travel

With already-available technology, every provider of door-to-door transportation service become linked

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”

Amid all the shimmer and shine of the new year, many of us find ourselves spending longer than usual on inner reflection — wondering how we might pursue a passion or thinking hard about whether our own skin is still a good fit.

Now is the time of year where most people are planning to get away to see something different, gain new experiences, or just get away for rest and relaxation.  Whatever that is it will probably cost money. Hopefully, you have set aside money to ensure your vacation is the experience of a lifetime.  Here are some money-saving tips to help you keep your wallet afloat while on vacation.

When it comes to travel, writer Janey Womeldorf knows her way around. She has worked as a tour guide in her native Bath, England, and as a travel agent in Germany. Now, as an Orlando, Fla., transplant, she's the in-house theme-park planner for her extended family. Over the last decade Womeldorf has coordinated family trips that include toddlers and  adult children as well as grandparents.

You’re having a great trip and then, boom, you fall off your bicycle and break your leg. Just ask Secretary of State John Kerry, who did just that in France recently and had to cancel the rest of his European diplomatic trip.

Summer travel often means staying in a hotel or motel room, or in a succession of hotels if you’re on a tour. It can be a great luxury, but especially if you’re moving from one place to another every few days, it can get confusing. I’m sure every one of us has left something in a hotel room: a converter plugged into the wall, your toothbrush, clothes hanging in a closet.

Notice to travelers: If your family is traveling with three generations, it’s a multigenerational trip, according to AARP. One third of travelers have made multi-gen travel a family tradition because it provides quality time together. I can relate.

I’m always surprised when I hear friends or colleagues say that their families rarely get together for reunions. That’s because between me and my husband, there are at least a couple to choose from every year. So we usually pick one and set aside some vacation time for it.

Any high-school junior or senior about to accompany her or his mother on a college tour will feel understandably nervous about fitting in.