Everyone knows traveling with small children and young kids can be a challenge even on a good day. Here are some fresh ideas for families who travel, and an unusual one for expecting parents!

1. Keep young children safe in a seat belt. We all know that lap belts aren’t safe for little kids in cars, and the same goes for airplanes. Airlines don’t offer over-the-shoulder harnesses for kids, but you can get your own from CARES. Instead of carrying a heavy, cumbersome car seat on board, take a lightweight CARES harness that fits in your pocket and is easy to install in any plane seat. Your child will be safer and you will have peace of mind.

2. Keep older kids connected.  Older kids like to venture out on their own—whether you’re traveling as a family, they’re on a teen tour, or just visiting a friend. And you want to know where they are and what they’re doing. I’mOK is an iPhone app that makes it fun and rewarding to check in. Each time kids check in their location shows up on your phone. They can then add more information, such as whom they’re with and what they’re doing. They can even send pictures. And for every detail they provide, they earn additional points that can be redeemed for rewards you’ve agreed on in advance. As the I’mOK web site says, “It’s knowing without the nagging.”

3. Take the Stress out of the airport with this app. GateGuru is a phone app I use (and recommend often) every time I travel. Instead of wondering where to eat, where to buy a book or a souvenir, where to find the services I need, I now click on GateGuru and get all the answers instantly. Especially when you’re traveling with kids, you want to know what food options will be available past the security check point, where the bathrooms are, and where you can take them to pass some time or buy a toy if your plane is delayed. GateGuru tells you all that and much more. The app is free and available for both iPhone and Android users. More great apps for frequent travelers. 

4. Use Wanderfly to help you book the best flights*, hotels, and excursions. Not sure where to book… and want any easy way to coordinate the flights, hotels, and the destination? Go to Wanderfly and get inspired. Wanderfly, a web site that shows all your options, based on your personal criteria, and take the agony out of decision-making. Type in your budget and the dates you have in mind, then click on the kind of trip you think the family will enjoy and see what comes up. *I always recomend to people traveling with kids to book nonstop whenever possible and to get an early flight when delays or cancellations will be less likely.

5. Last chance for a “Mancation!” Okay, you’re expecting, and that’s exciting. Expectant moms get baby showers, but what about the dads? Babyshowerforguys.com thinks men should have a last fling, and they’ll help you plan a “mancation” to enjoy before your little bundle arrives. Let’s face it, your spouse probably doesn’t want to go fishing or golfing anyway, so while she’s doing girlie things she’ll be happy for you to indulge in a bit of harmless manly fun before you turn into a dad.

Airplane travel during the height of the holiday season can be tough enough, but when you’re traveling with young children it can make the whole trip seem not worth the trouble.  Here are a few tips that will make flying with family a lot less frustrating and more fun for everyone.

1. Do plan in advance. Make lists of what you’ll need for each family member and check it off as you pack. The last thing you need is the added anxiety of forgetting some essential item or having to run out at the last minute to buy more diapers.
2. Don’t assume that you’ll be able to buy whatever you need at the airport. Have a supply of baby wipes, diapers, and bottles or juice boxes in your carry-on before you leave home. Reasonable quantities of formula, baby food, breast milk, and juice are not subject to the TSA’s 3.4 ounce carry-on limitation and do not have to be in a quart-size zip-top bag.
3. Do make sure you have enough supplies and medicine in your carry-on to get you and your child through a day or two of lost luggage.
4. Do bring toys to keep your child occupied during the flight. But don’t bring things a baby or toddler can bang on the tray table or seat back to annoy your fellow passengers. And don’t bring toys with too many tiny pieces that can get scattered and lost or toys that make al lot of noises or beeps. Soft toys or a coloring book and crayons are good options.
5. Don’t try to save money by booking a flight that requires you to make a connection. Changing planes with kids can be a hassle, and particularly during the holiday season there are bound to be delays and cancellations that could cause you to miss your connection. It’s true that even a direct flight can be delayed or cancelled, but at least you’ll be minimizing your risk of getting stuck in an airport with a tired toddler. And you’ll also maximize that chance of you and your luggage winding up in the same place at the same time.
6. Do book a morning flight if possible. Any delay or cancellation during the day can cause a domino effect, and the earlier your flight the less likely it is to be caught up in a cascade of cancellations.
7. Don’t pre-board if your child needs a few more minutes to burn off some energy. The less time your child has to sit in his seat the less likely he’ll be to get bored and start fussing. Of course, the exception is if you need extra help or time organizing your bags/stroller, then by all means pre-board and settle in.
8. Do take your child to the bathroom in the airport before you board the plane. And if you have a baby in diapers change him before you get on the plane. The fewer diaper changes you have to make in-flight the better off you’ll be.
9. Don’t let your child run up and down the aisle while in-flight. Not only is that disturbing to your fellow passengers it’s also dangerous. If you hit sudden turbulence the child can get hurt, and flight attendants need to be able to get around without having to worry about tripping over a child.
10. Do be aware of the seat belt sign at all times, and don’t get up to soothe a screaming child if the sign is on. Better to let a child cry than wind up with both of you falling or banging your head on the ceiling if the plane suddenly “drops” due to clear air turbulence.

