Family Travel Blog : travel blogs

Since I am the one that does most of the writing and you usually see the perspective of this trip from my eyes, I thought for our 3 months anniversary (Bloody hell, I can't believe 3 months have gone by already) it would be fun to see our family travel trip through the eyes of my actual family! To be clear, these were their words exactly, except what you see in parenthesis.

The whole clan
Click to enlarge

What do you like best about Asia?
D (12 years): The food
C(8 years): Vang Vieng and riding scooters
T(4 years): They have elephants
Dad: Cost of living and climate (pragmatic much?), and the sweet people that display empathy nearly every moment

What do you like the least about Asia?
D: The language, it's so hard to learn and communicate. Spanish was easier!
C: Ladyboys, they make me uncomfortable (we experienced a particularly friendly one at our hotel in Vientiane, like every day!!)
T: Kangaroos;)
Dad: Lack of consistent internet

Favorite place you have been so far?
D: Can't decide between Pai and Vang Vieng
C: Laos, mostly Vang Vieng
T: Tiger Kingdom, ummm, umm they have baby tigers....awww so cute!
Dad: Vang Vieng, Laos and Chiang Dao, Thailand (caves)

What is the hardest thing about traveling with bohemian mom?
D: Bugging us to clean our room, I mean it's a hotel room.
C: Freak out about when we don't know where we are going. (After asking what he means apparently I sweat the small stuff...who knew??!)
T: He doesn't know (and is quite into legos at the moment. He may not be a part of the rest of this interview but I shall persevere!)
Dad: (Hmm, seems he is having a hard time picking...It's coming...)"The question just spurs what I am grateful for and all you do". (Sappy but I am keeping that one!)

How about with bohemian dad?
D: Missing out on things because he is on the computer a lot (Dad works about 12 hours a day, most days)
C: He doesn't do so many things, I want him to come see everything with us.
T: No where (?? legos again)
Mom: That he has to work so much and doesn't come along on all our adventures

Favorite food so far?
D: Pad thai, best one was at a wat near Thae Pae gate in Chiang Mai
C: Moo gatiam, garlic pork NOT FRIED!
T: What do they have?? Wait, wait...brownies! (Yeah he isn't really getting this post!)
Dad: Stir fried vegetables over white rice

Worst day so far?
D: van to Vientiane
C: definitely the van to Vientiane
T: I don't know, how about the...(C interjects with van ride) van ride...which van ride
Dad: VAN TO LAOS and that border crossing because Bohemian mom was sooo sick and she usually deals with everything!

We all love scooterin"
Click to enlarge

Best day so far?
D: Scooter riding first day I got to learn
C: any day with a scooter
T: The tiger kingdom (again after C interjected **sigh** Where can I find a sound proof room??)
Dad: First day getting scooters and teaching D how to drive!

What are you looking forward to the most in the next couple months?
D: Going to Koh Phi, Phi (see he put that in there to ensure we end up going, little devil, so darn smart)
C: Getting to China, to see the Great Wall and stuff
T: Don't know, I'm doing my best man. (yes that is a quote)
Dad: My sister coming to visit

What do you miss the most?
D: My friends and dogs
C: Friends
T: Olga (our housekeeper/nanny in CR that was part of our family for T's entire life)
Dad: Raw milk and fresh veggies being delivered to my house

I know there must be things you don't like about the travel, what are they?
D: Practically impossible to have friends because we are never in the same place for too long. Not having pets is really hard too, I love having pets. At least there are lots of animals we can adopt for a few weeks at a time in hotels or apartments
C: That we never get to make good friends because we leave. Miss having a few more toys, TV, having a fridge...(OK at this point I had to cut him off. I guess he misses a more home-like environment)
T: ???
Dad: The actual travel days was never one of my favorite things.

But overall, are you glad we are traveling like this?
D: Yes. (enthusiastic head shake while sipping a frozen pineapple drink!)
C: Yes
T: Yes
Dad: Of course!

It has been a great trip so far. We have encountered other travelers and friendly locals that are so warm and welcoming. There are always bad days in any trip but thankfully not too many so far. We miss a few things but really are settling into this lifestyle with ease and really appreciating the value of travel. The world is ours and we are taking it all in!

Do you have any other questions I should ask these guys?? Let me know in the comments section below! And if you like what you see please share this article with others. Thanks!

