I’m in the planning stages of a 1400 mile road trip from Minneapolis to Boston. It’s my first road trip since the good ol’ family vacation days so I’m very excited to break out the road atlas and get started!

Here’s our pre-road trip checklist:

1. Schedule a car tune-up. The chosen car for the journey is in impeccable condition but it needs all of the fluids checked and the oil changed before we go.

2. Map out the route and the pit stops along the way. Don’t forget to pencil in fueling stops and other important landmarks to stop and see. Here are some helpful resources I discovered while browsing online:

• AAA Triptik - great for handy travel guides
• National Register of Historic Places - I’ve found a few historic sites I’d love to visit, if there’s time!
• Plan for speed bumps and detours - National Traffic and Road Closure Information
• Take the road less traveled - America’s Scenic Byways

3. Make a packing checklist. Along with the obvious things like clothes, IDs, credit cards and the camera, we’ll also need to pack a few road trip needs:

• Audiobooks
• Car emergency kit
• Change for tolls (calculate your toll cost [for-profit site]- looks like we’ll be paying over $40 for tolls - that’s a lot of change!)
• Cellphone and car charger
• Cooler filled with water and snacks to fill the gap between stops
• GPS
• Maps and road atlas
• Roadside assistance membership card and emergency contact number
• Sunglasses (make it easier on your eyes as you drive)

4. Other helpful resources we plan to print out and use:

• Get Better Gas Mileage - 11 top tips from drivers and mechanics
• Road Trip Travel - Get Ready!
• Links and Resources - top resources to help you plan your trip

Am I forgetting something? How do you plan for a road trip? Share in the Comments below!

By Steven W., our family blogger

Cruising can be an ideal way to travel with young children due to the many onship activities and programs for your children, and due to the convenience of your cabin and the dining room when returning from a day long excursion.

We enjoyed a 15 day Hawaiian cruise aboard the Diamond Princess last November with our 1 year old and 4 year old. Here are some unique travel tips we learned that other families may find useful:

1) Get online early

On the first day that online access is available for your cruise, sign up for the children’s program (”Princess Pelicans” for our cruiseline), Reserve shore excursions, and make spa appointments. If you wait just a day or two later, the prime times will be booked already.

2) Create a master calendar

Write down dinner reservations, shore arrival/departure times, spa appointments, excursion info, and any special event times you don’t want to miss. There is so much to see and do during the cruise, that a master calendar really helps you get the most out of your vacation.

3) Pack a wristwatch for each adult

You may think that you won’t need to know what time it is during your cruise, but you will. There are few if any clocks on board, not even in your cabin. We had to turn on the television to see the time. Cell phones could be useful, but they should be off. A waterproof watch is useful both for the spa and the beach.

4) Pose for pictures every night before or after dinner

Unlike most professional photographers, there is no sitting fee charged for the photographers aboard the ship (depends on the ship). So, gather up your family and pose for pictures every night before or after dinner. You won’t have to pay or buy anything, and who knows, one of the photos may turn out great!

Bring your own USB memory key to get digital copies of your photos. And wait until the end of the cruise then buy several photos in a package deal.

5) Eat dinner at the same table every night

This may sound boring, but if you want to enjoy your dinner, it is best to find a good waitstaff, and then stick with them for the duration of the cruise. Your child’s needs (highchair, milk before you order, extra alphabet soup) will be met quickly as the waitstaff gets to know your family, leaving you with more time to relax and enjoy your meal.

One more tip: pack a goodie bag of inexpensive little toys for each child for each night in the dining room. This will keep the kids entertained while waiting for the adults to order and the food to arrive.

6) Rent a mini-van (with a carseat) for excursions

On most, if not all, of the Hawaiian islands, I would recommend renting a minivan.
We did this at Hilo and Kauai, and it worked out great. You can go at your own pace, see the sights you want to, and stop whenever the kids need a meal break or potty stop.

Every island stop had rental car shuttles to take you to the airport to get your vehicle. Plan on spending an hour to get the car and an hour to return the car, reducing your time by two hours. But it is well worth it for the flexibility it gives your family, and much less expensive than the organized excursions.

7) Use the porter

When traveling with kids, a porter is a necessity, not a luxury. Don’t try to save $20 by unloading and loading your luggage yourself. They help with luggage during arrival and departure. Tip generously upon arrival and you may find your luggage gets to your room before you do.

Happy cruising, and let us know if any of these tips helped you! Email us your tips!!

Related Articles:

• Plan and Book Your Cruise
• Day of Launch
• What to Do About Motion Sickness, Theft and Other Aboard Mishaps

Memorial Day weekend is unofficially the “kick-off” weekend for summer. Summer means hot weather, cool nights, barbeques, baseball, road trips, poolside vacations and summer camp.

