There’s no way to avoid the most annoying kid question in the history of family travel – “Are we there yet?” – but there are basic steps you can take to keep your trip within budget this holiday season.

Mike Pina, a spokesman for AAA in Washington, says a prepaid spending card is a good way to keep expenditures in line – if you don’t also tap your credit and ATM cards.

“Many people don’t do their homework,” Pina says. “They focus on the destination and not on ways to save money during the trip. Checking the Internet for the best hotel prices and booking in advance is a good way to save money. AAA’s www.FuelCostCalculator.com will help you estimate gas costs.”

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• Don’t travel at peak times. The busiest, and typically most expensive, days to travel are the days just before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, or any other major holiday. You can save a bundle by traveling during off-peak times.
  
  
• In general, it’s cheaper to fly out of major airports in large cities than board in a small, outlying city and switch planes at a hub. Balance this against the cost and inconvenience of driving to the nearest big city and paying to park your car while you’re away. Then ask yourself a basic question: What’s your time (and sanity) worth, especially on the homeward-bound leg of what’s likely to be a frantic holiday trip?
  
  
• Ship gifts before you travel. This will save the hassle of lugging boxes on the plane and eliminate possible damage en route. Remember: You can insure things you mail or ship via UPS (UPS) or FedEx (FDX), but you’re out of luck if you kick a gift down the stairs at the airport or it gets damaged going through security. Plus, shipping gifts means you won’t get socked with a fee for excess baggage.
  
  
• If you’re traveling 200 miles or less, consider taking the train. Amtrak has all the grace of the Post Office with none of its entrepreneurial spirit, but if your kids have never ridden a train, this can be fun. It also can be maddeningly slow.
  
  
• If you haven’t bought your tickets by now, you may have missed the best deals. Next time, book your trip well in advance and you’ll probably save on airfare, motels and car rentals.
  
  
• If you plan to drive, carry a map and have a contingency fund. This seems simple enough, but many people don’t do either and sometimes drive miles in the wrong direction or bump up against a money crunch. A credit card can serve as your financial backup. The trick: Remember that impulse buying of doodads and thingamajigs at airport gift shops or rest stops along the Interstate doesn’t qualify as a legitimate use of your backup money.
  
  
• Conduct Internet searches to find the best price for major expenses. Use comparison shopping Web sites to get the best deal on airfare, motel and other travel expenses. A few clicks will allow you to compare prices among Hertz, Avis (CAR), Enterprise and Budget.
  
  
• Put any delicate yuppie sensibilities you may have aside during the holidays and clip coupons. You may be able to save on motels and airport parking, especially if you’re willing to leave your car at a lot some distance from the terminal.

It’s not hard to keep holiday spending in line if you develop a travel budget and stick to it. If you don’t have a spending plan, the trip could swallow your wallet and chew a hole in the family budget for months.


Traveling With Children

Dealing with screeching, yelping children (when they aren’t just belly-aching) can make financial considerations seem inconsequential.

If you’re traveling with small children, be sure to pack an ample supply of games, toys and stuffed animals. The simplest games can be the most engaging because they require your participation: Ask your kids to find license plates from all 50 states or have them spot things along the highway that begin with each letter of the alphabet: “A” is for airplane, “B” is for barn and so on. By order of the Semi-Grand Poohbah (i.e. you), “Q” is the only letter that can be taken out of sequence or perhaps substituted for the numeral seven. Improvise – yuk it up to keep your children interested in the game and perhaps they won’t spend as much time squawking at each other.