I have been tagged by Family on Bikes in the latest series of travel blogger memes. Besides living abroad for five years, our family's extended traveling really has only just begun but I think I can still come up with 26 answers. Here goes:

A: Age you made your first international trip
I wish I could say I was as young as my boys were when they first made their international trip but my childhood was some what turbulent so travel was not a priority. After graduating high school my grandparents flew me to Bermuda. I remember getting that first passport and feeling so excited at the freedom in it. I knew that travel and filling up those pages was going to be a must on my life's bucket list.

Wikicommons

B: Best (foreign) beer you've had and why
Beer Lao dark! Hands down, no question about it! When we lived in the US our favorite beer was Newcastle (brown ale imported from England), so Beer Lao dark resembles that the most. After very disappointing beer in Central America, Beer Lao was a nice change. It beats out Newcastle purely for financial reasons. At about 1/4 the cost of a Newcastle with the similar full-flavor taste it's a no brainer in my book!

C: Cuisine (favorite)
This is a tough one! Pizza is one of my favorites and New Haven, CT (my home state) cannot be beaten. But for desserts there is nothing like a cold scoop of Gelato after walking the streets of Rome. Then there is Thai food, where I am currently enjoying every last bite! Hmmm, I just can't pick a favorite, it just isn't a fair question!

D. Destinations. Favorite. Least Favorite. Why?
I would have to say my favorite so far has been Vang Vieng in Laos. It's a manageable small town surrounded by majestic limestone bluffs. The culture is authentic, but plenty of Western touristy joints too. We rented motorbikes and explored incredible villages to the North. We had a fantastic time there. It made the tops perhaps because I really had no expectations going in to the trip and was so pleasantly surprised.

Blue lagoon, Vang Vieng, Laos

Least favorite is really hard, every place I have been was great in it's own way. OK I'll put the PC ness aside and admit maybe not everyplace was great! When I went to the Czech Republic I was not impressed (but that was 15 years ago). It may have been the fact that my expectations were high, or the fact that we were exhausted by this leg of our European tour but crime was rampant, everything was filthy, and my girlfriend and I just did not feel safe.

E: Event you experienced that made you say "WOW"!
Climbing the steps at Chichen Itza in Mexico! When we reached the top and looked out and around, and DOWN! That was definitely one of my earliest WOW moments! Staring into Crater Lake in Oregon was also one of my entire family's more recent wow moments. If you're ever near there, don't miss it!

Oh those stairs! (wikicommons)

F: Favorite mode of transportation
Train travel is by far the best way to get anyplace long distance. When you get on a sleeper car, you save money on a night's accommodation and they are remarkably comfortable. I don't care how nice a bus or a plane says their seats are, nothing compares to being able to lay down for a great rest and comfortably arrive at your destination. For shorter travel, around a city a tuk tuk is the best, exciting, open air, and always interesting conversation. Short distance in the country, my family will pick scooters any day!

Short distance tuk-tuks are where it's at

G: Greatest feeling while traveling
Realizing that my life and my children's lives would be forever enriched by our experiences around the world. It changes you from the core of your being and I am so happy to be giving that gift to my children!

H: Hottest place I've traveled to
Super hot is not my favorite type of climate especially when I am pregnant and already feel like an oven. During my first pregnancy we took a road trip across the US. It just so happened to be record heat in the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. 116-120 degrees during the day, dry heat or not that is HOT! Even cracking the window on the car for a minute felt like a hot blow dryer blasting you. We stopped to see the Grand Canyon and had to leave the car running as we ~~sweated~~ marveled at the beauty!

Grand Canyon Wikicommons

I: Incredible service you have experienced and where
Honestly, every place we have been has been incredible in this department. Costa Rica, Thailand, Laos, many places in Europe. Maybe it is because these cultures adore kids but we have really only been met with kindness and help at every turn.

J: Journey that took you the longest
The long haul trip from Costa Rica to Bangkok, Thailand. We traveled for 2 days. 6 hour flight from Costa Rica to LAX, 20 hours to Taiwan, and 3 more to Bangkok! That was a long couple of days but not nearly as hard as I was expecting.

K: Keepsakes from your travels
Pictures, pictures, and more pictures! I am not one for shopping for knick knacks since we have no room to keep them. We are slow traveling the world and got rid of all our possessions in order to carry what we really need in our backpacks. There is simply no room for extra trinkets. But I make room for an extra hard drive for photo storage, or 3;) My son did pick up a terrible case of hives but as that has dissipated I suppose it doesn't count as a keepsake!

