According to a recent survey, when it comes to spending quality vacation time with their families, nearly a third of all parents become so overwhelmed by the planning…
According to a recent survey, when it comes to spending quality vacation time with their families, nearly a third of all parents become so overwhelmed by the planning that they would rather travel with their co-workers. Rather than traveling with a co-worker, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) encourages parents to work with a travel agent who specializes in family travel. A professional travel agent can help even the most harried parents build lasting and positive memories of their family vacation-without bringing Eddie from Accounting along for the ride.
Family vacations are such a great way to reconnect with your family, but there are times when the pressures of planning a get-away can spoil the excitement, said ASTA President and CEO Kathryn W. Sudeikis, CTC. That`s where family-travel specialists come in. These travel agents know just how daunting planning a trip that will make all the generations happy can be, but thanks to their expertise and knowledge they can make the process easier by recommending vacations tailor-made for your family`s interests and budget. As family travel specialist, we have a strong understanding of family dynamics and what it takes to get families together for an event while keeping all the parties happy.
ASTA`s consumer Web site, www.TravelSense.org, offers tips for all kinds of family travel, from traveling with kids, teens and even grandchildren. Be it holiday travel, a weekend road trip or planning a family reunion, ASTA travel agents can create the perfect family vacation without testing your patience or your pocketbook.
Among the tips found on TravelSense.org, are:
- Create anticipation for the family trip by starting a countdown calendar with perhaps a photo or illustration of the destination. Save everything collected on vacation – brochures, napkins, ticket stubs – and have children paste them into a scrapbook. For young children, pack some hard candies and gum, hand wipes, tissues, books, paper, markers in a small, tightly sealed plastic bag and perhaps a surprise toy for each child. Keep your teen involved by putting them in charge of at least one aspect of the trip. If they`re good with maps, make them the navigator. Do they have an eye for photos? Make them the official vacation photographer, in charge of not only taking photos during the trip, but also of compiling the album once you return.
- Review screening procedures with children before entering security checkpoints so they will not be frightened by the process. When going through metal detectors, with an infant, have one parent hold the baby and walk through the machine. Do not hand off the baby under the detector, or hand the baby to the screener to hold.
- The best coach seats to have when flying with small children are the first row in economy class. There`s a lot of legroom, and you`ll be removed from most of the plane when the kids get cranky from the long flight.
- Getting your seat assignment in advance can help ensure families are seated together and that children and adults will be seated next to each other.
- Plan ahead with the car rental company to make sure they offer car seats and installation. If not, you`ll have to bring your own in addition to a collapsible stroller.
- Have a daily schedule planned with some flexible, free time for each family member.
- Give your teens a night off. Allow older teens to go out on their own for a few hours, to just hang out at the local shops, and trust them to be back at the hotel at a designated time. For piece of mind, have your travel agent set up an international cell phone plan that can keep you and your teens constantly connected.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
