Questions about traveling with grandkids

SolidAxleDurango wrote:
Buy 'em a T-shirt and a hat and call it good.... Who says memories are made by buying stuff? Go do cool stuff and take pics. Come home and make things with your pics... Calendars, coffee mugs, scrap books.

I lean towards this.

What kind of trip are you planning? If mostly campgrounds, why so much concern about money?

My response to my kids when they want something that I don't want to buy for them is "I don't have money for that", or "Let's wait and come back to buy it if you still want it later - we don't want to carry it around all day". Amazing how often kids later on decide something really isn't all that critical to own.

At resort campgrounds we will usually gave our kids $5 or $10 a day to spend on snacks and/or games. Depended on what the campground had and how much things cost.

At more rustic campgrounds that didn't have an extensive camp store or recreation hall, there was nothing to spend money on! We just made campfires, hiked in the woods, played frisbie / soccer / wiffle ball, and swam in the river / lake. And if we were with other families, we ate until our bellys burst.

If you are planning on camping near tourist destinations (amusement parks, seashore boardwalks, exploring cities, etc), then Yes, have some sort of a budget figured out, but.... plan on "overspending" on your grandkids.

Kind of takes away from a vacation if you are constantly worried about money... either plan something less expensive, or just bring the credit cards.

Have fun camping!