L: Let down site. Where and why?
David, Panama! It was pouring, filthy, garbage every place, and really nothing to do there. We had heard good things about it so decided to drive down from Costa Rica (8 hours) to check out this border town to renew our visa! Perhaps it was the weather or the shoddy hotel we stayed at, but what a disappointment!

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel
From the time I was young I often dreamed of exotic locations. Before I knew what a "bucket list" was I had been creating one in my mind. I think the moment I fell in love though was when I booked my trip to Europe with a girlfriend way back in 1996! Just the realization, that I was going to be seeing the things I dreamed of, sparked a whole new love for the idea of travel.

N: Nicest hotel you've stayed in
I don't and have never really stayed at "nice" hotels. I just don't really see the point in spending a lot of money on a room to sleep in. Maybe the hotel I loved the most was a hostel that my friend and I found on the fly in Switzerland. It was an old swiss chalet with the most amazing views from our balcony. A great sense of community at the hostel, lots of drinking, skiing, and games. I believe we only spent $10 US per night as well. Icing meet cake!

Swiss Alps Wikicommons

O: Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of?
When I travel I take pictures of everything, obscene amounts of pictures really. Currently, I am in South East Asia and my obsession seems to be with pictures of monks. I am a recovering monk stalker and the recovering part is not going very well! Beware men in orange!

Gotcha

P: Passport stamps. How many and where from?
I am a relatively new traveler but, hopefully, by the end of this year the list will be much longer. At the moment, between the 2 passports I have had in my life; USA, Mexico, Bermuda, UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech rep., Austria, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand, Burma, and Laos. 20 countries but I couldn't count up how many stamps I have had as I went in and out of many of those countries on multiple occasions.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you've visited and where.
The Natural History museum in Costa Rica. I know a natural history museum doesn't sound that weird but this place was in desperate need of upkeep. Picture the stuffed animals at any museum but with no upkeep for 10 years. The eyeballs were falling out, patches of hair missing, and mold and dust permeated the rooms. I think the thing that put it over the edge was the multiple human babies in jars section of the museum. Not sure how that got by especially in a Catholic dominated country but it was interesting. Yeah, that is the best word to describe this place, well at least it is the most kind way to explain it!

R: Recommended site, event, or experience.
I would have to recommend Laos to anyone coming to SE Asia. I think a lot of people miss it because it doesn't cater to tourists or seem to have much to offer. The roads are terrible, but the destinations are worth every minute. It is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled places I have ever been to, and the people are so laid back and kind. I enjoyed every minute, especially in Vang Vieng, and miss it already! It seems to me to be a more authentic experience than the neighboring (and more popular) Thailand, where a 7-11 can be found every 2 blocks!

I don't even need word here (Vang Vieng, Laos)

S: Splurge. Something you have no problem forking over for while traveling.
I will skimp and save on food and hotels, but what I will not for go because of costs is any unique experience. Some things are touristy and you pay for it but unique is unique and I will gladly shell out the money for a new adventure!

T: Touristy thing you've done
I can admit that I am a tourist! I walk around new cities, camera at the ready and fully enjoy touristy events. I am also a traveler so I try not to spend too much on this category, but as I stated above it seems to be a weakness of mine. I have done LOTS of touristy things from climbing the Eiffel tower to playing with tigers at Tiger Kingdom. Just because a lot of people do it doesn't make it any less amazing in my book!

Touristy and amazing!

U: Unforgettable travel memory
Stepping out of the car to see the Grand Canyon for the first time! I remember my husband and I being shocked at how much it cost to get in to the park and thinking man, all that for a giant hole, I mean really. Well honestly the first second we looked over the railing both our chins dropped to the floor and we felt foolish for even thinking it wouldn't be amazing!

V: Visas. How many of them and for where?
I guess as an American I do not get that many actual visas. Every time you are stamped into a new country that is considered a visa; a visa on arrival. As for actual visas, that I had to apply for, and that take up a WHOLE page in my passport, that is running out of space quickly, it is only 2. One for Laos and one for a single entry tourist visa to Thailand.

W: Wine. Best glass and while traveling and where?
Yuck, am I supposed to like that stuff? I'll take a good cup of coffee or beer over the vino anytime.

X: eXcellent view and from where?
This is another really tough one. Some of the views from the small town I lived in while in Costa Rica were amazing. So are some of the views I experienced after climbing monuments in incredible cities. All in all though I would have to say the view I had in the Swiss Alps. No wait, maybe Crater Lake in Oregon, no actually it must be Vang Vieng, Laos. Yeah, I said it before... I love Laos and you should visit soon!

