Business and pleasure: Blended travel gains momentum

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Vacations are casualties during recessions, as you saw yesterday: two-thirds of Americans have canceled theirs already. Well, you may have a chance to recapture the family experience by combining it with a business trip. This “blended travel” approach, which got me to Savannah, Georgia and Little Rock, Arkansas as a kid, has become more popular, according to some industry experts. To me, it’s hardly surprising, given that one of the plane tickets is already covered and, depending on how you structure it, you can get at least some of the hotel room picked up by the company, too.

Of course, there are other opportunities to recapture some cash, too. If you work for a large company with an employee discount program, you could be able to add nights to your trip at a low cost, cut the cost of meals and attractions and maybe even save a little on your flights.

And, it looks like this is going to become the norm. According to MSNBC:

A survey conducted earlier this year by the Meredith Corporation, the publisher of Family Circle magazine, found that of readers who travel for work, 77 percent took along a family member or significant other on their last business trip, and 47 percent do so the majority of the time.

[photo by ToastyKen via Flickr]

Jog at rest stops – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

When you pull into a rest stop to refresh, include a 3-5 minute jog or brisk walk.

It helps relieve the stiffness from sitting in the car and gets the blood pumping. It also provides children an opportunity to run and scream.

When you finish, do a quick stretch. Now you can be awake and alert for the road.

[Photo: Flickr | MikeBaird]

Build up your summer at the Atlantis LEGO workshops

by Tom Johansmeyer on


I wish these existed when I was a kid, and I have to admit, I’m even kicking around going as an adult. The Atlantis is offering three five-day LEGO workshops this July. Kids will get the chance to work with a LEGO Master Builder in hands-on challenges. And, parents can play at the same time. The program is designed to help families spend time together and express their creativity.

The program at the Atlantis includes all activities and LEGO materials, a chance to swim with the resort‘s dolphins, lunch every day for the kids and a variety of other activities, but rooms are separate and require a four-night stay. The three sessions are: July 12 – 16, 2010, July 19 – 23, 2010 and July 26 – 30, 2010. Pricing is $425 per session.

Have a road trip scavenger hunt – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Planning a family road trip? To avoid hours of boredom, plan a “scenic scavenger hunt.”

It’s easy. Just write down a list of 100 things you might see along the way, like landmarks, buses or bridges. The first person to complete the list wins.

For preschool kids, substitute magazine photos and trim the list to twenty familiar objects. For older kids, include a challenge: require them to provide one additional fact about each item they find.

Have fun. And by the time you reach the end of the road, you won’t be at the end of your rope.

Roll the dice, make decisions – Traveling with kids tip

by Gadling Staff on

When traveling with the family, there will inevitably be disputes over things like the television station, choice of restaurants, and who gets the pull-out couch.

Bring a pair of dice along, and let everybody roll the dice to make decisions. Whoever gets the highest roll wins.