TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced its top 10 tips for traveling with kids and the list of this year's Travelers' Choice award-winning best family-friendly hotels.

  TripAdvisor's Tried and True Tips for Traveling with Kids

  1.  If you encounter a meltdown while traveling, be prepared with your
      "silver bullet" negotiating tool, such as a new and engaging toy or
      lollipop.

  2.  For air travel, be sure you and your kids wear slip-on shoes and try
      to avoid wearing a jacket.  It will be easier to get through security,
      particularly if you need to hold a young child.

  3.  Despite the temptation, do NOT over-pack toys, books or other things
      to entertain your child.  Take only a few of your child's favorite (or
      new) toys and books, which should last them the trip.  Great travel
      toys include water coloring mats with a mess-free water pen, child-
      friendly mini-music players branded with your child's favorite
      character or pop star, and "fun bags" filled with a variety of small
      and inexpensive toys and treats individually wrapped as gifts.

  4.  If you're traveling by air with a child under two, rent a car seat
      from the car rental company instead of lugging your own and risking
      baggage handling damage. Make sure the rental company will install the
      seat for you, as some will not.  Also check the child car seat
      regulations in the countries you will be driving in.

  5.  If you can stretch your budget to ensure a direct, non-stop flight, do
      it. It will mitigate meltdowns, and help limit the number of times
      you'll hear "are we there yet?"

  6.  Some airlines offer limited (and often costly) refreshments and
      finding a well stocked and open dining car on trains can be a gamble.
      Bring your child's favorite snacks on the trip and be sure to bring
      enough for the duration of your travels.

  7.  If flying, get child-friendly airplane earplugs to help prevent ear
      pain with changing atmospheric pressure.  For the very young,
      providing a bottle of milk, juice or water, or a pacifier can also
      help.

  8.  If you are traveling with a child in diapers, choose comfy baby
      clothes but skip the layers and choose garments that make changes in
      close quarters fast and easy.

  9.  If you are traveling with teenagers, be sure to let them know what to
      expect on the trip and involve them with planning a few elements of
      the vacation to ensure they are entertained.

  10. Choose accommodations with private kitchen facilities, so you can
      prepare some of your own meals -- you'll save a bundle and minimize
      the sometimes nightmarish restaurant scenes with little ones.

"It's no revelation that traveling can be stressful and adding children to the equation often intensifies that stress," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "The key is preparing in advance and choosing the right hotel, and by keeping some of these tips in mind, traveling with kids can be fun."

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Best Family-Friendly Hotels in the U.S.

  1.  Disney's Pop Century Resort, Orlando, Florida

  2.  Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Orlando, Florida

  3.  Candy Cane Inn, Anaheim, California

  4.  Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, Orlando, Florida

  5.  Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Anaheim, California

  6.  Disney's All-Star Movie Resort, Orlando, Florida

  7.  Comfort Suites Maingate East, Kissimmee, Florida

  8.  Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando, Florida

  9.  Residence Inn Orlando SeaWorld/International Center, Orlando, Florida

  10. Embassy Suites Anaheim South/Disneyland Resort, Garden Grove,
      California

  About TripAdvisor LLC

Tripadvisor.com(TM) is the largest travel community in the world, with more than 5 million unbiased reviews and opinions, covering 220,000+ hotels and attractions. With more than 20 million unique monthly visitors worldwide (source: comScore Media Metrix, July 2006), TripAdvisor(R) features real advice from real travelers and easy access to major online travel sites, including Expedia.com(R), Orbitz, Hotels.com(R), British Airways and American Airlines, for great deals. TripAdvisor(R), which operates sites in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/) and in the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/) provides travel suppliers a graphical advertising and cost-per-click marketing platform. Winner of dozens of awards, including PC Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites and Forbes Best of the Web, TripAdvisor(R) is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. .

TripAdvisor, Travelers' Choice and Tripadvisor.com are either trademarks or registered trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries of TripAdvisor LLC. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: TripAdvisor LLC