Latest news with #Roadtrippers
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans... We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. Whether you bring your pet or not, prepare for extra costs We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens... Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. ... and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water. I figure, if a trip is mostly OK for a teenager, it's a success.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans... We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens... Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. ... and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans… We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. Whether you bring your pet or not, prepare for extra costs We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens… Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. … and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water. I figure, if a trip is mostly OK for a teenager, it's a success.
Tom's Guide
31-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
5 best summer travel apps to help you have the perfect vacation
Summer travel is upon us, and so is the stress of planning and executing the perfect trip. While delays and mishaps are always possible, you can hit the road prepared thanks to help from mobile apps. Making sure your phone is equipped with everything from travel planners to route mappers, you can ensure that your vacation runs smoothly from the moment you start booking your travel to the time when you finally return home. To start, there are a few general types of apps you'll want to download, the details of which will vary based on your specific travel plans. If you're flying, it makes sense to install the app of your airline of choice so that you can easily check your flight status, access your boarding pass, track your luggage, and connect with customer service. With the app for your preferred hotel chain, you can manage your stay, redeem rewards, request amenities, and even unlock your room in some cases. If you have a vacation rental, through an outfit such as Airbnb or VRBO, be sure you have the app for access to your booking details and easy communication with hosts. You should also have a ride hailing app — such as Uber or Lyft — that provides service at your destination, and if you're driving, research which apps are used for paid street parking (ParkMobile, for example) so you don't have to spend time downloading and entering your payment details once you arrive. DoorDash or GrubHub can be useful for perusing and comparing menus in advance for food allergies and dietary restrictions. But beyond those basics, a few other apps can come in handy whenever you hit the road or take to the skies. Here are five other travel apps you should have on your phone now. Wanderlog is an all-in-one travel planner for everything from creating an itinerary to tracking expenses. Start building your trip with the basics — where and when — then invite travel companions if you're planning a trip with other people. Other Wanderlog tools let you add reservation details, explore restaurants and attractions, make a packing list, and create a budget. The app's basics are free, while a Pro subscription ($39.99/year) includes extras like live flight updates, route optimization, offline access, and syncing with Google Maps and Gmail to automatically pull in reservation details from confirmation emails. If you're road tripping, you can map your route and add roadside attractions and pit stops in Wanderlog. Speaking of which, Roadtrippers is another popular route planner that shows you interesting stops along your way, but the Android app has enough negative reviews to where I would suggest just using the sites web-based tools or turning to Wanderlog as my mobile trip planner. Download Wanderlog: Android, iOS Skyscanner is a search engine for flights, hotels, and car rentals that prioritizes good deals, so you can browse or search cheap options or set up alerts for price drops on your desired itinerary. This can be useful whether you're planning in advance or need a last-minute reservation mid-trip. Note that unlike online travel agencies (OTAs) — which generally allow you to book within their app — Skyscanner redirects you to the airline, hotel, or rental agency to complete your reservation. While this is an extra step up front, it avoids potential pitfalls of OTAs, like confusing booking and cancellation policies and generally worse customer service if something goes awry. Download Skyscanner: Android, iOS If you find yourself asking, 'Where is the nearest…' in the middle of a road trip, iExit is likely to have an answer. The app uses your device's location to display upcoming interstate exits and their amenities, from the basics like hotels, restaurants, and gas stations to banks, auto shops, grocery stores, and tourist attractions. You can view fuel prices and lodging rates and get distances and directions to destinations listed. Use iExit to help you decide when and where to stop without having to search for a specific location or scroll around a map. Download iExit: Android, iOS CityMapper is a journey planner that helps you navigate public transportation in major metro areas around the world — handy if your next trip to the big city doesn't include a rental car. Y With CityMapper, you can get real-time arrival, departure, and location data for buses, trains, subways as well as turn-by-turn directions with options for walking, bikeshare, and scooter rental. The app will also notify you of upcoming turns and stops, track service alerts, and calculate travel time so you can select the best route to your destination. Download CityMapper: Android, iOS If you don't know the language at your destination or are traveling to a region where multiple languages are spoken, add Google Translate to your device to facilitate communication. The app can translate from typed text, photos, or real-time bilingual conversations as well as instant camera feedback — pointed at signs, for example — and text inside other apps. To get started, choose your primary language and select the language to translate to from the more than 100 available in the app dropdown. Check Translate offline to download for offline use. (Not all languages have this feature.) Download Google Translate: Android, iOS
