A weekend family getaway to Orlando doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Airfares are very affordable right now and you can easily book flights and hotel accommodations either online or through your travel agent.

Depending upon where you decide to stay (either close to the park or further away), you can expect to pay anywhere from $316.00 to $583.00 per person. This is not only an affordable weekend getaway, but an exciting one for the entire family.

For example, for $316.00, you can stay at the Legacy Grand Hotel and Suites, only 3.7 miles southeast of Orlando. Or you can stay at the Hilton Resort at Walt Disney World for $413.00 located in Lake Buena Vista.

The benefit of staying as close as you can to the theme park is that you will not have to drive a great distance to and from the Magic Kingdom and waste precious time. In addition, by planning the weekend getaway beforehand, you will be able to select those areas in the park that are on the top of the list or, should we say, the kids’ list.

Given the current economy, it may not be possible to afford to stay on site in Disney World. Staying on site does have an advantage in that most hotels offer a free shuttle bus and/or rail service to the theme park. In addition, guests who stay at the on-site hotels are allowed to enter the park before guests who are staying at other properties further away.

Among the many recommendations in selecting hotel properties on site is to choose the Best Western. It is not only affordable, but offers a variety of amenities.

While Epcot Center, Universal Studios, and Sea World are an absolute joy to visit, a weekend doesn’t give you much time to visit all of these nearby attractions.

Thus, you may want to purchase the theme park tickets when you book your package. This will reduce the need to wait on lines and allow your family to go directly to the park upon arrival in Orlando.

In addition, Jet Blue is offering low fares to Orlando. If you want to lock in the cheap rates, now is the time to book your weekend getaway to Orlando. You can also check online or call your travel agent for more details.

If any of your children are not used to traveling long distances by car, they may have a bout of motion sickness. This is not just relegated to driving, but can affect children and adults who travel by air, train, and ship as well.

While it is a good idea to bring a “barf bag” just in case, this condition can be avoided using the following preventative measures:

• Ensure the family has a good breakfast before leaving.
• Bring along a mini-six-pack of ginger ale. A few sips will help settle the stomach.
• Make a stop and have the affected child sit in the front seat.
• Open the window of the car to allow the fresh air in.
• If necessary, stop at a rest stop and have the children walk around a while.

We are most familiar with motion sickness on ships. The constant “motion” of the ship allows for nausea that eventually may lead to vomiting.

The medical description of motion sickness is that the inner ear is affected because the motion is sending different messages to the brain. Even though the vehicle is moving, the body is not, and so the conflict begins.

If the motion sickness becomes severe and the person begins to vomit, stop and give the person affected plenty of water to drink afterward to avoid dehydration. The individual needs to get their balance and bearings. This is why a little walk will help alleviate future symptoms.

Another good idea is to tell the individual to keep their head up and focus on an object outside the car, such as the sky. Engaging in games or other activities can only worsen the situation.

Motion sickness can feel awful, especially for a child. With a calm voice and a gentle hand, assure the child that he or she will be fine. Use all measures mentioned, and give the child enough time to weather this storm. Eventually, they will recover.

Here’s another tip: If a child or adult feels sick in the car, turn off the radio and AC and just let them breathe in the fresh air. Getting sick can make them more anxious and they may feel bad about getting sick as well. Reassurance and comforting words is all they need.

So you’ve decided to take a road trip with the kids. Planning ahead of time can help make the trip a successful one.

Here are some suggestions to achieve the perfect road trip.

After you’ve chosen your destination, either go online and print out directions from MapQuest or call AAA and ask for a trip ticket. This includes a map containing rest stops and areas of interest along the way.

You can also check online and find gas stations offering the most economical prices on your route.

Speaking of gas, you will also need to ensure your car is in great condition before you travel. If you haven’t already done so, have the oil and filter changed, air the tires, check the different fluids such as transmission and others, and ensure you have filled the windshield wiper container with fluid.

Place blankets and pillows in the back seat in case the children want to take a nap. Keep the emergency road kit in the truck, and the first aid kit in the glove compartment.

Make a list of food items you are going to take with you; then the night before, you can prepare containers of snacks that will satisfy the children’s hunger before you arrive at your first pit stop. Bring along lots of water and juices as well.

You may also want to check the many restaurants along the route before you travel to determine who offers free meals for kids. This can afford you a substantial savings in the long run.

Keeping the kids occupied will require that you take some games along. It is recommended that you bring some pop-up books for the young ones in your family, as well as their favorite toys. Of course, you may want to limit the number of toys per child – that solely depends on the size and loudness of the toys. The last thing you want to do is distract the driver.

Once you have made all of the necessary preparations and have packed all the clothing and items you need, check your list again to ensure you didn’t forget anything. More importantly, make sure that everyone gets a good night’s sleep. Oh, and by the way – make sure your home is absolutely secure before you leave.