Vacationing with the Family: Travel, Trips and Destinations

Taking the kids (www.takingthekids.com) on family vacation creates memories of a lifetime. However, choosing the right destination that suits everyone’s needs can be a challenge. That is why columnist and travel expert Eileen Ogintz, sits down to discuss with The Hype magazine, essential tips that will help you plan the perfect trip for the multi-generational family. Whether your plan is to take a cruise or a camping trip alongside a campfire on a dude ranch, there is a destination that is suitable for all. Learn to get the best out of your family vacations and take the time to watch our short satellite presentation on family travel that could mean the difference between a great trip or a disaster.

What is the most important thing to consider when planning a family vacation?

Well, first budget right! You want to be able to splurge a little and do what you want, but you don’t want to go over budget. The second thing is families don’t usually consider that things will go awry. But there will be cancelled flights, or somebody might have a medical emergency. So, think about travel insurance from a company like Allianz and check out their new travel smart mobile app. The third thing is, get the kids involved in the planning. The happier the kids, the happier everyone will be.

What are some top family travel destinations?

Kids love water parks, but you need something for the grown-ups too! So, Grapevine, Texas has two resorts with water parks, “Great Wolf Large” and “The Gaylord Texan,” but they also have an urban wine trail for the grown-ups. Another bet that’s sure to please, is a cruise Carnival corporation. It has ten different brands to choose from and you can probably cruise from a port near your home. There are so many now. You can avoid the hassles of flying! Another one that people don’t think of is dude ranches, because they’re way more than horseback riding these days. There’s mountain biking, cooking demos, wine tasting, whitewater rafting and like a cruise, it’s a good bet for a multi gen group, because you just show up and enjoy. No one must do any heavy lifting

Any suggestions for families with older kids or multi-generational families?

I like the cruise idea. because I think honestly, on the ship you can give the kids a little more freedom than you might not otherwise. On the carnival ships for example, there are such terrific tween and teen clubs. They’ll make other friends right away! Another thing is, I would have a discussion with the kids beforehand about how much they’re going to be unplugged and how much you’re going to be unplugged. You don’t want everybody on their devices all the time. Also, a discussion about souvenirs and how much everybody can spend I think is a good bet.

What else should we be thinking about before planning a trip?

Especially if it’s a multi-generational trip, appoint someone “a planner in chief” and perhaps have them work with a travel agent so that all the responsibility isn’t just on them. If you’re doing something like a cruise or going somewhere you’ve never been, have a travel agent who’s an expert that can really help. Then think about the distance. Do you really want to go somewhere where it’s going to take you two flights and a four-hour drive to get there? Make it easy on everyone. Have a conversation about who’s paying for what. If it’s a multi-generational trip, how much do the grandparents want to babysit? How much are you going to let the teens go off on their own? All that can be ironed out easily in advance.

Where can our viewers at The Hype magazine go for more information about family travel?

You can go to my website takingthekids.com and you’ll find lots about these ideas that I mentioned and plenty of other information as well. Happy travels!

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Tags: DCypher Studios, Takingthekids.com

About the Author

David Morales is the Executive Editor of The Hype magazine. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, David has a background as an artist manager, writer, blogger, drummer, and in the human services industry. He is passionate about helping others, learning and has a deep empathy for the creative process. You can follow his social media @dcypherstudios