TRAVELING with the Kids – It’s All in the Planning! - Travel Tales by Vacation Express

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TRAVELING with the Kids – It’s All in the Planning!
by Sidney Pease, 27 January 2010, 16:49
in Family Travel
When booking a family-friendly vacation, the first thing you’ll need to do is establish a budget and then do a bit of research on your own to determine which destinations and hotels fit your budget. Vacation Express offers family-friendly hotels in all its destinations, providing you a chance to combine great resort amenities with beautiful beaches (in Mexico or the Caribbean islands), or exciting eco-adventures (in Costa Rica), plus local cultural interests. Many hotels offer kid’s clubs for the 4-12 year old set, most have fantastic pools with lazy rivers, fun fountains, water slides and more. Some resorts even offer nurseries, baby clubs or toddler programs, and some even offer nanny services so you can enjoy some adult time away from the kids. Several offer activities geared toward ‘tweens' and even teens. Do your homework and choose a hotel that meets your family’s specific needs, then present a pre-selected list of options at a family planning meeting. AND don’t forget – you and the kids (even infants) will all need U.S. passports to travel out of the U.S. and to return to the U.S.
If you want to make sure that everyone has a great vacation with the kind of warm, fuzzy memories that will be retold for years to come – then take the time to follow a few simple tips:
a) Get the entire family involved in the planning process. Have a family discussion about everyone's trip priorities regarding where they want to go and what they want to do on vacation. If done in moderation, handing over some decisions to the kids is a terrific way for them to learn planning and thinking skills. Going somewhere new puts everybody on an exciting, equal footing. When you get ready to take the trip, talk to them about things being different (food, routines, beds, the language, etc.) just to prepare and excite them about the differences they’re going to experience.
b) Choose the right destination. Make sure everyone is in agreement about which destination will provide the most fun and the most options for each member of the family (beach, water sports, sightseeing activities or perhaps adventure activities like canopy tours, horseback riding, river rafting or other soft adventure activities). After you’ve agreed on a destination, try to get the kids excited about the place you’re about to visit. Get some good destination DVD’s, read some colorful, interesting history books to the kids, maybe get some music that’s typical of the destination or show them online tourist board information sites so they can see visuals to give them an idea of what they’re about to experience! Whatever is appropriate for your children.
c) Choose the right hotel/resort: Where you stay with kids can make a huge difference in how the trip goes. If you have young children you’ll want to consider a hotel that caters to families with a supervised kid’s club program and a great, active pool area (perhaps a children’s pool if the children are very young and not proficient swimmers). If you have teens, make sure the hotel offers a cool game room and outdoor activities appropriate for this hard-to-please age group – tennis, soccer, water sports, bungee, rock-climbing walls, volleyball – and maybe even a private time in the disco just for teens, giving them a chance to hook up with other kids their own age and bond with for the week.
d) All-Inclusive or EP? All-inclusive is usually the best bet with kids – it’s an excellent choice when keeping to a budget is an important factor. Plus, kids can be picky eaters and with the limitless buffets available at all-inclusive resorts – even the picky eaters will find something they love…let them choose their favorite foods – cereals, waffles, pancakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza, spaghetti – they’ll be happy to see some familiar food and more likely to eat well, and then maybe even try some new things too. All-inclusive plans generally include everything in one price – day and night time activities, non-motorized water sports, all meals and snacks and unlimited beverages. A convenient fit for a family on a budget who wants to do it all and not worry about the expense of every little detail.
e) Extras to pack for the trip: Be sure to pack a flashlight, a nightlight and some cards or a favorite game or two as well as some books for the hotel room or a favorite blankie or stuffed animal – especially helpful with the younger kids who might feel a little homesick and need some extra attention just before bedtime. And don’t relax the rules and regulations too much - try to stick to regular bedtime schedules, etc. Kids will actually appreciate the familiar structure even on vacation, and it will make them “happier campers” the next day too! Pack toys that are simple and don't break easily. Crayons and coloring books work well. If you take electronic games, be sure and pack extra batteries. And take along the meds! Pack a small supply of the medicines you might need. These might include cough medicine, fever reducer, Benadryl, Tylenol and syrup of Ipecac. Sunscreen and calamine lotion are also musts for the warm weather destinations. Take along some moist towelettes and hand sanitizer too. PLUS let each child carry his/her own small back-pack or roller bag – with some “special” things inside.
f) Equip everyone with a disposable camera. Make sure everyone has a notebook, too. When you return, create a travel journal as a family with photos and stories.
g) Don't try to do too much. Pack too much sightseeing into one day, and your kids will end up cranky. Worse yet, they probably won't remember any of the things you were trying to show them. However, try to devote plenty of time to blowing off steam - being away can be exciting but also stressful. Join in and help your children express themselves physically and emotionally through exercise and activities.
h) Allow for some down time: Families are not used to being together all the time – and it might get a little stressful at times. So plan on adding in some quiet time for everyone during the day – maybe read a book by the pool or take a leisurely stroll around the property, or even an afternoon nap in the room.
i) AND Listen to your own needs. Create time to be apart from the children and nurture yourself and your adult relationships. It’s a win-win situation. One of the greatest gifts you can offer your children is your own sense of happiness and well-being.
j) Talk about the day's experiences. What was the best part of the day? What was the funniest moment? What did everyone learn? Reliving the day can reinforce the best memories.
Traveling with your children can be a fantastic way to bond with them, show them the world, make memories to last a lifetime, and feed their sense of adventure. Follow the link for family-travel ideas - http://www.vacationexpress.com/family-travel/
URL TRAVELING with the Kids – It’s All in the Planning!

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