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Many clients have mixed feelings about planning their next family vacation, excited about spending time away with the kids but daunted
by the process of selecting and reserving that perfect family getaway.
Our agents have come up with a short list of hints and tips to help you plan your next family vacation with minimum stress.
Involve The Kids
Get the involved right from the beginning, asking where they'd like to go and what they'd like to see. When they're a part of the decision making,
they have a stake in making sure everything goes well. With a large family this could be a chore but you can make it fun for everyone by turning it
into a game -- have everyone write down their top 5 places to go and why. Each person reads their list aloud and see if there is one common destination
or discussing the most common destination. Make sure everyone is onboard and you'll have a happy vacation during, and after, vacation.
Research, Research... Research
The Internet is a wonderful place to gather travel information and you can make it a family event as well by giving everyone a little homework
to find one or two fun things to do while on vacation. Tour books and guides work well and a knowledgable travel agent costs you nothing more than
the trip itself -- booking direct saves you nothing and doing so won't give you access to a travel professional eager to answer your questions. Try
calling Travelocity or Orbitz to ask if they've ever stayed at the resort or if soft-drinks are included in the all-inclusive plan.
Don't Overspend
It's too easy to overspend on the family, justifying it by saying, "We only do this once a year." It could take you the whole year to pay off the vacation
and incidentals. Can go during the off-season? Consult your travel agent for dates to get the best rate as well as any specials or discounts available.
Resorts sometimse offer "children stay free" or "5th night free", a significant savings. Planning dates around discounted rates can help you not only
afford more of a vacation but perhaps you can sneek in another one before the end of the year?
Be Flexible
Anyone with kids knows that flexibility is a must, ensuring everyone gets a chance to do their own thing. Allowing some "wiggle room" can save
your vacation something not go as well as planned - and even the best-planned vacations can have a hiccup or two. Is the plane delayed or is someone
sick? Is the optional dolphin-swim tour booked up on Thursday? Why not go on Wednesday?
Adult Time
There is nothing wrong with taking a little time for yourselves when on a family vacation with resorts and cruise lines ensuring your children
are entertained and supervised. Take advantage of the kids going to the teen dance with their new-found friends while you two slip away for a
special dinner down by the water.
Take Grandma and Grandpa
They're always saying they don't get to see the kids enough so why not invite them along for some quality time and help bridge the generation
gap? You might even get to sleep in a little later if Grandma and Grandpa take the little ones to breakfast a few times without you!
Don't Follow The Crowd
This can be difficult during the high-season for many destinations and unavoidable with resort vacations but you can avoid the masses with a few
little tricks. If the resort is predominantly European, take the kids to dinner earlier... and vice-versa. The typical European dinner is quite a bit
later than the American meal time. When touring a museum simply go the opposite direction of the crowds, typically counter-clockwise as most will go
to the right. If touring by car, try to hit national parks first thing in the morning as they open to avoid buses who typically arrive in the afternoon,
depending on their itinerary.
Protect Your Vacation
Travel Protection Insurance is often declined with everything expected to go as planned, even being flexible (see above) to ensure enough "wiggle room"
for the unexpected. Protect your investment! If someone becomes ill or your plane can't depart due to weather, you can file a claim and receive the
appropriate compensation.
Get Your Passports
They'll be required for all foreign travel soon and now required for travel to the Caribbean by air. Apply for it soon to ensure you and your family
are ready for that next vacation getaway!
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