Crater Lake Oregon - Wikicommons

Y: Years spent traveling
Small trips all my life. 3 months in Europe with a friend and then I left the US for good in 2006 and have been traveling ever since! It has been around 1890 days since we left the US! This newest Asia adventure just started 2 months ago but the plan is to continue and move through the world for the nest few years.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where.
Being that I am from CT and I spent my childhood attending NYC baseball and football games, my first inclination was to say New York City. But then I remember the fanatics of soccer and the zealous behaviors of its fans. While living in Costa Rica I experienced what I could only describe as insanity over a soccer game on the tube. The entire neighborhood would erupt in yelling and cheering during big games! I also remember visiting Europe during the Olympics and stepping into a bar to witness fans going wild. Assuming it was for the Olympics I was curious until I got closer and realized it was just an uproar for a local Soccer team.

Soccer fans win this one without a doubt. Where? I would say everywhere!

There you have it. Now it is my turn to tag other bloggers...tag Family Trek, Road trips for families, and The Nomadic Family.

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Well we did it, we're here in Bangkok! We stayed the first 2 nights at a hotel right by the airport and after trying to get a little sleep I was ready to head out for our first walk with the kids. After living in Costa Rica, we are quite used to the differences between a developing nation and the U.S. so we were curious to see what things stood out here!

First of all, I have to say that everyone on the street is very kind and although most do not speak a lot of English, they try to help and when there is just no understanding each other they just giggle and smile sweetly like I did for so many of those first months in Costa Rica. We just keep trying to speak Spanish which really doesn't translate at all! They adore my little guy and with his cute Thai phrases (basically hello and thank you is all any of us have) they just seem to melt.

Street food is abundant and varied. One woman had the most delicious corn on the cob that we have had in years! We went back over and over. Then there are the guys selling pork balls, not sure if we are talking literal balls or what, but I do know I will not be trying those out anytime soon! Good and bad, we'll take it all in as an experience -- except for pork testicles.

One of the first things we noticed was the fact that they drive on the opposite side of the street. I tried this once in London and lets just say it did NOT go well. I don't think renting a car will be happening here in Bangkok for us, but maybe we'll gather the nerve to rent some scooters when in Chiang Mai. The hardest part for us with this though is walking! When we walk on the side of the street it is an entirely different way of looking to keep yourself safe. I am no better at it than the kids, so we try and go slowly and pay attention. A tall order for an 8 and 4 year old, or for a mom hell bent on capturing every moment in pictures.

The other thing that was immediately apparent was the flood water! There's evidence of this historic flood everywhere. Just to leave our hotel parking lot, we need to walk over a make shift bridge to avoid the foul smelling water. The TV is full of reports and video of all the wide spread damage with many people still living under water. Although, I do have to note that here in central Bangkok all we see is walls of sand bags, yet no actual water at all.

Then there is the actual drinking water. It must be purchased at the store as the faucet water is NOT potable. You can cook and wash with it, and even brush your teeth, so it could be far more complicated. This seems like it would be a hassle but with the abundance of 7-11's (yeah, the real 7-11. I was shocked too, I mean they are every 100 feet it seems). It is quick and easy to stock up on water and other swag. The best part is that water in the bottle only cost 7 baht, roughly 23 cents. Not a bad deal at all! It is filtered by UV and reverse osmosis and NOT fluoridated. Also of note while talking about no fluoride, I already found several toothpastes here that contain no fluoride. I am thrilled to report that. Guess I should stock up before moving on.

The final thing we noticed right away were these cute little houses at almost every property, including at the hotel and every restaurant big or small that we have visited. Being the type of person who can't stand not knowing something, I looked it up. Thank goodness for the internet! How did anyone know anything before? Anyway that is another post entirely.

I found that they are called spirit houses. These are shrines set up to provide shelter for spirits that may cause problems for the new owners if they are not appeased. Thais set up food and drink each morning and evening and even set up vehicles for spirits transportation or statues of people or animals to keep the spirits company. They are all unique and all beautiful in their own way. I find it impossible to not snap a photo when I see them. I have tons already and I may just need a bigger hard drive for photo storage because of it. Thailand is officially a Buddhist country which is part of what I find so fascinating. I really look forward to learning more about their practices and beliefs.

Until our next observations (or when I get some time to post about it anyway).....