Want to travel like a Pro? Wonder what the secret is for the traveler who never seems to get flustered when everything is going wrong? Whether you are flying out for business or pleasure, these tips that are proven to help you have a better trip!

In this video from my interview with “The Look’s” Maggie Rulli I tell you:

1. How to be prepared in case things go wrong. Doing this will give you piece of mind for your trip.

2. What you should never leave home without.

3. What you should always do once you step on airport property.

4. What will make YOU a standout for that last minute (free) upgrade to First Class. And you will never hear this from the airlines.

5. What I always have in my suitcase that makes me feel at home.

Now that most people are taking their vacations, I am often asked for my advice on how to deal with post-vacation transition. Whether you’ve been away for a week or a month, you want to make it as easy and effortless as possible to get back to the reality of your everyday life.

That means just a bit of planning before you leave so that there are no unpleasant surprises (or forgotten errands to complete) when you put the key in the door and all you want to do is relax. Here are 5 things you can do to make that re-entry as seamless and stress-free as possible.

1.   Let’s face it, the end of a vacation is harsh enough. I think that there is nothing better than to come home to a “stocked” clean house and fresh sheets. Take care of all those  errands that are tempting to put off like going to the dry cleaner, grocery store, and shopping for essentials. Its so much easier to come home (and off Cloud 9) when you know that you don’t have a huge TO DO list.

2.   Make sure you leave food that will keep in the freezer, refrigerator, or cupboard so that you have something in the house to eat if you arrive late at night, if your flight is delayed, or you’re just too exhausted to shop. Also, toss anything before you leave that will expire in your absence.  I always leave milk in the freezer (sounds weird, but it defrosts perfectly) so that I have it the next morning in my coffee.

I am delighted to speak with Carol Martin, founder of  Sit ‘n Stay Global, LLC, a company that provides a supremely safe and luxurious experience for corporate clients traveling on private jets with their pets. As part of her deluxe service, Carol and her staff are all trained in pet first aid and CPR; travel with a pet oxygen mask, a pet flotation device, and pet seat restraints; and they begin each flight with a thorough passenger briefing on pet safety.

With Carol’s pet travel expertise in both commercial and private aviation (she was a commercial flight attendant for many years), I wanted to ask her a few questions about how to care for our animals and the best way to prepare them for their journey.

Carolyn: What do you recommend people do to prepare their pets for air travel – commercially?  If the pet is in the cabin (small) or if the pet is checked below?

Carol: First and foremost, do your homework and be prepared.  Just like a successful trip for you doesn’t come together without some planning and research, neither will it for your pet if you just “wing it” and show up at the airport unprepared.

- Go to your air carrier’s website and look up the rules for traveling with your pet.  They will be very specific about what documents you will need from your vet in order to check in.  Just as you will not travel if you show up at the airport without proper ID, your pet will not travel without proof of immunization and confirmation that he or she is fit to travel.

- The airline will also be specific about the size and type of carrier that is allowed if you are checking your pet in the cargo area or if you are bringing your pet in the cabin.

- Be advised that most airlines will not accept pets for travel in cargo during the hot summer months, so be sure to read carefully if there are any embargoes on pet travel due to weather restrictions.

- Check with foreign countries for additional requirements if traveling abroad.

Carolyn: Do you recommend sedating your pet before you fly?

Carol: To sedate or not sedate the pet is an age-old discussion that I am not qualified or desiring to weigh in on.  This is something you evaluate based on your pet’s personality and discuss with your vet.  I can tell you that there are natural alternatives out there including Rescue Remedy and Melatonin (yes, the stuff humans take to help them sleep) that can help calm pets naturally.

Carolyn: How do you prepare your pet for travel?

Carol: The day of the trip, only feed a very light morning meal and water.  Make sure you do this with adequate time before the flight so your pet can have a full trip to the relief area (if you know what I mean) just before entering the airport.  On the average length trip your pet will not starve if not eating a normal schedule, but will be more comfortable if not feeling the pressure to move meals.  If your pet comes in the cabin with you, refrain from over-snacking to pamper… it only leads to other urges that nobody really wants to deal with in flight.

Carolyn: Is there any other advice you think is important to remember?

