I've always been a firm believer that experience is the best teacher. As a young mom, I planned many of our family vacations around learning experiences that would help expand upon topics that my kids were learning in school. For example, when my kids were studying the American history, we took a trip to Boston. Travel did bring their history books to life before their eyes. Over the years the kids and I have taken learning vacations that were themed around interesting subjects, literary tours, art tours, sailing adventures, ski trips, museum outings and more. We were bonding and creating lasting memories while encouraging curiosity and wonder. After each and every one of these trips we all returned home with either a new skill or at least a new appreciation. Thanks to travel, my kids were learning all about geography, history, science, the arts, phs ed, social studies and even math. As a mom and a travel agent, I patted myself on the back that I was using travel to further the education of my children.
It has always been my passion to encourage kids and parents to explore the world together. When Vacationkids.com celebrated our 10th anniversary it gave me pause for reflection. The art of travel itself is a subject of study. It combines so many different life skills beyond the obvious that I assumed as a young mother. If you look a bit deeper, families learn some amazing life lessons while traveling and on vacation. These are just some of the many life lessons my my kids and I learned during some of our family vacations...
Responsibility - CALIFORNIA 1985 - Sweetie I'm so sorry you forgot and left Aye-Aye bear on the plane. I feel sad too but just think, he's probably enjoying a fun flight to Tokyo right now.
Independence - CRUISE 1986 - Go enjoy yourself mom and don't worry, I'll play here in the club and you go have fun...We'll do lunch. (instructions given to me by my son age 5)
Flexibility -DISNEYWORLD 1987- Yes this room has only one bathroom that all five of us have to share even when your brother stinks it up.
Consequences - FLORIDA 1989 - If you refuse to wear your shoes and walk with bear feet even when the local people warned you about the fire ants then you can expect to be waiting in an emergency room hurt and itchy.
Empathy - WILLIAMSBURG,VA 1990 - Yes this car ride is taking even longer than forever because of your sister's car sickness but just imagine how sick she feels.
Patience - NYC BLIZZARD OF 1993- There is nothing we can do about the weather and being stuck in the airport for several more hours.
Tolerance -BOSTON 1994- Yes honey we are walking on the freedom trail but the police are making us stop here and wait for a while because there is a gay rights parade happening here right now.
Pride - GERMANY 1995- The one thing that really impressed me mom was that, Because I was a visitor to their school, they played the star spangled banner to welcome me. I felt proud to be an American.
Respect - THAILAND 1996- Great outfit selection sweetie for visiting the temples today as we need to be respectful of other people and their beliefs.
Courage - TURKS AND CAICOS 1999- I appreciate that your red toe nail polish attracted all those fish and freaked you out but I'm so proud that you were brave enough to continue to go snorkeling with me to the beautiful reef where we got to play with the turtles and starfish.
Manners -MEXICO 2001- You know what mom... It really doesn't matter too much if you can't speak a language as long as you can say PLEASE, THANK YOU, HELLO AND GOOD BYE you can pretty much smile and point to everything else.
Curiosity - LONDON 2002 - I wonder too how many windows there are in Buckingham Palace, we can both count the ones we see and compare notes.
Perseverance -HAWAII 2003 - I know you swallowed a ton of water but that video of you surfing was way cool dude!
Humility - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2004 - After visiting that family in their home and seeing how hard they worked on their farm growing coffee it really makes me want to help people when I grow up
Assertiveness - ICELAND 2005 - I know we're cold, lost and neither of us speaks Icelandic, but mom's feeling really sick right now so please, you'll have to ask somebody to help us.
Problem Solving - FRANCE 2006 - We can't figure out how to get our French rental car to go into reverse when the only English speaking person we can find in the french countryside doesn't know how to drive...my daughter spotted a man dressed like a mechanic and got him to speak to our translator.
Adventure - NEW ZEALAND 2007 - How nice! You brought your mom home a souvenir from your class trip?...thank you for the photo (gasp!) but mostly THANK YOU for not telling me you went bungee jumping off a bridge until after you got home (hug child and say a prayer of gratitude).
Generosity - PERU 2010- What a great idea to ask Grandma for crayons for you to bring to the kids. (Grandma worked at Crayola and had volunteered on many community donation projects)
If you do a google search on the internet, you'll find millions of articles on HOW to take a family vacation. There are also plenty of articles on WHY you should take a family vacation that suggest a need for relaxation or family bonding. I'm convinced that traveling builds a child's character. When parents spend money on what appears to be a fun family vacation, I tend to see it as an investment in their child's future.
