Planning a family vacation in 2011 can be fun and educational for the entire family, believe it or not.
Years ago, planning the annual family vacation could mean weeks of leafing through brochures, endless phone calls to airlines and hotels and getting all the creases out of the impossible to hold atlas that was a gift from your insurance agent.
While there is still work to do, planning a trip in 2011 is relatively painless. Many families find it fun searching for the best deals and new locales to explore that might have been skipped over in the past.
We’re in the process of planning a trip during the Thanksgiving holiday to Orlando, FL. We’ve been to Orlando before, so we have a working knowledge of the area and what to expect, but since it will be a crowded city that week, we had to do our homework in getting the best deals possible.
The Internet
When it comes to planning your trip the internet is your best friend. Sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz can be your online travel agent. In the United States, 40% of all travel is booked online and 74% of people say they use the internet to research their vacation travel spots. This trend will only increase as more and more people get “connected.”
Driving vs. Flying
This is becoming a more and more difficult decision. Now I know if you have to travel a great distance and you don’t have a great deal of time flying is the only way to go. Many other trips are going to happen in a car. Even with gas prices over $3.00/gallon, it may less expensive to drive. Add up your tickets, baggage fees, parking, and extras; it’s expensive to fly a family on vacation.
Getting the Most from Your Hotel
When considering our hotel options we looked at everything from luxury to roadside. We settled somewhere in between. Many moderately priced hotels are family friendly. The rooms are spacious, the amenities are plentiful and a free breakfast and/or afternoon snack are usually included; great to feed those always hungry kids. Hotels in tourist areas like Orlando know that you are coming for vacation and they are prepared.
Enjoy
When all is said and done, the purpose of a family vacation is to enjoy. Enjoy your family, enjoy getting away, and have an adventure.
Rick Limpert covers sports, technology and events in and around Atlanta.