Travel Tips for Homeschoolers
How to Plan an Education Based Family Holiday on a Shoestring Budget
Homeschool families have many benefits when planning vacations including the ability to travel in the off-season. Here are some great tips on planning a family vacation.
As a homeschooling family there are many opportunities available to you which your child's public school counterparts will have difficulty taking advantage of, particularly when it comes to planning a family vacation. There are many modes of travel which offer discounts for traveling in the off season and it is possible to receive superior service to what would be available during peak periods such as the summer months.
Modes of Travel Providing Off-Season Discounts
Train travel is one of the most economical and pleasant modes of transportation available to a family with children of any age and rail companies offer many flexible travel options and passes at great fares during the off season. Off-season travelers gain access to services typically reserved for those in first class simply by travelling a month or two earlier. Services available include access to the dining car, lower occupancy, guides who can offer information on the area of travel and discounted fares and vacation packages off the beaten path. Whether travelling in coach or first class you and your children will have a trip to remember. Visit Via Rail for travel information within Canada. Trip Advisor which offers advice about these and other off-season travel issues you could face may also be of service.
Air travel is another method of travel which offers many different seat sales during the off season. Granted you have to catch the sale as it comes up in order to take advantage of it, but it is a quick and economical way to travel. Traveling by air offers many destinations to you including anything from Disney World to the Pyramids. What a better way to bring history lessons to life than to take a once in a lifetime trip.
Off Season Considerations for Destinations
While many destination provide discounts of up to 50% during their off-peak seasons it is important to remember there are reasons why the flow of traffic is less. It is important to research your destination in order to determine if the lesser cost is worth the compromises when it comes to things such as weather, attractions which may be closed or operating on modified hours and construction which may be occurring on or near locations you wish to visit or stay.
Keep in mind when planning your destination, it need not be an extravagant trip to Portugal. Often local or semi-local venues offer off-season pricing and affordable activities for homeschooling families as well as the general public. Don’t forget to explore your own backyard in your quest for the perfect family vacation!
Incorporating Travel Planning into Homeschool Curriculum
There are many ways to incorporate your travel planning into your child’s homeschool curriculum including history and culture projects, research assignments, geography and even art lessons. Children enjoy being involved in these plans and often it can make them feel as though their schoolwork is not just "stuff they must learn" but rather skills they can use. Draw a map of your destination city and have your child add a legend including the attractions they want to visit and then place the symbols where the attraction is on the map. If time allows arrange for a penpal in the city you are planning to visit and have them correspond with information from their hometowns.
The bottom line is there are many benefits to traveling in the off-season and there are even more to incorporating travel into your homeschool curriculum so explore your options and most of all enjoy the process of spending time with your child and teaching them about the world around them.
For more information on traveling in the off season or with children please read Travel Aboard Via Rails Canadian.
