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