What’s your favorite summer activity? Get ready for the summer ahead with these top articles and tips:

• On the Road: Top 6 Biking Tips
• The Long, Hot Summer: Resources for Camp, Child Care and Family Travel
• Top Ten Summer Travel Tips

Speaking of fun summer activities, we’re looking to launch our new section on Motorcycles sometime next week!

Have a motorcycle tip or story? We’d love to hear it! Post it in the Comments section below or email us!

By Mark E., our newest blogger, WhatHappensNow staff member and traveler extraordinaire. Welcome Mark!

Are you an “illegal” traveler? Of course you’re not (I can hear you saying no). Well, before you answer no (again), chances are you could be and not even know it.

On a recent trip back from the Virgin Islands, my travel plan was to have a brief layover in Miami before heading home to Minneapolis. However, I was told at the check-in counter that my return booking was “illegal”. “What?” I said. “But I’ve booked online through a travel site.” I had all my flight confirmations, ID and passport organized and right there as proof. I had just helped a little old lady across the street. I had petted a stray dog. So now I’m “illegal” - what gives?

Ok, ok, while the term “illegal” might be a little strong, it was the term that the check-in counter used – and I did indeed violated an airline policy. I had booked my trip through a travel website and the 40 minutes of time allowed for layover in Miami was insufficient per the airline’s 1 hour standard for layovers.

What can this mean for you?  Basically, that all bets are off and the airlines responsibility of getting you home per schedule is lifted. What could happen if you don’t book a longer layover:

-         worst case scenario: they don’t let you on the plane

-         your luggage won’t route correctly and may be delayed

-         you won’t make your connection time and may have a longer layover (which the airline may or may not pay for if overnight)

While you may not be aware your online booking company is violating layover times, there are some smart things you can do in advance to be prepared and help the airline booking people help you:

1)      When booking your next flight, pay attention to your layover times. If traveling internationally and booking a connection, shoot for a layover that lasts at least 1-2 hours. Why so much time? When returning home to the U.S. you’ll need to grab your luggage and clear customs, even if you’re a U.S. citizen. And that takes time.

2)      Learn the airlines’ policies

3)      Be as cooperative and helpful to the ticketing staff - that includes being prepared
to help them help you

As it turns out – I did get on the plane to leave the Virgin Islands (a little bittersweet there…).  However, I had to spend the night in Miami on my dime and my luggage arrived at my home destination two days after I had got back.

Lesson learned?  Be prepared, because petting the stray dog isn’t gonna get you any points.  Help the old lady though. It’s just a nice thing to do.

Headed away for the weekend? Don’t forget to turn off the iron or take out the trash before you go!Top 5 tips from your fellow travelers:

1. Arrange to have a friend, family member or trusted neighbor check on your house, take care of pets, water your house plants, take out the trash, get the mail and newspaper.

2. Reconfirm all your reservations (hotel, rental car, airline, taxi, etc.).
3. Check the weather for your destination(s). Take out or add extra items to your luggage, if necessary (think umbrellas, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets). Worried about driving through certain weather hazards?

• Read our articles Winter Driving and Driving in the Rain for quick driving tips.
• You can also check out real-time traffic conditions and road closures.

4. Driving? Do a quick car maintenance check before heading out on the road – check your oil and gas levels; check headlights, turn signals, brake lights, inside lights; test your brakes, horn, windshield wipers, etc.

5. Set timers, turn off appliances and be sure to double-check windows and doors to make sure they’re shut and locked tight.

Have fun!

Three guys, all in their early 20s, have embarked on what they’ve dubbed the “Great American Road Trip” - an attempt to visit all 48 contiguous states in just five days.

Their car of choice to last the 7500 mile drive? A Toyota Scion packed with plenty of snacks, iPods and laptops to keep an update on their blog (they were in Alabama this morning - watch their progress here).

Road trips are usually the vacation choice for many families - just think of all those great roadside attractions - but with gas prices reaching new highs, suddenly road trips don’t seem so appealing.

Not to worry! Here are a few resources and helpful hints to make your next road trip smooth sailing:

• Get Better Gas Mileage - 11 top tips from drivers and mechanics
• Road Trip Travel - Get Ready!
• Links and Resources - top resources to help you plan your trip

Share your road trip stories below!

By Steven W., our newest guest blogger!

A dad with two young kids, Steve has great everyday advice that can make everyone’s life just a little easier. Welcome Steve!!

While most emergency kits are kept in the trunk, there are a few key items that should be carried in the glove box, to help prevent an unexpected situation from becoming a major inconvenience. Fast access to these items may even prevent a dangerous situation or emergency from occurring.

