My night sleeping like royalty

(Oh! Did you think this was going to be a blog post about how to beat jet lag and have your little prince and princess sleeping like a dream? Reach out to us here; we would love to share all our tips and tricks with you!)

There’s just something about castles that grabs our imaginations. My two sons, from a very early age, loved to dress up as knights and pretend they were defending their castle from the “bad guy” raiders (the oldest once dressed our middle child up as a dragon and then tried to “defeat him,” but that’s another story for another day). Princes and princesses, knights, lords and ladies… something about all of it enthralls us.

Historians (castleologists?) estimate that Germany has between 12 and 25 THOUSAND castles and many- or their ruins- can still be toured. Some are even now available for weddings, events and- like Arenfels castle where my family stayed last summer- great places to spend a few nights of your family vacation.

So how do you go about finding a castle to stay in for a whole or part of your next family trip? As simple as it sounds, it helps to know the word for “castle” in the national language (in German it’s schloss) to help in your search, especially to find the smaller castles that often provide an amazing experience at a fraction of the price. Quite a few countries have associations of castles that will contain good information, including ways to book. Airbnb, Booking.com and VRBO all have filters to search for “unique properties” like a castle or estate. And don’t worry, you don’t necessarily have to book the whole place: Schloss Arenfels, for example, offers a variety of rooms to potential guests.

A castle is more than just a place to lay your head, though. Many castles are still family- or small business-owned and operated, and will most likely love to share more about the castle and the surrounding region with you. And, of course, take advantage of any tours and other programs the castle may have available; many castles in Germany, for example, offer a tour in English a few times a week. We also recommend choosing the “bed and breakfast” option when it's available; who doesn’t want to eat a delicious European breakfast in a 14th century dungeon or wine cellar?!

Even with jet lag, picky eaters, mishaps and unknowns, family travel is fun. Staying in a castle for all or part of your family vacation is a great way to get to know more about the peoples and cultures of your host country and a unique experience your family won’t soon forget.

Successfully Packing Light

Kids come with a lot of…extras. Toys, safety equipment, strollers, feeding tools, and all the gear. You seemingly can’t leave the house without a diaper or tote bag busting at the seams, so how are you going to holiday in a different country while traveling light? Believe me, it’s possible! Whether out of desire or necessity, you can have a successful trip while packing light.

Your Luggage Matters

My husband and I can approach certain purchases quite differently. I’m usually looking to save money, while he focuses on the long-term investment. After 13 years of marriage and a whole lot of travel under our belts, I’ve come to see his approach as the wisest one. Investing in high quality, durable, and lightweight luggage is something I advise everyone to do. In the days when airlines are really pinching their pennies and issuing tight restrictions on luggage weight, it’s important that your luggage is as light as possible in order to maximize how much you can bring (and also, bring back home with you!).

Have A List

Before every trip, I make an itemized list of what I am packing for each member of the family. Seeing it written down helps to keep me organized and to make sure that I stick to a plan instead of throwing in a lot of extra outfits at the last minute. It also helps for packing up on the return trip, too! I try to keep the same rules for every member of the household (for example, everyone brings 2 swimsuits, 2 pairs of shoes, and 7 outfits). In terms of clothing, plan in terms of multifunctional, mix - and - match pieces. This way you can get the most mileage out of your clothing while still keeping your wardrobe feeling fresh during your travels.

Plan To Do Laundry

One of the reasons why we usually opt for staying at apartment rentals is for the convenience of doing laundry. That way, we only have to pack clothes for half the number of days if we do laundry mid-trip. (And let’s be honest, when traveling with kids, things are bound to get messy and dirty and need a good clean sooner than you anticipate) If you opt for a hotel rather than an AirBNB or VRBO rental, check to see if your hotel offers laundry services.

Make The Most of Your Space

I was first introduced to packing cubes when I backpacked around Europe with friends after graduating college (cliche, I know). That was my first time having to be extremely mindful of what I was packing, as I was literally carrying everything on my back. My friend told me that packing cubes were a non-negotiable and after using them for that trip, I’ve never looked back. Packing cubes serve multiple purposes that are helpful when traveling with a family. For one, they allow you to fit more into a space as the clothes get (slightly) compacted. Secondly, it’s easier to keep clothes wrinkle-free when packed in cubes (although the debate rages on whether to fold or roll clothes…I prefer to roll!). Lastly, it’s a great method for separating peoples’ clothes. This is especially helpful if you are sharing suitcases! When my family of 5 went to Croatia for 15 days last summer, we packed carry-on only. Packing cubes were a tremendous help in being able to do this. I assigned each person one packing cube, put all our swimsuits in another, and our beach towels in yet another. And that was that!

