As the CEO of Elite Travel agency and mother of two, I travel with my family all the time. And my kids have put their professional travel planner mother to the test on every family vacation. Even now I can’t guarantee that our trips will be problem-free, but over the years I’ve learned where and how we can all have fun, stay sane, and even relax.
The Basics
If you are traveling outside the country, and that includes Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, everyone in your family will need a passport. Remember that first-time passport applications must be done in person. For minors, both parents or guardians have to apply for the child’s passport in person, with the child. Bring birth certificates, your drivers’ licenses or current passports, and two identical regulation passport photos of your child. And, since passports are only good for five years for children under sixteen, keep the paperwork around for the next time.
On The Plane
Your airline may not provide pillows or blankets anymore, which makes an already long flight feel even longer. Be prepared with
sweaters and inflatable pillows. Have your kids wear their favorite and most comfortable clothes or pajamas so they can sleep more easily on the flight. Also, bring a change of clothes in case of accidental spills.
Between iPods and handheld games, or maybe even old-fashioned books, pre-teens and teens can entertain themselves. But for younger children, nothing beats coloring. Try to find coloring books that relate to where you’re going, like sea life, or historical themes, to help your child get excited about the family adventure.
Bring baby-wipes, or anti-bacterial wipes for hands, faces, seats, toilets – wipes are almost as necessary as passports for traveling.
Don’t forget the drugs. Always travel with basic medications your children might need so you don’t have to track down a drug store in the middle of the night. And of course, bring any prescription medications your family needs.
On The Ground
The secret to having a relaxing vacation with the family is planning. Let your kids get involved in the planning process so that when you arrive everyone agrees on the itinerary. I’ll never forget taking my family to Asheville, North Carolina when we didn’t agree on activities ahead of time: My daughter was terrified of whitewater rafting, and that is all my son wanted to do. We only had peace when we went out to eat.
Prioritization is important. Make a short list of goals for the day and include time to rest. But remember, seeing the sights will probably take longer than you think (little legs can only walk so fast). For museums, pick one or two exhibits to see and plan on being there an hour. Then, if all goes well, stay for longer.
But, even when you plan everything in advance and the whole family agrees on the itinerary, you never know what will happen on vacation. When I took my kids to a ski resort a few years ago, my daughter injured herself on the slopes, and while I was trying to deal with that, my son was standing directly under the ski lift. Someone fell on him, and the vacation ended with my daughter in a neck brace, my son in a cast, and me in a chair sipping wine by the fireplace. The important thing to remember is to try to make the best of whatever happens.
Cruises
Cruises are great for every member of the family – except small children. Cruise passengers go on shore excursions every day, and dragging strollers, wipes, backpacks and excited toddlers off and onto the boat is exhausting. However, pre-teens and 
teens have a lot of fun on cruises since there are many teen-themed events and parties. The Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Carnival are known for their giant onboard youth areas.
Caribbean cruise lines offer incredible deals during the off-season, and its proximity to the United States makes it a popular choice for vacationers. But European cruises are surprisingly affordable right now, and some even offer free airfare to the port of departure. Exploring the Greek islands by ship is one of the best ways to see the country and will make history class come alive for your kids when they get home.
A lot of cruise lines offer “kids sail free” specials, where kids seventeen or younger can come for free when they are the third of fourth passenger in a state room. It’s a great deal, but keep in mind that cabins are very small, and you might not want to be crammed in with your kids every night.
If your family has health problems onboard your cruise ship, the doctor’s bill could cost as much as the cruise itself if your insurance won’t cover it. All ships of foreign registry are considered to be operating outside the United States, which means domestic medical insurance may not be accepted onboard. Work with a professional agent who can help find the right trip insurance for your family.
All-Inclusive Resorts
Staying at an all-inclusive resort means lying by the pool with a cold drink while your kids enjoy days filled with activity – it might be the best bet for a relaxing family vacation. A number of resorts specialize in families: they are equipped with strollers, toys, babysitters and children’s menus, and many offer “clubs” with age-appropriate activities for toddlers through teenagers.
The Beaches Resort chain, for example, is a sponsor of Sesame Street, and many of their activities for younger children center around the characters. Children have story time with Elmo, bake cookies with the Cookie Monster and go for nature walks with Grover. Beaches Negril and Beaches Turks & Caicos have water parks with water slides, rivers, waterfalls and swim-up bars that are all kid-friendly. And if someone gets sunburned from all the outdoor fun, there is an Xbox 360 Game Garage with flat
screen televisions and controllers. Beaches Resorts will also wave the single supplement fee for single parents staying at least three nights from August through October.
Azul Sensatori in the Riviera Maya has a new Kids Club facility with rope courses, a trapeze, a trampoline and parallel bars for use in teacher-lead My Gym classes. Other rooms are themed by activity, like dolls, games, Fisher-Price toys, and arts and crafts. Guests can even rent out toys and baby supplies for the week, which saves having to pack them. There are also play groups for children under four years old every morning, which is a great way to get to know the other parents. Teens and pre-teens have their own dance club and activities like tennis lessons, rock wall climbing, and salsa lessons. Of course, this is a resort for adults too, and while your kids are running, swimming and jumping around, you can book spa appointments, dine at the adults-only Le Chique gourmet restaurant, and sample the thirty different kinds of mojitos at the Mojito lounge (or have your poolside butler bring them to you).
A successful family vacation should not be a marathon, and should not create more work for you. So give yourself permission to do nothing for a week but eat, drink, and work on your tan, secure in the knowledge that your kids are having a wonderful time too.