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Costa Rica is a great spot for family travel in Central America. It's beaches are one of the most attractive features. Most of the beaches in Costa Rica offer seclusion, beauty, and wildlife. Some are clearly geared towards tourists while others retain the charm of a land less traveled. After visiting many of the beaches of this small country I have compiled a list of my favorites below:

Punta Uva
Puerto Viejo is one of the nicest beach areas that I have ever been to. It is situated on the Caribbean coast and enjoys a beautiful climate year round. There is a real laid back atmosphere with a Rastafarian vibe as a back drop. It is a 5 hour drive from the capitol of San Jose, through a stunning landscape. The area offers something for everyone; hiking, swimming, snorkeling, various adventure sports, and great food. The main town where you will find shopping and lodging is Puerto Viejo but the most beautiful beach in the area is Punta Uva, about 15 mins outside of town on a rustic dirt road. There you will find pristine water, a snorkeling reef just off shore, and most days you will be visited by a local troupe of howler monkeys.
If you go, be prepared; bring your own durable beach supplies, like Rio brand beach chairs , drinks and food, towels, and anything else you may want for a fun beach day. Although the town is a short drive away, the beach has NO services and is somewhat isolated.

Esterillos
Esterillos is also a beautiful beach and a nice option if you are on a tighter time constraint. Only 1 1/2 hours away from San Jose and sitting on the central Pacific coast, this can easily be a day trip. It is also a secluded beach but there are some services including a couple restaurants and small hotels. During low tide there are fabulous tide pools to explore and the large mermaid statue makes a perfect photo op. Beware during high tide, as this is a rough beach which gets populated quickly with the local surfers. Sit back and enjoy watching them brave the waves!

Flamingo
Flamingo beach is situated in Guanacaste, also on the Pacific coast. You can fly into either of the international airports, but this beach is much closer to the Liberia airport in northern Costa Rica. There is a full service marina, the only one between Mexico and Panama, and world class fishing. The beach itself is pristine white sand while the water is crystal clear. It is a more upscale area and that will be reflected in the prices for everything from food to lodging. Scuba diving, golf, jet skiing and deep sea fishing are all popular things to do in this area besides lounging the day away at the beach.

Dominical
Located on the pacific coast Dominical is a gorgeous beach with amazing surf. Popular with surfers and backpackers yet still a small town that has, to date, escaped the boom of development. The final stretch of roadway has just recently been finished shortening the trip by over an hour so it is now just a 4 hour drive from San Jose, not ideal for a day trip. Dominical is a laid back, fun town full of cute boutique hotels and restaurants. If you go, be sure to check out Playa Ventanas during low tide for great cave exploring, Nauyaca waterfalls complete with refreshing swimming holes, and Parque Reptilandia for one of the best reptile exhibits in Costa Rica. And if you venture into the water, again, be careful, riptides are common and very dangerous.

White face monkey in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is the most touristy spot on my list. Although it is absolutely geared towards tourists with a great nightlife, American restaurants, and fancy hotels lining the entire roadway, it is still a beautiful spot and a must see in my opinion. The national park is the most visited in the country and for good reason. You will find stunning tranquil beaches right up against a dense jungle full of monkeys, sloths, anteaters, and more. The park is closed on Mondays so you can enjoy one of the numerous tours in the area or just laze by the pool. There is a diverse selection of restaurants, my favorite being the delicious Mexican fare at Sancho’s, also a must see, or eat I suppose. Manuel Antonio is a quick 2 ½ hours from San Jose, but do yourself a favor and stay at least 1-2 nights to really enjoy the area. This can also be coupled with a trip to Dominical as it is a quick 1/2 hour trip to the south.

Samara
Samara beach is located on the northern side of the Nicoya Peninsula. It's a 4 1/2 hour drive from San Jose, but also well worth the trip. There you will find a long white sand beach with shallow gentle waters that are wonderful for children. There is also a large coral reef to explore and many boutique hotels, vacation rentals, and restaurants to choose from. On my trips to the area there has been no shortage of wildlife, howler monkeys seem to inundate the area and the sea life is spectacular. Be sure to get out on one of the various boat tours where you will discover everything from dolphins, huge manta rays to slow moving giant turtles. Carillo beach is right around the corner, literally, and also worth a visit.

All of these beaches are great choices when visiting Costa Rica. Honorable mention goes to Bejuco beach, Playa Conchal, Playa Danita, Nosara, and Manzanillo. No matter which you choose, tranquility, fun, and pura vida will be had by all.

