and fun getaways.

And because summer is considered peak travel season, prices of travel-related commodities, such as gas and airfare, are sure to increase. Planning for such expenses can save you tons of money. And if you’re planning a family vacation, you already know that traveling with little ones adds another layer of stress to an already hectic ordeal.

To help combat some of those travel anxieties— and hopefully save you some money in the process—we’ve come up with some handy tips and tricks for a successful summer vacation that requires air travel. 1 2 3

Money-Saving Tips

› FLY EARLY MORNING OR LATE AT NIGHT. No one wants to get to the airport at the crack of dawn or fly overnight, but taking a flight between 5am and 7am or late at night could save you some cash.

› FLY DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. Friday and Sunday are the most popular days to fly, so avoid these days if possible. Fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday instead—these days have much lower travel rates.

Traveling With The Fam

Convenience is key. When traveling with kids, everything needs to be easily accessible—from snacks and toys to your IDs and boarding passes. Have the kids bring a small backpack with a few in-flight essentials, and wear an over-the-shoulder small bag with an outside zipper pocket for important documents.

Keep them entertained. Bring plenty of entertainment for the little ones—but make sure the entertainment isn’t messy and doesn’t have a ton of small parts. An iPad or other tablet is great for movies and games (Don’t forget the headphones!), and card games like Go Fish or Old Maid are also easy to manage. Make sure the older kids have a book to read, too.

When all else fails, give them snacks. TSA doesn’t bat an eye at small, sealed packages of cookies, crackers or gummy snacks, but you’ll have to buy juice or water after you cross through security before you board the plane (Just make sure to use the potty one more time before boarding.) Bottles of breast milk or formula are allowed through security when you’re traveling with infants.

› BOOK EARLY—BUT NOT TOO EARLY. Cheapair.com crunched the numbers, and apparently, 47 days before your travel date is the ideal time to book your trip.

› SIGN UP AS A FREQUENT FLYER OR GET A REWARDS CREDIT CARD. Have a favorite airline? It most likely has a frequent flyer program and possibly a credit card that allows you to earn miles based on how much you spend. It might not save you money immediately, but there’s always next summer, right?

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