Tips for Planning A Last-Minute Family Vacation

Whether it's the sudden need to get away or the last chance to escape before the kids head back to school, many families find themselves in a position to book a last-minute vacation. With the fluctuating economy wreaking havoc on the airline and hotel industries, there is now a greater chance of finding availability and bargains for savvy researchers.

So, as you begin planning your last-minute escape, consider these simple tips that can help save money and ensure a relaxing, memorable retreat:

*Book at the right time. To boost business, hotels, airlines and cruise lines will often offer discounts two weeks in advance of booking. Remember to always shop on a Tuesday or Wednesday to find the best last-minute vacation deals as it is common for hotel, flight and car rental rates to increase by the time Thursday rolls around. Note that airfares and hotel rates will soon decrease as kids go back to school and demand falls as a result. School seems to start earlier and earlier every year, which means the peak travel season does, as well.

* Book at the right place. The best place to look for bargain vacations and last-minute deals is online travel websites, such as Travel.com, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com and Travelocity.com, among others. You can often save big on last-minute vacations when purchasing a bundled package (hotel, car, flight). It is important to determine how important the destination is for your vacation. There are a variety of websites that offer last-minute deals by destination, and the more flexible you are, the more savings you can realize.

* Don't forget to entertain the kids along the way. While the ways to entertain kids will vary by age, it is important to come up with a few fun, simple ideas to make the journey a little more enjoyable. One idea that appeals to most is to rent a movie or two. Redbox, the fully automated DVD rental kiosk, features the latest new releases for a low nightly rate and is available at grocery stores and other popular retail locations across the country. It's the perfect road trip companion, no matter your destination, as redbox lets you rent and return movies at any one of more than 22,000 locations nationwide. Also, be sure to bring along games or other activities that you can play in the car, on a plane or at the hotel to keep the whole family entertained.

* Include the kids in your vacation plans. Whether it's a short trip down the road or a two-week vacation to another country, it is important to make your kids part of the vacation planning process. Ask them to do some research about potential entertainment options at your destination. Give them the opportunity to provide recommendations as to what you are going to see or do while you're there. Not only will this save you time, but including the kids in this process will also provide more fun for everyone.

One last reminder that may help when planning your last-minute vacation is to keep an open mind and be flexible. As long as you follow these cardinal rules of traveling last-minute, there's always an opportunity to book and enjoy a great trip at a good price.

To find a redbox location near you, download the free iPhone app from redbox or reserve a movie online, visit http://www.redbox.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent