Traveling consists of coordinating flights, booking a place to stay, planning activities, sticking to budget, packing appropriately for each family, etc. You get the picture. It can be stressful, but I promise, you can prevail! You can make trips with the family fun for everyone. Here are 8 tips to make sure your time with your family is successful!

Ask an Expert
Sometimes it's hard to make arrangements on your own. But don’t worry! If you are feeling doubtful there are people such as tour operators within cities that can help you figure things out. Another helpful tip is asking someone within a Travel Agency to help give you good pointers on your destination.Make sure you inquire about group rates and other discounts for large families. You’re not alone in this!

Save money, make dinner
Going out to restaurants can be an easy way to make everybody happy, except your wallet. Making a meal or two can be a great way to save money and can be a fun activity for everyone! The internet provides millions of unique recipes that your family will love. So grab some new ingredients and get grandma, grandpa, and the kiddos cookin’!

Split up
Alright let’s be real guys, a big problem with multigenerational travelling is pleasing everybody. Some people may want try out a new ride while others want to go the souvenir shop and browse around, that’s ok! Don't be afraid to take advantage of that to spend quality time with certain family members. Make a game of it! When everybody gets together later that evening go around the table and tell what the other group did and what your favorite part of the day was. The family gets to have some good laughs and everybody had a good time.

Look for family deals
UTILIZE FAMILY TRAVEL DEALS. I can't stress this enough. Travel agencies like Faith&Faimily Travel partner up with cruise ships, disney resorts, and others to help you save on your family vacation. Be sure to take advantage of this, trust me, you will thank me later.  

Make a plan
One of the biggest mistakes you can make while traveling with the in-laws and your kids is not having a day-to-day plan. No plans means no direction, which can lead to disagreements, which could lead to a stinky time. And nobody wants that. Get together with everyone before you leave and have a game plan for each day.

Be Flexible
While you should always have a plan when traveling, be sure to be flexible as well. Nobody likes a stickler, so be sure to take that into consideration and be ok with making a few changes in the plan if you need to.

Get uncomfortable
Seriously guys. Get out there, have fun, and don’t be afraid to try new things! You're never too old to try something new and exciting. Try out snorkeling, hiking, or maybe snowboarding! Get out and try something that's new to all of you!

Unplug
Disconnecting our modern world today, it’s easy for us to get away on vacation but forget to get away from the social media world.Make sure you are being a leader and disconnect from work or friends to be fully present with the family. Encourage other family members to do this as well. Be together and enjoy the time while it lasts!

Whether you go to Disney World or take the family to the Swiss Alps, if you plan wisely you can create treasured moments to store away for years to come.

Thoughts from the intern,
Mandie

I'm starting out the launch of the Faith and Family Travel blog by letting you get to know me a little bit and peek into the travel side of my life!

I'm Kyleen!  Mommy, wife, teacher, and daughter to the boss.  I love travel and have been doing it for a while now.  This blog allows me to have a crazy, cyclical travel rationale: write about travel -> need to travel -> so I can write about travel -> so I can travel some more!  You get the idea.  

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."

I love this quote by Mary Ritter Beard.  Whether a long term relocation or a weekend jaunt, traveling changes how we view the world and ourselves.  Its one thing to watch elephants in their herds on television while a fantastic British voice narrates facts and trivia, but to experience these glorious beasts from a Land Rover rooftop a hundred feet away will change the way you see yourself in the world forever.  

My husband and I did the long term relocation when we were first married.  We moved to Togo, West Africa to work with a missionary team there.  During that time we immersed ourselves in the Ewe culture, experienced the beauty (and some ugly) of the land, and went on two safaris, one of which included a lion.  That was 10 years ago, but sometimes I will feel a hot, dry wind or catch a tribal beat from a song and I'm carried back to the bush villages.

But back to reality of life now.  Travel is full of Children's Museums and swimming pools, Disney and go carts.  I love it!  The adaptability of travel is what makes it so fun.  My family of four travels every day my husband is off work (and sometimes we have to make our own fun without him.  Sorry, honey, its a tough life, but someone's got to make some money!).  We may not go far.  Usually its a nature hike in a nearby state park or the aquarium.  But we get out and see our little corner of the world.

We also travel extensively with my extended family.  The Rogers clan includes my parents, my family, and my sister's family.  We've done Yellowstone with a four month old, and a cruise to Mexico with a one and four year old.  Our most recent multigenerational trip to Charleston, SC included a visit to the Patriot's Point aircraft carrier.  The awe of the my six year old son balanced with the honored respect from my sixty year old father was a joy to witness.  The travel experience at any age can enrich the traveler.

The the next adventure is just around the bend.  Whether it's across town or across the country, come join my roving romp and maybe we can help you experience your own wandering experience!

Kyleen