Let’s face it – vacationing with family can be hectic. Between planning, packing, traveling and keeping everyone happy along the way, vacation can sometimes seem more like work than rest. If you’re traveling with kids, there are countless considerations you need to take when planning your vacation.

Destinations
The destination of your vacation is often affected by the number and age of children that you’re traveling with. For example, you’re probably not as likely to take your five and six year old to Las Vegas as you would be to take them to Orlando. Likewise, you may rethink that trip overseas when you consider how your child will respond to a 10-hour flight. Wherever you choose, it’s important to find a destination where your kids have as much to do as you, or more.

Resorts
More and more, vacation hotels and resorts are taking notice of the traveling family market and gearing services towards traveling families. Gone are the days where putting an arcade in the lobby made a hotel ‘family-friendly’. The new goal; to offer a complete experience that gives mom, dad and the kids a chance to get the most out of their vacation, without the hassle.

In a destination like Orlando, you expect these types of services at most resorts because the clientele has long been families with young children. In the Caribbean, an increased number of resorts also offer vacation packages for families. From water slides and cartoon characters to mini-buffets and handcrafts, many resorts have gone above and beyond to attract families with services guaranteed to keep the little ones happy which, in turn, keeps mom and dad happy.

Enjoying a Caribbean all-inclusive family vacation now means that for each activity available for adults, there’s another activity for the kids. A true family-friendly resort will have a comprehensive program in place that keeps kids entertained from the morning until the evening. Besides, mom and dad won’t get any time to kick back and enjoy the vacation if they have to entertain all day.

The next time you plan a family vacation, take the time to look into the children’s’ activities offered at any resort you’re considering. All ‘family-friendly’ resorts are not the same and do not cater to children in the same way. A little extra time planning may mean a lot more rest and relaxation for you.

By: Enid Glasgow

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