How to Plan a Family Vacation & Please Everyone!

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Oh the challenges of planning a family vacation…especially for a big extended family! Mom wants a relaxing spa vacation, Grandpa prefers fishing, the boys all want to play golf and the little cousins are bundles of energy!

I seem to be the one that’s always “appointed” the family travel planner for our extended family group of 18! So…where do I begin to look for a destination to please everybody?

Here are a couple family vacation tips to help you plan your next family vacation!

Option #1: Take a vote!

1. The first step is to have everyone agree on vacation dates and budget because it’s impossible to search for vacation ideas without these parameters.
2. Ask for destination suggestions from family members.
3. Using the dates & destination ideas, do lots of web-searches for vacation deals…this is my favorite part!
4. Don’t present all the options, but instead narrow it down to choice A, B & C.
5. When presenting the choices it will help if you list the pros & cons of each vacation choice.
6. Majority rules!

Option #2: Take turns!

1. Each family would agree on vacation dates & budget.
2. The family that’s in charge that year would plan the entire vacation using the dates and budget that has been set. For example, when planning our big family vacation, I’m trying to please 5 different families! Wouldn’t it be nice to let a different family take charge every year?
3. Being in charge includes EVERYTHING from activities to meals, so there won’t be any squabbles over what to do & where to eat!

Option #3: Host for the day! (a combination of option #1 & #2)

1. The first step is to have everyone agree on vacation dates because it’s impossible to search for vacation ideas without these parameters.
2. Ask for destination suggestions from family members.
3. Using the dates & destination ideas, do lots of web-searches for vacation deals…this is my favorite part!
4. Don’t present all the options, but instead narrow it down to choice A, B & C.
5. When presenting the choices it will help if you list the pros & cons of each vacation choice.
6. Majority rules!
7. Now that the vacation is planned, let each family be in charge of 1 day from beginning to end! That family will plan both the activities & the meals! This is a great way to make sure that everyone gets to do what they want, and there won’t ever be a question of who’s in charge!

P.S. – The Budget Diet girl’s personal favorite…a cruise! A cruise offers something for everyone! Lots of activities or just relax…no meals to plan…multiple destinations…planned activities for all ages…reasonably priced!

Happy Travels!