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Advice: No Stress Vacations - Pack Less, Plan Less, Spend Less, Do Less, and Have More Fun. When it involves a family vacation doing less will actually result in more fun. This year more than ever, less will be more. For most parents the wish is to laugh more, sleep more and enjoy family time. Sound about right? It often takes more than one try to create a successful vacation and just when the formula seems right the Family TravelPhaseSM changes and the old solution may not be a perfect fit. From the parents I have interviewed the answers are varied but one theme keeps repeating itself no matter the age of the kids or vacation location – no stress needed. The vacation tips below are organized by the Family TravelPhaseSM . The breakdown includes five distinct family travel groups. Don’t worry about overlaps, in many cases the same points are repeated because everybody makes the same mistake. The phrase “Less is more.” fits every group.
When giving advice to others we rely on more than just travel industry experts. Two ways to get the scoop never fail. Seek out first-person experience from other parents/grandparents. When traveling, we not only make notes from our own experiences, we also make contact with other families that may be sharing the same destination but not in the same way. A sensible online resource to use is one of our partner sites family.tripwiser.com We follow the advice of child development experts. For age group needs we have found an excellent series of books published by the Gesell Institute of Human Development ( www.gesellinstitute.org). The book series begins with the words “Your One-Year-Old…” and concludes with “Your Ten to Fourteen-Year-Old...” While they do not have family vacation suggestions at the back of each book, the needs of children in a particular development stage are very specific. Knowing the needs makes vacation decision making easier. Each book has an ideal target reading list for the age group and the list works well as reference point. The chapters are helpful when trying to figure out what to expect next with your kids. Match their development phases with your vacation needs, it's just that easy. Family TravelPhaseSM descriptive divisions include: New Beginnings, School Rules, WIIFM, Transitions and Generation Bond.  New Beginnings: Travel with children six weeks to 5 years of age. This phase includes vacations with children not yet in school.
1. Consider a well-baby checkup. This matters if you are traveling to another country or have made plans that include remote areas. Checking with the family doctor will reduce stress. This is also the place to get a list of essential first aid items for babies and toddlers. Three of the most common vacation traumas involving little ones, dehydration, sunburn and bug bites.
2. Assemble a baby-proofing bag. Unless your destination includes a hotel or resort with baby proofing kits this small effort will reduce anxiety. What goes in the kit? Think about socket plugs, corner tabs, plastic glasses, room guards, nightlights and other typical portable protection devices.
3. Allow plenty of time. If an airport is on the schedule allow twice as much time as a year ago. Everything and everyone must pass through one or more security checkpoints. Travel during naptime. A sleeping baby or toddler is a beautiful thing so make miles when the time is right.
4. Keep familiar scents. Resist the temptation to wash everything just before leaving home. Babies and toddlers are particularly comfortable with the smell of their things. They are also sensitive and often cranky when their own things, complete with odors, seem to be missing. 5. Plan parent time. When children are in the age of tactile discovery everyday is a holiday. It is the parents that need the break, not the baby or the toddler. Less is more. School Rules: Travel with children ages 5 - 12 years. Prime years to combine family vacation togetherness and learning experiences.
1. Pack less. Traveling with a backpack and a toothbrush is not a bad idea. If that sounds too drastic still consider downsizing the amount of “stuff” that gets packed. The more that goes along the more variables for stress. The more items that may get lost by an airline, a person, or a child. Just remember vacations are short timeframes and to have a terrific vacation it is not essential to recreate your child’s home away from home.
2. Forget new clothes or new shoes. Resist last minute shopping for new things for the kids. Just do not do it. New things (clothes) are inevitably less comfortable than old things. The breaking in time should not have to happen on a vacation. Clothes stress will move to vacation stress quickly when kids become tired or lines become long, or both.
3. Entertain yourself. Make your kids in charge of their own entertainment while in transit. Now it may not be as simple as that but plant the idea long before departure. To make it easy provide them with the tools necessary to keep their stuff contained and useable. Office supply stores have plenty of options that work along with oodles of pens and markers, paper and stickers. Books, audio tape players or CD players solve the rest of the challenge.
4. Pack a surprise. Even though the kids are supposed to be in charge of their own entertainment have a fall back plan. Just in case the plane is delayed or a child becomes ill along the way pack a couple of vacation surprises well suited to alleviating boredom. www.Kluz.com has many options that suit the bill. Audiotapes from www.boomkids.com also meet the boredom challenge for this age group. 5. Do less. One of the biggest challenges for vacationing families is learning to do less and enjoy it more. Often parents return to work feeling just like they need a vacation. They intended to relax and catch up on sleep. They intended to enjoy free time with the kids. Instead they found themselves over scheduled and in a self-created time crunch. Anyone in charge? What's In It For Me: Vacations with teens ages 13 - 18 years.  Teens are tuned to WIIFM and for vacation success parents need to be moving in tandem.