Wouldn't it be great if allergies would take a vacation? Unfortunately they don't but often as parents we have to pack them along and take them on vacation along with our kids on our family vacations. Many parents out there are more than familiar with allergies and how they create havoc with our kids. For discussion sake, an allergy is a hypersensivity to certain substances like foods, pollens, medication etc. Our body's immune system kicks into full attack mode trying to fight off the problem substance. Symptoms can be as mild as a runny nose or red eyes or as serious as an asthma attack. Anaphylaxsis is an acute medical situation that can result in a person's death if not treated with immediate emergency medical care.
If you've recently gotten engaged, please let us be the first to congratulate the both of you... mazel tov! As soon as you start sharing the good news with family and friends the very first question you'll get is "...So when's the big day?" Boom!...reality hits and the wedding planning begins. This is enough to give any happy couple a huge jolt right out of fantasy land.
The Avid Adventurer - This person is an extreme experience seeker and adrenalin junkie. They are the type who want to visit all 7 continents and have a very long bucket lists. They keep a worn and highlighted copy of "1000 places to visit before you die" and start their vacation planning from this check list. If two avid adventurers meet at a cocktail party it's best to stand back as there will be dueling "can you top this..." dialog to follow that will begin to sound like a script from an Indiana Jones movie. They enjoy spontaneity while traveling and leave many itinerary details to chance because they are so laid back about the journey. They will seek out the road less traveled, sleep under the stars and eat very strange foods just because they can.
The Travel Snobs - These folks are not really snobs, they just enjoy the finer things in life. They really enjoy the art of travel; they just don't like extremes. They enjoy traveling to foreign destinations but they appreciate being surrounded by fine amenities. This is because they are experienced travelers with means of comparison. When visiting a destination they will want to see major historic sites, museums and the "must sees" of that particular place. Travel snobs tend to like itineraries that cover a great deal of ground in a short amount of time. Many have careers that require them to travel for work. They frequently travel alone and appreciate a good insider's tip. Travel snobs can easily navigate public transportation in foreign countries but would prefer to hire a driver. They will research and make reservations at the best restaurants in town. They tend to have more controlling or type A personalities. They enjoy the vacation planning process but do not need much hand holding away from home. They just don'do not like surprises.
The Typical Tourist - This is the largest majority of vacationers out there who are looking for a great value for their vacation dollars and the chance to build fun and exciting memories. Tourists are easy going folks looking for fun in all the right places. They are most influenced by their friends and the latest travel ads. If they visit Hawaii, they are happy to visit one island and return with hula skirt and a box of pineapples. To a tourist, this means they have "done" Hawaii. They've seen the highlights and now they are done. These are the same folks you see wearing the huge purple somberos in customs after their flight home from Mexico. Tourists tend to like cruises, all inclusive resorts and theme parks. If they really love a particular destination they will return every few years but will probably want to stay at a different resort. They "say" that they want new travel experiences but chance are they will engage on the same type of activities year after year.
The Repeaters - These people live by the mantra "if it's not broke, don't fix it". Repeaters take the exact same vacation, generally during the same week, year after year. This may partially be a matter of family tradition but generally these people are not big on taking risks. They hate surprises and find comfort in the same old things. They are loyal if not down right stubborn with their opinions. The repeaters are the ones you will find purchasing a time share. They tend to vacation not too very far from home. Generally they drive. They do not fly and do not have passports. These are the families that take their first child to Disney world in a stroller and return every year until all their kids graduate college. Repeaters tend to travel in packs or groups because they sense a certain safety in numbers.
The Home Bodies - Let's face it, there are a handful of folks that should just stay at home. They don't like to travel nor do they enjoy making vacation plans. They are travel pessimists and can give you a long list of reasons why not to travel. Their perfect idea of a week off from work is a staycation in the back yard. Often they have fears or phobias that will prevent them from leaving home. They only way they will go on vacation is with very strong encouragement, like an important family wedding. At best they can be decent travel companions as long as they do not need to plan or think about planning or the itinerary. Thinking about leaving home will consume them with stress. These folks find comfort in groups. They do best with group escorted tours where there is a tour leader to hold their hand every step of the way.
Now stop and think about the family members of your own household. Perhaps you are a typical tourist and your spouse is a home body. Maybe your teen is an avid adventurer and you are a repeater at best. Maybe you and your spouse are both Explorers but now you have a new baby in tow. I trust you can understand how travel personalities can quickly complicate a family vacation when the expectations of several family members needs to be met. Success is found in compromise and communication. Trying to force someone into being a different type of traveler will only lead to arguments, frustrations and not a happy vacation for anyone.
The good news is that a family vacation can be planned to suit any and every travel personality. Just about every destination offers the opportunity to custom build itineraries that will suit any traveler personality profile, including families with blended personalities. Often a good travel agent will spot these traits in your family and make appropriate suggestions. Having frank conversations about vacation expectations in advance can avoid many conflicts that could ultimately spoil your vacation. Perhaps your family's vacation to the Caribbean may need to includes a day of sightseeing that caters to the home bodies with an escorted bus tour and while your explorer heads off to an open water dive. You all will be staying at the Hilton because your repeater always stays at a hilton.
