Place Mats

"When staying in hotel rooms, I used to put my jewelry in clean ashtrays, which are now mostly a thing of the past. Instead, I bring a cleaned out plastic lid from a peanut butter jar. It's the perfect size for my jewelry, I can put it on a high shelf far from my kids' hands, and the bright color is easy to see, so I never leave it behind." —Joy Johnson, Stuart, Fla Get more family-friendly travel tips right on your mobile phone! Scan our QR code, here, and then check back each month as we add more tips.

"Assign one parent the essentials (diapers, wipes, snacks), and let the other carry the fun stuff (crayons, toys, books). You'll know which bag to scrounge through for the playing cards or the animal crackers." —F. P., New York, N.Y. Get more family-friendly travel tips right on your mobile phone! Scan our QR code, here, and then check back each month as we add more tips.

"You're never too young to be a frequent flier. Register your kids with the airline's loyalty program when you pay for their first airfare. But note that many mileage programs will erase your miles if the account is inactive for 18 months; before that happens, donate the miles to a charity at milesdonor.com." —Laura Hunt, Chicago, Ill. Get more family-friendly travel tips right on your mobile phone! Scan our QR code, here, and then check back each month as we add more tips.

"I bought my sons fanny packs to use as toiletry bags. When they need to brush their teeth or comb their hair, they just grab their individual packs. This tip comes in especially handy when you're vacationing at a campground." —Debra Kushnick, Marietta, Ga. Get more family-friendly travel tips right on your mobile phone! Scan our QR code, here, and then check back each month as we add more tips.