If you are the parent of a competitive gymnast, one of the perks and sometimes hardships of this crazy journey you are on is traveling to distant locations for meets. This means reserving hotels, rental cars, airline tickets, and all of the other tasks that come with a relaxing vacation…without the relaxing vacation. If you are new to this world, it can be a little overwhelming but after a few years most parents have it down to a fine art. Even so, there are always new tips and tricks to help make the process a little less stressful and maybe even save a few dollars.

The Hotel

The moment you and your gymnast have been waiting for is finally here. The Meet Schedule is out! Whether the news of where your travels will take you is exciting or a little disappointing, your planning can now officially begin. The actual schedule for each meet will not be available until sometime after the registration deadline so there are some things (like booking flights) that you may not be able to do until then but securing a hotel is something you can do right away. But how do you choose? The meets will partner up with one or sometimes a few “host hotels” which offer a block of rooms at a “group rate”. These hotels may seem like an obvious choice, but along with the “pros” there may be some “cons” to consider. Here is a list of tips to take into consideration when choosing a hotel:

• Location– The host hotels selected are generally either close to the meet site or the route between them is easy to navigate, however there will most likely be other options in the same area.
• Full of gymnasts– It can be a fun atmosphere to stay in a hotel with other gymnasts and maybe even make some new friends and the host hotels will be packed full of gymnasts. This is especially fun for the younger girls and lower levels who are just starting to travel however this can also mean a lot of noise in the halls and gymnasts jumping and tumbling in the room above you. If your gymnast is older or it’s important to you and to them to get their rest and stay focused, this may be a negative thing.
• The group rate of a host hotel offers a cheaper rate than they offer to individual guests staying there at the same time, BUT do your research. Do they offer a free breakfast? Parking? Are there other hotels nearby who’s regular rates are cheaper than the host hotel’s group rate or about the same but offer more free amenities? For us, the free breakfast is at the top of our list, not only to save some money (hotel restaurant breakfasts are usually SUPER expensive and sometimes don’t have healthy or kid friendly choices) but because of the speed and convenience. If your gymnast is competing at 9 am it’s a huge blessing to be able to run down and grab some fruit, yogurt and eggs and be on your way!
• Rewards! There are most likely going to be lots of trips (and hotels) in your future so it’s a great idea to join a hotel chain’s rewards program. You receive points every time you stay with that chain which can add up to credit towards your future stays and sometimes also extra perks like snacks and goodies in your room. These points can take a while to add up so it’s best to find the hotels you generally like best or are always happy with and try and stick with that one chain when possible to get the most rewards points.
• Space. Although your stay will probably not be an especially long one and you most likely won’t be spending a ton of the time in your room, the amount of space is still something to consider. If your gymnast competes early in the morning everyone will need to get to bed early, however you may want your athlete to get to bed earlier than everyone else. When in a small room together it’s extremely difficult for just one person to hit the sack while others are still awake. Choosing an “all suite” hotel or one that includes a separate “living area” is a great choice in this situation. Having a kitchenette is also a great way to be able to save some money and have healthier snack or lunch choices because you can hit the local grocery store instead of eating out every meal!
• The Dates. You most likely will not know the exact dates of your stay until the actual schedule for the meet you are attending comes out. Especially if your gym expects you to be at practice at home right up until your meet date. Most hotels offer free reservation changes/cancellation right up until a day or two prior to your stay though. Once you have chosen your hotel, first check on their cancellation policy to be sure. Then book your room keeping in mind both the earliest and latest competition scenarios AND travel time (If there is a chance you could be competing at 8 a.m. on Friday you will need a Thursday check in date). I am a bit old school when it comes to my reservations and print everything out and keep it in files so that once I know exactly how long our stay will actually be I can call and cancel any extra days I have reserved. Do NOT forget to do this though or you may be charged for days you don’t need.
• Share a room. Sometimes not everyone in your family can attend every meet. Siblings have their own sport or other events and sometimes it’s just too expensive to bring the whole family. If you are a mom traveling with your gymnast and there are other mom/gymnast friends who will also be traveling alone consider splitting a room and rental car to reduce your expenses.

The Flight

Once you know your competition time and travel dates it’s time to book your flights. Obviously price and times are always major decisions when booking flights regardless the reason for travel. When booking for gymnastics meets we also look at:

• Rewards! Again, you are going to be traveling a lot so just like with booking hotels, rewards programs should be a consideration when booking your flights. Even if you only use it for your travel needs, a Southwest Credit Card is a great idea! Put all of your hotel and flight expenses on it and earn points towards a future trip!
• Seating Chances are there will be other teammates on your flight and if that is the case your gymnast would most likely rather sit with them than you. Choosing an airline without assigned seating can be good in this situation because you can let the kiddos sit together and still keep parents close by to hand over snacks and for peace of mind.
• Cancellation or flight change policy. Things happen. Especially in gymnastics. Unfortunately the possibility of an injury, illness, or emergency is always there. It’s important to keep an airlines cancellation policy in mind.
• Direct flight availability. Unfortunately competition season is winter which means bad weather and flight delays are always possible. Although this can still happen with a direct flight, avoiding layovers whenever possible can reduce the anxiety of a delayed flight making you rushed for or worse yet missing the second leg of a flight.
• Airport options. Sometimes the closest airport to the meet you are traveling to isn’t the best option or sometimes the meet is located between several airports. When shopping for flights don’t forget to check multiple airports that are within driving distance of your final destination. Sometimes it’s cheaper or there are better options if you fly into and airport an hour or two away and drive the rest of the way.

The Rental Car

Once you have your flight times, you can reserve your rental. Whether you are sharing a room with friends or just staying in the same hotel, this is something you can double up on and save a little cash. If you are a Costco member, definitely check out their website (click on travel). They often offer the cheapest rates and they also allow you to add a second driver for free which is great if you are sharing a ride!

Packing

First of all, don’t stress about packing. As long as you’ve got the competition leo, warm-ups, and grips you have everything you really need. BUT there are a few things to make your trip go a little more smoothly. Of course if you travel anywhere with a child or teen don’t forget the essentials; snacks, and electronics. Entertainment and healthy snacks are important for happy travelers. I also purchased a few things from the “dollar” section at Target that I bring along to every meet. My favorite is the dashboard cellphone holder. Remember, you are going to be in cities you have never been to before and navigating between the hotel and meet sites, to restaurants and maybe a few tourist attractions. Google Maps is my best friend when traveling and having my phone easily viewed on the dash of our rental car is incredibly helpful! The other is a cheapy usb tower. We travel with A LOT of electronics and have found some hotels just don’t have enough outlets. This tower allows everyone to get all of their essential electronics charged and ready to video those amazing routines or check scores. Also, Starbucks gift cards are a great idea to give to your gymnast in the weeks and months leading up to and during meet season (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, etc.). Starbucks is a must at the airport so plan in advance and be sure they get packed!

Pack light. We learned to fit everything into a carry-on to avoid checking and claiming luggage and fees. This saves so much time and money!

Have Fun!!

This is the most important tip by far. Take time to appreciate traveling to places you may have never gone before. Try and take some time to see all that your destination has to offer. Gymnasts work so hard and sacrifice so much to train for their sport and make their dreams come true. They deserve a little fun for sure!