Purchase At Your Destination

Think about what you absolutely need to bring versus what will be available to purchase (or rent) at your destination. Things like diapers, wipes, sunscreen, and general toiletries are easy to find in grocery stores or pharmacies in most places. Also, if you are renting a car and trying to travel light, consider renting a car seat through your rental company. This is of course an extra charge, but some people find this convenience worth every penny.

Test Run! Weigh Your Luggage

This is one step many people overlook! Weighing your luggage is especially important if you are flying a budget airline or if you just can’t cut back on what you plan to bring for your family trip. And don’t forget to take into account space (and weight) for souvineers you might plan to bring home (wine from France? Leather shoes from Milan? German beer? Bulky Norweigan wool sweaters?).

Try these tips above for your next family adventure and let us know about your success in traveling light!

How to Find the Best Flights

Sometimes it feels like finding the best flight deals is next to impossible, unless you’re willing to search at exactly 2:27am on the third Wednesday of the month, while wearing one sock on your right foot and three rings on your left middle finger. Impossible, right?

Guess what: it doesn’t have to be that difficult. You just need to know a few tips and tricks we’ve outlined below, and you’ll be on your way to some of the best flight deals around the globe.

Tip #1: Utilize Google Flights

If you don’t know about it already, make sure you bookmark the Google Flights search page, a great tool to use to search across multiple airlines and days. While a very few number of airlines don’t list their flights with Google, the vast majority do. Google Flights also has extensive filters that are easy to utilize, as well as an easy multi-city function. One warning: we always suggest booking directly with airlines over a third party vendor. While these vendors may have slightly lower prices, they usually provide no support should you have to deal with a flight cancelation or delay. Google Flights almost always shows both the third-party and direct airline option.

Tip #2: Fly on Certain Days

Travelers used to claim that flights were always cheapest on Tuesdays. And while that might have been the case at some point long ago, it’s simply not true anymore. What is still true, however, is that it’s cheaper to fly on certain days over others. According to an analysis done by NerdWallet, if you want to save a little on domestic flights, look to depart on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And if you’re headed off internationally, book those international flights for Wednesday.

Tip #3: Consider Nearby Airports (for arrivals & departures)

Here in the Washington, DC area, we’re lucky to have not one but three airports to choose from (four if you include Richmond, VA) for our departures, and prices can vary significantly depending on which one you choose. Likewise, many large cities around the globe either have multiple airports or large cities close by that can save you hundreds of dollars. Interested in Edinburgh? Consider flying into Glasgow, an hour’s train ride away and often a hundred dollars cheaper. Want to soak up the sun in Naples, Italy? Check flights into Rome, paired with a train ride down the coast of Italy.

Tip #4: Off-Season (or Earlier Season) Travel

We get it: most families understandably choose to travel during the summer break from school. Unfortunately, that also usually means higher prices, longer lines and crowds, crowds, crowds. But here’s a pro-tip if you’re traveling to Europe: European school summer breaks don’t usually start until mid-July, making travel in most of June and earlier July much less crowded and potentially less expensive, especially once in-country. It’s also worth considering off-season travel: the holiday markets of Germany and Austria are gorgeous during the winter, or the beautiful Croatian coast shines in the early autumn. The South of France for Spring Break? Oui, s’il vous plaît!

Tip #5: Book at the Right Time

Here’s one way procrastination rarely pays off: waiting to purchase airline tickets. According to Scott’s Cheap Flights (now Going), domestic airline tickets should be purchased between one and three months before departure, while international tickets are usually best booked two to eight months before departure. While last minute deals can be found, the best prices usually fall within these windows.

We know traveling with your family- especially when children are young- can be stressful. But booking your flights doesn’t have to be. Just remember these 5 tips and you’ll be well on your way to a fabulous family vacation.