Whether you're new to family travel or an old hand, there is much to learn—each kid (and family) is different! Where to go for the best advice? We wholeheartedly recommend the latest guide from Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet's Family Travel Handbook. It is packed FULL of goodness, and is written by Imogen Hall, who, as a family traveler AND a writer, knows her stuff.

In The Best Things in Life are Free: The Ultimate Money-Saving Travel Guide, the travel experts at Lonely Planet collected the most priceless experiences they've discovered from over 40 years of on-the-ground research into one essential resource. Packed with money-saving tips, tricks and recommendations, The Best Things in Life are Free features 884 free (or almost free) sights and experiences in 60 major cities around the world from Boston to Bangkok.

Truth: international experiences change your life. That's why we do it - why we travel, learn new languages, try different foods, fall in love with colors and textiles, walk beaches and ancient paths, explore, make new friends, and keep traveling. International experiences can come in a plethora of forms - study abroad, gap year, weekend travel, year-long RTW trips, cooking classes, couchsurfing, sporting events - the list is endless, which is exciting!

It’s easy enough to make sure your good time isn’t making someone else’s life tougher if you’re aware of the culture you’re visiting. Don’t limit yourself to the suggestions in this chapter, as ethical considerations should inform all your travel. Volunteering is another way you can make a difference to the places you visit, even if you just help out for a few weeks.