Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8450 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2016 goodTO GO GETTHE KIDSTO COLLEGE Travel Tips For the College Bound by Rick Seaney | Contributor Your baby is off to college. Don’t be sad—I’m told by parents who’ve been there that the “fun” of moving a kid on campus will dry your tears in no time. Here’s how to make it easier. IFYOU’RE DRIVING If your child is going to school in-state and it’s not too far away, you can drive. Consider renting a roomy vehicle (or even a small truck if your student has a lot of stuff or is moving to an apartment instead of a dorm). Be sure your own insurance covers the rental (or get the dealer’s if not). IFYOU’RE FLYING If you’re flying, the trick is to limit what you bring to avoid as many airline fees as possible. Fees add up: Most airlines charge $25 each way for a first checked bag and $35 for a second. If you’re flying Southwest, every traveler gets two bags for free. Suggestion: If bags aren’t free, limit each traveler to one big suitcase and one carry-on and let the student take over most of that space. Avoid overweight fees, too: Do not overload checked bags— once they go over 50 lbs. penalty charges get expensive. Bags that weigh more than 70 lbs. will cost $200 a piece on American, Delta and United, and that’s in addition to the regular bag fee. Take the minimum number of bags by bringing the laptop but buying the bulk of the items your student needs at his or her final destination. Consider shipping some things ahead: Contact UPS, FedEx or your favorite shipper for the cheapest way to send boxes. The UPS website has a handy time and cost calculator on its homepage, but compare prices with all shippers. WHATTO BUYWHENYOU ARRIVE Be sure to arrive in time for a shopping trip to a big box store like Target or Walmart to stock up on necessities. Some suggestions for the dorm or apartment dweller: • Bed linens/pillow/towels/laundry bag • Toiletries/laundry detergent • Tech supplies including extra charger cords • Pens/pencils/notebooks (or am I showing my age?) • Umbrella/boots/seasonal clothes (if weather is different from home) • Water bottles/snacks • Microwave and/or dorm fridge • Desk lamp (if none is provided) • Fan (a necessity for dorms without A/C) NOW BOOKTHE FLIGHT Here are a few simple rules to keep costs down. Don’t buy too early or too late: You can start shopping for domestic fares about three months before departure, but wrap it up a month before you leave. The most expensive fares are almost always within seven days of departure—when business travelers typically plunk down their money—which is why the airlines love them so. Fly the cheaper season: Most peak summer season fares drop beginning August 23, so if you can shepherd the child to school on or after that date, you’ll usually save some money (and sometimes, quite a bit). Flycheaperdays:Evenifyoumustfly before August 23, you can save on airfare by flying Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, generally the cheapest days of the week to fly. Do your best to avoid Fridays and Sundays, which tend to be most expensive. Add a stop (maybe): Some non- stops can be significantly more expensive than connecting flights; compare the two types of fares to see if that’s true in your case. You may save enough to make the longer travel day worth it. I don’t have to tell you college isn’t free, and every little bit helps. GET MORE OF RICK’S TIPS: FARECOMPARE.COM OR @RICKSEANEY