Travel Tip: Booking the Lowest Airfare

When I plan a trip, I go to great lengths to make sure I am getting the cheapest airfare possible. My dad worked for the airlines, so I grew up flying free and so I hate paying for a ticket. Over the years I've made a few observations that help feel confident I'm getting the best fare out there. Here are 3 tips to help you get the best fare for your upcoming travels:

1. The lowest listed fares are usually on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

2. Use Expedia, Orbitz and other travel sites to see available fares, but make sure to double check the airline site. Often I can save $5-10 on service fees, and they have more time options.

3. Figure out what you will be paying to check baggage, for the emergency exit row, etc. Many airlines have extra fees these days. I love Southwest because they don't have baggage fees . I recently booked a trip on a different airline because the fare listed was cheaper. After getting to the airport and paying over $100 (each way) for baggage fees, it would have been cheaper for me to fly Southwest.



Wondering which airlines are best for traveling with kids? Check out my earlier post, "Favorite Airline for Traveling with Toddlers."

Chit Chat: A Pleasant Surprise

We recently traveled to Buffalo, NY for a vacation/family reunion with Kevin's family. I was pleasantly surprised when we got off the plane, and once in the airport saw a Fisher Price "Play Gate!" This was the first time I had ever seen anything like this in an airport.

I decided that this gate would be a life saver for us on the way back. Since we had to return our rental car 3 hours before our flight, I made a mental note that we would head straight to Gate 58 (the play gate) after going through security. This would be a great way to entertain Baby Boy (and tire him out) before boarding our flight.

The following Saturday when we got to the airport, we did head straight to the play gate. Baby Boy had fun playing with the other kids and discovering all the new toys. I now have some great ideas for Christmas, or things to watch for on Craiglist and at the local consignment stores.

Two of the toys that entertained Baby Boy the best were:

Laugh & Learn™ Smart Bounce & Spin Pony™

Teaches:

• Cause and effect


• Familiar objects


• Animals


• Animal sounds


• First words


• Greetings

Laugh & Learn™ Fun With Friends™ Musical Table

• Promotes understanding of letters, numbers, shapes, colors, opposites and greetings.


• Teaches in English and Spanish.

• Introduces baby to sing-along learning and role play.

• Fosters thinking skills and encourages problem-solving with numerous action/reaction activities.