Traveling trade-offs

As many families prepare to head out on vacation this holiday season, I started to reflect upon the tension between saving money and paying for convenience while traveling, especially with little kids.

Whenever my family travels, it's my natural tendency to save money at every turn. But I've learned over the years that sometimes paying a bit more has its benefits.

Consider airport parking. With few bags and no kids, I'd have no problem hitching a ride on the city bus to the airport. With three young kids, I've learned that even off-site parking with an airport shuttle is dicey. You try holding onto your little ones and your luggage as the shuttle driver speeds to the terminal! Or waiting after a long day of traveling for the van to bring you back with an exhausted baby. It's the pits and can eat away at any accumulated vacation bliss as quickly as a Monday morning in Minnesota.

My Dad recently told me that many hotels near the airport have park and fly deals that end up being more affordable than long term parking. Plus you get to stay in the hotel and grab the 24 hour airport shuttle. I like the idea, but in the end, at this phase of our lives, it's general parking all the way, despite the added cost.

Then there's the tension between checking bags and buying stuff when you arrive. At $25 or so a pop, checking a bag is expensive. But so is purchasing sunscreen and beach towels in a tourist town. Again, with the three kids excuse, but I'd rather take carry-ons for each of us and buy a lot of stuff when we get there instead of packing everything and waiting at the baggage claim.

Finally, I've been thinking about coupons. Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport has a nice set of online coupons, including a $5 off any purchase at The Body Shop (which would make a fun mini challenge to find the best item the coupon could buy). But even this devotee admits coupons are a hassle and I'm not 100% sold on the idea of using coupons on vacation because it takes work.