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Start planning early.
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Determine your PCS travel budget.
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Involve family members in the planning process.
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Research activities, distances between locations, and availability of amenities.
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Take pets' and children's needs into consideration.
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Consider reaching out to spouses in a Coast Guard social media group for advice. There are many who are Destination and Travel Specialists.
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Determine the must-see items and plan around them.
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Book hotels in advance. Ensure you ask for the military rate.
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You can save money by staying at hotels on military bases. These need to be booked
ahead as they fill up quickly. -
Book activity tickets in advance.
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Take advantage of National Parks. Military members can get a National Parks pass for
free. Some parks now require you to make a reservation ahead of time. Check out the
National Park Website for more information. -
Give yourself plenty of travel time.
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Schedule breaks into your timeline. Consider pet and child needs.
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Allow room in the schedule for spontaneity and hiccups.
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Plan downtime into your schedule.
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Research the typical weather along your planned route. Ensure you pack appropriate
attire. -
Take advantage of military discounts to save money.
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Create a packing list.
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Seek out advice from locals.
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Notify your extended family or someone you trust about travel plans in case of
emergency. -
Expect problems and be ready to ad-lib.
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Tools to help you plan:
Roadtrippers Recreation.gov Pintrest TripAdvisor
Google Maps Google Trips Yelp
Apps: Waze iExit Interstate Exit Guide AllTrails
