It may be statistically true that flying is the safest way to travel,
but let's face it: driving FEELS safer. And depending on your
destination, driving may also be cheaper, faster and more
comfortable.

You can't stop a plane and let your 4-year-old run around the
rest stop. But in your own vehicle, you can move at your own
pace, let your kids sleep in their underwear, keep root beer in the
cooler, and play Sesame Street's Greatest Hits 1,843 times.

Road trips can be excellent budget excursions, as long as they
are well thought out and everyone is prepared for the drive. Here
are some ideas to make things go smoothly -- and inexpensively:

Have the car serviced regularly. Regular tune-ups and oil changes
will keep your car in good condition, and a well-running car will
burn less gas and require fewer major repairs. Always have the
tires inspected before a trip, and always make sure you have a
spare in good condition.

Learn to do things yourself, like adding window washer fluid,
adding coolant, checking the oil, checking the tire pressure or
adding air to the tires, changing a fuse.

Join AAA or another nationwide roadside service. If you ever need
help on the road, they're just a phone call away. And many
hotel chains and restaurants offer nice discounts for AAA members.

Hotels with a *kids eat free* restaurant on-site are a better deal
than those *free continental breakfast* deals, which may turn
out to be stale donuts and terrible coffee.

Better yet, pack breakfast bars, juice boxes, dry cereal, peanut
butter, crackers, fruit cups, trail mix, apples, oranges, bananas,
muffins and other stuff your kids will eat. Eat breakfast in your
hotel bed, while you map out your activities for the day.

My kids laugh at me, but I also bring along a small hot-pot,
canned soup, canned ravioli and other things they like. Saved
me from having pizza delivered plenty of times.

Speaking of packing -- in addition to bringing along any prescription
medication, make sure you create a *wellness kit* with
over-the-counter fever reducer (like Tylenol), cold tablets,
allergy tablets, nausea and diarrhea potions, antibiotic cream,
and a few band-aids. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a
gas station at 2:00 in the morning, plunking down $6.99 for
a tiny bottle of baby Tylenol.

Safety Tip: If your destination is a hotel in an unfamiliar city,
have your the kids memorize the name and address of the
hotel, as well as the room number. Let them call the front
desk for practice -- ask for a wake-up call or find out where
the nearest movie theatre is. Make sure they know how
to call someone back home in case of emergency.

Enjoy the view. Remember that getting there is half the fun.
Travel is the best of what life has to offer, up close and
personal. Don't miss it. Don't let your kids miss it, either.

© Kay Bolden 2002

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About the author: Kay Bolden writes about family travel
and adventures in parenting for many print and online
magazines. She is the author of Think Outside the
Minivan: A Guide to Adventure Travel with Your Kids,
available at her website, www.kaybolden.com. She
publishes the online FamilyFest Newsletter,
http://www.FamilyFestNewsletter.com.