The prospect of traveling, whether within the country or abroad, can be very exciting. There are so many places to go and things to do! It’s a little easy to get carried away with planning events and there may be a need to adjust the budget a time or two accordingly. When preparing for travel, it is wise to keep in mind ways to keep the costs down. There are many ways to decrease expenses and have a pleasant trip.

There are, however, some things that should not be skimped on. One of these is travel insurance. It may be fun to frequent a local market a time or to rather than the fancy eatery. But while insurance may seem like an expense that you can forego and the likelihood is great that you won’t have occasion to use it, it is a precaution that you should be prudent to work into your budget.

You’ll want to determine what advantages you’d like to include and locate a reputable agency. There are quote sites available that allow you to enter specific criteria including age. Within a company there are different plans. Determine what amenities you’ll really need. If you are not carrying sports gear or equipment, for example, you will need a smaller amount of coverage. You may be able to rent some of the equipment when you arrive. Take note to the difference in plans- some have cancellation policies that may cause you to lose out depending on the reason. If you have an unexpected event that causes you to cancel your trip, you should be able to re-book when convenient for you without it costing you again. Some plans refund a voucher, some give back cash. Even if you can’t afford the most expense plan, basic coverage will give you a bit of security and peace of mind so that you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

To keep the cost down, there are many options available. Many travel agencies have discount program available depending on the age of the travelers. There are plans for the over 65. To take advantage of some of these discounts, it may be as simple as a call to your local agency. Or, you might complete some online searches to compare prices from one company to another.

Often, depending on the trip you’d like to take, there are group rates available for the travel itself or for individual events when you arrive. This is an additional savings that means it may benefit your pocket to travel with friends.

By this point in your life, you may have accumulated ‘frequent flier’ miles. These can help with your budget as well so that that you needn’t skimp on the insurance. Be a bit resourceful, do your homework, and you will be able to have the vacation you want.

With a little hunting, on average, the over 65 crowd should be able to arrange at least a 10 or even 15 % discount from their travel insurance costs.

Dan Pucher Insurance is an independent Travel, Health Insurance in Canada Broker offering personal and corporate solutions. When looking for Visitors and information on Canadian Travel Insurance please give us a call

“You’re driving how many hours with three children?” Looks of horror or sympathy often accompany this reaction when our friends learn we are taking yet another road trip.
Sure we enjoyed flying, when there were only two of us. But soon after our first child became a full-fare airline passenger at the age of two, we realized that driving would be far less of a strain on the family budget. We purchased a minivan and our destiny was sealed: we were officially a road trip family.
With a little advanced planning, the journey can be something of an adventure rather than an ordeal. Here are eight tips for planning an extended car trip with your children:
1. Kids enjoy being a part of the planning process. Involve them in mapping the route and talk about the attractions you might visit. There are even child-friendly maps and atlases available for your child to track the journey.
2. Pack water bottles and juice boxes in a small ice chest, along with healthy (and not too messy) snacks like cheese sticks, grapes and pretzels. Packing entire meals is a good option if you are adverse to the idea of fast food, but the trade-off is you’ll probably have to squeeze a larger ice chest in your vehicle.
3. Get your toddler or preschooler accustomed to going to the restroom when everyone else does. For the very newly toilet-trained, consider bringing a potty chair that can be used in an “emergency.” And don’t forget to bring along hand sanitizer and toilet seat covers for rest stops and gas stations.
4. Let your child choose two or three favorite toys that will fit in their backpack or tote bag. Avoid toys with lots of small parts that can easily be lost. And if you’ve ever tried to remove melted crayon from upholstery, you’ll know not to leave any crayons in a hot car.
5. Provide special travel games or activity books that are new to your child just for the trip. Rather than giving them several toys at once, doling out individual toys at intervals throughout your journey will help your child appreciate each new thing and increase its enjoyment.
6. If you’re fortunate enough to have a DVD player in your vehicle, allow your child to pick out a few movies and bring along a never-before-seen movie or two in addition to the favorites. Headphones can be invaluable for those times when the driver wants to listen to a CD or audio book without being drowned out by the kids’ flicks.
7. Allow time for “stretch” breaks. This could mean a longer meal at a restaurant with a play area, a romp in the grass at a rest area, or a short walk around a scenic viewpoint. We find that our grown-up legs need to work out the wiggles just as much as our little ones’ do. If you’re driving for more than a day and staying overnight at a hotel, find one with a pool or playground for the kids to burn off energy. They’ll have something to look forward to and should sleep well that night.
8. Keep a positive attitude. At some point the kids will probably whine or get restless. An impromptu game of “I spy” or “Twenty Questions” or even a silly song can often break the monotony.
Too soon the experience will be over and life’s routines take over once again. The memory of the endless expanse of highway fades and you’ll find yourself making plans once more? for the next family road trip.
Celia Fielding is a mother of three and Communications Director for http://traveltoys4kids.com, an online store featuring award-winning activity books and games for families on the go. Her family recently enjoyed a 15-hour road trip from Central Texas to Arizona.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather the family, but how to keep children interested, while in the car or sitting in airports? Have them keep a diary. Travel With Nothing beats getting your family together for Thanksgiving. It is a good time to catch up and laugh about old times. The only aggravating thing, of course, is actually travel to meet. Already there are stories of travel nightmares in the press two days before Thanksgiving. This can be especially worrisome if you have children who are easily bored. In these days of the Internet and videogames, the average child seems to have an attention span of about 30 seconds. If a glassy-eyed child killing things on a screen is not your idea of good, what alternatives do you have? Give your child a journal of writing is a great way to keep them busy without resorting to violent video games. For many children, the only way to get your attention on a Thanksgiving trip is to participate. The best way to do this is to give them a magazine and ask them to write down everything they seem. At day's end, they should be encouraged to write a journal entry about what happened during the day. It will give them an outlet for their thoughts, promote good writing skills and preserve the experiences of the family that otherwise would be forgotten over time. A good magazine for children combine a number of features. First, it should be compact. Secondly, you must have a case to protect it from rain, spills and only because children are children. Third, the journal should contain blank areas for notes, doodles, etc.. Finally, the journal should contain spaces signal to remind children to pay attention to certain things and write them. Cues should include: 1. Who has been on family holidays, 2. Places visited and why they are important, 3. The most memorable experience every day, 4. New friends made and the contact information for them, 5. That family members were present, and 6. Impressions. As time passes, a family holiday magazines remind your kids will travel in the past. Memories fade with time, even for children. By keeping a journal, children open their eyes to the things around them, improving their family reunion on Thanksgiving. I hope that will keep them busy and away from the games. Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of writing journals. Travel magazines are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Http: / / www.nomadjournaltrips.com Visit for more travel articles, travelogues and travel stories.