Camels might not be the most traditional method of family transit

With March Break season around the corner, many families are booking that well-deserved vacation. You've got the vacation time booked, your kids are beyond eager to get out of school for a week, but what do you do next? How do you go from patient parent to vindicated vacationer? Here are some suggestions on how to plan for your upcoming adventure:

Um...where are we going?

The age-old question: what do we do? While the parents may have the perfect idea that works for them, you might want to make sure the kids aren’t going to be bored or terrorizing the hotel like adventure-starved gremlins. Whether you’re interested in sea, snow, sightseeing, or something else, make sure there is something for the whole family, to keep everyone happy.

Itinerary? Mmm kind of

While it’s always a good idea to have a firm grasp of how you want the vacation to go, give it a little wiggle room. Don’t start planning everything to the hour: it won’t fly. Something will always come up. While in the planning stages, make sure you leave time to experience the things you might not have heard about. Often times, unexpected events turn out to be trip highlights. Not only that but you’re bound to want a little more down time than you’re planning for.

Planning for the individual, as well as the group

Planning small excursions or events for each individual on the trip is a great way to keep the family happy and appreciated. Letting everyone make a small decision about the vacation keeps them involved in the planning process and greatly increases the chances of a great vacation adventure. Likewise, the more activities the whole group can enjoy, the more likely you’re going to have fond memories of your trip for years to come.

What's in your wallet?

Whether you’re driving the station wagon to a campground or flying your private jet to Dubai, everyone has some sort of budget. Know how much you want to spend but definitely have some cash on reserve: be prepared for emergency situations or better yet, an impromptu shopping spree. Just don’t go overboard with it. No one likes getting home to a credit card bill shaped like a phonebook.

My documents!

Passports, licenses, tickets, booking numbers, or any other relevant documentation should be updated, obtained, and safely stored, well before it’s go time. Make sure you are on top of all of the paperwork for the whole family, having your documents prepared and organized will be a lifesaver if you are caught in a situation where you need to reference key data. Missing an ID or a reservation slip has foiled many trips.

Have some great tips for families planning a vacation? Give us your top tips in the comment section, on our Facebook wall, or tweet us over on Twitter.