1. Avoid vacation hijacking. Communication about the family vacation well in advance will increase cooperation and result in more fun. Teens that do not get included often feel hijacked by their own parents. Self created tension, who needs it? Find other teens. While teens want the undivided attention of their parents or other family members, they do not want it all of the time. Select vacation destinations or activities that include other teens. When this is not possible consider bringing a friend.
2. Pack less. With teens this is a reality check. They want to be seen as cool by their peer group yet not look obvious as they do so. The result is over packing. Why take one pair when six will do? Over packing comes from a lack of information about what is needed. Every family in this TravelPhase should invoke the rule of all seasoned globetrotters. “Ye shall carry what you pack…all of what you pack.” Given the security concerns that now exist, less is will be less hassle.
3. Set a vacation budget. Arguing about money is never fun and need not occur on a vacation. Decide on expenditures or a budget ahead of time. Just remember that there are never enough batteries. Do phone calls or Internet charges count when away. Teens want to stay connected to their friends. One of the best ideas to provide teens some control and less friction is to get a phone card for their use.
4. Plan ahead. Teens are often masters of procrastination so it is not helpful if adults embrace the same philosophy. Teens will feel in charge of their own vacation experience if a realistic timeline is established starting with the departure. If an airport is on the docket get there early. Know the security guidelines and explain the new process to your teen companions.
5. Determine who is in charge? Power struggles result when guidelines are not clear. Communicate expectations before buying tickets or making deposits. If sleeping until noon is not option say so early. If everyone gets to choose a favorite activity, say so early. If in reality grandpa is in charge then do not keep it a secret. Transition Years: Vacations with 18 years+.  This phase specifically relates to an adult family and considers lifestyle differences and priorities.
1. Verbalize expectations. Getting together while in this hectic life phase can be an organizational challenge for everyone because of job related commitments and often long distances to travel. Advanced planning is the best way to overcome stress. Keeping options open and flexibility high is essential. Ahead of the vacation find out what is expected.
2. Set vacation budget rules. Readers tell us that one stumbling block is often related to the vacation costs. If that seems like a potential kink bring the idea up early in the planning process. Set a plan (who pays for what?) so stressful situations are less likely to occur during the holiday time together.
3. Pack less. Like all of the other TravelPhases this is a likely place to lighten up. “Pack less, and do more” is the sage advice of Duncan (Dooney) Wren a father of five who believes all anyone ever needs can be found in a backpack.
4. Purchase Travel Health Insurance. This generally is useful when the unexpected or unforeseen occurs. Where to find help in the middle of the night? Do you need a doctor that speaks your own language? This service is available through tour companies, travel agencies and on the Web. Our staff members have used the services of IMAT (located at www.imat.org) and been satisfied. Two other companies have been mentioned in a positive way. They are www.globalhealthinsurance.com and for active holidays try www.walkabouttravelgear.com
5. Consider Trip Insurance. This also really on matters if you are on a departure that has potential for cancellation. It also matters if one or more participants may not be able to go due to circumstances beyond their own control. Until recently few could image such circumstances. This insurance is available through tour companies as well as travel agencies. Generation Bond: Vacations with two or more generations.  The needs of this phase include balancing multiple ages and generations.
1. Communicate expectations. Deciding where to go and what to do can be tricky when different generations are involved but once the decision has been made then the best way to insure success is to share the load and communicate expectations. Who is cooking at the beach house? Will the teens be available to care for the little ones? Don’t know then ask before you depart. Did I say pack less?
2. Downsize the schedule. Allow plenty of time from the very start of the holiday. Less is more when generations mix. Sometimes designating a free day takes pressure to participate away and provides the perfect atmosphere for vacation serendipity.
3. Organize group time. Part of getting together is to do just that. To make sure the family time is enriching let everyone know ahead of time exactly when everyone is expected to get together. Hint. Avoid naps and other obvious sleeping times.
4. Plan one-on-one time. The best part of vacationing with extended family is the chance to share time with one another while being part of a larger group. Time fishing with grandpa, baking bread with grandma or just walking and talking with a cousin cannot be scheduled, it just happens. Sitting at the end of a dock with a 12 year-old nephew or playing Monopoly with siblings just happens when it is part of the general plan to not plan.
5. Mandate fun, who needs it? When multiple generations are involved the clash of paces and interests can cause tension. Those organizing fun require age sensitivity and awareness of time. Only morning peiople have fun in the morning. Keep activities loosely scheduled - one per day may be all that falls into place. Remeber fun need not be made mandatory for all left to its own it just happens.
Our family vacation mantra “Less is more.” We at FamilyTravelFiles.com are not parenting experts. We are family travel experts with some great connections and plenty of travel time with children and grandchildren. Using the guidelines mentioned above we have always made interesting vacations happen.
Content by FTF staff and photos provided by Naples Beach Resort & Spa, Kingsley Pines Family Camp, Fort Osage, MO, Lewis Gitner Gardens in Richmond, and ACE Raft Adventure in WV. Updated Copyright 2009.
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