1) Car power adapter for your cell phone

Your cell phone is great for getting directions, for calling a tow truck, or for reporting an accident. Always carry the car power adapter in your glove box so you won’t be caught with a weak battery when you need to use your cell phone the most. When you get a new cell phone, always buy the car power adapter. Consider it required equipment, not optional!

2) Twenty dollars cash, plus some quarters

Unexpected toll bridges or toll roads are minor nuisances if you have cash on hand. But if you don’t have any cash, they can be a major headache. Twenty dollars is also the price of an emergency gas can with one gallon of gas from most gas stations.

3) Paper and a pen/pencil

Paper and a pen or pencil should be in within easy reach of the driver, perhaps in the door pocket. This is handy for writing down license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, or street names in case you witness an accident or road rage. Unfortunately, when calling 911 from your cell phone, the hold times could be lengthy (depending on the time of day and where you are) before you can actually talk to the operator, so it is best to write the details down while they are fresh in your mind.

**Better yet: Print out WHN’s easy-to-fill-in accident forms and store these in your glove box!

4) Plastic grocery bag

Keep a plastic grocery bag rolled up in your glove box, to be used as a motion sickness bag, in case you are in traffic and can’t safely stop when an occupant is feeling sick.

5) Disposable camera

A disposable camera with a flash can be used for taking accident damage photos in daytime or at night. You may want to take a photo without getting out of your car, if necessary, so easy access is required.

If you are using a rental car on a trip, pack these items in a small bag and take them with you. Your odds of needing directions or encountering an unexpected toll bridge are much higher when you are in an unfamiliar area.

While no emergency kit will prepare you for the wide variety of situations and emergencies, a few key items kept readily at hand can be a big help.

• For a larger emergency kit list, go here.

Thanks Steve! Have a topic suggestion for Steve or other bloggers? Post it in the Comments section below!

Oil prices hit another all-time high again today meaning gas prices are also soon to rise again.

If you’re still driving, here are some top gas mileage tips from our favorite car mechanic and expert, Lauren Fix, The Car Coach:

After researching a query from a reader, I rediscovered a gem of a website we’ve already linked to in the past: the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division’s website.

Focusing on the consumer side of air travel, the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) operates a complaint handling system for consumers who experience air travel service problems. They also have a plethora of helpful tips for any traveler whether you’re a frequent flyer or a once-a-year vacationer.

Here are the top five tips from their site I found to be the most helpful:

1. Refunds. Contrary to the belief of some, airlines are not required to compensate passengers for “damages” when flights are delayed or canceled. Compensation is required by law only when you are “bumped” from a flight that is oversold.

2. Delayed passengers - food and amenities. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport. There are no federal requirements regarding these amenities or services. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will pay for meals or phone calls. Some do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers.

3. Know where your bags are checked to. They may be checked only to one of your intermediate stops rather than your final destination if:

• you must clear Customs short of your final destination, or
• you are taking a connecting flight involving two airlines which don’t have an interline agreement (e.g., Southwest Airlines does not transfer bags to other carriers).

4. Avoid overnight stays. When selecting a flight, remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due to “ripple” effects throughout the day. If you book the last flight of the day, you could get stuck overnight.

5. Consider paying by credit card, which provides certain protections under Federal credit regulations. For example, in all recent airline bankruptcies passengers who had charged their fare and were not provided service were able to have their credit card company credit their account for the amount of the fare.

• Aviation Consumer Protection Division
• Get Ready: Air Travel

With airplane bankruptcies, mergers and cancellations due to wiring regulations, who knows what the busy summer travel season will bring.

Here are a few top tips from bloggers and top travel columnists:

1. Know your rights in terms of delays and cancellations. “For example, you may have the right to a meal voucher if your flight is delayed more than four hours. If you miss a connection because of a flight delay, you may also have the right to be booked on the next available flight,” says Gerri Willis, CNN. “This can be found in the airlines’ contract of carriage. To find that info, go to the airline’s web site. It’s a good idea to print it out and take it with you.” Read Gerri’s other tips here.

2. Save money by nixing curbside services. “American Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways, for example, have already instituted a $2 per bag fee (tip not included) for curbside bag check-in service,” says Harriet Baskas in her article for MSNBC.

3. How to get a hotel room upgrade: Pay a higher rate. “The higher your rate, the better your chances of being extended special favours,” says Daniel Edward Craig, Vice President of Opus Hotels and blogger. Read more of his hotel tips here.

4. Want more? Last summer we spoke with Scott McCartney, the columnist for Wall Street Journal’s The Middle Seat. Read what he had to say… 

• Get Ready: Air Travel
• Flight Delays: What to Do!