travel tips – Summit Vacation Homes

November 7, 2026 • 3 min read

Traveling With Kids: 15 Tips for a Smooth, Happy Family Vacation

Family vacations create some of life's best memories — and, let's be honest, some of its most stressful travel days. Long flights, unfamiliar beds, missed naps and hungry kids can test anyone's patience. But with a bit of planning, traveling with children can be easier and far more enjoyable for everyone. Here are 15 tips we rely on for smoother family trips, from booking to the journey home. Toddlers love beaches, parks and pools; older kids may want adventure, animals or theme parks. A destination with a mix of easy activities and downtime usually works best. Separate bedrooms, a kitchen…

October 27, 2026 • 4 min read

Car Rental Insurance Explained: What You Actually Need (and What You Can Skip)

You've found a great rental-car price online, you arrive at the counter — and suddenly you're being offered a list of insurance options with confusing acronyms that could double the cost. Do you need them? Are you already covered? And what happens if you say no? This guide explains the most common types of rental car cover in plain language, shows you where you might already be protected and gives you a simple checklist for deciding before you get to the counter. Note: insurance rules and products differ by country, rental company and policy. Use this as a general guide…

October 12, 2026 • 4 min read

Ultimate Guide to Summit Vacations: Mountain Travel Tips and Packing List

Mountain trips are pure magic when you're prepared — and surprisingly tough when you're not. Thin air, fast-changing weather and long drives on winding roads all make a summit vacation a little different from a city break or a beach holiday. The good news is that a bit of planning goes a long way. Here are our essential tips for a smooth, safe and memorable mountain getaway, plus a packing list you can use for any season. Many popular mountain towns sit well above 8,000 feet (about 2,400 m), where there's noticeably less oxygen. Some visitors feel headaches, tiredness or…

October 4, 2026 • 4 min read

How to Save Money on a Vacation Home Rental: 10 Smart Strategies

A vacation home can be one of the best-value ways to travel — especially for families and groups who would otherwise need several hotel rooms. But between nightly rates, cleaning fees, service fees and taxes, the total can climb quickly. The good news: with a few smart moves, you can often cut the cost of a rental significantly without compromising on comfort. Here are ten practical strategies we use to keep vacation-home stays affordable. A low nightly rate can hide a high cleaning fee, and platform service fees vary. Most booking sites let you display the total price including fees…

September 25, 2026 • 5 min read

Smart Travel Planning: 15 Essential Tips for Stress-Free Trips

Some trips seem to glide along effortlessly: flights on time, a great place to stay, no forgotten chargers and no panic at the rental-car counter. Luck plays a part, but most smooth trips have something in common — a bit of smart planning before departure. The best part is that good planning doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Below are the travel tips we rely on for every getaway, whether it's a weekend in the mountains or a two-week adventure abroad. They cover budgeting, booking flights and stays, getting around, packing and staying safe — with links to the…