to come up with fun stories, games and their own little worlds the entire flight – making it a much nicer trip for everyone! I always feel better when they’re using creative thinking skills and building confidence in themselves WHILE having a great time.

LEGO® JUNIORS is designed to give children age 4-7 a great first building experience with the LEGO brick through iconic, fun and easy to build models. And it doesn’t have to be ‘pink for girls’ and ‘rescue planes’ for boys – they love them ALL!

If you’ve got an upcoming trip – whether it’s on an airplane, car or boat – don’t leave home without it! The LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcase is the perfect travel companion to keep your youngster entertained this summer. Filled with an assortment of LEGO bricks and exciting role play components the suitcase is extremely portable— opening up a world of play possibilities anywhere you go!

I know, these photos are far from the best – but we were on an airplane with weird lighting and sun blaring in any open windows so I think I deserve some slack here 😉

Where would YOU like to take these fun LEGO® JUNIORS Suitcases this summer?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Over 100 Staycation Ideas

June 3, 2014 by Danielle

Don’t have the budget to swing an expensive vacation this summer? Even though Disneyland, cruises, and road trips are super fun, for the normal person it’s just not practical to splurge on one every single year. It’s still nice to have some type of family vacation, though, right? Well, here’s the list to save your vacation woes…Over 100 Budget-Saving Staycation Ideas!

Yesterday was Wonder Woman’s last day of 2nd grade, so our house is on ‘official’ summer break mode. Seriously, WHY do kids go crazy the DAY it’s summer break? Do they have a switch? Whatever it is, I do find it slightly annoying. Anywho…since we’re trying our hardest to get out of debt, we’re putting the big N-O to any big vacation plans this year. I don’t want to do NOTHING, though, so went on the search for some awesome Staycation Ideas. This list of over 100 ideas will have us spending plenty of staycation time together, and I’m sure there’s something perfect for your family, too!

Here’s 25 Awesome Staycation Ideas over at Living Well Spending Less

The Extreme Coupon Professors have 100 Staycation Ideas for Your Summer Fun

Six Sisters’ Stuff shared these 30 Cheap Staycation Ideas, and they’re fabulous!

Forbes has a list of 16 Things To Do On a Staycation that’ll help get your brainstorming going

My family (and sometimes just Hubby and I) will surely enjoy some of these 123 Amazing Staycation Ideas from the lovely Dating Divas

What better way to relax and enjoy yourself than with these 22 Ways to Turn Your Home Into a Staycation Resort from This Old House?!

Have you done any Staycations in the past that you absolutely loved? Please share in the comments below!