So how do I, as a single mom, travel so much? Here's a few tips for how we travel as often, how we travel on a budget, and some tips for traveling with kids! You can also check out my packing lists for cabins and camping here: 

• Before you leave, clean your house. Nothing is more stressful than coming home tired, having to get ready to go back to work/school, unpack, AND need to clean your house. Also, make sure you have enough clean laundry for a day or two after you get back because having to unpack everything AND having to do chores after a fun vacation just sucks.
• Always tell someone where you are going and when to expect you. I always fear breaking down in a spot with no service and especially as a woman traveling alone, you just never know what could happen. Letting someone know that if you haven't checked in by a certain time then there is trouble could literally save your life. But NEVER tell a stranger. Never tell a stranger where you are staying, room number, etc..And be careful saying it out loud for people who could overhear. 
• Always check your oil, tires, etc. Nothing ruins a trip like car trouble. Trade cars with a friend/family member if you have to.
• Make a list of what to pack.
• Pack a lock box for your cash and prescriptions. Don't rely on safes at hotels. You can get a lock box for pretty cheap at Walmart. Also, if your debit card has the option, I put my money in the savings account and transfer very small amounts over to my checking account as needed for the day. This way if my wallet is stolen, all of my money can't be spent before I realize and can lock it. Also, you may need to let your bank know you will be traveling because they can flag your account for making purchases in an unknown place. 
• Grocery shop and get all supplies before. Not only does it save precious time on your trip, but if you are going to a touristy area, grocery stores can be more expensive. You can bring cold items in a cooler. 
• Travel early or during kids nap times. We often get up early, load the car, and then put the kids in the car with a pillow and blanket so they will just sleep.
• Bring a lot of games, road trip game books (you can find many of these on Amazon), phones, paper and pencils or anything to keep them entertained in the car.
• Make sure you have their favorite stuffed animal or toy. They may be a little scared being away from home, so having a comfort item always helps. 
• Plan to stop and explore or eat on your route. We try to plan a lunch or a fun stop halfway through so that everyone can stretch their legs and have a break. 
• Pack medicines. Even if no one is sick, pack the basics like band aids, antiseptic, Tylenol, Pepto, Benadryl, etc.
• If your child is a toddler or baby, definitely bring a stroller. Most places will accommodate a stroller. Having a worn out toddler from walking all over the place is the perfect way to ruin a fun day.
• Look into extra security measures that can easily be bought online, such as extra locks that can be put on the door and easily be removed. When you stay in a hotel, cabin, airbnb, etc., you have no idea who has a key or access. 
• Pack comfortably. At the parks in Summer when I plan on hiking and swimming, I am not concerned with looking good. I am concerned with being comfortable. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, use durable luggage and backpacks, and wear sun screen and bug spray. 
• Make sure you have directions to where you are going as well as to your accomodation written down or screenshotted in case your GPS loses service. 
• Never put money or important documents or items in your pockets, especially your back ones. Preferably a fanny pack (yes I know) or some type of bag that is close to your body. 
• Trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, listen to that instinct. If your gut tells you not to stay somewhere, listen to it and go somewhere else. 

TRAVELING ON A BUDGET:

• Always pay in advance for accommodations! I cannot stress this one enough. If you book a hotel room months in advance and you don't have to pay up front, but later those dates start booking up, the hotel can up the cost of the rooms and you could be charged what the room is going for now, not what it was going for at the time of booking. This happened to us at Wilderness at the Smokies and at the Evergreen Marriot in Stone Mountain-of upwards of $200. 
• We travel to state parks a lot, and the thing with state parks is you can make the trip super cheap. After you pay for the cabin/yurt/campsite, all you HAVE to pay for is the gas to get there. You can eat out and spend money, or you can cook. You're already going to be eating at home, so food isn't adding much to the cost if you cook. You can do extra things like boat rentals, putt putt, or going out into town and doing something, or you can not do that stuff and just swim, hike, relax, etc, which is free (unless there is a pool with a fee). GA State Parks have a rewards point system where every dollar you spend, you get 10 points. Those points can then be redeemed for free nights in cabins, yurts, and camping. Many of our nights in yurts have been completely free because of this! 
• Tennessee State Parks do not have the reward points system, but their cabins are super super cheap. Because they are more rustic and original CCC cabins, they are a bit older and pretty cheap. State park cabins and yurts do not have all the hidden fees that AirBNBs have like extra cleaning fees, extra booking fees. The price it says is what you pay plus tax.
• Travel off season. We went to a waterpark in January. (Indoor obviously). Yes, we did..cause most places will have super good deals in the winter, and there are a lot less people. So check rates because hotels do not charge the same price every single night.
• Bring your own drinks/snacks. We always bring a cooler and snack bag. You will be surprised how much stopping for drinks and snacks adds up. Especially at tourist places where they charge $4 a drink. 
• Give the kids a budget. My kids want something at every store we stop at. So I give them a budget for what they can spend on toys, and that has helped them really determine if they really want it or not, and has saved me money.
• Get a travel budget book. I have brought a travel itinerary book that had a budget section where you can write out your budget for each thing like lodging, food, attractions, gas, etc..and then you can keep track of everything you've spent. 
• Plan ahead. Sometimes buying tickets in advance will be cheaper than at the door.
• Research deals like Groupon.
• If you have to pay for parking, plan your trip where you do all the things in one area at a time so that you're not going back and forth, paying multiple parking fees. When we go to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, for example, I plan all the things in Gatlinburg for one day and all the things in PF for another day so that we're not going back and forth and paying multiple times for parking.
• If you go to touristy areas such as Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, take advantage of the coupon books you can find literally EVERYWHERE. Most of them are only 10% off or $1-2 and I have had people laugh at me for using them...but if you are doing a lot of attractions and eating out, those few dollars here and there add up! 

Travel Tips/Traveling on a Budget