Mint
04-05-2025
- Mint
Planning your next holiday? These apps will make your life easier
When it comes to travel planning, while the big names like Airbnb, and dominate the landscape, there's a vibrant ecosystem of lesser-known apps that offer powerful, often more focused features for savvy travelers. Whether you're a foodie on a mission, a sustainability-conscious adventurer, or simply someone looking to streamline travel logistics, these underrated travel planning apps are worth adding to your digital toolkit. Rome free Planning how to get from Point A to Point B in an unfamiliar country can be tricky, especially when the route involves multiple modes of transport. Rome2Rio is a travel planner that shows you how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry, or car. Simply enter your origin and destination, and it maps out routes complete with estimated durations, prices, and booking links. Whether you're trying to reach a remote village in the Alps or figuring out the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Rome2Rio gives a comprehensive overview of your options. Yes, Rome2Rio works in India as well and can be used to plan journeys within the country. It provides travel options for various modes of transportation, including trains, buses, ferries, and planes, and includes operators like Indian Railways, FlixBus, and other local transportation companies. Not all who wander... If you're tired of juggling spreadsheets, notes, and email confirmations, Wanderlog is a godsend. It lets you build detailed itineraries with drag-and-drop ease, integrating reservations, flights, maps, and activity lists in one place. You can add restaurants, attractions, and custom notes, then view your plans by day, map, or timeline. Wanderlog is especially great for group trips—it offers collaborative planning, so everyone can pitch in and stay on the same page. And unlike some planners, it works offline too. TripIt shines in its simplicity: forward any confirmation email (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) to a designated address, and it automatically builds a master itinerary. You can access it anytime, even offline. For frequent travelers, the Pro version offers real-time flight alerts, gate changes, and reward point tracking. It may not be as flashy as some newer apps, but TripIt excels at consolidating scattered information into a single, stress-free view of your trip. Culture vulture The best app to discover authentic local experiences. While most travelers want to see the major attractions, if you are among those seeking authentic experiences—places locals go, hidden gems, and stories behind the destination—Culture Trip will curate content created by locals, blending destination guides with personal essays, offbeat tips, and neighborhood deep-dives—think of it as part travel planner, part magazine. The app has information and articles on trips within India as well. If you are one for always finding scenic routes and quirky stops, Roadtrippers is the app for you—especially if you are travelling to the USA and Canada. It helps plan car journeys with a focus on discovering unique roadside attractions, scenic points, diners, and offbeat museums. Simply enter your start and end points, and the app maps a route with interesting detours and must-see places. The app also calculates fuel costs and allows for collaboration, making it great for group road trips. The US and Canada have the best coverage, but it's expanding. Packing made easy Overpacking and underpacking are both travel woes that PackPoint helps solve. Input your destination, travel dates, type of trip (business, beach, hiking), and PackPoint generates a customized packing list that factors in weather forecasts and activities. You can tweak it manually and even share your list with others. It's a small but mighty tool that saves time, reduces stress, and ensures you don't forget essentials like chargers or umbrellas. Veg only For vegetarian and vegan travelers, finding food on the road can be a challenge—especially in places where plant-based diets are uncommon. Enter HappyCow, a crowd-sourced guide to vegan and vegetarian restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and health food stores around the world. With listings in over 180 countries, HappyCow offers reviews, photos, and filters (like gluten-free or organic) to help you find the best plant-based meals wherever you go. It also lists places with veg-friendly options, so even omnivores traveling with vegans can benefit. There are over 2000 listings for India! Down the drain Flush does exactly what it promises: helps you locate the nearest public restroom, fast. With a clean interface and offline access, it's a life-saver during long days of sightseeing or transit. The database includes thousands of toilets around the world, with filters for disabled access and paid vs. free options. Not glamorous, but absolutely practical. Sources claim that the app lists over 13,000 toilets in 11 Indian cities, but we could not verify this. First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:00 AM IST
