Summer Travel Tips with Eileen Ogintz

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Family travel can be the most exciting but also the most dreaded activity of the summer. The time spent planning trips, packing and taking the actual journey to your destination can be trying on any family. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time to get family summer vacations back to being the fun, anticipated activity that everyone looks forward to. Here are a few tips that can hopefully make your summer vacation less stressful and more FUN!

Vacation planning can be fun – and simple, too. The first step is setting a budget before you leave, so you can maximize the fun without leaving a big dent in your wallet. And you can make vacation planning so much easier just by using resources that are right at your fingertips! Chase gives their customers flexibility to manage travel spending with free account features called Blueprint. You can save interest on airfare, hotels, and other large vacation purchases, and avoid interest on everyday travel purchases, like gas and food. Blueprint is available on many Chase cards, including Chase Freedom, which was just recognized as the best gas rebate card of 2010! Chase Freedom customers get more cash back when they sign up for 5% on rotating categories, like travel spending this summer, and 1% on everything else. For more information, visit www.chase.com.

Deciding where to stay when embarking on a family excursion can be overwhelming. One good thing to do is to find lodging that gives you the space your family needs at a price you can live with. Residence Inn by Marriott provides room for everyone to spread out and they have kitchens so you don’t have to eat out every meal and even free breakfasts. Visit www.residenceinn.com for more information.

Save significantly if you drive instead of fly; or go green and take the train, where kids travel for half price! If you are flying, consider sending your bags ahead to avoid airline fees. Also, look into package deals. You can save as much as 30 percent if you book air-hotel-rental car together!

Finally, picking a destination is the most important factor to any trip. Whether you’re visiting a large city or taking a trip home to visit relatives, you want to be sure to ask the whole family for input on the final destination choice. You may want to ask yourself, “What does my family like to do?” Are you a family that likes visiting beaches and lakes? Do you like visiting theme parks or taking historically themed vacations? These factors can add to choosing your summer vacation destination for 2010. One favorite summer destination is Georgia. It has so much to offer. The North Georgia Mountains are great for hiking and fishing. You can pick up the 100-mile Antebellum Trail in Athens and experience some Civil War history, or enjoy the coastal experience in historic Savannah or on islands like Jekyll and Cumberland. To learn more, and book your family vacation, visit www.ExploreGeorgia.org.

Have a wonderful summer!

Contact Information

Cherron Garrett

Producer

KEF Media

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