Carol: This is very important, be sure to put your pet’s favorite bed or blanket in the carrier with them.  This dose of familiarity with all of the smells of home is the most comforting thing in the world to your pet.  Throw in a few favorite toys too, good ol’ smelly ones.  Don’t bring something new like you would for a human child, it just won’t smell right!  If your pet is traveling in cargo, put an item of your clothing in the carrier too, just a reminder that you are not far away.  Also attach a leash to the carrier handle (not to your pet)so someone can walk or transport your pet in the event of an emergency.  Attach a pet-passport to the leash with you and your pet’s name, a picture of you together, vet information, and contact information.

Carolyn: I am a huge App fan, are there some you recommend for pet travel?

Carol: Yes! Check out: Pet MD Finder  which gives you health information and tons of other stuff too, or MyPetED where you can store all of your pet’s health information or find a vet on the road.

Carolyn: Thanks so much Carol, that was very informative and really great advice!

Summer is here—the height of the season for visiting friends in the country or at a beach house. Whether you’re a mother sending her teenager off for a weekend with a friend (and friend’s parents) or you’ve been invited to the boss’s house for the first time, unless you’ll be staying at a grand manor house with a full staff of servants, the rules of good guesting are pretty much the same for everyone.

1. Never arrive empty-handed. That means, bring a house gift (Dean & Deluca has great gifts baskets like the one above). Depending on the circumstances, it could be anything from some nice wine to a basketful of gourmet goodies to a lovely scented candle, or, if you know your host and his or her taste well, a decorative item for the home. Your gift doesn’t have to break the bank but it needs to show that you’ve put some thought into what might be most appreciated.
2. Be neat. Keep your belongings to yourself and your room neat and tidy. Whether it’s your shoes, your sun tan lotion, or your glasses, it belongs in the space you’ve been given, not left around in the common living area. And whether or not you’re in the habit of making your bed, hanging up your towel, and generally cleaning up after yourself when you’re at home, now is the time to adopt those habits—even if it’s only for the duration of your visit.
3. Always offer to help. Assuming your host and/or hostess don’t employ a “staff,” your helping out (or at least offering to help out) with food prep, clean up, and whatever other chores you see them undertaking, is not only appreciated but expected. Your help may be refused, but it will be remembered—as will your failure to make the offer.
4. Arrive and Depart as planned. If you’re invited for Saturday and Sunday, don’t show up on Friday, and don’t decide it would be great to stay over Sunday night and leave on Monday. Even if your hosts say they’d be “delighted,” it really isn’t good form to arrive too soon or stay longer than expected. And if you’ve been a good guest, you’ll probably be invited back—maybe even for a longer visit.
5. Send a thank you note. Always. No matter how antiquated it may seem in the age of emails and texts. Tiffany & Co. sums it up beautifully: “All good guests write thank-you notes. Very good guests also call the next day.” Send a thank you note, and do it right away. And sorry, that doesn’t mean texting or emailing*; it means sending a hand-written note on a nice card and putting it in a mailbox. (In case you’ve forgotten, those are the big blue and white metal containers you still see on many street corners.) *If your host is traveling or doesn’t receive mail easily you can send a very tasteful and prompt note from Paperless Post.

When is a vacation not a vacation? When you’re just as stressed as if you’d never left home! Here are 7 tips for making sure that you do recharge and don’t waste your vacation time dealing with unnecessary stress.

1.     Tie up loose ends. Make sure you don’t leave anything at home to nag at you when you’re away. That can mean anything from paying the bills that are coming due to leaving your home neat and tidy. No one wants to come home to overdue bills, an unmade bed, or a refrigerator full of food past its prime. We’re all different, so be sure you take care of whatever “business” would otherwise be stuck in the back of your brain while you’re trying to relax on the beach or take in the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

2.     Don’t over-schedule. Give yourself some time to switch gears. We all seem to think that the second we leave home we will automatically shift into full relaxation mode. But it doesn’t usually work that way. So if you go with the expectation that it will take a couple of days to unwind, you won’t wind up stressing about not being instantly unstressed.

3.     Make up your own mind. By all means do your research and get advice from your friends about what to see and do in your vacation destination, but don’t let their information limit your spirit of adventure. You just might discover that there’s a museum or a restaurant or some kind of activity nobody mentioned that sounds interesting to you. Don’t cross anything off your list just because it wasn’t recommended. Go for it. Otherwise you could be missing out on what turns out to be the highlight of your trip.

4.     Unwind. Give yourself some downtime. If you schedule every moment of every day, you’ll be living the same overscheduled lifestyle you were trying to get away from when you booked your vacation in the first place. And don’t be intimidated into thinking that it’s not okay to do nothing, if nothing is what you want to do. The goal is to return relaxed and recharged, not needing a vacation from your vacation.

