As the summer heats up, we thought we would try to share with you some of the AudioVideo2go tips for travel!  

 

Tip #1) Buy Luggage that will last. 

The last thing you need is to arrive at your destination  to find your $35 bargain basement soft-sided luggage has ripped apart and your unmentionables are falling onto the tarmac (or flying out onto the highway)!    Cheap luggage wont last, but buying the most expensive luggage isn't always the best idea either - they can put a lot of money into  looks and not much into durability.  You're going to want to find a suitcase that's somewhere in the middle.  After talking to flight crews and airport baggage employee's, we found that Travelpro seems to be the all around favorite for ease-of-use and durability.  (and they are generally around $100, so you won't break the bank!) 

 

Tip #2) Swim against the current.

You can get the best deals if you go to where people are not. In Florida, the best time to visit the southern Gulf Coast beaches is (believe it or not) in the summer. That's when most of the population leaves to the North East to escape the oppressive heat. You can get some great deals in early and late summer if you keep your eyes open!  An added bonus is that  you will not run into traffic on the roads or packed restaurants during dinner time.  Not sure of where to go? Check out wanderfly.com  - you let it know what you are into and how much you want to spend, and they will suggest a strip for you! 

 

Tip #3)  Use a packing checklist. 

Ever pull out of your drive way for a family road-trip and have to turn back for something you've forgotten?   Start a packing list with everything you need for your trip!  Write down everything you are going to need and print it out or save it in your email as a "draft" message.  This way, you'll always have a handy list that you can add to with each trip.  We recently left for a beach trip and had to turn back when we noticed that our son had removed the portable DVD unit from our car so he could use it in his bedroom.   That's on our road-trip checklist now! 

 

Tip #4) Find a great place to stay.

If you are going for extended periods of time, and you're taking the entire family, it may be worth staying at a condo or apartment (or even renting a house!).  Check out vrbo.com  to see the deals near you!  There are some great benefits to renting a small apartment/house. Financially, you  don't have to pay for multiple rooms at a hotel and you get a fully stocked kitchen to cook your own meals instead of eating out every day. You also get lots of shared space  to watch TV together, or hang out in the kitchen as a family. 

 

Tip #5) Food Finders are your friend. 

One of the most   frustrating things to go through on vacation is finding a place to eat.  Try using Yelp.com to find something that locals say is good, and then go eat there. Don't worry about how it looks on the outside - get our of your comfort zone and try something new. You're on vacation!     With the help of locals on Yelp you'll be treated to some of the tastiest food in town, and you wont have to pay  "tourist prices" for mediocre food.