How to Select a Family-Friendly Vacation Destination

Traveling on vacation during the summer (or anytime for that matter) with the entire family can be great fun when your destination offers something for every age, from the kids to the parents. But finding such a destination could pose a challenge to some parents, but here are some helpful tips to keep everyone happy--even the cranky teens.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Advice from friends with children
• Travel Agent

1. Ask friends and neighbors with children for destination ideas. Sometimes you can learn from their experiences, good or bad.
2. Figure out where you want to visit and what time of year you plan to take this trip. Consider what weeks your kids are on school break.
3. Narrow your choices down to two or three and get the family involved by having a group vote to decide where to go.
4. When booking your hotel, ask about family-style accommodations. Ask the person at the front desk if they offer cribs or babysitting options? Do kids stay free? Are there adjoining rooms? Make a list of these questions before you call.
5. Consider your children's ages and look for an area with attractions that would appeal to everyone in the family. Think amusement parks, children's museums or a zoo.
6. Be flexible and expect that you might not be able to take a "dream" vacation with younger children. There will fights between siblings, complaining and embarassing situations at restaurants, but if you brace yourself for the worst, your family trip won't be so bad.

Tips & Warnings

• Cruises and all-inclusive resorts are often great options. They offer day care services so parents can go off on their own.
• Book accommodations as far in advance as possible. If there are daycare or babysitting options available, they could go fast.
• You might want to consult a travel agent. They could give you more information about kid friendly locations.
• Don't try and force a family vacation at an adult destination. While parents might love a hot spot like Las Vegas, there's not a whole lot to do there for kids like there was 10 years ago. Go for the obvious choices like a Six Flags weekend or the Grand Canyon.