Bohemian Mom
Family Travel Blog

In 1998, I took a 3-month backpacking trip around Europe. No computers, no digital cameras, nothing high-tech at all. Looking back on that trip I quickly realize how much easier a lot of it would have been with the tools we have today. In my opinion, a modern traveler would have to be crazy to not have at least one i-something, or at least an android equivalent. It just makes too much sense, and this is coming from a mom of 3 boys that doesn’t even have TV.

In this age of rapidly advancing technology it is near impossible to exist without such things as an e-reader, iPod, iPhone, iPad, or other smart tablets and phones. They are amazing tools in everyday life and indispensable for those of us that travel with kids.

The following is a list, in no particular order, of the apps that we’ve found make life just a little bit easier when on the road:

1. Google Translate
This is just simply a great tool for translating. Google translate is available in 57 different languages. It can be used with voice recognition or simply by typing a phrase in. The voice recognition could use some work and is not available in every language yet but I expect it will close soon. It is available on any android, ipod, itouch, iphone, and ipad.

2. Iconvert
If you are like me, an American, the thought of converting anything from the metric system to the only system we are accustomed to, the standard system, can be taxing.. Sometimes the brain can just hold only so much information. Enter Iconvert; it will convert basically any form of measurement, weight, area, pressure, energy, speed, etc. It even has some currency and a fuel options. This one is a MUST for us North Americans.

3. All subway HD
Subway systems are often times confusing and not necessarily something you want to wait until the last minute to figure out. This app gives you the subway layout, complete with maps, for over 128 cities worldwide. Although it is not an interactive tool, it is a great component to any travel and can even be used offline. It is available in HD for the Ipad and non-HD for the iphone and ipod.

4. Flightboard
If you are incorporating any air travel into your journey then Flightboard will be a great tool. On it you can keep up to date with arrivals as well as departures and even communicate those findings via Twitter or Facebook. If you are picking friends up or have a friend picking you up, this is a great way to quickly see if there are any delays. For an added cost you can add Flight tracker which will track the exact location of you plane. Flightboard is available on iphone, ipad, ipod, and android.

5. Free Wi-Fi finder
Oftentimes free wi-fi can be tough to find. Just because your hotel has it does not necessarily mean it is free and sometimes there are HUGE charges to use it. No need to go through internet withdrawal. Simply use this free app to scout out where the closest free wi-fi spot is in your area. It is updated every week and at this point includes over 550,000 free wi-fi areas in 144 different countries. If you find a new spot not in the list you can add it yourself!

6. Gowalla
If you want to avoid traveling with heavy guidebooks then this is a great free app for you. This app will allow you to review places like hotels and restaurants, as well as search any area to find the must see places and any current happenings. It also allows you to build a virtual passport, follow a pre-planned trip, share photos, and even earn rewards. Available on all systems and free of charge.

7. Word lens
This app needs to be included for the sheer brilliance of it. Word lens is a translation app that worked via the camera function using optical character recognition. Simply hold the camera over the words or phrases that you do not understand and it automatically translates it for you. This is a newer app and is only available in Spanish to English and vice versa but more languages will be added in the near future. It also is not 100% accurate especially when the camera is shaky. For those traveling through Spanish-speaking countries, at $4.99, this app is a must.

8. Sit or Squat
This free app sounds like some silly parody but trust me, especially traveling with a toddler or multiple kids, a good beat on where a clean bathroom is can be a lifesaver. This is a spot where travelers can rate bathrooms and even include photos. The database includes over 100,000 toilets and more are added everyday. All it takes is one bad experience to realize the value here!

9. National Parks maps HD
If you are traveling inside the US, national parks will be a big part of your must see list. Aside from getting a yearly pass (something I also recommend) to the parks, this app is a great complement to the parks. At the moment, this app offers trail maps to 15 different parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. This allows for ease of trip planning, what points to see in these enormous parks, and can actually pinpoint exact locations so that you avoid detours or getting lost all together. It can be used offline for those areas that 3G is not available. The app is $4.99 and works with ipad, iphone, and ipod.

10. Pack TM
Pack TM is a packing tool that helps you organize and keep track of what you have packed. This $2 app (they also have a free version with less frills) is a godsend if you lose your luggage or have the feeling that something is missing after a TSA search. Well worth the trouble to easily keep things organized.

There are tons of apps out there and many that are fabulous but not included on this list. There is only so much space on a top ten list! In addition to these useful travel apps, smart phones and tablets offer endless games, books and other educational applications to keep the kids from crawling out of their skin during a long flight or train ride.

Do yourself a favor before your next extended outing and invest in a smartphone or tablet and get these apps. The savings in time and frustration will be worth the cost and then some.

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