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June 22, 2016

The Complete Family Road Trip Packing Checklist

The kids are out of school and summer vacation is upon us. Road trip season is in full swing. But before you pile everyone into the vehicle for the excursion, there are a few road trip essentials you should make sure you have on hand. This checklist of what to bring on a road trip will make the trip much easier. So take your trusty vehicle in for routine maintenance and make any necessary arrangements so you can get started on packing all of the road trip must haves. Best of all, you can save with a promo code on your necessities and earn Cash Back at Ebates on your purchases from our easy road trip packing checklist.

Snacks: No road trip is complete without a nice supply of snacks. Just steer clear of chocolate and other meltables that may be destroyed during pit stops.
Water: Keep some extra bottles of water on hand for when stopping isn’t an option.
First Aid: Don’t forget to pack a first aid kit that includes supplies for any number of situations. Be prepared with everything from anti-nausea medicine to band-aids for scrapped knees from roadside adventures.
Hand Sanitizer: This miracle concoction will not only rescue you from questionable bathroom selections but will also help clear up any sticky residue left behind from snacks.
Tissues, Napkins & Baby Wipes: Baby wipes aren’t just for babies. Baby wipes, tissues and napkins are handy for cleaning up messes from the kiddos or from the adults.
Small Cooler: Keep your beverages and other goods cool with a small cooler and a steady refill of ice.
Sandwich Supplies: Ditch the fast food joints and create your own roadside picnics instead. You’ll save money and be able to take in the local scenery at the same time.
Sunscreen: Wherever you end up, you’re going to need broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30. Don’t forget to reapply often for proper protection.
Sunglasses: Protect your peepers with the proper eyewear so you can take in all of the sights for years to come.
Auto Documents: Make sure you’re prepared with copies of your registration, insurance and roadside assistance contact information.
Hat: Protect yourself from the sun with a hat that provides a nice amount of shade.
Empty Bags & Baggies: Keep trash off your floorboards and protect your valuables from splashes with a good stock of empty bags.
Tickets & Confirmations: Bring along printed copies of all of your tickets and confirmation pages in case there are any mixups.
Coin Purse & Change: There might be many toll roads in your future so plan accordingly. It also doesn’t hurt to have a few extras for smashed penny souvenirs.
Poncho or Umbrella: Plan for the unexpected with rain gear for the whole family. An umbrella can also double as additional sun protection.
Jacket: Account for cooler nights or unexpected cool fronts with jackets for all of your passengers.
Headphones: Headphones allow each passenger to enjoy their own road trip entertainment while the driver can maintain control of the main radio.
Device Cords & Batteries: Your electronic devices are only as good as their battery supply if you forget the power cords. Spare batteries allow you to keep non-rechargeable devices going as well.
Travel Games: Quell boredom with travel-friendly games for the backseat crew.
Children’s Lovies: Pack your children’s favorite toys to fend off complete meltdowns far away from home, especially around bedtime.
Travel Pillow: Enjoy a mobile nap with a comfy travel pillow that will allow you to rest while on the go.
Earplugs & Eye Mask: Whether it’s to curb the sounds of other passengers during a nap or to fend off unfamiliar sights and sounds at your destinations, these items can be very handy.
GPS navigation unit: Don’t rely on cellular reception that can be spotty during road trips. Pick up a stand-alone GPS navigation unit with traffic updates and lifetime maps.
Roadside Safety Kit: Don’t get caught in a difficult situation. An emergency roadside safety kit should definitely make it onto your road trip packing list.
Books: Ditch the digital and grab some old-fashioned bound books for everyone to enjoy.
Music: Your streaming service may not work everywhere and radio selection can be questionable. Bring along some downloaded music or CDs so you can jam out wherever you are.
Camera: Capture all of those memories on a rugged camera that can stand up to all of your adventures.
DVD Player: Fight boredom with a DVD player and some household favorite movies.
Footwear: Whether you’re hiking mountain trails or sandy beaches, make sure you have the proper footwear for the occasion.
Bug Spray: Get rid of pests like mosquitos with bug spray so you can truly enjoy your adventures.
Beach Gear: Last but not least for our road trip list, if you’re hitting the beach, be sure to pack swimsuits, towels and sand toys to enjoy.

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July 20, 2015

6 Road Trip Games Anyone Can Play

Passing the time on a long car ride can seem a bit tedious. There are only so many things you can read, songs you can sing and topics of conversation you can cover. And that’s just when traveling with adults. Kids’ games will definitely keep you sane on family road trips but not all are car friendly. No matter who you plan to hit the highway with this summer, we’ve got a list of six super fun road trip games for passengers of all ages.

Grocery List

Exercise your brain with this basic yet challenging memory game. The first player names a grocery store item that starts with A, like apples. The next player has to repeat the first item, apples, then add a grocery store item that starts with B, like bananas. Repeat with the next players to cover all the letters of the alphabet. The first person to forget an item on the list loses.

Story Chain

This is a great game for kids to stretch their imaginations. But it’s also one of the funniest road trip games for adults, allowing them to get a little…suggestive. Start a story with one sentence, something like “Once upon a time, there was a princess.” The next person adds another sentence and so on. There’s no winner but there will be plenty of laughs.

20 Questions

This classic game may seem easy but can be a real head scratcher. One player picks a noun and tells the group if it is a person, place or thing. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about the noun and the first person to guess correctly wins. This is one of our favorite road trip games for kids because it calls for them to do what they do best—ask questions!

Who Am I?

