Family Vacations

For many people, especially those who have limited vacation time every year, family vacations are an important time; a time to re-charge and to spend special, uninterrupted time with the people they love the most.

While families can, of course, travel anywhere, there are venues which are more suitable than others. Some destinations cater to children, and some hotels are more welcoming and family-oriented than others. Family vacations can run the gamut from camping or outdoor adventures to amusement parks to Caribbean cruises – the possibilities are endless!

Here are some ideas:

• Cruises: Cruising offers some fantastic opportunities for family vacations. Cruising not only takes you to several different destinations within one trip, but many offer comprehensive kids’ programs as well as daytrips catering to kids. For instance, Royal Caribbean offers an excellent kids’ program, separating kids into age groups and providing daily activities which are geared to each group. Many parents find that their kids never want to leave the kids’ groups! The friends met and memories to last a lifetime make cruising a wonderful experience for kids and their families (parents may enjoy some alone time as well, whicle the children are enjoying group activities).
• Amusement Parks: For many families, amusement parks are what come to mind when they think of fun. DisneyWorld, Six Flags, and many other parks full of rides and games are perfect for family getaways, and if you look for package deals they can be affordable. Orlando, Florida, for instance, is a town built around amusement parks, and which offers many choices for the traveling family. Not only can you visit DisneyWorld, for which Orlando is famous, but you can visit many other fun parks such as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and many more. Be sure and do some homework online to find some great packages on multi-park tickets, food coupons, restaurant and show discounts and more. You’ll find plenty to do around any amusement park, and your kids will remember the trip for a lifetime!
• Camping: Whether you are driving an RV (recreational vehicle on wheels, usually containing at least a small kitchen, bathroom and sleeping quarters) across the country or camping in tents under the stars, camping is an affordable and memorable way to spend time with your kids. You will find campsites surrounding almost every major city and around all rural attractions, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite State Park, Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, etc.. Often you can build in educational elements (discovering the history of a particular place, monument or landmark) as well as great fun and exercise. Bring along your bicycles, hike local trails or ride the rapids on a frothy river. With a little planning and research, you and your family can enjoy a cost-effective camping trip. You may even have money left over to indulge in a few nice dinners or other attractions along the way.
• Beaches: Who doesn’t love the beach? If you live in North America, you have a wide variety of beach vacations from which to choose. You can enjoy the windswept, cool beauty of the Northeastern coast, as in Cape Cod or Eastern Canada, or you can frolick on the beaches of the California or Florida coastlines. You may even hop on a plane to Hawaii or the Caribbean, and revel in the clear, turquoise waters and powdery sand beaches. You can find secluded, out-of-the-way beaches, or beaches teeming with kids, local vendors and activity options, such as para-sailing and waterskiing. Whatever suits your fancy, try finding hotel options which cater to kids. Consider area and beach safety, availability of food and transportation, as well as what activities your family loves or would like to try. There are possibilities to please everyone. Surf’s up!

Article: Looking for a Beach Family Resort?

Following are some additional considerations to keep in mind when searching for your family vacation ideas:

• Many family-oriented hotels have ‘Kids stay or eat free’ deals in an attempt to attract business. This can be great for budget-minded travelers, especially with kids who eat a lot! You may also consider booking a hotel room feauturing a kitchenette (fridge, stove) so that you can buy and store groceries, and cook some or all of your meals, thus allowing you more control over your budget and your family’s diet while traveling.
• Suitable hotels will offer kids activities and programs catering to kids. From simple playgroups and craft programs to supervised swimming (some hotels even offer lazy rivers, waterparks, waterslides and other fun options)  to excursions and adventures, many hotels put in great effort to entertain your kids during your stay. Take advantage of this and let your kids create some fun memories of their own.
• Conversely, there are hotels which cater specifically to the adult or business traveler. The last thing your kids will want is to be bored at a hotel in the middle of a business district full of suited executives and no other children. Some hotels even have an adults-only/no children policy. When in doubt, read reviews (try Tripadvisor.com) and even call the hotel/s in question.
• If you and your spouse would like a little alone time while traveling, inquire about babysitting services on site. Some Caribbean hotels, for instance, offer in-room babysitting, and some even provide nannies for your stay. This can be a great way to enjoy both family together-time as well as adults-only time, all on one trip!