This may seem overly simple, but it is the key to having a good vacation. Decide before you plan what type of vacation you want to have. Failure to do this may turn your vacation in to a nightmare.
We have all been to an amusement park and witnessed a child crying because they have gotten to tired or just worn out? Proper planning can go a long way towards avoiding this problem.
Adult Vacation
Adult vacations are designed for adults to enjoy. This is where you and your spouse choose to do what you what on vacation. In a few instances you may want to include others. Planning a vacation that will be enjoyable for two people is hard enough. It is doubly difficult to plan a vacation for more than two people.
My wife and I were extremely lucky to have some close friends that we have traveled extensively with. We enjoy each other’s company and have taken short as well as month long vacations together.
Childern Vacation
Children's vacations are those designed for your children to enjoy. These are when you choose to do things that your children will enjoy, and you will enjoy because you are making them happy. Children have a much lower attention span than most adults. Therefore their vacations are more action and less leisurely.
Family Vacation
Family vacations those that try to mix type 1 and 2 together. These are the most difficult and if you think about it are the ones most people with children try to do.
Keep in mind if your children are not having a good time, you will not have a good time. Children, especially smaller ones, get tired out quickly. So, while children need a more active vacation depending on their age may also need downtime. If you do not take their needs for activity and downtime into consideration, these types of vacations can blowup on you if you are not careful.
Drop the kids off at Grandma & Grandpa house Vacation
Drop your kids off at the grandparents and take off on your own. Usually works out great as the grandparents get them for a time and you get away from them for a time. You have peace of mind because you are leaving them with people you can trust to handle anything that may come up.
I call it equal but separate vacationing. You may want to help the grandparents out financially depending on their capability in that regard.
Or it may be like we did we took our grandkids to the Kennedy Space Center and Disneyland while the parents went to Hawaii everyone had a great time.
Ways to go on vacation
Packaged Tours
Things are planned for you and all you have to do is select a tour that will best meet your vacation desires.
The good news about group vacations is there is little planning required on your part.
You are traveling with a l group and the itinerary is fixed.
If you have mobility issues or just do not like to be in a herd of people, then this type of vacation is not for you.
Cruise Ship
My wife and I are not cruise ship experts, but we have been on about eight of them up to this point.
They are the best way to be pampered on a vacation and sometimes the best way to visit a specific location.
These are basically packaged tours with more pampering and have a better choice in entertainment.
The downside is you will not be able to see or do all of the things you would like when in port as port times are limited.
Recreational Vehicle or Camping
After I retired we RV'd for 5 years. Every Spring and Fall we would take off for a couple of months. We vacationed in 23 states over that 5 years.
We did a little tent camping with our children when we were much younger. Camping is a great way to go when you are young and have kids. children entertain themselves a lot of the time and it is inexpensive.
You may want to consider renting an RV. Unless you are going to use an RV at least a couple of months each year you should not own one.
Fly or Drive
Using the Family Vehicle or Rental - I often rented a van for travel it provided more room and is sometimes more reliable than the family car.
Flying allows you to travel a great distance quickly and depending on the size of your family may be less expensive.
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