Take the 20 Questions game and get personal or test your pop-culture knowledge. The first player picks a person that everyone in the car should know, whether it’s a family member, fictional character or celebrity. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions and, again, the first player to guess the correct identity wins.

Alphabet Soup

A game of keen observation will keep the kids quiet and the adults sharp when energy levels are crashing. Name objects in alphabetical order. Every player can jump in at any time to name an object and collect a point, but the objects have to be said in alphabetical order. The player with the most points wins. Play the game with objects you see on the road, types of cars, letters on license plates or all of the above!

Virtual Hide and Seek

This is one of the best road trip games ever because kids and adults will have just as much fun playing. Pick a place everyone in the car will know about, whether it’s your family home, your office building, your old high school, etc. Pick a space in that location to “hide.” The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about where you are. The first person to guess correctly wins.

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June 2, 2015

4 Tips for Traveling with Kids

Traveling requires packing and planning at any age, but adding young kids into the mix? Things can easily get a little overwhelming. If you’re going to be traveling with your children in the near future, check out these tips to minimize stress and make your trip an enjoyable one.

1. Plan Your Destination Wisely

The best way to ensure that things go smoothly when you’re traveling with little ones is to plan, plan and plan some more. Minimize any uncertainties ahead of time by making sure that you’ve covered all of your basics with passports, visas, hotels, flights, car rentals and immunizations as far in advance as possible. As you get closer to the date of departure, things will be much easier for everyone.

Along the same lines, look into family friendly options with established resources for parents with young children. There’s no shortage of resorts that can cater to your needs. All you have to do is find them. And when you do place your bookings, use travel coupons from Ebates to find a deal.

2. Be Judicious About Your Packing “Essentials”

Let’s face it, if you’re traveling with children, you’re going to run into over-packing issues. While you might think a third sweater is necessary, your children are not going to be chilly in Orlando in mid-June, trust us.

Start off with the items that you and your family use on a daily basis like a stroller or car seat. They’re the essentials you need most when you’re traveling, but if they’re not going to fit in your overhead compartment, consider investing in a travel-friendly option using BuyBuy Baby coupons. When you’ve covered the basic essentials, move onto clothing, but bringing only what you need is the key to success when packing.

3. Bring Bribes

Inevitably, travel is going to lead to more than one incidence of an exhausted kid, and your best bet for a quick solution is a bribe. While you might not be a fan of the “bribe your kids” school of parenting at home, you have a little more freedom to indulge your kids while you’re on vacation. It’s a different frame of mind, and everyone deserves a treat every once in a while, especially if it’s going to keep them calm, happy and tantrum-free.

4. Kids in Flight

There’s a special place in heaven for parents that can keep their child peaceful for the duration of a long flight. Although there’s no set formula to guarantee a calm flight for your kids, you can certainly take a few precautions to help things out. CNN suggests flying while they normally sleep. If you can take a red-eye to your destination, the chances of getting your child to sleep through a long flight are going to be dramatically higher, making things easier for everyone. But if you’re on a shorter jaunt, just make sure you have enough hours of prerecorded entertainment to keep them busy for the length of the flight. Another episode of Sesame Street anyone?

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February 24, 2015

Travel Essentials: 11 Items to Make Any Trip Easier

Whether you are a solo adventurer or you’re traveling with your entire tribe, getting away has its hassles. From sensible packing to keeping little ones happy (and yourself from going insane), this ultimate list of travel essentials eliminates your questions on what to pack and guarantees smooth sailing during your next “bon voyage.”

1. SHOLDIT Infinity Wrap Purse
Forget fanny packs or even the hidden ones you strap under your clothes. How uncomfortable does that sound? Instead, carry your small essentials with easy access and stay in style with this infinity scarf-turned-purse.

2. Prince Lionheart Backseat Organizer & Kickmat
Long car rides with toddles can wreak havoc on the backs of your seats. This kickmat and organizer protects your upholstery with one easy install.

3. Snack and Play Travel Tray
Another must-have for family road trips, this travel tray will keep everything your little one needs within arm’s reach to reduce the need for pull-overs or dangerous reaching behind your seat.

4. Triangular Crayons
Whether you’re in a plane, train, or automobile, these crayons will not roll away so your kids can keep creating while you get closer to your destination.

5. Travel Jewelry Case
We’ve all opened a suitcase to reveal a tangled mess of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that we have to spend precious vacation minutes untangling. Avoid this time suck with a small and simple travel jewelry case with multiple compartments and ample protective cushioning.

6. Foldable Water Bottles
That hefty plastic water bottle is great when it’s full, but takes up precious cargo room when it’s empty. These foldable bottles are reusable and roll up for easy storage when not in use.

7. EarPlanes Flight Ear Plugs
The change in air pressure on flights can be painful for tiny ears. These ear plugs relieve the pressure and reduce harsh noise naturally with their exclusive CeramX Filter.

8. Tegu Blocks
Perfect for babies and toddlers, these wooden blocks are magnetic, making them hard to slip out of little hands.

9. Travel Compression Bags
There is really no other way to pack your clothes than with compression vacuum bags. The space they take up otherwise is just ridiculous, especially if you’re planning a long trip and don’t want to deal with a Laundromat.

10. Car Seat Transporter
Car seats are heavy and bulky but can easily roll along with this simple car seat transporter. You can even strap your little one in if you need to run and catch that next flight.

11. Colorescience Powdered Sunblock
Putting on extra sunblock on the go is always a sticky ordeal. This light and airy powdered sun protection goes in on a flash so you can get back to your getaway.

What are some items you never travel without? Let us know in the comments below!

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