| Let's face it!!! Our children are judged | | | | and full prices, travel can be extremely |
| based on their grade point average and their | | | | expensive. However, prices drop substantially |
| performance on standardized test such as ACT/ | | | | September 7 through November 20 as this time |
| SAT. Our children's high school and college | | | | period is considered the travel slow season. |
| admissions are based on those credentials. As | | | | Other lesser known slow seasons are December |
| parents, we invest money in sophisticated | | | | 1 through December 20, January 3 through |
| desktop/ laptop computers to give them access | | | | February 1 and 2 weeks after Passover/Easter |
| to the worldwide web. We establish home | | | | through May 20.Combine slow season discounts |
| offices, libraries and structured areas to | | | | with internet discounts, a family can |
| encourage daily homework and studying. We | | | | experience the world at the fraction of cost |
| believe constant studying and attention to | | | | of your holiday (Christmas, Hanukah, and |
| homework will groom our children to brilliant | | | | Ramadan) gift fund. "I spent $1500 dollars |
| status and give them impeccable credentials. | | | | for a 3 day vacation in Nassau, Bahamas. That |
| To a certain extent, we are correct. Homework | | | | cost included air travel to Miami for 3 |
| and study skills lay the basic foundation for | | | | people and a cruise to Bahamas. Since food |
| school success as high grade point averages | | | | was include, the trip was relatively |
| flow from high test scores.Memory skills and | | | | inexpensive," states Ida Byrd-Hill, a parent |
| repetition is the key to high grade point | | | | of 7th grade twins, Kevin and Karen Hill who |
| averages; however, they are not the key to | | | | attend Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music |
| brilliance on standardized test. Standardized | | | | and Art (a Detroit Public School). "My |
| test, such as California Achievement Test | | | | children learned about world colonization, |
| (CAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), | | | | but better yet they learned about |
| American College Test (ACT), assumes students | | | | opportunities as they met the Bahamian |
| are exposed to different cultures, climates, | | | | Governess, a woman of African descent. I am |
| countries and experiences at least 10 times | | | | glad I was able to find that trip at as |
| before reaching 10th grade. Students who | | | | Karen scored 96 percentile on the Social |
| perform the best on standardized test have | | | | Studies portion of the California Achievement |
| exposure to diverse experiences. What better | | | | Test and Kevin scored 87 percentile on the |
| way to gain this exposure than a vacation to | | | | Science portion of the California Achievement |
| another city, state, country or | | | | Test " states Byrd-Hill.Great deals can be |
| continent!!!!!Wealthy families have always | | | | found on the internet by booking at least 14 |
| known that trips, getaways and vacations are | | | | days or even 21 days in advance. There are |
| the secret to grooming brilliant students. | | | | also websites that specialize in last minute |
| Family vacations are an opportunity for | | | | travel. Often these trips (air/ hotel combos) |
| students to apply all their classroom | | | | are for a weekend departing the same week |
| knowledge quickly. The average vacation is | | | | you book the vacation or the next weekend. |
| three to seven days. Some wealthy families | | | | Since there are so many travel websites on |
| are known to vacation up to 45 days on | | | | the internet it pays to spend some time price |
| multiple continents. Nevertheless, most | | | | comparing. There are websites, like that |
| families are on a limited timeframe requiring | | | | allow individuals to surf many of the top |
| them to make quick decisions regarding | | | | websites and not so well known sites to |
| currency exchange, climate differences, | | | | compare vacation pricing.If you want to groom |
| navigation of city, etc.These decisions while | | | | your children into brilliant students, |
| extremely practical require the use of | | | | improve their grades and performance on |
| mathematics, science, geography, social | | | | standardized test, implement the secret |
| studies and reading. Unconsciously, students | | | | wealthy families have known for generations - |
| are immersed into lessons fueled by sheer | | | | Take a Family Vacation.Good Trip!!! Bon |
| excitement and curiosity.Imagine how | | | | Voyage!!! Viaje Bueno!!! Arrivaderci!!! |
| productive the lesson would become if a | | | | Viaggio Buono!!! Gut Tschus!!!Ida B. |
| family vacation evolves around a classroom | | | | Byrd-Hill is the President of Uplift Inc.and |
| lesson. Children learn lessons at a faster | | | | She was the President of The Harvard Group |
| pace. For example, a train trip to an Indian | | | | Wealth Management L.L.C. for 10 years. She |
| Reservation in Arizona/ New Mexico really | | | | created investment portfolios, insurance |
| solidifies a lesson on Native American | | | | plans and residential/ commercial financing. |
| History. For a list of classroom vacation | | | | She has served as guest columnist for the |
| ideas, visit and click on the link, School | | | | Michigan Front Page for 2 years and a speaker |
| Lesson Vacations.I know you are thinking "I | | | | for the Better Investing television show |
| don't have the money for vacation as travel | | | | hosted by David Chilton, author of The |
| is too expensive." Under normal circumstances | | | | Wealthy Barber. |