• Sit down with the family and discuss what type of vacation you are looking for. Relaxation? Culture? Adventure? Beach? Maybe a combination of all of them?
• Enlist the help of a seasoned travel agent. They usually know the ins and outs of a particular destination and will think of things you will not.
• Starting early, as mentioned above, will give you wider options for airline, hotel, and car rental deals.
• Get everyone involved. You may not accept all ideas, but it will give you a good start in knowing what members of the family are thinking about.
• Decide on land, air, or sea? How are you getting to where you are going?
• If you fly, familiarize yourself with Homeland Security regulations. They can be numerous and you will avoid a lot of problems if you know what to expect.

Be Flexible

Planning is important, but whenever you travel, flexibility is a must. Many things can occur that will cause you to change your plans. There will always be things that you have no control over, such as traffic, bad weather, sick children, and delayed or cancelled flights. Adapting to change is important for you and those you travel with.

Pack Appropriately

Planning ahead for packing is a great idea. When you do, keep these tips in mind:

• Make a list, modify it if necessary, but stick with it.
• Check the weather and plan accordingly. Theere are many online weather serives that can give you an estimate of what the weather may be during your stay.
• Bring clothes that are comfortable for traveling.

Budget

One of the greatest stresses of a family vacation is spending too much money. Decide ahead of time how much money you can comfortably spend on the vacation. You may need to postpone some activities for another vacation.

Rest stops, gift shops, restaurants, and hotel lobbies can be tempting places to spend money. Set aside a certain amount of money for different categories, such as hotel, food, gas, entertainment, and miscellaneous.

It is natural for children to want to buy things that will remind them of their vacation. Give your children a certain amount of money to spend. This works well for children over five years old. In addition to taking the pressure off every time you pass a souvenir display, your child is learning the value of money and wise decision-making.

Make Wise Food Choices

It is very easy to resort to an unhealthy diet on vacation, which can cause you to feel tired, sick, and depressed. Try to maintain good eating habits, allowing some opportunities to splurge. Here are some ways to keep you eating right:

• Know in advance about the safety of food and water
• Know about food handling at your destination
• Avoid the hotel minibar
• Eat only when you are hungry
• Try to eat smaller meals throughout the day
• Eat healthy snacks to curb hunger and cravings

Pack healthy snacks and keep them handy. They also come are useful if there is a long wait to be seated at a restaurant.

Deal With Health Issues

If you travel with a chronic disease, make sure you know what you need so you do not have any health-related setbacks.

• Allergies—Healthy traveling with allergies
• Cancer—Traveling with cancer
• Diabetes—Taking care of your diabetes when you are away from home
• Heart disease—Traveling with heart disease
• Pack your medications. Get them refilled before you leave so you will not run out. Find more information here.

Relax!

This is probably the most important rule for enjoying your vacation. Your sense of humor may be the most valuable item you bring along. Do not let the vacation be the time you discuss all the things that irritate you about the other family members. This is a time for you to enjoy your family, so take advantage of the relaxed schedule to talk, play, and laugh with your family.