TORONTO--(Marketwire - June 9, 2010) - With the school year wrapping up this month, the summer holidays are on many people's minds -- particularly parents who are planning a family trip. Cheapflights.ca, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, is here to tell you that vacationing with children doesn't have to be costly or exhausting. To help with this summer's travel plans, Cheapflights has launched the next instalment of its How To series with a Top 10 Tips on How to Travel with Kids along with a detailed Kids' Airport Diversion Guide listing activities for and things to keep the kids occupied at the airport while waiting for a flight. And, for those with older kids who are striking out on their own to visit friends and family, Cheapflights.ca has prepared a Kids Flying Solo Guide.
"Staycations are so last year. And with a better economy and a strong Canadian dollar, many families are planning to get out of the city and enjoy a well-deserved family vacation this summer," says Oonagh Shiel, site editor of Cheapflights.ca. "With the right preparations, family travel can be fun, rewarding, and affordable. Our How to Travel with Kids guide offers helpful tips on dealing with the kids leading up to your vacation as well as advice on making the flight enjoyable. And we can't forget the time spent at the airport -- either due to layovers or because of the extra security measures requiring you arrive 2-3 hours prior to your flight. Our Kids' Airport Diversion Guide can help both you and your kids pass the time pleasantly at airports across Canada and in select US cities."
Be sure to check Cheapflights.ca's Kids' Airport Diversion Guide prior to any family holiday. Knowing what an airport offers in terms of children's recreational facilities and where they are located, dining options for kids, the availability of free WiFi and other activities to occupy the kids will help parents plan accordingly. The guide features seventeen airports across Canada and ten US border airports and major gateways such as Buffalo, New York and Los Angeles, among others. Some of the highlights include:
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Vancouver International Airport: Budding aviators will enjoy the Public Observation Area. This new space has views of YVR's airfield, and the telescopes at the windows provide a close-up view of the aircraft landing, taking off and the general airfield activity.
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Edmonton International Airport: Edmonton has a whole family-friendly program called Kidzworld, the centerpiece of which are two play areas -- one post-security in the north end of the Departures Lounge and the other on the Arrivals Level in Central Hall.
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Calgary International Airport: Calgary offers Spaceport -- a free, space-themed educational and entertainment facility (mezzanine level of the pre-security Banff Hall area) featuring a piece of moon rock and a quarter-scale prototype space shuttle (loaned by NASA).
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Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport: Winnipeg features a gigantic play structure -- slidey slides and climby bridges -- for kids (ages 5-12). The Observation Lounge offers panoramic views of the airfield and of the planes taking off and landing. There's also a live feed from air traffic control.
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Toronto Pearson Airport: Pearson's art-and-exhibition program has plenty to keep children occupied before the flight. Exploring the Toy Box, an exhibition of toys from the 1940s to today, is on display in the Malton Airport Gallery, above the Canada Arrivals Hall until the end of July. The display of dinosaurs in Terminal 1 (International Arrivals area) -- an Allosaurus and its prey, an Othnielia, -- is courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum. There is a mini-children's play area located at Domestic Departure Gate 124 (Terminal 1) and another play area located at International Departure Gate C34 (Terminal 3).
To read the complete Kids' Airport Diversion Guide, visit www.cheapflights.ca/travel-tips/a-kids-airport-diversion-guide/. And, for those who are planning travel for kids on their own, visit the Kids Flying Solo Guide, a complete resource for booking a trip for unaccompanied minors. This guide offers specific details on the rules, restrictions and prices, broken out by airline.
The Cheapflights.ca's How to Travel with Kids Guide is divided in three sections with tips on how to relieve stress 'Before You Go'; 'At the Airport' and 'On the Flight'. Each details key activities and insights on how to ensure a smooth journey. Below are examples from each section:
- Before you go: Choose midweek flights. That way, planes and airports are likely to be calmer. Night flights are best for international travel, and direct flights are life-savers for short distances.
- At the airport: Refuel. Refill water bottles and sippy cups right after security. Have more snacks prepared than you think you'll need. Raisins, dried fruits, and cereals are healthy and easy to pack, and choosing sugar-free options help to avoid in-flight mood spikes.
- On the flight: Ration. Turn to the bag of tricks only when you've exhausted all the free fun -- cloud spotting, looking at pictures in the in-flight magazine, playing "I Spy" and so on. Then, introduce one new entertaining item per hour, like playing hangman or tic-tac-toe on paper.
To read the complete How to Travel with Kids Guide, visit http://www.cheapflights.ca/travel-tips/how-to-travel-with-kids/
About Cheapflights Media
The trusted partner in flights, Cheapflights Media is a global Internet media network that has been delivering great deals since 1996. Headquartered in London with offices in Boston and Toronto, Cheapflights Media serves advertisers and consumers through its vast portfolio of websites and services. Packed with travel guides, tips and the latest news and information, the Cheapflights sites are online shopping comparison engines that make it easy for consumers in local markets to research, compare and save on domestic and international trips. With brand-name deals on airline tickets from more than 250 partners and 600 airlines and a team of travel experts hand picking the best offerings, Cheapflights offers visitors a mix of deals they can't find anywhere else. There are currently Cheapflights-branded sites for the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain. For more information visit www.cheapflights.ca
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