• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Family Travels on a Budget

Travel with kids: theme park family deals, cruise ships for kids and best cruise lines for teens and other cool places to visit, including adult getaways

  • Home
  • Travel guides
  • Cruising
  • Destinations
    • USA
      • Alabama
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Louisiana
      • Maryland
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • South Carolina
      • Texas
      • Utah
      • Virginia
      • Washington, DC
    • World
      • Bahamas/Caribbean
      • Canada
      • China
      • France
      • Mexico
      • Spain
  • Interests
    • Adventure
    • Arts/Culture
    • Beaches
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Girlfriend Getaways
    • History
    • Kid Fun
    • Romantic Escapes
    • Teens and Tweens
    • Theme Parks and Zoos
      • Disney
      • Universal Studios
      • Other Theme Parks
      • Zoos
  • Reviews
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Products
    • Tech
    • Books
  • Travel Tips
    • Air Travel
    • Budget
    • Packing
    • Planning
    • Roadtrips
  • At home
    • Recipes
    • Shopping
    • Staycations

Home » planning

5 time-tested pro tips to save money at Disney World

May 16, 2016 by Karen Dawkins 6 Comments

Ellie meets Disney Princesses

Planning a Disney vacation is so exciting! With more than 20 visits to WDW under our belts, we’ve found ways to save money at Disney World without sacrificing any of the fun. These practical tips to save at Disney are super easy to do, too!  5 tips to save money at Disney World Save $53on a […]

Filed Under: budget, Disney, planning

How to plan the perfect girls’ getaway

March 17, 2016 by Karen Dawkins 1 Comment

One thing I appreciate about my kids getting older is having the freedom to travel without them sometimes, especially for a girls’ getaway. There’s something special about taking a break with women who get each other — all that uninterrupted talk. Bliss! Planning the perfect getaway can be tricky, though. Hopefully, these tips will help […]

Filed Under: Girlfriend Getaways, planning

50 by 50

March 11, 2016 by Karen Dawkins 2 Comments

As my 50th year dawned (one year ago today), I decided to try 50 things I’ve never tried before — new places, new foods or new experiences. No saying no! It’s my version of the “50 by 50” challenge! Today, as I celebrate my 50th birthday, I look back on the past year with wonder. Some […]

Filed Under: Blog, planning, Uncategorized

The one thing you need to know to enjoy travel with kids

January 19, 2016 by Karen Dawkins Leave a Comment

Yes, you read that title right. There is one — and only one — thing you really need to know to enjoy travel with kids! Any guesses? (Go ahead, guess. I’ll wait.) If you guessed: pack snacks, go to Disney, visit any other kid-centric destination, send them to grandma’s, or bribe them… You are wrong! […]

Filed Under: planning, Planning, travel tips

Family vacation planning as easy as ABC!

October 22, 2015 by Karen Dawkins 3 Comments

Does taking a road trip with your kids sound more painful than a root canal at the dentist? This article is for you! Even if you enjoy road trips with the family, I think these ABCs of family vacation planning will make your trips even more fabulous! It took me 20 years of traveling with […]

Filed Under: planning, Planning, travel tips

10 things I learned on summer vacation

August 6, 2015 by Karen Dawkins 8 Comments

When Ben and I set of for our Illinois road trip, I knew we’d enjoy the adventure. I figured we’d learn a thing or two about Illinois and about ourselves. I really had no idea we’d learn so much on our summer vacation! 1. About 60% of the corn produced in Illinois is exported to […]

Filed Under: Blog, planning

3 tips to choose the best carry-on luggage

July 30, 2015 by Karen Dawkins 3 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links Every time I travel by air, I see more people having to check their carry-on luggage at the gate. There’s no room for it in the cabin overhead bins. If you don’t fly often, this news might surprise you. The reality is: Gone are the days of empty flights […]

Filed Under: Packing, planning, travel tips

Why eating local is a great vacation option

May 24, 2015 by Karen Dawkins 25 Comments

Today’s post comes from my friend, Julia, who happens to be a food editor for Paula Deen Magazine. I figure, if we’re going to talk food, why not go to someone who eats her work and then writes about it every day! Here’s Julia… I love good food, and there’s nothing I love more than […]

Filed Under: Food, Interests, planning

Use the CVB to Discover Your Own Backyard

March 3, 2013 by Karen Dawkins 17 Comments

I’ve lived in the Raleigh area for twelve years, grateful to be close to beaches and mountains. We visited Raleigh’s parks and free museums, too. But the city offers so much more that I’ve just recently discovered. The Raleigh area is home to world-class museums, theater, symphony, opera and ballet, professional sports, golf, incredible festivals […]

Filed Under: At home, planning, Planning, staycations, travel tips

Email Travel Organizer

October 23, 2012 by Karen Dawkins 14 Comments

For people who plan their own vacations, keeping track of everything can be tough. Hotel reservations, rental car confirmations, airline ticket purchases, and activity information is easy to get, but how do you keep track of it all? In our family, we have a traveling teen in the mix as well. He’s 18 and attending […]

Filed Under: Planning, planning, travel tips

Next Page »

Meet Karen Dawkins

An avid traveler, I enjoy discovering new places: history, culture, and adventure. I love it all! Well, not bugs. I don’t like bugs very much, so I probably won’t visit a bug museum.

Read More

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

**This site may contain affiliate links and sponsored posts for which I earn a small commission to help cover the costs of running a blog.**

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme Theme URI: http://my.studiopress.com/themes/news/ Description: A mobile responsive and HTML5 theme built for the Genesis Framework. Author: StudioPress Author URI: http://www.studiopress.com/ Version: 3.0.2 Tags: black, red, white, one-column, two-columns, three-columns, responsive-layout, custom-menu, full-width-template, sticky-post, theme-options, threaded-comments, translation-ready, premise-landing-page Template: genesis Template Version: 2.0.1 License: GPL-2.0+ License URI: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in