If your family's travel personalities completely clash, then you may want to consider separate family vacations. Surprisingly separate vacations can often lead to more harmony and family togetherness. Remember there is no such thing as a "best" family vacation. The best family vacations are the ones that offer the best opportunities for particular needs of your own family. This will insure that even the most reluctant travelers will enjoy a wonderful time on vacation.
Finding the right home away from home for family of 5 vacations can be a bit confusing. Technically we call it family of 5 but if you have 3, 4 or more kids, your family doesn't "fit" into a "normal" hotel room or cruise cabin.
A family cruise can be a great option for families with babies. When planning for your family cruise vacation, please be aware that there each cruise line has specific policies and rules in place regarding hold old your baby must be to sail on cruise ships. These rules have been established for the comfort and safety of all passengers. These rules are strictly enforced by the cruise lines. To help you plan your next family cruise with your baby, Vacationkids offers this list of the most family friendly cruise lines and their rules and policies regarding cruising with babies...
MSC Cruise Lines - Has no minimum age for infants on board their ships and all children under the age of 18 sail free when sailing as a 3rd or 4th passenger in a cabin. MSC is one of the most popular cruise lines in Europe and has recently started sailing from the US to the Caribbean.
Respectfully, this is a topic of great concern to many parents. Not a week goes by here behind the scenes at Vacationkids.com that our staff isn't confronted with questions and concerns about topless sunbathing. This is a very debatable and delicate issue that does deserve addressing.
Cruises can be a great escape for pregnant moms. A time to relax, be pampered and to have some fun before the baby comes. Many couples choose a cruise for a babymoon. Families may want to celebrate time together with their older children before focusing on the responsibilities of a new baby. Just because mom is pregnant, it doesn't mean you have to stay at home. It just means a little additional planning so that everyone can enjoy a safe and healthy family vacation.
Pregnant moms need to be aware that most cruise lines have specific rules regarding taking a cruise while pregnant. As a very general rule, most cruise ships insist that all expectant mothers be LESS than 6 months pregnant before sailing on a cruise ship. These rules are obviously in place to protect the safety and well being of mothers and babies. Many families need to take a flight to get to their cruise port so bear in mind there are also rules for flying while pregnant.
If you are pregnant and planning a family cruise, your very FIRST step in planning your vacation is an honest discussion with your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if you and your baby are healthy enough to travel. It is important to discuss the destinations WHERE you plan to visit as some countries or tropical locations can put you and your baby at risk. Make sure you understand what activities you can safely enjoy during your cruise vacation. Obviously zip lines and rock climbing are off limits while pregnant but activities like hot tubs, spa treatments and wine tastings might not be as obvious. When you are at your doctor's office, make sure you have a clear understanding of what medications you need to take with you and copies of any prescriptions. To avoid any hassles or embarrassment, Vacationkids HIGHLY RECOMMENDS that no matter how pregnant you will be at the time of your vacation, get a permission to travel letter from your doctor. Make sure your doctor's letter states clearly how pregnant you will be at the time of sailing or flying...and that both you and your unborn child are healthy to travel.
Morning sickness can be an issue for many new moms, especially during the first three months of your pregnancy. Motion sickness while at sea could compound this problem. Get your doctor's advice and recommendations regarding what you can and cannot take to alleviate any possible discomfort. If you can plan to sail between 12 and 20 weeks, this is the time when most pregnant moms feel their best. Your Vacationkids Family Cruise Experts
can work with you to help select a ship and specific cabin that can help you avoid problems.
So many of our families plan their cruise vacations a year or two in advance to get their specific travel dates and cabins. What happens if you want to plan a family cruise but are trying to get pregnant? This is why Vacationkids HIGHLY RECOMMENDS Travel Insurance. Travel insurance will protect your vacation investment. Depending on the coverage and policy you choose, it will allow you to cancel or reschedule if you find out you're pregnant. If you are taking a cruise while pregnant, you need to be sure that you and your baby have medical coverage just in case you need it. This is important because many medical insurance companies will not cover you if you travel outside your coverage area or the country.
Here are some of the policies and rules pregnant moms need to know for specific family friendly cruise lines...
DISNEY CRUISE LINE - Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their sailing date will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician's medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.
There are so many life changes for families dealing with divorce. Trust me, my three kids and I understand this scenario first hand. There are so many complicated emotions and important practical decisions need to be addressed. Living arrangements, custody rules, visitation schedules and finances all have to be decided between parents and their lawyers. Often the last thing parents think about during the divorce is a family vacation.