5.     Unplug. Even though you’ll probably be taking your BlackBerry, iPad, or laptop with you—who doesn’t these days—try to unplug as much as you can from what’s going on at home. Remember that this is a vacation, not a work at home day (or week or weekend).

6.     Be open. You probably chose your vacation spot to see and experience something new and different, so don’t expect to find the same culture and customs you’re used to at home. Not only other countries but other parts of the United States probably do things differently from what you’re used to. That’s the fun part of traveling, so go with the flow. If you wanted things to be exactly like they are at home, you might as well have saved your money and taken a “staycation.”

7.     Make sure to have  a “cushion day.” When you book your return flight, make sure you build in at least a day (“cushion day”) for  two reasons. First, the better your vacation was, the more important it is for you to give yourself “re-entry” time to adjust to your  non-vacation life at home. You can use the time to unpack, go through the mail, and restock the fridge. Second, if your flight is delayed, canceled, or you get home later than expected you have you won’t have to stress because you have a day for “Plan B” if you need it. Worrying about flight delays can undo all the good you did yourself by getting away from it all.

I know, it’s a supremely nasty subject no one wants to talk about. Even I don’t want to talk about it! But bedbugs are an unpleasant reality of life these days, especially for travelers (all travelers), even in the most luxurious hotels.

So what I do want to talk about is a new, proactive, eco-friendly solution to the problem: BedbugLogic Protection and Treatment Spray.

Developed by Jill Taft and her partner in the Logic Product Group after she rented a summer house in the Hamptons that turned out to be infested with bedbugs.

This is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic, pesticide-free spray that kills not only the bedbugs themselves but also their eggs so that they don’t take up residence in your luggage or your surroundings. Best of all, it does this by using natural, biodegradable enzymes that leave no harmful residue on humans.

It comes in a variety of sizes, from a gallon refill bottle to a convenient  travel friendly 2-ounce TSA-approved size.

Family vacations are right around the corner. Traveling with a small child, the elderly, or the disabled can make the whole process a bit more stressful than it already is for other people, but there are ways to make it easier for everyone involved.

1.     Book a direct, nonstop flight. Whenever possible, its bets to go directly to your destination even though it may cost a bit more. That way you won’t have to worry about missing your connecting flight or even finding out that it’s been cancelled, thus putting you in the uncomfortable position of having to camp out in an airport. And if you do have to make a connection, be sure to leave plenty of time (at least a couple of hours) in case your initial flight is delayed or just to get to the next gate, or, in some cases, to a different terminal. The goal is to keep the stress level as low as possible for everyone.

2.     Depart early. Try to book the first flight out in the morning the plane is more likely to already be at the gate (having arrived the night before) and, therefore, your flight is less likely to be delayed.

3.      Sit up front. Reserve seats as close to the front of the plane as possible. Not only will you be less affected if you should run into turbulence but also you’ll be among the first to debark.

4.     The best seat… Try to book an aisle seat for anyone who has a mobility problem so that they’ll have less trouble if they need to get to a restroom. Children, on the other hand, will probably enjoy sitting by the window and looking out at the sky.

5.     Always arrive early! Get to the airport early so that you have plenty of time to clear security, and be sure to let an agent know that you’re traveling with a small child or a special needs passenger. (You can even do this when you book your tickets.) The agent will then make certain the information is in the Departure Report so that the crew is alerted and prepared to help you. This is especially important if you need a wheelchair or electric cart to help the elderly or disabled to get to the gate.

6.     Speak to the Agent. When you get to the gate, let the agent know about your situation so that you can board early and get settled before the majority of passengers descend on the aisle. Doing this will lower not only your own stress and that of the person you’re traveling with but also the stress of other passengers who won’t have to wait while you and your traveling companion get seated.

7.      Keep your medicine close. Keep all medications in your carry-on luggage and make sure you have a big enough supply to last ten days to two weeks beyond the date you expect to return home! Although it’s unlikely your return will be delayed that long, things do happen, and the last thing you need is to be worried about getting refills or running out of medications.

8.     Choose a low floor. Book a hotel room on a low floor so that, in case of an emergency evacuation, you’ll be able to get out as quickly as possible. I know that no one wants to think about worst-case scenarios, but planning ahead is the best way to put your mind at rest so that you can enjoy your vacation.

9.     Choose the right room. Many hotels have specially equipped wheelchair accessible rooms, so be sure to ask when you’re booking your reservation. And even if you or your companion is not confined to a wheelchair these rooms also have amenities such as wider doorways and grab bars that can be helpful to anyone with mobility problems.

10.   The Concierge! When you arrive at the hotel, ask the concierge about venues, restaurants, and events that will be most accessible for a special needs traveler. Or, if you’re with a small child, find out about kid-friendly activities and eateries. Your concierge should be your one-stop go-to person for advice, reservations, and arranging transportation.