Travel Resources
Since Bob and I aren’t teachers, we’ve never felt compelled to follow the school vacation calendar and this allows us to fly at cheaper, less popular times. I strongly believe that the experience of traveling to another country cannot be taught in school, so while the kids are missing time in the classroom, they are gaining knowledge of other cultures and we’re all experiencing a new adventure together.
That said, and since we're typically flexible about travel dates, Google Flights is one of my favorites websites to find the cheapest time to fly. Start off at www.google.com/travel/flights, put in a destination of interest and select a rough timeframe (i.e. a week in Berlin in October), click done, then click the date grid button. As you can see in this video, the days I selected did not have the cheapest flight option. In this instance, just by adjusting by a day, you save over $150 per ticket. Then Google Flights will show all the options of where to book.
Aer Lingus has definitely been our favorite airline to date and we do the majority of our flying with them. Not only are the planes clean and comfortable, but the staff is ultra friendly! We've had flight attendants come and play with the kids and even walk Lucas around as a baby. If you arrive early enough, you can request the bassinet row which is a great resting place for a lap infant. The bassinet connects right into the wall in front of that row (plus I think you get extra leg space).
The food is typically very good on the transatlantic flights and there is a wide variety of options for purchase on the flights from Dublin/Shannon to other European cities.
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Another huge benefit of Aer Lingus is their partnership with the US. Both Dublin and Shannon Airport have a US pre-clearance section so you clear customs right in the airport before flying home. After a long transatlantic flight, the last thing you want to do is wait in a long customs line in the US, so this is a huge time saving service. Covid stunted some of the progress, but Aer Lingus has been adding more and more US cities to their routes that all offer this advantage.
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Lastly, Dublin holds a special place in our hearts, so when we can, we like to book an extended layover on the way home and spend a night or two in the city. It is very easy and inexpensive to get from the airport into Dublin. We have also taken advantage of the luggage lockers in Terminal 1 so we can travel light into the city.
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...and I won't lie, Bob can't get enough of the duty-free whiskey shops where there are huge assortments of whiskeys unavailable in the States.
Our BOB Stroller was our mothership for the first five trips we took abroad as a family. Montenegro was the first time we did not bring it, and I'll admit it was a bit strange not being at Buggy Pickup. It served as storage, a nice napping spot and most importantly, aided tired legs. While larger than most strollers, the fact that the BOB is all-terrain made a huge difference, especially with the abundance of cobblestones in Europe. We never "really" had any problems traveling with it (there were a few security machines Bob had to jam it into), but overall airport staff is more than accommodating to young families traveling.
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Riley and Lucas are almost exactly four years apart so they were rarely napping at the same time, and Riley could sit comfortably on the front tip of the stroller (even if Lucas was asleep) which is why we never upgraded to the double BOB. The importance of a nap on vacation is significantly underrated, or even just a spot to relax. The fact that the kids could recline and fall asleep allowed us to continue exploring and enjoy a few drinks, as well as to keep everyone on their best manners.
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Before you Travel Checklist
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Schedule a mail hold with USPS. This is easily done by contacting your local post office or going online at https://www.usps.com/manage/hold-mail.htm.
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Contact the companies of the credit cards you plan on bringing to inform them of your travel dates. It's also important to confirm if your credit cards charge international fees. Capital One and Discover tend to be free of these fees, but Discover isn't widely accepted abroad.
Tip: If asked, when using your cards aboard, if you'd like to be charged in the local currency or US dollars, always choose the local currency as there is typically an upcharge for the conversion.
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Contact your bank to inform them of your travel dates to ensure you have access to your ATM card. Also make sure your ATM card contains a chip or you will have difficulty accessing money from foreign ATMs.
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Get money from your bank before you leave. Well in advance of your trip, order your destination’s currency from your bank. It will typically be ready for pick it up within a day or two. While you can get local currency at the ATM in the airport, it's convenient to have some cash ahead of time. Unless an emergency, never trade money at the airport.
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Plan ahead with your childrens' teachers. If you provide teachers with enough lead time, they are usually happy to gather some packets for your kids to work on while away. Our kids read and journal each day, and we have found the long flights a good time to catch up on this school work.
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Contact your cell phone provider to better understand how your phone will work abroad. With new technological advancements happening all of the time, plans and phone capabilities are constantly changing. However, that doesn't mean just because your phone is working internationally, data and voice minutes are part of your plan. With Verizon, there is a $10 charge per 24-hour period for data (Travel Pass) and voice minutes vary in price by country.
Tip: To avoid any additional charges, always leave your phone on airplane mode and connect to WiFi whenever possible.
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Make sure you passport is up to date. A good rule of thumb is an expiration date at least 6 months post your return date to the US.
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Obtain an International Driving Permit if you plan on renting a car. While not required in all countries, most highly recommend it and fines for driving without it can be quite costly. You can apply in person at any AAA branch or online at www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html, and it typically costs around $20 for a one year permit.